Thinking of this, William Thompson hurriedly stood up and shouted, “Master, help!”

Guide Messenger, who had long been hiding to the side and watching, quickly appeared before William Thompson, feigning surprise and saying, “What’s wrong, disciple? Huh? Why is there blood on the ground… Tsk, don’t tell me you spat it out? Goodness, that’s a lot of blood, and it’s so evenly spread, not scattered at all. The quantity and quality are both excellent—worthy of being my disciple. Ha, haha… cough, cough, come, stretch out your arm and let your master take a look.”

Guide Messenger coughed, grabbed William Thompson’s arm, placed two fingers on his pulse, and began to examine him.

Sending a trace of divine sense into William Thompson’s body, Guide Messenger grew more and more shocked as he looked. The spiritual veins inside this disciple were actually even broader than his own had been at the Nascent Soul stage. You have to know, William Thompson was only at the Heart Movement stage now. Although the quality of spiritual energy inside him couldn’t compare to what Guide Messenger had back then, the sheer quantity was overwhelming. If he were to become an immortal, who knows what level he might reach? An Upper Immortal? A Golden Immortal? He might even directly achieve the rank of Great Luo Golden Immortal. At that point, he’d be the second legend in the Immortal Realm to directly become a Great Luo Golden Immortal. Wouldn’t that make his master beam with pride? Thinking of this, Guide Messenger secretly chuckled to himself. Luckily, he’d had the foresight to recognize this rare talent.

William Thompson looked at Guide Messenger anxiously, seeing him frown one moment and smile the next, which only made him more uneasy about his own condition. Nervously, he asked, “Master, what’s wrong with me?”

Guide Messenger was taken aback, coughed dryly, released William Thompson’s spiritual vein, composed his expression, and said seriously, “Your cultivation is progressing too quickly. Your spiritual veins can’t withstand such powerful spiritual pressure, so you suffered a backlash.”

William Thompson asked urgently, “So am I alright now?”

Guide Messenger snorted, “You’re fine for now, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be fine in the future. I’ve told you before, cultivation must proceed step by step. You can’t be greedy for quick results. This time is just a small warning. If it happens again, you might go astray and become possessed. By then, even I won’t be able to save you.”

William Thompson was startled, secretly stuck out his tongue, and thought to himself how close he’d come.

“When you have nothing else to do, you can practice the artifact refining and alchemy techniques I taught you. Although our sect isn’t known for alchemy, our artifact refining skills are among the best in the Immortal Realm. In the future, you’ll definitely need to forge your own immortal sword. If you don’t practice now, don’t expect me to help you then,” Guide Messenger said.

William Thompson scratched his head. “Master, those alchemy and artifact refining methods are really hard to understand. How about you do it once so I can watch and learn?”

Guide Messenger spread his hands. “There are no materials left. I’ve been guarding here for a hundred years, and out of boredom, I used up all the materials for alchemy and artifact refining.”

William Thompson secretly cursed him for being stingy, then turned and ran toward the forest behind, calling out, “Forget it. But the transformation technique you taught me is really useful. I can already transform into a bearded reedling to ambush them.” Before he finished speaking, he had already darted into the woods.

“Pfft!” Guide Messenger was so exasperated that he almost couldn’t catch his breath. Of all the spells he’d taught him, this transformation technique was the one he practiced most diligently—just to ambush bearded reedlings.

“This brat is hopeless!” Guide Messenger said angrily.

……

Guide Messenger watched as William Thompson plucked and cleaned a plump bearded reedling, summoned rainwater to wash it, took out so-called seasonings from his ring and sprinkled them evenly, then conjured Samadhi True Fire in his palm to roast it.

Smelling the aroma, even Guide Messenger couldn’t help but swallow. How had he never realized bearded reedlings could be eaten this way? It seemed the mortal world still had many things worth learning.

In the Immortal Realm, since no one needed to eat—unless it was immortal fruits that increased cultivation—no one ever ate meat. The first time he tasted these utterly useless roasted foods, Guide Messenger nearly bit his own tongue off; it was just too delicious. He’d tried roasting these things himself, but without seasonings, the bearded reedling tasted so bland it was like eating a real bird. He could only buy them from his precious disciple, and at an outrageous price—one pill for one bird.

“Any kind of pill will do,” William Thompson said with a cheeky grin.

Of course, he knew that his master never gave out ordinary pills; they were all the kind that cultivators dreamed of.

“This unfilial disciple. I really misjudged you back then,” Guide Messenger gritted his teeth.

While he was inwardly complaining about his profiteering disciple, he suddenly smelled something burning and quickly looked up.

William Thompson was looking miserable, his face full of sorrow as he gazed at Guide Messenger. Meeting Guide Messenger’s eyes, William Thompson said softly, “Master.”

“Hmm?”

“I have something to tell you, but please don’t get mad.”

“The bearded reedling is burnt? I saw that.”

“That’s not it…”

“Then what is it?”

“Well… I’ve broken through to the Spirit Silence stage!”

“What?” Guide Messenger was furious. He’d just warned him over and over not to be greedy for quick success, and now he’d already broken through? Did he have any respect for the rules? Any respect for his master? Raising his trembling hands, he shouted, “You little rascal! Prepare to die!”

“No, Master… ah!”