Zhang Jingmo was angry at the Lu Guijiu from back then, and naturally he wouldn't take it out on the current Lu Guijiu.

But he knew that Lu Guijiu's joy from entering the Dao had faded quite a bit. He said, "Where is Guijiu?"

Mingyue replied, "Young Master Lu is currently in class. Does Mingyue need to summon him over?"

Zhang Jingmo said, "No need, I will go see him myself."

The teacher instructing Lu Guijiu was invited by Zhang Jingmo from the outer sect. He had been busy with other matters and hadn't met him before. Since he was free now, there was no harm in going to take a look.

Zhang Jingmo walked to Lu Guijiu's residence and heard a childish reading voice from afar. Listening carefully, he discovered that Lu Guijiu was actually reading a history book.

Zhang Jingmo stood outside the door and listened for a while before knocking. He said, "Guijiu, it's your master."

After a moment, Lu Guijiu came to open the door for Zhang Jingmo. Seeing Zhang Jingmo, his face showed joy and he called out Master in a spoiled tone.

Zhang Jingmo nodded at Lu Guijiu, then looked at the teacher he had invited standing behind Lu Guijiu.

Zhang Jingmo said, "Thank you for your hard work."

That teacher was originally just a powerless outer sect disciple. When he was invited to Zhang Jingmo's cave abode, he thought he would just be a servant doing odd jobs, but unexpectedly he was teaching the cave master's disciple... and the cave master was very polite to him.

Hearing Zhang Jingmo's words, the man felt quite overwhelmed and quickly said, "No no, the elder is being too polite."

Zhang Jingmo lowered his head to look at Lu Guijiu and asked, "What book have you been reading recently?"

Lu Guijiu handed the book to Zhang Jingmo. Taking it, Zhang Jingmo saw it was the official history of the previous dynasty.

He said, "Why are you reading this?" He had thought the teacher would only teach Lu Guijiu some dogmatic Daoist principles.

Seeing no expression on Zhang Jingmo's face, the teacher thought he was displeased and hurriedly explained, "The young master found reading other books boring. Besides, there are indeed some obscure words in the history books, so I..."

Zhang Jingmo didn't continue listening to the explanation and just gave an indifferent "Mm".

Lu Guijiu seemed to sense Zhang Jingmo's unhappiness and asked, "Does Master not like me reading history books? If Master doesn't like it..."

Zhang Jingmo said, "Your master has no dislike."

Lu Guijiu stopped talking, showing a wronged expression.

Zhang Jingmo sighed. He was indeed in a bad mood and had misdirected his anger. He said, "Put down the book first, your master has something to tell you."

Hearing this, Lu Guijiu handed the book to the teacher behind him and left with Zhang Jingmo.

When they were alone, Zhang Jingmo asked, "Has Guijiu already entered the Dao?"

Hearing the words "entered the Dao", Lu Guijiu joyfully nodded. After all, he was just a four-year-old child. No matter how smart, he couldn't fully grasp people's hearts. In his view, his master knowing he had entered the Dao would definitely make him very happy and might even reward him.

Zhang Jingmo did indeed reward Lu Guijiu. After getting Lu Guijiu's confirmation, he gave him a magic weapon called the Ruyi Bell, a protective treasure.

However, the praise Lu Guijiu was waiting for did not come.

After giving him the magic weapon, Zhang Jingmo just told him to continue working hard in the future and sent him back to his residence.

Lu Guijiu was a bit confused. He watched Zhang Jingmo leave, feeling a little sad. He called out "Master", but Zhang Jingmo didn't turn his head, not knowing if he hadn't heard or simply didn't want to look back.

After rewarding Lu Guijiu, Zhang Jingmo planned to make his next move.

The Water Extension Scripture was only suitable for Lu Guijiu to cultivate during the Qi Refining stage. After Foundation Establishment, it would be useless.

Zhang Jingmo remembered that back then, Lu Guijiu had obtained the Blood Hell Heaven Scripture suitable for his Ten Absolute Spiritual Roots by chance during his trip to the Dark Cavern. There were more than ten years before he grew up now, so Zhang Jingmo could prepare well and then take Lu Guijiu into the cavern.

Zhang Jingmo had heard about the process of Lu Guijiu obtaining this scripture back then. In his subsequent rebirths, he had also entered the Dark Cavern to acquire this scripture.

But just thinking about this scripture gave Zhang Jingmo a headache...

While Zhang Jingmo was pondering future matters, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his dantian, as if it had ruptured. He instantly understood what had happened - the effect of the Primordial Cyan Pill was gone.

The small figure in his dantian that looked exactly like Zhang Jingmo shattered, and after a few breaths, it turned back into Zhang Jingmo's original golden core, except this golden core was much dimmer in color than before, clearly having suffered heavy damage.

Even though Zhang Jingmo was mentally prepared, he still broke out in a cold sweat from the pain, and even the jade cup in his hand was crushed to powder.

After the pain came an overwhelming sense of weakness. Zhang Jingmo thought that if any enemy came at this time, they could easily take his life.

Without spiritual energy protecting his body, the wound on his shoulder from the demonic python's bite also started hurting intensely. Zhang Jingmo wanted to stand up, but he staggered several steps before steadying himself against the wall.

Fortunately, he had made preparations beforehand, so he walked heavily towards the bath pool.

The bath pool was already filled with hot water. Zhang Jingmo poured spirit liquid into it, then took off his clothes and immersed his body.

