Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 953 Treasure in Hand, the So-Called Artistic Conception!
The Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord first bowed to the surroundings, and then said:
"Thank you all for your kind invitation to participate in this exchange event. The rules remain the same. Fellow Daoists, please take turns to the stage to display your treasures and the items you wish to exchange!"

"After the exchange meeting, there will be a conference!"

It's rare for so many Nascent Soul cultivators to gather together; one reason is the exchange meeting, and another is the mutual learning and exchange.

Sharing knowledge and verifying each other's findings is also an excellent way to improve one's cultivation level and even break through bottlenecks.

Then, the Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord waved his hand and took out a semi-transparent jade bottle about half a foot in size, filled with a crimson liquid.

Even through the bottle and the barrier, one could feel the heat emanating from within.

"Can a bottle of Fire Essence Dew assist fire-attribute cultivators in their cultivation?"

Upon hearing this, many cultivators in the room were overjoyed.

Fire Element Dew is one of the most precious fire-attribute spiritual items, although it is not the most powerful one.
But it is also extremely precious!

It is an excellent aid for cultivation, far superior to those elixirs, and has no requirements regarding cultivation level.
Having a higher cultivation level also has an effect, but compared to its abundant spiritual power, the effect is not as obvious.

However, for fire-attribute cultivators, it is an extremely rare and precious item.

The Water Emperor, standing beside him, also showed a rather surprised expression.

"This time, Chiyang has been unusually generous, even bringing out this treasure!"

Zhou Xun nodded repeatedly, it was just a pity that it wasn't the Thunder Essence Dew, otherwise he would have made a move no matter what.

"This bottle of spiritual item will go to the highest bidder. If any of you are interested, please place your bids!"

As soon as the Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord finished speaking, many cultivators below the stage showed expressions of interest.

"40 low-grade spirit crystals!"

A lean, early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator dressed in a blue robe was the first to make a bid. His eyes gleamed with intense light, clearly determined to acquire the Fire Element Dew.

In his view, with this Fire Element Dew, his cultivation would greatly improve.
"Forty yuan is hardly enough to reflect the value of this item. I'll offer fifty yuan!"

"Fifty-two yuan!"

Immediately, someone raised the price. The one who spoke was a graceful and elegant woman. She slightly raised her head, her eyes filled with a hint of arrogance, seemingly extremely confident in her financial resources.

The price continued to rise amidst the bidding, and it was finally sold for seventy-three low-grade spirit crystals!

Following the Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord was a tall, ruddy-faced old man.
With a wave of his hand, a palm-sized, transparent spirit jade floated in the air, radiating extremely rich spiritual energy.
"A fourth-grade top-quality spirit eye jade, weighing twelve taels and seven mace, can be exchanged for a pill to enhance the mana of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Of course, if you don't have the pill, spirit stones will also work, but you'll need at least ten low-grade spirit crystals!"

'A spiritual eye artifact!' Zhou Xun thought in surprise.
This is an excellent material for cultivating spiritual veins. He previously received the inheritance of a spiritual vein master from the Heavenly Star True Monarch's cave.

Such a treasure was recorded.

With enough spiritual materials, even a fifth-tier spiritual vein can be cultivated.
Although the old man's Spirit Eye Jade is only a fourth-grade top-quality item, it is still extremely good for improving spiritual veins!
"I don't need it now, but if I return to the human realm, it would be perfect for my own Wangchuan Lake training ground!" Zhou Xun thought to himself.
Although he later
The spiritual veins of the cave dwelling on the island in the middle of the lake are still slowly recovering. If one could possess this Spirit Eye Jade, one could advance to the middle grade of the fourth rank within a few decades.”

Secondly, Zhou Xun already had a three-digit number of low-grade spirit crystals, which he rarely had the opportunity to use. Today was a good day to exchange them for some useful treasures!
"I'm building the Heavenly Secrets Palace, and I'm missing a piece. I'll take this Spirit Eye Jade, but I don't have any pills, though I do have plenty of low-grade spirit crystals!"

At this moment, a middle-aged man dressed in a red robe stood up, approached the old man, and took out a bottle of pills.
"Ten dollars is too cheap for this Spirit Eye Jade. I'll offer twelve!"

