9192: If I Could Have a Cup of Wine for Foundation Establishment, Why Keep Bowing My Head to Outsiders?

Upon seeing the cultivators and spirit boat of the Longevity Sect ahead, Chen Dengming was initially delighted, but then became puzzled.

Upon closer inspection, a faint membrane of light emerged between the tortoise and snake peaks, appearing and disappearing intermittently, like a barrier blocking the way.

Some remote and secluded spots were even guarded by cultivators from the Longevity Sect.

What are you doing?

Chen Dengming's heart skipped a beat. He descended his Escape Light and looked at the intersection outside the light membrane, where a large number of cultivators were gathered. They seemed to have been checked before being allowed in.

He hesitated for a moment, not immediately moving closer.

Instead, he first used his internal energy to carefully suppress the Blood Sha Qi within his body, and then used the Bone Shrinking Technique to slightly change his appearance. He no longer wore the Human Skin Mask and quickly put away the Wu Ling Duo behind his waist.

Having come from the borderlands to the edge of this eastern region, one can no longer pretend to be someone to be trifled with.

Most of the cultivators here are disciples of sects. You, a Rogue Cultivator, act all intimidating. Who are you trying to scare?

People see you as a Rogue Cultivator and might try to provoke you; that's something that can happen, so don't go looking for trouble.

Chen Dengming decided to go back to being the "Little Chen" he was known for: if you want to be successful in public, you have to suffer in private.

Keep a low profile for now, and then rise to prominence once you've reached the Foundation Establishment and become a disciple of a major sect.

After confirming that nothing had been missed, he moved closer to the crowd and listened intently to the conversations of some people.

"It's said that they check your background and origins, and you have to pay a Low-grade Spirit Stone to get an identity pass; otherwise, you can't go in."

"Huh? That can't be. The Longevity Sect has always been a peaceful and unassuming sect with a good reputation and deep pockets. Why would they suddenly kick someone when they're down, setting up roadblocks and demanding fees?"

"Tch--You guys are really short-sighted. It's just a Low-grade Spirit Stone. The identity pass issued by the Longevity Sect used to be hard to buy, not to mention one Low-grade Spirit Stone, even five would be hard to come by."

With this, even if you're a Rogue Cultivator, once you enter the Longevity Sect's territory, you won't be ostracized everywhere. It's like you've been recognized by the Longevity Sect."

"That's true, but why would the Longevity Sect make such a big fuss? Even if the Nether Moon Sect and the Moon Gazing Sect fight fiercely, would they dare to invade the Longevity Sect's territory? The Moon Reflection Sect, which is above both of these sects, is on the verge of collapse."

"When the Yellow Phoenix Sect and the Black Sand Sect fought, the Longevity Sect didn't even bother with them."

"I don't know, I'm afraid the situation isn't that simple. Moreover, the Supreme Ancestor of the Moon Reflection Sect is only missing, not dead. Something might happen."

Upon hearing this, Chen Dengming's heart stirred. He tucked his hands into his sleeves, adopted a harmless demeanor, and leaned closer with a smile, "Hey, fellow Daoist, why has the Moon Reflection Sect Supreme Ancestor disappeared?"

The speaker frowned, glanced at Chen Dengming, and said coldly, "Don't pry into the affairs of high-ranking members of the immortal Immortal Sect."

The man stopped speaking before he could finish, looking at the Low-grade Spirit Stone that Chen Dengming had handed him with surprise.

"I, your humble servant, will cover your travel expenses later, fellow Daoist."

Chen Dengming smiled modestly and said, "I won't say I'm treating you to a meal, I'll just say I'm overstepping my bounds."

The cultivator who had spoken chuckled, glanced around at the other cultivators who were also trying to eavesdrop, gave a soft snort, and winked at Chen Dengming.

I'm only telling you this.

Then he transmitted his voice.

"It is said that the Nascent Soul expert of the Moon Reflection Sect offended some powerful figure back then. Several other sects also offended that powerful figure. A Nascent Soul expert from the Wonderful Sound Sect Nascent Soul died."

This event caused a great stir back then, but since more than a century has passed, I don't know the specifics of what happened. I only learned about it from an elder.

Fellow Daoist, do you think it's possible that the Nascent Soul Nascent Soul from the Moon Reflection Sect is already dead, and that the powerful figure who caused the tragic death of the Nascent Soul Nascent Soul from the Wonderful Sound Sect has reappeared, which is why the Longevity Sect has set up such a grand display?"

