Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 935 Leading the team on the journey, seeing old friends again!
"By the way, do you two have any treasures you'd like to exchange for?" Que Tianming asked with a smile.

After all, both of them made significant contributions.

Upon hearing this, both Zhou Xun and Liu Tian were extremely interested.

Zhou Xun and Liu Tian exchanged a glance, both seeing eagerness in each other's eyes. They immediately nodded in agreement.

Que Tianming smiled slightly, took out two lustrous jade slips from his sleeve, and handed them to the two of them respectively: "This is the exchange list of my Que Clan's Secret Pavilion. You two can check it yourselves."

Zhou Xun took the jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

In an instant, information about countless treasures flooded into his mind, each item marked with its detailed exchange contribution value.

"Nine-Level Crossing Pill": A spiritual pill that helps break through the bottleneck of the late Nascent Soul stage, requiring 60 contribution points.

"Heavenly Jade Crystal Marrow": A spiritual item for Nascent Soul cultivators, which can increase the chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage by 10%, requiring 600 contribution points.

Chalcedony is milky white and contains the essence of heaven and earth. One can feel the surging spiritual energy fluctuations within it simply by scanning it with one's divine sense.

Zhou Xun's gaze continued to sweep downwards, when suddenly his pupils contracted slightly as he spotted the treasure he desired.
"Mysterious Spirit Golden Elixir"—this is an unparalleled elixir that aids in advancing to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few requirements; it requires 2000 contribution points. Keep in mind that killing a Nascent Soul stage cultivator only yields 1500 contribution points.

He had previously killed a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, earning 50 contribution points, and then received a further 50 points as a reward, totaling one hundred.
Adding the 200 for setting up the magic array, that's a total of 300 contribution points. Even if he kills a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages, he'll still be 200 short.

"It seems there's still a long way to go!" Zhou Xun couldn't help but sigh.

Looking further down, a strange object called "Phantom Spirit" caught his attention.

Isn't this the treasure I obtained back in 'Thunder Prison'?

Its greatest function is to assist in the birth of a spirit in a magical artifact, endowing it with spirituality and elevating it to the level of a spiritual treasure.

He couldn't help but think of his Xuan Ting Lei Sword. Everything was perfect now, except for that little bit of spiritual energy, which would allow it to be upgraded to a spiritual treasure.

"I need this too!"

Upon checking the contribution points, it was 900, which was indeed quite high.

In addition, there were several other treasures that he couldn't take his eyes off:

"Fifth-Tier Demon Core": Taken from a fifth-tier demon beast, it can be used to refine high-level pills or magic weapons, requiring 1000 contribution points.

"Nine Abyss Thunder Crystal": A fifth-grade superior thunder attribute spiritual material, an excellent material for refining thunder-type magic treasures, requiring 1000 contribution points.

Zhou Xun's mouth went dry as he looked at them. Each of these treasures was extremely beneficial to him, but with his current meager few hundred contribution points, he simply couldn't afford to exchange them.

"Looks like I need to find a way to earn more contribution points," he thought to himself. Although the repair of the magic array was quite fruitful, such opportunities probably wouldn't come often.

"Do either of you have a treasure that catches your eye?" Que Tianming's voice pulled Zhou Xun back to reality.

Zhou Xun suppressed his longing and shook his head: "There aren't any suitable ones for the time being." He couldn't very well say that he couldn't afford all the ones he liked.

Liu Tian, ​​however, pointed to a spot on the list and said, "Ancestor, I would like to exchange for this bottle of 'Spirit Strengthening Pill'."

Que Tianming nodded: "This pill strengthens the foundation and nourishes the vital energy, which is of great benefit to Nascent Soul cultivators. It only costs 200 contribution points, which is a good choice."

Soon, a guard entered carrying a jade box. Liu Tian took the pills, a satisfied look on his face.

“In that case, I shall take my leave,” Zhou Xun said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Wait a minute." Que Tianming suddenly called out to Zhou Xun, "I have something else to discuss with you."

After Liu Tian left, Que Tianming gestured for Zhou Xun to sit down and personally poured him a cup of tea: "Young friend Zhou, are you aware that besides Shuangyu Island, there are quite a few spirit islands controlled by the Lu family in the surrounding waters?"

Zhou Xun's heart skipped a beat: "What does the Ancestor mean?"

"I intend to press my advantage." A glint of light flashed in Que Tianming's eyes.

"Shuangyu Island is just the beginning. Next, we will advance north and seize all of the Lu family's strongholds in the surrounding waters!"

As he spoke, he took out a sea chart, spread it out, and pointed to a cluster of islands scattered to the north: "There is a fifth-tier spirit island, a top-grade spirit stone mine, and four fourth-tier mineral veins in this area. I want you to lead the offensive in this direction."

Zhou Xun did not rush to agree.

“Of course, I won’t leave you to fight alone,” Que Tianming continued.
"I will provide you with a Nascent Soul stage assistant, twenty Core Formation stage cultivators, and three hundred Core Formation stage cultivators."

"In addition, all the resources captured will be your reward."

