“Senior, although there was a slight mishap, but…” Xiao Wenbing smiled slightly and said, “However, I have finally fulfilled my mission.”
"The item has been successfully refined?" Huiming exclaimed in surprise.
“Exactly.” Xiao Wenbing took out the magic weapon that combined the five elements and handed it over.
"Why is the design a little different?" Huiming asked in surprise as he took a look.
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback. It was strange that the old man had asked such a question.
He crafted this magical artifact himself, and considering that the recipients were two elderly people over a thousand years old, he couldn't possibly give them a pair of underwear again.
After much consideration and careful selection, he finally chose a new style of casual wear.
However, Master Huiming's behavior was somewhat unexpected. Could it be that he has a particular fondness for swim trunks, or is he simply born with the potential to be an exhibitionist?
"Senior, although the style is somewhat different and the material is also a bit different, I guarantee that the effect is exactly the same and will definitely not be inferior to the bodysuit in the hands of the Moonlit Wolf King."
Hearing Xiao Wenbing's assurance, Huiming nodded slightly, picked up the casual clothes, and began to examine them carefully.
Unlike his junior brother Huiming, Master Huipu's gaze had never left Xiao Wenbing. He suddenly said, "You're tired."
Xiao Wenbing gave a wry smile; he was indeed exhausted. Although a Golden Core cultivator wouldn't easily feel fatigued, he had failed far too many times in his attempt to refine the Five Elements Unifying Casual Wear. If it weren't for the support of the Unyielding Pill and his Natal Golden Talisman, he would have collapsed long ago.
Finally, he was unjustly hit by a huge explosion, which almost completely depleted his spiritual power. It was impossible for him not to be tired.
"Yes, I'm a little tired. Thank you for your concern, senior."
“If you’re tired, take a good rest. Don’t push yourself. I’ll take you to… to the old Taoist’s residence.” After saying this, Master Huipu stepped forward, took his hand, and disappeared in a flash.
The old Taoist priest's Taoist magic was exquisite; he was indeed a veteran at the Tribulation Transcending stage. In just a short while, he arrived at the place and into a small thatched hut.
Xiao Wenbing thought to himself, "How come this old man's personality is even more eccentric? He actually settled down in this godforsaken place, and he's even more frugal than the old Taoist Xianyun and the Tianyi Sect Master."
Is this how Mo Feifan behaves just because his cultivation has reached the Tribulation Transcending stage?
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, you should meditate and practice your cultivation in this thatched hut until you have recovered your energy before coming out," Hewlett instructed before leaving the hut.
Xiao Wenbing responded, sat down cross-legged, and calmed his mind. Suddenly, he noticed something was amiss.
Of course, it's not that there's anything wrong with it, but everything went too smoothly. Almost the instant he sat down, his mind naturally calmed down.
Even when entering a meditative state, it is done easily and effortlessly, without the slightest strain.
This is simply impossible.
He is indeed a Golden Core cultivator, but he hasn't been cultivating for very long. He's only been cultivating for a few days, and although his foundation has become incredibly deep due to consuming a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills, his mental state hasn't caught up as quickly.
Cultivating one's state of mind is different from physical exercise.
Foundation Establishment Pills can enhance a cultivator's physique, helping them quickly advance from the Core Formation stage to the Golden Core stage. However, there are no miraculous pills in the world that can enhance a cultivator's spiritual realm.
There are no shortcuts or chances in spiritual cultivation; it all comes from the gradual refinement and accumulation of one's own character.
Perhaps it was because he was too restless, or perhaps it was because he had been immersed in the mundane world for many years, but his spiritual cultivation was always a step below his actual level. Therefore, when he was extremely tired at this moment, his mind was even more chaotic. It was simply unimaginable for him to calm down and enter a meditative state so quickly.
Volume 4, Chapter 161: The Ancestral Master's House
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Suddenly, he heard a faint, almost imperceptible sound, like someone softly chanting, or perhaps a tranquil melody, flowing through his heart like a gentle stream. It easily dispelled his restlessness and brought him back to the realm of nature.
He listened intently, and the melody suddenly changed, quickening up like a summer downpour, accompanied by gale-force winds and thunder, shaking his nerves.
The next moment, he felt himself in the wilderness, with rain constantly hitting his face and body, and he felt an unprecedented sense of release.