"This"

"It cannot be spoken of, it cannot be spoken of. These are merely my conjectures, not to be taken seriously, fellow Daoist, let's call it even~"

Chen Dengming nodded slightly. At this moment, the queue in front of him had been formed. He approached and pondered to himself.

"Could it really be related to that Sha Star, like me, came from the South? That seems to be the only explanation, but how could that possibly have anything to do with the Nether Moon Sect and the Moon Gazing Sect?"

He couldn't figure it out, but Chen Dengming was too lazy to think about it.

Such powerful individuals are completely beyond comprehension.

Excessive worry is simply needless anxiety.

Just like in my past life, I was always worried that a war between two great powers would affect my own security. But what use are the worries of ordinary people? It only adds to their troubles. The will of the strong does not change according to the weak.

The only way is to quickly become strong before the turmoil arrives.

Soon, it was Chen Dengming's turn to queue.

One of the cultivators questioning them said, "Where are you from? What's your name? What's your strength? Tell the truth!"

"Replying to Brother Dao, I come from Jue Lin City, my name is Gao Hu, and Qi Cultivation Tenth Level of Qi Refining."

Chen Dengming honestly replied that he dared not hide anything except his name, because if he did, it would be troublesome if he were found out on the spot.

Upon hearing this, the people behind him all changed color slightly, staring in astonishment at Chen Dengming's burly back, their minds filled with various thoughts and calculations.

A rogue cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Level of Rogue Cultivator?

The cultivator conducting the inspection was slightly taken aback. He glanced at Chen Dengming's graying temples and said, "You must be quite old."

Chen Dengming nodded with a smile, then shook his head. "I look a bit old, but I'm not actually that old. I used some Secret Method in my cultivation, which shortened my lifespan."

Upon hearing this, the cultivator's eyes flashed with disdain and realization. Longevity Sect cultivators naturally disdained using such Evil Dao methods as shortening one's lifespan to enhance strength. He said, "Judging from your appearance, you don't seem to be a native cultivator of Jue Lin City?"

"Oh, no, I'm actually a cultivator from a remote corner near Bright Moon Workshop, on the border."

"Speak a few words in your local dialect."

Chen Dengming was dumbfounded.

Fortunately, he reacted quickly. He had lived in Bright Moon Workshop for quite some time, and Zhu Xun often spoke to him in a dialect. He immediately imitated Zhu Xun's speech patterns.

"Our alliance is in trouble! Things are not peaceful here, we need to take refuge here."

The monk conducting the inspection laughed, "So you really are from the same hometown!"

Chen Dengming was at a loss. Was this cultivator going to continue communicating with him in the dialect of Bright Moon Workshop? He only knew three basic techniques.

At this moment, another cultivator frowned and interrupted, "Alright, alright, if there are no problems, let's go quickly."

The cultivator who claimed to be a fellow villager gave Chen Dengming a friendly smile, took the Spirit Stone from him, handed him a travel pass with a message already entered, and let Chen Dengming leave.

Chen Dengming walked quite a distance, and only after passing through the second checkpoint ahead with his travel permit did he follow the flow of people across the mountain path of Turtle Snake Peak, feeling much more relaxed.

Looking back, there were even more cultivators still queuing up in a huge line.

Above, the Longevity Sect's spirit boat hovered.

Many disciples, dressed in standard monastic robes, paraded around, looking majestic and imposing.

On the spirit boat, some figures could be vaguely seen sitting, presumably Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Chen Dengming secretly resolved to join the sect and become Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Putting everything else aside, just look at the current situation: people with the same cultivation level but different identities will have completely different circumstances.

As Rogue Cultivator, one is like a weed, bending whichever way the wind blows, and acting according to the whims of others.

The sect disciples, though only at the Qi Refining stage and no more advanced than him, could still look down from above and decide the fate of Rogue Cultivator.

He composed himself and examined the travel guide in his hand, which resembled a jade talisman, with the Longevity Sect's Dragon Turtle emblem on both sides.

A wisp of Spiritual Qi was inputted, and the road sign instantly lit up, revealing its message.

Name: Gao Hu

Origin: A cultivator from the vicinity of Bright Moon Workshop on the eastern border.

Strength Realm: Qi Cultivation Tenth Level

Confirmed?: Confirmed.

"It appears to be just a simple check and recording of origins."

