Chapter 101: 101: Déjà Vu
"Brother Xuan Kong, can one become a Spirit Vein Steward after joining the sect?"
Zhou Yi had decided to join the Dan Ding Sect, a righteous sect with a heritage spanning thousands of years, which was definitely better than associating with demonic heretical paths.
Golden Core and Nascent Soul present formidable thresholds, unable to be overthrown without a major catastrophe.
By the time a major catastrophe arrives, Zhou Yi would have long since fled, unwilling to perish with the sect. If he could help the sect preserve some classics to ensure the continuity of its teachings, that would be terrific!
"Junior Brother Tang is unaware that the position of Spirit Vein Steward is of great importance; only True Disciples may assume it."
Xuan Kong admired the other's thick skin, but considering the significant achievements, treated him cordially as a brother.
Zhou Yi felt rather disappointed upon hearing this but understood the practice of the Dan Ding Sect.
The Spirit Vein Steward gains a considerable amount of Spirit Stones, which greatly assists in advancing to a True Lord. Such a desirable post would not easily be given to an outsider.
"Brother Xuan Kong, I still have some worldly matters to attend to, may I stay for a while longer?"
Xuan Kong nodded in agreement, "That's fine, you may stay in the marketplace for a year, and this cave residence shall be yours temporarily."
"Many thanks, brother!"
Zhou Yi's eyes glinted with speculation, seeing that the reward for recruiting Loose Cultivators wasn't small, to merit such attention from Xuan Kong.
…
The trading area.
After parting ways with Xuan Kong, Zhou Yi concealed his aura and inquired about prices everywhere, just as he had done in the past.
To discern the authenticity of the Spiritual Objects on the stalls, one need only to sweep them with Divine Sense, immediately revealing their true nature, much faster than probing each one with mana.
"As expected, the prices of Spirit Pills and Magic Artifacts have gone up quite a bit."
Zhou Yi sold a good number of Foundation Establishment Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills to a small pill pavilion, exchanging them for a large batch of wood-attribute Spiritual Medicine seeds. Unfortunately, there were no rare varieties or special Spiritual Medicine seeds for sale to the public.
The shopkeeper, aware that Zhou Yi was an Alchemist, made various promises to win him over, undeterred even when the attempts were unsuccessful.
Upon learning that Zhou Yi was looking for wood-attribute Spiritual Medicine seeds, he took the initiative to direct him to the Seeking Fate Pavilion in the southwest corner, where they had recently acquired a special Spiritual Medicine.
"Thank you. I'll come back here to sell pills in the future."
Zhou Yi wasn't lying or deceiving, it's just that "in the future" could be quite a long time, perhaps even after the shopkeeper's grandson was dead.
Seeking Fate Pavilion.
With a name that didn't reveal its business, the shop was quite deserted, save for a drowsy old Daoist slumped over the counter.
Having practiced the Soul Nurturing Art for more than two hundred years, Zhou Yi's perception was extremely keen. After advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage, his Divine Sense had become even more sensitive, making him vaguely feel that the old Daoist was familiar, yet he was certain they had never met.
Perhaps it was a fellow Daoist from the past who had changed his appearance and opened a shop on Little Dan Mountain.
"Fellow Daoist, I heard you have a special wood-attribute Spiritual Medicine here?"
The old Daoist sized up Zhou Yi for a moment, his face breaking into a benevolent smile as he took out a blood-red wooden strip from his storage bag.
"Do you know of the Blood Vine Demon?"
"Of course."
Joy flickered in Zhou Yi's eyes; though the Blood Vine Demon was named after a demon, it was actually a Spiritual Medicine, growing by devouring the essences of demon beasts' blood, and its Blood Spirit Fruits could enhance vitality and strengthen the body.
In the past, the yellow bull bled for over thirty years, and using Spirit Ginseng to replenish it was very slow. If he had the Blood Vine Demon, the time could be drastically shortened.
"How much do you want for this piece of Blood Vine Demon?"
"The old Daoist isn't in need of thirty or fifty Spirit Stones."
The old Daoist changed his tone and asked, "Are you an Alchemist, friend?"
Zhou Yi nodded, "I was fortunate to receive some teachings; I can only refine Foundation Establishment Pills and Yellow Dragon Pills."
"I, Ling Xu, also know a few things about Alchemy."
Ling Xu said, "I organized a small gathering where we exchange experiences in cultivation and Alchemy, if friend agrees to join, I will gift you this piece of Blood Vine Demon."
Zhou Yi looked hesitant, "Where is the gathering held?"
"Right here in the marketplace."
Seeing Zhou Yi's expression, Ling Xu's smile grew even more warm and radiant, "It's not a ploy to lure you to cultivators on the outside. You can ask around, I hold some renown in the marketplace."
"If that's the case, then alright."
