In the path of cultivation, the most important thing is one's cultivation level, and the second most important thing is one's lineage.

This is because no one knows whether their disciples' future achievements will surpass their own, and if they do, whether they will lend a helping hand on the path of immortal cultivation.

For this reason, Zhang Jingmo placed great importance on accepting disciples. His first and second disciples were both extremely talented, and after being accepted by Zhang Jingmo, they quickly demonstrated their aptitude in cultivation.

As their master, Zhang Jingmo was also talented, but his talent lay not in cultivation, but in alchemy.

A Golden Core stage cultivator being able to refine pills of the Nascent Soul stage was proof of Zhang Jingmo's talent. There are some things that people simply cannot achieve, no matter how many times they are reborn. Just as for Zhang Jingmo, breaking through the barrier of the demon in his heart was something he had failed to do despite being reborn over a hundred and twenty times.

Bai Lingxiao was older than Zhang Jingmo, but he had yet to accept a single disciple. His personality was even colder than Zhang Jingmo's, and he focused single-mindedly on the Dao of the sword, rarely diverting his attention to external matters.

It was precisely because of this that his progress was rapid and his swordsmanship was unparalleled, with almost no one being able to match him.

The Molten Fire Pill was extremely important to Bai Lingxiao, which was why he agreed to Zhang Jingmo's request.

In the eyes of others, the opportunity for Lu Guijiu to study swordsmanship under Bai Lingxiao was something to be envied—of course, Lu Guijiu himself clearly did not feel this way.

Zhang Jingmo was not afraid that Lu Guijiu would change his allegiance to Bai Lingxiao's side during these ten years. In the past, he had treated Lu Guijiu much worse than he did now, yet Lu Guijiu had never left him.

Now that he wanted to give Lu Guijiu the best of everything, he refused to believe that Lu Guijiu would be lured away by Bai Lingxiao in a mere ten years.

Bai Lingxiao seemed to see through Zhang Jingmo's thoughts. He narrowed his eyes and took another sip of wine. "Junior Brother, how about this..."

Before he could finish, Zhang Jingmo interrupted him with a smile. "Senior Brother, regarding this disciple, let's not discuss it further. I'm sure I won't agree to your request anyway."

Bai Lingxiao let out a soft sigh. This was the first time he had the thought of accepting a disciple. After all, in his long travels across the continent, he had never encountered a prodigy who reached the third level of the Qi Refining stage at the age of six.

Zhang Jingmo said, "I also hope Senior Brother can keep this a secret for me." He did not want Lu Guijiu to attract too much attention for the time being.

Bai Lingxiao nodded. "Of course, I understand that. But were you planning to go out to search for spiritual herbs recently?"

Zhang Jingmo acknowledged with a sound.

Bai Lingxiao said, "There's no need for that. I have already gathered most of the spiritual herbs for the Molten Fire Pill, except for a fire seed called Zhu Yan. I have sent people to inquire about it everywhere..."

Zhang Jingmo said, "Senior Brother, I know where that Zhu Yan is located."

A hint of surprise flashed in Bai Lingxiao's eyes.

Zhang Jingmo said, "I need some time to retrieve that fire seed, so during this period, I'll have to trouble Senior Brother to take care of my disciple."

Bai Lingxiao naturally would not refuse. Although he wanted Zhang Jingmo to refine pills, he was not an unreasonable person. He had already prepared most of the medicinal ingredients, with only the Zhu Yan fire seed remaining.

Now that Zhang Jingmo told him the fire seed had been located, Bai Lingxiao couldn't help but be delighted.

Bai Lingxiao also asked Zhang Jingmo if he needed his help, but Zhang Jingmo declined. When he went to find the Zhu Yan fire seed, he also wanted to search for some other things, so it was naturally inconvenient to have Bai Lingxiao accompany him.

Although with Zhang Jingmo's current cultivation level, going to those places was indeed somewhat dangerous, danger and gain had always coexisted. There were no easy things to obtain in this world.

After Zhang Jingmo and Bai Lingxiao finished the jug of fine wine, Zhang Jingmo stood up to take his leave.

Watching Zhang Jingmo depart, Bai Lingxiao's face returned to its usual indifferent expression.

Returning to the manor, just as Zhang Jingmo was about to enter the pill room, he saw Qingfeng hurriedly coming to find him. Upon seeing him, Qingfeng immediately knelt down and shouted, "Master, something bad has happened! Young Master Lu is in trouble!"

Zhang Jingmo thought to himself, what trouble could Lu Guijiu have caused in the short time he was gone? He asked, "What happened?"

Qingfeng quickly recounted what had just transpired.

It turned out that a Daoist cultivator from the Lingxu Sect had come to Zhang Jingmo's manor to collect some pills and happened to bring along his disciple.

This Daoist's disciple was a seven-year-old girl, about the same age as Lu Guijiu, and also had a lively personality. Upon seeing Lu Guijiu, she invited him to play together.

Naturally, Lu Guijiu completely ignored her. After handing over the pills, he turned to leave.

Who would have thought that this girl, who had always been doted on by her master, had never been slighted like this before? Seeing Lu Guijiu ignore her, she wanted to play a trick on him using a magic technique.