Chen Dengming pondered for a moment, then glanced at the Longevity Sect disciples patrolling the intersection not far away, and immediately went over to try and get closer to them.

After a cup of tea.

The Longevity Sect cultivator, who had been wearing a long face, smiled and narrowed his eyes.

He squeezed the Mid-grade Spirit Stone in his hand, then coughed lightly as if to appear nonchalant, and looked Chen Dengming up and down.

"Brother Gao, with your Qi Cultivation Tenth Level strength, why would you want to join the Evergreen Sect? Isn't that a waste of your potential?"

Chen Dengming sensed a hint of sarcasm in his words, smiled, clasped his hands, and said, "I'm not aggrieved. In fact, I've always dreamed of joining the Longevity Sect, but I'm getting a bit old now, and I don't dare to waste a year trying."

"If I could join the Evergreen Sect and gradually cultivate until I reach the Foundation Establishment, I should then be able to join your esteemed sect, right?"

"Hehehe, Foundation Establishment? Brother Gao, you're really something, you dare to dream big! If you really achieve Foundation Establishment, you can certainly join my Longevity Sect. At that time, I, Little Liu, will have to call you Martial Uncle."

The cultivator surnamed Liu spoke with a slightly sarcastic tone, his words carrying a strange and unsettling undertone.

Chen Dengming had encountered many such androgynous people in his early years, but his expression remained unchanged.

Hearing that he could join the Longevity Sect once he had Foundation Establishment in the Evergreen Sect, he was delighted and continued to humbly inquire about various other matters.

Having already spent the equivalent of a Mid-grade Spirit Stone as a bribe, I still have to get the information even after enduring some sarcastic and sarcastic remarks.

Fortunately, although Liu Tao was a two-faced person, he still did his job after receiving the benefits.

After some questioning, Chen Dengming understood the conditions and tests required to join the Evergreen Sect, but his mood became heavy.

"The Evergreen Sect recruits Rogue Cultivator. Those with Low-grade Spiritual Root must be under 25 years old and have reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Level. Those with Medium-grade Spiritual Root only need to be under 40 years old to join directly."

"My bone age is under fifty, but my strength has reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Level. How do you explain that?"

After Chen Dengming voiced his doubts, Liu Tao said he couldn't help him either.

Because cases like Chen Dengming's are very rare.

Or rather, it hasn't happened in the last hundred years.

Naturally, there are no specific requirements in this regard.

The specific details will be determined on the day the Evergreen Sect recruits, at the Immortal Sect's location.

In addition to age and qualifications, the Evergreen Sect also tests disciples' character, conduct, and other aspects.

As for the Longevity Sect's recruitment requirements, they are even more stringent.

They also accept Rogue Cultivator, but only those under fifteen years old with Medium-grade Spiritual Root or above.

We will not accept anyone who is older, regardless of their abilities.

Of course, if any Foundation Establishment cultivators among the Rogue Cultivator are willing to join, the Longevity Sect will welcome them, but they will only be hired as external affairs stewards, not as disciples, and they will not be able to learn the fundamental techniques.

The law should not be passed on lightly.

It's not uncommon for individuals under fifteen years old with mid- Medium-grade Spiritual Root to suddenly appear among Rogue Cultivator. They are usually descendants of these Rogue Cultivators or individuals with Spirit Root who suddenly emerge from remote corners of the world.

These people have traveled long distances to join the Longevity Sect. They are not old, their loyalty can be cultivated, and they are like cinnabar moles.

Rogue Cultivator a Foundation Establishment cultivator to emerge from among the rogue cultivators is like mosquito bites—they're definitely seasoned veterans who've already made their mark in multiple Cultivation Family. How could they possibly recruit such a seasoned veteran as a disciple and pass on their fundamental teachings?

After finding out everything, Chen Dengming really wanted to snatch back the information fee of a Mid-grade Spirit Stone from the hermaphrodite.

He was now clear that the other party Qi Cultivation Seventh Level of Qi Refining, so where did their sense of superiority come from?

That's right, it lies in his status as formal disciple of the Longevity Sect.

In his previous life, Liu Tao would have been a legitimate civil servant with a permanent, secure job.

Chen Dengming, on the other hand, was a self-proclaimed office worker who felt he had social experience and ability but was too old. He wanted to take the exam, but was limited by his age and was not even eligible to take it.

Fortunately, perhaps the Evergreen Sect can still find a way out.