An old man dressed in a black robe spoke up.

"What do you mean by this, sir!" The middle-aged man in the red robe was furious.
"Hehe, the highest bidder wins, right? If you can't afford the spirit stones, then you can leave!"

The old man in black robes chuckled, clearly intending to argue with the middle-aged man in red robes.

"Fine, fine, I'll offer fifteen low-grade spirit crystals. Are you going to accept or not?" the red-robed middle-aged man said coldly.

"Fifteen dollars? I, Hu, simply cannot afford that. I'll pass it on to you!" The old man in black robes laughed heartily and gracefully withdrew.
Just as the middle-aged man thought he was about to win the bid, Zhou Xun stood up, bowed to the surroundings, and then spoke:
"I'll offer two bottles of Profound Origin Spirit-Nourishing Pills!"

Upon hearing this, the man in red robes became angry, thinking someone was targeting him again. He turned around and saw it was Zhou Xun, and immediately fell silent.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Lei Yu. Since you've also taken a liking to this Spirit Eye Jade, I'll grant it to you!" he said, smiling as he sat down.

"Thank you!" Zhou Xun cupped his hands in thanks.

Thus, Zhou Xun successfully obtained the Spirit Eye Jade.

Next, the other cultivators also went up on stage to display their treasures.

A cultivator took out a bottle of rare pills, wanting to exchange them for high-quality materials;

Another cultivator brought out a unique cultivation technique manual, hoping to exchange it for suitable refining materials.

Zhou Xun watched quietly from below the stage, pondering what treasure he should bring out.

He came here today for only two purposes.
One of them is a fifth-order demon soul. His Nine Palaces Profound Origin Array's transformation of demon spirits still needs one more fifth-order demon soul.

There are nearly a hundred high-level cultivators gathered here, so the chances of obtaining this item through exchange are very high.

The second task is to collect some lightning-attribute spiritual items of the fifth rank or higher. You should know that his natal spiritual pool has not yet been upgraded to a spiritual treasure.

If we can acquire some spiritual items, we can accelerate this process.

As the exchange proceeded, it was finally Zhou Xun's turn to go on stage.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Wang Lin, Daoist name Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord, and also a fifth-order alchemist!"

Zhou Xun briefly introduced himself, while using the alias 'Wang Lin'.

Upon hearing this, many people greeted him.

After all, he hadn't been in Tian Shu City for very long before, so many people didn't know him. But things were different after that.

After exchanging a few simple pleasantries,

Zhou Xun waved his hand and took out several bottles of pills.

The 'Mysterious Origin Spirit-Nourishing Pill' assists early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in their cultivation, and the 'Nine-Turn Purple Spirit Pill' assists mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in their cultivation.
"These are all pills I've refined, suitable for Nascent Soul cultivators like myself,"

"In exchange for a fifth-tier demon soul, or a fifth-tier or higher spiritual item with lightning attributes. As for the price, we can discuss it."

As soon as Zhou Xun finished speaking, a slight commotion arose in the hall.

The pills refined by a fifth-level alchemist are extremely rare cultivation resources for most of the Nascent Soul cultivators present, and their allure is self-evident.

Many cultivators revealed eagerness in their eyes, exchanging glances as they weighed whether they possessed what Zhou Xun needed.

After a brief silence, a Nascent Soul stage cultivator who had been sitting in a corner, wearing a feathered robe and with a somewhat hawk-like face, was the first to stand up.

He flipped his hand, and a jade bottle, entirely black yet faintly radiating golden light, appeared in his palm. The bottle was sealed with complex runes, and a faint but resentful shriek could be heard emanating from it.

"Fellow Daoist Lei Yu," the feather-robed cultivator's voice was hoarse.
"When I was traveling in my early years, I was fortunate enough to kill a fifth-tier low-grade 'Splitting Golden Eagle'. Its demon soul has been sealed until now and is of decent quality. I wonder if I could exchange it for your 'Mysterious Origin Spirit-Nourishing Pill'?"

Zhou Xun scanned the jade bottle with his divine sense and could clearly feel the immense soul power and sharp metallic aura contained in the golden demon soul inside. It was indeed extremely well preserved and full of energy.

