Zhang Jingmo, under the protection of the Lingxu Sect, had to hand over at least two-thirds of the elixirs he refined.

But because of this, he could easily obtain various medicinal materials he wanted from the sect, saving him a lot of trouble on his path of elixir refinement.

The Primordial Cyan Pill that Zhang Jingmo previously refined had miraculous effects. Within a month, this elixir could forcibly increase a person's cultivation by one level, from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core... and so on.

One month was enough time to solve problems that were originally unsolvable.

This heaven-defying elixir also had side effects. The higher the elixir grade, the fewer the side effects. Currently, with Zhang Jingmo's ability, he could at most refine a third-grade Primordial Cyan Pill. That is, after a month, he would be weak for seven days. If it was a first-grade Primordial Cyan Pill, the duration of this weakness would be directly reduced to just an hour.

At present, Zhang Jingmo had just recently formed his Golden Core, so it was simply impossible for him to refine a first-grade Primordial Cyan Pill. But this was not important, because a month's time was already enough for Zhang Jingmo to do what he wanted to do.

After bringing Lu Guijiu back, Zhang Jingmo specially invited someone to teach Lu Guijiu to read and write. He originally wanted to teach personally, but time was too tight and there were too many things he had to prepare. Zhang Jingmo had no energy to spare, so he could only temporarily entrust Lu Guijiu to someone else.

Lu Guijiu behaved very obediently, just as sensible as in Zhang Jingmo's memory. As a child who had just turned four years old, he did not cry or make a fuss after leaving home, and was so obedient, which truly made people dote on him.

Zhang Jingmo's feelings towards Lu Guijiu were originally very complicated. But no matter how complex the emotions, they all faded after the grinding of time. If Lu Guijiu was not the beginning of everything he had experienced, Zhang Jingmo was afraid that he himself would have forgotten this person.

So when he saw Lu Guijiu again in this life, Zhang Jingmo found that his heart was very calm, and there was even a sense of relaxation that he himself did not know why.

However, Zhang Jingmo temporarily threw all these emotions to the back of his mind. He now had more important things to do.

In just one month, a blood-colored demon python would appear in Fengjue Valley. A spiritual herb called Mingzhi parasitized on the body of this giant python. This spiritual herb was extremely rare and was the main ingredient of the Kongqiong Elixir.

And the Kongqiong Elixir was the most precious among the Foundation Establishment Elixirs.

Cultivators were all aware that as long as they had the Kongqiong Elixir, Foundation Establishment was almost guaranteed - this was not what Zhang Jingmo valued. The reason why he valued the Kongqiong Elixir so much was because he had an improved formula.

The Kongqiong Elixir made according to that formula had an unimaginable function - it could lay a solid foundation for the cultivator's Golden Core formation.

If there was fate, one could even form a perfect Ten Revolutions Primordial Core.

Back then, even a monstrous genius like Lu Guijiu was unable to form a perfect Ten Revolutions Primordial Core when he formed his Golden Core. This shows how difficult it was.

Since Zhang Jingmo was going to do it, he was going to do it to the best of his ability. He wanted to see the wonders he had never seen before on Lu Guijiu.

The demon python in Fengjue Valley would return to the valley to shed its skin in a month, and several Qi Refining disciples of the Lingxu Sect who were searching for herbs would be implicated.

Zhang Jingmo had been to Fengjue Valley, found the demon python, and even harvested Mingzhi from its body, but he also died at its hands several times.

The first time, Zhang Jingmo misjudged his own strength and was directly swallowed by the demon python. The second time, he made full preparations, but died under the demon python's desperate move. Fortunately, things don't happen more than three times. With these two experiences, Zhang Jingmo never suffered a loss on the demon python again, and it could even be said that as long as he was reborn, he would definitely go to obtain the Mingzhi from the demon python's body.

However, to be on the safe side, Zhang Jingmo still refined a third-grade Primordial Cyan Pill just in case, after all, death was never a comfortable experience.

During this month, Zhang Jingmo went into seclusion to bring his body to the best state, then took various magic tools he had prepared and was ready to go out.

Before leaving, he saw Lu Guijiu again.

Compared to a month ago, there was no big change in Lu Guijiu's appearance, except that the clothes that made him look like a New Year painting doll were changed into a white outfit. Although it still looked cute, Zhang Jingmo felt it was a bit unpleasant to the eye.

Zhang Jingmo asked who made him dress like this.

But Lu Guijiu said it was himself.

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo was a bit puzzled. He said, "Does Guijiu like white?" He remembered that Lu Guijiu never wore white clothes before.

Lu Guijiu shook his head and said in a childish voice, "Guijiu wants to be like Master!"

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo showed a rare smile. He said, "Guijiu wants to be like Master?"

Lu Guijiu said, "Yes."

Zhang Jingmo said, "Why do you want to be like Master?"

Lu Guijiu mumbled and refused to answer.

Zhang Jingmo did not intend to force Lu Guijiu to say the answer. He sighed softly, patted Lu Guijiu's hair again, and said, "Master is going out for a while, Guijiu should cultivate well at home."

Lu Guijiu's eyes instantly widened. He originally thought that after Zhang Jingmo brought him back, he would be able to see Zhang Jingmo every day. But he didn't expect that after going into seclusion for a month, Zhang Jingmo said one sentence to him and was about to leave again.

