Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 983 The cultivators were amazed by the current state of Tian Shu City!

The island in the middle of the lake, the Tranquil Pavilion.

This pavilion is situated at the highest point of the island in the lake, surrounded by exotic flowers and plants, shrouded in mist, and overlooking the vast Wangchuan Lake below, offering a superb view.

Inside the pavilion, Zhou Xun was gathering with a dozen or so close friends.

Apart from Liu Bai, Yama Heavenly Lord, and Yun Ku Heavenly Lord, who are all Nascent Soul cultivators, the rest are all Core Formation cultivators.
Such as the Heavenly Gift True Lord, Iron Mountain True Lord, Thunder Prison True Lord, Nine Swords True Lord, Wang Erniu, etc.
On the demon race's side, there is the Purple-Radiant Demon Emperor, who is on good terms with Zhou Xun.

It can be said that everyone present was Zhou Xun's most trusted inner circle in the human realm.

The Purple-Robed Demon Emperor, dressed in a purple robe and exuding an air of elegance, spoke first, his tone filled with genuine admiration:
"Zhou Tianjun's skills are truly divine! He was able to elevate the spiritual vein to the fifth level. Such a method is unheard of and unseen!"

"I'm afraid that in our human realm, from ancient times to the present, only the Heavenly Emperor has such heaven-reaching power."

His words immediately drew agreement from the crowd.

Sitting opposite him, Thunder Prison True Lord looked at Zhou Xun in the main seat with a complicated expression.

Recalling their first meeting in the Eastern Wilderness, Zhou Xun was only at the Core Formation stage.

Who could have predicted that in just a few hundred years, he would have reached the Nascent Soul stage and become the number one cultivator in the human realm? Truly, life is unpredictable.

I couldn't help but sigh:
"Fellow Daoist Zi Yi is absolutely right. This is a world-changing feat! Such an achievement can be called legendary."

His words conveyed both admiration and a sense of déjà vu.

"It's more than just legendary,"

The Heavenly Gifted True Lord stroked his beard and spoke.

"The Lake of Oblivion is probably the only fifth-order spiritual vein in our mortal realm!"

"The significance of this act is immeasurable. It will benefit countless future generations of cultivators. Zhou Xun's actions will be a meritorious deed for generations to come!"

Faced with the crowd's praise, Zhou Xun humbly waved his hand:
"Fellow Daoists, you flatter me. I was only able to accomplish this by chance, with the help of the Spirit Eye Jade and the power of the Spirit Crystal. It was not entirely due to my own supernatural abilities."

As he spoke, he lightly flicked his sleeve.
On the stone table appeared a set of simple and elegant tea utensils, as well as a jade jar exuding a misty, spiritual aura.

As soon as the lid was lifted, an indescribable, refreshing fragrance instantly filled the air, invigorating everyone and making their magical energy seem more vibrant.

"This place is full of spiritual energy, perfect for enjoying tea. This tea was acquired by me by chance; please have a taste."

Zhou Xun skillfully warmed the teapot, placed the tea leaves, and brewed the tea. His movements were fluid and graceful, possessing a unique beauty.

Soon, a more refined and rich aroma of tea wafted out, refreshing the mind and body.

He poured a glass for everyone present.

The tea soup was clear and emerald green, like jade, with a faint mist condensing on the surface.

Everyone present was a connoisseur and knew that this tea was no ordinary product, so they all raised their cups to savor it.

"Excellent tea!" Tianci Zhenjun's eyes lit up; he was already in the late Nascent Soul stage.

The effect of this tea on him was so great that it was equivalent to a year of arduous cultivation—how astonishing!

Those with slightly lower cultivation levels and weaker foundations, such as True Lord Tieshan, reacted even more violently.

He felt a warm current rising from his dantian, making his whole body feel warm and comfortable. Some minor injuries left over from his past cultivation even showed signs of being nourished and repaired.
Even the bottleneck in his cultivation, which had been stagnant for many years, has shown signs of loosening!

