Cultivation: From Servant to Revered Immortal

Chapter 139: Chapter 69: If Money Can Solve It, Why Risk Your Life?

The location of Golden Cloud Valley is over a hundred thousand miles southeast of White Cloud Immortal City. At Zhou Xun’s escape speed, it would take about ten days.

There are still more than twenty days until Golden Cloud Valley opens, but quite a few cultivators have already set out on their journey.

...

Golden Spring Cave Mansion,

Zhou Xun finished breakfast and planned to cultivate, but unexpectedly someone visited.

The visitor was Feng Tingli, who sold Zhou Xun the quota for the White Cloud Spirit Pool, accompanied by a stern-looking young man.

Zhou Xun had met this person once before and wasn’t very familiar with him.

The young man, named Yean Lei, was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who broke through seven years ago, possessing a High-Grade Spiritual Root, and was valued by White Cloud Immortal City.

A year ago, he was accepted as a registered disciple by Master Yufeng Liu Bo’an, the second disciple of Master White Cloud and a Fake Pill Realm Cultivator.

”Daoist Feng, Daoist Yean, what wind brings you here!” Zhou Xun cupped his hands with a cheerful smile.

Feng Tingli was no surprise since both lived in Golden Spring Lane, and their frequent interactions made his visit normal.

As for Yean Lei, ever since he became a registered disciple under Master Yufeng, he has been quite ostentatious and proud, with no prior relations with Zhou Xun, making today’s visit unusual.

Though puzzled inside, Zhou Xun showed no outward reaction.

”Naturally, we’re craving Brother Zhou’s Peach Blossom Brew, haha!” Feng Tingli laughed heartily and returned the gesture.

When Zhou Xun went to Red Leaf Square, the Lin Family gifted him two jars of Peach Blossom Brew.

During Feng Tingli’s last visit, Zhou Xun hosted him with this wine, making the old wine fool remember it keenly.

”Brother Feng, your nose... tsk tsk... it’s my last jar, but alright, let’s drink to our hearts’ content today!”

Zhou Xun feigned reluctance, then laughed heartily, patting his storage bag. A flash of light, and a one-foot-sized wine jar appeared on the table.

”Good wine needs good wine cups!” Feng Tingli’s eyes lit up at this and, with a touch to his waist,

Three mutton-fat-like White Jade Wine Cups appeared on the table, subtly emitting a chill.

”Are these wine cups made from Cold Heart Jade?” Zhou Xun asked in surprise.

Cold Heart Jade is a top-tier artifact refining material, commonly used for making jade boxes that preserve spirit medicines. It’s said that a jade box made from Cold Heart Jade can keep a spirit medicine potent for a hundred years, and is highly valuable.

The three wine cups Feng Tingli had would cost at least fifteen hundred spirit stones just in materials.

”Naturally, they’re made of Cold Heart Jade, and this set of wine utensils cost me a full three thousand spirit stones!” Feng Tingli said proudly.

Feng Tingli’s only passion in life is wine!

”Brother Feng, if you form your core someday, you could be called ’Wine Fool’ Master!” Zhou Xun joked.

”Brother Zhou speaks exactly my desire!”

Then the three chatted happily over Peach Blossom Brew.

During the conversation, Yean Lei intentionally or unintentionally steered the topic to Golden Cloud Valley.

Zhou Xun naturally noticed this, but he was curious about Yean Lei’s intentions and chose not to expose him.

Instead, he cooperated and let the conversation continue.

”Daoist Zhou, what do you think about this Golden Cloud Valley?”

”Golden Cloud Valley?”

”To speak plainly, Golden Cloud Valley has brought me quite a few benefits!” Zhou Xun laughed heartily.

”Oh? I’d love to hear the details!” Yean Lei feigned interest.

”With Golden Cloud Valley opening, many cultivators are gathering at our White Cloud Immortal City. Along with treasure hunting, magical combat is inevitable,”

”Thus creating a significant demand for magical artifacts, talismans, and elixirs!”

”Increased demand naturally drives up prices, with some increasing by twenty percent, and the highest more than doubling!”

”I’m fortunate enough to run an elixir shop, and it’s yielding considerable profits!” Zhou Xun smiled slightly.

Once the batch of elixirs is sold, Zhou Xun estimates the profit will exceed twenty thousand spirit stones.

With the demand surge, the profit is substantial, along with the soaring prices increasing profit margins greatly.

