Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 923 A Thousand Stars Arrive in Chaos, Breaking Through to the Nascent Soul Stage!
The small building is made entirely of thousand-year-old ironwood, and a black plaque with gold characters hangs above the door, bearing the three ancient characters "Demon Hunting Society".

Zhao Tieshan stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a moment, an elderly man in gray robes, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, opened the door. Upon seeing Zhao Tieshan, the old man's face lit up with joy: "Master Zhao is back! The Guild Master is waiting for you!"

Zhao Tieshan nodded and stepped aside to introduce, "This is Senior Zhou. We were able to return safely thanks to your help on the way."

Upon hearing this, the old man in gray quickly bowed to Zhou Xunshen and said, "Thank you for your help, senior!"

Zhou Xun waved his hand and followed Zhao Tieshan into the small building.

Passing through the front hall, we arrived at an elegant pavilion in the backyard, where a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance sat, pouring himself a drink.

Sensing someone approaching, the middle-aged man looked up, his gaze sharp as lightning.

"Master!" Zhao Tieshan stepped forward quickly and briefly explained how he encountered Lei Man on the road and how Zhou Xun had saved him.

After listening, the middle-aged man stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Du Yuanshan, the president of the Demon Hunting Association of Fengyu Island. Thank you for your righteous help, fellow Daoist!"

Zhou Xun returned the greeting, saying, "President Du, you're too kind. It was nothing at all."

Du Yuanshan carefully examined Zhou Xun and was secretly alarmed to find that the other party's aura was unfathomable.

He was already at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, yet he couldn't see through the person in front of him, indicating that the other party was very likely a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, please have a seat!" Du Yuanshan warmly invited. "Tieshan, go and fetch my treasured 'Cold Pool Fragrance'!"

After Zhou Xun sat down, Du Yuanshan personally poured tea: "This time, Tieshan and the others are really grateful for your help, fellow Daoist!"

"Fellow Daoist Du, you flatter me. It was nothing more than a small favor!" Zhou Xun waved his hand and sat down opposite the middle-aged man.

A short while later, Zhao Tieshan returned carrying a white jade wine pot. Du Yuanshan took it and personally poured Zhou Xun a cup.
"This is a spirit wine brewed from water collected from a thousand-year-old cold pool. Fellow Daoist, please have a taste."

The wine was pale blue and exuded a faint chill. Zhou Xun raised the cup and took a small sip, and immediately a cool sensation went straight to his dantian, then turned into a warm current that flowed to his limbs and bones.

"Excellent wine!" Zhou Xun exclaimed.

Du Yuanshan smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it, fellow Daoist."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhou Xun went straight to the point about why he had come.
"Does Fellow Daoist Du possess detailed sea charts and information on the Thousand Stars Chaos? I am willing to pay a hefty sum to purchase a copy!"

Since we're going to a new place, we naturally need to find out its geographical distribution, sphere of influence, and recent major events.

"Without your help, Fellow Daoist, Tieshan and the others wouldn't have been able to capture that top-grade third-tier demonic eel. It was just information!"

Du Yuanshan waved his hand.

He took out a jade slip from his storage bag and handed it to Zhou Xun: "This is the newly drawn map of the Chaotic Sea of ​​a Thousand Stars, marking the spheres of influence of various factions and dangerous areas."

"It's a free gift for you, fellow Daoist!"

Zhou Xun took the jade slip, scanned it with his divine sense, and found that the information inside was indeed detailed. He nodded in satisfaction: "I will remember President Du's kindness."

"You're too kind, fellow Daoist."

He pondered for a moment and said:

"Recently, ancient cultivation caves have appeared in the Thousand Star Chaos. If you are interested, fellow Daoist, why not go and explore them together?"

A glint flashed in Zhou Xun's eyes: "Oh? Chairman Du is also interested in this matter?"

Du Yuanshan sighed, "To be honest, that cave is said to possess the opportunity for a Nascent Soul cultivator to emerge, attracting countless Core Formation cultivators to it."

