Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 967 Visiting Old Haunts, Comforting the Women!
Wang Erniu's lips trembled slightly with excitement as he looked at Zhou Xun, whose aura was as deep as the sea yet felt incredibly familiar.

A thousand words stuck in my chest, but in the end, they all boiled down to one sentence:
"Big brother...it's good that you're back!"

Zhou Xun stepped forward and gently patted his strong arm, his smile as warm as it had been back then:
"Yes, I came back to see you. Your cultivation has become much more solid, and your sword intent has also become more refined. It seems that you have not slacked off all these years."

At this moment, several powerful sword lights rushed from within the mountain, landing and revealing several Nascent Soul cultivators dressed in the robes of elders of the Sword Lake Palace, with the leader being a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

They sensed the aura of power emanating from Zhou Xun, which, though not deliberately emitted, naturally permeated the air, and all bowed respectfully with solemn expressions.

"I was unaware of the arrival of the Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion. I have failed to greet you properly and earnestly hope for your forgiveness!"

Their gazes were cautious, and they didn't even dare to look Zhou Xun in the eye.

Zhou Xun merely glanced at them indifferently and nodded:

"I was just passing through this place and came here to catch up with an old friend. There's no need for formalities."

Having said that, he stopped looking at them and turned to Wang Erniu, saying:

"Erniu, let's find a quiet place and have a good talk."

Upon hearing this, the elders were deeply shocked, and their eyes filled with unprecedented eagerness and envy as they looked at Wang Erniu.

Wang Erniu saw that Zhou Xun's attitude towards him remained unchanged.

The embarrassment she felt due to the difference in their social status vanished instantly, and she nodded emphatically to Zhou Xun:
"Alright! Brother, come with me to my place! I've stored some fine spiritual tea!"

Under the awe-inspiring gazes of several elders and the astonished stares of countless disciples in the distance,
Zhou Xun and Wang Erniu walked side by side into the mountains like ordinary old friends.

Wherever he went, the crowd silently parted to make way, leaving behind only the legend of the deep friendship between the Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion and the Holy Son, and countless envious glances.

Although Wang Erniu's cave dwelling was simple, it was located in the best core area of ​​Jianhu Palace.

No wonder he is the personal disciple of the sword immortal Liu Bai.

As soon as I entered the cave, I saw a woman curtsy.
"I've met uncle!"

This woman was none other than Lin Xue'e, Wang Erniu's wife.

She is also Lin Xueying's cousin.

Speaking of which, Zhou Xun has known her for nearly five hundred years!
Lin Xue'e is now a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.
Keep in mind that she only possesses a low-grade spiritual root and isn't particularly enthusiastic about cultivation.

We are able to get to where we are today entirely thanks to Wang Erniu's unwavering support.

However, it's probably unlikely that they can make further breakthroughs!

"Xue'e, it's been a long time!"

Zhou Xun hadn't yet figured out what treasure to give Wang Erniu as a gift for his visit.

After all, Wang Erniu was a sword cultivator, and ordinary treasures were of no use to him.

Upon seeing Lin Xue'e, he immediately had an idea.

The two entered the reception room of Jianhu Palace, where distinguished guests were entertained.

The hall was elegantly furnished, with the fragrance of sandalwood wafting through the air. Outside the window, one could see a sea of ​​clouds surging and sword-like peaks. Without further ado, Wang Erniu led Zhou Xun to the head seat at the head of the table, while he himself sat beside him.

After taking his seat, Zhou Xun made no small talk. With a flick of his sleeve, a smooth and translucent blue jade bottle appeared silently on the table.

The bottle seems to have a life of its own, radiating a soft halo and subtly exuding a vibrant vitality that makes one feel completely comfortable.

"Erniu, this is for you." Zhou Xun said calmly.

Wang Erniu was taken aback. Looking at the jade bottle, which was clearly no ordinary object, he quickly waved his hand, his honest face full of sincerity:
"Brother, how can this be! I already owe you too much, how can I accept your things again?"

Zhou Xun smiled slightly and lightly tapped the jade bottle with his fingertip:

"Don't rush to refuse, take a look first."

Wang Erniu hesitated for a moment, but seeing Zhou Xun's persistent gaze, he carefully picked up the jade bottle.

The moment he touched the bottle stopper, an indescribable cool sensation spread up his arm, invigorating him and making his internal magic seem more active.

Although he did not recognize the object, its immense and pure life force far surpassed any elixir he had ever seen.

The look of reluctance on his face froze instantly, turning into surprise and doubt. He stared blankly at the object in his hand, speechless.

"This is the essence of wood spirit,"

Zhou Xun's voice rang out at the right time, resolving his doubts.
"It has a remarkable effect on increasing lifespan. According to my estimate, it can add about two hundred years to one's lifespan."

He found this item in his storage ring, and he couldn't remember which unlucky fellow he had taken it from.

Over the years, nearly ten Nascent Soul cultivators have died at his hands, and the number of Core Formation cultivators is countless.

It contains countless rare and precious treasures.

