Cultivation of Immortality: Start by Improving Spiritual Root Qualifications

Chapter 993 The Young Man of Yesteryear, the Lu Family!
Tian Shu City
Since the Lu clan's rampage and the subsequent exodus of countless cultivators, this once prosperous immortal city, one of the most thriving in the Thousand Star Chaos Sea, has become much quieter.

The streets were sparsely populated, and many of the shops on both sides were closed. The few that remained were deserted, and the occasional cultivators who came in or out were always in a hurry.

The prosperity of the entire immortal city is only half of what it was back then.

On this day, outside Tian Shu City, an inconspicuous cyan light descended from the sky and came to a steady stop at the city gate.

As the light faded, a middle-aged man dressed as a martial artist with a full beard was revealed. His cultivation level was around the mid-stage of Core Formation, and his aura was steady.

This person was none other than Zhou Xun, who had changed his appearance and returned to Tian Shu City.

Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar city gate before him, Zhou Xun's eyes flickered slightly.

When he first came to this place, he was full of vigor and ambition. Now, returning to this old place, everything has changed.

The cultivators guarding the city gate had been replaced by two listless Core Formation cultivators, who were casually checking the cultivators entering the city.

Zhou Xun stepped forward, took out ten mid-grade spirit stones, and paid the city entrance fee.

The guard didn't even glance at him, casually tossed him an entry token, and continued chatting with his companion.

Zhou Xun took the token; it was icy cold to the touch. The words "Tian Shu" were engraved on it, exactly the same as the one he had obtained years ago.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

As soon as he entered the city, before he could even take in the sights, a slightly childish voice rang out beside him:
"Senior, do you need a guide? Just ten low-grade spirit stones, and I know Tian Shu City like the back of my hand!"

Zhou Xun turned his head and saw a boy of about thirteen or fourteen looking at him expectantly.

The young man was dressed in coarse cloth and had a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivation, but his eyes were exceptionally bright and lively.

Do not know why,

The boy gave him a sense of déjà vu.

After a moment's thought, Zhou Xun realized that this person was seventy percent similar to the boy who had guided him when he first entered Tian Shu City decades ago!

'The things of this world are truly wondrous.' Zhou Xun couldn't help but smile slightly.

It is obvious that this child is the offspring of that boy from back then.

"Alright, then I'll trouble you, young friend!" Zhou Xun nodded.

His current identity is that of a newly arrived Core Formation cultivator in Tian Shu City. If he acts as if he is familiar with the city, it would only arouse suspicion.

With this young man as a cover, it makes perfect sense.

The young man was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly bowed in gratitude:
"Thank you so much, senior! You can lead the way wherever you want to go!"

Zhou Xun nodded and casually took out ten low-grade spirit stones and handed them over:

"Let's go, take me around the Immortal City first, let me see the splendor of this ancient city."

As he spoke, he waved his hand and took out a low-grade flying spirit boat.

Zhou Xun leaped lightly and landed behind the wooden boat.

"Kid, come on up here!"

"Thank you, senior!"

The boy excitedly climbed up.
As the spirit boat slowly ascended into the air, the young man began to introduce Zhou Xun to various parts of Tian Shu City.

"Senior, please look over there. That was the City Lord's Mansion, the place where the Lu family's First Elder once personally oversaw things, but now it's deserted."

"That was the largest market town back then, it was incredibly bustling, but now..."

The boy pointed to the various buildings below and introduced them, his tone carrying a mixture of pride and regret.

Zhou Xun listened quietly, his gaze sweeping over the familiar streets below, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

He had been to all these places.

Some of these places were where he shared drinks and laughter with True Monarch Nine Thunders, and others were where he discussed Dao with cultivators from the Qin family. Now, however, everything has changed.

Suddenly, the wooden boat flew over a pile of ruins.

It was a vast hill where the outlines of the original buildings could still be vaguely seen, but now only ruins and charred remains remain.

Zhou Xun's gaze suddenly sharpened.

That place was where his cave dwelling used to be—Qingyuan Mountain!

Seeing Zhou Xun's gaze linger on the ruins, the boy's face immediately lit up with admiration, and he lowered his voice to say:

"Senior, that place is no ordinary place! It was once the Daoist temple of Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord!"

"Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord?" Zhou Xun feigned confusion.

"Yes!" Seeing Zhou Xun's interest, the boy immediately perked up, his eyes shining with admiration.

"Lord Lei Yutian is an extraordinary figure!"

"Back then, he withstood an attack from a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator despite only being at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm!"

At this point, the boy's eyes were filled with excitement, as if he were recounting a legend.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun said calmly,
“Really good!”

Upon seeing this, the young man snorted inwardly, thinking that the big man was blind and that if he hadn't already taken on the role of Hyacinth (a guide in the cultivation world), he would have abandoned Zhou Xun long ago.

Then the boy said sullenly:
"Senior, you must not publicize this matter. It is said that the Void Refinement expert holds a grudge about it, and anyone who dares to discuss it publicly will be in big trouble!"

Zhou Xun feigned surprise:

"If that's the case, how dare you speak ill of powerful cultivators?"

The boy shrank back upon hearing this, looked around to make sure no one was paying attention, and then whispered:

"Everyone in the city knows this; it's a fact!"

As he spoke, the young man silently and proudly recalled, "Back when Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord first entered the Immortal City, it was my father who guided him!"

However, he naturally dared not say those words aloud, but his face still showed a proud expression.

The wooden boat continued to fly through the city, exploring all the main areas of Tian Shu City.

Zhou Xun silently memorized the current layout of the city.

Then he said

"Thank you for your trouble, young friend. I still need to rent a cave dwelling to stay in."

The young man quickly replied, "If you wish to rent a cave dwelling, the west side of the city is the most suitable place. I know the manager there well and he will surely be able to give you a discount."

Soon, Zhou Xun led the boy to their destination and descended in a burst of light.

Looking at the young man, Zhou Xun felt a sense of goodwill and smiled:

"Thank you for your help today, young friend. This porcelain bottle is bestowed upon you. I hope you will cultivate diligently and bravely ascend to the Great Dao!"

With that, he casually waved his hand, and ten spirit stones and an exquisite porcelain bottle flew toward the boy.

The boy accepted the spirit stones and porcelain bottle, and was about to express his gratitude when he saw Zhou Xun turn around and walk towards the cave rental office, his figure quickly disappearing inside the door.

The boy quickly put the porcelain bottle away, looked around to make sure no one was watching, and then hurried home.

After walking through several streets, he arrived at a three-courtyard house.

Although the courtyard was not luxurious, it was clean and tidy, with several spiritual plants growing in it, emitting a faint spiritual aura.

"Father, I'm back!" the boy shouted as he pushed open the courtyard gate.

A well-to-do middle-aged man emerged from the courtyard, dressed in a brocade robe, his cultivation level at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Although he has gained weight, you can still vaguely see the resemblance of the clever young man he once was in his eyes and brows.

This middle-aged man was none other than the young man who had guided Zhou Xun back then, named Li Daquan.

"Why are you back so early today?"

Li Daquan asked with a smile, his eyes full of affection. Since he had achieved foundation building, his son no longer needed to do such arduous work as tending hyacinths.

But the young man heard that because he had served as a hyacinth in the past, he was fortunate enough to guide the later Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord and received generous rewards, which enabled him to cultivate all the way to the Foundation Establishment stage.
This experience has long been a legend in the Li family and a role model for his son.

So the boy would make hyacinths for a few days every month.

"Today I received a senior and received a reward from him!" The boy excitedly raised the porcelain bottle in his hand.

Li Daquan curiously took the porcelain bottle, opened it, and his expression immediately changed drastically.

"Foundation Pill!"

He exclaimed softly, quickly looked around, pulled his son into the house, and closed the door.

"Don't tell anyone about this, understand?" Li Daquan said solemnly.

"This is your opportunity. Keep it safe. Once you reach the Qi Refining stage, you can use this pill to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage!"

The boy nodded emphatically, his eyes shining with hope:
"Father, do you think the senior I met today might be as dazzling as the Thunder Prison Heavenly Lord back then?"

