I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Chapter 127 Elders Arrive at the Market

Time flows.

Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past six months, Xu Zhou has been staying at the Chen family home, focusing on deducing the clan's protective formation.

For a Foundation Establishment family, the clan protection formation is one of the foundations of their heritage. Since he also needs Chen Muqing's help, he will not slack off in this regard.

From the initial survey of the terrain to the subsequent laying of the array base and sorting out the earth's veins, he personally took charge of every step.

During this period, the Chen family delivered array materials several times. Large quantities of precious ores, spirit wood, and array materials were consumed like flowing water.

When the last array base was laid, a vast network of spiritual energy had already faintly formed around the entire Chen family territory.

This day.

As the last point of the great formation was completed, a low rumble suddenly came from the depths of the earth.

A pale blue light curtain slowly rose up, and within a few breaths, it enveloped the entire Chen family territory.

However, the light barrier only lasted for a few breaths before gradually fading away until it disappeared completely.

Only cultivators with profound cultivation can vaguely perceive this light curtain that is almost integrated with the surrounding mountains when they look closely.

The Chen family members watched this scene with expressions of shock.

Even if they don't understand formations, they can still feel the amazing power contained within them.

The Chen family's top leaders, including the patriarch, were so excited that they could hardly speak for a long time.

Over the years, what the Chen family lacked most was a truly protective array to safeguard the family, and now this last shortcoming has finally been filled.

A moment later, Xu Zhou found the Chen family patriarch and handed him the main array plate.

"The formation is complete."

Xu Zhou's tone carried a hint of arrogance: "This formation was meticulously arranged by me and is already connected to the earth's veins. Even if an ordinary mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator were to exert all their strength, they would find it difficult to shake this formation."

When he set up this formation, the hypothetical enemy he envisioned was the patriarch of the Hu family.

If the enemy attacks this formation, they will likely find it difficult to truly damage it before they are exhausted.

Of course, if multiple mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators arrive at the same time, then it will be impossible to stop them.

But this matter doesn't need to be emphasized; anyone who knows a little about formations understands it.

The head of the Chen family, his hands trembling, accepted the array plate with an unusually solemn expression.

"Thank you very much, Senior Xu."

Xu Zhou accepted it calmly.

He put a lot of effort into setting up this protective formation for the clan, and he was quite proud of it.

The only pity is that the Chen family's resources are almost exhausted, making it difficult for him to continue strengthening the formation. Otherwise, given another six months, the formation could be stabilized even further.

the other side.

The blueprints for forging the array crown have been largely finalized. However, the forging and nurturing of the materials will take considerable time, and it will be ready in about a year.

Seeing that there were not many details left to modify, Xu Zhou did not stay at the Chen family's house any longer.

In any case, even if there are things that need to be modified, most of them can be communicated through talismans and letters.

A few days later, he returned to Red Maple Valley.

Not long after returning to the market, Xu Zhou summoned the Golden Flame Sect cultivators who were now in charge of guarding Red Leaf Market.

A simple inquiry revealed a message that made him frown slightly.

"The price has gone up?"

The Golden Flame Sect steward nodded: "Not bad."

In recent months, the prices of healing pills, mana-restoring pills, and various attack talismans have all increased by 10% to 30%.

Even the prices of related medicinal materials and talismans rose significantly during this period.

Among them, quite a few people are likely secretly hoarding supplies. If Senior Xu needs medicinal herbs, he'd better act quickly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhou nodded thoughtfully.

It seems that Cui Donglin's initial judgment was correct.

The situation on the border has begun to affect the markets and towns in the rear.

Given this, he naturally wouldn't let the opportunity slip away.

In the following days, a large number of spirit stones were sent out of Red Maple Valley and exchanged for batches of medicinal herbs.

Xu Zhou then entered the alchemy room again and began his secluded alchemy practice.

A month later.

The door to the alchemy room slowly opened.

The medicinal herbs that Xu Zhou brought in earlier have now almost all been transformed into finished pills.

The vast majority of them are first-tier healing pills, while second-tier pills are relatively few.

In the eyes of many Foundation Establishment cultivators, this war was mostly similar to the past, just a local war between a few Foundation Establishment families, and most of those affected were only Qi Refining cultivators.