"I have also invited many fellow cultivators on the island to go together. If we can seize this opportunity, perhaps we too will one day reach the Nascent Soul stage!"

Unlike the mortal realm, the celestial realm is characterized by a scarcity of spiritual energy, making it extremely difficult to achieve the Divine Transformation realm. In the celestial realm, even the Divine Transformation realm is merely a higher level of attainment with greater difficulty.

Zhou Xun nodded: "I am quite interested in such an opportunity, but I have important business to attend to and I'm afraid I cannot accompany you!"

Du Yuanshan was quite disappointed upon hearing this: "Very well, we will need to prepare for our trip for at least three or four years. If you change your mind, you can send me a message!"

At the same time, he took out a communication jade talisman and handed it over.

Zhou Xun accepted the jade talisman, inquired about some details of the Thousand Star Chaos, and then got up to take his leave.

After leaving the Demon Hunting Association, Zhou Xun did not linger on Fengyu Island and directly flew towards the Tianxing Islands in his escape light.

The Tianxing Islands are one of the core regions of the Thousand Star Chaos, where it is said that there are cultivators who have mastered the Void Refinement Realm.

During the flight, he took out the nautical chart given to him by Du Yuanshan and studied it carefully.

The Tianxing Islands are located in the core area of ​​the Thousand Stars Chaos, and consist of hundreds of islands of varying sizes, arranged in a celestial pattern.

The largest island, Tian Shu, has a celestial city, a gathering place for cultivators from all sides.

"Let's go to Tian Shu Island to gather information first." Zhou Xun made up his mind and sped up.

Half a month later, Zhou Xun saw a cluster of islands scattered like stars in the distance.

At the very center, Tian Shu Island shines like a bright pearl, with its buildings standing side by side, shimmering with light.

As Zhou Xun approached the island, he noticed a significant increase in the number of cultivators around him. Some were piloting magical artifacts, some were riding spirit boats, and some were even riding various spirit beasts—it was quite a lively scene.

However, the cultivators here clearly showed a wary expression and were in a hurry.

To avoid attracting attention, Zhou Xun concealed his aura and pretended to be an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator.

The city gate of Tian Shu City is ten zhang high, made entirely of Xuanling Iron, and engraved with defensive array patterns. Cultivators in uniform guard the gate, and those who wish to enter the city must pay ten mid-grade spirit stones.

Zhou Xun handed over the spirit stones, received a temporary identity jade token, and successfully entered the city.

The city streets are wide, paved with bluestone slabs, and lined with shops on both sides. The sounds of vendors hawking their wares and bargaining fill the air, creating a vibrant, bustling atmosphere.

"Senior, do you need a guide?" A Qi Refining stage youth approached and asked respectfully.

Zhou Xun sized up the other person; he was a handsome young man with bright, alert eyes. "You seem to know this place very well?"

The young man puffed out his chest: "I grew up in Tian Shu City and know every corner of the city like the back of my hand! I only need five spirit stones a day!"

Zhou Xun casually tossed him a mid-grade spirit stone: "Take me to the best cave."

The young man caught the spirit stone, overjoyed: "Thank you so much, senior! Please come with me!"

Led by the boy, Zhou Xun arrived at a seven-story pavilion called "Starlight Pavilion". The entire building was constructed of starstone, which naturally emitted starlight at night, making it a beautiful sight.

"Senior, this is one of the top landowners in Tian Shu City. It is said that he has a Void Refinement cultivator backing him up," the young man introduced.

Zhou Xun nodded in satisfaction, rewarded the boy with a few more bottles of pills, and sent him away.

Upon entering Xinghui Pavilion, a beautiful female manager immediately greeted us: "Welcome, senior. What kind of cave dwelling do you require?"

Zhou Xun asked directly, "Are there any fifth-tier cave dwellings?"

Upon hearing this, the female shopkeeper's beautiful eyes flashed with a hint of admiration, and she straightened her body, displaying her stunning figure even more beautifully.

