Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

"You're still a long way from Core Formation," Lin Zhao patted his shoulder, his tone teasing like a friend. "You should break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage first."

Xu Chuan was speechless, unsure whether to laugh or cry: "Are you encouraging me or discouraging me?"

At this moment, Lin Zhao's sect token transmitted a message.

It was a notification from the Qiankun Palace that the seven divine soul items he had exchanged were ready and he could go to the third-tier Azure Jade Tree to collect them.

Lin Zhao stood up, straightened his robes, and said to Xu Chuan, "I'm going."

Reaching the pavilion, he turned back to look at Xu Chuan, who was still slumped over, and said in a calm but powerful tone: "Xu Chuan, remember, external opportunities are important, but a cultivator's own strength is fundamental."

The sect has given us the best platform and starting point; the rest of the journey is up to us to walk step by step.

I hope that many years from now, when we look back on this day, we can both say—we have no regrets.

Having said that, he slightly fluttered his green robe and transformed into a faint stream of light, heading towards the third-tier green-patterned jade tree.

In the waterside pavilion, Xu Chuan stared in the direction where he had disappeared, remaining motionless for a long time.

The laziness on his face gradually faded, replaced by a complex contemplation.

"Human power..." he murmured to himself, his gaze sweeping over the seven or eight exquisite magical artifacts he carried to aid his cultivation.

Then I recalled the vast and seemingly inexhaustible list of sect resources that I had browsed through in the Qiankun Hall.

The sect is indeed too large, and its resources are too abundant.

It doesn't need any external resources at all; it has the terrifying resources to support more than 100,000 Foundation Establishment cultivators on its own.

The abundance of resources can easily lead to complacency, gradually eroding the initial vigor and drive one had when first embarking on the path of cultivation.

Perhaps this is the deeper purpose behind the sect's establishment of so many competitive and dangerous second-tier outposts and the issuance of various life-or-death missions in the outside world—flowers grown in a greenhouse can never experience wind and rain, and can never truly reach the pinnacle of the Great Dao.

"Looks like... I can't just give up like this."

Xu Chuan stretched, his bones cracking slightly, and a long-lost fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes. "We can't let the 'Four Heavenly Kings' become a joke, can we? Back then, it was common knowledge that there were only three of the Four Heavenly Kings..."

But now, Fang Yue is risking his life, Lin Zhao is plotting to obtain a high-grade Golden Core, even that blockhead Yan Chiheng knows to fight for resources... And what about me?

He stood up, walked to the water's edge, looked at his somewhat blurry reflection in the water, and suddenly smiled.

"The job in the Qiankun Palace is good; it's easy and safe, and you get access to resources and information."

But the more I see, the clearer I understand one thing: sects never support idlers, much less give away true opportunities to those who dare not compete or are unwilling to fight for them.

He turned and walked towards his cave, his steps much more determined than when he came.

------

Lin Zhao successfully retrieved a tightly sealed jade box from the Azure Jade Tree Treasury.

The seven spiritual objects inside the box are all different in shape. Some are like flowing moonlight, some are like condensed sandalwood, and some are like golden flames. All of them exude a pure and gentle aura of spiritual nourishment.

Back in his cave dwelling suspended in the sea of ​​clouds, he did not rush to open the box and use it.

Instead, he first sat quietly and regulated his breathing to bring himself to his best state. Then, he took out the "Bright Jade Lamp," which was fully refined, warm and smooth, and contained the warm light of the red sun, and placed it in front of him.

The stone door of the cave slowly closed, and layers of array lights lit up, isolating the inside from the outside.

The sea of ​​clouds churned outside the door, and time flowed by in silence.

During this seclusion, he will use these precious spiritual objects as fuel and the Bright Jade Lamp as a guide to complete the Divine Soul Sword Tower, which he has been conceiving for twenty years and which is fundamental to his future path.

The cave's stone gate was tightly closed, and the flowing light isolated it from the sounds of the churning sea of ​​clouds and all other disturbances.

On the central prayer mat, in front of Lin Zhao, the "Mingyu Lamp," nurtured for many years, was quietly suspended.

The lamp body is based on Crimson Sun Jade. Now, nourished by the peak second-tier spiritual vein of the cave, it emits a soft and stable milky white halo. It is not dazzling, but it seems to be able to shine into the depths of the soul, bringing a warm and peaceful feeling.

Under the light, even the flow of spiritual energy appeared exceptionally gentle and orderly.

Lin Zhao took a deep breath and took out the seven divine soul items he had exchanged one by one.

They come in various forms: there is the "Soul-Cleansing Liquid" that condenses like moonlight and dewdrops; the "Mind-Stabilizing Fruit" that exudes sandalwood fragrance and resembles miniature bodhi seeds; the "Pure Yang Soul Fire" that flickers like tiny golden flames; the "Illusory Veil" that is as thin as a cicada's wing and flows with starlight; and three unique crystals that respectively contain the meanings of "soul-suppressing," "mind-nourishing," and "dispelling illusions."

The spirit objects were arranged around the jade lamp, each emitting its own unique energy, yet under the influence of the jade lamp's light, they subtly resonated with each other.

Ready.

Lin Zhao closed his eyes, his mind completely sinking into that mysterious place that belonged to him—the sea of ​​consciousness.

It's not completely dark here.

In the center, a majestic golden tower has risen from the ground, taking center stage.

This tower is hundreds of feet tall, and its entire body is as if it were cast from the purest divine gold. It is divided into five layers, each of which is constructed from countless intricate divine runes containing the true meaning of the sword.

The tower's lines are straight and sharp, yet it carries an aura of suppressing all directions and encompassing heaven and earth.

At the top of the tower, a single, dazzling golden light condenses and remains, like a stabilizing pillar, serving as the source and core of the entire sea of ​​consciousness.

This is the initial prototype of the [Divine Soul Sword Tower], which he conceived over twenty years, using his own divine consciousness as material, talismanic bricks, and sword intent as its bones.

The tower has reached its fifth level and is taking shape, but it is still far from the perfect nine-story tower that is envisioned to reach the heavens.

As Lin Zhao's cultivation progressed to a deeper level, he would occasionally have some unusual thoughts: Could this vast world of cultivation be nothing more than a "grand dream" that no one could even imagine?

The saying goes, "One flower, one world; one leaf, one Bodhi." The power of divine consciousness is profound and boundless; perhaps it can truly be used to construct an infinite world.

But these thoughts came and went quickly. He knew that for him now, focusing on the path ahead was the only real thing.

Discarding all distractions, he poured all his will and consciousness into the sword tower.

He wants to continue building the sixth floor!

Constructing supernatural powers is no easy task. Each divine rune must be condensed from one's own understanding of the way of the sword, the soul, and the true meaning of "suppressing, controlling, nourishing, and absorbing" the "tower." It must also consider the connection with the underlying structure to maintain the stability and growth of the overall power cycle.

This is the deepest part of consciousness, carrying out the most delicate, mentally taxing, and error-free engineering project.

Outside, the light from the Jade Lamp seemed to possess a spirit, seeping into Lin Zhao's brow in wisps.

It soothed his anxiety and fatigue caused by intense concentration, keeping his mind in a clear and calm peak state.