"Next, let me tell you about the situation of Returning to Void, and after entering Refining God, you must be careful not to casually enter temples, monasteries, wild observatories, or shrine halls. You are no longer like ordinary people. Refining God is extremely prone to being targeted by gods and Buddhas. But you are also not suitable to carry a token now, so you can only protect yourself."

"Disciple understands."

At this moment, Yue Dewen carefully imparted his feelings, experiences, and points of caution from entering Returning to Void to Zhang Rongfang one by one.

He wore a relaxed and joyful expression, clearly in an excellent mood.

In the middle, he also sent Mingyuan out to deliver a letter.

The master and disciple chatted by candlelight through the night until dawn, when Yue Dewen quietly left again.

He left behind an old acquaintance of Zhang Rongfang, as a close bodyguard for protection.

In the study.

Zhang Rongfang and Ran Xinyue stared at each other in silence for a moment.

It was obvious that although Yue Dewen had subdued the Sensing Sect, there were few truly trusted experts, and even fewer grandmasters around him who were beautiful, well-built, and could follow orders.

So after much consideration, since the disciple liked beauty, he simply let Ran Xinyue come again.

This time, it was completely different from before.

This time, it was for long-term close protection.

Close...

"The Sect Leader has gone far away... Daoist, in the future... please take care of me..." Ran Xinyue said awkwardly, cupping her fists.

"Don't be afraid, I won't do anything to you. It's just that I can't defy the master's orders." Zhang Rongfang sighed.

This time it was dealt with, but what about next time?

The time he could buy was getting less and less.

This time the Cultivation of Literature level was exposed, next time Yue Shi's expectations for him would be higher and faster.

Fortunately, he just broke through the Golden Toad Skill Heaven-Devouring Realm, increasing the attribute points to one per day.

Otherwise, if it were implemented now, it would be discovered in a matter of minutes.

"The life-saving grace from the last time, Xinyue deeply remembers, so if there are any orders, feel free to let me know." At this moment, Ran Xinyue also adjusted her attitude.

Although she knew that the Daoist in front of her was much stronger than her.

But what needed to be said, still had to be said.

Moreover, it happened that... the society had always been thinking of how to get close to this Daoist, and now was the opportunity!

Zhang Rongfang looked at her and suddenly felt a bit tired.

The previous inquiries from the Celestial Maiden made him realize that his current goal should be to gather all his strength to build an absolutely secure place under his control.

And such a territory requires a large number of experts to maintain order.

But now.

The Righteous Alliance's Reverse Time Society, the Great Dao Teaching's Snow Rainbow Pavilion, Sensing Sect, the Thousand Teachings Alliance, the Five Kings' Contention, Western Sect, Zhenyi, Five Locks Black Ten, all these forces each having their own thoughts and actions.

And hidden in the shadows, always watching, the Residual and Secret Gods.

To want to stay out of it.

It's too difficult...

"Come with me."

Zhang Rongfang immediately got up, left the study, and took Ran Xinyue to the meditation room.

Arriving before the Vow Bell and Blood God Statue.

"Do you know what these two are?"

He pointed to the two and asked.

Ran Xinyue glanced at the corner.

In her view, she could only see the Blood God Statue.

"There's only one Secret God statue."

"How is your Cultivation of Literature?" Zhang Rongfang asked again.

"Only at the Nascent Soul Stage." Ran Xinyue answered.

"Have you ever dealt with the Residual God?" Zhang Rongfang asked again.

"I have participated with the Sect Leader." Ran Xinyue nodded.

"Do you know how to deal with the Mysterious Mist of Doubt?"

"Mysterious Mist of Doubt?" Ran Xinyue became confused, "Won't it automatically retreat and disperse upon encountering us, why does it need dealing with? Only ordinary mortals would be affected, right?"

"....." Zhang Rongfang was speechless, it seemed that what Yue Shi said was indeed correct.

He was well aware that in this world dominated by the worship of gods, to want to stay out of it, one must inevitably face gods, Buddhas, and Spirit Generals.

And the Mysterious Mist of Doubt possessed by the gods and Buddhas is the first barrier that must be overcome.

"Are you saying that as mortals, how to solve the Mysterious Mist of Doubt?" Ran Xinyue suddenly squinted, "I indeed know someone who has a way."

"Oh?? Who is it?" Zhang Rongfang immediately perked up.

"Those in the Extreme Realm, they've been opposing the worship of gods for so many years, they must have corresponding methods to solve it." Ran Xinyue replied.

Zhang Rongfang also thought of this point.

"You are right, I actually thought of that too."

Moreover, he suddenly realized that there is actually another way to deal with the Mysterious Mist of Doubt.

To solve something, the initial premise should be to first understand it.

Only by understanding what it is, can one know how to respond.

Zhang Rongfang's eyes calmed down.

He knew what he should do now.

Next, he must fully understand the information and intelligence of gods, Buddhas, Spirit Generals, and Grandmasters.

And aim to reach the strength to confront Spirit Generals in the next few years.

If it were before, he might be very worried.

But now, with one point of attributes per day, he only needs a year to gain more than three hundred points of life value, which means, in a year, he can gain three powerful Trait Talents!

The previous flesh and blood completion made him strong enough to withstand a Grandmaster.

If he gains a few more Trait Talents next...

Additionally, Yue Shi's words also reminded him.

Indeed, his martial arts were too lacking now.

He was completely relying on innate physical hardness, next, he should focus on honing his martial arts in Qingchuan Prefecture.