A hint of allure also appeared in her eyes.
"Senior is so wealthy! I was so blind!"

"Fellow Daoist, why don't you tell me about this cave dwelling?" Zhou Xun remained unmoved by the woman's advances. Seeing Zhou Xun's indifferent expression, the woman dared not flirt any longer and quickly said:
"Senior, please follow me to the private room for a detailed discussion. A fifth-tier cave dwelling requires the steward to personally receive you."

After passing through the carved corridor, the female shopkeeper led Zhou Xun into a quiet and elegant room.

The interior is elegantly furnished, with a jade incense burner on a rosewood table, from which wisps of smoke rise and emit a calming fragrance.

"Please wait here for a moment, senior." The female shopkeeper served a cup of spiritual tea and then respectfully withdrew.

The tea soup is as clear as amber, and the tea leaves unfurl in the cup like orchids, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

About half a cup of tea's time later, an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face pushed open the door and entered.

He was dressed in a moon-white robe, with a jade token hanging at his waist. His aura was as deep and profound as an abyss, clearly indicating that he was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, only a short distance from the peak.

"I am Mo Yunshan, a steward of Xinghui Pavilion. I hope you will forgive my negligence."

The old man bowed respectfully, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Xun. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and his attitude immediately warmed up. "Fellow Daoist, are you about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

Zhou Xun frowned slightly, a hint of wariness flashing in his eyes.

Seeing this, Mo Yunshan quickly explained:
"Fellow Daoist, please don't be offended. I didn't mean to pry. It's just that a fifth-tier cave dwelling is quite expensive. If we weren't trying to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, how could we Nascent Soul cultivators afford such luxury?"

Zhou Xun's expression softened slightly, and he said calmly, "Don't say I have good eyesight."

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed." Mo Yunshan stroked his beard and smiled.

"To be honest, if you wish to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, my Starshine Pavilion has a special cave dwelling prepared specifically for this breakthrough."

"A hundred-year lease only requires two spirit crystals, which are not only rich in spiritual energy, but also engraved with the insights and experiences of past predecessors who have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage."

"Two spirit crystals?"

Even with Zhou Xun's wealth, he couldn't help but show a look of surprise. They were treating him like a sucker and taking advantage of him!
An ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator might not earn even two spirit crystals worth of spiritual items in a hundred years.

Mo Yunshan calmly said, "Fellow Daoist, please hear me out. Although these two cave dwellings are somewhat expensive, they are mid-grade fifth-order spiritual veins. Coupled with the spirit-gathering effect of the magic array, they can barely reach the level of fifth-order commodities!"

"At the same time, the cave contains a large number of insights from senior cultivators when they advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, making it absolutely worth the money!"

"What's even more wonderful is that nine Heavenly Sovereigns have successfully ascended to higher realms here within the last thousand years. In terms of fortune, this place is absolutely the best!"

As he spoke, he took out a jade slip for recording images, and with a gentle flick, nine imposing figures appeared, each exuding the unique pressure of the Nascent Soul stage.

Zhou Xun stared intently for a moment, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "Could you let me take a look first?"

"Good!" Mo Yunshan was overjoyed and stood up to lead the way, "Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

The two left Xinghui Pavilion and boarded a white jade flying boat.

The flying boat soared into the sky, passing through layers of clouds and mist. After about a quarter of an hour, two mountain peaks appeared in front of it, suspended in mid-air.

"This is our Nascent Soul Cave," Mo Yunshan said, pointing to the mountain peak on the left that was shrouded in colorful light.

Zhou Xun gazed intently and saw that the mountain peak was as smooth as jade, with clouds and mist swirling around its waist, and the faint outline of a spiritual spring and waterfall could be seen.

A jade palace atop the mountain gleamed in the sunlight, surrounded by several cranes circling and emitting clear, melodious calls.

Even more astonishing is that the entire mountain peak is enveloped in a layer of pale golden light, with mysterious runes flowing across the light, clearly indicating the presence of a highly sophisticated protective array.

The airship landed on a platform at the foot of the mountain.

