Whale's Drink Unswallowed by the Sea, Sword Qi Already Sweeps the Autumn

While Chen Dengming was helping the eldest young lady of the Luo family refine gu.

Inside the Rogue Cultivator Gathering Place.

Qian Yuan and Xu Ning were also using their connections to inquire about Chen Dengming's situation at the Luo family.

Qian Yuan was particularly anxious, fearing that Chen Dengming might actually get lucky and gain the favor of the eldest young lady of the Luo family.

If that happened, and Lüo Bing took a dislike to him, his life would surely become uncomfortable.

He had pledged allegiance to one of the Luo family's third-generation disciples, and he offered tribute every year.

For minor matters, his master would protect him, but he would also have to give up a significant portion of any benefits.

However, upon hearing that the eldest young lady of the Luo family had not even met Chen Dengming after he entered the Luo family, and had merely instructed him to start working, Qian Yuan's suspended heart slowly relaxed.

"It seems this kid's skill in refining Gu is all that caught the eldest young lady's eye. She doesn't value him highly; he's purely a tool."

Qian Yuan hummed a tune in his good mood, yet he also felt a bit annoyed.

That's right, Chen Dengming didn't pose much of a threat to him now, but he couldn't do anything to Chen Dengming either. In the future, he wouldn't be able to proactively seek trouble and would even have to distance himself.

After all, the eldest young lady needed this tool. She might set him aside temporarily after using him, but what if she remembered needing him again someday, and this tool was gone? Who would bear the eldest young lady's wrath?

Surviving at the bottom of the Cultivation World requires wisdom. Qian Yuan wasn't just a brute.

Meanwhile, inside the Golden Character Workshop.

The news Xu Ning had gathered was similar to Qian Yuan's.

Although his master wasn't a third-generation disciple of the Luo family, he was a steward within the Luo family, born into service, and held some authority.

For cultivation families, the power and status within the family were not always determined by blood relations, but by strength first.

After learning about Chen Dengming's situation, Xu Ning's mood relaxed just like Qian Yuan's.

"This kid was bluffing me in front of Zanhua Tower earlier. I thought he had a really good relationship with the eldest young lady. Turns out, it's just like this."

Xu Ning's eyes flashed with cold light as he looked at the dozen bags of Gu poison that Chen Dengming had given him to sell. His eyes narrowed.

"This guy surnamed Chen acted first and reported later... no, he didn't report at all, and took away a Mortal from me! He embarrassed me.

I'll have someone try to sell these little things. If they sell well, and this kid isn't valued by the eldest young lady in the end, and their relationship is just a transaction, I'll have my superior step in and directly recruit him to refine and sell Gu exclusively!

He was ambitious and planned to turn Chen Dengming into a tool as well, serving the Golden Character Workshop. Most of the money earned would go into the Luo family master's pocket, and a small portion would end up in his own.

Of course, to the outside world, he would claim it was to protect Chen Dengming and provide him with a safe and quiet environment for refining Gu, a fair and just cooperation.

Otherwise, wouldn't a Qi Cultivation level one cultivator earning so much money be very dangerous?

If the eldest young lady needed Chen Dengming, he would contribute him.

In any case, tools could be shared, even with the eldest young lady taking priority.

Then, when the eldest young lady knew that one of her own people had taken in Chen Dengming, she could use him whenever she wanted, and Chen Dengming's safety would also be guaranteed. What could she say then?

Of course, the prerequisite for all these plans was to wait until after this refining of Gu and see the eldest young lady's attitude and handling of Chen Dengming.

Xu Ning wouldn't rashly assume things.

Time flew by, and more than a month passed in the blink of an eye.

At the Luo family's three-courtyard compound where Chen Dengming was refining Gu.

Accompanied by a burst of Spiritual Might.

With a 'boom,' a blazing fireball suddenly appeared, hovering in mid-air and spinning rapidly, causing the surrounding air to continuously distort.

"Go!"

Chen Dengming waved his hand casually, and the fireball shot out, tracing a trajectory. Just as it was about to fly ten zhang, it suddenly made a nimble turn and returned.

At this moment, Chen Dengming formed a hand seal with his right hand, his movements so swift and agile that they almost appeared as illusions.

A wave of Spiritual Might immediately stirred his clothes and hair, making them flutter.

Another fireball appeared almost instantaneously, shooting out and colliding with the returning fireball in mid-air, emitting a "chulong" explosion.

It was like a large firework exploding, with large fire snakes and scattered Spiritual Energy dispersing.

A wave of heat mixed with a strong wind spread out, blowing Chen Dengming's and Xu Wei's hair behind them.

"Clap clap--"

Xu Wei clapped her hands excitedly, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chen Dengming and said happily, "Brother Chen, the speed of your hand seals just now was like a series of afterimages, it was amazing!"