Lu Guijiu had never been the type to tolerate being bullied. When the girl was about to use her technique, he pounced on her, knocking her to the ground. If it had only been this, it would have been a small matter. However, Lu Guijiu seemed to have been holding back a belly full of evil fire that finally erupted. He actually took out a dagger from the Sumeru ring Zhang Jingmo had given him and stabbed the girl several times.

If not for the girl's master arriving in time, she likely would not have survived.

Qingfeng spoke tremblingly, afraid that Zhang Jingmo would punish him for this.

After listening, Zhang Jingmo asked, "Where are they now?"

Qingfeng replied, "In the main hall... That Daoist master said... to wait for your return to resolve this."

Zhang Jingmo gave a faint "hmm" and dismissed Qingfeng. He then headed towards the main hall.

Before even entering the hall, he heard the girl's sharp cries and curses. With his keen hearing, Zhang Jingmo heard the girl shout, "You ill-bred little bastard, how dare you hit me! How dare you hit me!"

Zhang Jingmo's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes instantly turned cold.

Upon entering the main hall, Zhang Jingmo saw Lu Guijiu tied up.

Lu Guijiu had lived at home for four years and at the Lingxu Sect for two years, but he had never suffered such humiliation. He was tightly bound by a rope, while the cursing girl kept kicking him. His face was already bruised, but he clenched his teeth tightly, unwilling to utter a word of plea for mercy.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo arrive, the girl's master shouted, "Su Zhi, stop at once!"

The little girl glared at Lu Guijiu and kicked him a few more times before stopping.

The Daoist slowly said, "Elder Zhang, long time no see."

Zhang Jingmo glanced at the Daoist and thought for a long time before remembering his name. He wondered to himself if he had been showing too good of a temper, making people think he wouldn't get angry.

The Daoist said, "It's okay for children to fight and make trouble, but it's not good if they nearly lose their lives. However, Elder Zhang, I see that your disciple, is not taught very well."

Zhang Jingmo slowly said, "Lu Guijiu, do you know your mistake?"

Lu Guijiu originally looked at Zhang Jingmo with hopeful eyes, but upon hearing Zhang Jingmo's words, he showed an unbelievable expression. He seemed to have never thought that Zhang Jingmo would actually ask him to admit his mistake.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Do you know your mistake?"

Lu Guijiu coughed up a few traces of blood and said hoarsely, "The disciple has done nothing wrong!"

Zhang Jingmo stepped forward, grabbed Lu Guijiu who was lying on the ground, and said coldly, "You still don't know your mistake?"

This time, Lu Guijiu's eyes didn't turn red, but the look in his eyes towards Zhang Jingmo was extremely aggrieved.

Zhang Jingmo said, "What did your master tell you before, do you still remember?" As he spoke, he casually tore off the rope tying Lu Guijiu.

Lu Guijiu lowered his head, unwilling to speak.

Zhang Jingmo's face grew colder.

Seeing the awkward situation, the Daoist wanted to smooth things over and said, "Elder Zhang..." He only said three words before shutting his mouth, because the look Zhang Jingmo gave him was ten times colder than the one he gave Lu Guijiu.

The confrontation between master and disciple finally seemed to be won by Zhang Jingmo, because Lu Guijiu choked out an apology, saying, "The disciple knows his mistake."

Zhang Jingmo's tone softened a bit, and he said, "Where did you go wrong?"

Lu Guijiu suddenly burst into tears and said, "I, I shouldn't have bullied others."

Zhang Jingmo's expression did not soften because of this, but instead became even colder and harder. He looked at Lu Guijiu and spat out two words: "Fool."

Lu Guijiu looked at Zhang Jingmo in a daze, not understanding why he was still being scolded by his master after already apologizing.

Zhang Jingmo gently stroked the bruise on Lu Guijiu's face, and the skin instantly returned to its original state. He said, "Bullying others? In this world, there is no such thing as bullying others. Your master has told you before, the world of cultivation is a matter of life and death. Look, you're not strong enough, yet you dare to provoke someone stronger than you. If I weren't here today, wouldn't you have directly lost your life?"

He didn't want to teach Lu Guijiu to be impulsive and have courage but no strategy.

Zhang Jingmo continued, "If your master were the one being bullied by that little girl today, I would still have to show her a smile."

Lu Guijiu stared blankly at Zhang Jingmo.

Zhang Jingmo said coldly, "Dote on her, indulge her, and when the time comes, thoroughly cripple her."

The Daoist originally thought Zhang Jingmo would admonish Lu Guijiu, but he never expected the tone to suddenly change...

At this point, Zhang Jingmo smiled again and said, "Of course, if you're strong enough, you can treat what I said as nonsense, because—" He dragged out his voice and casually grabbed the little girl who was originally standing beside the Daoist, pulling her into his hand, "Because you can easily take her life."

Lu Guijiu was stunned.

The little girl screamed and struggled. After a moment of shock, the Daoist angrily shouted, "Let go of my disciple!"

Zhang Jingmo smiled contemptuously. He slightly tightened his grip, and the little girl's voice instantly rose before she fainted.

The Daoist was furious. He activated his magic weapon and charged towards Zhang Jingmo!