He disregarded his own politeness and immediately sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and focused on absorbing the benefits of the tea.

The pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the lingering aroma of tea remaining.

Soon,
"boom--"

An aura rose up, revealing that True Monarch Tieshan had broken through his cultivation and reached the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

"Brother Hu, congratulations!"

"Fellow Daoist Hu, congratulations on your great progress in cultivation!"

Everyone offered their congratulations, but at the same time, they looked at the spiritual tea in their hands with expressions of surprise and doubt.

A cup of spiritual tea could actually help a Nascent Soul stage cultivator break through their bottleneck.
What a wondrous creature this is!

Even the legendary fourth-grade top-quality spiritual tea might fall short!

Iron Mountain True Lord's face was filled with surprise and shock. He couldn't wait to ask:

"Zhou... Heavenly Lord Zhou, what... what kind of spiritual tea is this? Its effects are so miraculous!"

Before Zhou Xun could answer, Yama, the Heavenly Lord of Hell, laughed heartily, a hint of smugness in his eyes, as if he himself had served the tea.
"Old Hu, you don't know this, do you? This tea is a true fifth-grade spiritual tea!"

"Fifth-grade spiritual tea?!"

How could there be fifth-grade spiritual tea in the mortal realm?

As soon as Yama Tenjun finished speaking, a collective gasp filled the pavilion!

Apart from a handful of people like Liu Bai and Yun Ku who already knew,

The others, such as the Purple-Radiant Demon Emperor, the Heavenly Gift True Monarch, and the Nine Swords True Monarch, all changed color and were filled with disbelief!
The Purple-Radiant Demon Emperor exclaimed in shock, "Fifth-order? Lord Zhou, is this true? How can the spiritual energy of the mortal realm nurture a fifth-order spiritual plant?"

Zhou Xun put down his teacup, his gaze sweeping over the shocked faces of the crowd, and calmly dropped a bombshell:

"Zhou never said this tea came from the human realm!"

He paused,

"This tea is a product of the celestial realm."

"Fairy World!"

This time, the gasps were even louder!
The usually silent Tianyi Zhenjun couldn't help but speak up:
"Zhou Tianjun, are you referring to the Upper Realm, the Immortal Realm?"

"According to ancient texts, there is another realm above our human realm. This place is vast and boundless, and many powerful beings emerge here. We Nascent Soul cultivators are merely mid-to-low-level cultivators!"

"Fellow Daoist Tianyi, have you heard of the Immortal Realm?" Yama Heavenly Lord asked in surprise.

"Of course!" Tianyi Zhenjun exclaimed excitedly.

“There are scattered records in our sect’s ancient books that say we are only in the lower realm, while above us lies the vast Immortal Realm, the true land where the Great Dao flourishes!”

"The records are vague, and we've always thought it was just a vague legend! Could it be... could it really exist?"

Zhou Xun nodded firmly, his expression solemn: "This is indeed the realm."

Next, to everyone's astonishment, as if they were listening to gibberish,
Zhou Xun briefly recounted how he had arrived in the Northern Bright Immortal Realm by chance, as well as the general appearance of the Immortal Realm, the power of the sects, and the cultivation levels, selecting the key points.

Although he tried to speak in a calm tone

But the vast territory far exceeded expectations, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was a hundred times richer, and there were countless high-level cultivators.

And the unheard-of realms of Refining Emptiness, Body Integration, and Mahayana... still struck the minds of everyone like a heavy hammer!
Apart from Liu Bai and others who already knew the situation and were able to remain calm, the other Nascent Soul cultivators, such as True Monarch Tieshan and True Monarch Jiuchuan, were already dumbfounded and their minds were trembling.
It was as if a door to a completely new world had been opened!
After Zhou Xun finished speaking, the pavilion fell into a long silence.

Everyone is processing this information that is enough to overturn their understanding.

Suddenly, True Monarch Jiuchuan abruptly raised his head, his eyes bursting with unprecedented excitement and longing:

"Zhou... Heavenly Lord Zhou! Since you have been to the Immortal Realm, then... then can we... can we also go to this place?"

