Longevity begins with alchemy master

"I choose..."

The solemn and dignified Taoist temple was completely quiet, except for the clear sound of the young man's voice.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he gave his answer as if without much thought.

"Houtu Temple!"

In that instant, everyone's attention shifted to Fairy Qinglan.

Zhan Bingtao frowned slightly, but quickly relaxed, even looking quite pleased.

On the contrary, Hui Yuanhong, who was also a Great Cultivator, was somewhat displeased. "Junior, you should think this through. Although the Palace Master Houtu is beautiful, she has the shortest cultivation period among us."

"Hmph!" Fairy Qinglan snorted softly, clearly dissatisfied with the old man's use of appearance as a point of contention.

Zhang Bairen, sitting opposite, chimed in: "What the Gray Palace Master said is actually quite right. After all, Fairy Qinglan's cultivation time is too short. She has spent most of her time receiving instruction from others. How could she possibly provide you with proper guidance?"

The Azure Fairy knew she had to defend herself now, otherwise Zhou Fuyou might actually be persuaded.

"It is precisely because my cultivation period is shorter than yours that I have this advantage. You have all been in the Core Formation and Nascent Soul Formation stages for hundreds of years. Even if you have rich theoretical knowledge, your understanding of the cultivation methods corresponding to your respective stages is probably rather vague. How can you remember them as vividly as I do?"

"That's a misconception. We teach our disciples with a comprehensive and meticulous approach; how could they be influenced by memories?" Long Ting of the Longevity Palace first refuted Fairy Qinglan, then impatiently said, "Zhou Fuyou, do you know that Fairy Qinglan specializes in the Wood element? And I observed the magical energy fluctuations you displayed earlier, which were full of warm, moist vapor, suggesting you are a Water element cultivator, perfectly suited to this Palace Master!"

The Azure Fairy's expression darkened slightly. "If we follow the Dragon Palace Master's logic, then why should our four palaces of the Dao Palace even bother selecting the best disciples? Why not just divide our disciples into different schools based on the five elements?"

Long Ting was speechless and had no reply.

Just then, Zhan Bingtao finally spoke up.

"Zhou Fuyou, are you sure you've thought this through?"

Zhou Fuyou nodded emphatically: "This junior wishes to join the Houtu Palace and become a disciple of Fairy Qinglan!"

Hui Yuanhong was still not satisfied, staring intently at him, "Reason?"

"Alright!" Zhan Bingtao interrupted his questioning and slammed his hand on the table. "Since it's decided, Zhou Fuyou will be a member of the Houtu Palace from now on. He won't need to go to the Seven Star Academy to learn basic cultivation knowledge anymore."

Hui Yuanhong had no choice but to give up.

He couldn't understand why Zhou Fuyou would choose Qinglan Fairy, who was the youngest, had the lowest cultivation level, the weakest power, and whose cultivation path was completely different from his among the four palace masters, as her master.

Is it just because Fairy Qinglan comprehended the true meaning of the law and has the potential to become a god, such an ethereal reason?

Zhou Fuyou was like this, and so were some other outstanding juniors before her.

If ordinary disciples didn't have little choice in accepting apprentices, the Houtu Hall would probably be overflowing with people by now.

But they didn't consider that since Fairy Qinglan had such great potential, she would definitely focus on her own cultivation, so where would she find the time to frequently teach lower-level disciples?
Instead of clinging to someone powerful, become someone powerful yourself.

These younger generation are truly short-sighted!
Moreover, Zhan Bingtao let them run wild.

Little did they know that Zhan Bingtao had the same thought when he first frowned.

But in just a moment, he understood.

Zhou Fuyou is different from the other juniors; his talent is terrifying, and his future performance will at least be at the level of Shi Ju.

Such a person, if placed in any palace, would surely rise to prominence.

Of the four halls, the Hall of Stars is mainly composed of the remaining guest elders of the Star Gate. Although there is talk of accepting them into the Tianyuan Dao Sect, no one wants the outside faction to become too powerful.

