Qin Muxian stopped Jiang Xu, saying with a faint smile,

"Jiang Xiaoyou, don’t be in such a hurry to leave."

Jiang Xu felt a little apprehensive.

’Why did Qin Muxian stop me?’

’Could he have discovered the Mother-Child Spirit-Devouring Insect?’

Jiang Xu’s heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a respectful expression as he replied,

"Elder, is there anything else you need?"

Qin Muxian chuckled.

"As Ziqi’s friend, you are like a nephew to me, Qin Muxian. It is only natural that I should look after you.

Although I am only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, giving you a few pointers is more than within my capabilities.

How about this? Why don’t you join me for some training in the Secret Realm?

The Secret Realm isn’t particularly dangerous right now, but it still offers a good challenge. It’s sure to raise both your combat abilities and your Cultivation to the next level!"

After speaking, Qin Muxian looked composed and carried an air of proud confidence, as if he were certain Jiang Xu would agree.

And it made sense.

After all, Jiang Xu was just a minor Qi Cultivation Middle Stage Cultivator.

As a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage expert, countless Qi Cultivation Cultivators would be scrambling over each other, begging for his guidance.

Of course he would be this confident.

In truth, Qin Muxian had other motives for saying this.

Besides wanting to guide Jiang Xu, he also wanted to see what was so special about Zong Ziqi’s friend that made Zong Ziqi value him so highly.

Furthermore, Qin Muxian had something else in mind.

He had seen Jiang Xu use the Seeking Technique earlier and had taken note of it.

He wanted to borrow Jiang Xu’s Seeking Technique, wondering if he could use it to find a Treasure Medicine capable of healing the injury to Zong Ziqi’s Qi Sea.

Although Jiang Xu didn’t understand Qin Muxian’s ulterior motives, he refused him outright:

"Thank you for your kind offer, Elder, but this junior wouldn’t dare trouble you. My strength is meager, and I am filled with trepidation. If I were to accompany you, I’m afraid I would only hold you back from your important business. So, I shall not impose!"

"Hmm? You’re actually refusing me? Do you have any idea how many people would kill for the chance to receive my guidance?" Qin Muxian said, somewhat displeased.

Jiang Xu didn’t answer.

His silence was a tacit confirmation.

Jiang Xu had no desire to follow Qin Muxian into the Secret Realm.

He wouldn’t want to go even if there was no danger.

Even if Qin Muxian was a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage expert with vast experience and excellent advice, to Jiang Xu, all he would get out of it was a small increase to his Skill Level.

No matter how much guidance he received, it wouldn’t instantly raise a Skill’s Realm to perfection!

To expose his every action to a Foundation Establishment Elder just for a bit of Skill Level he could earn sooner or later anyway?

It was definitely not a worthwhile trade.

Seeing that Jiang Xu wouldn’t budge, Qin Muxian’s expression turned cold. Just as he was about to say something more, he heard Zong Ziqi speak up.

"Master, Brother Jiang must have urgent business to attend to, which is why he refused. Brother Jiang, you should go take care of your business first."

When Qin Muxian saw Zong Ziqi step in to smooth things over, his dissatisfaction vanished, replaced by a sense of helplessness. He thought to himself, ’Who do you think I’m swallowing my pride and begging to guide a junior for?!’

Sighing, Qin Muxian decided not to press the issue.

However, he took two pearls from his Storage Bag and handed one to Jiang Xu:

"This is called a Communication Pearl. It can instantly transmit messages across a hundred li. You just need to channel the message into it, and the other party will receive it. However, it’s a consumable item; it will break after five uses at most. If you change your mind, Jiang Xiaoyou, you can use this to send a message to Ziqi, and he will contact me."

Jiang Xu took the Communication Pearl and, before Qin Muxian could change his mind, hastily bid his farewells and departed into the distance.

...

’That old geezer actually took an interest in me! You’ve got a good eye, but you can’t read the room. I don’t have time to deal with you right now. All my focus is on researching the Spirit-Devouring Insect and the Insect Control Scripture.’

Jiang Xu sprinted all the way, heading in the direction of the Marketplace.

Along the way, Jiang Xu took out the Mother Insect. He looked at its shimmering silver exterior, tinged with a hint of gold, and felt a little curious.

’Is this it? It doesn’t look all that powerful. How could it be ranked among the top five hundred Ancient Exotic Insects?’

The rice-grain-sized Mother Insect in Jiang Xu’s hand, its aura weak and listless, couldn’t help but scorn him in its heart:

’I’m in my weakest state right now, so of course I don’t look strong.

I’ve already fallen from Tier Two to Tier One—and a Tier One that’s practically a Mortal Insect at that.

Over the past year, all the avatars I worked so hard to create were destroyed by that bastard old man. In particular, using the avatar substitution Divine Power to block that Sword Talisman consumed most of my Primordial Qi.

In the end, to escape, I even had to sacrifice my Outer Body. Only then did my true self manage to get away.

But who could have known that even after I went to such lengths, someone would still manage to intercept me... I’m speechless. How on earth did he do it?

But for every foot the Tao rises, the Devil climbs ten. I still came out slightly ahead. Hmph, I bet on the day you die, you won’t even know where you went wrong—just like the last one!’

Jiang Xu studied the Spirit-Devouring Insect for a long time but couldn’t figure anything out.

So, he began to read the sections on Insect Identification and Insect Control from the Insect Control Scripture in his mind.

The "Insect Identification" section of the Insect Control Scripture primarily taught one how to identify different types of insects, including their habits, preferences, abilities, species, and so on.

It also covered many different levels, from the unranked—Mortal Insects—at the beginning, to the Tier Three and Tier Four Spirit Insects that were equivalent to Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators.

It ranged from ordinary, common insects to the various types in the Cultivation Realm: Spirit Insects, Demon Insects, and various kinds of Exotic Insects.

Methods for identifying all of them were included.

Right now, Jiang Xu’s Insect Identification was only at the Beginner Stage; at most, he could only recognize Mortal Insects.

However, Jiang Xu’s Insect Control Technique was also at the Beginner Stage. If he tried to control a Tier One Spirit Insect, there was still a high probability of failure.

The only reason he’d successfully controlled the Spirit-Devouring Insect before was because the insect itself was in a state close to that of a Mortal Insect, and on top of that, it had voluntarily lowered its own Defense to accept Jiang Xu’s brand.

He calculated his route. This place was already far from the Inner Area of the Endless Forest, so the probability of encountering a Tier Two Demon Beast was very low.

It was the perfect opportunity to test the effects of his Insect Control Technique without any worries.

Jiang Xu tossed the Spirit-Devouring Insect into the air and activated his Insect Control Technique. Sensing the brand inside the insect’s body, he used his thoughts to make it flip and fly through the air, having a grand time.

Jiang Xu was enjoying himself, but the Spirit-Devouring Insect was not.

It currently had no control over its own body and could only be manipulated by Jiang Xu. A feeling of endless humiliation and resentment welled up in its heart!

’Just you wait! The more fun you have now, the more miserable your death will be!’

It swore silently in its heart.

Perhaps because his Insect Control Technique was only at the Beginner Stage, or perhaps because the Spirit-Devouring Insect itself was resisting, Jiang Xu felt that his level of control over it wasn’t very high.

He could only make it move within a three-zhang radius; he couldn’t seem to control it in any other way.

’Looks like I’ll have to practice Insect Control along the way to increase my Skill Level. I wonder if things will change after the Skill Level increases.’