This question instantly voiced the thoughts of all Nascent Soul cultivators!

They had been trapped in the mortal realm for too long, their path forward almost cut off, their chances of becoming a deity slim, and their two thousand years of lifespan fleeting. Now, hearing of the existence of the immortal realm, how could they not yearn for it?

Zhou Xun looked at everyone's gazes and nodded:
"That's exactly what we're discussing today."

His gaze swept across every face present, his tone solemn:

"All of you are my dearest friends and relatives in the human realm. Now that I have found my path forward, I should naturally share it with you all. However..."

His tone turned serious:
"The affairs of the immortal realm are of great importance. If they are leaked, they could bring annihilation to the human realm."

"Therefore, this matter must be kept absolutely secret!"

"Not only must we not spread this within the human realm, but even if we go to the immortal realm in the future, we must conceal our origins to avoid being targeted by those with ill intentions."

As soon as Zhou Xun finished speaking, Wang Erniu stood up abruptly, his gaze firm, and said in a deep voice:

"Brother, rest assured! This matter concerns our lives and even the survival of humanity. How could we not take it seriously?"

He looked around at the crowd and said loudly:
"I, Wang Erniu, here today, swear an oath of my Dao heart: I will never mention matters concerning the Immortal Realm to a second person, and all my actions will be in accordance with Brother Zhou's arrangements!"

"If I break this oath, may I be struck down by heaven and earth, and may my path be forever severed!"

"Yes! That's exactly right!"

"We are willing to swear an oath!"

Tieshan Zhenjun, Jiuchuan Zhenjun, Tianci Zhenjun and others stood up, their faces solemn, and without hesitation swore an oath with their Daoist hearts to strictly keep the secret.

Seeing everyone like this, Zhou Xun felt very gratified, especially Wang Erniu, who was still as understanding as he had been back then.

He nodded and said:

"I understand the intentions of my fellow Daoists. When we arrive in the Immortal Realm, with your talents and opportunities, if you dedicate yourselves to cultivation, you will surely attain the position of Heavenly Monarch!"

Upon hearing this, Tieshan Zhenjun felt a surge of pride and a sense of boundless freedom ahead.

His talent was the worst among everyone. It was already a stroke of luck that he formed his Nascent Soul back then. He thought his life was over, but now he actually has the potential to become a god and live for 20,000 years!

He couldn't help but ask, "Lord Zhou, when shall we depart?"

Not only him, but all the Nascent Soul cultivators held their breath and stared intently at Zhou Xun.

Zhou Xun pondered for a moment, then said:

"The human realm is newly established, and the alliance is newly formed. It will take some time to stabilize the situation."

"We also need to make some preparations. It will take at least ten years, and at most twenty years, until everything is settled, then we can set off for the Immortal Realm!"

"At that time, you will all come with me!"

Upon hearing that a definite time had been set, everyone felt a great weight lifted from their shoulders.

The atmosphere inside the pavilion instantly became incredibly lively.
Everyone talked about the future and exchanged their experiences in spiritual practice, creating a harmonious and enthusiastic atmosphere.

This small gathering lasted until the third day, when everyone's excitement gradually subsided.
They then bid each other farewell and began preparing for their upcoming trip to the immortal realm.

……

Meanwhile, in the Immortal Realm, at Wandao Lake, in Tian Shu City.

At this moment, an atmosphere of oppression and panic prevailed.

Lu Xinghai hovered in mid-air, his face ashen, his chest heaving violently, the pressure emanating from him like a solid mountain, making it hard for the surviving cultivators below to breathe.

"A mere junior in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm actually... actually managed to escape right under my nose by activating a teleportation array! A disgrace! Absolutely a disgrace!"

Just thinking about Zhou Xun's mocking gaze at the end made Lu Xinghai feel a surge of anger rush to his head, almost making him lose his mind!

He turned his head sharply, his eyes burning with rage, locking onto the dozen or so Nascent Soul cultivators below, including Xuan Gui Tianjun.

