I am in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have a demonic beast clone!

In the pursuit of immortality, time knows no bounds; ten years have passed since Zhou Ding went into seclusion.

Inside the main hall of the cave on Lingmu Peak, the soft light of the luminous pearl illuminated the entire space as if it were daytime.

Those fist-sized luminous pearls are inlaid on the cave ceiling, arranged in some mysterious pattern, like a miniature starry sky.

Xin Ruyin sat at the stone table, holding a scroll of array diagrams in her hands, her expression focused.

It was the first volume of the Heavenly Origin Array Manual, which Xin Ruyin had already read countless times.

After years of research, she has mastered most of it, and those originally unfamiliar runes and formations have now become clear and distinct in her eyes.

Her brows furrowed slightly, and her fingers traced lines in the air, deducing the changes within.

The lines flowed from her fingertips as if they were alive, each stroke containing the mysteries of an array.

Sunlight streamed through the cracks in the cave ceiling, illuminating Xin Ruyin and casting a soft halo around her.

Her cultivation level had already reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Ten years ago, after Zhou Ding transferred all his cultivation to her, she broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage not long after.

During that period, she spent almost every day in seclusion refining the pure true essence, integrating it into her dantian to strengthen her foundation.

Those true essences flowed through her body like warm streams, nourishing every meridian and every inch of her flesh and blood.

Over the years, she has been diligently cultivating herself, spending her days studying formations and meditating.

The large number of pills left behind by Zhou Ding enabled her to cultivate at a speed far exceeding that of ordinary people.

Her foundation was solid, her true essence was pure, and her aura was calm, making her far superior to other cultivators of the same level.

Not long ago, she successfully broke through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

At that moment, she felt the surging true energy within her body, and an indescribable joy welled up in her heart.

She remembered herself in the bamboo grove courtyard years ago, that sickly young woman, pale-faced, coughing up blood, thinking she wouldn't live past thirty, thinking she would die silently in that small courtyard, turning to dust, forgotten by everyone.

Now, she is a cultivator in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

With rosy skin, bright eyes, and a long, drawn-out breath, he exudes vitality from head to toe.

All of this was given to her by Zhou Lang.

He gave her hope to live, he gave her the possibility of building a foundation, and he gave her a future to look forward to.

After a long while, Xin Ruyin put down the array diagram and her gaze drifted towards the direction of the quiet room.

The stone gate there has been tightly shut for ten years.

For ten years, Zhou Ding has not taken a single step out.

She knew what he was doing, and she knew he needed time.

But ten years is really too long.

She would pass by that stone gate every day, and every day she would stop to listen to what was happening inside.

Sometimes you can hear faint footsteps, sometimes you can hear the sound of a talisman brush gliding across talisman paper, and sometimes you can't hear anything at all.

But no matter what she heard, she would stand at the door for a while before leaving, without disturbing Zhou Ding.

"Haha, miss, I did it!"

Xiao Mei's excited voice came from the side, breaking the tranquility of the cave.

The voice was clear and loud, filled with undisguised excitement, echoing throughout the cave.

Xiao Mei came running out, holding several talismans in her hand. Her skirt fluttered, her steps were as light as a little rabbit, and she had a bright smile on her face. Her eyes shone like stars, and her mouth was stretched almost to her ears.

The ferret followed at her feet, hopping around happily. Its small body darted about, its purple fur shimmering in the light, and its tail wagging like a rattle.

It ran around squeaking, and although it didn't know why its owner was happy, it was happy too.

Xin Ruyin raised her head, a look of curiosity flashing in her eyes.

She put down the array diagram in her hand, turned around, and looked at Xiaomei's excited appearance, and couldn't help but smile.

"What's done?"

Xiao Mei ran up to her, handed her the talisman, and held it up to her face like a treasure, almost poking Xin Ruyin's nose.

"Look, Miss! I've successfully crafted a beginner-level advanced talisman!"

Her voice was full of smugness, her chin was practically pointing to the sky, and she exuded an air of "Praise me, praise me!"

The ferret imitated her, raising a small paw, squeaking twice, then tilting its head to look at Xin Ruyin, waiting for praise.

Xin Ruyin took the talisman and examined it carefully.

It was a golden shield talisman, about the size of a palm, entirely golden in color. The talisman paper was made of the finest gold-patterned paper, and the ink was mixed with gold essence powder, giving it a faint golden glow under the light.

It was covered with intricate runes, which were winding and layered, like a miniature array, emitting faint fluctuations of spiritual energy.

Although some runes are not very smooth, they are structurally complete, full of spiritual power, and have a faint golden light flowing through them.

