The old Taoist priest was only one step away from reaching the threshold of Grandmaster, but this step was not easy to take, especially for someone of his age. Crossing the barrier to Grandmaster meant either life or death, with a chance hanging by a thread.
If he could achieve enlightenment, he would become a Grandmaster in an instant.
If he failed, he would never reach it, even if his lifespan ran out.
Although Ning Beichen had a way to let him experience the threshold of Grandmaster prematurely, why would Ning Beichen help him?
Even though their relationship had eased somewhat, it did not mean Ning Beichen had come to like him.
However, there might still be a chance. It depended on whether his subsequent actions could impress Ning Beichen. At least for now, he had not moved Ning Beichen.
The old Taoist priest did not dare to push his luck and began to tell Ning Beichen about some past events. After all, he had lived for over a hundred years and knew many secrets unknown to ordinary people.
This gave Ning Beichen more understanding of orthodox practitioners. He also learned from the old Taoist priest that many of the current sects were ostensibly unrelated to cultivators, such as Shaolin and Wudang.
Of course, many sects still existed, but they had gone into hiding or adapted to the times. Some disguised themselves as martial arts studios, others as fitness centers, and so on.
What intrigued Ning Beichen the most was a piece of gossip.
The female head of a very famous sect was actually a well-known diva in the entertainment industry.
If the old Taoist priest hadn't mentioned it, Ning Beichen probably wouldn't have been able to connect them in this lifetime.
Another relatively well-known sect was now running a chain of beauty salons and doing quite well.
Some sects, in order to survive, had also ventured into the food industry.
Of course, some sects had gone down the wrong path, engaging in pyramid schemes, and had brought about their own downfall.
Ning Beichen learned from the old Taoist priest about the turbulent hundred years of these sects. In short, sects and cultivators were facing difficult times.
After all, unlike the old Taoist priest, who had a renowned mountain temple to receive incense offerings and a sect to support him, he had no worries about food or clothing.
For example, monks also lived quite comfortably.
However, other sects were not so lucky and had to find various industries to earn a living.
From the old Taoist priest, Ning Beichen learned that in the past century, nearly ninety percent of the ancestral sects had disappeared.
The reasons were quite simple: firstly, it was difficult to recruit disciples, and secondly, it was difficult to maintain them.
But ultimately, the difficulty lay in recruiting disciples. No one liked fighting and killing anymore. With that free time, it was better to study hard and get a good job.
And children nowadays were precious. How many parents would be willing to send their children to such places to become disciples? This was not ancient times, and there was no need to compete for the martial arts examination.
Ning Beichen took it all as post-meal amusement after listening.
Everyone had their own pursuits. Those who could not adapt to the times would eventually be eliminated by the times.
And it wasn't just sects and cultivators that were eliminated; anything that couldn't keep up with the times would be. This included century-old shops, time-honored brands, and old traditionalists.
Ning Beichen chatted with the old Taoist priest for a while, and they each returned to their tents to sleep. The giant tiger was responsible for keeping watch nearby.
The night passed without incident.
As dawn broke, Ning Beichen and the old Taoist priest continued their journey on the giant tiger.
However, this time, the old Taoist priest no longer pointed the way. Instead, the giant tiger took the lead, guiding them to find "good things."
Before long.
The giant tiger stopped at a cliff and let out a roar at the precipice.
"My heavens! What a magnificent Blood Lingzhi!"
The old Taoist priest exclaimed loudly, looking at the cliff.
A fiery red lingzhi grew on the cliff face. From a distance, it looked like a dazzling flame, and it wasn't just one layer of flame, but five.
Even Ning Beichen's eyes widened.
This was a five-layered flame Fire Lingzhi. Each layer represented a hundred years, so this thing was at least five hundred years old, which could be considered a heavenly treasure.
The old Taoist priest also coveted the Fire Lingzhi, but he dared not lay claim to it. It belonged to Ning Beichen.
"Mr. Ning, let me help you pick it."
Although he couldn't covet it, it was good to see it up close.
"Very well, but this thing has grown here unharmed for hundreds of years. There might be something guarding it nearby, so be careful."
Ning Beichen worried that the old Taoist priest might be too impulsive, so he cautioned him.
The old Taoist priest nodded. Having lived for over a hundred years, he knew this situation even without Ning Beichen saying it.
However, with his cultivation and strength, he was not overly worried. As long as he was careful, he would basically not capsize in the gutter.
The old Taoist priest leaped lightly and landed on the cliff. With a few leaps, he approached the Fire Lingzhi.
Just as he was about to pick it, a red spider, as large as a bowl, shot out from behind a rock towards the old Taoist priest.
But the old Taoist priest was prepared. He flicked the sleeve of his Taoist robe, and with a bang, he used the Iron Sleeve Flowing Cloud technique against the spider.
The soft sleeve, under the old Taoist priest's control, became as hard as iron, and with one strike, he sent the bowl-sized red spider flying.
Following this, the old Taoist priest landed beside the Fire Lingzhi, hooking a foot onto a rock and using the other foot to support himself on the cliff, carefully digging out the Fire Lingzhi.
"Done."
Soon, the Fire Lingzhi was in his grasp. The old Taoist priest's face lit up with joy, revealing his slightly gap-toothed mouth. He prepared to return with the Fire Lingzhi.
However, just as he picked the Fire Lingzhi and was preparing to return, several more bowl-sized red spiders emerged from the surroundings and sprayed webs at the old Taoist priest.
But these attacks were child's play for the old Taoist priest.
Even though the old Taoist priest had been brutally beaten by Ning Beichen, that was only in front of Ning Beichen. Without Ning Beichen, the old Taoist priest's strength would still be considered top-tier in the mortal world.
It was just unfortunate that he had encountered someone at the nuclear bomb level of the mortal world, hence he was utterly defeated by Ning Beichen.
With several bangs.
These bowl-sized red spiders were sent flying by the old Taoist priest. Then, he tapped his toes on the cliff face several times and quickly returned to the top of the cliff.
"Mr. Ning, I have not failed my mission."
The old Taoist priest handed the Fire Lingzhi in his hand to Ning Beichen.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Ning Beichen took the Fire Lingzhi, examined it closely for a moment, and then put it away with satisfaction.
Such a treasure contained natural and pure spiritual energy. Consuming and refining it could increase one's cultivation. He himself did not need it, but for Liu Yilin, it was an absolute treasure.
Liu Yilin had not only researched Ning Beichen's body but had also developed a high-tech electronic alchemy furnace and collected many pill formulas. Ning Beichen intended to hand these heavenly treasures over to her for processing.
"Brother Tiger, good job. Let's move on to the next location."
Ning Beichen, in a good mood, mounted the tiger's back and waved his hand.
The giant tiger, having received praise, raised its head and let out a proud roar, like the king of the jungle.