The absence of precedent does not mean that a precedent cannot be set; it is all up to human effort.

Five days later.

Within the Evergreen Sect territory, in a residential area of Changle Workshop.

Having just arrived in Changle Workshop, Chen Dengming amiably visited his neighbors, bringing some gifts with him.

When they arrived at the neighboring family of a monk surnamed Li, they discreetly added a beautiful and lovely Law Artifact to their gifts.

"Hehehe, Fellow Daoist Gao, there's no need to be so polite."

"Of course, Mr. Gao is new to this place and doesn't know anyone. From now on, we'll be neighbors. As the saying goes, a close neighbor is worse than a distant relative!"

Chen Dengming said politely.

The neighbor, a monk surnamed Li, received the gift, smiled politely, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two returned to their respective houses.

"Dad, this guy surnamed Gao is quite sensible; he probably knows my uncle's identity."

Inside the room of the cultivator surnamed Li, a teenage girl pouted.

Li Rong frowned and shook his head. "Girl, don't talk nonsense. This Fellow Daoist Gao has given gifts to all the neighbors. He's very generous. I think he's a good person."

The little girl snorted, opened the gift bag, and immediately saw the Law Artifact hairpin inside. Her eyes lit up instantly.

Wow--what a beautiful hairpin! It's mine now.

"Um?"

Li Rong was surprised and glanced at the other gifts in the bag.

He glanced again at the hairpin, Law Artifact that the girl had taken, and seeing that it was only a low-grade Law Artifact, he felt relieved, thinking to himself, "This Fellow Daoist Gao is quite thoughtful."

Chen Dengming vaguely heard the girl's laughter from the next room and nodded slightly.

For the time being, he has settled down in Changle Workshop.

Even Rogue Cultivator, as long as they have money, can still find a relatively comfortable place to settle down.

Changle Workshop belongs to the Evergreen Sect and is protected by the Evergreen Sect, so the environment is very safe.

The cost of renting for a month is two Mid-grade Spirit Stones, comparable to that of Jue Lin City.

With such high rental fees, the cultivators who can afford to live in Changle Workshop are naturally all elites among Rogue Cultivator.

Almost all of them have their own skills to make a living or possess the strength of Qi Cultivation High Level cultivator. It is very necessary to maintain good relations with these neighbors, because some of them may have relatives in the Evergreen Sect.

Cats have their ways, and mice have theirs.

Chen Dengming had vaguely learned that Li Rong next door seemed to have a cousin who worked as a steward in the Evergreen Sect, a background that was not weak.

However, when trying to get closer to someone, you should let things happen naturally and not force it or make up stories.

Chen Dengming is not in a hurry for now.

There are still about two or three months before the Evergreen Sect recruits disciples, which is enough time for him to prepare.

After settling down here, he planned to first resolve some issues with his own Blood Sha Qi and then sell the magical Law Artifact he obtained from Yu Xiu in Changle Workshop.

Purchase some books on Foundation Establishment to learn more about the process of breaking through from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment.

Without breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm, I still feel uneasy and lack confidence.

Just three days prior, in the outer region of the Eastern Domain, it seemed that the Nether Moon Sect and the Moon Gazing Sect had officially begun fighting.

Chen Dengming heard a thunderous roar from a great distance.

Looking back from afar, I saw nothing.

Every now and then, spirit boats from the Longevity Sect could be seen flying by in the air, making it seem like the situation was very tense.

This situation made him uneasy, and he thought of the Sha Star again.

Ultimately, the Nether Moon Sect and the Moon Gazing Sect are just Immortal Sect.

The Golden Core Cultivator within each sect were all only at the initial stage.

No matter how hard they fight, they can't possibly alarm the behemoth that is the Longevity Sect.

Strange as it may be, this is something a mere Qi Refining cultivator like him can't control. He can't possibly give the fishmonger face and tell the other families to stop fighting.

You should continue your cultivation practice peacefully.

Time flies, and a month and a half has passed.

It was deep winter.

In a mountain forest outside Changle Workshop.

The evergreen cypress trees were covered with fluffy, heavy snowflakes, like jade carvings, sparkling and shiny.

Suddenly, a series of booming sounds accompanied by the roars of beasts echoed from the mountains and forests, causing large snowballs to fall.

Suddenly, the canopy of a large tree, along with countless leaves and snowflakes, trembled open.

