Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 1024 Erniu: Big Brother, you've done a great job!

Three days later, Wang Erniu stabilized his cultivation and broke through the barrier.

The lake shimmered in the clear rain, and several nimble carp occasionally leaped out of the water, splashing up strings of water droplets.

In an octagonal pavilion by the lake, Yama, the Heavenly Lord of Hell, and others gathered together, feasting and discussing metaphysics.

Several plates of spiritual fruits were placed on the stone table inside the pavilion, and a pot of Drunken Immortal Wine exuded a mellow aroma.

The group sipped the spiritual wine and shared their insights from watching Wang Erniu advance to the Divine Transformation stage, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Just then, everyone heard the sound and looked over at the same time.

"Erniu, congratulations on advancing to the Nascent Soul stage! Your future is bright!" Yama Heavenly Lord spoke first, raising his cup in a gesture of respect.

"Yes, it's truly a great blessing that two fellow Daoists have advanced in just a few short years since we came to the Immortal Realm!"

Lei Yu Zhenjun sighed, a hint of envy in his eyes. He wondered when he too would be able to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.
In the human realm, that would be considered supreme!

Wang Erniu slowly walked into the pavilion and bowed to the crowd:
"This is all thanks to my elder brother. If I were in the mortal realm, I probably would never have had the chance to become a Nascent Soul cultivator in this lifetime."

His tone was sincere, filled with heartfelt gratitude.

"Yes, it's all thanks to Zhou Tianjun. Otherwise, with our current abilities, the Nascent Soul stage would already be the limit."

Nine Swords True Monarch nodded in agreement, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

Everyone nodded in agreement. They were all grateful to Zhou Xun, for this was already a great favor, heavier than any other kindness.

"Erniu, your advancement to the Nascent Soul stage is a joyous occasion. How about we head to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in the city to celebrate?"

The Heavenly Gift True Lord proposed.

Zuixianlou is the largest restaurant in Cangyuan City, offering a wide variety of delicacies from all over the Immortal Realm, and the taste is absolutely superb!
"I heard that their 'Eight Treasures Spirit Phoenix' uses a fifth-tier spirit bird, paired with eight kinds of rare spiritual herbs. It is not only delicious, but can also enhance cultivation!" The Purple-Radiant Demon Emperor also became interested.

"And their 'Millennial Drunken Immortal Brew,' it's said that even Nascent Soul cultivators would get drunk if they drank too much of it!" True Monarch Tieshan added.

The crowd chattered amongst themselves, growing increasingly excited.

So Wang Erniu waved his hand generously and said:
"Since that's the case, I'll treat you all to a good drink today!"

The group exchanged smiles, then transformed into streaks of light and flew towards the most prosperous area of ​​Cangyuan City.

Soon, a five-story building came into view.

This building occupies hundreds of feet of land, with upturned eaves, carved beams and painted rafters, making it extremely grand.

A gilded plaque hangs on the rooftop, bearing the three large characters "Zui Xian Lou" (Drunken Immortal Pavilion), written in a vigorous and powerful style, faintly radiating the fluctuations of laws.

It is said that this building is related to a certain cultivator who has reached the Void Refinement stage, which is why it has been able to stand in Cangyuan City for tens of thousands of years.

The group suppressed their cultivation, holding their auras at the Nascent Soul level, and stepped into the building.

As soon as I entered, I heard a great deal of noise inside, with many diners talking loudly about something.

Even without listening carefully, you can hear words like "bounty" and "ten thousand spirit crystals".

Such news naturally aroused the curiosity of Wang Erniu and others, who stopped to listen.

A young man in blue robes stood in the center of the hall, speaking loudly:

"Do you all know what the hottest topic in Wandao Lake is lately? It's the bounty of 10,000 spirit crystals, offered for a Nascent Soul cultivator!"

"Ten thousand spirit crystals!" A fat cultivator nearby gasped in astonishment.
"This is all the wealth some Void Refinement cultivators have!"

"Yes, 10,000 spirit crystals. If we can get them, advancing to the Nascent Soul stage won't be a problem."

Another tall, thin monk's eyes gleamed with greed.

"You wish," someone nearby scoffed.
"A wanted person with a bounty of 10,000 spirit crystals? What kind of vicious person is this? Aren't you afraid of losing your life?"

Upon hearing this, the fat cultivator shrank back and said awkwardly:
"That's true. Such a bounty is definitely beyond our reach. But what exactly did this person do to warrant such a reward?"

Seeing that he had successfully attracted everyone's attention, the young man continued smugly:

"The one who offered the bounty this time is Lu Xinghai, the patriarch of the Xingyuan Lu Clan and a powerful expert in the mid-stage of the Void Refinement Realm!"

Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.

Someone exclaimed:
"I had heard before that the Lu family, along with an early-stage Void Refinement ancestor, was wiped out by a Nascent Soul cultivator. I thought it was just a rumor, but could it actually be true?"

"Is it really possible for someone to reach the Nascent Soul stage, annihilate the Void Refinement clan, and even kill someone of a higher level?"

"Such a person can probably only be found in ancient books!"

"I never imagined that such a person would emerge from my Wandao Lake!"

