Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 927 The Que family invited him; was this a move to get two salaries?

"Middle stage of divine transformation!"

"What is the purpose of this person's visit?"

Sensing this, Zhou Xun frowned slightly, and with a thought, he put on the Heavenly Origin Armor. Then he quietly watched the person approach.

The Crimson-Robed Heavenly Lord arrived in an instant, riding a bronze chariot, and stopped a hundred feet away from Zhou Xun.

Seeing Zhou Xun's wary posture, he knew that his sudden arrival was somewhat abrupt, so he immediately cupped his hands in a salute and said:

"I am Qiu Yu, Daoist name 'Red Sun Heavenly Lord', a Nascent Soul cultivator from Tian Shu City. I sensed Nascent Soul fluctuations here just now and came to investigate, but I didn't expect to find you here, fellow Daoist."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun's guard lessened slightly, but he did not lower his guard:
"So it's Fellow Daoist Chiyang. I am 'Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord,' a newcomer to the Nascent Soul stage, testing my supernatural powers here. I'm sorry to have disturbed you."

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yutian laughed heartily: "So it's Fellow Daoist Lei Yu! I was watching from afar when you were undergoing your tribulation."

"Fellow Daoist, you use tribulation lightning to refine your body and treasures, truly a prodigy! I have only seen such a powerful tribulation lightning once in my ten thousand years of cultivation."

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the still-unsettled sea below, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Fellow Daoist's attack just now was probably already at the level of the mid-stage Nascent Soul stage."

Zhou Xun smiled faintly: "Just a fluke. May I ask what brings you here, Fellow Daoist Chiyang?"

Qiu Yutian stroked his beard and smiled, "I see that you have just entered the Nascent Soul stage, so you must not be familiar with Tian Shu City yet. Why don't we go to my cave for a chat? I can introduce you to the city."

Zhou Xun pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave."

The two immediately transformed into streaks of light and flew towards Tian Shu City. Along the way, Qiu Yutianjun deliberately slowed down to introduce the scenery along the route to Zhou Xun.

"This Tian Shu City is one of the thirteen immortal cities in the Thousand Star Chaotic Sea, with a history of over 100,000 years. The city is divided into an inner city and an outer city. The inner city is mostly the residence of cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above, while the outer city is the activity area for lower-level cultivators."

As they spoke, the two had already arrived above Tian Shu City.

Qiu Yutianjun's cave dwelling is located on a solitary mountain peak on the east side of the inner city.

From afar, the entire mountain peak is shrouded in colorful clouds, with mist swirling around its waist, and pavilions and towers faintly visible among the clouds.

"We've arrived. This is my 'Crimson Cloud Peak'," Qiu Yutianjun said with a hint of pride.

The two landed on a platform at the top of the mountain.

Zhou Xun looked around and couldn't help but marvel. The spiritual energy on this mountain was so dense that it was almost liquid, and every breath made one feel refreshed.

The mountains are covered with all kinds of rare spiritual plants, the most eye-catching of which is a crimson spiritual tree that is a hundred feet tall. Its crown is like a canopy, and its branches and leaves bear fist-sized fiery red spiritual fruits.

"This is a fifth-grade superior 'Crimson Spirit Fruit Tree'?" Zhou Xun asked in surprise.

Qiu Yutianjun clapped his hands and laughed: "Fellow Daoist has excellent eyesight! This tree has been growing for over 30,000 years and bears fruit once every 300 years, which is of great benefit to fire attribute cultivation techniques."

As they were talking, a pure white crane flew out from the treetop and gracefully landed beside Qiu Yutianjun.

Even more surprisingly, the crane was carrying a three-foot-tall jade pot on its back, with wisps of steam rising from its mouth.

"This is my guardian spirit beast, the Snow Cloud Crane, which has already reached the fifth level of cultivation," Qiu Yutianjun introduced. "On its back is the 'Frosty Jade Pot,' which is specially used to collect morning dew."

Zhou Xun noticed that there were also several powerful spirit beasts in the mountains, the weakest of which was at least at the fourth level of cultivation.

Beside a sacred spring, a dragon with an entirely emerald green body was even coiled up, lazily basking in the sun.

