Chapter 56

Lying on his bed in his small room, Wang Lin, with his current cultivation, had no drowsiness. He sat up, gazed at the moon outside the window, and with a flip of his right hand, took out a gourd and took a big sip.

"To break through the Qi Condensation stage and reach the Foundation Establishment stage, the amount of spiritual energy required is enormous. I need to start preparing dew." Wang Lin muttered to himself.

"That's right, kid. When do you plan to search for the wood-type materials to complete the Tian Ni bead?" Situ Nan asked.

"First, I'll find a place nearby to seclude myself and cultivate, striving to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. When that time comes, I'll search for it." Wang Lin pondered for a moment before replying.

The night passed without incident. In the following days, Wang Lin stayed by his parents' side. After living at home for half a month, Wang Lin bid farewell to his parents. With their reluctant farewell, his figure turned into a long rainbow and disappeared into the horizon.

This departure left Wang Lin feeling quite melancholic. He didn't know when he would return next, perhaps in a few years, or perhaps never...

The first choice for seclusion was the cave in the eye of the cliff, but after careful consideration, Wang Lin abandoned this place. His cultivation was different from others; he needed a water source. Even if it were a blessed land, he wouldn't choose it. Moreover, this place was too close to Hengyue Peak, making it too dangerous.

After a thorough search of the surrounding area, Wang Lin found a cave at the base of a barren mountain. Inside, there was a spring of groundwater, and there were many animal droppings around, indicating that animals frequently visited. After a detailed search of the cave to ensure there were no other exits, he used the Gravity Technique to control some rocks and seal the cave entrance.

Thus, the place was completely sealed, and Wang Lin began his second seclusion for cultivation.

Time flew by, and the days in the mountains passed quickly. One year, two years, three years, four years... Unconsciously, four years had passed.

Outside the cave where Wang Lin was in seclusion, the rocks that were initially piled up haphazardly were now covered with climbing plants, densely covering everything. Even from close up, it was hard to notice anything unusual.

Over the four years, this place had become a gathering spot for mountain animals, and some rare and exotic beasts often lingered here, breathing and exhaling near the cave.

One day, two streaks of light slid across the sky. Three people, two men and a woman, arrived here riding on sword light. The leading person was middle-aged, dressed in black, with eyes like lightning. He hovered in mid-air, exuding a graceful aura, resembling a celestial being. A small green sword under his feet glinted with a cold light, inspiring awe.

"Third Senior Brother, this time you must help me pick a more spiritual ink crystal beast. Next month is the competition for the quota to enter the back mountain. With an ink crystal beast as my sword spirit, I am sure to win." Beside the middle-aged man stood a woman, with a beautiful face, bright eyes, and a voice as melodious as a nightingale.

If Wang Lin saw this woman, he would recognize her. She was the Xu family girl who had a crush on Wang Zhuo four years ago. In four years, the once naive girl had grown into a graceful young woman, her eyes sparkling with even more charm than before.

The middle-aged man was momentarily dazed, and after a long while, he came to his senses and nodded, saying, "Junior Sister, you must try your best to enter the back mountain. After I help you catch the ink crystal beast, I will also seclude myself for cultivation."

Beside the woman stood a young boy, about eight or nine years old, tightly hugging her. His face was pale, and he shouted loudly, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, you flew too fast, I couldn't even open my eyes. Since we've arrived, let's go down quickly."

The Xu family woman smiled and said, "Junior Brother, didn't you insist on coming? I told you your cultivation isn't enough, but you didn't believe me. This is just a bit of speed, and you can't handle it."

The middle-aged man turned to look at the two and said in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, although you have excellent talent, if you can't endure this much hardship, how can you cultivate to become an immortal?"

The young boy, clearly very afraid of the man, immediately obediently said, "Third Senior Brother, I know I was wrong."

The Xu family woman tapped the boy's forehead and smiled, "Junior Brother, just wait a bit. We'll catch the ink crystal beast and return to the sect."

The boy nodded quickly and whispered, "Senior Sister, you are a genius of our Xuan Dao Sect. In just four years, you advanced from the fourth layer of the Qi Condensation stage to the seventh layer. This time, with the ink crystal beast as your sword spirit, you will surely become one of the sect's experts. If Li Shan bullies me again, you must help me."

The woman shook her head and smiled bitterly, "If we're talking about geniuses, Liu Feng Senior Brother is the best. He is about to reach Senior Brother's cultivation and is about to break through to the thirteenth layer. And Liu Mei Senior Sister is said to have reached the twelfth layer. They are the original disciples of the Xuan Dao Sect, so they naturally have the qualifications to enter the back mountain. I am different; I come from the Hengyue Sect, so I must compete to win a quota. I hope I can win this time."

The middle-aged man grunted on the side, dissatisfied, "Liu Feng, that kid, isn't it because he entered the back mountain that he cultivates so quickly? Back then, the Ancestor took over the back mountain of the Hengyue Sect because he saw its potential. Without the Ancestor, how could Liu Feng cultivate so quickly? Even with good talent, without a large amount of spiritual energy, it would take years to break through a layer."

The Xu family woman smiled and changed the subject, "Third Senior Brother, look at this place. I remember it wasn't like this four years ago. Why have so many exotic beasts gathered here in just four years?"