I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Chapter 123 The Storm Is Brewing

Time flies, and seven years have passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past seven years, Red Maple Valley has remained peaceful.

Xu Zhou spent most of his time cultivating in the valley, occasionally going out to purchase spiritual herbs and participate in market transactions. His life was not much different from usual.

Cultivation and skills also quietly increase over the years.

He has been at the Foundation Establishment stage for over twenty years. Through this long period of accumulation, his cultivation level has steadily increased.

However, there is still a considerable distance to go before reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

Judging from the current progress, it will take at least another ten years of arduous work.

In contrast, his alchemy and array formation skills reached the peak of the second-tier lower grade during this period. He was only one enlightenment away from the second-tier middle grade.

Xu Zhou wasn't in a hurry about this.

The path of cultivation is inherently a slow and painstaking process. Especially after reaching the foundation stage, each step forward requires a long period of accumulation.

Over the years, Xu Zhou has continued to regularly organize his insights from "Miscellaneous Essences and Elixir Chapters" and send them to his senior brother Gu at Baicaotang.

Recently, the other party has started sending me some insights from time to time.

Although their conversation wasn't as intimate as that of array masters exchanging information, there was still a subtle sense of them discussing the Dao.

In some recent replies, the other party even proactively mentioned several points of conflict in the lineage, asking him to help with the analysis.

It seems that the other party's attempt to integrate the lineages of various alchemical methods has now entered a very important stage.

It is unknown when this tradition will truly be revealed to the world.

During Xu Zhou's peaceful period of spiritual practice, another large-scale auction was held in the market.

He went there hoping to find a bargain, but things didn't go as planned; this time was even worse than last time.

The auction items were valuable, but most were only high-grade spiritual artifacts and rare talismans. As for the inherited techniques he wanted, or the artifacts related to alchemy arrays, there wasn't a single one.

After looking left and right, Xu Zhou finally only managed to buy a second-tier substitute talisman.

This talisman has no offensive capabilities, but if carried close to the body, it can be activated automatically in the event of a fatal attack, saving the cultivator's life.

Limited by its grade, this talisman can at most withstand a casual blow from a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. If a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator were to unleash their full power, it could still result in serious injury.

However, there weren't many Foundation Establishment Peak cultivators, so Xu Zhou wasn't too worried.

As long as this talisman can block the first attack, he can calmly deploy the formation to deal with all kinds of unexpected events.

Also.

Xu Zhou is also trying to find someone to create a team crown.

The crown that Juan had lent him had left a very deep impression on him.

If he possessed his own array crown, and used it skillfully, he could leverage the advantages of an array master anytime, anywhere. Even outside Red Maple Valley, he would be fearless against most Foundation Establishment threats.

Unfortunately, the hopes were beautiful, but difficult to realize.

Over the course of seven years, he tried to find a suitable weapon refiner to help him, but to no avail.

Similar to alchemy furnaces, the difficulty of refining a formation crown and its value are both of medium to high quality, within the same grade.

The crafting of the array crown is an even more complex matter, requiring repeated discussions and finalizations between the array master and the weapon refiner before it can be determined.

Most of the second-tier weapon refiners found in the market lack sufficient skill. As for the weapon refiners from the sects, they are too far away from Red Maple Valley to facilitate adequate communication.

Xu Zhou had no choice but to give up on the matter for the time being.

Since he almost never leaves Red Maple Valley, whether or not he has a Array Crown doesn't affect him much.

Even if not, he believed that in the long run, the right opportunity would eventually come.

This day.

Xu Zhou suddenly received a communication talisman while inside Red Maple Valley.

After reading it, I realized that Cui Donglin had returned and had specifically informed him.

"Fellow Daoist Cui has finally returned." Xu Zhou nodded to himself.

Several years ago, Cui Donglin would occasionally leave the market, and no one knew where he would go.

Each time he leaves, he doesn't return for at least a year and a half.

Sometimes his face is beaming with joy, as if he has encountered something good. But other times his face is gloomy, and he may even have some serious injuries, clearly indicating that he has encountered considerable trouble.

When Xu Zhou occasionally asked about it, the other party would only say that they were looking for an opportunity and then change the subject.

Xu Zhou didn't bother to ask further questions.