As for Foundation Establishment cultivators, as long as they are careful, they are unlikely to perish because of this.

Therefore, Xu Zhou did not refine too many second-tier pills.

That being said, if he could sell all the pills he had, he could make a fortune.

Xu Zhou summoned the Golden Flame Sect's garrison cultivator and handed over the pills in his hand to him for sale.

Afterwards, he inquired a little about the recent situation in the market.

Upon hearing that the price of the elixir had increased again, Xu Zhou fell silent for a moment.

After a while, he asked the other party to buy another batch of medicinal herbs.

"By the way, Senior Xu may not know this yet."

The garrisoned cultivator suddenly remembered something: "Recently, news came from the sect that they are sending another Foundation Establishment elder to oversee Red Leaf Market."

"Someone from the sect?" Xu Zhou was startled.

"Yes," the garrisoned cultivator nodded, then pondered and said, "It seems that because of the recent rumors, the sect plans to send an elder with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level to guard this place, in order to prevent the Yan Kingdom from having any ulterior motives."

Xu Zhou immediately understood.

Although the war has not yet begun, the sects must make preparations in advance.

Sending a highly skilled elder would not only deter the Yan Kingdom, but also allow for prior communication with nearby families, ensuring they can advance and retreat together in critical moments.

He nodded slightly, then asked, "Which elder came specifically, and when did they arrive?"

The resident monk replied, "I heard that the elder who came on this trip is named Ke Qiaoshu."

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Elder Ke should arrive within the next two weeks.

Ke Qiaoshu?

Xu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing the name.

Several days later.

Xu Zhou, who was in Red Maple Valley, suddenly received a message talisman.

Having heard the information, he, who was already prepared, immediately got up and arrived at a location several miles away from the market a moment later.

A female cultivator in green robes was already waiting here.

Upon seeing the other person's familiar, otherworldly appearance, Xu Zhou's eyes flickered, as if he had returned to many years ago.

But he quickly composed himself, landed in front of her, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Senior Sister Ke."

Ke Qiaoshu did not answer immediately.

The other person's gaze drifted slightly, landing on Xu Zhou. He remained silent for a moment, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long pause, she slowly spoke: "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would hardly believe that you have actually reached the Foundation Establishment stage."

As someone who met Xu Zhou shortly after he entered the sect, Ke Qiaoshu still remembered how Xu Zhou spent twenty years cultivating but only reached the first level of Qi Refining at Baicaotang.

Who can think of it?

How could that little cultivator with low spiritual root aptitude and who was obsessed with alchemy have actually been able to establish his foundation?

Ke Qiaoshu has cultivated herself for nearly a hundred years, and many people she thought would stay have gradually left.

Unexpectedly, Xu Zhou became one of the few acquaintances who stayed behind.

Looking at Xu Zhou's rather young face, she felt as if she had returned to many years ago, and couldn't help but be momentarily lost in thought.

Upon seeing this, Xu Zhou immediately replied, "It's been many years since we last met. Senior Sister Ke is also quite different now, making her difficult to catch up with."

Ke Qiaoshu hummed in response.

Then, she shook her head and said, "I am able to cultivate to this point because of the support of the sect, so it is not surprising."

"You've come this far from the Hundred Herbs Hall, not only successfully establishing your foundation but also mastering both alchemy and array formations—that's truly remarkable."

She paused, then murmured softly, "If he knew, he would probably be very happy."

She quickly composed herself, as if her words had been unintentional.

But Xu Zhou still managed to hear it clearly.

At that moment, a thought stirred in his mind.

For some reason, he sensed something strange in the other person's tone.

It seemed, in Ke Qiaoshu's view, that Ke Yanfeng might actually know that she had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

This immediately aroused his suspicion.

Back then, Senior Brother Ke disappeared without a trace, and his fate remains unknown.

As time went by, there was no news of Ke Yanfeng's whereabouts within the sect, and Xu Zhou almost assumed that he had already died outside.

Now that several decades have passed, Ke Yanfeng should have long since exceeded the lifespan limit of a Qi Refining cultivator.

Could it be that Ke Yanfeng is still alive?

In fact, he has already established his foundation?

>