"Qi Cultivation Stage Two, your talent is indeed quite good." Hong Wei looked in the direction they were walking, but it was a pity that the Roland Mountain Range was no place for beginners. To enter the Seven Great Sects, they first had to cultivate to Qi Cultivation Stage Seven and survive in the Roland Mountain Range until the recruitment period.
"Our sect's pride, when they first achieved Qi Induction, were only at Qi Cultivation Stage Three. I wonder how many of these people will remain after a year?"
"Uncle-Master, are you praising them because you hope they will choose our Blazing Sun Sect during the recruitment next year?"
"Naturally."
Once Xiang Jian saw that the people from the Blazing Sun Sect had left, he breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The middle-aged man leading them was likely at the Foundation Establishment stage. Fortunately, he had reacted in time, and these people had no intention of causing trouble. Otherwise, a few of them would have been insufficient to even fill their teeth.
Seeing Xiang Jian's strange expression, Poisonous Woman asked with a hint of confusion, "Are you afraid of them?"
"Aren't you?" Xiang Jian retorted. "Those are Foundation Establishment stage powerhouses. The weakest among them are at Qi Cultivation Stage Seven. Any one of them could crush us. Aren't you afraid?"
"We have no enmity with them, why should we be afraid?"
"Shi Lan, you must understand that sometimes people kill us not because we have offended them, but because they simply dislike us." Xiang Jian said slowly. "For someone to want you dead, they don't necessarily need a blood feud with you. It could be that they can't stand your handsomeness, or your clothes are the same as theirs, making them uncomfortable, or perhaps they simply kill for pleasure!"
"Are the people from the Blazing Sun Sect that terrifying?"
"I'm not talking about the people from the Blazing Sun Sect, but about some people." Xiang Jian looked at the others. "During your time in Wuji City, you must have deeply felt how others looked down on you. When you are weak, those around you are bad people. Only when you become strong, so strong that they have to look up to you, will you find that everyone around you is a good person."
"Why are the people around you good when you become strong?"
"When you are strong, those people dare not offend you because they cannot bear the consequences of doing so." Xiang Jian said gently. "Alright, you have all entered the Qi Cultivation stage, which is excellent. Especially Xi Wen and Shan Yun, who have reached Qi Cultivation Stage Two. Do not be arrogant. Steady your foundations and strive to reach Qi Cultivation Stage Seven by the time the Seven Great Sects recruit next year."
"Yes, Deputy Sect Leader."
"Here, we can no longer address each other as Sect Leader and Deputy Sect Leader." Xiang Jian frowned and thought for a moment. "From now on, address the Sect Leader as Captain and me as the Vice-Captain."
"Yes, Vice-Captain."
"Speaking of which, Captain hasn't returned yet. Could something have happened?"
"Bah, bah, bah! Don't jinx it! Even if something happens to you, it won't happen to Captain!" Shan Yun immediately spat. In her eyes, Xiao Man was an omnipotent god. How could a god be in danger?
"Xiao Yun, Captain is also human, just more powerful than us. There are many people more powerful than Captain here. A moment of carelessness could lead to a fatal disaster." Qi Hong reminded Shan Yun. Although Xiao Man was powerful, she was still just a person, and everyone has moments when they meet their match.
Shan Yun remained silent, her watery eyes earnestly looking towards the exit, hoping to see Xiao Man's figure appear before them as soon as possible.
"Let's go find something to eat, and then return here to cultivate. Don't split up. This place is fraught with danger. Not only demonic beasts but also people will bring you peril."
"Yes, Vice-Captain."
The seven people split into two groups to search for food. Poisonous Woman led Xi Wen and Zhou Yan, while the others followed Xiang Jian to search for prey in the vicinity.
After entering the Roland Mountain Range, Xiao Man had intended to go directly to find Xiang Jian and the others. However, she suddenly remembered that she had already entered the Qi Cultivation stage and could now see the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda hidden between her eyebrows. She immediately found a place to investigate the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, with Zhu Qing guarding her.
Following the method taught by Zhu Qing, Xiao Man successfully summoned the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda hidden between her eyebrows. It was a nine-story small tower, exquisite and translucent, emitting a gentle glow, vastly different from its past appearance.
"Is the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda a weapon?"
"Master, this is a spatial divine artifact!" Zhu Qing said excitedly. "Master, you must hide this thing well and not let anyone see it. A nine-story small tower, its space is likely not small. Even a Nascent Soul stage cultivator would covet it."
"How do I enter?"
"You just need to inject your true qi into the small tower between your eyebrows and connect with it. Your divine sense will then be able to enter the tower." Zhu Qing said excitedly. This was a profit! She hadn't expected this cheap master to carry such a treasure with her!
However, before Zhu Qing could finish her excitement, Xiao Man disappeared into thin air. Zhu Qing widened her snake eyes, looking left and right, her snake neck almost twisting into a bow, but she couldn't find any trace of Xiao Man.
"Master, Master, where did you go?"
Xiao Man looked at the empty, hazy space before her, her expression somewhat indescribable. Was this the space inside the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda? There was nothing?
"Human, you have arrived."
"Who are you? Come out!"
A white-bearded old man appeared in Xiao Man's sight. He wore a complex white robe and floated in the air, sitting cross-legged. His beard was very long, and his hair was also very long. The old man stroked his beard, looking at Xiao Man with a half-smile, exuding an air of immortality. "I've waited for a very, very long time. Finally, someone has come to see this old man."
"Who are you?" Xiao Man asked doubtfully. She must have entered the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda. Could this person be someone trapped inside the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda?
"Me?" The old man paused, his hand stroking his beard. "Oh yes, who am I, and where is this?"
"This is inside the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda."
"Heaven-Reaching Pagoda." The old man seemed to recall, and began to stroke his long beard again, stroking it gently, as if afraid of disturbing his flowing white beard.
"Senior, why are you inside the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda?"
The old man chuckled, "Because I am the artifact spirit of this Heaven-Reaching Pagoda."
Xiao Man looked at the old man, puzzled. She had diligently studied information about the Cang Xuan Continent. Weapons could produce artifact spirits, and anything that could produce an artifact spirit was an artifact. Even artifacts didn't necessarily produce artifact spirits, as artifact spirits were rare and required the right timing.
"Senior, how can I get out of this Heaven-Reaching Pagoda?" Xiao Man asked. She just wanted to leave and didn't want to chat with this old man. She vaguely felt that this person was far more than just an artifact spirit.
As soon as the old man heard that Xiao Man wanted to leave, he became displeased. He floated to Xiao Man's side and circled her several times. "Girl, aren't you happy to see me?"
"What's there to be happy about? You're not a long-lost relative of mine." Xiao Man said slowly. "Besides, you're just a ghost now, what use can you be?"