The healing effect of the spirit liquid made the snake venom less painful, and Zhang Jingmo's complexion finally improved a lot. He exhaled and glanced at his still pitch-black right shoulder, thinking that the next seven days would be a real ordeal.

Lu Guijiu hadn't seen Zhang Jingmo for many days since being rewarded with a magic weapon.

He asked Qingfeng and Mingyue if his master was in seclusion.

Qingfeng and Mingyue both replied that he wasn't, and that the Elder was just resting.

Hearing that Zhang Jingmo was resting, Lu Guijiu wanted to go see him, but Qingfeng and Mingyue said the Elder had ordered not to receive any visitors during this time.

Lu Guijiu said, "Even I can't see him?"

Qingfeng and Mingyue showed a difficult expression. They felt the Elder doted on this disciple very much, but...

Seeing the two servant boys wavering a bit, Lu Guijiu said in a childish voice, "I've bathed with Master before. Master treats me so well, how could he not want to see me."

Mingyue said with difficulty, "Young Master Lu, please don't make things hard for us."

Lu Guijiu said, "I don't care. I have urgent business with Master. If I'm delayed, can you bear Master's blame?!"

Mingyue and Qingfeng felt a bit helpless. Previously, when Lu Guijiu entered the Dao, Zhang Jingmo didn't know and was obviously angry. Now Lu Guijiu said he had urgent business with Zhang Jingmo again. If they didn't report it, they were afraid this time it wouldn't be a matter that could be resolved with two elixir pills...

Hearing this, Mingyue had no choice but to cup his hands and say, "Young Master Lu, I'll go ask the Elder first and give you a reply."

Seeing Mingyue walk away, Lu Guijiu suddenly muttered in a low voice, not knowing if he was asking Qingfeng or himself, "Will Master really refuse to see me?"

Outside the door, Mingyue asked Zhang Jingmo, who was recuperating from his injuries, that Lu Guijiu said he had important matters to find him about.

At this time, Zhang Jingmo was being tormented by pain and weakness. He didn't want to see anyone, but hearing Mingyue say that Lu Guijiu had important matters, he forcibly mustered his energy and said softly, "Let him come."

Mingyue agreed, feeling fortunate that he had asked for Zhang Jingmo's opinion. Otherwise, if something went wrong later, he was afraid it would be blamed on him and Qingfeng.

Naturally, Lu Guijiu was overjoyed to get permission. However, this joy was completely diluted the moment he saw Zhang Jingmo.

Even though Lu Guijiu was a clueless child, he could see that Zhang Jingmo was not feeling well at this time.

The white robe made his complexion look even worse. His handsome face was covered in a layer of cold sweat, his brows slightly furrowed as if enduring some pain. Seeing Lu Guijiu come, he didn't get up, only parting his already bloodless lips to ask, "Guijiu, what's the matter?"

Lu Guijiu stared blankly at Zhang Jingmo, "Master, what happened to you?"

Zhang Jingmo leaned on the bed exhausted, feeling it took effort to even speak. He exhaled and said, "If there's something, just say it. This master doesn't have the strength to talk much."

Lu Guijiu's eyes reddened a bit as he said, "Master, I... I was just worried about you..."

Zhang Jingmo opened his half-closed eyes to glance at Lu Guijiu and said, "Nothing else?"

Lu Guijiu lowered his head and shook it. He suddenly felt he was very unreasonable for deceiving his master.

Seeing Lu Guijiu had no other business, Zhang Jingmo wanted to send him out. But the words at his lips changed upon seeing that little lowered head. He said, "Don't worry. This master will recover very soon."

Lu Guijiu had never told anyone that from the moment he was born, he had memories. So he also remembered how weak his mother looked when she died, and even remembered his father's anguished wailing.

At that time, he didn't know what death meant. It wasn't until he grew up a few years and learned from books that if a person died, there was no hope of ever seeing them again.

The moment Lu Guijiu saw Zhang Jingmo's weak appearance, he couldn't help but think of the word - death. He was scared to death but could do nothing.

Seeing Lu Guijiu not speaking for a long time, Zhang Jingmo thought he was distracted and said, "Guijiu, what's wrong?"

Lu Guijiu raised his head, his face already covered in tear stains.

Zhang Jingmo had to admit he was greatly startled again. Although he was having a hard time now, he was far from death. Besides, he had never seen Lu Guijiu cry before. In this life, he had seen Lu Guijiu cry twice in a short time...

Zhang Jingmo said, "Why are you crying?" He felt a bit at a loss.

Lu Guijiu could no longer control his emotions. He immediately threw himself beside Zhang Jingmo, choking on sobs as he cried, "Master, don't die..."

Zhang Jingmo had no choice but to reach out and stroke Lu Guijiu's soft hair, "This master won't die."

Lu Guijiu still wouldn't believe it, tugging on Zhang Jingmo's sleeve and refusing to let go. With tears shimmering in his eyes, he gazed at Zhang Jingmo's pale but still handsome face through the haze, wishing he could suffer in Zhang Jingmo's place.

Zhang Jingmo never imagined his cold-hearted disciple would be so sentimental as a child. He wanted to comfort Lu Guijiu but felt he didn't have the energy. Left with no choice, he simply let Lu Guijiu sleep beside him.

After crying, Lu Guijiu was also tired. Sobbing a few times, he actually fell asleep even faster than Zhang Jingmo.

Seeing this, Zhang Jingmo felt a bit of a headache. He really didn't know how to deal with a soft little child...