"Perhaps in the future, when Wandao Lake becomes famous in the celestial realm, it will all depend on this senior!"

……

"By the way, does anyone here know who this senior is?" one of them asked.
The young man cleared his throat and said loudly:
"I know, the bounty notice says his name is Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord, Zhou Xun!"

Upon hearing the name "Zhou Xun, the Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord," the Thunder Prison True Lord paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something, and a smirk appeared on his lips.

It is obvious that this Zhou Tianjun has stolen his name.

"Senior Zhou, you've really put me in a difficult position! If I go out using the name of True Monarch Lei Yu, I might attract the attention of some busybodies!"

That's 10,000 spirit crystals! If there's even the slightest connection, it could cause a huge problem!

Fortunately, since arriving in the Immortal Realm, I have been in seclusion at Qingyu Lake, and apart from my very close friends in the mortal world, no one knows my name!

He thought to himself:
"It seems that we can't use this title anymore. Let's change it to Thunder God. No, no, it can't be related to thunder. Let's call it Nine Emperor True Lord."

As for Wang Erniu and the others, they also looked stunned at this moment.

If they only had one of the titles, "Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord" or "Zhou Xun," they might have thought it was just a coincidence of names.

But when the two come together, their strength is so formidable.
Then there's only one possibility: this Zhou Xun is none other than the one they know, the Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion, Zhou Xun!
"Let's go, let's go into the private room first!"

Yama, the Heavenly Lord of Hell, frowned slightly and transmitted his voice to the crowd.

Everyone understood and silently followed the waiter to the private room on the fifth floor.

Before the food was even ordered, Yama, the Heavenly Lord of Hell, set up several soundproof barriers, enveloping the entire private room.

After confirming it was safe, Wang Erniu spoke first, his face full of anticipation.

"I never imagined that my elder brother would do something so significant after leaving us!"

"Indeed, the legendary feat of transforming into a Nascent Soul and reversing the Void Refinement Realm is something only Zhou Tianjun could accomplish!" Zi Yi Demon Emperor praised repeatedly.

"However, these ten thousand spirit crystals are probably a big problem!" True Monarch Tieshan said with a worried expression.
Even a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator would be tempted by this amount!

This also demonstrates the depth of Lu Xinghai's hatred for Zhou Xun.

"Not only is it a problem, but it's also a problem for us!" True Monarch Tianci said slowly, then warned:

"Gentlemen, you and I must keep our mouths shut about Brother Zhou's matter, or we will surely face our deaths!"

“That’s right. From this day forward, we shall never discuss this name outside of Qingyu Lake again, unless we can advance to the Nascent Soul stage, in which case we will need to use telepathy!” Yama Heavenly Lord added.

Everyone nodded,

As for Gaomi, no one had even considered it.

I don't even dare to think about it.

Even if they really do manage to get to the top, they'll probably face annihilation instead of the 10,000 spirit crystals.

How could you, a Nascent Soul or Deity Transformation cultivator, possibly obtain such a massive amount of spirit crystals from Lu Xinghai?
And what makes you so sure the other party won't take it back?

Everyone agreed to keep the matter to themselves before ordering food and continuing the celebration.

...Inside the Azure Wave Palace, the lotus pond rippled with azure waves, and various colorful spiritual lotuses bloomed in competition.

The lotus leaves are as large as umbrellas, with glistening dewdrops rolling on them, shimmering with spiritual light under the influence of the spiritual energy.

Zhou Xun sat on a small, black-awning boat, drifting among the lotus flowers.

Occasionally, I would reach out and pluck a green lotus seedpod, gently part it, and take out the glistening white lotus seeds inside, putting them into my mouth.

These are all fourth-grade low-quality bitter lotus, which have the effect of purifying the mind and calming the spirit.

Lotus seeds have a slightly bitter taste at first, but after careful tasting, they have a refreshing sweetness that lingers on the lips and teeth.

He has been in seclusion in Bibo Mansion for three years.

In three years, relying on the Thunder Essence he obtained from the Lu family's treasure vault, his cultivation progressed rapidly.

In just three years, his cultivation progress in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm has exceeded one-fifth.

It should be noted that many people spend thousands of years in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

In just three years, he has already achieved a speed that is unimaginable to others.

Just then, a golden talisman flew in through the barrier and hovered above the cave, trembling slightly.

Zhou Xun reached into the talisman and took it in his hand; a clear, melodious voice emanated from within:

"Tian Qinzi, a mid-stage Refinement Void cultivator, is about to begin his lectures, which will last for three days. If you are interested, you can bring your cave dwelling token to Beiyuan Tower tomorrow."

"A mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator!" Zhou Xun mused.
"It's definitely worth a visit."

Then, with a flash, her clothes fluttering, she landed lightly on the bank of the lotus pond.

……

The next day, Zhou Xun got up early, got ready, and left the cave, heading towards Beiyuan Tower.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Lin has arrived!" Just as they reached the door, they saw an old man with white hair, who was none other than Wang Cheng, the manager of the rental management office.

Standing next to him was a middle-aged man in a blue robe, with a refined appearance and a cultivation level of mid-stage Nascent Soul.