He nodded in satisfaction: "This demon soul is of excellent quality. How about exchanging it for four bottles of 'Mysterious Essence Nourishing Pills'?" As he spoke, he took out four exquisite jade bottles and used his magic to present them to the other party.

The cultivator in feathered robes accepted the pill, examined it carefully, and then a look of joy appeared on his face. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lei Yu!" This deal was extremely worthwhile for him. Although the demon soul was good, it was far less practical than a pill that could directly improve his cultivation.

With this beginning, another burly man with bronze skin quickly stood up, his voice booming:
"I also have a low-grade fifth-tier 'Thick Earth Giant Ape' demon soul here. How about exchanging it for your pills?"

The jade bottle he took out was earthy yellow, giving it a sense of weight and stability.

Zhou Xun checked again and found nothing wrong, then exchanged the bottles for four more 'Mysterious Origin Spirit-Nourishing Pills'.

After that, he exchanged another Nine-Turn Purple Spirit Pill for one.
He was quite pleased to have obtained three high-quality fifth-tier demon souls, which was enough to raise the power of his Nine Palaces Profound Origin Array to another level.

However, after that, although a few people still had their eyes flickering as if they were tempted, no one else got up.

Zhou Xun had a limited number of "Mysterious Origin Spirit-Nourishing Pills" and "Nine-Turn Purple Spirit Pills" prepared for exchange, and had already exchanged quite a few before, so they were basically all gone at this moment.

As for lightning-attribute spiritual items, no one offered them.

There were very few lightning cultivators in the arena; including Zhou Xun, there were only three of them.

Even if others occasionally obtain such spiritual items, they have most likely already exchanged them with these two for what they need.

Seeing this, Zhou Xun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed that his plan to collect lightning-attribute spiritual items at this exchange meeting was going to fail.

Just as he was feeling slightly disappointed, a steady voice, carrying a faint thunderous tone, resounded directly in his mind:

“Young friend Lei Yu, I have cultivated thunder magic for thousands of years and have accumulated some fifth-order thunder attribute materials that I can’t use. They’re just gathering dust.”

"If you are interested, young friend, you can come to my cave to discuss this in detail after this gathering."

Zhou Xun was overjoyed upon hearing this! The Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord was a powerful being at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, specializing in thunder magic. His collection must be extraordinary, far beyond what ordinary cultivators could possess.

This was truly a stroke of good luck! He immediately responded respectfully via telepathy: "Thank you for your kindness, Heavenly Lord! I will visit you as soon as the gathering concludes!"

After making the agreement with the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord, Zhou Xun was in a great mood.

In the subsequent exchange, he made several more purchases, using spirit crystals to buy several high-quality fifth-tier spirit herbs, all of which were auxiliary materials for refining Nascent Soul stage pills, which replenished his inventory.

Finally, the treasure exchange, which lasted for nearly a day, came to an end.

Most of the monks gained something, more or less, and the atmosphere at the scene became much more harmonious.

After a short rest, the much-anticipated sharing of cultivation experiences began.

The Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord rose again and said with a smile, "Next, I invite all fellow Daoists to speak freely, whether it be raising questions about cultivation or sharing your own insights, so that we can verify each other's understanding and make progress together!"

As soon as the words were spoken, a scholar in a green robe at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm stood up, first bowing to the surroundings.

Then he began to explain his understanding. When he reached a particularly profound point, a wisp of emerald light emanated from his fingertips, full of vitality yet containing a hidden, resilient power, which prompted many fellow practitioners to nod in deep thought.
The atmosphere of the exchange gradually became more lively, with people coming up to the stage one after another. The content they talked about was all-encompassing, from the tempering of magical power and the use of divine sense to the cultivation of secret techniques and the experience of breaking through realms, and even some strange stories and experiences of exploring secret realms.

Zhou Xun listened intently. Although much of the content didn't perfectly align with his own cultivation method, he believed that all paths to the Great Dao lead to the same destination.
The wisdom and unique insights of these Nascent Soul cultivators still inspired him greatly. By drawing parallels and applying these insights, he felt his horizons broaden considerably.

Many of the subtle obstacles and stagnations that I encountered during my daily practice suddenly became clear and enlightening.