Zhou Yi sighed as if a great burden had been lifted off his shoulders, "I've always been groping around by myself and also thought of exchanging knowledge with other alchemy fellows."
"Good, good," came the response.
Ling Xu handed over the blood vine demon, "Remember, the gathering is at the end of every ten-day cycle, the location is at cave dwelling three-two-five."
"I remember."
Zhou Yi's gaze dropped, and an odd smile appeared on his face.
...
Leaving the Seeking Fate Pavilion.
Zhou Yi scanned with his Divine Sense to confirm no one was following. He didn't return to his dwelling but left Little Dan Mountain directly.
After traveling more than two hundred li, he randomly chose a mountain peak to descend upon.
"It is not yet certain what Xuan Kong said; it is still best to be cautious and careful."
Zhou Yi might have addressed him warmly as elder brother, but he was actually half in doubt about the Dan Ding Sect. He still needed to confirm at another marketplace, all the while testing the True Master Xuan Yu.
After all, he had landed a heavy punch years ago; he wondered if they still remembered it.
"Originally, I planned to slip away, as if I had just enjoyed Xuan Kong's tea for free, but who would have thought that someone would deliver themselves to my door? It seems as though there's karmic retribution, or one might say that if you walk the night long enough, you're bound to encounter ghosts!"
Zhou Yi sighed and shook his head, then took out the formation plate and formation flags, setting up the Minor Five Elements Array and the Spirit Gathering Array.
With a wave of his hand, he scattered dozens of Spirit Stones. Within a three-to-four-zhang radius, the Spiritual Energy rose rapidly, comparable to that of the Cold Pool Spirit Land.
The millennium Spirit Ginseng jumped out from his bosom and embraced a Spirit Stone, breathing deeply. Originally long and shaped like a white radish, it had been cut so many times that it had become round.
Zhou Yi took out the blood vine demon and placed it on the ground, starting to perform the Jade Dew Art.
The blood vine demon was different from ordinary spiritual medicines; it had no roots and didn't need to be planted in a spiritual field. As long as it was placed in a place rich in Spiritual Energy and continually fed with Demon Beast Essence Blood, it would grow and bear fruit.
Mana from the Foundation Establishment Stage condensed at his fingertips, spooling strands of life essence into it.
Only after infusing two hundred years of his lifespan did Zhou Yi feel signs of aging in his internal organs, and the Creation Dew had turned black-green in color.
The Dao Fruit trembled slightly, then instantly returned to its youthful state.
"Breaking through the realm, I cannot feel any lifespan increase at all; if not for using the Jade Dew Art, I would have thought it was a fake Foundation Establishment."
Zhou Yi speculated that because the lifespan was too protracted, the two hundred years of lifespan at the Foundation Establishment Stage were too minuscule to be detected.
The millennium Ginseng saw the Creation Dew and eagerly watched, its eyes filled with anticipation and longing. Yet, it didn't dare to disturb Zhou Yi's spellcasting, fearing it would be cut again.
The Creation Dew Drops fell on the blood vine demon, and the once half-foot-tall vine grew at a speed visible to the naked eye until it reached four to five zhang in length and as thick as an arm. Instead of sprouting branches or leaves, a round ball the size of a fist bulged out in the middle.
After the round ball ripened, it would be a Blood Spirit Fruit.
"It's good that the Jade Dew Art is effective."
Zhou Yi stored the blood vine demon into a storage bag, thinking that once he found the continuation of the Divine Bull Transformation technique, his cultivation speed would increase by a lot.
More than ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
At the end of the ten-day cycle.
Zhou Yi returned to Little Dan Mountain and concealed his aura to reach cave dwelling three-two-five.
Eight cultivators were already in the courtyard, all in the late stages of Qi Cultivation. The old Taoist Ling Xu, upon seeing Zhou Yi enter, hurried forward to meet him.
"Fellow Daoists, this is our new friend to the gathering," he announced.
Ling Xu introduced, "Tang Daoist is also an Alchemist, and in the future, you can save quite a few Spirit Stones when purchasing Spirit Pills from him."
"Greetings, fellow Daoists," Zhou Yi greeted with clasped hands, as the others, hearing of an Alchemist, responded enthusiastically.
After getting to know each other, they began to discuss Dao.
Ling Xu was the first to speak, taking out a Nourishing Origin Pill and teaching how to distinguish the quality of the same kind of pills.
"This old Daoist can only concoct Nourishing Origin Pills, but I guarantee every one is of fine quality..."
Zhou Yi looked at the familiar high-quality Nourishing Origin Pill and was almost certain that the old man before him was Xuan Qing from years past.
"This Art of Transformation is quite mystifying, with changes in appearance, Mana, and aura. If it weren't for my keen soul and having ascended a great realm higher, I would not have spotted any flaws!"
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