Li Daquan patted his son's head, a complex expression in his eyes:
"The cultivation world is full of hidden talents; who can say for sure? Perhaps you've really met a benefactor."

He gazed out the window, as if he had returned to the scene decades ago when the man in the blue robe smiled and handed him a generous reward.

That chance encounter changed his life.

……

In a small courtyard west of Tian Shu City,
Zhou Xun pushed open the wooden door, which creaked softly, and stepped inside.

The courtyard was quite tidy, with a path paved with bluestone leading to the main house. Several clumps of green bamboo were planted on both sides, swaying gently in the wind and making a rustling sound.

Although the concentration of spiritual energy is far less than that of Qingyuan Mountain back then, as a mid-grade third-tier cave dwelling, it is still in line with his current identity as 'Chen Ping, a rogue cultivator in the mid-stage of Core Formation'.

He came to Tian Shu City to find out what happened in the city after he fled years ago.

He needs to personally investigate the current movements of the Lu family, the details of the Qin family's downfall, and the truth behind the fall of the Nine Thunder True Monarch.

After taking a quick stroll around the courtyard, Zhou Xun arrived at the quiet room and sat down cross-legged.

He took out a set of array flags and skillfully set up a barrier in the room to prevent detection. Then he closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, but his divine sense quietly spread out to sense the surrounding movements.

Shortly after he settled in, there were light footsteps outside the courtyard, followed by a knock on the door.

Zhou Xun raised an eyebrow, suppressed his aura, and got up to open the door.

Standing outside the door was a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a brocade robe, resembling a shopkeeper. His cultivation level was at the mid-stage of the Core Formation realm, and he had a kind face. At this moment, he was smiling and bowing.
"I apologize for bothering you, fellow Daoist. My name is Wu Shuangyuan, and I live in the small courtyard next door. I came to pay my respects as I noticed that a new neighbor has moved in."

Zhou Xun's eyes flickered slightly, his face displaying just the right amount of surprise and enthusiasm, and he returned the greeting with a cupped hand:

"So it's Fellow Daoist Wu. I am Chen Ping, a newcomer here. I am grateful for your concern. Please come in!"

As he spoke, he stepped aside to let Wu Shuangyuan into the courtyard.

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard, and Zhou Xun took out a pot of spiritual tea and poured a cup for the other person.

The aroma of tea is fragrant and refreshing.

"Fellow Daoist Chen's spiritual tea is quite unique," Wu Shuangyuan said, taking a sip and a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"It seems to contain a trace of rare ice-attribute spiritual energy?"

Zhou Xun smiled slightly:
"Friend Wu, you have great insight. This tea is called 'Fragrance of Cold Pool,' which I obtained by chance during my travels in my early years. It is produced by the shore of a thousand-year-old cold pool in the far north, and it does indeed carry a trace of icy spirit, which has the effect of calming the mind and focusing the spirit."

Upon hearing this, Wu Shuangyuan couldn't help but think more highly of his new neighbor.

The fact that this person could produce such a spiritual item shows that he has extraordinary knowledge and opportunities.

After several conversations, Zhou Xun proved to be eloquent and knowledgeable, especially in his unique insights into the art of spiritual cooking among the various arts of cultivation.

"I never expected Fellow Daoist Chen to have such a deep understanding of the art of spiritual cooking," Wu Shuangyuan exclaimed, clapping his hands in admiration.

"Combining 'earthworm tendons' with 'red peppers' to temper the dryness with yin and cold is wonderful! I have been studying this method for many years but have never figured it out. Today, after listening to your words, my esteemed friend, I have truly had a sudden enlightenment!"

Zhou Xun smiled modestly:
"Fellow Daoist Wu, you flatter me. I only know a little bit because I was given some guidance by a senior chef in my early years."

Actually, all of this was Xiao Jia's research. Zhou Xun stayed with him and thus knew quite a bit about it.

Upon hearing this, Wu Shuangyuan felt a deep sense of kinship.

The way he looked at Zhou Xun became increasingly friendly, and his words became much warmer.

"To be honest, Fellow Daoist Chen, I work as a steward at the 'Forget-Worry Pavilion' in the city. I am responsible for managing some affairs and researching spiritual cuisine."

