Chapter 8: The White Snake Folds Its Spirit

  Tieguan Zhenren finally came out of seclusion. On the day he left, Zhenru Zhugong brought Zhen Tian and Zhen Yi to see him. Several people chatted behind closed doors for a while before Zhenru and others left. Tieguan Zhenren took Yan Wuyou back to Jin Fu and went into seclusion again.

  The Iron Crown True Man, who had closed his doors again, was excited. With his mid-stage Yuan Baby cultivation, it was unimaginable that he could be shocked by an object like this. He was excited because of the giant snake in the Beast Refining Cauldron.

  Others were unclear what level of demon the giant snake was, but he understood it very well. The Flame Bird that had made a pact with Tieguan was already an unmatchable fierce bird, having reached the middle stage of the Congealing Dan boundary at adulthood, but even more Flame Birds couldn't compare to one giant snake.

  The giant snake is called Fú Shén, said to be the spirit pet of a certain ancient Fú surname great god, with extensive divine powers, so it's called Fú Shén, also known as Fú Snake or Fú Shén Snake. Another theory is that this snake has such extensive divine powers that it can subdue celestial beings, hence the name Fú Shén. Regardless of which theory, both are enough to illustrate the ferocity of the Fú Shén Snake.

  With his own mid-term cultivation, he encountered a grown Fow Snake and didn't dare to make any sudden moves. He didn't expect that the disciples from several tens of generations later would actually bring back an intact snake corpse, which truly delighted Iron Crown True Man to no end.

  Having heard Zhen Yidao's account of the capture and refining process, Tieguan Zhenren couldn't help but click his tongue. Judging from its appearance, this Fow Snake should have a lifespan of nearly 10,000 years, but it's inexplicable how it got injured? However, if the snake hadn't been injured, how could they have captured it?

  Tieguan Zhenren couldn't understand, and could only repeatedly say that a true immortal has good luck. Let's just say that several people were left crying and laughing at the same time, but what about those with bad luck? Would they be able to shatter their golden elixir and narrowly escape with their lives? Under the seal, would they be able to destroy three precious treasures?

  However, they were also very happy. The Iron Crown True Man agreed to help them cultivate high-grade magical treasures using snake skin scales and other materials. The new magical treasure would definitely be much better than the Tian Luo Umbrella and other items. To show their gratitude, Nei Dan presented the Iron Crown True Man with a pill to refine his cultivation.

  Four people are happy, but Yan Lie is not. He's back in this unlucky place to practice his broken skills after only a few days of playing outside. His heart is unwilling and he grumbles nonstop.

  The Tianlei Divine Art has a total of sixteen levels, and cultivating up to the thirteenth level allows one to enter the foundation-building period. Completing all sixteen levels is the pinnacle of the foundation-building period. Zhang Pa is currently at the peak of the Qi Refining stage and is about to break through into the foundation-building period.

  Tianlei Mountain is nothing special, just a lot of thunder. Zhang Pa was afraid to practice, and the old sky would strike lightning. A clear blue sky suddenly floated over with a few dark clouds, and then a muffled thunder sounded. Zhang Pa hurriedly got up, instinctively running towards the house, but halfway through, he stopped his footsteps, silently operating the static heart technique. He wanted to try again, to see if he could hold on, no longer afraid of thunder.

  Unfortunately, his fear of thunder is deep-seated and cannot be erased from his subconscious. As long as he knows there's a storm outside, as soon as he sees lightning, even hiding in a sealed room where he can't hear any sounds, he still can't suppress his fear. He won't feel afraid only if he doesn't know at all.

  After the thunderstorm, a pale and trembling boy stood in the pouring rain, his eyes dull, biting his lips tightly, with blood oozing out of the wound. He was afraid, although he tried to hold on, letting the thunder roar above his head, gritting his teeth without making a sound, but he was still afraid.

  In the rain, he was thoroughly disappointed in himself. A coward is a coward after all, and it seems that he will spend his whole life in fear and timidity. Zhang Pa Mu walked slowly back to the thatched hut, his footsteps stiff and slow. At this time, lightning flashed across the sky, followed by another clap of thunder...

  Zhang Pa had no reaction, because he was so distracted that he didn't even hear. He walked back to the small hut like a wooden puppet, hugged the little dog and burst into tears, with many sorrows surging from the bottom of his heart, like a storm raging inside his body. Zhang Pa had always liked to cry since childhood, being beaten to tears, scolded to tears, seeing monsters cry, even thunder made him cry, but this time it was because of sadness that he cried. At this moment, he was no longer timid or afraid, only endless sorrow, sorrow for losing his parents, sorrow for becoming an orphan too early, sorrow for being bullied by others, sorrow for his own grievances, and even more sorrow for being a coward and not being like a man!

  Suddenly, I don't want to cultivate anything, I don't want to be a Taoist, I don't care about entering the Purple Light Pavilion or so-called cultivation. Zhang Pa wants to go down the mountain and leave the Tianlei Daoist Temple.

  Took out the jade slip from the storage bag, used force to throw it out of the window. What kind of crap is this "quiet heart trick", learned it for nothing. The window was wide open, he tilted his head and shouted loudly: "Thunder, strike me, make your sound louder, kill me!"

  He cried enough and wanted to vent, pushed open the door and ran out, pointing at the sky and scolding: "Damn heaven, strike me, strike me." He scolded fiercely, but the heavens stopped thundering and slowly cleared up. Zhang was still scolding: "Why don't you strike me? Are you afraid? Why did you dare to strike my mother but not me? You should strike me! Damn heaven is also a bully who takes advantage of the weak and fears the strong."