She probed with her divine sense and could feel the powerful energy contained within the talisman.

"Not bad, very well drawn." Xin Ruyin praised with a smile and handed the talisman back to Xiaomei.

Xiao Mei took the talisman, feeling even more smug.

She stood with her hands on her hips, head held high, with an expression that said, "I'm pretty awesome, aren't I?" Her eyes sparkled, the corners of her mouth turned up, and she radiated confidence.

"That's right! I've practiced for a long time! I've practically worn out the first half of the Heavenly Talisman Scripture that my son-in-law left me. I've drawn hundreds of Spirit Gathering Talismans alone, but no more than fifty were successful. The Golden Shield Talisman was even harder. I spent three months drawing it and ruined more than a hundred of them before finally succeeding for the first time today."

As she spoke, she made a famous hand gesture, her face serious.

Those failures have now become sources of pride.

"If my future son-in-law knew, he would definitely praise me!"

As she spoke, her eyes sparkled, as if she could already see Zhou Ding praising her, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up.

Xin Ruyin couldn't help but laugh when she saw her like that.

This girl has come a long way from being a playful little girl to where she is today; it's truly remarkable.

She recalled what happened ten years ago, before Zhou Ding went into seclusion.

At that time, Xin Ruyin tried to teach Xiaomei formations.

She spread out the array diagram, pointed to the runes on it, and explained them to her one by one.

But Xiaomei sat there, staring at those dense lines, her eyes blurred and her head buzzed.

Those complex array patterns and mysterious formations were like celestial books to her.

She stared at it for ages, her head spinning, and finally fell asleep on the table, her face still covered in ink and drool dripping from her mouth. She slept like a log.

Xin Ruyin was both amused and exasperated, and had no choice but to give up.

She truly has no talent for formations; continuing to teach her would be a waste of time.

Later, Zhou Ding discovered that Xiao Mei was interested in making talismans. So, before going into seclusion, Zhou Ding passed on the first half of the Heavenly Talisman Scripture to Xiao Mei so that she could study it on her own.

"This girl does have some talent for runes."

Zhou Ding smiled and said, looking at the crooked runes she drew, "Although it's not good now, as long as she puts in the effort, she might succeed in the future. Let her give it a try; maybe she can make it."

Over the years, while Xiao Mei was practicing the Qingyuan Sword Technique, she also studied talisman making without interruption.

She started with the most basic spirit-gathering talismans, practicing one by one, failing time and time again, burning stacks of talisman paper and using bottle after bottle of spirit ink.

Today I finally succeeded in refining a beginner-level advanced talisman, and I am naturally excited.

Xiaomei carefully put the talisman away, then glanced in the direction of the meditation room and asked softly, "Miss, has the young master not emerged from seclusion yet?"

Her voice suddenly softened, as if afraid of disturbing something.

Xin Ruyin shook her head.

"Soon."

She didn't know how long "soon" would be, but she believed that Zhou Ding would definitely come out.

Xiaomei nodded and regained her lively demeanor.

She tugged at Xin Ruyin's sleeve and said with a grin, "Miss, do you think the young master will be shocked when he comes out? I'm already in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage! I can even draw talismans! If the young master doesn't want us anymore, I'll make talismans every day to support you! A basic high-level talisman can sell for a lot of spirit stones."

She counted on her fingers, her face serious, her eyes sparkling, as if she could already see her bright future as a master talisman master, making a fortune every day.

Xin Ruyin was amused by her.

"You silly girl, you're talking nonsense again. How could the son-in-law not want us?"

Xiaomei stuck out her tongue and shrank her neck.

"I was just kidding, but Miss, I really can support you! Once I can draw intermediate-level talismans, each one can sell for a lot more spirit stones! I'll buy you tons and tons of spirit tea then, enough to fill your teapot to the brim!"

She got more and more excited as she talked, gesturing wildly.

Just then—

The door to the quiet room was slowly pushed open.

The heavy stone door emitted a low, grinding sound that echoed through the silent cave.

A familiar figure walked out from inside.

Zhou Ding stood at the door, his gaze sweeping across the hall.

His complexion was rosy, his breathing was steady, and the sharp glint in his eyes was restrained.

Ten years of seclusion made him appear more composed and reserved than before, like a sharp sword sheathed, its edge concealed, yet all the more dangerous.

His cultivation level has returned to the False Core stage.

Moreover, it is even purer than it was ten years ago.

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The cyan pseudo-elixir in his dantian solidified like a real golden elixir, its surface shimmering with light and radiating a heart-palpitating power.

The true essence flows through the meridians like mercury, heavy and solid, without the slightest stagnation.

