After Lu Guijiu's cultivation reached the mid-stage of the fifth level of Qi Refining, his "Blood Hell Heaven Scripture" also broke through the first layer.

The flames that appeared on his body were the anomalies produced by the "Blood Hell Heaven Scripture".

It took Lu Guijiu several months to regrow his black long hair, but during these few months, Zhang Jingmo developed a strong interest in Lu Guijiu's head.

When Lu Guijiu was bald, it was smooth and round, and naturally felt very good to the touch. When a layer of short hair grew out, it was slightly prickly, but still very interesting to touch. As the hair grew longer and became softer, Zhang Jingmo, who had gotten used to touching it, couldn't stop.

Lu Guijiu also got used to Zhang Jingmo touching his head. Sometimes he would even rub his head against his master's hand. However, the only downside was that Lu Guijiu's height kept increasing. In just four years, he was already about the same height as Zhang Jingmo.

Zhang Jingmo was not surprised by this, because back then Lu Guijiu was half a head taller than him. Although he had known this for a long time, he still felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart.

As the 15-year-old Lu Guijiu gradually shed his youthful immaturity, the baby fat on his face disappeared and his features became more defined. He was tall to begin with, and with his upright posture, standing beside Zhang Jingmo, he was not overshadowed by Zhang Jingmo's elegance at all.

As Zhang Jingmo watched Lu Guijiu's face gradually grow into the appearance he remembered, his feelings became a bit complex. However, too much time had passed, and the memories of hatred had become blurry. Instead, some images that Zhang Jingmo wanted to forget were firmly imprinted in his mind.

During these few years, Lu Guijiu did not neglect the sword techniques taught to him by Bai Lingxiao. Under Zhang Jingmo's supervision, he learned the "Blood Hell Heaven Scripture" while practicing his sword, and he had achieved some success in his swordsmanship.

This was probably the difference between a genius and an ordinary person. Zhang Jingmo was no longer surprised at all, after all, Lu Guijiu had given him too many surprises, so many that he couldn't handle them.

During the few years that Lu Guijiu practiced in the cave, he killed most of the spiritual beasts nearby. The Poison Soil in the cave was gone, and the Yin ghosts were captured by Lu Guijiu to feed Zhu Yan. As a result, the overall environment had changed and was no longer the same as when Lu Guijiu and Zhang Jingmo first arrived.

Other people did not know about the impact Lu Guijiu and Zhang Jingmo had on the cave. They only thought that the spiritual herbs produced in the cave were becoming scarcer and that fewer disciples from other sects were coming to visit.

This was actually convenient for Lu Guijiu's cultivation. He spent three years reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, and then used one year to consolidate his cultivation. At this point, he was firmly at the mid-stage of the fifth level.

Zhang Jingmo could no longer remember the cultivation level of Daoist Cen's disciple back then, but he vaguely remembered that in the past few hundred years, very few disciples participating in the Xuanwu Conference had a cultivation level exceeding the fifth level of Qi Refining.

The Xuanwu Conference was a very important competition for the disciples. If one could gain recognition in this tournament, it meant that there were countless sect resources for them to enjoy.

Zhang Jingmo forgot what Lu Guijiu chose back then, but this time, he already had a target - he wanted to prepare for Lu Guijiu's Foundation Establishment.

Lu Guijiu did not know what Zhang Jingmo was thinking, but over the years, Zhang Jingmo had constantly urged him to do his best in everything, and he had agreed to it all.

Before leaving the cave, Zhang Jingmo said to Lu Guijiu, "When we return to Lingxu Sect this time, I want you to promise me one thing."

Lu Guijiu said, "Please speak, Master."

Zhang Jingmo said, "I want you to win first place in the tournament."

Lu Guijiu said, "Yes." Even if Zhang Jingmo didn't tell him this, it was still his goal.

Zhang Jingmo then said, "There's one more thing."

Lu Guijiu looked at him inquiringly.

Zhang Jingmo's voice turned cold as he said, "During the lot-drawing, I want you to kill someone."

Lu Guijiu was stunned for a moment, then softly agreed. This was not the first time Zhang Jingmo had asked him to kill someone. Back when Lu Guijiu was only six years old, Zhang Jingmo had placed a dagger in Lu Guijiu's hand and asked him to personally take the life of the evil Daoist who had harmed his family.

Zhang Jingmo observed Lu Guijiu's expression. Seeing that his expression was relaxed and without any trace of struggle, he then said, "Don't you want to ask me why?"

Lu Guijiu lowered his eyes and spoke in a gentle tone, "What Master asks disciple to do, disciple will obediently do."

As Zhang Jingmo looked at Lu Guijiu, he felt that the person in front of him was somewhat different from the disciple in his first life... After living with Zhang Jingmo for a long time, his family did not suffer a tragic death like in the first life, and Lu Guijiu did not have to struggle to survive in Lingxu Sect. There was less resentment in him, and he seemed to have been influenced by the gentle side of Zhang Jingmo's temperament. The way he looked at Zhang Jingmo was always docile, like an obedient child.

