White clouds unspooled and rolled back up over the ridge, while the bright moon on the horizon departed only to return again.
In the blink of an eye, another month passed.
Many major events occurred during this month.
First, after multiple major battles among the dozen-odd original factions within the gathering place, only three factions close to the Zhu Family remained: the Iron Forest Hall, the Flower Rain Gate, and the Golden Character Workshop which had defected along with Xu Ning.
Even the Merchant Alliance and the Yulin Hall, two larger factions that had maintained neutrality, were driven out, and the gathering place, along with surrounding multiple resource points, completely degenerated into Zhu territory.
The fall of the gathering place seemed to symbolize the conclusion of the first stage of the war of gamesmanship between the two great cultivation lineages of the Zhu and the Lüo, announced with the Lüo defeat.
Quite a few rogue cultivators who had once been close to the Lüo were hunted down and liquidated, and only by defecting to the Zhu could they retain a path to survival.
Just as the Zhu Family sought to push further and force the Lüo Family to surrender the mystic copper mining area, a piece of news arrived that temporarily halted this regional cultivator battle.
The news came from the Wonderful Sound Sect, mentioning that Lüo Bing had successfully broken through to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Level and had officially begun participating in the sect trials to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
This news undoubtedly greatly boosted Lüo family morale, and also made the Zhu Family temporarily dare not act rashly.
The reason the Lüo Family had acted contrary to normal by retreating lately was mainly because they were unwilling to consume lineage strength due to a momentary dispute; basically all those sacrificed were rogue cultivators outside the lineage, and not a single one of their own cultivators had died.
Now, against the seemingly arrogant Zhu Family and the step-by-step pressing Lüo Family—wait, the text says step-by-step pressing Luo family, the Lüo Family merely needed to ignore them and quietly await Lüo Bing's breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and all troubles and contradictions would be readily solved.
On the contrary, embroiling the lineage in a major battle with the Zhu Family at this time, not to mention consuming lineage strength, would very likely result in the Luo family stepping in to kick them while they were down, which was extremely unwise.
The Zhu Family naturally anticipated the Lüo calculations, and therefore pressed step by step, rapidly taking back many resource points lost in the past, and even more besides.
Currently, all three cultivation lineages were waiting for one result—the result of whether Lüo Bing could smoothly obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Even this result was already being interfered with by the Luo family.
The only cruel thing was that before a single cultivator of the three cultivation lineages had shed blood, a vast number of mortals and rogue cultivators had already been reduced to withered bones, becoming rations for the winter demon beasts.
At this time.
Inside the house within the valley.
Ling'er, quickly assist me in cultivation!
S-Slave, this concubine will rest after doing it three, three more times at most.
You've really gone bad now, haven't you? Since we've grown familiar with each other, you've even started bargaining with me?
Chen Dengming struck an exaggerated splits posture with both legs, straddling like a formidable general across the two ends of the two supporting pillars inside the room to cultivate.
Beneath the beams.
The array disc's spiritual light flickered, and the little array spirit had a fairy-like figure. Bathed in a rain of light, her dance posture was graceful and she danced with all her might, gathering a large amount of white metal spiritual energy that converged and surged toward Chen Dengming, muttering in her mouth.
Fellow Daoist, your cultivation speed is already very fast.
Not enough, still not fast enough.
Chen Dengming's entire being of essence, Qi, and spirit was highly concentrated, and wisps of white smoke even steamed and rose from the top of his head, with bird-claw-like sweat traces flowing across his forehead and face.
When the metal spiritual energy was completely absorbed and exhausted.
The little array spirit's dance posture changed, presenting wondrous phases, and the wood spiritual energy outside the array was once again entirely absorbed, aiding Chen Dengming's cultivation.
The spirit stones embedded in the six corners suffered severe consumption, suddenly making successive pop-pop sounds, and abruptly shattered apart.
They actually consumed away again? Is this already the tenth round? Sixty low-grade spirit stones have just been consumed into empty air like this.
Chen Dengming awoke from cultivation, lowered his head to glance at the shattered spirit stones below, shook his head, and flipped down from the beams. The faint, oppressive spiritual might emanating from his body was much more formidable than a month ago.
As early as eleven days ago, he had already broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, finally stepping into the middle stage of Qi Cultivation.
Now, after continuing to consolidate for over ten days, his cultivation had grown increasingly profound.
With a massive amount of spirit stones fiercely smashed down, coupled with the assistance of the little array spirit, his cultivation speed—even though he was cultivating outside the gathering place—was actually only two tenths weaker than inside Lüojia Mountain.
At this moment, calming his mind, he glanced at the current state of the Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique.
Qi Cultivation Fourth Level cultivator [Chen Dengming] Lifespan: 163/277 Spiritual Root: Metal, Wood (Medium Grade 50/100) Martial Arts: Chen Family Martial Arts General Outline (Great Circle) Daoist Magic: Gu Refining Chapter (Master 27/100), Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique (Level 4 44/400), Chen Family Daoist Magic Chapter (Proficient 31/100), Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique (Level 1 37/100), Artifact Control Art (Master 9/100)
Ever since his strength broke through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, his lifespan limit had once again increased by fifteen years.
