I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

Return to the Jade Peak Cave.

Zhou Yuan focused his mind and returned to his methodical cultivation.

He adjusted all six equipment slots to the optimal state for cultivating the "Azure Origin Sword Art": [Spiritual Eye Spring], [Golden Core], [Azure Origin Sword Art General Outline Golden Page], [Sword Dao Spell Jade Slip], [Azure Heaven Technique Jade Slip], and the newly added [Mysterious Heaven Longevity Technique Jade Slip].

Sixfold blessing, progressing step by step.

The cultivation environment, comprehension of the cultivation method, affinity with attributes, and purity of magical power have all been improved to the extreme.

After swallowing a treasured pill for enhancing mana in the Core Formation stage, the "Mysterious Fire Pill," Zhou Yuan slowly closed his eyes, focused his mind on his dantian, and fully activated the seventh level of the Azure Origin Sword Technique, launching a final assault on the seemingly solid but actually loosening bottleneck of the eighth level.

Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye.

During these eight years, Zhou Yuan did not remain in complete seclusion. He emerged from seclusion three times to complete the alchemy tasks assigned by the Six Palaces.

Of course, as usual, he kept a portion of it to maintain daily contact with the higher-ups of Kui Xing Island and the Six-Linked Hall, and also briefly accompanied Yuan Yao and Yan Li. The rest of the time, he devoted himself to arduous cultivation in his quiet room.

When the azure-golden core within his dantian trembled suddenly after a deep breathing exercise, its volume slightly expanding, its radiance becoming more restrained yet more substantial and solid, and the magical power it emitted abruptly increased to a new level—

Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of blue light disappearing from them.

The eighth level of the Azure Origin Sword Manual has been mastered!

My cultivation has officially entered the mid-stage of Core Formation!

At this moment, the golden core within his dantian became even more rounded. A blue light flowed around it, containing a purity of magic power several times stronger than before.

The improvement in strength is comprehensive. Whether it is the total amount and quality of mana, or the power and casting speed of spells, it has reached a new level.

What delighted Zhou Yuan even more was that, with the breakthrough in his cultivation, his divine sense was once again nourished and expanded on the basis of the third level of the Great Evolution Technique.

A powerful divine sense surged out of the cave like a tide, spreading in all directions.

Ninety li!

The area covered by his divine sense was an astonishing ninety miles!

When I was in the early stage of Core Formation, it was seventy li, but now it has increased by a full twenty li!

It should be noted that the range of divine sense of an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is approximately between ninety and one hundred and ten miles.

This means that Zhou Yuan's spiritual strength is now truly and completely comparable to the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm! Rather than the level that was close to or comparable to the pseudo-Nascent Soul realm before.

This is a qualitative leap!

The power of divine sense means a greater warning distance, more precise control of magical power, faster response speed, stronger anti-interference ability, and a huge advantage in various skills such as alchemy, array formation, and talisman making.

"With my current mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, coupled with my early-stage Nascent Soul divine sense, as well as several perfect mid-to-high-level spells and the Avatar Circulation... as long as I don't run into a Nascent Soul monster or get caught in a carefully planned ambush by several Core Formation cultivators of the same level, I'm basically safe in this Chaotic Star Overseas Island region."

A surge of pride welled up within Zhou Yuan, and he gained a clearer understanding of his own strength.

He removed the restraints and stepped out of the meditation room.

In the hall, Yuan Yao was sitting alone, seemingly comprehending some kind of cultivation technique.

She wore a well-tailored white palace dress, which made her skin appear even more fair and delicate, and her figure was faintly visible beneath the robe, exuding a fatal allure amidst her dignified demeanor.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan emerge from seclusion, her beautiful eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up, smiling sweetly as she greeted him.

"Brother Zhou, you've emerged from seclusion? This seclusion seems to have lasted a long time, and your aura... seems even stronger?" Yuan Yao asked in surprise, sensing the increasingly profound and concentrated aura emanating from Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan nodded with a smile.

His gaze lingered on her.

More than twenty years have passed, and Yuan Yao's cultivation has reached the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, seemingly not far from the Pseudo-Core stage.

This progress was not only due to her own efforts, but also to the large amount of pills and superior environment provided by Zhou Yuan.

With her ordinary three spiritual roots, it would have been extremely difficult for her to reach such heights in just twenty or thirty years.

Yanli is still in seclusion in her quiet room, trying to break through a minor bottleneck.

After a long separation, and with a breakthrough in his cultivation, Zhou Yuan was in high spirits.

I highly recommend "In Yellow Maple Valley, I Have an Equipment Slot!" Go directly to the exciting part.

He put his arm around Yuan Yao's slender waist and walked into the side room.

Soon after, Yanli seemed to sense Zhou Yuan's emergence from seclusion, and she broke free to join this blissful reunion after a brief separation...