Just then, an elderly man who had been silent all along, yet whose aura was unusually profound, slowly walked to the front of the stage.

As soon as he stepped onto the stage, the previously noisy hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes were focused on him with respect.

This old man was another peak Nascent Soul cultivator on par with Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord—"Mysterious Jade Heavenly Lord." He was known for his kindness in mentoring younger generations and possessed the demeanor of a wise and respected elder.
He was highly respected.

Xuan Gui Tianjun's gaze swept across the entire arena, his voice calm yet carrying an inherent air of authority:
"I have been in seclusion for the past few years and have made some progress in the 'art of earth'. Today I will discuss it with you fellow Daoists."

"artistic conception!"

A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd below. All the cultivators became extremely alert, and even the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord opened his eyes, listening intently.

Everyone knows that comprehending the essence of the art is the most crucial step, and also the biggest hurdle, to breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage and glimpsing the Void Refinement stage!

Xuan Gui Tianjun slowly said:
"The so-called artistic conception is actually the most basic and rudimentary perception and application of the laws of heaven and earth."

"Laws are everywhere; they are the cornerstone of this world."

"As for us cultivators, only when our primordial spirit is strong enough, our perception of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is sharp enough, and our mind resonates with a certain kind of law, can we capture that mysterious 'meaning'."

He stretched out his withered hand, palm facing upwards.
Without him demonstrating any magical power, everyone clearly felt the surrounding earth-attribute spiritual energy naturally converging towards his palm.
It coalesced into a constantly changing dark yellow halo.

The halo was sometimes as heavy as the earth, and sometimes as flowing as a sand waterfall, as if it contained infinite changes and power.

"This is just a sliver of the 'earthly essence' that I have comprehended," Xuan Gui Heavenly Lord said calmly.

"However, grasping the essence of a concept is not something that can be achieved overnight."

"A hundred years ago, when I was searching for spiritual materials deep within the earth's veins, my mind was immersed in the endless pulse of the earth for several decades,"

"Fang was fortunate enough to grasp the true meaning of 'heavy burden, nurturing all things,' thus gaining a glimpse into the path."

His account of the process was unremarkable, but the hardships and opportunities it contained resonated deeply with all the Nascent Soul cultivators present, inspiring them to yearn for it.

After he finished speaking, the entire room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in praise and congratulations.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Xuan Gui!"

"The gate to the realm of intent has been opened; the path to refining the void is within reach! Congratulations!"

"Thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Xuan Gui, for your generous sharing. We have benefited greatly from it!"

Everyone understood that since Xuan Gui Tianjun had already grasped the essence of the realm,
Even if he has only just begun to understand the basics, it means that he has already stepped into the threshold of the Void Refinement stage, and his future achievements are limitless!

His sharing was undoubtedly extremely valuable and invaluable to all the Nascent Soul cultivators present who had not yet touched the edge of the realm of enlightenment.

Zhou Xun also gained a lot.

Furthermore, what surprised Zhou Xun the most was that during the breaks in the exchange and after the meeting, no fewer than ten Nascent Soul cultivators approached him privately.
They either asked him directly, or through connections like the Crimson Sun Heavenly Lord, hoping to commission him to refine elixirs!

The required pills range from top-grade fourth-tier to mid-grade fifth-tier, and the rewards offered are extremely generous.

Not only are there spirit crystals and rare materials, but there are even promises of favors or future assistance in exchange.

These alchemy commissions are undoubtedly a huge fortune and resource, which can not only greatly enrich his pockets, but also allow him to establish a good network of relationships with many Nascent Soul cultivators.

Zhou Xun agreed to each request, thinking to himself that after completing these tasks, his wealth and control over various resources would surely reach a new level.

The three-day exchange and conference passed in the blink of an eye.

When Lord Chiyang announced the successful conclusion of the gathering, all the cultivators felt a sense of lingering regret and bowed to say goodbye, promising to meet again next time.

Zhou Xun had a fruitful day. After exchanging pleasantries with his newly acquainted fellow Daoists, he left Feiyue Tower with Chiyang Tianjun and the others.

Then he flew alone to the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord's Cave.

(End of this chapter)