Cultivation: From Servant to Revered Immortal

Chapter 324: Chapter 72: Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment!

”Are you sure you don’t want to change the condition? You should know, treasures like Spirit Gathering Pills and Foundation Establishment Pills, I have quite a few of them!”

Zhou Xun slowly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Wei Hong’s eyes showed a flash of struggle, but he still firmly said:

”Serving the Master is an honor for this junior, I ask the Master to grant me this opportunity!”

Hearing this, Zhou Xun’s eyes flashed with a hint of approval.

”Indeed, a clever one, much better than his father was back then!”

Having just recently broken through to True Pill, he didn’t have many subordinates; choosing to join at this time was the best opportunity.

Moreover, Zhou Xun, a dignified True Pill Cultivator, wouldn’t take advantage of a mere Qi Refining Cultivator.

”Very well, since you are so insistent, you may join my Wangchuan Lake. I heard you opened an elixir shop in Wangchuan Square and are likely an Alchemy Master, so go work at the Danhai Pavilion!”

”Thank you, Master!” Wei Hong said joyfully.

He knew what the treatment was like for an Alchemy Master at Danhai Pavilion,

Someone like himself, at the peak of Middle-Stage Qi Refining, could purchase a Spirit Gathering Pill at the internal price, even if he didn’t have enough Spirit Stones, he could get it on credit,

In this way, he could break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining in a short time.

”Besides that, all resources for you to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment Stage will be fully supported by Wangchuan Lake, simultaneously providing you with a set of Tier Three Low-Grade Talisman inheritances!”

Upon hearing this, Wei Hong was astounded, standing there somewhat at a loss,

Seeing Zhou Xun’s gaze, he immediately bowed:

”This... this is too much. A single useless inheritance can’t be exchanged for so many spiritual items, not to mention you agreed to let me join Wangchuan Lake!”

These items, converted to Spirit Stones, would be tens of thousands in value.

”Joining Wangchuan Lake is a reward for your previous choice, but these are the rewards for this inheritance!”

Zhou Xun said blandly.

”Thank you, Master!” Wei Hong said, full of admiration.

At the same time, he regretted his initial choice; had he presented the inheritance years ago, he might have reached Late-Stage Qi Refining by now.

However, he ultimately became part of Master Wangchuan’s followers. Having such a True Pill Cultivator as a backer, as long as he succeeded in Foundation Establishment, the restoration of the Luo Family would become a reality.

...

After Wei Hong left, Zhou Xun took out the jade scroll to comprehend it.

”Treasure Talisman!”

Zhou Xun murmured these words, clicking his tongue in surprise.

Within this jade scroll recorded the refining method of something called Treasure Talisman.

Unlike ordinary talismans that can only be used once, Treasure Talismans are special talismans that can be used multiple times.

Until their powers are exhausted.

They sound very similar to Talisman Treasure.

In fact, they were created when an ancient Talisman Dao Master, inspired by Talisman Treasures, devised the refining method of Treasure Talismans.

Moreover, the refining threshold of this type of talisman isn’t as high as Talisman Treasures, which require extracting the power of a magical treasure.

And they can be mass-produced, unlike the restriction of Talisman Treasures by magical treasures.

The Heaven-Escaping Talisman, which had saved Zhou Xun from many predicaments, is one form of Treasure Talisman, with its refining method recorded in this jade scroll.

”It seems what Wei Hong said is true!”

Evidently, an ancestor of the Luo family had comprehended this Treasure Talisman refining method, thereby creating the Heaven-Escaping Talisman.

However, there are still some difficulties in the refining of Treasure Talismans.

First, they require high-quality talisman materials as a carrier, preferably spirit wood hides with spirituality or beast hides above Tier Three for refining.

But consequently, the refined Treasure Talismans are often of high tier.

Perhaps this is one reason why such Treasure Talismans rarely appear in the Cultivation Realm.

Second, after a Treasure Talisman is refined, it needs long-term nurturance to slowly replenish its powers.

This jade scroll provides a method to nurture talismans, albeit with low efficiency.

However, when Zhou Xun saw this method of nurturing talismans, he suddenly recalled the secret technique he had obtained, the ”Nurtured Talisman Technique”!

”If I replace the nurturing method described here with the Nurtured Talisman Technique, it might have magical effects!”

Zhou Xun thought to himself.

He even had a bold speculation.

That his Nurtured Talisman Technique and this Talisman Dao originally came from the same source, only separated for various reasons.

Such occurrences aren’t rare in the history of the Cultivation Realm.

For example, a core secret of a powerful sect could scatter when the sect is destroyed.

Over a long period, a lucky person might gather them, obtaining the core inheritance.