Zhou Xun returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Fellow Daoist Wang."

Wang Cheng introduced the two with a smile:
"This is Fellow Daoist Li Yuanji, a fifth-order spirit talisman master; this is Fellow Daoist Wang Lin, a fifth-order mid-grade alchemist."

The two greeted each other and exchanged a few pleasantries before the three of them entered Beiyuan Tower together.

They retrieved the cave token and successfully passed through the restrictions.

More than two hundred people were already seated in the lecture hall, all of them Nascent Soul cultivators, each with a profound aura.

Wang Cheng sighed:
“Last year, a super-large secret realm appeared in the northern part of Wandao Lake. Most of the fellow cultivators went to explore it. Otherwise, there would be several times more people here today.”

During this time, people kept greeting Wang Cheng, either nodding or exchanging pleasantries, indicating that he indeed had a wide network of connections.

After a long time,
"when--"

A clear, melodious bell rang throughout the hall.

An elderly man wearing a red floral robe descended from the sky. He had white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and an air of otherworldly grace.

Everyone rose to greet them:

"Greetings, Senior Tianqinzi!"

"No need to be polite."

Tianqinzi smiled slightly, flicked her sleeves, and a gentle force lifted everyone up.

Then Tianqinzi began to preach, starting from the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and how to break through to the middle stage and how to break through to the late stage.

His voice was clear and melodious, every word a gem, each sentence pointing directly to the key to cultivation.

Even Zhou Xun listened attentively, nodding frequently and gaining a lot.

Soon, the sermon entered the crucial stage of "conceptual atmosphere".

"The so-called artistic conception is actually the manifestation of the law, and the law is the fundamental rule that constitutes our world. To comprehend the artistic conception is to understand the heart of heaven with one's own heart and to verify the way of heaven with one's own way."

Tianqinzi's voice was clear and melodious, and each word seemed to contain a unique rhythm.

Zhou Xun nodded repeatedly as he listened. This senior Tianqinzi's attainments in the first level of artistic conception had reached an extremely profound level, and his explanation of artistic conception was insightful and penetrating.

"What I have come to understand is the essence of sound."

Then, Tianqinzi took out his own magical treasure—an ancient seven-stringed zither.

The body of the instrument is dark brown, with cloud patterns carved on it, radiating a faint spiritual light.

He lightly touched the strings with his fingertips and began to demonstrate his artistic conception.

"Zheng——"

A clear and melodious zither sound rang out, and Zhou Xun felt an extremely pleasant zither music enter his ears.

The music seemed to possess a certain magic, drawing people in irresistibly into its beauty.

All the cultivators present were completely mesmerized, their faces showing a dazed expression.

Some people feel as if they are amidst towering mountains and flowing water, listening to the babbling brooks and watching waterfalls cascade down; others feel as if they are strolling through a sea of ​​flowers in spring, smelling the fragrance of flowers and feeling the gentle breeze on their faces; still others feel as if they have returned to their childhood, seeing the laughter of their loved ones and reminiscing about the past.

Throughout the entire sermon hall, only Zhou Xun was able to maintain a clear mind.

The "Spring Condensation Scripture" he cultivated already had a special blessing on his mind and spirit. Coupled with the protection of the Life Realm, it enabled him to remain clear-headed in the realm of musical imagery.

However, he did not show it. Instead, he pretended to be as engrossed in it as the other cultivators, while secretly carefully comprehending the profound mystery of the sound's meaning.

Soon, the music stopped, and the last note slowly dissipated in the air.

The crowd gradually came to their senses, looked at each other in disbelief, and were all horrified.

"Just now... just now that was..."

"The musical imagery is so terrifying that it completely caught me off guard!"

Zhou Xun was also greatly amazed. As a means of group attack, this sound-based intent was definitely one of the most convenient intents. If used on the battlefield, it would be enough to turn the tide of battle in an instant.

Then, Tianqinzi began to talk about the Dao of Refining Emptiness.

"The most important hurdle to breaking through the Void Refinement stage is the realm of intent. The second is spiritual power. Only when spiritual power reaches perfection and the foundation is solid can one break through the Void Refinement stage."

“Spiritual power can be cultivated over a long period of time, and one’s foundation can be replenished with spiritual objects from heaven and earth. But one’s artistic conception can only be comprehended by oneself.”

He explained in detail the various details that need attention when attempting to break through to the Void Refinement stage, including how to condense a phantom image and how to resonate with the laws of heaven and earth.

These contents were invaluable experiences for the Nascent Soul cultivators present.

Soon, the three-day sermon came to an end.

Everyone stood up and respectfully bowed to Tian Qinzi to say goodbye.

Zhou Xun also gained a lot, and his understanding of the process of breaking through to the Void Refinement stage deepened.

As he was leaving, Wang Cheng called out to Zhou Xun:
"Fellow Daoist Wang, I and a few friends are planning a private gathering to discuss what we've learned today. Would you like to join us?"

After a moment's thought, Zhou Xun nodded in agreement:

"In that case, I will trouble you."

Those who came to Wang Cheng's residence were all outstanding cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage.
He was also interested in making some connections.

(End of this chapter)