Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Ten years later, Luo Yu successfully established his foundation, but he still needed a massive amount of resources to help him complete hundreds of foundation reshapings, transforming into a superior foundation and a hundred beast spirit body.

That will be the time for him to truly shine.

The transformation of a low-grade Dao Foundation into a mid-grade Dao Foundation requires only the essence blood of a first-tier demon beast, which still represents a significant amount of resources.

Not to mention that transforming a mid-grade Dao Foundation into a high-grade Dao Foundation requires the essence blood of a second-tier demon beast.

Without him, a second-tier high-grade alchemist, how could Luo Yu have completed his transformation?

Even if you gave Luo Yu a hundred years, he might not be able to gather all these resources.

Even he had to tighten his belt and do everything he could to support them.

Moreover, the difficulty of cultivating those three techniques is extraordinary.

Without his help, Luo Yu might not have been able to complete his cultivation.

As Yan Lie pondered, he suddenly remembered his "geniuses".

He remained silent for a while, silently adjusting his plan in his mind.

Those twenty people on the genius list... there are too many.

Cut off a portion.

Leave three.

No, let's keep it at five.

This can also be seen as putting some pressure on Luo Yu.

He looked up at Luo Yu, a smile on his face: "Alright, since you've made up your mind, let's do it this way."

Starting tomorrow, I will teach you the True Techniques of the Hundred Beasts and the Heavenly Heart Technique. As for the Spiritual Body of the Hundred Beasts…”

He paused.

"In the future, you'll have to find Lin Zhenshou yourself."

Luo Yu nodded emphatically.

Yan Lie stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside. He could see the tall town hall in the center of the market.

"Go ahead," he said. "Go back and prepare first. Come back promptly after sunset tomorrow."

Luo Yu bowed and turned to leave.

Yan Lie stood by the window, watching the boy's figure disappear into the alleyway.

My fingers tapped lightly on the window frame, tap, tap, tap.

After a long pause, he muttered to himself, "All the geniuses are inferior to this one."

He turned around and walked back to the table, opened the drawer, and looked at the thick stack of IOUs.

After a moment of silence, he took out the IOUs and looked at them one by one.

Then, he picked up a pen and wrote a line on the back of the last IOU:

"Luo Yu—this boy is likely to reach the Core Formation stage."

After writing it down, he looked at it for a while, put the IOU back, and closed the drawer.

Meanwhile, in that secluded pill shop, a second-tier high-grade alchemist was silently calculating the supply of pills for the next ten years.

---

Lin Zhao was unaware that someone had already set their sights on the cultivation techniques and secret arts he had created.

Little did he know that someone had already secretly reserved a place for him as a "disciple".

He is preparing to receive the second group of guests.

The people from Xuan Chen Valley are almost here.

---

Three days later, at Cangyun Mountain Market.

Six Foundation Establishment cultivators descended from the sky.

The leader was a man who looked to be in his forties. He had a calm face and a restrained demeanor, and he stood there like a deep pool of water.

The peak of Foundation Establishment is theoretically only one step away from Core Formation.

He was followed by two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and three mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The moment the six people stood there, the surrounding spiritual energy seemed to stagnate slightly.

They arrived at the garrison headquarters, where Lin Zhao, along with Elder He and Yan Chiheng, stood to greet them.

Old He stepped forward, his smile perfectly timed: "Gentlemen, you have come from afar, you must be tired from your journey. I am He An, and this is our Garrison Commander Lin."

"I dare not accept the title of garrison commander." Lin Zhao nodded slightly. "Please, everyone."

The senior disciple leading the group returned the greeting with a smile: "Governor Lin, you are too kind. I am Zhang Yuan, an inner disciple of Xuanchen Valley, here to discuss business cooperation."

After exchanging pleasantries, the group entered the garrison headquarters.

Lin Zhao walked ahead, glancing at the six people out of the corner of his eye.

Among the six were two female cultivators, one of whom was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, around thirty years old, with a dignified appearance and sharp eyes.