"Fellow Daoist, your cave is truly breathtaking," Zhou Xun exclaimed sincerely.

Qiu Yutian stroked his beard and smiled, "It has taken tens of thousands of years to achieve this situation. Come, please follow me to the tea room for a chat."

The two arrived at an elegant bamboo house on the mountaintop.

The interior furnishings were simple yet elegant, with a jade tea table in the center. Qiu Yutian gestured for Zhou Xun to sit down, then took out a sandalwood box from his storage ring.

"Today I have the pleasure of meeting you, fellow Daoist; I shall treat you to the finest tea." Qiu Yutianjun opened the wooden box, revealing dozens of tea leaves shaped like phoenix feathers.
"This is a fifth-grade superior 'Heavenly Phoenix Spirit Tea,' and I would only be willing to offer it to a distinguished guest like Fellow Daoist Zhou!"

The old man chuckled and said,
Zhou Xun noticed that each tea leaf was crystal clear, with flames flowing through its veins, and it emitted a refreshing fragrance.

Then Qiu Yutian took out a set of antique tea utensils and began to demonstrate his unique tea-brewing technique.

He took out three tea leaves and placed them in his palm. He then made a hand seal, and the tea leaves floated up and spun at his fingertips.

As the incantation changed, the flame patterns on the surface of the tea leaves gradually lit up, eventually transforming into three miniature phoenix phantoms that hovered around the tea leaves.

"go with!"

Qiu Yutianjun gave a soft shout, and three tea leaves, along with the phantom of a fire phoenix, fell into the pot. Instantly, the pot was filled with radiant light, and the faint sound of a phoenix's cry could be heard.

The most amazing thing is that the tea in the pot automatically separates into three layers: the bottom layer is like amber, the middle layer is like the morning glow, and the top layer is like flowing gold.

Qiu Yutianjun took out a jade hairpin and gently touched the boundary of the three layers of tea. The three layers of tea immediately merged and swirled, forming a small vortex. A wisp of seven-colored mist rose from the center of the vortex and condensed in the air to form a miniature landscape painting.

"This is... an ancient spiritual tea-making technique?" A look of amazement flashed in Zhou Xun's eyes.

Qiu Yutian nodded with a smile: "Fellow Daoist, you have great insight! This is the long-lost 'Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens' tea ceremony, which I obtained by chance in an ancient cultivation cave."

Once the tea was ready, Qiu Yutianjun poured a cup for Zhou Xun.

The tea soup was shimmering with seven colors, with a layer of fine golden patterns floating on the surface. The aroma was concentrated and did not dissipate, forming a phantom image of a phoenix about to take flight at the rim of the cup.

Zhou Xun took the teacup and took a small sip.

The moment the tea touched his lips, he seemed to see thousands of fire phoenixes soaring through the heavens, and his spiritual energy began to circulate involuntarily, more than 30% faster than usual!

Even more remarkably, his soul was cleansed, and his newly broken-through Nascent Soul realm became more stable.

"Excellent tea!" Zhou Xun exclaimed sincerely. "This tea not only tastes superb, but it is also very beneficial to cultivation."

Qiu Yutianjun smiled and said, "This tea has the effect of cleansing the soul and is very helpful for Nascent Soul cultivators to comprehend the laws of heaven and earth."

Zhou Xun put down his teacup, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Fellow Daoist's tea ceremony is truly exquisite. I am delighted to learn it from you. Would you be willing to part with it and teach me? I am willing to exchange it for a treasure of equal value."

Unexpectedly, Qiu Yutian readily agreed: "Since you are also a tea lover, I will gladly present this tea ceremony to you."

As he spoke, he handed a jade slip to Li Xun.
After the two drank a few more cups of tea, Zhou Xun suddenly asked, "It's strange, as one of the thirteen immortal cities, why are there so few Nascent Soul cultivators in Tian Shu City? When I entered the city just now, I only sensed three or four Nascent Soul auras."

Qiu Yutian sighed, "Fellow Daoist, you may not know this. Originally, Tian Shu City had over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators, and even a Refinement Void senior was stationed there. But not long ago, an ancient ruin appeared in the Thousand Star Chaotic Sea."