In the world of cultivation, everyone has their own secrets.

Over the years, the two have met once a month and their interactions have become a habit.

Xu Zhou had already mastered most of the Zhu Guo formation formula and had learned many formation techniques that Mu Guo did not have.

Cui Donglin also learned many methods of setting up arrays with spirit wood, and the array in Misty Pine Valley became more stable.

When Cui Donglin was not around, he would occasionally feel regretful, as he encountered some array problems and found it difficult to find a suitable person to talk to.

Although he could still send a letter to inquire about Juanming's fate, the Golden Flame Sect was far away, and it would take time to travel back and forth, so it was not as direct as talking to someone in person.

Fortunately, Juan's insights often offer a different perspective.

Over time, Xu Zhou stopped caring so much about Cui Donglin's whereabouts.

Upon receiving the letter, Xu Zhou briefly recalled that the person had left back in February of last year.

"I wonder what happened during this long absence."

After thinking it over, Xu Zhou immediately arranged a time to meet him at Zuixianju in the market.

A few days later, Xu Zhou met the other party in a familiar location.

He quickly realized something was wrong.

In the past, when Cui Donglin occasionally returned, although he had some injuries, they were not serious.

But upon seeing the other person, Xu Zhou immediately sensed that he was weak, his movements were feeble, and his face was pale, clearly indicating that he had suffered a life-threatening injury.

Cui Donglin could only manage a wry smile in response.

"I was too confident in myself and didn't expect to fail in the end. Luckily, I managed to escape."

However, he declined to reveal the specifics.

He declined Xu Zhou's treatment offer, saying only, "I have already taken the pills. As long as I rest for a while, I will naturally be fully cured. There is no need for you to trouble yourself, fellow Daoist."

2

Seeing this, Xu Zhou didn't try to persuade him further.

The two spent half a day drinking in the restaurant and chatting for a long time about their experiences with array formations.

As they were about to part, Cui Donglin suddenly put down his wine cup and said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Xu, I may have to leave for a while, and I don't know when I will return."

Xu Zhou was somewhat surprised: "Going to seek opportunities again?"

Cui Donglin shook his head: "Handling the aftermath of the last training exercise."

He seemed unwilling to elaborate and immediately changed the subject.

"By the way, quite a few things have happened in the Yan Kingdom recently."

Cui Donglin chuckled: "I overheard someone mention this matter during my previous training, so I must inform Fellow Daoist Xu in advance."

Xu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly: "I'd like to hear the details."

"It's not exactly a secret, but Fellow Daoist Xu is far from the sect and doesn't have close ties with those family cultivators, so it will probably be a long time before he finds out about this."

He then slowly said, "This matter dates back to a few years ago."

Around that time, rumors circulated in the Yan Kingdom that several secret realms had appeared. I went to check them out, but I arrived too late and found nothing.

Later, I overheard some familiar fellow cultivators saying that the cultivators of the Yan Kingdom had gained quite a bit from these secret realms, and that many more Foundation Establishment cultivators had emerged in the past few years.

Cui Donglin paused slightly, then sighed: "The Yan Kingdom's strength has increased considerably, but its resources remain the same. I think it's unlikely to stay put."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhou's gaze sharpened slightly.

The states of Mu and Yan have been neighbors for a long time, and there have been constant frictions between the two countries. Is war about to break out again?

Unlike his solemn expression, Cui Donglin seemed completely unconcerned.

"After all, it's just my own guess, and it may not be true. Fellow Daoist Xu, you don't need to worry about it."

You are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and also a highly skilled array master and alchemist. If war truly breaks out between the two nations in the future, the sect will absolutely not allow you to personally engage in combat.

He sighed, "I brought this up to remind you, fellow Daoist, not to forget to seize the opportunity and make the most of your strengths. You might even be able to make a fortune from the war."

However, fellow cultivator, please remember this: never rush to the front lines for the sake of temporary resources. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators could face death there.

Xu Zhou pondered for a moment, then looked at the other person: "Fellow Daoist Cui, won't you be coming along?"

Upon hearing this, Cui Donglin shook his head helplessly.

"I really can't get away, and I'm afraid I won't be able to participate in this battle."

It's a real shame to miss such a good opportunity.

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