The sound of rain gradually increased in intensity, from slow to fast; the sound of thunder grew louder as it approached and from darkness to light; and the sound of the wind, like a melody, accompanied the main theme of the rain, enriching the sonata of heaven and earth.
He raised his head, cried out to the heavens, laughed wildly, confided in himself, and closed his eyes to meditate. He had completely merged into this performance of heaven and earth.
Finally, he was cleansed by the rain, enlightened by the wind, and awakened by the thunder and lightning.
Two clear tears streamed down his face. The unity of man and nature is so simple. There is no need for deliberate pursuit or careful maintenance. Just get caught in the rain, listen to the wind, feel nature, and relax.
So this is what true harmony between humanity and nature really means.
Gradually, the storm subsided, and Xiao Wenbing opened his eyes, his gaze clear and bright, serene and peaceful.
Inside the thatched hut, Xiao Wenbing was experiencing that magical feeling, while outside the hut, things were just as turbulent.
Just a few steps apart, the two women's expressions shifted constantly. They could clearly sense Xiao Wenbing's change at that moment, and they could empathize with his intense emotions.
Zhang Yaqi slowly sat down, her pretty face dignified and solemn, as if she had entered a state of perfect harmony with nature.
Feng Baiyi's body trembled, as if she had suddenly woken up, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. Her gaze was intense, making it impossible to look directly at her. Her robes fluttered in the wind as she stood fully alert, her senses encompassing everything within a radius of several dozen feet. Any unusual movement would be met with her merciless retaliation.
The Heavenly Thunder Palace's fame, though not widespread, truly stems from its unique strengths. Even the magical power of this thatched hut couldn't shake her in the slightest.
He was secretly alarmed, and his opinion of Feng Baiyi improved even more. He made up his mind that he would rather die than provoke this person.
If Xiao Wenbing were still lucid, he would definitely think that the Three Talents and Five Elements Formation taught by the Tianyi Sect Master was indeed well-deserved of its reputation.
Although they were completely useless in capturing the spirits of the earth, the three of them somehow shared a strange connection.
Just like now, his feelings were gradually transmitted to Feng and Zhang, and although they were not as intense as they were in the thatched hut, they were still unforgettable.
The Taoist arts and crafts are indeed extraordinary.
After a long while, the door of the thatched cottage slowly opened, and Xiao Wenbing strode out.
He was radiant, showing no trace of dejection, and his eyes were clear and bright, as if a complete transformation had taken place in the blink of an eye.
Hui Pu looked at his face. After a moment, he finally revealed a hearty smile and said loudly, "Congratulations, fellow Daoist."
Xiao Wenbing was taken aback for a moment, then quickly came to his side, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, senior."
Hewlett laughed heartily and helped him up. He said, "Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such formalities. This is your own good fortune; I'm merely going with the flow, offering my help as a guide." His eyes held undisguised satisfaction; clearly, he was very happy that Xiao Wenbing's trip had been beneficial.
Xiao Wenbing shook his head repeatedly, his heart filled with heartfelt gratitude for the old man from HP.
As the saying goes, one doesn't know one's own situation. After practicing for this period of time, he naturally understood that his mental cultivation was always lower than his own level, which was definitely not a good thing.
Just like today, exhausted and lacking energy, the conversation with the Mirror God made me dizzy and bloated. In a daze, I threw the talisman out. Fortunately, it didn't cause any major disaster.
These are not just minor matters; but according to the speed of one's cultivation, as one's skill deepens, the gap between one's state of mind and one's spiritual state will widen further.
At that time, there will be many crises. If one is not careful and goes astray, it will be too late to regret it.
However, this situation was not obvious, at least not at this time, so it was not enough to pose a great threat to him. Therefore, even the Sect Master of Tianyi and the Taoist Master Xianyun did not notice it.
If Xiao Wenbing hadn't exhausted his spiritual power while refining magical artifacts, thus accidentally revealing his true nature, even if Hewlett-Packard were twice as capable, he wouldn't have been able to detect it.
"Phew..." Zhang Yaqi let out a long sigh, waking up from her deep meditation.
Her bright eyes looked at Xiao Wenbing, who nodded slightly to her. The intelligent girl immediately understood the reason and stepped forward to bow and thank HP.
If Xiao Wenbing's state of mind was somewhat lacking compared to his Golden Core realm, then Zhang Yaqi's gap was even greater. However, thanks to the Qiankun Ring, no one could really detect it for the time being.
