Following the battle at the Black Iron Sect, Wen Buhuo knew deep down that while his strength was enough to handle mundane conflicts, he was still merely scratching the surface of the world of cultivators. Moreover, the Ice Palm poison within him would throb with pain from time to time, ensuring he dared not slacken for a moment. He understood that his methods were too shocking for ordinary people; even if the members of the Black Iron Sect said nothing on the surface, their strange looks and inner terror would eventually make him a target. Should his reputation spread and draw the attention of a true great cultivation sect, the consequences would be unthinkable.

In the early morning, a thin mist swirled through the mountains. Wen Buhuo found Zhang Xiaopang, who was busy cleaning up the aftermath of the battle.

"Xiaopang, I'm leaving." Wen Buhuo’s tone was calm, yet carried an unquestionable resolve.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaopang’s burly frame shuddered violently, and his eyes instantly reddened. "Brother Buhuo, I don't care what others think! You saved our entire sect; you saved Wan'er! Please don't go, alright? As brothers, we can face anything together!"

Wen Buhuo remained silent, merely patting Zhang Xiaopang on the shoulder. Xiaopang knew then that Wen Buhuo’s mind was made up. He unbuckled the heavy sword that had accompanied him for many years from his waist and handed it to Wen Buhuo. "Take care, brother! This sword may be nothing special, but it's forged from Black Iron at least—it can help you ward off the blades and spears of the mortal world."

Taking the heavy sword, a surge of warmth flowed through Wen Buhuo’s heart. He knew this friendship was far more precious than the weapon itself. The two embraced tightly, everything left unsaid.

After bidding farewell to Zhang Xiaopang, Wen Buhuo set out on the road to Jiayuan City without looking back. His goal was clear: find the home of Old Man Yao and seek a cure for the Ice Palm poison.

After trekking for a while, Wen Buhuo arrived at a small village and found a crowd gathered by the roadside. A youth of about fourteen or fifteen, dressed in green robes and possessing delicate features, stood before a small stall. He was enthusiastically pitching a pile of unremarkable-looking herbs.

"Listen up, folks! Don't miss out! This is my ancestral spirit medicine—it cures a hundred ailments and works the moment you take it!" The youth’s voice was as resonant as a bell, brimming with confidence.

An elderly man leaning on a cane nearby raised his hand tremulously. "It’s true! It’s true! My old aching legs have been bothering me for years, but after taking young Physician Xu’s medicine, I can walk with strength now!"

Curious, Wen Buhuo stepped forward, his gaze landing on the herbs. Though they were mundane herbs, a few of them indeed contained a faint trace of spiritual Qi. Clearly, they had grown in a place rich in spiritual energy, making their medicinal effects far superior to ordinary plants.

Seeing Wen Buhuo stop to look, the youth’s eyes lit up, revealing a sun-drenched smile. He gave a grand wave of his hand. "Since fate brought us together today, I’ll give the rest of these medicines to all of you for free!" The villagers erupted in cheers, stepping forward to claim the herbs.

The youth turned around and clasped his hands toward Wen Buhuo. "Brother, you have an extraordinary air about you. May I ask your name?"

"My surname is Wen, given name Buhuo," Wen Buhuo replied.

"Brother Wen, I see that at such a young age, you’ve already reached the seventh layer of Qi Condensation—just like me!" The youth’s eyes were bright, his tone carry a hint of kinship.

Wen Buhuo’s heart stirred. His knowledge of the cultivation world was limited to the fragments left by Old Man Yao; he was completely ignorant of terms like "seventh layer of Qi Condensation."

Seeing the confusion on Wen Buhuo’s face, the youth immediately understood. He let out a hearty laugh. "Brother Wen, you must be a rogue cultivator, right? Judging by your skill, you must have achieved this through bitter self-study. To be honest, I, Xu Ziling, am also a rogue cultivator. Since you're curious, allow me to tell you a bit about the cultivation world."

Xu Ziling spoke eloquently, his words flowing like a river. "Cultivation is generally divided into five great realms: Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Deity Transformation. Each realm is further divided into early, middle, and late stages. This Qi Condensation stage we’re in is about drawing Qi into the body and condensing spiritual power—it’s just the beginning. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, your body is reborn, and your lifespan increases immensely!"

"Beyond that, cultivators have many auxiliary means. For instance, Talismans involve injecting spiritual power into paper to trigger spells. Dharma Tools are implements forged from various materials for offense or defense. Magic Treasures are even more powerful—those are formidable weapons only accessible to those at the Golden Core stage and above!"

Wen Buhuo listened with great interest. Xu Ziling’s words opened a new door for him, providing a much clearer understanding of this world.

"Brother Wen, looking at you, could it be that you are also heading to the Ascension Assembly?" Xu Ziling asked suddenly.

"The Ascension Assembly? What is that?" Wen Buhuo asked.

A look of longing flashed in Xu Ziling’s eyes. "The Ascension Assembly is a grand event held once every ten years! Talented mortals from all over, as well as rogue cultivators like us, have a chance to go to the Ascension Valley. By passing the trials, one can join the Seven Great Cultivation Sects! It’s a chance for a carp to leap through the dragon’s gate! Rogue cultivators like us have no resources and face many hardships in training, so everyone wants to give it a shot."

"The Seven Sects? Which ones are they?" Wen Buhuo pressed.

Xu Ziling began counting them off on his fingers. "There’s the Yellow Maple Valley, experts in talismans and tool refinement; the Moon Mask Sect, comprised entirely of female cultivators and famous for spells and illusions; the Clear Void Sect, mostly sword cultivators with fierce techniques; the Cloud Falling Sect, proficient in formations and beast taming; the Heavenly Net Sect, with powerful body-refinement arts; the Hundred Skill Gate, masters of mechanical puppets and various esoteric arts; and finally, the mysterious Unified Gate, who are said to excel in divination and alchemy."

"Ascension Valley is shrouded in mist year-round, making it hard for outsiders to enter, which prevents mortals from wandering in by mistake. Brother Wen, why don't we travel together? We can look out for each other on the road and exchange insights on cultivation." Xu Ziling offered a sincere invitation.

Wen Buhuo considered that since he was new to the cultivation world and ignorant of many common facts, having a "guide" would indeed be very convenient. Furthermore, although Xu Ziling talked a lot, he seemed kind-hearted and worth befriending.

"Alright! However, I need to make a trip to Jiayuan City first to handle some business," Wen Buhuo agreed.

"No problem! Then we shall meet three days from now at the gates of Jiayuan City!" Xu Ziling clapped his hands happily.