The moment he landed, Zhou Xun felt an extremely dense spiritual energy rushing towards him, at least ten times denser than that of the outside world. He took a deep breath, and his internal organs felt refreshed.

"What a blessed land!" Zhou Xun exclaimed sincerely.

Mo Yunshan looked smug: "This mountain is called 'Dingcui Peak'. There are thirty-six pieces of Gathering Spirit Jade embedded inside the mountain, forming a Spirit Gathering Array."

"The 'Star Gazing Platform' at the top of the mountain can draw upon the power of the stars in the heavens, which is of great benefit to breaking through bottlenecks."

"With these conditions, do you still think two spirit crystals are too expensive, fellow Daoist?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun nodded. Such a large number of additional items were indeed extremely rare.

"Okay, I'll rent it!"

"Fellow Daoist, you're so generous!" The old man was overjoyed, knowing that his commission would be substantial.

As he spoke, he took out a jade token and handed it to Zhou Xun:

"This is the key to controlling the cave dwelling. Once refined, one can freely adjust the restrictions within the mountain. I wish you great success, fellow Daoist, and that one day another Heavenly Lord will be added to the roster of my Starshine Pavilion!"

After seeing Mo Yunshan off, Zhou Xun did not rush inside.

He stood with his hands behind his back, and his powerful divine sense, which was at the Nascent Soul stage, spread out like a tide, exploring the entire mountain inside and out several times.

“There are no hidden tricks.” Zhou Xun nodded slightly before making a hand seal to open the restriction.

Upon entering the main hall, he first took out five small purple flags from his storage ring and arranged them in the hall according to the five elements.

As the incantation was cast, the five small flags grew taller in the wind, transforming into five banners over ten feet high, intertwined with purple lightning, forming a profound array.

"Five Heavens Purple Thunder Formation, activate!"

With a soft shout from Zhou Xun, a thundercloud appeared on the roof of the palace, with streaks of purple lightning darting through it.

This formation combines offense and defense; ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators would die upon contact with it, and even early-stage Deity Transformation cultivators could withstand it for a short time.

Currently, the Nine Palaces Profound Origin Array is used to protect the Daoist temple, and for now, the Five Heavens Purple Thunder Array can only be used as a substitute. This will be necessary after my breakthrough.

Then seek another opportunity to collect spiritual items and upgrade them to the fifth rank.

"Xiao Jia," Zhou Xun called out.

A flash of yellow light appeared, and the young man in blue robes appeared in the hall: "What are your orders, Master?"

"I'm going into seclusion now. You will stay here to protect me. If there is any unusual activity, kill them without hesitation!" Zhou Xun solemnly instructed.

Xiao Jia solemnly agreed, and in a flash, he transformed into his true form, a palm-sized black-armored armadillo, lying at the palace gate with its eyes gleaming.

everything's ready,
Zhou Xun slowly walked into the cultivation room, his gaze immediately drawn to the dense engravings on the jade walls around him.

These engravings vary in depth, some resembling dragons and snakes, others like stars arranged in a constellation, each containing a unique Daoist charm.

He reached out and gently stroked the jade wall, feeling a slight burning sensation at his fingertips. His divine sense probed within, and instantly countless pieces of information flooded his mind:
"In the 34,400th year of the Tianyuan Calendar, I secluded myself for 36 years and finally comprehended the principle of the mutual generation of the Five Elements."

"Remember! The first major obstacle in the Nascent Soul stage is the inner demon, which can be protected by the Mystic Ice Soul-Suppressing Pill."

"I withstood the tribulation lightning with the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Technique. This method is extremely dangerous; future generations should be cautious."

Zhou Xun absorbed these experiences from his predecessors with great eagerness.

The records of one of them, named "Qingyangzi," were particularly detailed, from which he benefited greatly.
Six months later, Zhou Xun had basically absorbed all the content above. He then took out a futon, sat cross-legged on it, and
"It's time to break through to the Nascent Soul stage!"

(End of this chapter)