"It's all your fault!" Lu Xinghai's voice was icy cold and filled with murderous intent.
Raise your palm and press it down into the void below!
A gigantic, sky-covering ghostly hand instantly materialized, carrying a terrifying power to crush everything, and crashed down!

"Boom!!!"

The giant hand descended, and the earth trembled!
More than ten Nascent Soul cultivators joined forces, but they were no match for them. They were all knocked to the ground and seriously injured.

The entire city fell silent! All the cultivators who witnessed this scene were terrified, trembling with fear, and dared not even breathe.

The wrath of a Void Refiner is truly terrifying!
Having vented some of his anger, Lu Xinghai regained a little composure, but his eyes remained terrifyingly sinister.

He did not leave, but instead forcibly and temporarily took control of Tian Shu City.

Several days later, the Lu family cultivators arrived and began investigating Zhou Xun's movements in Tian Shu City.

They quickly traced it back to Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord.

Some people claim that they have seen Zhou Xun interacting closely with the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord.

Further interrogation revealed that Zhou Xun had actually served as a guest elder in the Qin family, where the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord resided!
"The Qin family... Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord..." Upon receiving the report, a cold glint flashed in Lu Xinghai's eyes.
"Good! Very good! I'd like to see who gave them the audacity to harbor the enemies of the Lu family!"

He personally took action, transforming into a blood-red rainbow that descended directly upon the Qin family's territory!
The terrifying pressure of the Void Refinement stage cultivator was released without reservation, instantly enveloping the entire Qin family territory!
Countless members of the Qin family collapsed to the ground under this oppressive force, their faces filled with despair.

"Nine Thunderbolts! Come out and face your death!" Lu Xinghai's voice boomed like thunder over the Qin family.

Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord flew out, his face deathly pale: "Senior Lu, please calm your anger! This matter..."

"Noisy!"

Lu Xinghai didn't bother listening to his nonsense. He simply reached out and grabbed, and an invisible giant hand firmly imprisoned Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord, lifting him into the air.

"Kill every single member of the Qin family, leave no one alive!"

Lu Xinghai ruthlessly issued the order to exterminate the entire clan!

The Lu family cultivators, who had been waiting nearby, surged into the Qin family territory like a tidal wave. In an instant, shouts of killing, cries of agony, and pleas for mercy filled the air.
The once prosperous Qin family has been transformed into a living hell in the blink of an eye!
Only a few members who were not part of the clan managed to escape the calamity.

Immediately afterwards, Lu Xinghai led the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord to the central square of Tian Shu City.

Under the watchful eyes of countless terrified people, he publicly performed the "Soul Extraction and Refinement" technique, inquiring about Zhou Xun's whereabouts.

A shrill cry emanated from the mouth of the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord.

His soul was forcibly extracted and suffered the pain of being burned by flames and torn apart by yin winds in Lu Xinghai's palm. His condition was too terrible to bear!
This process lasted for three whole days, and the Nine Thunder Heavenly Lord, unable to endure the torment, finally perished!
The whole city was terrified!

Lu Xinghai coldly swept his gaze over all the onlookers, his voice echoing throughout the city:

"This is the consequence of harboring and colluding with the enemies of my Lu family!"

"Listen up, all of you! From now on, anyone who dares to have even the slightest connection with that 'Heavenly Lord of the River of Oblivion' Zhou Xun, or who conceals such a connection, will face the warnings of the Qin family and the Nine Thunders!"

However, this is not the end.

The Lu family's investigation did not stop, and they soon discovered that Chiyang Tianjun had interacted with Zhou Xun.

Despite the Red Sun Heavenly Lord's best efforts to distance himself from the matter...

However, in his rage, Lu Xinghai was determined not to let the guilty go unpunished, and mercilessly killed him in full view of everyone!

The successive bloody crackdowns thoroughly established the Lu family's ferocity.

It wasn't until a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator from Qianxingluan intervened that the Lu family withdrew from Tian Shu City, restoring peace.

(End of this chapter)