A Demon Beast with glossy fur, resembling Black Panther, roared and charged out of the treetops, its pair of fleshy wings spreading as it prepared to fly away.

But in that instant, the sky darkened, and the two iron claws, shimmering with spiritual light, merged into one iron fist and slammed down fiercely.

The Black Panther roared, and suddenly spat out a bolt of lightning, blasting away the iron fist.

But in that instant, another transparent, spiderweb-like magical Law Artifact descended from the sky, instantly enveloping the Black Panther. Its spiritual light flashed, and it rapidly contracted.

"Roar--"

The Black Panther roared and struggled wildly, stretching the spider web until it shifted and twisted, but it only crashed heavily to the ground with a 'thud,' smashing open a large patch of snow.

"Behave yourself!"

Chen Dengming used a Gold Touch Technique to turn the Black Panther's two hind limbs into metal, and then stepped closer.

The spiderweb shimmered with light, and the silk threads secreted a paralyzing venom, causing the Black Panther's struggles to weaken.

However, as soon as Chen Dengming approached, the Black Panther roared angrily, suddenly struggled and sprang up, opening its blood-red maw, its gleaming fangs biting through the mesh.

Chen Dengming frowned, and the Blood Sha Qi deep within his bones suddenly surged.

A surge of intense heat emerged from within him, instantly emanating an astonishing Sha Qi, causing the surrounding frigid air to seem to heat up in an instant.

A look of terror flashed across the Black Panther's eyes. Before it could react, Chen Dengming suddenly swung his arm, his thick, crimson arm, filled with Blood Sha Qi, instantly bulging with muscles, and slapped the panther across the face.

"Bang!--"

The immense impact force directly caused the leopard's face to cave in multiple times.

Two fangs, dripping with blood, shot out and fell onto the snow-covered, white ground, a horrifying sight.

Black Panther was slapped back and slammed hard onto the ground.

The ground beneath Chen Dengming trembled, the snow undulated like waves, and the soil, unable to withstand the enormous impact, cracked and collapsed, leaving two footprints.

"Awoo--"

As the Black Panther regained its senses, it stared at Chen Dengming in terror, white breath coming out of its nostrils and pitiful whimpers escaping its mouth. It was deeply terrified by this ferocious human who resembled a savage beast.

"Since I started to make good use of the Blood Sha Qi, my physical strength has increased a lot. This Demonic Cultivation Method seems to be following a path of Body Cultivation?"

Chen Dengming raised his palm, looking at his arm, which was filled with Blood Sha Qi and had prominent muscles and veins, and a hint of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

In his spare time during this period, he also purchased some helpful books from the Marketplace.

Examples include "Compendium of Acquired Spiritual Bodies" and "Detailed Explanation of Foundation Establishment."

In the book "Compendium of Acquired Spiritual Bodies", it is mentioned that there were some people in the Cultivation World who did not have Heavenly Spiritual Root, but whose cultivation aptitude was comparable to that of Heavenly Spiritual Root.

These acquired spiritual beings possess exceptional Spiritual Root Potential, being of High-grade Spiritual Root quality.

However, by combining some special methods, he cultivated an acquired spiritual body, making his aptitude even more outstanding.

Those special methods are nothing more than collecting various special spiritual things of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha, refining them into one's own body, combining them with High-grade Spiritual Root, condensing the Three Powers of heaven, earth, and man, illuminating the three treasures of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and spirit, and cultivating an acquired spiritual body.

Once the spiritual body is fully formed, its actions may even be accompanied by the imagery of a Dharma body.

Chen Dengming happened to see in the book that Blood Sha Qi was a branch of the Seventy-two Earthly Fiends, and was considered the lowest grade of Sha Qi, and it seemed that it could also be cultivated in this way.

However, he had no method of cultivation.

However, this book did broaden his horizons.

At least the explanation in the book made him understand that Blood Sha Qi is a branch of Earth Fiend Qi.

How can one easily utilize Sha Qi?

Therefore, Chen Dengming attempted to use the body-strengthening methods of martial arts such as the Heavenly Silkworm Demonic Art to develop a rough plan for the rational use of Blood Sha Qi.

Currently, it is possible to use the Blood Sha Qi to nourish the five internal organs and strengthen the body while maintaining a state of stillness and tranquility, making the body younger and more energetic, and even the gray hair at the temples has returned to normal.

The four extremities of the human body are: hair (blood extremity), tongue (flesh extremity), teeth (bone extremity), and fingers (tendon extremity).