Coupled with the first-grade third-tier Vajra Shield Technique also having been cultivated to the proficient tier during this period, which continued to increase his lifespan limit by five years, his current lifespan limit was as high as 277 years.
If he were to risk exhausting his lifespan right now to practice the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique, his spiritual root potential could also be upgraded to the superior grade.
Once I also learn the first-grade fourth-tier Gold Touch Technique obtained back at the Ascension Convention, I can also begin to continue practicing the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique.
Chen Dengming calculated inwardly.
Temporarily concluding his cultivation of the Three Yuan Spirit Gathering Technique, he prepared to bathe in fragrant soup and then begin setting about practicing the Gold Touch Technique.
At this time, the little array spirit was exhausted and slumped, having long since shrunk back into the array disc, self-pityingly massaging her own little arms and little legs, humming and hawing to express her dissatisfaction.
Through these days of getting along, she was no longer so timid.
Knowing that Chen Dengming looked like a great villain and frequently exploited and oppressed her, in reality his heart was not bad.
Moreover, what touched her the most was that Chen Dengming seemed very concerned about her past state of existence, frequently inquiring and mentioning that if it weren't for the chaotic external world nowadays and the abundance of demon beasts, he would go and check out the cavern where she was originally discovered.
In the little array spirit's thoughts, being able to make this cultivation maniac spare a portion of time to spend on her was already a rare favor, leaving her quite flattered and pleasantly surprised.
That's right, Ling'er, has that Fellow Daoist Jiang outside not returned yet?
Chen Dengming inquired while putting on the cotton-padded jacket sewn by Xu Wei, his brows gradually furrowing.
Jiang Qiang had just broken through to the Qi Cultivation Third Level a week ago, and after consolidating for a few days, he left the valley yesterday.
According to what he said, he was going to another residence to fetch some empty array discs and also inquire about conditions outside.
Considering Jiang Qiang's strength at the third level of Qi Cultivation, coupled with his cautious nature, proficiency in escaping, and the fact that he frequently went out to gather intelligence before, Chen Dengming let him leave the valley.
However, a full day had already passed, and yet Jiang Qiang still had not returned.
Fellow Daoist Jiang has not returned.
The array spirit gave her response.
Chen Dengming frowned and pushed open the room door.
The northerly wind outside rushed over howling like a frozen-stiff demon, whipping up his side-burn white hair. The raised sand grains, when scraping against his face, felt just like knife cuts.
This damn weather; clearly winter is going to pass in another month, yet it's getting increasingly cold.
Chen Dengming cursed in a low voice, feeling the cold wind drill straight into his hair strands and collar, and immediately pulled his collar tight.
He saw that there was still quite a bit of lingering snow left between the valley outside.
Chen Dengming looked at Jiang Qiang's house, shook his head, and first picked up a shovel to scoop up a large basin of snow. Using the Fireball Technique in conjunction with firewood to rapidly heat it up, he sat inside an iron pot to stew himself, taking a comfortable hot bath.
Afterward, he fed the dried spirit fish jerky—which he had caught from the valley and sun-dried—to the two Gu, while he himself sat to the side and shaved off his beard with the Ice Spirit Blade.
After a busy spell, seeing that patch of sky overhead grow dim once more, it was evidently about to turn dark.
Chen Dengming frowned.
Why hasn't Qiangzi returned yet? Could something have happened?
Pondering and meditating for a moment, he lifted the Ice Spirit Blade, ultimately intending to go out and take a look.
He had originally been counting on Jiang Qiang to gather intelligence and return, but as a result Jiang Qiang had continuously failed to return up to now, leaving Chen Dengming somewhat blind to the situation as well.
The resources in his own hands were also on the verge of exhaustion.
With the strength of the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level, he was already qualified to apply to enter Lüojia Mountain City to reside and become a guest elder, which would actually be more unhurried than his situation of scrambling in the gathering place in the past.
However, considering the trouble of the Lüo Family offending the Luo Family, Chen Dengming still preferred to keep his distance.
Given a choice and the ability, he would rather go to the slightly more distant Jingxiu Workshop to seek out opportunities.
Donning his bamboo hat.
Chen Dengming summoned the two spirit Gu—which were casting disdainful looks this way and that at the spirit fish meat—and drove his blade light to rapidly fly out of the valley.
The time it takes to brew a cup of tea later.
Chen Dengming halted with a solemn expression on the mountain path not far outside the valley, frowning as he inspected the traces suspected of being a spell battle and the numerous holes pierced into the mountain rock along the mountain path, feeling quite doubtful.
Judging from the traces, it seems to be the traces of cultivators fighting demon beasts here, and from the looks of it, it's that spider demon beast... Could it be Qiangzi...
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