Painstaking Efforts

"Waaaaah, Master, help me!" Jiang Xiaoyu was terrified. She dropped her chicken leg and stopped eating, running to Liu Zhijian and crying, "Duanmu- Master Duanmu is going to kill the fish!"

Liu Zhijian was heartbroken and quickly comforted you, "Don't cry, your uncle is just teasing you! That little... little thing was your uncle's spirit pet. It marked you, so you won't get lost from now on."

"A mark..." Jiang Xiaoyu stopped crying, then remembered Lingxia, whom she longed for and who could transform into animals, and exclaimed in surprise, "Like the mark on Senior Sister Hua's forehead?!"

Jiang Xiaoyu was extremely envious of the spiritual mark on Hua Chunning's forehead.

Liu Zhijian felt a headache coming on. This was in front of the ancestral hall, and his unworthy disciple had messed up the seniority system. He quickly nodded and said perfunctorily, "Yes, yes, almost."

Jiang Xiaoyu glanced at the black imp mark on the hem of her clothes and whispered, "Master, this is so ugly! It even looks a bit like Uncle Duanmu. Can we get a different one?!"

Duanmu Ren looked up at the sky, pretending not to hear.

If Hua Chunning's methods are like a gentle breeze, and Liu Zhijian's methods inspire fear, then Duanmu Ren's methods are enough to instill terror.

Li Chengxuan looked at it thoughtfully, not asking about the details, but only about the effect. "Can this mark be attached to the physical body or the soul?"

"Master, you are wise." Duanmu Ren was prepared. "Attaching to a physical body is naturally possible. As for the soul, this disciple has not yet tried it."

Li Chengxuan nodded in agreement and began to comment, "Zhijian's method of scheming is the most orthodox and also fits the imagery. He only needs to focus on cultivation and improve his skills."

After all, there was Immortal Foundation [Old Man by the Stream] waiting for Liu Zhijian to cultivate.

At least until the [Foundation Establishment] stage is complete, the [River and Sea Great Mound Scripture] is sufficient.

Liu Zhijian naturally understood Li Chengxuan's meaning and nodded in agreement.

Next is Hua Chunning.

"As for you..." Li Chengxuan glanced at Hua Chunning and reminded her, "It's good to establish more Daoist theories. However, your cultivation is still shallow, so you should also learn some self-defense and combat techniques."

"Otherwise, how will I gain experience when I go down the mountain?!"

"From today onwards, remember to go to the library and select a few spells."

"Spring flowers inherently possess hallucinogenic and mesmerizing connotations; one could learn some illusion techniques for self-defense."

"Peach blossoms bring much misfortune and calamity; peach wood is used to slay ghosts and destroy the body. Therefore, techniques of killing and destruction should be chosen from these two imagery."

Hua Chunning listened with a solemn expression. "Disciple obeys."

"As for you..." Li Chengxuan finally looked at Duanmu Ren and said softly, "Your wisdom is astonishing, especially in the [High Shaman] path, where you have already forged your own way. I have nothing more to teach you."

"[The High Shaman] is fierce and possesses many killing techniques, but I am not worried about that."

"Just remember, drowning victims are often good swimmers."

"For example, the mark tracking method you just demonstrated is quite ingenious. However, if you rely on it too much, it might actually make you vulnerable to being outmaneuvered by others."

"Whether it's a deliberate act to lure you into a trap, or a miraculous method to turn the tables and track you down, either is possible."

"It should be known that there are numerous lineages and traditions in this world, and countless Cultivation Method, secret techniques, and even Law Artifact that can counteract this type of mark."

"The higher your wisdom and understanding, the more cautious and prudent you must be. You must not be arrogant, and you must never underestimate anyone in the world."

" On Supreme Mystery Mountain, including you and me, there are only six of us."

"Even if Dao Hui ranks first among the six, so what?!"

"Look to the world, don't be a frog in a well!"

By the end, Li Chengxuan's voice had become somewhat stern.

Duanmu Ren was deeply shaken upon hearing this and remained speechless for a long time.

To say that one has no pride or arrogance would be a lie.