Compared to the well-preserved Zhang and Long families, the Fu family, to which Fu Qinglan belongs, has a shallow foundation. Even with a promising talent like Zhou Fuyou, their influence on the Tiannan Continent will not surpass that of the two powerful families, the Zhan and Mo families.

Checks and balances—that's what Zhan Bingtao was considering.

As for whether Fuqinglan actually has the ability to cultivate Zhou Fuyou?

Zhan Bingtao wasn't worried about this problem at all!
Once Zhou Fuyou has laid a solid foundation, he can personally step in and offer guidance, or even, as the person in charge of the Tiannan Continent, order the other three palace masters to guide Zhou Fuyou as well.

As long as they perform well at the Taoist ancestral temple in the future, everyone will still benefit!

“Fellow Daoists, I have traveled a long way and am quite tired. Moreover, there are several members of my Zhou family in the Dao Palace that I would like to visit. Perhaps we can call it a day?” Zhou Yunshen said with a smile.

Zhan Bingtao nodded, "Very well! Junior Sister Qinglan, please make proper arrangements for Fellow Daoist Zhou and the others, and do not neglect them."

The Azure Fairy gracefully rose to her feet. "Alright!"

……

The Azure Fairy led the two out of Tianyuan Temple and headed west, soon entering a range of rolling mountains.

Inside, there are countless pavilions and towers, and palaces standing side by side.

Although most of the buildings are newly constructed, they still retain the grandeur and solemnity of a sacred celestial site.

Especially the grand hall atop the mountain, shrouded in mist and rising vapors, upon closer inspection revealed that it was a manifestation of an extreme concentration of spiritual energy.

Looking at this scene, Zhou Yunshen, who had cultivated for nearly a thousand years, couldn't help but show a hint of envy.

"We've arrived. The Houtu Palace is just below!"

"It's a beautiful blue fairy," said the fairy gently.

Below, several figures flew up, ready to greet them.

"Master!"

"Master, you're back!"

The Azure Fairy smiled slightly, "Not only have I returned, but I've also brought you a junior brother."

In an instant, eight pairs of unfamiliar eyes fell on Zhou Fuyou.

Zhou Fuyou stepped forward at the opportune moment, "My name is Zhou Fuyou, greetings to all my senior brothers and sisters!"

Everyone was quite surprised.

In fact, although Zhou Fuyou himself has not yet arrived, he has already become famous in the Tiannan Dao Palace in recent years.

Everyone knows that a peerless genius will be joining the Tiannan Dao Palace.

He not only possesses a celestial spiritual root, but also the most compatible innate Dao body!
This kind of talent is extremely rare.

The previous example is Shiju.

It should be noted that when Shi Ju was at the height of his fame, he was someone even the Nascent Soul Ancestor favored immensely.

Now, only one Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Tianyuan Dao Sect remains, and he has no time to teach the younger generation. However, they never expected that this famous genius would be accepted into the Houtu Hall by their master.

In a moment of curiosity and excitement, everyone introduced themselves.

Zhou Fuyou memorized all eight names, especially those of her eldest sister, Shi Miaoyin, because of her unique demeanor. She was gentle and virtuous, with even a hint of "kindness" in her eyes, much like how her mother had looked at her in the past.

Zhou Yunshen remarked with admiration, "As expected of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, the Tiannan Dao Palace on this continent has only been established for a few decades, yet the Houtu Hall alone has already cultivated eight Golden Core cultivators."

Fairy Qinglan smiled and shook her head: "Not all of them were trained by me. For example, the five of them, Miaoyin, came to the master with their skills. The other three were mostly carefully trained from a young age by Nascent Soul families and then sent to Tiannan Dao Palace."

After giving a brief explanation, Fairy Qinglan began making arrangements.

"Miaoyin, take the mayfly to Cave Number One of the Xuan Class A!"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked surprised.