Seeing that Lu Guijiu did not speak, Zhang Jingmo turned around and was about to leave. However, he had just taken a step when his sleeve was tugged. Zhang Jingmo turned his head and found that Lu Guijiu had grabbed his sleeve.

Seeing Zhang Jingmo look over, Lu Guijiu immediately withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and dared not speak.

Seeing Lu Guijiu's timid appearance, Zhang Jingmo felt some doubts in his heart. Logically speaking, in this life, he had never lost his temper with Lu Guijiu, so why did Lu Guijiu always seem so afraid of him?

Or was it that Lu Guijiu had always been very afraid of him, but in the past, he and Lu Guijiu lived far apart and did not interact daily, so he failed to discover this characteristic of his disciple?

Zhang Jingmo said, "Guijiu, what's wrong?"

Lu Guijiu just shook his head, but refused to speak.

Zhang Jingmo asked again. Seeing that Lu Guijiu still did not answer, he bent down and picked up the child. He said, "Do you miss your parents?"

It can be said that the Lu family and he had some fate, otherwise he would not have agreed to take Lu Guijiu as his disciple back then.

Lu Guijiu rested his chin on Zhang Jingmo's shoulder, hugging him tightly with both hands, unwilling to let go.

Zhang Jingmo didn't ask anything further, he just reached out and gently patted Lu Guijiu's back, trying to soothe his emotions.

However, as Lu Guijiu hugged him, he dozed off. When Zhang Jingmo realized this, he was both annoyed and amused. But he didn't wake the child up. After placing Lu Guijiu on the bed, he went to inquire with the two servant boys who were taking care of Lu Guijiu.

The two servant boys were called Qingfeng and Mingyue, both of whom Zhang Jingmo had transferred from the outer sect disciples.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Has there been anything unusual about Guijiu recently?"

Qingfeng lowered his head and replied, "Young Master Lu hasn't had any abnormalities lately, it's just that his sleeping time has been a bit short. He goes to bed at the hour of the Rat (11pm-1am) and gets up at the hour of the Tiger (3am-5am)."

Goes to bed at the hour of the Rat and gets up at the hour of the Tiger? Zhang Jingmo frowned slightly. For a child of Lu Guijiu's age, sleeping a full twelve hours a day was common. Even if he was diligent, there was no need to torture his body like this. He was only four years old now, and ascetic practices would do more harm than good for him.

Zhang Jingmo pondered, "From now on, let him sleep for at least ten hours. It's fine if he gets up a bit earlier in the morning, but don't let him stay up late at night. If he says anything, just say it's my order."

Qingfeng agreed to everything upon hearing this. He seemed to want to say something more, but there was some hesitation in his expression.

Zhang Jingmo noticed Qingfeng's hesitation and said, "Speak, what else is there?"

Qingfeng lowered his head and said, "Young Master Lu seems to have some difficulty getting used to the food in the mountains..." He was actually a bit worried that telling Zhang Jingmo these small matters would result in a scolding, but he was also afraid that if he didn't say it, Zhang Jingmo would be even angrier when he found out later.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jingmo showed an understanding expression. Since forming his Golden Core, he had abstained from food and hadn't eaten anything for a long time, so he usually didn't pay much attention to food.

The location of the Lingxu Sect was deep in the mountains. The young servants who served him ate some pills that allowed them to abstain from food, but for a young child like Lu Guijiu, the pills were obviously not suitable. However, there was no suitable food available at the moment...

Zhang Jingmo took out a bag of spirit stones from his sumeru ring and handed it to Qingfeng. He said, "From now on, go and buy him spiritual plants every day to cook meals. I will bring him some spirit beast meat later, and you will prepare it for him daily."

Qingfeng was naturally happy to agree. Although he didn't look in the bag, he knew that Zhang Jingmo was not a stingy master.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Serve him well. If I find out that you and Mingyue have been negligent in any way—" At this point, a hint of cold indifference flashed in his eyes, "Be careful of your skin."

Qingfeng and Mingyue knelt down, trembling as they made their promises.

Zhang Jingmo glanced at the two servant boys on the ground and left through the mountain gate without saying anything.

When leaving the sect, he encountered Elder Yu, a fellow cultivator who was always very leisurely. Elder Yu casually asked Zhang Jingmo where he was going.

Zhang Jingmo said he was going out to find some things.

Elder Yu joked, "Willing to leave your adorable little disciple behind, what kind of fun are you going out to seek again?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "What does it have to do with my disciple?"

Elder Yu said, "Now the entire Lingxu Sect is spreading the story of the deep bond between you and your disciple. It truly brings tears to everyone who hears it—"

Hearing this, Zhang Jingmo's originally somewhat serious expression turned into a half-smile.

Elder Yu said, "Hey, why are you looking at me like that?"

Zhang Jingmo directly said, "Elder Yu, you've said so much to me, and I've already given the Primordial Cyan Pill to the Sect Master."

Elder Yu chuckled. After being exposed, he wasn't embarrassed at all. "Didn't you only give the Sect Master two pills? That last one..."

Zhang Jingmo said, "I ate it."

Elder Yu let out an "ah" sound. He seemed to have never thought that Zhang Jingmo would eat the Primordial Cyan Pill so quickly. Zhang Jingmo glanced at Elder Yu and laughed lightly, "Wasn't it to play the hero in front of my beloved disciple? So I ate it and then performed a magic trick for my disciple."

Elder Yu: "..." This fellow cultivator of his just liked to talk nonsense with a straight face.