But this was also a huge source of trouble. This time, outside the thatched hut, she sensed Xiao Wenbing's psychological changes, which led her through a rare psychological journey. Her willpower was unparalleled; seizing this opportunity, she devoted herself to cultivation. Although time was short and she couldn't fully make up for lost time, the benefits she gained far surpassed those of Xiao Wenbing.
“Senior, what is this hut…” Xiao Wenbing thanked Hewlett and asked, pointing to the hut behind him.
Although HP kept saying that this was his residence, Xiao Wenbing didn't quite believe it. A residence with such magical functions could not possibly be found everywhere. Even within the Tianding Sect, it must be an extremely important place. How could anyone actually live there?
Sure enough, the old Taoist priest, Hewlett, laughed loudly: "This thatched hut is called the Ancestral Master's Hut. It is the place where the senior masters of our sect who survived the Heavenly Tribulation lived in seclusion."
"The Great Completion Stage?" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed in surprise.
"Exactly."
Xiao Wenbing looked around and asked quietly, "Is it available now?"
"No."
"Sigh..." Xiao Wen sighed in disappointment. He really wanted to see these senior experts who had successfully undergone tribulations and were about to ascend to immortality.
In the cultivation world, everyone knows that after passing the Heavenly Tribulation, one waits to become a master of the Great Completion stage.
These highly skilled individuals do not stay in the cultivation world for long, ranging from one or two years to just a few days, before they must ascend to the immortal realm. During their stay in the cultivation world, the last thing they do is pass down some commonly used magical treasures and use their newly acquired immortal spiritual energy to further expand their sect's ever-present mustard seed space.
Once the appointed time arrives, one will be unable to resist ascending to the celestial realm, without any delay whatsoever.
Therefore, finding a highly accomplished senior master is not an easy task.
"Why should Fellow Daoist Xiao be envious? With the aptitude and cultivation of the three of you, transcending tribulation and ascending to immortality is a piece of cake."
"Haha, thank you for the compliment, senior." Xiao Wenbing put away his thoughts and looked back at the thatched hut.
Seeing Xiao Wenbing's confusion, HP smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, you've been inside for a whole day now. How is it? How does it feel?"
"A day?" Xiao Wenbing exclaimed in surprise. Only when Feng Baiyi nodded did he truly believe it. How could he feel that such a day had passed in just a short quarter of an hour?
After the initial shock, Xiao Wenbing said, "This thatched hut seems to contain a power, a kind of... innate energy that is almost natural. This energy is inexhaustible and has many wonderful effects, such as being awe-inspiring and calming. Hmm, the feeling it gives me is like... like..."
Xiao Wenbing stopped, because what he was about to say was something even he himself could hardly believe. Looking up, he saw Hewlett-Packard smiling and blurted out, "Could it be that this thatched hut itself is a magical artifact?"
"Fellow Daoist Xiao is indeed extraordinary, your words are spot on." Daoist Huipu laughed loudly and said, "This thatched hut was originally the place where the founder of the Tianding Sect lived. Later, the founder attained enlightenment and ascended to heaven. To commemorate him, his descendants also came here to remember him after passing through the heavenly tribulation. It has been passed down from generation to generation. I don't know from which generation this thatched hut has acquired this magical ability."
Xiao Wenbing looked at Huipu gratefully. He knew that such places were often forbidden areas within sects. Even he himself, let alone disciples from other sects, couldn't enter without special background and circumstances. Huipu's bringing him here was truly a great favor.
However, it is likely that only the two elders of the Hui family, with their status and position, could bring outsiders here without being questioned.
Turning his head, Xiao Wenbing was eager to go back and see what was going on. Such a fun place was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Although Meng Huipu values this treasure, it is unlikely that he will be able to come here often. If he could carry this treasure with him, it would bring unimaginable benefits to his future cultivation.
"What, Fellow Daoist Xiao, would you like to go again?" HP asked with a smile.
HP waved his hand and agreed with a smile. In his eyes, Xiao Wenbing was just like any other cultivator obsessed with crafting magical artifacts. For such a person, any magical treasure would arouse their greatest curiosity, just as he himself couldn't help but want to study the five-elemental bodysuit as soon as he saw it.
So, Xiao Wenbing was no exception; however, this trip was likely to end in failure.
Volume 4, The Divine Artifacts, Chapter 162: The Mystery of the Thatched Hut
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