But no one objected. Shi Miaoyin stepped forward and said, "Junior Brother, please come with me!"

Zhou Fuyou glanced at Zhou Yunshen, the old man nodded to him, and then Zhou Fuyou followed Shi Miaoyin and flew downwards.

"...Tiannan Dao Palace was built by a master of formations invited from the ancestral court of the Dao Sect. He used powerful methods to gather the spiritual energy of the earth's veins."

"Within the Dao Palace, tens of thousands of cave dwellings have been established. These cave dwellings are represented by four stages: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow. Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding represent the highest grade and the upper, middle, and lower grades, respectively."

"Junior Brother is truly valued by Master. Upon arrival, he was assigned to the best second-tier cave dwelling."

The first level of the Xuan class is a top-tier second-order item, only one step away from a third-order cave dwelling.

This is a cultivation paradise that many Foundation Establishment cultivators would never be able to access in their entire lives.

Shi Miaoyin led Zhou Fuyou through a deserted palace, explaining everything to him in detail.

"It is called a cave dwelling, but it is actually a palace. In addition to the main hall, there are two side halls, one sleeping quarters, and two acres of spiritual fields."

"The main hall is for you, Junior Brother, to receive guests and hold banquets. There are two side halls. One is under the fire of the earth, where you can refine weapons and pills and learn the various arts of cultivation. The other one is up to you to arrange; you can use it as a study or a treasure vault. Don't waste the spirit fields; they are all cultivated with the best spirit soil. Planting some herbs here and there will add extra income."

"The sleeping quarters are connected to your true cultivation cave, and the spiritual energy within is extremely abundant. If your cultivation level is not high enough, I do not recommend that you go in to cultivate. The small amount of spiritual energy that leaks out is enough for a normal Foundation Establishment cultivator to cultivate."

The detailed introduction covers all aspects.

Zhou Fuyou followed closely behind, listening attentively.

When Shi Miaoyin turned around and asked if there was anything she didn't understand, Zhou Fuyou respectfully bowed.

"Thank you very much, Senior Sister Miaoyin!"

Such politeness caught Shi Miaoyin somewhat off guard.

"Junior brother, there's no need for such formalities."

Zhou Fuyou walked out of the palace with a calm expression, looking at this quiet and beautiful place.

In the future, this will be his place of cultivation.

Shi Miaoyin stepped back slightly, looking at the effeminate man in white robes with lifelike red coral patterns, and gently asked, "Junior brother, this cave doesn't have a name yet. You can give it one."

"Sharing a name?"

After a moment's thought, Zhou Fuyou casually said, "Let's call it Chaoxi Palace!"

"If I hear the Dao in the morning, I can die content in the evening?" Shi Miaoyin's beautiful eyes lit up. "I never imagined that my junior brother's heart in seeking the Dao would be so firm."

Zhou Fuyou did not refute, "You can understand it that way, but you can also understand it as me cultivating here in the morning and going to a better cave in the evening. With my talent, this is just a temporary residence."

A second-tier top-grade cave dwelling was far from enough for him.

Once he forms his core and condenses his nascent soul, the third and fourth tier cave dwellings will be his final destination.

Shi Miaoyin was speechless for a moment, only feeling that this junior brother she was meeting for the first time, although he was taciturn, displayed a confidence that far exceeded that of ordinary people.

Perhaps, this is what truly befits his extraordinary talent!

……

Late at night.

Zhou Fuyou is organizing the daily necessities that Shi Miaoyin specially sent.

Actually, it's nothing special; they're all common items, except that the ones issued by Tiannan Dao Palace are of higher quality.

As for matters related to cultivation, they will have to wait until Zhou Fuyou has personally met with her master, Fairy Qinglan, before she can make a decision.

A night breeze blew, and the bright moon shone through the window. Zhou Fuyou stopped what he was doing.

"Ancestor, you've arrived."

Zhou Yunshen laughed heartily, "Your spiritual sense is quite sharp; you detected my presence immediately."