Zhou Xun disagreed.

After all, it would be impossible to ask everyone to hand over the spoils of war after killing the Lu clan cultivators.

This isn't like a spirit island or a spirit mine—it's not real estate.

But on the surface, he still appeared grateful, cupping his hands in a fist and saying, "This junior will certainly live up to your expectations!"

"Good!" Que Tianming nodded in satisfaction, took out a golden token and handed it to him, "This is a troop mobilization token. We will depart in three days. The specific target information is inside."

Zhou Xun respectfully accepted the token and left the quiet room.

After leaving the meditation room, Zhou Xun went straight to a large hall in the west.

Pushing open the heavy palace doors, he saw that the hall was brightly lit, and dozens of cultivators were talking in hushed tones. Upon seeing him enter, everyone turned to look.

"It's Senior Wangchuan!" a surprised voice suddenly rang out.

Zhou Xun looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young cultivator in a blue robe walking quickly towards him.

This man had a lean face and a scholarly air about him; he was none other than Que Le, whom he had met in the Ten Thousand Mountains years ago.

"Fellow Daoist Que?" Zhou Xun was slightly taken aback, then smiled broadly:

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on your advancement to the Nascent Soul stage!"

Que Le waved his hands repeatedly, his attitude extremely enthusiastic: "Senior, you flatter me! If it weren't for your help back then, I would have perished in the Hundred Thousand Mountains long ago."

As he spoke, a hint of reminiscence flashed in his eyes, "I still remember your heroic figure that day when you overpowered a fifth-tier demon crocodile."

"Fellow Daoist Que, you flatter me!"

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Zhou Xun took out a golden token and explained his purpose.

Upon seeing this, Que Le was overjoyed: "With a senior leading the team, this trip will definitely be foolproof!"

After handing over the token, Que Le led Zhou Xun to the inner courtyard.

A thousand-year-old plum tree in the courtyard is in full bloom, its fragrance wafting through the air.

Que Le took out a pot of amber-colored spirit wine and personally filled it for Zhou Xun: "This is 'Ice Heart Brew' brewed with ten-thousand-year-old cold jade marrow. Please taste it, senior."

The wine entered his throat, and he immediately felt a refreshing coolness that penetrated straight to his dantian, even invigorating his spirit. Zhou Xun exclaimed, "Excellent wine!"

"I'm glad you're happy, senior." Que Le said with a smile, "We'll have to rely on your guidance for this mission."

After all, he had personally witnessed Zhou Xun's strength; ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators were no match for him. With him leading the team, the safety of this mission would undoubtedly be greatly enhanced.

To be honest, he was only at the initial stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and even his natal magic weapon was only at the level of a top-grade magic weapon.

Among Nascent Soul cultivators, they are at the very bottom.

If it weren't for the fact that the family and the Lu family had gone to war, they wouldn't have bothered with him, who had just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Now, his thought is the same as back in the Ten Thousand Mountains, clinging tightly to Zhou Xun's coattails.

After several rounds of drinks, Zhou Xun inquired about Que Le's experiences over the years. It turned out that after returning from the Ten Thousand Mountains, Que Le, with the spiritual herbs he had collected and the merit of introducing Zhou Xun, a fifth-level array master, successfully exchanged them for a Nascent Soul spiritual object.

After ten years of arduous seclusion, he finally broke through the shackles and achieved the status of a deity.

"Speaking of which, I must thank you for your guidance back then, otherwise I wouldn't be where I am today!" Que Le said sincerely.

He adopted a very humble attitude, showing no intention of considering himself or Zhou Xun as peers.

Zhou Xun waved his hand: "This is your own destiny."

After much discussion, the two decided to rest for a day and set off the following morning.

The next day, the morning light was dim.

A misty haze hung over the sea, enveloping the entire area like a veil. The distant cries of seabirds added a touch of life to the tranquil morning.

Zhou Xun and Que Le led their army of cultivators up into the clouds and sped off toward the north.

Their first target was the "Earth Element Gold" vein closest to Twin Fish Island. This underwater vein was rich in Tier 3 spirit ore.
Although it is a third-tier spirit mine, it is said to have produced fifth-tier materials in the past, which are extremely valuable.

Seven days later, an artificial island several miles in circumference came into view.

The buildings on the island are arranged in a staggered pattern, and the outer perimeter is shrouded in a light blue light curtain, which is the fourth-order top-grade magic array protecting the mine.

Upon noticing their arrival, alarms immediately went off on the island.

In a short while, a blue light screen rose up, protecting the entire artificial island, while the figures of cultivators rushing around inside the array could be vaguely seen.

"Senior, they've discovered us!" Que Le said nervously.

He hasn't yet switched identities; the Nascent Soul and the Divine Transformation stage are essentially two different levels.
Even though he had just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, he was only one level higher than a fourth-tier top-grade cultivator.

However, this magic array can be broken in an instant if one makes a move.

"It's just a fourth-order magic array, it's alright, I've got everything covered!"