It was nothing to him, but to Wang Erniu and the others who were still in the human realm, it was an earth-shattering treasure!
"More than two hundred years!"

Wang Erniu suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with disbelief, and his hand holding the jade bottle trembled slightly.

He glanced at Lin Xue'e,

Although he had done his best to help her raise her cultivation to the mid-stage of Core Formation,
But he is nearly five hundred years old, only a hundred years away from his death.
If things continue like this, it will be impossible to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and escape the predicament of lifespan.

This is also Wang Erniu's biggest worry.

But now, with this Wood Spirit Essence, my lifespan has increased by two hundred.
That's a lifespan of three hundred years!

That's enough for her to try and break through to the Nascent Soul realm, which was originally out of reach!
Overwhelmed with surprise and gratitude, Wang Erniu stood up abruptly, took a step back, and bowed deeply to Zhou Xun, his voice hoarse with emotion:
"Brother! This kindness... Erniu and Xue'e will never forget it!"

"Alright, tell me about your experiences over the years!"

Zhou Xun waved his hand dismissively.

He and Wang Erniu were bosom friends, true brothers from humble beginnings.
When the two first met, they were only at the third level of Qi Refining.

Now, one of them has transformed, and the other is also a sword cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage!

When he mentioned himself, Wang Erniu's eyes regained their sparkle, and his honest face revealed a sharp edge unique to sword cultivators.

He pointed his fingers like a sword towards the window, seemingly without using much magic, yet in an instant, the air inside the hall appeared to be torn apart by an invisible force.

A continuous stream of fine, sharp whistling sounds filled the air as thousands of incredibly subtle, almost transparent sword energies materialized out of thin air.

"Brother, I can now create 1,080 sword lights!" Wang Erniu said with a hint of pride.
Zhou Xun nodded slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

He could clearly sense that each of those sword energies was incredibly refined, containing the sharpness to cut through everything, and what was even more remarkable was that he could control them with ease and without any hindrance.

"Below the Nascent Soul stage, there are probably no more than three people in the human realm who can reliably defeat you. Only those who have touched the threshold of the Nascent Soul stage and have one foot in it might be able to suppress you."

But there isn’t a single person like that in the human world today!
Upon receiving Zhou Xun's affirmation, Wang Erniu's face lit up with even greater joy, but the light quickly faded.

He scratched his head, his brow furrowed, revealing deep confusion and frustration:

"But...but brother, I feel like there's no road ahead."

"I can't understand a single word of the part about Nascent Soul in the legacy left by my master. I can't feel any of the intricacies. I feel empty and suffocated inside."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun remained calm and showed no surprise.

"The realm of Nascent Soul is not easily attained. You have only recently entered the late stage of the Nascent Soul stage. Although your foundation is solid, it still needs time to mature."

"To comprehend the laws of heaven and earth, and to refine one's own path to enlightenment, cannot be rushed." He paused, then continued:
"Even someone as exceptionally talented as Fellow Daoist Yanmo lingered at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage for over five hundred years before finally finding the opportunity to take that step." He then changed the subject, his tone becoming calm and convincing:
"However, you don't need to worry too much. I already have a solution for the Gate of Divine Transformation."

"Once I have dealt with the great threat that is the Crying Ghost Emperor, I will explain things to you and show you the way forward."

With Wang Erniu's talent, he could become a deity in no time after going to the immortal realm!
However, the time is not right yet. Wang Erniu is only a Nascent Soul cultivator after all. Knowing the secrets of the Immortal Realm is not a good thing; on the contrary, it may disturb his Dao heart.

That's why it wasn't explained.

Wang Erniu had complete trust in Zhou Xun.

Upon hearing this, most of the gloom in his heart vanished, and he nodded emphatically:

"Okay! I'll listen to my older brother!"

Next, the two stopped discussing the bottleneck in their cultivation level and instead began to explore the way of the sword itself.

Although Zhou Xun did not specialize in swordsmanship, his skill in this art was already quite high.
My journey to the Immortal Realm allowed me to witness higher levels of law operation and power application, broadening my horizons considerably.

He often approaches the issue from the perspective of the laws of heaven and earth and the interaction of vital energies, and can pinpoint the essence of Wang Erniu's sword intent in just a few words.

Some points that are not fully integrated or not may indicate more possibilities for the variation of a certain sword technique.

Wang Erniu's eyes lit up as he listened, sometimes suddenly realizing something, sometimes falling into deep thought, wishing he could find a quiet place to practice immediately.

Zhou Xun's few words inspired him more than he had spent years meditating in seclusion to comprehend swordsmanship.

They continued their discussion until night fell and the stars filled the sky.

Wang Erniu still felt that he hadn't had enough, and his mind was full of new ideas and inspirations.

The following morning, as the sun rose, the clouds over Jianfeng Peak were edged with gold.

Zhou Xun bid farewell.

"Brother, take care! See you in the Western Desert again!" Wang Erniu clasped his hands in a fist salute, his tone firm.

Zhou Xun patted his shoulder, then transformed into a streak of purple lightning and vanished into the sky in an instant.

