"Qi Refining Fifth Layer..."
"No, wait..."
"Elder Jian... are you really sure we didn't misjudge him...?"
Sensing Lu Li's cultivation, Ye Chenfeng was somewhat dumbstruck.
When he had seen Lu Li earlier that day, he had clearly still been at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
How had he broken through by evening?
And...
"Junior Brother Lu... was that you comprehending an advanced technique just now?"
Ye Chenfeng swallowed, forcibly suppressing his shock as he asked.
At his words, Lu Li's brows furrowed slightly.
He weighed things in his mind.
It looks like my comprehending a technique just now drew this person over...
Was it a coincidence...?
This wilderness cave abode of mine has no formations set up. It looks like that's still a bit of a problem...
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Lu Li's expression remained unchanged.
He feigned realization and said,
"Oh, so that's what this is about. Yes, Senior Brother, didn't I comprehend the Intermediate Five Elements Instruction back in the menial disciples' area?"
"I gained some insight while cultivating just now and was lucky enough to have an epiphany, that's all..."
Lu Li's voice was sincere, and his expression looked natural too.
It was as though he really had comprehended it through sheer luck.
Before Ye Chenfeng could respond, Lu Li put on a puzzled look.
"Senior Brother Ye?"
"What... did you sense something just now?"
"Or did you have some other business...?"
"I... well... you..."
Stumped by the questions, Ye Chenfeng stammered.
He wanted to say he had come to make his acquaintance, but before he could speak, Elder Jian's voice came from his Dantian.
"Hmph! Boy, do you think this venerable one has misjudged someone again?"
"Yes, this venerable one indeed didn't expect him to be the one who comprehended an advanced cultivation method..."
"But what does that prove?! Hadn't this lad already comprehended the Intermediate Five Elements Instruction? Further progress hardly warrants surprise."
"Besides, it's only the First-Tier Five Elements Instruction. I thought it was some offensive technique..."
"Enough, there's no need to pay him another visit. Leave at once. Don't waste time."
Elder Jian had never said so much in one breath before.
His hurried tone also left Ye Chenfeng standing there dumbstruck.
This... isn't this strange?
He still hasn't misjudged him? No need to visit?
Ye Chenfeng came back to his senses.
He looked at Lu Li and ultimately said nothing more.
Cupping his fists, he flew away on his sword without a word.
"How bizarre..."
Watching Ye Chenfeng's retreating figure,
Lu Li's gaze flickered.
Whether based on his country's analysis or his own personal feelings, he did not particularly want contact with Ye Chenfeng.
But this person...
Why does it feel like he's inextricably entangled with me?
Could this... be the legendary karma?
Sure enough... a "protag's" karma really is powerful...
Taking a deep breath, Lu Li turned and returned to his cave abode.
Only after the stone door closed did he begin carefully making plans.
My cave abode has no protective formation. If a powerful cultivator passes by, there'll be risks too.
Hmm... once I've done some missions, learned artifact refining, and saved up contribution points and Spirit Stones, I'll get a formation plate.
Not just protective formations, either. I can get a couple of Spirit Gathering Formations and offensive formations too.
Only then can I rest easy...
Having settled his near-term goals and affairs, Lu Li thought no further.
He continued consolidating his cultivation.
Meanwhile, Ye Chenfeng, who had left Lu Li's cave abode, remained silent.
He could now be certain.
Lu Li was by no means ordinary.
Only...
"Elder Jian, do you have some prejudice against Junior Brother Lu...?"
"With talent like that, even if he isn't outstanding, he can hardly be called ordinary, right?"
Hearing Ye Chenfeng's voice, Elder Jian did not answer for a long while.
Only after a long time did he reply, sounding somewhat guilty.
"Ridiculous! What prejudice could this venerable one have against him?"
"Yes, this lad has indeed achieved something with his cultivation method, but at the end of the day, isn't it still just a first-tier cultivation method?"
"With his Five Spirit Roots aptitude, even using the Advanced Five Elements Instruction, he won't necessarily amount to much."
"Hmph... stop asking this venerable one about such trivial matters. You should worry more about yourself."
Somewhat annoyed, Elder Jian snorted and said no more.
Ye Chenfeng could hardly keep asking, so he could only fall silent...
Yet the one called Elder Jian could not stop muttering to himself in secret.
Could it be... that this venerable one really did misjudge him?
The next day.
As daylight filled the sky, Lu Li, whose cultivation had fully stabilized at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, walked out of his cave abode.
He dashed toward the Artifact Hall.
I can only fly on a sword at Late Qi Refining...
At my pace, and with the efficiency of Five Elements Instruction 3.0, I reckon it'll take over a year before that's even possible.
As he dashed along, he watched the streaks of light constantly flashing overhead.
Lu Li was terribly envious.
Wasn't flying the foremost ambition of Huaxia people who cultivated immortality?!
As he thought, the buildings of the Artifact Hall had already appeared before him.
A sprawling complex of ancient buildings occupied the mountaintop, magnificent and imposing.
Plumes of black smoke rose from deep within, giving off waves of scorched odors.
Lu Li followed the mission information recorded in his identity Jade Slip.
Only after asking several passing disciples in succession did he find out where the mission was.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Excuse me... is Master Wu here?"
Outside a side hall, Lu Li had just knocked on the hall doors.
Then he heard a deep, resonant voice from within.
"Come in!"
Creak!
He pushed open the hall doors, revealing a spacious hall.
At its center stood an enormous forging furnace three meters tall.
Beneath it, tongues of flame flashed through the hollow bluestone floor tiles.
Scorching heat hit him in the face.
It carried a smell unique to an artifact-refining workshop.
"You're the disciple who accepted my mission?"
"Mm, you're just in time. A thick layer of slag has already piled up today. Clean it out thoroughly."
A middle-aged man in blue robes emerged from behind the enormous forging furnace.
The man had a broad, sturdy build, a stern face, and a thick beard.
His whole person exuded a rugged air.
"Greetings, Master Wu."
Seeing that the newcomer wore blue robes and was undoubtedly a Foundation Establishment True Person, Lu Li immediately cupped his fists in salute.
"Mm, dispense with the formalities. I just finished using that furnace. Cool it down before cleaning it. If you get burned until your skin splits and flesh tears, don't blame this old man for not warning you."
Wu Changgeng looked Lu Li up and down.
Without another word, he turned and left.
Lu Li was left alone in the spacious hall.
So this is a forging furnace... why is it so imposing...?
Its grade probably isn't low either.
Looking at the forging furnace before him, Lu Li drew a breath and stopped dawdling.
Circulating the Five Elements Instruction, he raised his hand and formed a seal, pouring a water technique over the forging furnace.
"Hiss!"
The scorching heat instantly evaporated the water, sending up thick white mist.
However, Lu Li's comprehension of the Five Elements Instruction had already reached the advanced level.
The Five Elements Minor Techniques that came with the Five Elements Instruction had also grown greatly in power.
A Water Ball Technique he casually formed was dense and icy cold.
With just a little more Spiritual Power, it poured down like a pond being emptied.
This left Wu Changgeng, who had just walked out, frozen in place.
As a Foundation Establishment True Person, he already possessed Divine Sense.
He could naturally detect what was happening a mere hundred meters away.
He immediately turned around with an astonished expression.
"This... this is... the Advanced Five Elements Instruction?!"