Ling Zhenfei thought for a moment and said, "First, let's agree that this condition must be one I can fulfill, and it must not go against my own conscience."

Ru Meng laughed, "Don't worry, I won't make you do anything against your conscience. Look how scared you are."

Since the matter didn't violate his conscience, Ling Zhenfei felt it was trivial; what's the harm in agreeing to one condition?

"Alright, since it's like this, I agree to your condition."

Ru Meng chuckled mischievously, almost as if she had succeeded in a cunning plan, "Good, remember now, you owe me one condition."

Ru Meng was indeed a woman of her word and immediately began teaching Ling Zhenfei the intricate footwork.

"This technique is called the Blooming Step Technique, which means 'every step blossoms.' It's quite straightforward once your cultivation is sufficient and you have grasped its essence," she explained.

Ru Meng shared the intricacies of the technique with Ling Zhenfei, ensured that he memorized the verbal formula, and then proceeded to demonstrate it herself on an open ground.

Ling Zhenfei was smart; after studying for some time, he nearly mastered the basic methods of the Blooming Step Technique, though he still found its execution somewhat awkward.

Though it seemed simple, only after mastering its mysteries did he realize the brilliance of the Blooming Step Technique—the technique's defensive movements corresponded to the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, and were exceptionally profound.

If it were merely used for navigating forest trails, it would be a bit of an overkill. Its greatest utility was in actual combat where it could effectively enhance one's movements and speed.

Moreover, it allowed one to easily dodge others' Techniques and protect oneself, meaning that in combat, using this technique might prevent the opponent from even touching your clothes before being defeated.

Ling Zhenfei truly felt this technique was well worth it as it elevated his combat abilities more than just a notch, a gain that truly delighted him.

By the afternoon, when he had fully mastered the technique, Ling Zhenfei took out some food stored within his Heaven-Dropping Essence Marrow and shared it with Ru Meng.

The two found a flat spot to sit down and eat together.

"Didn't expect you to learn it so quickly. Not bad," said Ru Meng with a smirk while eating.

"Well, thanks for the compliment. When we leave Xianling Mountain, I'll treat you to a good meal," Ling Zhenfei replied.

Ru Meng said, "No need for that, I'm used to living near Xianling Mountain and don't really go far. Let's skip the meal."

In fact, Ling Zhenfei was very curious about Ru Meng, like the Yu Family and what secrets lay between it and Ru Meng, but their relationship hadn't reached the point where they could talk about everything.

"You came to Xianling Mountain for Rejuvenation Grass. Is it to treat someone?"

After finishing their meal, the two set off and continued using the Blooming Step Technique as they moved forward. Ru Meng started chatting with Ling Zhenfei.

"It's for a friend of mine." Ling Zhenfei realized then, despite having just learned the Blooming Step Technique and being able to barely recall the verbal formula, chatting distracted him from managing both tasks simultaneously.

Ru Meng obviously intended to distract him and continued, "Is it a man or a woman?"

"It's a woman." While talking, Ling Zhenfei wasn't entirely focused, which slowed his footwork a bit, and he had to speed up slightly to catch up later.

"I knew only a woman could make you go to such lengths and risk so much," Ru Meng said with a light laugh.

"You are mistaken though. Although my entry into the mountain this time is indeed for a woman, if it had been a man, provided I knew that there was a herb within Xianling Mountain that could cure his ailment, I would still have ventured into the mountain," Ling Zhenfei explained as he walked along with Ru Meng.

Ru Meng merely scoffed coldly, clearly indifferent to Ling Zhenfei's response.

"Do you know how dangerous it is inside Xianling Mountain?"

Ling Zhenfei knew that Ru Meng had spent a long time inside Xianling Mountain and was very familiar with it. This moment was an excellent opportunity to learn about Xianling Mountain.

"My knowledge about Xianling Mountain is only based on some legends. If you don't mind, you could share more with me," he suggested.

Ru Meng said, "Why not? You are also a cultivator and now that you are inside Xianling Mountain, do you know how many cultivators are nearby? They are too numerous to count."

"The Northern Spiritual Energy here is denser than in other places, so it's understandable that cultivators would seclude themselves nearby," Ling Zhenfei had guessed as much about Xianling Mountain himself.

Ru Meng stated, "Indeed, the Northern Spiritual Energy in Xianling Mountain is denser than in other places, but the reason so many cultivators gather here is one and the same—Xianling Mountain is filled with countless heavenly and earthly treasures."

"So, is it true that there are monsters inside Xianling Mountain?" Ling Zhenfei suddenly remembered the conversation he had with Hua Long.

Ru Meng laughed, "Naturally, there are monsters in Xianling Mountain. Not to mention those that have consumed heavenly and earthly treasures, even those that have merely gained sentience and cultivated here for a while can transform into monsters, and some might even take human form."

Ling Zhenfei was greatly shocked. Although he had been somewhat skeptical when Hua Long had mentioned it, hearing it from Ru Meng now, he knew it to be true.

"With modern science so advanced, animals cultivating and turning into humans seem to defy the laws of nature, don't they?"

"What natural law? Are there not many things in this world that science cannot explain? Can science explain the Northern Spiritual Energy that you cultivate?"

Ling Zhenfei truly felt that Ru Meng's words made a lot of sense. There were indeed too many things in this world that science could not explain, with numerous examples right on his own person.

As Ling Zhenfei chatted with Ru Meng, he unconsciously employed the Blooming Step Technique very flexibly. Even while talking, his steps didn't falter.

Walking up the mountain path using the Blooming Step Technique was just like darting over the grass, barely touching the ground, not even leaving footprints on dry twigs and rotten leaves.

What pleased Ling Zhenfei the most was that running like this hardly used any of his Spiritual Power, which was much more efficient than the frenzied chase he had previously undertaken using his own Spiritual Power.

After crossing over a small ridge, they reached the bank of a small river. By then, the sky had already darkened. Having walked for the whole day and still not reached their destination, just as Ru Meng said, it might indeed take two days.

"We can't keep going forward, we need to rest immediately. The nights in the forest are far more terrifying than the daytime," Ru Meng suddenly said with some concern.

"Yes, with so many wild animals in the forest, of course, it's dangerous," Ling Zhenfei replied, only to see Ru Meng shaking her head and saying, "You don't understand the terror of Xianling Mountain; it's not just the wild animals. There are some things you probably don't know about."

Ling Zhenfei was startled and asked, "So what exactly are these terrifying things you're talking about?"

Ru Meng explained, "You can see the wild animals in the forest, but there are some things you can't see. Those are the truly terrifying things, but don't worry, as long as you follow my arrangements, there won't be any problems."

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