Gray hair indicates a lack of Blood Qi and energy, and insufficient nutrition.

Once the Blood Sha Qi was activated, the white hair naturally returned to normal.

During battle, the Blood Sha Qi can also be mobilized and applied to specific parts of the body, greatly enhancing strength and defense, making it comparable to that of Demon Beast.

This made his combat ability and physical strength even stronger.

However, it's best to use only a portion of this power for now.

There are still some risks involved in fully mobilizing all Blood Sha Qi for battle.

Therefore, Chen Dengming also purchased a calming magic circlet, just in case.

"Daoist, fellow Daoist, someone has arrived."

At this moment, the Little Array Spirit sent a warning from its chest.

Its spirit flashed and quickly shrank into Chen Dengming's bulging pectoral muscles, entering the array plate in his arms.

Chen Dengming's eyes flashed, and he suppressed his Blood Sha Qi. The 'Calming Heart Hoop' on his head flashed with spiritual light, conveying a cool sensation that helped to dispel the Sha Qi on his body.

The Black Panther Demon Beast, which was pretending to 'whimper' on the ground, stared at Chen Dengming with surprise and suspicion. When Chen Dengming's gaze swept over again, it immediately began to whimper again.

"Splash--"

The trees rustled in the distance, and two figures appeared on a branch. Upon seeing Chen Dengming, one of them clasped his hands in surprise and smiled.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Gao. I just heard some intense fighting coming from this area, and I was wondering who was fighting here."

The newcomer's gaze suddenly sharpened as he stared at the Black Panther with wings on its back on the ground. He was startled and moved.

"Black Cloud Leopard at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Level? I didn't expect you, Brother Gao, to have captured it alive! Wow, that's truly impressive!"

A girl of about ten years old standing next to him looked on with surprise, her eyes filled with curiosity and doubt as she looked at Chen Dengming.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Li!"

Chen Dengming smiled as he looked at the newcomers, then turned his gaze to the little girl, cupping his fists in greeting, "And this Little Fellow Daoist Li."

The little girl raised her eyebrows slightly, gave a soft hum, and then turned slightly to hide behind her father, a hint of joy at being recognized flashing in her eyes.

The people who suddenly appeared were none other than their neighbor, Li Rong, and his daughter.

Seeing that Chen Dengming's attitude remained friendly and amiable, Li Rong relaxed slightly and smiled, "Since Fellow Daoist Gao has nothing else to do, I won't disturb you any longer. Let's get together again when we get back."

"Great!" Chen Dengming clasped his hands in a fist and laughed heartily, "I've had such a great haul today, I'll definitely treat Brother Li to a celebratory drink when I get back."

Li Rong's heart skipped a beat. He glanced at Chen Dengming, nodded, and smiled, "Alright! I'll be waiting for Brother Gao to host the banquet."

After Li Rong and his daughter left.

Chen Dengming activated the Wu Ling Duo Seal, grabbed the Black Cloud Leopard, and quickly left.

He had found a good den in the mountains, which, after being concealed by the Wind Mist Chaos Inversion Formation created by Jiang Qiang, could be used to specifically imprison the Black Cloud Leopard.

He had encountered this Demon Beast by chance recently, and after seven or eight days of planning, he finally managed to hunt it down today. It was a real pity that he killed it so easily.

He planned to trap the beast and periodically collect its blood to practice the Dragon Coiling Bone Forging Art.

Then, by using the Blood Sha Qi to nourish the five internal organs, the overall condition of the body is improved, so that the whole person is not just transformed in terms of bone age, but completely reborn and regains youth.

The Evergreen Sect has very high standards, so he should start planning now to become younger and younger so that the Evergreen Sect can't find any fault with him.

As for the issue of one's own background, neighbor Li Rong became the breakthrough point.

It was dusk.

In the residences of Changle Workshop.

A fragrant aroma of wine wafted through the air.

When a little steam starts to rise from the wine pot...

Chen Deng picked up the jug by the handle, poured the warm, spicy wine into two bowls, and handed them to Li Rong, who was sitting opposite him, with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Li, come, try this Fierce Peach Brew. You're a local from Changle Workshop, so you must have never tasted this kind of strong wine before?"

Li Rong smiled as he accepted the wine bowl, saying meaningfully, "Fellow Daoist Gao possesses extraordinary strength and must be a prominent figure in the borderlands. Yet you have traveled thousands of miles from the borderlands to settle in Changle Workshop. I wonder what your purpose is?"