After all, someone capable of devising the ingenious Nurtured Talisman Technique would also logically uncover the Treasure Talisman refining method.

”Given time, I might try refining this Treasure Talisman!”

After all, recorded within is a magical secret technique called ”Talisman Array,” which Zhou Xun finds particularly appealing.

Talisman Array is somewhat like Zhou Xun’s Purple Sky True Thunder Array.

However, this Talisman Array uses Treasure Talismans as a foundation to set up magical arrays.

The potency is greatly amplified, enabling cultivators to defeat stronger opponents with weaker forces.

For instance, if Zhou Xun could collect thirty-six Tier Three Low-Grade Treasure Talismans and arrange them using the ”Celestial Spirit Technique” in the Talisman Array,

Even an Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivator could contend with a Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

Moreover, this type of Talisman Array consumes very little mana from the cultivator, depleting mostly the power of the Treasure Talismans themselves.

The magical nature of this inheritance is precisely why Zhou Xun gave Wei Hong such generous rewards.

For Wei Hong, exchanging an unused inheritance for a path clear to the Foundation Establishment Stage wasn’t a bad deal.

Furthermore, Zhou Xun also provided him with a Tier Three Talisman inheritance,

Sufficient for restoring the name of the Spirit Talisman Luo Family.

...

Since Wei Hong offered the Treasure Talisman inheritance,

Zhou Xun devoted most of his energy to the Talisman Technique, striving to advance to the next stage and refine the Treasure Talisman.

That day, by the lake bottom Cultivation Room,

After completing the daily Spirit Wood True Technique cultivation, Zhou Xun patted his Storage Bag and took out the Talisman drawing tools.

With the ancient Talisman Dao inheritance,

According to the descriptions, refining the Treasure Talisman requires at least Quasi-Third Tier Talisman Dao skills.

He calmed his mind, lit a stick of Top-Grade Calming Incense.

The scent of sandalwood entered through his nose, and Zhou Xun instantly felt refreshed, his entire being calming down instantly.

Zhou Xun then took out a piece of Tier Two High-Grade Talisman Paper, laying it on the table before him.

Grasping the Talisman Pen, he lightly dipped it in Spirit Ink, then began to draw.

Concentrated, the pen strokes moved like dragons and snakes.

The mana in his Dantian moved with his mind, flowing through his fingertips and into the Talisman Pen, finally merging with the Spirit Ink and settling on the Talisman Paper.

All in one go!

Zhou Xun finished the last stroke, and the spiritual energy circuit on the entire talisman paper instantly connected. Immediately, Zhou Xun applied a Sealing Spirit Restriction.

The talisman, with some surging spiritual energy, instantly quieted down, awaiting the moment of activation.

Thus, the new Tier Two High-Grade Talisman ”Sword Rain Talisman” was completed!

”It seems my skills have improved again; reaching the Quasi-Third Tier is just a matter of a few years!”

Zhou Xun smiled slightly, feeling relaxed, and a sense of exhilaration arose spontaneously.

Perhaps this mood resonated with a certain realm, and Zhou Xun’s ”Spirit Wood True Technique” began to operate unconsciously, attracting the spiritual aura in the cultivation room to gather quickly.

Through the body surface, it went through the Great Cycle Operation and finally merged into the Dantian.

If Zhou Xun observed internally at this moment, he would discover that the one hundred and sixty drops of liquid magical power were slowly condensing.

The ninth layer of Foundation Establishment, achieved!

...

As time flew by, a year passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, at the lake bottom cultivation room, Zhou Xun was cultivating,

when suddenly a fluctuation occurred in the restriction, and a firelight flew in.

It was a Sound Transmission Talisman.

Seeing this, Zhou Xun sent a spirit light onto it, and Weih Qiuxin’s voice sounded immediately:

”Island Master, the Golden Light Sword Immortal has come to visit!”

”The Golden Light Sword Immortal, Erniu?”

Zhou Xun realized and immediately left the cultivation room.

Approaching the Jingxin Pavilion, he saw a black figure standing with hands behind his back, looking at the scenery outside the pavilion from a distance.

This person was Wang Erniu.

Since they separated from Wangchuan Lake last time, they hadn’t seen each other for several years.

Now, he was clad in a black robe, exuding a formidable presence, like a sword piercing the sky, and his cultivation had reached the Peak of the Fifth-Layer Foundation Establishment.

It seemed that over these years at the Golden Ape Valley, his progress was extraordinarily rapid.

This is also characteristic of a sword cultivator; if one’s state of mind aligns with sword intent, the speed of cultivation advancement often transcends the limitations of one’s spiritual root.

”Erniu, you have become even more impressive over these years!”

Zhou Xun grabbed Wang Erniu’s arm with a hearty laugh.