His abilities have improved to a new level compared to ten years ago.

Ten years ago, he scattered his cultivation and had to start over. He dropped his cultivation level from the False Core stage all the way down to the eighth level of Qi Refining, and then started from scratch, cultivating back little by little.

This process is tedious and lengthy, requiring immense patience and perseverance.

While rebuilding his cultivation, he also continued to practice the Azure Origin Sword Technique, as well as making talismans and refining pills.

During his ten years of seclusion, he would dedicate time to practice every day, using up a large amount of materials and accumulating rich experience.

Ten years of accumulation have greatly improved his skills in talisman making and alchemy.

In terms of talisman crafting, he is now able to refine intermediate-level talismans. Thunder Talisman, Fire Talisman, Wind Escape Talisman, Invisibility Talisman... he can now refine these powerful intermediate-level talismans. Although the success rate is not yet high, it is enough for his own use.

In terms of alchemy, the success rate of refining Foundation Establishment stage pills has also reached a very high level.

He can produce seven or eight batches of commonly used pills such as Jin Yuan Dan, Zhen Xuan Dan, and Zhu Ji Dan out of ten, and they are of superior quality.

He also began to try to refine the thousand-year-old spiritual herbs he brought back from the Crimson Forbidden Zone into pills.

Each of these thousand-year-old medicinal herbs is priceless, and he dares not waste them. He is extremely careful each time he refines them, repeatedly confirming every step.

Although I failed several times and felt heartbroken, I finally succeeded in a few batches and obtained several high-quality, thousand-year-old pills.

……

"Xiaomei, you're talking bad about me again."

Zhou Ding's voice rang out in the hall, tinged with amusement and a hint of teasing.

Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei looked up at the same time, their eyes flashing with surprise.

The surprise was so intense that they were stunned for a moment before they came to their senses.

"Zhou Lang!" Xin Ruyin stood up and quickly went to greet him.

Her steps were hurried, her skirt fluttering gently at her feet, completely unlike her usual elegant and composed demeanor.

She had a smile on her face, but tears were glistening in her eyes.

"Young Master!" Xiao Mei ran over, with the purple electric sable following at her feet, squeaking and wagging its tail rapidly.

Xin Ruyin stood in front of Zhou Ding, looking him up and down.

Ten years had passed. He had lost some weight, his facial features were more defined, and his jawline was more resolute, but he was in good spirits, with bright eyes and a calm demeanor. He was more reserved and profound than he had been ten years ago.

She reached out and gently took his hand, feeling the warmth of his palm, confirming that it was all real.

"You've finally emerged from seclusion."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undisguised joy, along with a hint of grievance.

Ten years is a really long time.

Zhou Ding smiled slightly, took her hand in his own, and felt the slight coolness of her fingertips.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Xiao Mei was jumping around excitedly, and the purple sable followed her, the two of them circling around the cave.

"Young master, look at me! I'm now in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage! I can even draw beginner-level high-level talismans! Isn't that amazing?"

She puffed out her chest, looking smug, waiting for Zhou Ding's praise.

Zhou Ding glanced at her, scanned her with his divine sense, and nodded.

Her aura was calm and steady, her foundation was solid, and her true essence was pure, indicating that she had indeed reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

"Not bad. Looks like you haven't been slacking off these past ten years."

Xiaomei became even more smug, pulling the purple sable around in circles, her skirt fluttering.

"Of course! I've been working really hard! I get up before dawn every day to meditate, practice the Azure Origin Sword Technique in the morning, and make talismans in the afternoon. I've never slacked off! If the young master doesn't want us anymore, I'll make talismans every day to support the young lady!"

As she spoke, she puffed out her chest, giving off a "I'm very reliable" look.

Zhou Ding couldn't help but laugh.

"Okay, then your son-in-law will be your responsibility to support him."

Xin Ruyin laughed too, and the cave was filled with joyful laughter.

……

In the following days, Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin spent their time together tenderly, enjoying a rare moment of alone time.

He missed too much during his ten years of seclusion.

She leaned against him, whispering about the little things that had happened in the cave over the past ten years.

The two lay in each other's arms, talking endlessly.

Xiaomei is very sensible; she has rarely bothered me these past few days, only bringing the spiritual tea on time.

……

A few days later, Zhou Ding arrived at the spirit beast room.

The Spirit Beast Chamber is the largest stone chamber in the cave, measuring over ten zhang in size. The floor is covered with soft spirit grass, transplanted from outside, which emits a faint fragrance.

In the corner were several mid-grade spirit stones, crystal clear, radiating a rich spiritual energy that made the entire stone chamber as bright as day.

