Mythical Cultivation

"Are you really willing to give up so easily?" Mei Lingshuang said, her face filled with disbelief. In her mind, Wu Ming always gave people the impression of being free and easy, but she knew that he was as competitive as she was, and she never expected him to give up so decisively.

"Ah, if there was even a sliver of a chance of reaching the summit, why would I give up so easily? I've tried my best, but I still can't see a glimmer of hope. Continuing to persevere would be futile, so I'm forced to do this helpless act. But you, on the other hand, still have a great chance of reaching the summit. You must give it your all. Come on!" Wu Ming said with a smile of encouragement. While his words were somewhat consoling, as a friend, it was only natural for him to offer her support and encouragement.

"Is that really the case? Thank you for your encouragement. If I can successfully reach the summit this time, it will undoubtedly be the best proof of my long-term unremitting efforts."

Mei Lingshuang's competitive spirit never wavered, and she was obsessed with surpassing Wu Ming. If she could reach the top this time, it would prove beyond a doubt that she had indeed worked harder than Wu Ming.

"Come on, I'll go down first and see if there is anything else I can find." After saying that, Wu Ming also walked down quickly.

The ascent of this Heart-Refining Path was fraught with difficulty. Each step felt like dragging a heavy burden, as if an invisible force were impeding progress. However, unexpectedly, the situation was completely different when returning along the original path. The descent was remarkably easy, with almost no pressure at all, as if a mysterious force was propelling the body downward at a rapid speed. Thus, Wu Ming sped along, and in no time, he successfully reached the square.

He paused briefly, meditating briefly, regulating his breathing and practicing his techniques to rapidly replenish the spiritual energy he had depleted. Before long, his body had fully recovered and was full of energy. Knowing that time was precious, Wu Ming dared not delay any further and stood up, heading towards a small path to the side.

This so-called path was actually only three or four feet wide, wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side. Wu Ming walked briskly, and in less than an incense stick's time, he arrived at a cluster of buildings nestled against the mountainside. These buildings looked quite old and dilapidated, with mottled walls and rotten doors and windows, but one could still vaguely see their former glory. This must have been where the sect's disciples once lived.

At this moment, a number of monks were busy within the complex. They weren't numerous, though, roughly estimated at less than a hundred. They were scattered across different rooms. Some were intently studying the restrictions on their doors, trying to unlock them; others had already entered, searching for treasures. Each was focused on their own tasks, refusing to interfere with one another.

Seeing this, Wu Ming didn't hesitate. He selected an untouched room among the numerous houses and prepared to explore. After some deciphering, Wu Ming finally entered. A stale smell filled the air. The room was dimly lit and covered in dust. Wu Ming carefully observed his surroundings, searching carefully for any possible treasure or clues.

After more than an hour of searching, Wu Ming did not find anything particularly valuable, so he decided to leave the house and continue along the trail to other areas.

However, as he concentrated on searching for other buildings, he suddenly felt as if his body had lost weight, becoming light and airy. Then, a wave of dizziness washed over him, making it almost impossible for him to keep his footing. The next moment, everything went black, as if someone had suddenly turned off all the lights. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back where he had been before entering the Shenmu Sect!

At the same time, he was surprised to find countless cultivators suddenly appearing around him. Upon closer inspection, he saw that these were the same group of cultivators who had originally entered the Shenmu Sect's Heart Refining Path together! At this moment, the entire venue was buzzing with people, and all sorts of discussions were heard one after another. Some were excitedly sharing their experiences and insights in treasure hunting; others had serious expressions, seemingly still immersed in the difficulties and obstacles they had just encountered when they separated and climbed the mountain; and still others looked confused, clearly puzzled as to why they had all been suddenly transported away.

This sudden change filled many cultivators with discontent. After all, they had endured countless hardships to reach this place, expecting to gain something, only to be transported away without warning. Consequently, the atmosphere at the scene was extremely noisy and chaotic, with many complaining and accusing the Shenmu Sect of unreasonable and unfair arrangements. However, no matter how they vented their anger and resentment, the mysterious and ancient ruins of the Shenmu Sect remained sealed, with no sign of reopening. Helplessly, everyone could only suppress their resentment, venting it through verbal complaints.

Before long, Wu Ming and the other five finally managed to gather together. Wu Ming first turned his attention to Huang Hao, because among them, only Huang Hao possessed sufficient strength and talent, and was most likely to successfully reach the top of the mountain and obtain the precious inheritance of the Shenmu Sect.

Just as Huang Hao looked up into the distance, his gaze met his. Huang Hao seemed to understand what he meant, and before he could ask, he slowly spoke, "I still haven't reached that pinnacle! Success was only a few dozen steps away. At that moment, I could clearly see the destination, symbolizing victory. However, those seemingly insignificant steps became like an insurmountable chasm, blocking me from the path to success."

Huang Hao couldn't help but sigh deeply, a sigh that seemed to carry the endless regret and unwillingness in his heart. Yes, it was so close, just a few more steps, and he would reach the summit he had always dreamed of. But things went against his wishes, and he ended up in failure. Anyone who encountered such a situation would probably feel unwilling, right?

At this moment, Elder Ding, who was standing by, witnessed the deep reluctance and loneliness in Huang Hao's eyes, and quickly spoke to comfort him, "Little Hao, don't be so discouraged! You must know that you have done quite well! With your current cultivation level of the eighth level of Qi Refining, it is not easy to reach such a height! Even thousands of years ago, when the Shenmu Sect was recruiting new disciples, there were only a few people with your level of cultivation who could reach this level!"