The clouds dispersed and the rain stopped; the three embraced tenderly.

Zhou Yuan stroked the beautiful woman's hair in his arms, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Sister Yao, Lili, there is something I need to tell you."

"Please speak, Brother Zhou."

The two women looked up at their pretty faces.

"The auxiliary cultivation technique I practice, the Great Evolution Technique, has reached the peak of the third level. If I want to break through to the crucial fourth level, simply closing myself in seclusion and cultivating diligently will hardly make any progress. I need to enter the world and become an ordinary person, to experience the trials of the mortal realm, to cleanse my soul, so that I can resist the backlash of inner demons during the breakthrough and successfully succeed."

Zhou Yuan's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable determination.

Zhou Yuan's tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable determination.

"Entering the world? Tempering one's mind?"

Yuan Yao and Yan Li were both taken aback, as their cultivation levels were still shallow and they did not have a deep understanding of this.

"How long will it take?" Yanli couldn't help but ask, her eyes filled with reluctance.

"It could take ten years, or even... twenty years," Zhou Yuan gave a general range.

The mental training involved is far more complex than solitary meditation, and the time required is difficult to control precisely.

"It's been so long!"

The two women exclaimed in surprise, their faces showing distress.

This means they will be separated from Zhou Yuan for more than ten years, or even longer, which is hard for them to accept, as they have long been accustomed to his companionship and protection.

"We cultivators seek immortality and freedom. A decade or two is but a fleeting moment in the long journey of cultivation."

Zhou Yuan comforted them gently, his gaze sweeping over the two women, "During my absence, you must not slack off in your cultivation."

Especially since your cultivation has reached the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, you need to make plans for Core Formation as soon as possible.

He took out two brocade boxes that he had prepared beforehand and handed them to Yuan Yao and Yan Li respectively: "Inside are two complete Core Formation spiritual items—Snow Spirit Water, Heavenly Fire Liquid, and Dust-Subduing Pill. Keep them safe. If you feel the time is right and you are confident in your ability to break through to Core Formation, feel free to try it in this cave. The spiritual energy here is abundant, and with the many restrictions I have set up, you will be safe."

Then, he took out a jade slip: "This is the complete first three levels of the Great Evolution Technique. This technique focuses on cultivating divine sense and has endless uses. Cultivating this technique will not only strengthen divine sense and enhance perception and responsiveness, but will also greatly assist in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks and resisting inner demons. You may try to cultivate it, but remember to proceed step by step and do not be greedy for quick results."

"Don't worry, Brother Zhou, we will definitely practice diligently and live up to your expectations!"

Yuan Yao and Yan Li accepted the brocade box and jade slip, holding them tightly in their arms. Although there was reluctance to part in their eyes, there was even more determination to be entrusted with a great responsibility. They knew that this was Zhou Yuan's greatest trust and expectation in them.

The next day.

Zhou Yuan quietly left the Jade Peak Cave.

Before leaving, he sent communication talismans to Mulong Zhenren, Yuanjun Zhenren, Kanqin Zhenren, and the Six-Linked Palace Kuixing Island branch.

In the transmission talisman, Zhou Yuan explained that due to the needs of his cultivation technique, he needed to travel and temper his mind, and his return date was uncertain, ranging from ten to twenty years. During this time, he feared he would be unable to refine pills for everyone, and hoped for their understanding.

When Master Mulong and the others received the message, they felt it was somewhat sudden and regrettable, but it was quite common for cultivators to travel outside for the sake of their cultivation techniques.

Moreover, Zhou Yuan's words were sincere and he had not severed ties, so they all replied to express their understanding and wished him a breakthrough in his mindset and a speedy return.

Zhou Yuan then went to Yu Huan Residence on Tiandu Street and met Gong Yan.

"Brother Zhou, what's wrong with you...?" Gong Yan sensed something was amiss when she saw Zhou Yuan's solemn expression.

"Fellow Daoist Gong, I need to travel for a while to temper my mind and break through the bottleneck in my cultivation technique," Zhou Yuan said bluntly. "I'm afraid I won't be able to take on any more alchemy tasks for at least ten years. Please take care of the affairs of the shop."

Upon hearing this, Gong Yan was surprised, but looking at Zhou Yuan's calm yet firm eyes, she knew that there was no turning back.

Given Zhou Yuan's current connections, status, and relationship with Master Mulong on Kuixing Island, the Six-Linked Palace headquarters would not be able to force him to do anything.

She could only suppress her disappointment and nodded, saying, "I understand. Brother Zhou, please travel with peace of mind. I will handle things at the shop. I wish you a safe and successful return."

Having finished explaining, Zhou Yuan left Kui Xing Island without lingering.

Kuixing Island was too familiar to him, with too many acquaintances, which was not conducive to a true "worldly" experience.

He chose another large island for monks, not too far from Kui Xing Island—

Tail Star Island.