Cultivation Place

"Cuiping Mountain has some spiritual energy. The Taoist temple is located here, making it a place for cultivation. Does it have a name?" Chen Ming asked.

Song Yu and Wang Xiu had recovered somewhat by this time.

Hearing Chen Ming's question, they hurriedly replied, "Senior, this Taoist temple originally had no name. Later, Ling Yangzi manifested this Spirit Tree here. As more people worshipped it, they often called this place 'Divine Wood Temple'."

"The name is fitting, but it will need to be changed later!"

Song Yu and Wang Xiu exchanged glances, hesitating, and finally said, "Senior, are you planning to cultivate in this Taoist temple? However, Ling Yangzi is currently away and has not returned. He is also a cultivator in the Contemplation Realm. If he returns, I'm afraid..."

Chen Ming chuckled, "No need to worry, Ling Yangzi won't be returning!"

Song Yu and Wang Xiu were not foolish. Their minds were insightful. Upon hearing this, they understood. Ling Yangzi had likely met his end at the hands of the person before them.

They had only speculated that Ling Yangzi was dead earlier, and they had been somewhat uneasy.

Now that they had received confirmation, they were finally completely at ease!

"Thank you, Senior, for saving our lives. We will certainly follow your instructions from now on!"

Their gratitude was genuine. They also saw that Chen Ming did not kill people, and even spared the Spirit Tree. Unlike Ling Yangzi, who resorted to poison curses and soul devouring at the slightest provocation.

Moreover, they had already embarked on the path of cultivation and harbored some hopes.

They had not dared to think about it while controlled by the poison curse. Now, with the kind Senior Chen Ming before them, they felt it was an opportunity.

Chen Ming saw through their thoughts as if they were transparent. Their emotional changes could not escape his Spiritual Sense.

"If you two are sincere, it's not impossible for you to cultivate with me!"

"I will need some people to handle trivial matters while I cultivate here."

"Although I am different from Ling Yangzi, I must make the terms clear from the outset!"

With that, the Spirit Devouring Jar in Chen Ming's hand emitted a faint glow. From it flew what seemed like an endless stream of poisonous insects and venomous creatures, spewing poisonous smoke as they danced behind Chen Ming.

Amidst the poisonous insects and smoke, Chen Ming held the Spirit Devouring Jar, his expression cold, his voice solemn, "Before, you followed Ling Yangzi and were controlled by the poison curse, forced against your will!"

"But from now on, if you cultivate with me, you must abide by my rules. If you dare to harbor any disloyalty, I will ensure you suffer the same fate as Ling Yangzi, your souls utterly destroyed!"

"We certainly wouldn't dare!" Song Yu and Wang Xiu were terrified by Chen Ming's Contemplation Realm aura and the spectacle he displayed. They trembled, their souls feeling unstable.

They shivered inwardly, thinking that this Senior only appeared kind on the surface, but his methods were even more terrifying than Ling Yangzi's. No wonder Ling Yangzi had died at his hands.

However, in their current predicament, they had no other choice.

Otherwise, the insects and poisonous smoke behind Chen Ming would likely mean instant death upon contact!

Chen Ming's actions were not solely for intimidation. While their souls were unstable, he secretly formed a Magic Art. The Azure Wood Life and Death Gas transformed into a point and quietly entered their bodies.

From now on, if these two develop a heart of betrayal, the Azure Wood Life and Death Gas will act up, destroying their Divine Souls in an instant.

One must guard against others!

Although Chen Ming was kind-hearted, he was not a pushover, and he didn't mind the methods he employed!

"Good, you understand!"

Chen Ming withdrew his Aura, and the poisonous insects and poisonous smoke retracted into the Spirit Devouring Jar.

Song Yu and Wang Xiu finally relaxed, not daring to act presumptuously in front of Chen Ming.

Even the Spirit Tree, which had been swaying precariously, now controlled its spirituality, retracting its branches and not daring to make a sound.