Whether it was his astonishing revelation of the evolution of the three ancient witches, his Qi Ingestion and forging his own Dao Path, his later pacification of the Huang Kingdom, and his guidance to Hua Chunning [Yi Wood], how could Duanmu Ren not feel a sense of self-satisfaction and arrogance?

It's said that the [High Shaman] lineage was severed and the Old Method were difficult to cultivate, but that doesn't seem to be the case at all. Didn't I still manage to easily defeat them?!

In terms of difficulty alone, it's far less challenging than getting into a top university from South Mountain Ridge!

Now, after being struck by Li Chengxuan's words, he suddenly came to his senses.

How did he acquire his most prized identity as a test-taker?

Under her mother's pressure, she memorized the entire textbook, remembering every tiny detail, and copied the wrong answers ten or a hundred times, not allowing any carelessness.

Now, it seems he has forgotten all of that and has even come to the idea that he has extraordinary talent.

Duanmu Ren took a deep breath, bowed respectfully, and said in a solemn voice, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. I will remember it well and dare not repeat the mistake."

Li Chengxuan nodded slightly, said nothing more, and then said, "Since today is a reunion dinner, as the master and sect leader, I cannot fail to offer my congratulations."

Everyone received a gift; let's keep up the good work next year.

"A gift, a gift..." Jiang Xiaoyu was the most enthusiastic, her face full of anticipation. "Do I get one too?!"

"Of course." Li Chengxuan smiled and nodded, then looked at Liu Zhijian and said slowly, "As the eldest disciple, Zhijian was ordered to go down the mountain for training before, and I gave him a black wooden Law Artifact as a magical artifact."

"That wooden stick is made of some kind of spiritual wood. It wasn't destroyed by the Divergent Flame; instead, it remained incredibly resilient, making it perfect for a fishing rod."

"Today, I found another clump of white veins, impervious to water and fire, and impossible to cut with knives or axes. Perfect for making fishing line for you."

"As for the fishhook, you'll have to figure that out yourself."

After saying that, he tossed a ball of white silk thread to Liu Zhijian.

"So my fishing rod is made of carbon fiber!" Liu Zhijian then realized the details of the wooden stick. He took the clump of tendons and felt that it was soft and tough but had a fishy smell.

However, by cultivating [Kan Water], one only needs to use more Law Power to cleanse and refine it, and it is not difficult to wash away the odors and impurities to make a suitable fishing line.

Liu Zhijian felt he was one step closer to his goal of fishing for dragons in the river and sea, and immediately said sincerely, "Disciple thanks Master for bestowing this treasure."

Li Chengxuan just smiled when he heard this, then looked at Hua Chunning, his expression turning solemn. "As for Chunning... you were already quite beautiful, and your Qi Ingestion has brought you even more benefits. You also received the Lingxia Seal, and you cultivate the [Yang Spring] style, yet you chose a double-branched peach blossom as your image."

Hua Chunning felt a little shy after hearing this.

But Li Chengxuan's next words made her stop laughing, and her expression changed drastically.

Li Chengxuan glanced at Hua Chunning and continued, "Peach blossoms bring many misfortunes and calamities, indicating a short and tragic life. Your ancestor, the Zhuohua, used peach blossoms as his Daoist name, and indeed, he perished prematurely, his body and Daoist essence dissipating."

"You entered the [Wu Earth Secret Realm] to Qi Ingestion and attain enlightenment, receiving the fortuitous opportunity left by [Zhuohua]. You must take this as a warning and not repeat the same mistake."

Hua Chunning was shocked, her face showing astonishment. "Disciple obeys."

Li Chengxuan continued before he could finish speaking, "Peach blossoms also symbolize romance, romance, and passion. By accepting you into the sect and supplementing your Manifestation, and by sending you to the [Wu Earth Secret Realm] to cultivate your Qi Ingestion, I hope you can have a long and successful Dao Path in the future and repay the sect."

"But I never imagined that one day you would become so engrossed in matters of love and romance, neglecting your spiritual practice and wasting all my painstaking efforts."

That's all I have to say. Take care of yourself.