Chapter 352: Wang Mingren's Doubt

Seizing the opportunity, a massive blue sword shot forth, severing the heads of two heavily wounded Gold-Eyed Fiery Apes. Their headless bodies collapsed to the ground, and copious amounts of blood gushed out, staining the earth red.

"Qingshan is truly formidable; even two mid-tier, second-rank Gold-Eyed Fiery Apes were no match for you," Wang Changhui said with a smile, his face alight with joy.

Hunting demonic beasts was indeed dangerous. Despite bringing several second-rank puppet beasts and having Wang Qingshan, a sword cultivator, three clan members had tragically died and two were severely wounded. Of course, greater danger also meant greater rewards.

Wang Changhui's wife had given birth to two sons and one daughter, but only their youngest son, Wang Qingzhen, possessed spiritual roots. He hoped to earn more spirit stones to ensure a smoother path for his son in cultivation.

"Uncle Eleven, you flatter me. If you hadn't severely wounded the two Gold-Eyed Fiery Apes using the second-rank puppet beasts, I wouldn't have been able to kill them so easily. Alright, quickly dispose of the Fiery Apes' bodies, gather the spirit herbs, and prepare to go home. Second-rank demonic beasts in the White Dragon Mountains are becoming increasingly difficult to find, so I plan to move to a different area. While we're at it, we also need to repair the second-rank puppet beasts; two of them are severely damaged, and I'm not sure if they can be mended."

Wang Qingshan said in a deep voice, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Over the past two years, he had led clan members on demonic beast hunts. Three clan members had died tragically, two were severely wounded, and three second-rank puppet beasts were rendered unusable. The Wang family wasn't the only group hunting demonic beasts; other immortal cultivation families also engaged in similar activities. With second-rank demonic beasts in the Wei Kingdom becoming increasingly scarce, Wang Qingshan planned to return to the clan for a period of rest and recuperation, striving to advance his cultivation to the third level of Foundation Establishment before venturing to other countries to hunt demonic beasts.

Fifteen minutes later, Wang Qingshan and his group emerged from the cave. He released a small blue boat, which rapidly expanded and hovered before them. Everyone climbed aboard one after another.

Wang Qingshan made a hand seal, and the blue flying boat glowed brightly. It soared into the sky, disappearing into the distance shortly after.

In a quiet courtyard within the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

Xu Zihua looked at Wang Mingren with an approving expression and said kindly, "Mingren, you've already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. You can now attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. I know that, according to the sect's regulations, with your dual spiritual root aptitude, you can apply for a Foundation Establishment Pill to attempt the breakthrough once you reach the ninth level of Qi Refining. However, to be cautious, I will give you another Foundation Establishment Pill."

After speaking, he took out a blue wooden box and handed it to Wang Mingren.

Wang Mingren had been with the sect for nearly ten years. He cultivated an Earth-grade cultivation technique. While the Taiyi Immortal Sect provided a considerable amount of resources each month, Xu Zihua would periodically give Wang Mingren additional cultivation resources. It was precisely because of this that Wang Mingren's cultivation speed was so rapid.

To be honest, Wang Mingren was extremely grateful to Xu Zihua. However, he was also somewhat puzzled: Xu Zihua was simply too kind to him! He had never lacked cultivation resources from his master, and now he was even receiving an extra Foundation Establishment Pill.

Throughout his life, no one outside his immediate family had ever treated him so well.

If he hadn't grown up in the Wang family, he might have even thought he was Xu Zihua's illegitimate son!

Wang Mingren expressed his thanks and accepted the blue wooden box. After much hesitation, he couldn't help but ask, "Master, your kindness to this disciple is as vast as a mountain; I am eternally grateful. However, I have a question, and I hope Master can clarify it for me."

"Between master and disciple, speak directly. I dislike beating around the bush the most."

"Master, your great kindness is something this disciple can never repay in a lifetime. I wonder if there is anything Master needs this disciple to do?"

Wang Mingren asked cautiously, a hint of unease in his heart.

A master's role is to impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts. It was normal for high-level cultivators to accept disciples and pass down their legacy. However, the cultivation technique Wang Mingren practiced was completely different from Xu Zihua's. Furthermore, Wang Mingren had a senior brother and a senior sister; his senior brother cultivated the same technique as Xu Zihua. Even though Wang Mingren had dual spiritual roots, Xu Zihua was exceptionally good to him, constantly urging him to cultivate.

While grateful, Wang Mingren also felt a sense of unease. Other Core Formation cultivators did not treat their disciples with such exceptional kindness.

"I was going to tell you this sooner or later; there's no harm in telling you now. As you know, our sect is divided into eight lineages: Thousand Swords, Hundred Refinements, Divine Elixir, Purple Sky, Myriad Beasts, Azure Cloud, Taiyi, and Celestial Star. I hail from the Hundred Refinements lineage. Since you are my disciple, you naturally belong to the Hundred Refinements lineage as well. According to the sect's regulations, if a high-level cultivator is nurtured, the sect will heavily reward their master, and the lineage they come from will also be honored. My urging you to cultivate is both for your benefit and for mine. Besides that, I want you to enter the Taiyi Secret Realm to gather spirit herbs for me."

Xu Zihua explained patiently.

"The Taiyi Secret Realm? What is that place?"

"Our sect's founder, using great divine abilities and aided by a fourth-rank formation, sealed off an area to serve as a training ground for future disciples. This place is the Taiyi Secret Realm. It is a Profound-grade secret realm, where many rare spirit herbs grow, including quite a few thousand-year-old ones. I was originally a rogue cultivator. When I entered the Taiyi Immortal Sect, I gathered a thousand-year-old spirit herb there, which is how I obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill and successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment. The Taiyi Secret Realm opens once every two hundred years, and the next opening is still fifty years away. I want you to enter and gather some third-rank spirit herbs. Your senior brother sustained internal injuries during a battle with someone a few years ago, and they haven't healed yet. As for your second senior sister, she wants to get married, and I can't very well stop her. Therefore, I can only ask you to go. Fifty years is enough time for you to cultivate to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment. At that time, I will bestow upon you several treasures. Your chances of coming out alive are still quite high. Naturally, if you can gather any thousand-year-old spirit herbs from the Taiyi Secret Realm, our Hundred Refinements lineage will also reward you handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingren immediately understood.

This explanation made sense.

"This disciple understands. I will certainly cultivate diligently and enter the Taiyi Secret Realm to gather spirit herbs for Master."

Wang Mingren agreed repeatedly. He couldn't refuse. No one could say what would happen in fifty years; perhaps Xu Zihua would change his mind by then!

Xu Zihua was pleased with Wang Mingren's attitude. He said kindly, "I won't disturb your cultivation. I hope that the next time I see you, you will have already established your Foundation. After Foundation Establishment, you can return home to visit your family."

Wang Mingren agreed and personally escorted Xu Zihua out.

After seeing Xu Zihua off, Wang Mingren entered his secluded cultivation chamber and sat down cross-legged.

He meditated for a full day and night, adjusting his condition to its peak. He then took out a blue wooden box, opened it, and saw a blue pill inside, emitting an enticing, unique fragrance.

Wang Mingren picked up the blue pill with two fingers, his eyes gleaming with fervor.

He placed the Foundation Establishment Pill into his mouth. The pill dissolved instantly upon contact, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy rose in his abdomen, coursing wildly throughout his body.

He immediately circulated his cultivation chant to refine the immense spiritual energy within him.

Before long, a vast amount of golden and fiery light emerged within the chamber.