The Patriarch's Teachings

Five Poisons Sect.

Ascension Platform.

A temporary guest reception courtyard.

Over ten members of the Li Clan sat around a roaring bonfire, the flames reflecting on each of their faces.

At this moment, everyone was dressed in black robes with wide sleeves.

Judging solely by their attire, they were indistinguishable from the Five Poisons Sect disciples who had received them.

Li Shuidao could clearly feel the palm-sized Jade Toad pressed against his waist. It was cool and slippery…

As everyone sat together for dinner, which consisted of flatbread wrapped around meat and accompanied by fine wine, Li Haimo cleared his throat and spoke loudly, "Disciples, you have now successfully obtained your Companions. Companions are essential for cultivation. You must protect them well. Do not be like this old man and lose your Companion, leaving your cultivation unable to advance, stuck at Spirit Containment Mid-stage until you await death."

"Patriarch, can't a Companion be replaced if lost?" Li Shuilang asked with clasped fists.

"Of course, it can be replaced. However, my Companion was a sea fish. To replace it, I would need to find a sea fish of the same species. Moreover, sea fish cannot survive away from the sea. Unless my cultivation reaches the Void Nascent Realm and I can store the sea fish in my spatial artifact, I cannot travel freely inland," Li Haimo explained.

Hearing this explanation, everyone felt somewhat relieved.

"Although your Companions can catch snakes, insects, rats, and ants on their own, if they only eat these, they will have difficulty growing. They must consume Spiritual Object to grow. This is common knowledge in the Cultivation World. Only when your Companion grows can your cultivation increase…."

"You have cultivated in the Cultivation Hall for two years. After obtaining your Companions, you should already be familiar with the cultivation methods. I will explain them again, do not find me bothersome," Li Haimo said with a solemn expression.

"We thank the Patriarch for his teachings," Li Shuilang and the others replied in unison.

A hint of warmth flickered in Li Haimo's eyes. "Good. Listen carefully. After obtaining a Companion, you are no longer mortals. You are now cultivators at the Spirit Awakening Early-stage. Your Companion will change your physique and allow you to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Within five years at most, you will possess Magical Power and enter the Spirit Awakening Mid-stage. From now on, you must feed your Companion yourselves, and you must prepare the resources needed for its sustenance."

"To obtain cultivation resources, you only have two paths: either learn to please your master and receive their rewards, or participate in sect trials and risk your life!"

"The Five Poisons Sect acts with considerable ruthlessness. Cruel sect trials are held at any time. As long as you sign up, you can participate. However, this old uncle advises you to participate in trials only after you have developed some Spiritual Power, at least to increase your chances of survival," Li Haimo reminded them with a grave expression.

"Rest assured, Patriarch! We will be cautious and will not act rashly," everyone said in unison.

"What I am about to say next is of utmost importance and concerns whether you can survive after joining a master. You must remember it!" Li Haimo said with a serious expression.

Upon hearing this, everyone pricked up their ears and listened intently.

Li Haimo patted Li Shuilang's clothes beside him and asked, "What is this?"

Everyone glanced and immediately replied, "This is the attire of the Five Poisons Sect."

"Why are the Five Poisons Sect's robes so wide?" Li Haimo asked again.

Li Shuilang replied, "It is to facilitate hiding our Companions."

Li Haimo nodded and continued, "Why hide the Companion in your clothes instead of exposing it?"

"This… could it be because it's unsightly?"

"Perhaps it's for surprise attacks."

Everyone speculated.

Li Shuidao nodded solemnly. He knew why the robes were wide, but he did not speak up, not wanting to appear overly clever.

"You are all wrong!" Li Haimo said. "I just mentioned that Companions need to devour Spiritual Object to grow quickly. Do you remember?"

"We naturally remember."

"Good! Then I will tell you that the so-called Spiritual Object are not the Purple Poison Powder you refine. The Five Poisons are also Spiritual Object, and they are the most effective kind."

"Do you know that the Five Poisons are Spiritual Object to each other and can devour one another? A scorpion eating a gecko can greatly increase its cultivation because earth generates metal in the five elements; a snake eating a centipede can also increase its cultivation because wood generates fire; a centipede eating a toad, because water generates wood… Even if the elements are not compatible, devouring another poisonous insect can slightly increase cultivation. However, such a small increase is not worth your senior brothers risking their lives to kill you and steal your Companion, as the Five Poisons Sect's rules are not mere decorations."

"But if your senior brother's Companion happens to be a Golden Scorpion, and he is coincidentally stuck at the Spirit Awakening Late-stage, unable to advance, and he learns that your Companion is a gecko, do you think he will kill you? He will try every means to get rid of you and devour your Companion to improve his own cultivation, breaking through his bottleneck in one go!" Li Haimo's tone was calm, but his words carried a subtle warning.

Everyone exchanged glances, marveling at Li Haimo's profound wisdom. Thus, they understood why everyone in the Five Poisons Sect wore such wide robes and hid their Companions within. It was for self-protection, to prevent conflicts among fellow disciples and the ensuing bloodshed.

"May I ask, Patriarch, if a Companion is exposed and a senior disciple forces us, can we offer our Companion to preserve our lives?" Li Shuilong asked softly.

"If you do that, your path to immortality is severed," another person said with astonishment.

Hearing this, the other clan members immediately cast contemptuous glances, and some even directly mocked, "Yes! Offer your Companion as soon as you're pressured? How pathetic! Why cultivate the immortal path? You'd live longer just going back to farming."

"Indeed, how can one lack such spirit!"

"If someone truly does that, tell us, and we Li clan members will fight them to the death!"

"Right! We must kill such bullies." In an instant, the crowd became agitated, the Li clan members' faces contorted, shouting threats of violence.

Only then did Li Shuilong realize he had asked a foolish question. He was a member of the Li clan, a cultivation family. If someone truly wanted his Companion, they would kill him to silence him; they wouldn't let him live.

It was impossible!

Begging for mercy would also lead to death.

Li Haimo raised his hand to signal everyone to quiet down, then chuckled, "Your adaptable personality is not bad. Once a Companion is destroyed, your path to immortality is severed…"

"Don't even think about replacing it. Do you still think you're a mortal who can go to the Five Poisons Cave again?"

"If you go to the Five Poisons Cave again, you will immediately cause it to explode and die without a burial place. And you have not a shred of Magical Power now, nor do you know any Spiritual Power techniques. Do you think you have the ability to capture a Yao Beast-level Jade Toad in the wild?"

Li Shuilong immediately clasped his fists and said, "Junior understands his mistake."

"Remember, never expose your Companion lightly, unless you possess sufficient self-protection capabilities!"

"This is not your family. No one will unconditionally be good to you. You must be clear-headed to live longer."

"Fortunately, the wide robes and black robes of the Five Poisons Sect are not only spacious enough to hide poisonous insects but also capable of isolating their aura. As long as you hide your Companion within, those with ill intentions will not be able to discern the type of your Companion."