"But is that the legendary Void Refining Cave?" Zhou Xun interjected. Qiu Yutianjun shook his head, his expression grave: "No, it's the remains of a Nascent Soul cultivator!"

"What? A Nascent Soul cultivator?" Zhou Xun's pupils shrank. Even in the Immortal Realm, a Nascent Soul cultivator was a powerful figure.

Take this vast Wandao Lake for example, the highest cultivation level there is only at the early stage of the Integration Realm.

"That's why almost all Nascent Soul cultivators rushed to the ruins in search of opportunities," Qiu Yutianjun said with a wry smile.

"I am already quite old, with only a little over two thousand years left before my death. And since I dislike fighting, I volunteered to stay and guard Tian Shu City."

Zhou Xun nodded thoughtfully.

The reappearance of the Combined Body Relic Mansion is indeed a major event that has shaken the entire cultivation world. However, given his cultivation level of just entering the Nascent Soul stage, going there rashly would likely be fraught with danger.

Qiu Yutianjun saw through his thoughts and said meaningfully, "It's Fellow Daoist Zhou who, although he has only just entered the Nascent Soul stage, is able to temper his body with tribulation lightning."

"Having reached the fifth-order body cultivation realm, and being a thunder path cultivator, with the ultimate path of slaughter, he might be able to achieve something!"

Zhou Xun shook his head upon hearing this:

“My cultivation level is low. If it were a Void Refinement cultivator’s abode, I might be able to get involved. But this is the abode of a Nascent Soul cultivator, so there’s a high probability that Void Refinement cultivators will also be involved.”

"I'd better just focus on my cultivation!" Zhou Xun shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist is a wise man. In my opinion, you are not even a thousand years old yet, and you still have nearly 20,000 years of lifespan. Why are you in such a hurry?" The old man laughed heartily.

Throughout his long life, he witnessed countless brilliant and talented individuals, all of whom perished young due to their love of fighting and bravado.

On the contrary, he, a Taoist cultivator, has lived for over ten thousand years and remains peaceful to this day.

Zhou Xun smiled slightly upon hearing this, without refuting it.

He then changed the subject: "Fellow Daoist Chiyang, I have another question. Do you have any information on fifth-tier lightning-attribute spiritual items? I am willing to exchange them at a great price."

The old man had lived for over ten thousand years and was living in this chaotic world of a thousand stars; he must possess countless treasures, and perhaps he had the very item the old man needed.

A glint flashed in Qiu Yutianjun's eyes, and he stroked his beard and smiled, "What a coincidence, I happen to have something in my hand." As he spoke, he took out a fist-sized purple crystal from his sleeve.

The crystal is crystal clear, with what appears to be rolling thunderclouds inside, and tiny sparks of electricity occasionally flashing across its surface, producing a faint "crackling" sound.

Most strangely, the air within three inches of the crystal was slightly distorted, as if it could not withstand the power of the thunder contained within.

"A fifth-grade low-level 'Thunder Essence Crystal'!" Zhou Xun's eyes lit up.

This was precisely the treasure he had been dreaming of. His "Five Heavens Purple Thunder Array" was originally a fifth-order grand array.
It's only a fourth-tier top-grade item due to the scarcity of spiritual resources in the human realm. If enough fifth-tier lightning-attribute spiritual resources were used to refine it again, it could definitely regain its fifth-tier power!

"What do you need for exchange, fellow Daoist?" Zhou Xun eagerly took out five jade bottles and placed them on the table. "These are fifth-grade 'Profound Origin Pills,' 'Purple Mansion Pills,' and 'Spirit Condensation Pills.'"

Each time a bottle was opened, a unique fragrance of medicinal herbs wafted out. The last bottle, "Mind-Concentrating Pill," was particularly noteworthy, as the surface of the pills had seven flowing spiritual patterns, clearly indicating its superior quality.

Qiu Yutian waved his hand, saying, "This item is a gift for you, fellow Daoist, as a congratulatory present." Seeing that Zhou Xun was about to decline, he smiled and added:

"However, I am curious, fellow Daoist, to be able to produce so many fifth-grade spirit pills, could you perhaps be a fifth-grade alchemist?"

Zhou Xun nodded in acknowledgment: "I do indeed have some knowledge of alchemy."