”Big Brother,”

Seeing Zhou Xun, Wang Erniu’s eyes revealed excitement!

”Congratulations, Big Brother, on breaking through to Core Formation, and achieving success on your path!”

The old brother personally congratulated him, and Zhou Xun was extremely pleased, pointing to the stone bench in front of him:

”Come, sit down and let’s talk!”

”I’ve got this jar of Tier Two High-Grade Peach Blossom Brew, which I’ve saved for a long time, just waiting for you to drink it!” Zhou Xun took out a fine wine jar and shook it.

”Then I’ll take advantage of Big Brother!” Wang Erniu immediately sat down.

Zhou Xun took out two jade wine cups, placed them in front, and then removed the clay seal from the wine jar.

Suddenly, an astonishing aroma of wine wafted out, filling the entire Jingxin Pavilion.

Taking a deep breath, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of ease.

Zhou Xun picked up the wine jar, tilted it slightly, and the slightly red wine flowed into the cup, making one’s mouth water.

”Please!”

Wang Erniu picked up his cup and clinked it with Zhou Xun’s, then drank it all in one go.

The wine went down the throat, incredibly smooth, with a fresh fragrance, making one feel relaxed and joyful, as if immersed in a forest of peach blossoms, an extraordinary realm.

Moreover, the wine contained extremely pure spiritual energy.

Crack!

”Erniu, what’s wrong!”

Noticing something unusual with Wang Erniu, Zhou Xun couldn’t help but ask.

”Truly deserving of being a famous wine of Xui Country!”

”Thank you, Big Brother, for this opportunity. The bottleneck that troubled me for a year has finally been resolved!”

Wang Erniu cupped his hands in gratitude.

Zhou Xun slightly explored with his divine sense and indeed, at this moment, Wang Erniu was still at the Sixth-Layer Foundation Establishment, but with the help of this Peach Blossom Brew, he successfully broke through!

”Haha, it’s my pleasure to be of help to you!” Zhou Xun laughed heartily.

Then the two shared cup after cup, starting a conversation.

”Big Brother, when I heard rumors at the Golden Ape Valley about your Core Formation, I thought it was someone fooling me. Now it seems, Big Brother is truly remarkable!”

Regarding his big brother Zhou Xun, Wang Erniu had long known his prowess.

His true cultivation wasn’t merely as it appeared, just at the initial stage of the Middle-Stage Foundation Establishment.

To him, his big brother was an extraordinary talent, likely to achieve the feat of forming the core before a hundred years.

Now it seems, he had underestimated him.

Core Formation at sixty-nine, forming at least a High-Grade True Pill, if not!

At least a Half-Step Golden Core.

Based on what he knew of Zhou Xun, Zhou Xun must have concealed part of the truth.

Such talent was no less than the legendary Celestial Spirit Root Cultivators.

”Erniu, you’re too flattering. I’ve also heard of your accomplishments at the Golden Ape Valley. The name ’Golden Light Sword Immortal’ is no small thing, and choosing the path of the sword cultivator back then seems to have been the right move!”

Zhou Xun smiled slightly.

This close friend of his, with the achievements he had now, Zhou Xun was extremely pleased as well.

Among his old friends, if any could go the farthest, Wang Erniu was someone Zhou Xun greatly favored.

”Big Brother has achieved Core Formation, and as a younger brother, I should offer a grand gift in congratulation. Unfortunately, the path of sword cultivation truly consumes too many resources, and I am quite poor now,”

”After thinking it over, only this ’Celestial Essence Sword Technique’ is the most precious. Today, let me give it to Big Brother to congratulate your advancement to Core Formation!”

With those words, he took out a jade scroll and handed it to Zhou Xun.

Seeing this, Zhou Xun didn’t refuse. With the relationship between the two of them, there was naturally no need for pretentious refusals.

Nodding slightly, Zhou Xun accepted it.

With a brief glance, this ”Celestial Essence Sword Technique” had nine layers in total, capable of being cultivated to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul, a top-level sword cultivator technique.

”Erniu, you’re very thoughtful!”

The two chatted for a long time, staying together for over a month until his break ended, then he bid farewell and returned to the Golden Ape Valley.

...

After Wang Erniu left, Zhou Xun’s life returned to tranquility.

Every day, he would cultivate, make talismans, and refine his body...

Unknowingly, another two years passed.

This year, Zhou Xun was seventy-three years old.

During this time, Zhou Xun successfully refined a Tier Three Top-Grade Spirit Medicine, increasing his spiritual root to sixty-five points.

In addition, his incarnation had gone out again half a year ago, carrying the Thunder Pool to absorb the Celestial Pool Power, aiming to refine the remaining twelve Thunder Seeds.