Little Jin was lying on the pile of spirit stones, seemingly digesting the spirit stones inside his body.

Its crimson-gold scales shimmered under the reflection of the spirit stone, as if it were wearing a suit of golden armor. Each scale had sharp edges, and the layers were perfectly overlapping.

Zhou Ding squatted down and rubbed its head.

Xiao Jin's scales felt smooth and warm to the touch, like fine jade. When you ran your fingertips over them, you could feel the power hidden beneath the scales.

Compared to ten years ago, Xiao Jin is still at level four, but has changed a lot.

Its size hadn't increased, but the sense of oppression it gave off had become several times stronger. Lying there motionless, it made people afraid to approach, like a sleeping dragon, exuding a chilling aura even with its eyes closed.

That aura was a powerful pressure emanating from the depths of one's bloodline, a tremor from the depths of one's soul.

After rebuilding it once more, Zhou Ding confirmed his idea.

Each time Xiao Jin makes a breakthrough, he can indeed gain feedback power again.

From the eighth level of Qi Refining to the Pseudo-Core Realm, with each breakthrough, a tiny feedback force would flow into Xiao Jin's body. Although it was very weak, it accumulated over time.

From breaking through to the eighth level of Qi Refining to the Pseudo-Core Formation, all these feedbacks combined can be considered a complete feedback cycle.

Zhou Ding squatted down and began to examine Xiao Jin's various abilities.

First is the art of listening to the ground.

With a thought, his consciousness surged into Xiao Jin's body. Xiao Jin closed its eyes, and an invisible wave spread outwards from it in all directions, penetrating the walls of the spirit beast chamber, the rock strata of the cave, and the outer restrictions, spreading throughout the entire Spirit Wood Peak.

Those fluctuations are silent, yet they can transmit all the information they pass through back to us.

A moment later, Zhou Ding learned about the Earth Listening Technique.

Seventy li.

The range of the Earth Listening Technique has increased to seventy miles.

This means that no movement within a radius of seventy miles can escape Xiao Jin's perception.

Next up is the Golden Armor Technique.

Zhou Ding had Xiao Jin stand in the center of the spirit beast room. He took a few steps back, and with a thought, thirty-six golden demon swords flew out simultaneously, forming a golden demon sword array in the air.

The moment the sword formation was completed, sharp sword energy surged through the spirit beast chamber, cutting the air with a piercing whistling sound and lowering the temperature.

He manipulated the sword formation and slashed at Xiao Jin.

"Clang clang clang—"

A series of dense metallic clanging sounds rang out as flying swords from the sword formation rained down on Xiao Jin.

Golden light flashed and sparks flew, illuminating the entire spirit beast chamber.

But this time, the power of that golden light shield was clearly enhanced.

The light shield was no longer a thin film of light, but rather condensed into a layer of golden armor on Xiao Jin's body!

The armor was tightly fitted to the scales, with flexible joints that allowed it to move freely. It had a helmet on its head, only revealing its eyes and mouth, armor on its back that covered its entire torso, and even its tail was covered by armor, segmented like a dragon's tail.

The golden armor shimmered under the glow of the luminous pearl, with runes flowing across its surface, exuding a heavy aura, as if it were a tailor-made suit of armor for Xiao Jin, majestic and solemn.

Zhou Ding intensified his efforts, pushing the Golden Fiend Sword Formation to its limit.

Thirty-six flying swords transformed into a golden torrent, relentlessly bombarding Xiao Jin's body. Each strike was enough to kill a pseudo-core cultivator of the same level.

But the armor remained completely still, blocking all attacks without leaving a single mark.

He estimated that even an attack from a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator could be barely withstood.

A cultivator at the mid-stage of Core Formation is equivalent to a level six demonic beast.

Xiao Jin is only level four, yet he can rival level six monsters.

The defense, spanning two major realms, is truly terrifying if word gets out.

Zhou Ding felt an overwhelming surge of excitement.

He wondered what level Xiao Jin would reach once he reached level five.

A level 5 demonic beast, equivalent to the early stage of Core Formation.

By then, Xiao Jin's defenses will likely be able to withstand even attacks from late-stage Core Formation cultivators.

When a level breaks through from level four to level five, the feedback power will inevitably be stronger.

That will be a true transformation, not just a minor improvement like when you start over.

Perhaps, it could add another one or two hundred years to one's lifespan, allowing one's spiritual sense to reach the peak that a Core Formation cultivator can achieve, or even break through the limits of the Core Formation stage and touch the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage.

Zhou Ding retrieved his flying sword and patted Xiao Jin's head.

After a moment, he stood up and walked out of the spirit beast room.