"If Brother Zhao's innate talent hadn't been good enough, all of my guidance would have been for nothing.",

Xiao Mu modestly changed the subject, "Has Brother Zhu not returned since yesterday?"

Zhao Jingyan nodded, "It's said he went on a task, but I'm not sure exactly what that entails."

"It seems joining the Village Protection Team isn't as easy as one might think."

Having sighed, Xiao Mu bid Zhao Jingyan farewell and walked into the village.

Today, he planned to wander around Twilight Forest Village to interact with the Mutated Beings and possibly uncover some useful information.

"Brother Zhao, did Brother Mu leave already?"

Xiao Mu had just left when Li Gujian stepped out and inquired from Zhao Jingyan.

Zhao Jingyan, concerned, replied, "Brother Mu just left. Xiao Li, do you need him for something?"

"Not really, just wanted to ask you about Brother Mu... Ah, Brother Zhao, you've built the Execution Stake?"

Li Gujian had only begun his inquiry when he suddenly noticed the Execution Stake that Zhao Jingyan had just finished forging, his face lighting up with excitement, "Congratulations, Brother Zhao, I knew it. To you, forging the Execution Stake is nothing. With your skills, succeeding in crafting this treasure was merely a matter of time. Haha, Brother Zhao, your success has proven my guess."

Although praised, Zhao Jingyan showed no joy on his face, shaking his head, "Xiao Li, you flatter me too much. This Execution Stake isn't my merit. It was only possible to forge it thanks to Brother Mu's guidance; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to make it, at least not now."

"Brother Mu's guidance? But Brother Mu isn't an Artifact Refiner, how could he guide you in crafting treasures?"

Li Gujian looked puzzled, not understanding what Zhao Jingyan meant.

"Even though Brother Mu isn't an Artifact Refiner, he is a grandmaster. With his guidance, my abilities have improved significantly, allowing me to craft the Execution Stake."

As he spoke, seemingly to prove something, Zhao Jingyan suddenly emitted an incredible momentum, a divine authority enveloping him from above like a canopy.

"Brother Zhao…Brother Zhao, have you obtained a Divine Spirit?

Li Gujian turned pale, feeling immense pressure under Zhao Jingyan's aura, as if a Huge Mountain were crushing him, akin to facing a Divine Spirit.

"It's not a Spirit Tablet."

Zhao Jingyan, his momentum subsiding and pride evident, explained, "This is from Brother Mu's guidance, not a Spirit Tablet, but a Demigod-like Cultivation Method surpassing a Spirit Tablet. It allows Mutated Beings without a Spirit Tablet to possess the authority of one."

"How is that possible?"

Li Gujian exclaimed in disbelief, unable to accept Zhao Jingyan's claim, "Without a Spirit Tablet, how can one possess its authority?"

"I thought the same, but clearly Brother Mu is no ordinary person. The Cultivation Method he taught me has allowed me, lacking a Spirit Tablet, to possess its equivalent authority."

Zhao Jingyan spoke with a solemn expression, his words and demeanor filled with reverence when mentioning Xiao Mu.

The principle of the "Three Elements Refining Appearance Technique" conferred upon him abilities akin to those of a Spirit Tablet, deeply impacting him.

"Right, Xiao Li, you just mentioned wanting to ask about Brother Mu…" Zhao Jingyan suddenly recalled Li Gujian's earlier half-finished inquiry, bringing the conversation back.

"That… it's nothing really."

Just as the words reached his lips, Li Gujian inexplicably changed the subject, "Brother Zhao, why do you think Brother Mu taught you the Demigod-like Cultivation Method? I mean, did he set any conditions when he passed it to you?"

Zhao Jingyan's advancement made Li Gujian envious, as acquiring a Spirit Tablet was more challenging than reaching the heavens for an ordinary Mutated Being like him, making the Demigod-like Cultivation Method's value beyond imagination.

"Conditions? Brother Mu didn't set any conditions for me. I think he taught me because he couldn't bear to see me struggle with forging the Execution Stake, such a friend is truly worth making."

Zhao Jingyan stated definitively, not hesitating in his praise of Xiao Mu.

This… is… true…?

Li Gujian's eyes widened in shock.

No conditions set, merely out of concern for a friend, he passed on the extremely precious Demigod-like Cultivation Method to Zhao Jingyan?

Why was it Zhao Jingyan, why not himself?

A trace of jealousy crossed Li Gujian's heart, followed suddenly by a thought.

Right, what did Brother Mu ask me to do? He asked me to help look into the information of the Mutated Being who died the day he entered the village.

Ha! Brother Mu is not only Zhao Jingyan's friend but also my friend, Li Gujian; I cannot refuse this favor.

"Xiao Li, why would you ask that?"

Zhao Jingyan's sudden question interrupted Li Gujian's train of thought, pulling him back to reality.

"Haha, just a casual question, nothing more, Brother Zhao. Brother Mu has asked me to run an errand, I need to head over to the Base of the Village Protection Team right away."

Li Gujian subtly shifted the topic to prevent Zhao Jingyan from guessing his initial thoughts.

"Brother Mu asked you to run an errand? Go quickly! Go!"

※※※

Leaving the Zhao Family, Li Gujian headed straight to the Base of the Village Protection Team.

He unleashed the Earth Escape Technique throughout his journey, reaching the team's station in twenty minutes.

The station of the Village Protection Team was located on a mountain, protected by a large Array capable of preventing mid-stage Divine Spirit Mutated Beings from entering.

As Li Gujian approached the Great Array, he announced his identity, and a stunning blue light illuminated, revealing giant invisible swords encircling the station of the Village Protection Team.

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