  Zhang Ba sent all the profanities he knew to heaven, but heaven didn't react. Zhang Ba cursed until he was exhausted and fell into the muddy water, panting heavily, slowly calming down, saw his own appearance, and burst out laughing: "It turns out that scolding is quite refreshing."

  Pick up the jade tablet, wipe away the dirt, hold the white jade block and make a heavy oath. From today on, I, Zhang Pa, will never be afraid again!

  Unfortunately, words are useless. If speaking were useful, why would countless monks have to work hard at their spiritual practice?

  Zhang Pa was sixteen years old and had reached the top of the Qi Refining stage. Zhen Ruozong, the sect master, and Zhen Tiandao, a senior member, discussed and decided to summon him to the Purple Light Pavilion for focused cultivation.

  The token was delivered, and Zhang returned the black iron and white jade key to Kontang Hall. He packed his bags in the thatched hut. When he saw the pile of so-called armor, he couldn't help but laugh silently. This pile of trash could be turned into ashes with a single touch, and he had actually relied on it as a treasure before. He didn't bother to pack it up and left with his hands behind his back. His gaze swept across the Cave of Ten Thousand Beasts, the thatched hut, and the empty field, his emotions somewhat stirred: "I'm finally leaving this place, my masters have acknowledged me!"

  Picked up three small dogs, unfolded the swift wind technique, and a figure rushed towards the main peak of Tianlei Mountain.

  Cháotiān Mén is the main gate of Tiān Léi Dào Guān, with six giant pillars supporting a high roof. Below it hangs a signboard with three large characters: Cháotiān Mén. Behind the gate lies a wide stone-paved street, lined on both sides by over a dozen shops selling spirit stones, jade stones, and other treasures.

  When he was a kid, Zhang Fei liked this road because there were always many people on it. However, after being bullied and ridiculed several times, he never came again. Now that he's stepped onto this road once more, his heart still feels a bit uneasy.

  The lower-level disciples of Tianlei Mountain are numerous, and the shops on the street are opened for them. They sell low-grade magic treasures, which is convenient for everyone to cultivate. Therefore, most people strolling around on the street are Qi-refining stage disciples.

  Zhang Pa walked along the street, looking at the treasures in the shops. There were knives, swords, and even stoves and herbs. It could be said that they were dazzling to the eye. Zhang Pa's eyes widened as he looked at these things, which he had never seen before. When he was young, he heard people say that cultivators must cultivate treasures, which can protect their lives and ward off enemies. Good treasures can even promote cultivation. But how could he afford such things?

  Eyes burning with desire, wanting this and that, but not a penny in the pocket. Sighing deeply, I lower my head to play with the little dog in my arms.

  In the middle of the street, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy held a Japanese sword in his hand, constantly sizing up the passing crowd. When he saw Zhang Pa, his eyes lit up and he quickly stepped forward, calling out: "Brother, brother."

  Zhang Pa didn't respond to him and continued to move forward slowly. The young man took a few steps forward, cupped his fists and said: "Brother, please stay." Zhang Pa only then realized that the young man was calling out to him, and he felt great joy in his heart. He hadn't expected that he could also be called "brother", having been used to being called "younger brother" for so long, it didn't feel right to be called "older brother".

  "Halt your steps and ask the young man what's going on. The young man said, 'I'm Liu Qi, dare to ask if brother has any Progression Pills? I'll exchange this high-grade method sword for a low-grade pill that can advance from Refining Qi to High Ascension.' He handed over the sword in his hand."

  Advanced Dan is extremely precious, and when any realm is cultivated to the highest level and cannot be upgraded due to bottlenecks, the corresponding Advanced Dan can be taken to seek a breakthrough. For example, from Qi Refining Top Stage to Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, or from Initial Stage to Middle Stage, etc., the medicinal ingredients of Advanced Dan are different at different stages, but they are all called Advanced Dan.

  Zhang scanned the young man with his divine sense, knowing that he was a high-ranking disciple of the Refining Qi Sect, and his cultivation was lower than his own. He then scanned the sword, but his divine sense couldn't penetrate it. The sword was either forged by a master craftsman in the Foundation Establishment stage or had a powerful seal on it, making it a good thing for him. However, he didn't have the Advancement Pill, and smiled, saying: "Sorry, I don't have that pill."

  "None?" Liu Qi was somewhat disappointed, and then asked: "Senior brother, are there any senior brothers of the same rank as you? You all cultivate together, your relationship must be very good, help me speak up, if the exchange is successful, I will give some more spiritual stones to senior brother."

  Zhang Pa smiled self-deprecatingly: "I cultivate alone, I don't have a good relationship with my fellow disciples." As he spoke, he thought to leave, but Liu Qi wouldn't let him go: "Cultivating alone? Brother Zhang must be the disciple of some Master Uncle, cultivating in the cave, Brother Zhang's internal energy is really good, able to take on a master at the Refining Qi stage!" Seeing the small dog in Zhang Pa's hand, he said again: "This is a demon beast, right? Brother Zhang is really amazing, actually able to tame three of them! Hmm? Why doesn't it have any spiritual energy? What level of demon beast is this, that understands how to restrain its spiritual energy? Heaven, Brother Zhang you're really amazing!"

  Zhang was afraid of being teased by him and explained with a suppressed smile: "This is not a spiritual beast, but an ordinary little dog."

  "Ah? Ah!" Liu Qi made a big show of embarrassment, somewhat flustered, and changed the subject, continuing: "Those little guys are quite cute, I wonder what your name is, Shixiong?"

  "My name is Zhang Pa."

  "What? You're Zhang Pa?" Liu Qi suddenly remembered something.

  Zhang Pa thought he hadn't made himself clear and continued: "My Buddhist name is Hongwu."