Cultivation begins with ice harvesters

Chapter 68: Old Man Meng

The reason why Elder Meng has such a reputation among the Qi Refining stage cultivators in the central area is mainly because he helps those in distress and is charitable. When faced with cultivators in difficulty, he may give them three or five spirit stones, some urgently needed spiritual materials, or even some finished spirit talismans.

In addition, for cultivators who come to him to refine magical artifacts, he usually only charges a basic fee. And because of his superb skills and high success rate, he naturally gains the respect and love of others over a long period of time.

Most of the cultivators who rented rooms in the first-tier mid-grade courtyard area had received some kind of favor from him, so his reputation naturally grew higher and higher.

At the annual gathering, Master Meng would generously donate some rare spiritual items that were seldom seen on the market and make the first trade.

"I wonder what the purpose of this Elder Meng's actions, which have lasted for thirty years, is? Could there really be such a selfless cultivator?"

Tong Bingfeng believed the information he gathered from other cultivators' word of mouth, but he still harbored a strong desire to find out the truth.

After all, if such a highly respected cultivator were to harbor malicious intentions, it would be a real disaster for a group of unprepared mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

One should not have the heart to harm others, but one must be wary of others. It is not that Tong Bingfeng is inherently suspicious, but rather that his arduous cultivation path in the past has left him with too many lessons that he cannot forget.

As the sun rises and sets, day and night alternate, three days pass in the blink of an eye. As agreed, at noon, when the sun shines brightly, Tong Bingfeng successfully arrives at this renowned courtyard.

This small courtyard, numbered thirty-six, is located at the deepest part of the first-tier mid-grade area. Its spiritual energy supply is slightly inferior, but it has the advantage of being quiet and peaceful.

But today, the usual tranquility has been completely shattered. Cultivators from different directions are all gathering in this small courtyard. Although it can't be described as shoulder to shoulder, it is still full of distinguished guests. There are more than forty mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the small courtyard.

These cultivators, in small groups, occupied different locations and were eagerly exchanging information about various things related to the Ice Spirit Island.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, you've arrived quite late today. Elder Meng requests your presence."

Tong Bingfeng had just stepped into the courtyard and hadn't even had a chance to exchange pleasantries with some of the familiar cultivators when Liu Zong came forward.

"I wonder if Elder Meng has invited me for a private discussion? Is there something important you wish to discuss?"

Tong Bingfeng was also quite curious, since in terms of cultivation level alone, Qi Refining Level 6 was not considered outstanding among the dozens of cultivators who came to the appointment.

Moreover, he had no auxiliary skills to pass down, and his only way of earning spirit stones was to snatch food from the mouths of beasts on the Ice Domain. On the Ice Spirit Island, there were countless similar cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Tong, please rest assured. For every new fellow Daoist who comes to keep the appointment, Elder Meng will personally exchange ideas and provide guidance. In addition, you can also trade some high-quality spiritual items with Elder Meng privately."

"Although he is only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, with the help of his dual skills in talisman making and weapon forging, he has quite a few rare spiritual items that are hard to find on the market. Fellow Daoist Tong must not give up this opportunity."

Liu Zong explained with great enthusiasm, and by the end, his eyes gleamed with envy. Clearly, he was quite envious of this kind of lucrative deal and wished he could take its place.

Of course, there is some truth to what he said. The accumulation of knowledge and skills of a weapon refiner and talisman maker far exceeds that of an ordinary cultivator.

"Young Master, stop bragging about me. I'm just asking you to invite Young Friend Tong. If you're not prepared today and the spirit items you're not satisfied with are not what you expected, wouldn't you be losing face for nothing?"

A voice, though aged, was full of vitality. It seemed to be a reprimand, but the doting affection within it was clear. Soon, an old man with white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, a straight back, and a spirited demeanor appeared at the door to greet them.

"Tong Bingfeng greets Elder Meng. I am fortunate to have been invited by Elder Meng today. Otherwise, as a newcomer to this place, I would have missed such a grand event."

Upon seeing the old man, Tong Bingfeng immediately bowed and paid his respects, showing no reservation in expressing his heartfelt reverence.

"This is hardly worthy of such a generous gift from you, young friend. Please rise. I am but an old man with no hope of finding a way to cultivate, just waiting to die."

"If you don't mind my rambling, young friend, how about we come inside for a chat, enjoy a cup of spiritual tea, and cultivate our minds and bodies?"

Mr. Meng, equally humble, immediately helped him up and formally extended an invitation.

The room was also quite simply furnished: a futon, a table, a bed, two chairs, and a cup of spiritual tea emitting a rich, white aroma that was truly delightful.

The moment the spiritual tea touches the palate, its unique aroma instantly overwhelms the entire taste buds. As the tea flows down the throat and into the stomach, streams of heat swirl out, engulfing the entire dantian.

"This tea is excellent. Every sip is so captivating that one can't help but be drawn in. This cup of divine tea alone makes today's trip worthwhile. Thank you for your hospitality, Master Meng."

After a long while, Tong Bingfeng reluctantly opened his eyes. He was also well aware of the effects of the spirit tea, which were far superior to the common first-grade low-grade spirit teas on the market.

"Young friend Tong, you're too kind. This is only the first time I've had this effect. As I drink it more often, it's just a little something with a slightly unique taste, nothing to mention."

When Master Meng took a sip of the spiritual tea, all he experienced was a mere pleasure on his taste buds.

"Venerable Master Meng, what brings you here today? What guidance do you wish to offer?"

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Tong Bingfeng got straight to the point, asking why they had time to cultivate instead of wasting it here.

"Young friend, you've already reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, yet you've only just moved to the middle-grade first-tier area. May I ask where you resided before? Did you just arrive at Ice Spirit Island?"

Elder Meng also asked directly, seemingly quite curious about his background. In a sense, this was rather presumptuous for the two cultivators who were not familiar with each other.

"I had been renting a place in a low-grade first-tier area, but I was short of money, which is why I moved so late. I am not a cultivator from another island, and I have an honest background. I will not cause any additional trouble for you fellow cultivators, so please rest assured, Elder Meng."

He could discern the meaning behind the strings; though he wasn't good at socializing, he could still clearly judge some of the less subtle meanings.

This old man had lived in the first-tier mid-grade courtyard area for thirty years and was deeply loved by the cultivators. He clearly did not want to bring trouble to his peaceful life for some reason when he was about to reach the end of his life.

"Please forgive me, young friend. It's not that I'm overly suspicious; I simply want to ensure the basic safety of my fellow practitioners who reside in this area long-term."