Zhou Fuyou was helpless; this was merely a flaw deliberately revealed by their ancestor.

On the way here, his ancestors often played these little games with him to train his spiritual awareness and quick wit.

Zhou Yunshen casually sat down next to the palace, a satisfied look on his face.

"As expected of the Tiannan Dao Palace, and as expected of the Azure Fairy who has the potential to become a god. The spiritual veins in this area are the best among the four palaces, especially the Houtu Palace, where the spiritual energy is almost at the fifth level. Such a foundation is rare in the world!"

Zhou Fuyou stood to the side, asking curiously, "I've been well-versed in classical texts since childhood and know that Zhongzhou was once incredibly rich in spiritual energy. But it's rumored that there were only two fifth-order spiritual veins: one in the Rotten Axe Mountain Range and the other in the Heaven and Earth Peak. So why does this Tiannan Dao Palace also have a fifth-order spiritual vein? Could it be that after the collapse of Zhongzhou, these continents actually benefited from the disaster?"

Zhou Yunshen shook his head. "It's not a case of turning misfortune into blessing. It's just that the collapse of Tiandi Peak caused the major spiritual veins within it to disperse to the four continents."

Zhou Fuyou was greatly surprised, "How could a single Heaven and Earth Peak be able to divide into the Southern Heavenly Palace, the Northern Heavenly Palace, and even the Western Continent, which has already sunk into the ocean, with so many fifth-order spiritual veins?"

Zhou Yunshen said matter-of-factly, "Otherwise, why would Tiandi Peak be the headquarters of the Star Gate, capable of accepting so many Nascent Soul cultivators from the five continents of the Mountain and Sea Realm? Otherwise, how could Tiandi Peak withstand the arrival of so many powerful avatars during the Great Calamity in the Central Continent? To achieve all this, Tiandi Peak must possess a spiritual vein foundation that is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people!"

After a few sighs, Zhou Yunshen changed the subject.

"I have already met with several of the younger members of the Zhou family. I will be leaving early tomorrow morning."

Zhou Fuyou asked curiously, "Where is Ancestor going next?"

Zhou Yunshen did not answer, but said, "Before I leave, there are some things I need to give you."

He took off a ring from his wrinkled finger.

This is a storage ring with a storage space that is hundreds of times larger than that of an ordinary storage bag, but what truly makes it valuable is the blood-red coral displayed on it.

Wearing it, one becomes the head of the Zhou family!
Everyone, including the head of the family, Zhou Junxiao, must obey his orders.

"From now on, the Zhou family will listen to you."

Zhou Fuyou was completely caught off guard and had no time to react.

Before he could react, Zhou Yunshen continued, "Inside are my life's experiences and insights from cultivation. In addition, there are ten top-grade spirit stones of various attributes, and the rest of the spirit stones total tens of millions."

"Finally, considering that you are about to form your core, I have also prepared a pile of top-grade materials for you. These materials can be used to refine a satisfactory natal magic weapon in the future!"

Zhou Fuyou said in a daze, "Ancestor, I am unworthy of such praise!"

Zhou Yun Shen had already put the ring on his hand without any doubt.

The movements were slight, yet seemed incredibly heavy.

Only Zhou Yunshen himself knew that the contents of this ring were not only his "bet," but also a gift that Luo Chen had left behind in Bailuze.

After the coral ring was put on, Zhou Yunshen patted Zhou Fuyou on the shoulder.

"Cherish every step of the way on the road ahead."

"go to sleep!"

Zhou Fuyou stroked the ring, which still carried the warmth of the old man's fingers, and felt an inexplicable heaviness in it.

He did not cultivate that night.

As dawn broke, Zhou Fuyou slowly opened her eyes.

That kind and gentle old man has disappeared.

He dejectedly pushed open the palace door. In the early morning light, a beautiful figure came into view, as if she had been standing there for a long time.

"Disciple greets Master!"

Zhou Fuyou bowed deeply. (End of Chapter)