Mythical Cultivation

Wu Ming, having made up his mind, looked at Huang Hao with a determined gaze and said, "I've decided to participate in this secret realm mission. Are you ready to go with me?"

Huang Hao responded without hesitation, "Of course! Not to mention the immense allure of those rare and precious elixirs, just the thought of the numerous Qi Refining cultivators from the entire Qingjiang County flocking into this secret realm is bound to be filled with all sorts of hardships, dangers, and unknown challenges. How could I miss such a grand event?"

In response to Wu Ming's question, Huang Hao gave an answer without any hesitation, obviously having made the decision long ago.

Hearing Huang Hao's words, Wu Ming couldn't help but ponder. Just how many Qi Refining Realm cultivators are there in the entire Qingjiang County? Perhaps no one knows the exact number. The thought of so many people in one area, coupled with the vast number of spiritual objects scattered everywhere, is enough to make one's scalp tingle.

However, this situation also aroused Wu Ming's inner fighting spirit. After all, he was no pushover. He wasn't afraid of anyone except those who had entered the ninth level of Qi Refining years ago or those with extremely high combat power. Moreover, as disciples of the Qingyun Sect, they were highly envied in Qingjiang County. How could they fear anyone?

After careful consideration, the two finally reached a consensus: when the sect issues a task, they will go together to undertake the task, and then join hands to explore the secret realm.

Upon returning home, Wu Ming resolutely embarked on the arduous path of cultivation. Every day, he either sat in deep meditation, regulating his qi and breathing, or immersed himself in studying the Hundred Refinements, or meticulously crafting talismans. It's important to remember that achieving a major breakthrough in cultivation in a short period of time is difficult. However, the path of cultivation is like sailing against the current: if you don't advance, you retreat. Only through unremitting effort and perseverance can one achieve continuous improvement.

It's worth mentioning that Wu Ming has made tremendous progress in his talisman cultivation. His skill in refining high-level first-level talismans has now significantly increased from a 30% success rate to a 50% success rate. As long as he perseveres and strives tirelessly, the Earth Escape Talisman, long gathering dust in his storage bag, will one day burst into dazzling light.

Time flies by like a fleeting white horse in cultivation, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a month had already vanished. During this time, Wu Ming's cultivation progress was not significant, but his entire mental outlook had undergone a profound transformation. He had once been a brilliant and radiant being, but now, he had restrained his brilliance and returned to his true nature, like a still pool of water, unperturbed by ripples.

For Wu Ming, this two-week retreat was not only an improvement in his cultivation, but also a spiritual cleansing. He gradually realized that the path of cultivation is not a one-time achievement; it requires patience and persistence. Through daily practice, he learned to let go of his impulsiveness, calm his mind, and face all challenges with a peaceful mind.

His practice was interrupted by a message from Huang Hao, announcing that the sect had issued a mission regarding the secret realm. Several people met up to take on the mission. Arriving at the Deacon Hall, Wu Ming saw Huang Hao, Mei Lingshuang, Zhao Xiaohai, and Hou Tiancheng already waiting there, but Liang Yuanliang was nowhere to be seen.

After Hou Tiancheng's explanation, Wu Ming finally understood that this mission required a minimum of late Qi Refining cultivation, meaning only those at the seventh level could participate. One reason for this was that the sect wanted to avoid too many disciples with low cultivation levels participating, potentially ruining their lives. Another reason was that as the overlord of Qingjiang County, sending out a large number of disciples with low cultivation levels would inevitably draw ridicule, hence the limit on the cultivation level of participants.

Liang Yuanliang, however, spent most of his time cultivating his formations, which resulted in him not even reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining. Whether this was right or wrong, it was simply a matter of fate. Many people envied his natural talent for formations.

After Wu Ming accepted his mission at the Deacon Hall, he gained a deeper understanding of the secret realm. This secret realm, called the Qingmu Secret Realm, is located in Tonghua County, five thousand miles north of Qingyun Sect. A few days ago, a strong spatial fluctuation had occurred hundreds of miles outside of Tonghua County. After the inner disciples stationed in Tonghua reported this to the sect, an elder was dispatched to investigate. The location confirmed the secret realm's opening, and with less than ten days until it opened, a mission was issued, requiring all disciples who had accepted the mission to gather at the mountain gate three days later.

This mission did not impose any restrictions on them; they were allowed to either form a team or act alone. There would definitely be many Qi Refining Realm cultivators from outside the Qingyun Sect participating, and their number would far outnumber the Qingyun Sect's disciples by dozens of times!

Furthermore, a significant number of these individuals have cultivated for decades but remain stuck in the Qi Refining Stage, never reaching the Foundation Establishment stage. Precisely because they are unable to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, they can only increase their strength by constantly enhancing their equipment, employing a myriad of external objects and secret techniques. While these individuals may have limited talent, their cultivation time, many times greater than others, has enabled them to master a vast array of techniques, a feat unmatched by younger disciples who have only cultivated for a dozen or twenty years, or even just a few.

The sect didn't take these people seriously, as those who couldn't achieve foundation building were ultimately mere ants. However, for outer disciples like them, these people couldn't be underestimated. They saw this secret realm as an opportunity to break through to their foundation building, so they were determined to give it their all. If they didn't succeed, they would die. As Qingyun Sect disciples, even if their gains weren't great, as long as they emerged unscathed, there would still be a bright future ahead.

Therefore, out of consideration for everyone's safety, the sect recommends that at least four people act together. However, if someone is confident in their own abilities, they can choose to act alone. Although it is a bit more dangerous to act alone, if there is any gain, it will be theirs alone.

Furthermore, all gains within the secret realm belonged to the disciples personally and did not need to be turned over to the sect. However, if these items were to be sold, they could only be consumed within the sect. While the spiritual stones earned would be slightly less than those obtained from selling them in the market, this was not a significant loss. This was the sect's only requirement for disciples, and therefore, there were no additional rewards for this mission.

Wu Ming and his companions had agreed to team up together. With the exception of Huang Hao, who was at the eighth level of Qi Refining, the other four, including Wu Ming, were only at the seventh level, making them the lowest level of those assigned to the mission. The outer disciples assigned to the mission were all from the previous batch of disciples. After over a decade of cultivation, half of them had already reached the late Qi Refining stage. Wu Ming and his group, however, had only been in the sect for six or seven years, so most of them were at the middle Qi Refining stage. Presumably, only Wu Ming and his group would be able to reach the late Qi Refining stage.