Another Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator, around twenty years old, with a cool and aloof face and a slender figure, was currently dressed in a moon-white robe, walking with an air of nonchalance.

Lin Zhao's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before shifting away.

The man glanced at him, his expression unchanged, as if he had never seen him before.

Su Qianxue.

His junior sister, a fellow townsman from Qingfeng City, whom he had met once in Tongming Immortal City two years ago.

At that time, she was still in the early stages of Foundation Establishment and asked him about the Immortal City Auction.

It seems that the trip to Immortal City was quite fruitful, as he has already broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

She pretends not to know Lin Zhao, and Lin Zhao naturally cooperates by pretending not to know her either.

Lin Zhao withdrew his gaze, his expression remaining unchanged.

The group entered the main hall of the garrison headquarters and took their seats according to their status as guests and hosts.

Old Master He personally served tea, with Yan Chiheng sitting beside him.

The senior brother in charge picked up his teacup, took a sip, and exclaimed, "Excellent tea! Second-grade spiritual tea. Cangyun Mountain truly has a profound heritage."

Old Master He smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, you flatter me. May I ask what exactly you wish to discuss here?"

Zhang Yuan put down his teacup and said sincerely, "It's very simple. We want to trade. Xuan Chen Valley has several special medicinal pills and spiritual materials that we want to sell to Zi Xuan and Tian Huo countries via the trade routes of Cang Yun Mountain."

Similarly, we would like to purchase some resources from your market, a mutually beneficial arrangement where each party gets what they need.

Old He nodded: "That's naturally no problem. As for the specific categories, quantities, profit sharing..."

The two began to talk back and forth.

Lin Zhao sat in the main seat, saying nothing, only occasionally picking up his teacup to take a sip.

Zhang Yuan, who was in charge, spoke with impeccable manners and his attitude was so sincere that no one could find fault with him.

But Lin Zhao sensed something was wrong.

What exactly is Xuanchen Valley?

In terms of nearby forces, it is a power above the three great dynasties, with six Core Formation True Persons in charge, and it is rumored to be connected with the Void Heaven Pavilion of True Lord Taixu.

In the entire Tongming Domain, Xuanchen Valley is a first-rate force.

How could a mere Dingfengyuan possibly block their trade route?

Which of the three great dynasties would dare to block the Xuan Chen Valley caravan?

If they really wanted to trade, they could have just left; why bother sending someone here specifically to "discuss cooperation"?

Lin Zhao picked up her teacup, concealing a cold smile from the corner of her mouth.

Most likely, they're after the so-called third-tier spiritual items.

The Zheng family patriarch has been setting up this scheme for decades, and he's really lured out all sorts of demons and monsters.

His gaze swept over the two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators—one of the younger disciples was observing the layout of the main hall and the nodes of the restrictions, occasionally exchanging a glance with Zhang Yuan.

Another Foundation Establishment female cultivator was observing the actions of Lin Zhao and the other two.

Su Qianxue sat motionless, her gaze lowered, as if she were indifferent to everything.

The meeting ended an hour later.

The senior apprentice got up to take his leave, saying he wanted to stroll around the market and see the business environment. Old Master He naturally agreed and sent someone to guide him.

After they had walked away, Yan Chiheng leaned closer and whispered, "Lin Zhao, did you see that just now?"

Lin Zhao looked at him: "What did you see?"

Yan Chiheng winked and said, "That aloof and beautiful female cultivator, look at her eyes, they're all strange. There's definitely something between you two!"

He turned to Old He, "Old He, have you noticed?"

Old He was incredibly astute; he immediately looked bewildered and said, "Huh? I was busy dealing with Zhang Yuan and didn't notice."

Yan Chiheng chuckled: "I know, our garrison commander may be getting another garrison commander's wife."

Lin Zhao gave him an annoyed look: "She's from my hometown. I met her once in Immortal City. She provided me with some information about the Purple Profound Dynasty."

"Oh—" Yan Chiheng drawled, "A fellow villager."

Lin Zhao ignored him and turned to leave.