Chen Ming walked slowly to the front of the Taoist Temple's main entrance. After pondering for a moment, he channeled his magic power and inscribed a few characters on the blank space.

"Creation Life and Death Temple"

This name was derived from the Creation Lotus Platform and the Azure Wood Life and Death Gas that Chen Ming was currently cultivating.

Since he would be cultivating here and walking the world in the future, he needed a Name and origin. Chen Ming felt that the original name, "Divine Wood Temple," was a bit too petty.

"From now on, you two are Registered Disciples of my Life and Death Temple!"

"Yes, Temple Master!"

Song Yu and Wang Xiu were overjoyed.

Just now, they had thought they would continue to be treated like slaves as before.

Now, hearing Chen Ming say they were Registered Disciples, it meant they could cultivate true techniques. Even if they weren't direct disciples, their situation wouldn't remain the same, with no hope of progress!

Next, Chen Ming rearranged the layout of the Taoist Temple and cast a Magic Art, causing the Red Spirit Worms in the Spirit Devouring Jar to split into many transparent, invisible insects that hid around the temple.

"Conceal!"

Chen Ming recited the incantation and shouted, and the transparent insects sprayed a faint smoke, enveloping the temple.

Before long, the temple was completely hidden in the smoke, invisible to the naked eye.

This smoke was controlled by Chen Ming. When inactive, it was like ordinary Mist.

Once activated, it could turn into a deadly poison, instantly taking a life.

"From now on, I will cultivate in seclusion in the temple. If any Mortals come, they will only see Mist and will not be able to enter the temple."

"If someone happens to reach the temple by Opportunity, you two are responsible for sending them out. Don't bother me with the details!"

Chen Ming instructed Song Yu and Wang Xiu, preventing Mortals from coming to worship the Spirit Tree and make requests anymore.

He did not want to continue using Ling Yangzi's Spirit Condensation Method to have the Spirit Tree absorb Incense and Fire.

If it continued to absorb Incense and Fire, once it took shape and was set, it could no longer be changed!

For now, he would let it slowly nurture its spirituality on its own. Perhaps it would have great use later if he found a better method!

Song Yu and Wang Xiu accepted the order and went to cultivate and recover from their injuries.

Chen Ming also concealed his form and began to ponder his own cultivation.

"In the future, I will present myself with the Azure Wood Life and Death Gas.

The Red Spirit Worm will be my killing method. Ordinary cultivators in the Contemplation Realm will not be my match. The Red Spirit Worm hiding in the jar serves as both concealment and a trump card!

Moreover, the Spirit Devouring Jar itself is a Magic Tool, capable of providing some defense.

However, these methods are all for protecting the Dao. My cultivated Magic Art is still the Azure Wood Life and Death Gas.

No matter how much I cultivate, it will only increase my magic power and give me more Void Qi to use my methods. I will still be stuck in the Contemplation Realm.

I have no clue how to break through my realm.

Ling Yangzi's method for breaking through to the Spirit Condensation Realm was merely his own attempt, and it's uncertain if it will succeed!

I still need to find more methods, cross-reference them, and then use the Creation Lotus Platform to deduce a way. Steadily breaking through to the Spirit Condensation Realm is the right path!"

"I wonder if there are any other cultivators near Cuiping Mountain. It would be great if we could exchange and verify our understanding!"

Thinking of this, Chen Ming couldn't help but chuckle. Even if there were cultivators nearby, who would reveal their fundamental cultivation to outsiders? Unless it was a close family member or a disciple, it was simply impossible.

As Chen Ming was contemplating his cultivation, his Spiritual Sense was not idle.

After all, if he was going to cultivate here, he naturally had to thoroughly understand the situation within the Cuiping Mountain territory.

Chen Ming's Spiritual Sense spread out, sweeping across the Cuiping Mountain territory, and the various scenes in the mountains were reflected in his mind.

Everything seemed ordinary, and he didn't discover anything special.

The places with slightly denser Spiritual Energy either had Spiritual Items that had not yet taken shape or had already been taken by someone.