Chen Dengming sat down with a smile, sighed, picked up his wine bowl, and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Li asked directly, I, Gao, will tell you the truth. There's nothing to hide."

I think almost all the neighbors living in Changle Workshop have had the idea of joining the Evergreen Sect."

"Oh?"

Li Rong nodded slightly, unsurprised, and then smiled, "The Evergreen Sect will probably be recruiting disciples in about a month. With your strength, joining the Evergreen Sect should be no problem at all."

Chen Dengming shook his head with a smile, picked up his wine bowl and clinked it against Li Rong's, saying, "Brother Li, even now, you still won't tell me the truth? You know I must be in trouble."

Li Rong's eyes flashed. "Fellow Daoist, your strength is extraordinary, and you should look young, but you must be over forty, right?"

Chen Dengming smiled and shook his head, "Brother Li, you guessed wrong. Actually, I've just turned forty this year, not yet."

Li Rong raised an eyebrow. "Could it be that you, fellow Daoist, possess Low-grade Spiritual Root?"

Chen Dengming shook his head and sighed, "That's the problem. I don't have Low-grade Spiritual Root; in fact, I have High-grade Spiritual Root."

"High-grade Spiritual Root!?" Li Rong was shocked.

"Unfortunately, I have a superior-grade Gold Wood Counteracting Spiritual Root. Fellow Daoist Li, you should be aware of the trouble caused by incompatible Spirit Root."

Li Rong suddenly realized.

Although the Dual Spirit Root are of superior grade, the speed of Cultivation Practice Method is only comparable to that of Medium-grade Spiritual Root, and is even the worst among Medium-grade Spiritual Root. It is only relatively normal when cultivating Technique Method.

Therefore, those with such Spirit Root may indeed face some obstacles when joining a sect.

But such obstacles are usually not too great. This Fellow Daoist Gao, it seems you have other matters to attend to.

Chen Dengming poured another bowl of wine and solemnly said, "I have High-grade Counteracting Spiritual Root, so my cultivation speed is not slow. In addition, I have been diligently cultivating every day, hunting Demon Beast to exchange for Cultivation Resources. I have been doing this for decades, and finally broke through to the current Qi Cultivation Tenth Level at the age of forty."

All of this is thanks to my personal efforts!

Li Rong's gaze sharpened, realizing what Chen Dengming was seeking in return.

It all comes down to this 'personal effort'.

This is highly unrealistic.

Even a Rogue Cultivator with High-grade Counteracting Spiritual Root, even if they diligently cultivate and hunt Demon Beast to accumulate Cultivation Resources, will find it difficult to successfully cultivate to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Level within several decades.

It's not that it's impossible, but rather that it's very difficult.

The word "difficult" means that even if someone meets the requirements in terms of qualifications and age, the Evergreen Sect will still exclude them from the program in other ways.

That's just the reality.

Because this kind of talent is too peculiar.

If you were trained by a certain Lineage, as long as you say so, and the Evergreen Sect investigates and confirms it, there won't be any problems, and there's still a high probability that you'll be recruited.

However, having not joined He Family and wandering the Cultivation World for decades as Rogue Cultivator, the probability of him achieving the Qi Cultivation Tenth Level Refining on his own is extremely small.

It's possible they weren't telling the truth, or that they were concealing their identity and background, which raises serious questions.

Li Rong put down his wine bowl, indicating that he couldn't hold his liquor and could no longer drink.

The meaning is clear: the talks have broken down.

He didn't want to act as a go-between for Chen Dengming and take any risks.

Chen Dengming sighed inwardly, having anticipated this outcome.

He's not some charismatic protagonist in a novel who, upon arriving in a strange place, only needs to put in a little effort and spend a little money to befriend people, and those people immediately become his sworn brothers.

That's impossible; the opposite is often true.

However, he didn't expect this first candid exchange to be successful.

If it were that easy, he would feel uneasy.

He naturally had other preparations as well.

For the next month, Li Rong assumed that Fellow Daoist Gao next door, would continue to contact him frequently after that failed communication.

They spared no expense in offering bribes, such as Spirit Stone or Law Artifact.

He had already learned this kind of trick from many fellow Daoists.

He had already prepared several ways to politely decline.

If the other party continues to be unreasonable, he will no longer be polite.

Gao Hu, though powerful, was, after all, an outsider.