”Indeed, indeed, Danhai Pavilion is indeed Daoist Zhou’s enterprise; it’s truly enviable for us!” Yean Lei nodded, and Feng Tingli echoed his sentiment.

”However, I have another way to make a fortune, would Daoist Zhou be interested?” Yean Lei smiled mysteriously.

”I’d love to hear the details!” Zhou Xun remained expressionless.

”The place to earn wealth is within Golden Cloud Valley!” Yean Lei said directly.

”Is Daoist talking about exploring Golden Cloud Valley?” Zhou Xun frowned slightly.

”Exactly!” Yean Lei nodded.

”Golden Cloud Valley is good, but there are many explorers. Judging by the number of cultivators currently visiting from outside White Cloud Immortal City, the competition will be fierce!”

”Come that time, occurrences of murder and treasure theft will be countless; we’re merely new Foundation Establishment, with limited means. It’s improper, improper!”

Zhou Xun didn’t hesitate to refuse.

’Ridiculous, I only need to cultivate steadily now and use my Lifebound Spirit Plant to enhance my aptitude, why risk this danger?’

Zhou Xun inwardly sneered.

”Might as well tell Daoist Zhou about that matter!” Feng Tingli, not surprised by Zhou Xun’s reaction, suggested to Yean Lei.

It was apparent that the two had a secret yet to be revealed.

Hearing this, Yean Lei’s face struggled for a moment before nodding:

”Alright!”

Then he looked at Zhou Xun and said:

”Alchemist Zhou, you may not know, but over twenty years ago, I came across an ancient map, and after many verifications, it was finally confirmed to be a partial map of Golden Cloud Valley!”

”It records a treasure land where more than a dozen high-tier spiritual medicines grow, including one that has reached the Quasi-Third Tier level!”

”However, the treasure land is surrounded by a restriction, requiring the simultaneous action of three Foundation Establishment cultivators to break it!”

”I’m here to invite Alchemist Zhou to join us. Once inside Golden Cloud Valley, we head directly to the treasure land, grab the spirit medicines, and leave. It’s very safe!”

”Moreover, the officials of White Cloud Immortal City are organizing cultivators to provide support outside this time, so Alchemist Zhou can rest assured!”

Yean Lei spoke with utmost sincerity.

Hearing this, Zhou Xun was indifferent.

”If it were a Third Tier spirit medicine, I might be tempted, but a Quasi-Third Tier one?” He shook his head discreetly.

Zhou Xun realized that within a year, he could enhance one with a Quasi-Third Tier spirit medicine, making it not worth the risk.

Moreover, in another year, White Cloud Immortal City’s decade event, the auction, would be held. Surely, plenty of spirit medicines from Golden Cloud Valley would be available for auction then.

He currently had tens of thousands of spirit stones and was hoping to profit from the opportunities there.

”If money can solve the problem, why risk your life?”

”Though I appreciate Daoist Yean’s goodwill, Zhou Mou understands it. I am of limited means and will pass!”

Upon hearing this, Yean Lei snorted softly, wanting to say something but refrained due to Alchemist Zhou’s Tier Two Middle-Grade Alchemist status, and merely stated with a blank expression:

”Alright, if Alchemist Zhou is not willing, I shall not persist!”

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Feng Tingli attempted to break the ice:

”Brother Yean, Brother Zhou is an individual of rare capability! The Peach Blossom Brew we have isn’t to be missed!”

With that, they resumed drinking, chatting merrily about other interesting matters of the Cultivation Realm.

...

Then three days after, at Zhou Buqi’s summon, all the Honored Guest Elders of White Cloud Immortal City gathered to receive their guest official task.

The guest official task implies that these Honored Guest Elders of White Cloud Immortal City need to complete one task every five years.

Their current task was, under the leadership of Master Yufeng Liu Bo’an, to head to the entrance of Golden Cloud Valley to establish a temporary camp.

They were to be responsible for supporting the teams from White Cloud Immortal City exploring Golden Cloud Valley.

”As I expected!” Zhou Xun smiled.

He readily agreed to join,

following the team from White Cloud Immortal City,

accompanying them to set up a temporary camp at the entrance of Golden Cloud Valley,

in order to assist the teams exploring there.

He anticipated that Golden Spirit Grass, the main component of the Golden Spirit Pill, would become available!

He could also acquire other batches of spirit medicines,

During the opening of Golden Cloud Valley, the abundance of spirit medicines will cause their prices to drop, and Zhou Xun is eager to seize the opportunity to buy in bulk!