"Wonderful!" Qiu Yutianjun clapped his hands and laughed.
"I am a fifth-order spiritual plant cultivator, and you are an alchemist, so we are a perfect match. If it were thousands of years ago, I would definitely have cooperated with you."

"Unfortunately, my lifespan is nearing its end, and I now only desire a peaceful life, having little need for elixirs. However..." He changed the subject,
"There are quite a few fellow cultivators in Tian Shu City who need high-grade pills. I can introduce them to you."

Zhou Xun solemnly accepted the Thunder Essence Crystal: "Then thank you very much, fellow Daoist."

The two talked for a long time until the sun set, at which point Zhou Xun got up to say goodbye.

Before parting, the Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord gave him a crimson jade token: "With this token, you may freely enter and leave the inner city. If needed, you may come to Crimson Cloud Peak to find me at any time."

Zhou Xun bowed in thanks and then transformed into a bolt of lightning and departed.

Watching his departing figure, a profound light flashed in the eyes of the Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord, who murmured to himself, "Not even five hundred years old and still possessing the Heavenly Origin Spirit Armor, what is the origin of this island? This Thousand Star Chaos is likely to have another great figure."

Returning to his cave dwelling in the inner city, Zhou Xun was stunned by the sight before him.

Outside the cave's protective barrier, hundreds of jade slips and invitations floated in mid-air, shimmering with various colors of spiritual light under the setting sun, resembling a dazzling sea of ​​stars.

"This is..." Zhou Xun scanned it with his divine sense and was speechless.

These visiting cards came from various powerful forces in Tian Shu City: the City Lord's Mansion, the four major merchant guilds, the eight great families, and even the Que family, which was far away in Wandao Lake, sent people to deliver visiting cards.

"Interesting." Zhou Xun's lips curled into a slight smile. He had already joined the Que Clan under the identity of "Zhou Xun, the Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion."

Now that he has received an invitation in his new identity as "Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord", if he accepts the offer again, wouldn't he be able to receive two offerings?

Thus, later on, he could change his identity and join the Que clan.
Given time, wouldn't all of the Que clan's many Nascent Soul cultivators become him alone?
Of course, this was just a joke.

Zhou Xun pondered for a moment, then took out a hundred communication talismans and used his divine sense to inscribe the same message: "At noon three days from now, I will host a banquet at Qianwei Tower to welcome all fellow Daoists."

With a wave of his hand, hundreds of beams of spiritual light shot out, rushing off in all directions.

Qianweilou is the most famous restaurant in Tianshu City. It is said that the owner behind it is an old monster in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

The building not only offers a variety of delicacies, but also has a unique "Thousand Flavors Spirit Technique" that can automatically adjust the concentration of spiritual energy in the dishes according to the guest's cultivation level, even benefiting Nascent Soul cultivators.

Three days later, in the Lingxiao Pavilion on the top floor of Qianwei Tower, Zhou Xun sat in the main seat.

Today he wore a purple robe, with a newly acquired "Purple Thunder Pendant" hanging at his waist, making him appear extraordinary.

Inside the pavilion were a hundred jade tables, each occupied by a cultivator with profound aura, the weakest of whom possessed at least the late Nascent Soul stage. These individuals represented the most powerful forces in Tian Shu City.

After several rounds of drinks, the representative of the City Lord's Mansion spoke first: "Fellow Daoist Lei Yu is new to Tian Shu City. Would you be interested in serving as a guest elder? Our City Lord's Mansion is willing to offer you 25 spirit crystals every hundred years, and also provide you with a fifth-tier cave dwelling."

"Twenty-five spirit crystals?" An old man in brocade robes scoffed. "My Wanbao Pavilion offers thirty, plus one fifth-grade spirit material of your choice!"

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, offering increasingly generous terms.

Zhou Xun remained silent with a smile until the representative of the Que Clan—a beautiful woman at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage—spoke:
"Our Que family is willing to treat you as a first-class guest, offering you thirty-five spirit crystals every hundred years, and granting you access to comprehend the first three levels of our family's secret 'Nine Heavens Thunder Scripture,' as well as a fifth-tier spirit island!"

(End of this chapter)