Zhang Jingmo suddenly said, "Guijiu, don't let me down." After saying this, he pursed his lips, as if he didn't expect himself to say such a thing.

Lu Guijiu was also a bit surprised. He said, "Master, how could I let you down."

Zhang Jingmo nodded, but was unwilling to say more. He said, "Rest well. Tomorrow we will return to Lingxu Sect."

Lu Guijiu agreed.

After resting well for a day, Lu Guijiu and Zhang Jingmo set out on their return journey.

Unlike the wind and snow when they came, it was now the height of spring, with clear skies and all things coming back to life.

Zhang Jingmo and Lu Guijiu traveled for more than ten days. As they got closer and closer to Lingxu Sect, Zhang Jingmo suddenly became interested and disguised himself and Lu Guijiu as mortals. They found two horses and started traveling while sightseeing.

This was probably one of the reasons why Zhang Jingmo was not suitable for cultivation. His temperament was too indifferent and he lacked strong desires. This might be a good thing for ordinary people, but for cultivators, it was a fatal flaw.

Without desire, it meant there was no motivation to move forward. In this world of cultivators, if one did not fight and seize, they could only be devoured by others bit by bit.

Zhang Jingmo had experienced so many things, and this aspect of his personality had naturally changed. But perhaps because he started this life with a different mindset from the beginning, the desireless side of his personality was exposed again.

Lu Guijiu didn't know why Zhang Jingmo liked this, but as long as he was with his master, he felt happy, so he was too lazy to ask and just listened to Zhang Jingmo's words.

The two horses swayed into the deep mountains where the Lingxu Sect was located, and it took more than ten days to reach halfway up the mountain.

The Lingxu Sect was located deep in the mountains and was almost inaccessible to mortals; only cultivators could typically reach it.

According to common sense, there should be no trace of mortals halfway up this mountain. However, Zhang Jingmo was very lucky. He encountered a person, a disheveled mortal.

The person was a teenager, still looking a bit immature, with a bundle on his back and a disheveled appearance. Like Zhang Jingmo, he didn't expect to see anyone else here, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

Zhang Jingmo glanced at the teenager and asked, "Where are you going?"

The teenager saw that Zhang Jingmo was neatly dressed and calm, not at all like someone who had climbed the mountain for so long. Moreover, Zhang Jingmo and Lu Guijiu had no luggage on them, apparently having walked here empty-handed.

The teenager knelt down directly and said, "I beg the immortal to accept me as a disciple."

Zhang Jingmo said, "Get up."

The teenager refused to get up, just kneeling and kowtowing non-stop.

Zhang Jingmo said, "I can't accept you." As soon as these words came out, the teenager showed a look of despair, while Lu Guijiu, who was standing behind Zhang Jingmo, breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't bear the thought of his master taking in another disciple.

The teenager was shaking all over. He no longer begged, only making small sobbing sounds.

Zhang Jingmo stared at this person, just wanting to sigh lightly. Who would have thought that Bai Lingxiao's most proud disciple in the future, Great Sage Zhu Tian, one of the top few in cultivation in the Lingxu Sect... would have such a miserable time.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Get up, I can't be your master, but I'll find you another master."

From despair to hope, the teenager showed a look of wild joy.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Let's go." After saying that, he waved his hand to summon a cloud, wrapping the teenager entirely, and a few breaths later, they arrived at the mountain gate of the Lingxu Sect.

The disciples guarding the mountain saw Zhang Jingmo return and respectfully called out, "Elder Zhang."

Zhang Jingmo asked, "Has Elder Bai come out of seclusion?"

The disciple replied, "No."

Zhang Jingmo thought for a moment and figured out the crux. Bai Lingxiao's future could almost be summed up in two outcomes: one was to escape into the Demon Realm and become a powerhouse of the demon cultivators; the other was to strive to resist the demon race, either dying or becoming a great power of the generation... and every time Bai Lingxiao chose to resist the demon race, it was because he had this disciple.

But whether Bai Lingxiao had this disciple or not, the source was with Zhang Jingmo.

If Zhang Jingmo refined the Molten Fire Pill for Bai Lingxiao, then Bai Lingxiao would go into seclusion for a hundred years. By the time he came out, his beloved disciple would have long since died and turned to dust. But if Zhang Jingmo didn't give Bai Lingxiao the Molten Fire Pill, then Bai Lingxiao, who wasn't in seclusion, would accidentally run into his disciple, and only then would there be the later Great Sage Zhu Tian...

Is this fate? Thinking of this, Zhang Jingmo looked at Lu Guijiu, who had been standing behind him. If he hadn't accepted Lu Guijiu as a disciple and taken him to practice in the secluded cave, naturally he wouldn't have returned with Lu Guijiu at this time, encountered Bai Lingxiao's disciple, and known the reason for this matter.

Then, is this another fate?

Zhang Jingmo smiled and said, "Let's go back to the cave first."

With that, he took Lu Guijiu and the teenager back to his own cave.