"Cough! Not bad!"

Chen Dengming coughed and replied modestly, but inwardly, he was quite satisfied.

The speed of his hand seals just now was indeed very fast, almost comparable to the legendary "Afterimage Brother" from a certain rhythm game in his previous life.

But in reality, he had held back slightly. With just a little effort, his speed was already astonishing.

The Great Fireball Technique, which could be cast almost instantly, was the result of his hard training during his spare time while refining Gu and cultivating at the Luo family these past few months.

From the drum tower in the distance, Lüo Bing and Xi'er watched Chen Dengming casting the fireball technique from afar.

Xi'er snorted, "Eldest Young Lady, what does this guy surnamed Chen think our Luo family is? He's casting spells and making explosions in the courtyard all day long. Sometimes I can even hear the commotion at night."

Lüo Bing calmly withdrew her gaze and said, "Xi'er, how long did it take you to practice the Great Fireball Technique to the point where you could cast it instantly?"

Xi'er was stunned, then chuckled somewhat awkwardly. "Young Miss, I, I practiced for over four months under your supervision."

Lüo Bing nodded slightly. "Over four months. When Chen Dengming first arrived, he had only just learned this technique, and in just over a month, he reached a level comparable to yours. This is the result of his relentless, day-and-night practice."

"But he..." Xi'er sounded unconvinced.

Lüo Bing shook her head. "He's not only practicing the Great Fireball Technique, but also the Artifact Control Technique and the Golden Spear Technique simultaneously. Furthermore, he has broken through a realm and is now at the Qi Cultivation Second Level.

In just forty days, his talent isn't particularly good, but he's the most diligent person I've ever seen. It's as if someone is holding a knife to his neck every day, forcing him to train. His time management is impeccable, a true master. It's a pity."

"Young Miss."

Xi'er was taken aback, her dark, lustrous eyes fixed on Lüo Bing. "You..."

Lüo Bing turned her back, saying calmly, "I'm not saying this to praise or favor him. After this 'Refining Gu' ends, I will let him go. The Lüo Family's resources are not for outsiders to use freely; this was just an exception.

I only hope that you can learn from his diligence.

No matter how hard this person tries, even if he resorts to the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique to forcibly improve his Spiritual Root, it's still a Dual Spirit Root that's mutually antagonistic. It consumes his lifespan and is a Devilish Dao method, ultimately not worth the cost. At best, he'll be stuck at the Qi Cultivation Sixth or Seventh Level in the future.

But you are different. You have the talent of a Medium-grade Spiritual Root. Once we go to the sect, as long as you seize the time to cultivate, reaching Foundation Establishment won't be difficult."

Xi'er felt a warmth in her heart and relaxed. She thought that her Young Miss's standards were still high, and she wasn't truly comparing her to someone whose lifespan was nearing its end.

But how could she know that Lüo Bing had once said at the Ascension Convention that even with a Low-grade Spiritual Root, Chen Dengming would at most reach the Qi Cultivation Third or Fourth Level in the future? Now, she had changed her tune, raising the potential to the Qi Cultivation Sixth or Seventh Level.

Perhaps Lüo Bing herself had forgotten, or perhaps she didn't care.

Diligence was indeed an admirable quality, but unfortunately, if a person's lifespan was nearing its end, no amount of diligence would lead to Foundation Establishment.

Chen Dengming was unaware of Young Miss Luo's assessment of him.

Perhaps even if he knew, he would just laugh it off.

He knew his own affairs best. His secret of cultivating to extend his lifespan was something he would never reveal.

Others didn't know that his cultivation could extend his life. Now, not only had his cultivation broken through, but his lifespan had also significantly increased again.

If not for the fact that cultivating the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique to the second level required the loss of 180 years of lifespan, which was truly detrimental.

He could have generously squandered 180 years, defied fate, and vied for a High-grade Spiritual Root.

As the saying goes, the whale's drink has not yet swallowed the sea, but its sword energy already fills the autumn sky.

His expression was calm, his temples weathered by the wind. He cultivated discreetly, not seeking conflict.

Yet, his ambition for Longevity and his unyielding pride never diminished.

However, regarding Lüo Bing, a powerful female cultivator who knew him inside and out, although he had benefited from her influence, he had long since built up his defenses in his heart.

For now, with so little time having passed, it was fine.

If he were to encounter this woman again in ten or twenty years, unless his strength far surpassed hers, he absolutely could not let her see him. Otherwise, with her intelligence, she would surely guess that he harbored a great secret.

At that time, on the battlefield of immortal cultivation, hoping for a romantic story of a fairy's favor was merely wishful thinking. Whether she would be an enemy or a friend in this indifferent and heartless Cultivation World was yet unknown.