……

The cultivation world of the South China Sea, Wangchuan Island.

Inside a cave, a flash of white light appeared, and a figure dressed in a blue robe suddenly appeared. This person was Zhou Xun.

"It's been decades since I last visited. I wonder how Wan Ning and the others are doing!"

Zhou Xun muttered something to himself, then walked out of the cave.

Not long after stepping out of the cave, two beams of light rushed towards Zhou Xun and landed in front of him, transforming into two figures, one middle-aged and one old.
It was none other than the Earthly Beast Feng Chong and the Spirit Turtle Chi Wu!

"Feng Chong/Chi Wu greet their master!" The two beasts were quite excited after not seeing each other for many years.

A quick scan with his divine sense revealed that both beasts were now at the mid-level of the fourth rank.

Chi Wu, in particular, has reached the peak of the middle grade of the fourth rank.

However, its foundation is ordinary. Its previous breakthrough to the middle rank of the fourth tier was already an extraordinary achievement. Further advancement in the future...

Unlikely.

On the contrary, the Earthly Beast is in its prime. In the past few years, it has followed Zhou Xun and made very steady progress. In the future, it may even have the opportunity to break through to the fourth-tier high-grade.

"You have made invaluable contributions to the defense of Spirit Island over the years!" Zhou Xun praised.

"This is all we should do. If it weren't for following our master, how could Chiwu possibly enjoy the spiritual energy of such a sacred place!" the old tortoise said, cupping his hands in greeting.

After a moment's thought, Zhou Xun waved his hand and took out two fist-sized round beads.

One piece is entirely bluish-green, with fine, swirling wind patterns on its surface.

The other one is a deep blue, as if there are undercurrents within, and a moist, watery aura permeates the air, bringing peace to the mind.

"These two items are for you; refine them carefully," Zhou Xun said calmly.

"This is a high-grade fourth-tier demon core!"

Feng Zhong and Chi Wu knelt down and bowed in gratitude: "Thank you for your generous gift, Master!"

Zhou Xun waved his hand and said no more.

Then, his divine sense instantly enveloped the entire Wangchuan Island like mercury spilling onto the ground.
The next moment, he caught that familiar scent.

Inside the cave,
Inside an elegant cave dwelling in the heart of the island, Jiang Wanning sat alone in a pavilion.

She wore a plain white dress, her hair slightly loose, one hand gently supporting her cheek, her clear eyes gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky, yet her gaze was unfocused.
Her profile was slender and graceful, and her face was exquisitely beautiful.

Zhou Xun flashed and appeared beside her.
"Who?" Jiang Wanning's alarm bells rang out, and she cried out sharply.
"It's me." A gentle and familiar voice rang out.

Jiang Wanning's delicate body trembled violently, and she abruptly turned her head.

When she saw Zhou Xun's face clearly, she froze.

Her beautiful eyes widened instantly, filled with extreme shock and bewilderment, followed by uncontrollable ecstasy and rising steam.

"Young...Young Master!" Her voice was trembling and choked with sobs.

Then she pounced on him and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
The next moment, she raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears, and asked with an unparalleled fervor.

Zhou Xun was slightly taken aback, then wrapped his arms around her slender waist and gently responded...

The next day, the morning light shone through the window and onto the tatami mat.

Jiang Wanning nestled in Zhou Xun's arms, her black hair spread out, a blush still lingering on her cheeks: "This time... are you leaving again? Can you take me with you?"

Zhou Xun gently stroked her hair and shook his head. "Next, I have to face the Crying Ghost Emperor. I can't be distracted."

Jiang Wanning's eyes darkened, but she knew he was telling the truth, so she hugged him even tighter.

For the next three days, Zhou Xun did not leave Wangchuan Island even for a moment. The two of them, like ordinary Daoist couples, would sometimes sip tea and discuss Dao, sometimes stroll along the mountain stream, or simply embrace quietly and watch the clouds drift by.

Three days later, the time for parting finally arrived.

In the air outside the island, Zhou Xun took out a purple jade elixir bottle and placed it in Jiang Wanning's hand.

"This is the Nine-Turn Tribulation-Crossing Pill; you should cultivate it diligently."

Before Jiang Wanning could respond, he gave her a deep look, then his figure transformed into a purple streak, soaring through the air and disappearing into the horizon in an instant.

Jiang Wanning tightly gripped the still-warm pill bottle, gazing in the direction he had left, standing there for a long time.

……

In the days that followed, Zhou Xun transformed into Zhao Ping again.
Using the teleportation array, they arrived back on the Luoyang Continent, went to the Lingfeng Hall to meet Fairy Xinyue, and stayed there for three full days.
He also left behind a level nine Transcending Calamity Pill before departing from Luoyang Continent.

……

Above Chenxing Lake on the Xuan Yuan Continent

The once calm sky suddenly rippled like the surface of water.
Then, it suddenly split open, and a clear, handsome figure stepped out from within.
With one step, he landed on a deserted island.

This is also the last stop on Zhou Xun's trip.

(End of this chapter)