At least, he must elevate his martial arts to the realm of the Grandmaster.

Otherwise, if he encounters an opponent whose physical qualities are not much different from his own, the vast difference in martial arts realm would lead to him being toyed with to death.

*

*

*

February, 1189.

Turmoil in the Upper Capital.

The four great spirit noble families joined forces with mysterious masters to secretly attack Prince Yan Shun, who had entered the Upper Capital.

After capturing him, they placed him under house arrest and sent him to the dungeon of the Snow Rainbow Pavilion.

Sheng Tianyi of the Black Ten Sect was injured and fled; the Thousand Teachings Alliance was nowhere to be found.

Thus, one of the five kings was out, leaving only four remaining.

In the same month, the borders of the Great Spirit were in turmoil, with over a hundred uprisings occurring in just half a month.

The Spirit Army was dividing its forces to suppress these uprisings, endlessly running around.

Meanwhile, Zhang Rongfang was still in Qingchuan Prefecture, quietly recuperating, consuming vast amounts of food daily to accumulate enough attribute points to improve himself.

At the same time, he also began to occasionally meet with the Celestial Maiden, trying to connect with her to find a way to deal with the mysterious fogs of doubt through the Reverse Time Society. But many attempts ended in failure.

Ze Province · Linghua Mountain.

On the forest path shrouded in mist.

Zhang Rongfang followed closely behind Ran Xinyue, rushing towards the mountain peak.

Both were Grandmaster-level experts, covering a distance of tens of meters in a flash, without any delay.

In no time, the two crossed a broken canyon and climbed up a seventy-degree cliff.

Finally, they reached the summit before the morning light fully pierced through the mist.

The wind howled, biting cold.

Zhang Rongfang raised his eyes to look into the depths of the platform at the mountain peak.

"Is this the place you mentioned where the Extreme Realm master resides?" he asked, his gaze puzzled as he looked at Ran Xinyue ahead.

Previously, it was Ran Xinyue who told him she could find a secluded place where a true master, who knew how to deal with the mysterious fogs of doubt, resided.

She then volunteered to lead him here.

Now, with nothing to fear, Zhang Rongfang naturally came along willingly.

But now it seems....

There is only a very crude little stone house on the mountaintop, with nothing else.

"This is the place," Ran Xinyue stated seriously. "My lord, I waited many days to track down the whereabouts of this senior."

She would never confess that she found this place by contacting people from the society.

This master is indeed exceptional, definitely a top-tier expert in the Extreme Realm living here in seclusion.

But compared to those of extreme mind... this one is not very easy to get along with.

"So where is he?" Zhang Rongfang slightly frowned, looking at the stone house.

From where he stood, it was clear that the stone house had not seen anyone enter or leave for a long time.

The stone door was closed, and the doors and windows were covered with bird droppings and wild grass, devoid of any signs of life.

"The person is here. Just wait a moment, he will soon come out," Ran Xinyue assured.

Zhang Rongfang nodded, immediately sitting cross-legged by the cliff's edge, quietly waiting.

He didn't have to wait long.

About half an hour later.

The mist at the mountain peak gradually dispersed under the sunlight, slowly fading away.

In an instant, a blurry figure leapt up from the other side of the mountain peak, lightly landing not far from the stone house.

The figure wasn't tall, only about 1.9 meters, but he had a well-proportioned figure, long hair down to his waist, wore a gray-white long robe, and held a jar of wine in his hand.

Looking at the stone house, he didn't approach but sat down ten meters away from it, removed the seal from the wine jar, and began to sip lightly from it.

"It's him," Ran Xinyue softly whispered to Zhang Rongfang at this moment. "My lord can try to talk to him, but be careful not to provoke him."

"Alright." Zhang Rongfang nodded slightly. From the simple view of his back, this person didn't seem special.

His body's Qi and blood were indeed rich, but only at the level of an ordinary Grandmaster. Far inferior to himself.

Having killed many Grandmasters, Zhang Rongfang naturally wouldn't be intimidated by someone just because of their Qi and blood.

Immediately, he took slow steps toward the person.

"Shh...."

Suddenly, when he was still about ten meters away from the person, the man made a sound.

He raised a finger to his lips to signal for silence.

"Keep your voice down.... She's resting.... Don't disturb her..."

"Who?" Zhang Rongfang found the man's voice somewhat hoarse, but very gentle.

Following the man's gaze, he could only see the quiet stone house at the edge of the cliff.

"My wife," the man didn't turn around, still speaking softly.

"She told me she wanted to sleep for a while, so I'm waiting here for her..."

"But there's no one living there..." Zhang Rongfang slightly frowned.

"You don't understand. She's there," the man raised his hand, his eyes bewildered. "Look... she's sleeping soundly.... I picked many calming flowers she likes for her, and she loves them."

"....." Zhang Rongfang hesitated, could there really be someone inside?

He circled around to the window to look inside.

Inside the dilapidated wooden window, there was indeed a wooden bed, but it was completely empty, with nothing on it.

He turned back to look at the man.

From the side, the man had a full beard, long unkempt, looking dirty and messy.

His face was old and full of wrinkles, contrasting sharply with his well-proportioned, slender body.

The most crucial thing was his eyes.

Those eyes were so bright it seemed they were shining.

"Senior, I have come this time to seek your guidance on how to solve the mysterious fogs of doubt. If you have any conditions, as long as I can meet them, I will agree," Zhang Rongfang paused, recalling that those in the Extreme Realm were known to be mad, and decided to be straightforward, clasping his hands toward the person and speaking softly.