He figured that with his cousin's authority, the other party wouldn't dare to go too far.

As a result, the entire winter passed, and the day when Evergreen Sect recruiting people was fast approaching, but Old Gao next door showed no intention of contacting him at all.

He usually either stays in seclusion to cultivate, practices Daoist magic in the courtyard, or goes out to hunt Demon Beast.

These daily behaviors are entirely consistent with his description.

It seemed that the other party had indeed cultivated through such arduous training over the past few decades, making their current strength perfectly reasonable.

Sometimes, Old Gao would even share some of the meat from the Demon Beast he hunted with his neighbors, just like he always did.

Every time she saw him, she would greet him as kindly as ever, and give the girl some strange little trinkets, but she would never mention asking him for help.

Even if someone is faking it, it's hard to maintain such a good facade forever, right?

If he could really do that, then he could be considered a good person.

Over time, not to mention the surrounding neighbors...

Li Rong noticed that recently, his maids seemed to have changed their impression of Old Gao, and they often went to visit the neighbors next door, which he couldn't stop them from doing.

"I don't believe it. This guy surnamed Gao is definitely faking it to improve my impression of him. If I soften my heart and agree to his request, I'll fall into his trap."

In the courtyard, after finishing his meal, Li Rong lay on a rattan chair, no longer thinking about the child's mother. He spent all his time pondering Lao Gao. "There must be something wrong with Lao Gao. That's why he needs my help to ask my cousin to step in and help him join the Evergreen Sect. I can't fall for that."

I need to tell my daughter to go to his place less often these days. I've told her several times, but she won't listen. A daughter is like that, she's gone from home so quickly, sigh.

He suddenly stood up, only to find that the girl was gone, and his face immediately darkened.

I was just about to get up and go to Old Gao's house next door to look for him.

At the door, the girl Li Xue hummed a tune and skipped in, holding something glittering in her hand.

Li Rong's face darkened. "You little brat? You've accepted Lao Gao's things again?"

Before he could finish speaking, he had already leaped forward like a ignited fireball.

He snatched the item from his daughter's hand and slammed it to the ground.

"Snap--"

"Father!--"

The sound of things breaking and her daughter's tearful cries rang out at the same time.

"Dad, what are you doing? This is the wireless kite Uncle Gao bought for me! Waaah, this is what Mom used to love to play with me! You have to pay me back!"

Li Rong was taken aback, then became even angrier. "This stuff is only available in Wind Snow Village, 500 miles away. You're asking your Uncle Gao to go all that way to buy it for you?"

He raised his hand and couldn't let go, grabbing Li Xue and slapping her on the buttocks with a 'smack'.

Li Xue's sobs intensified. "I didn't ask him to buy it. You asked the neighbors who was going over there and asked them to bring back a kite. He happened to be hunting Demon Beast a few days ago and just bought it for him on a whim."

Li Rong was taken aback, and then realized that some time ago, unable to resist his daughter's pleas, he had indeed asked the neighbors to help him buy a piece of clothing if anyone passed by Wind Snow Village.

The commotion attracted the attention of the surrounding neighbors, who all offered kind words of advice.

Chen Dengming, however, did not show up at all.

He was sitting inside the house, making final preparations for attempting to break through to the Foundation Establishment.

Of course, this time it was just a small trial.

According to the book "Detailed Explanation of Foundation Establishment", if you are not absolutely certain, it is best to just dabble at the entrance when you first try to break through to the Foundation Establishment, to get a feel for it, and to cultivate and become familiar with this feeling.

The wireless kite I bought for Li Xue was indeed just a cheap trinket I casually picked up a few days ago when I went to Wind Snow Village to buy a drug to help her break through to the next level. It wasn't something I deliberately bought to please the girl.

He wanted Li Rong to change his mind and help him; he wouldn't rely on Li Xue, that young girl, to achieve his goal indirectly.

Instead, it demonstrates its potential to attempt Foundation Establishment.

If there is anything in the world that speaks louder than a Low-grade Spirit Stone, it is a Mid-grade Spirit Stone. But what speaks louder than Spirit Stone is sheer power.

Life is full of difficulties, so don't force things. If you can Foundation Establishment in the cup of wine, why should you always bow your head to the outside world?

(9,400 words updated! I'm almost there today, even if I didn't reach 10,000 words! I've kept my promise. Thank you to all my readers for your monthly votes.)