"If you have time, please come and visit often, and we can have a good exchange of skills."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun's heart stirred, and his face displayed just the right amount of surprise and curiosity:

"Could it be the Forget-Worry Pavilion, one of the four great restaurants in the city? I never imagined that Brother Wu would be a steward of the Forget-Worry Pavilion. My apologies for my overconfidence!"

He came here to gather information, and since Forget-Worry Pavilion, as a restaurant, was well-informed, he took the initiative to befriend them.

He asked curiously, "I wonder what kind of business this Forget-Worry Pavilion is? To be able to operate such a large restaurant in Tian Shu City, it must have an extraordinary background, right?"

You should know that more than thirty years ago, when he was still in Tian Shu City, this restaurant had never been famous.

Wu Shuangyuan smiled slightly, took a sip of tea, and spoke with a hint of barely perceptible smugness:
"Our Forget-Worry Pavilion is a property of the Lu family."

"The Lu family!"

A chilling killing intent suddenly rose in Zhou Xun's heart, but he showed no sign of it on his face. Instead, he revealed just the right amount of shock and envy.
"But that...that Lu family that utterly defeated the Que family?"

“Exactly.” Wu Shuangyuan nodded with a smile.

"Wow!" Zhou Xun exclaimed, clapping his hands in admiration, his tone full of envy.
"Brother Wu, you are truly fortunate to be able to work under the Lu family! The Lu family is currently at the height of its power, and to be able to secure a place within it means you have a bright future!"

He sighed, his tone turning melancholy:

"Unlike me, a mere rogue cultivator who has just entered the Immortal City and still doesn't have a stable job, it's really... sigh!"

Seeing that Zhou Xun's expression did not seem to be feigned, and recalling the knowledge and cultivation that the other party had displayed during their conversation, Wu Shuangyuan's heart stirred.

He smiled slightly and lowered his voice:
"Why should Fellow Daoist Chen belittle himself? With your cultivation and knowledge, if you truly wish to seek a future, you may not be without opportunities."

He paused and continued:

"To be honest, fellow Daoist, although the Lu family won that great battle back then, they also lost a lot of manpower."

"Over the years, we have been recruiting reliable peripheral cultivators to supplement our strength. Fellow Daoist is at the mid-stage of Core Formation. If you are willing to serve us, you will surely be favored."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun's eyes lit up with surprise, and he quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Wu Shuangyuan.
"If that's the case, I hope Brother Wu will introduce me! I will never forget this kindness and virtue!"

As he spoke, he flipped his hand, and a delicate storage bag appeared in his palm. He then discreetly placed it into Wu Shuangyuan's hand.
"This is just a small token of my appreciation, nothing more than an invitation for tea, Brother Wu. If things go well, I will reward you handsomely!"

Wu Shuangyuan scanned the area with his divine sense and his heart skipped a beat.

Inside the storage bag were ten high-grade spirit stones brimming with spiritual energy!
This is quite a fortune for a Core Formation stage cultivator like him. It seems this "Fellow Daoist Chen" is quite wealthy and extremely knowledgeable.

His smile became even more genuine as he put away the storage bag and said seriously:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, you are too kind. We are kindred spirits, and I, Wu, will certainly do my best in this matter."

"The person in charge of our Forget-Worry Pavilion is a member of the Lu family's 'Han' generation. Let me find an opportunity to sound him out for you."

"Thank you!"

The two chatted for a long time afterward.
It wasn't until the sun was setting that Wu Shuangyuan reluctantly got up to say goodbye.

After seeing Wu Shuangyuan off, Zhou Xun closed the courtyard gate. The excitement and eagerness on his face vanished instantly, replaced by an icy chill.

He walked slowly back to the quiet room, his fingertips tapping lightly on the table, making a rhythmic tapping sound.

"The Lu family... the Forget-Worry Pavilion... it's truly like finding a needle in a haystack, only to have it come to you effortlessly."

He muttered to himself, a cold, murderous glint flashing in his eyes.

This unexpected clue might allow him to reach the core of the Lu Clan more quickly and uncover the truth of what happened back then.

(End of this chapter)