Zhou Xun offered a word of comfort, then stood in mid-air before the light screen, glanced at everyone, and said loudly:
"Gentlemen, the target is just ahead. Follow me to kill the enemy, and all the spoils of this battle will be mine!"

Upon hearing this, the cultivators' eyes immediately blazed with fervent light.

With a Nascent Soul cultivator leading the team, this trip is guaranteed to be successful.
With a flick of his sleeve, Zhou Xun conjured a dazzling sword light that shot towards the light barrier like a meteor.

"laugh--"

The moment the sword light touched the light barrier, the seemingly indestructible barrier was easily pierced as thin as paper.

Immediately afterwards, the entire formation let out a mournful cry of despair and shattered with a crash!

"kill!"

The moment the light barrier shattered, the cultivators on the island were thrown into chaos.

"Enemy attack! It's a Nascent Soul cultivator!" someone shouted in terror.

Zhou Xun stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Those who surrender will not be killed."

However, the Lu clan cultivators were clearly unwilling to abandon the mine. Several streaks of light shot into the sky, led by an elderly man in the late Nascent Soul stage, who shouted sharply, "Form an array! Stop them!"

More than ten Nascent Soul cultivators quickly formed a battle formation, their magical power linked together to create a huge spiritual energy barrier, attempting to block Zhou Xun and the others' offensive.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot." Zhou Xun snorted coldly, and the Xuan Ting Lei Sword suddenly flew out from his sleeve. The sword was wrapped in lightning, like a divine punishment descending upon the world, and slashed fiercely at the barrier.

"boom--"

Lightning exploded, the barrier shattered instantly, and the Nascent Soul cultivators who had formed the array were sent flying backward, coughing up blood.

"kill!"

Upon seeing this, Que Le immediately led his army of cultivators in a charge. In an instant, sword light and spells clashed, and the entire artificial island descended into chaos.

Zhou Xun did not make another move, but instead summoned Xiao Jia.
It is an earth-attribute spirit beast, and is proficient in earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic that allows one to escape through the earth). Perhaps it can make some discoveries in this mine.

"I've met the master!"

As soon as Xiao Jia came out, he bowed and paid his respects.

"You must have sensed the dense earth elemental energy below. There is an earth elemental gold vein here. Go and search for it!"

"Yes!"

As soon as Xiao Jia entered the Earth Element Gold Mine, he began to travel rapidly.

Deep within the mine, the damp, earthy scent mixed with a rich earth elemental energy wafted towards us.

Xiao Jia was enveloped in a pale yellow aura, moving through the hard rock strata as if it were a fish in water.

Its keen senses can clearly capture every fluctuation of the earth elemental metal, as precisely as a hunting dog tracking its prey.

As it traveled through the area, it collected several pieces of Earth Elemental Gold of the fourth rank or higher into its storage bag.

These spirit ores have a dark golden luster on their surface, feel heavy in the hand, and contain pure earth elemental power.

With each ore it collected, Xiao Jia could feel a slight tremor in its spiritual energy. The earth elemental power contained within these spirit ores was of considerable benefit to it.

At the same time, it can also enhance the power of its natal magic weapon.

Suddenly, a stone chamber about ten feet in size appeared in front of Xiao Jia.

The walls of the stone chamber are covered with naturally formed golden patterns that emit a faint glow in the darkness.

Upon entering, they found two dark yellow crystals lying inside, exuding a heavy aura.
One big and one small
The large ones are as big as a fist, while the small ones are only the size of an egg.

The crystal's surface is as smooth as a mirror, and its interior seems to contain flowing liquid, emanating a chilling spiritual energy.

"This is a fifth-order Earth Elemental Metal Essence!" Xiao Jia was overjoyed, now he could finally report back to Zhou Xun.

These two crystals feel warm to the touch, yet are incredibly heavy, clearly the essence that has been nurtured in the mineral vein for thousands of years.

It carefully put it into its storage bag. After checking it thoroughly to make sure nothing was missing, it continued its exploration.

Soon, half an hour later, the entire artificial island was completely cleared away.

A faint smell of blood permeated the island, but the sea breeze dispersed some of the odor.

Que Le brought a bag of fourth-grade top-quality Earth Element Gold to Zhou Xun.
"Senior, this is the finest batch of Earth Element Gold from the mine. Please accept it with a smile." Que Le said with a hint of flattery in his eyes.

As the team leader, Zhou Xun was someone they wouldn't forget since they had received the benefits. Zhou Xun nodded slightly and put the money into his storage bag, since if he didn't take it, how would the others?

Zhou Xun scanned the area with his divine sense and found more than thirty Earth Element Golds neatly arranged inside, each containing surging Earth Element power.

If these spirit ores were used for refining, they would be enough to forge several top-grade magic weapons.

He nodded in satisfaction, his gaze sweeping over the people who were cleaning up the battlefield.

"Thank you all for your hard work today," Zhou Xun said loudly, his voice clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"We'll rest here for a day and continue our journey tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, everyone's faces lit up with joy.

With Zhou Xun leading the team, everyone made a great harvest. The profits from just this one spirit mine were equivalent to their savings over several decades.

(End of this chapter)