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

Zhou Yuan did not hide anything.

He frankly revealed that he had served as an alchemist in the Six-Linked Hall on Kui Xing Island for many years, and now he plans to leave the Six-Linked Hall and settle in Tianxing City.

"An alchemist?"

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Wang Shuyi's beautiful eyes, but her smile deepened.

"So Fellow Daoist Zhou is a master of alchemy! My apologies for not recognizing you."

As everyone knows, alchemists are one of the wealthiest professions in the cultivation world, especially high-level alchemists who can reliably refine pills for the Core Formation stage. Their wealth far surpasses that of other cultivators of the same level.

This fellow Daoist Zhou before us is not only young but has also achieved the Core Formation stage, and is also proficient in alchemy. His future is limitless.

Her opinion of Zhou Yuan instantly rose even higher.

Next, Wang Shuyi gave a detailed introduction to the benefits and responsibilities of the guest elders of Miaoyin Sect.

In terms of benefits: a considerable amount of spirit stones can be offered annually; within the territory of the Miaoyin Sect, one can enjoy preferential treatment such as priority purchasing and discounts; if one needs to use the Miaoyin Sect's intelligence network or network of contacts, assistance can be provided as appropriate.

Regarding responsibilities: There are no mandatory tasks, nor is it required to be stationed permanently within the sect. However, when the Miaoyin Sect faces external threats and needs to demonstrate force, the guest elders are requested to provide assistance as appropriate. Of course, if the opponent's strength far exceeds expectations, the guest elders have the right to refuse, and the sect will not make things difficult for them.

Zhou Yuan nodded inwardly after hearing this.

The conditions were even more lenient than he had expected; the so-called "responsibility" was practically nonexistent, merely a title to intimidate people.

Wang Shuyi then ordered someone to bring a blank jade slip and asked Zhou Yuan to leave a trace of his divine consciousness. On the spot, a painter from the sect drew a portrait of Zhou Yuan, which was then sealed in the sect's archives.

This is a rule of the Miaoyin Sect—the portraits of guest elders must be kept within the sect. If an enemy provokes them, the portrait will be displayed, and the elder's prestige will be used to repel the enemy.

Zhou Yuan had no objection to this and readily left his divine imprint.

As for the portrait, he wasn't worried that it would be recognized by the people of the Six-Hall Palace in the future—after all, he planned to settle in Tianxing City for a long time and wouldn't leave the city easily.

Even if the people of the Six-Hall Hall saw his portrait hanging at the Myriad Sounds Gate, would they still dare to openly cause trouble in Tianxing City?

Moreover, their secret organization, "Reverse Star Alliance," is currently unable to operate in the open, so how could they dare to expose themselves for such a trivial matter?

With all the formalities completed, Wang Shuyi was about to host a banquet when Zhou Yuan suddenly spoke up, his tone calm yet leaving no room for argument:

"I'm taking her with me."

His gaze fell on Fan Jingmei beside him.

Wang Shuyi was slightly taken aback, then looked troubled: "Fellow Daoist Zhou, Jingmei is a promising talent carefully cultivated by my Miaoyin Sect. She has excellent aptitude, excelling in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and interpersonal skills..."

Zhou Yuan had no intention of bargaining with her. He simply took out a warm, smooth jade bottle from his sleeve and placed it on the table.

"Are these pills enough?"

Wang Shuyi opened the jade bottle, scanned it with her divine sense, and her beautiful eyes froze instantly.

Inside the bottle were ten high-grade pills for improving one's magical power in the early stages of Core Formation.

Each grain is perfectly round, with a subtle, rich aroma, and is quite valuable.

The market price is nearly 60,000 spirit stones!

"Consider it as if I've bought her."

Zhou Yuan spoke in a calm tone, as if these 100,000 spirit stones were nothing more than scattered scraps.

Wang Shuyi's mind raced.

Even the most outstanding Foundation Establishment stage disciple is far less valuable than a bottle of Core Formation stage pills.

Moreover, this Fellow Daoist Zhou is already a guest elder of the Miaoyin Sect. Confirming his relationship with Fan Jingmei will only strengthen this kinship.

She made a quick decision and smiled, "Fellow Daoist Zhou is joking. There's no such thing as buying or not buying. Since you and Jingmei are destined to be together, it's only natural for me, as the sect leader, to do so."

She nodded gently: "Jingmei, from this day forward, you belong to Fellow Daoist Zhou. Serve him well and do not let him down."

Upon hearing this, Fan Jingmei's expression faltered slightly, a complex look flashing in her eyes.

This was completely different from her original plan.

Her original intention was simply to curry favor with Zhou Yuan and use him as leverage to secure the position of Left Envoy; she never imagined that she would be directly "sold out" by the sect leader.

At this moment, she felt uneasy—being bought by Zhou Yuan meant that her life, death, honor, and disgrace would all be at Zhou Yuan's mercy. She was no longer an elite disciple of the Miaoyin Sect, but merely... Zhou Yuan's possession.

But this anxiety was only momentary.

She looked up at Zhou Yuan's calm and deep eyes, then at Wang Shuyi's expression that left no room for negotiation. The trace of resentment in her heart finally turned into a silent sigh.

"Yes, Sect Master," she replied softly, then turned to Zhou Yuan, gave him a graceful bow, and said in a gentle voice, "Jingmei... will obey Master's orders."

Owner.

The way she uttered that title carried a hint of resignation, as well as a cautious, tentative approach.

Zhou Yuan glanced at her, said nothing, and turned to walk out.

Fan Jingmei followed silently.

After leaving the Miaoyin Sect courtyard, Zhou Yuan did not take her back to Wuya Cave, but instead went to the Holy Mountain Residence again.

He easily found the same late-stage Foundation Establishment manager from last time and rented another cave dwelling.

The selected site is an independent cave called "Golden House Cave" located on the 46th floor of the sacred mountain.

Although this cave is one level lower than the Boundless Cave and has slightly less spiritual energy, the difference is not significant.

The rent of eight thousand spirit stones for a hundred years was paid by Zhou Yuan without batting an eye.

Holding the forbidden jade token of the Golden House Cave, Zhou Yuan led Fan Jingmei to the forty-sixth floor, found the hidden entrance to the cave, and handed the jade token to her.

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"From now on, you will live here and cultivate," Zhou Yuan said.

Fan Jingmei accepted the jade token and felt the rich spiritual energy emanating from the cave, which delighted her.

She had been a disciple of the Miaoyin Sect for many years, and although she was an elite disciple, she had never had such a superior cultivation environment. The concentration of spiritual energy in this cave far surpassed that of her residence within the sect.

"From now on, I will be your master." Zhou Yuan looked at her, his tone calm but unquestionable.

Fan Jingmei's eyes dimmed slightly.

What she longed for was a Daoist partner, or even a concubine, at least a legitimate bedmate.

She never imagined that she would be reduced to the role of a maid (servant).

But this sadness was only momentary, and she quickly suppressed it.

She raised her head, her gaze now calm, even carrying a hint of resignation.

Regardless of their identities, Zhou Yuan was not stingy with her at this moment.

This priceless cave dwelling, the pills worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, and the few bottles of Foundation Establishment cultivation pills he casually left behind before he left...

All of this shows that this master is willing to make sacrifices for her.

Since things have come to this, there's no point in complaining or blaming others.

What she needs to do is seize this opportunity, cultivate diligently, and in the future—perhaps one day—she will also be able to break through to the Core Formation stage and truly have the qualifications to stand on equal footing with her master.

"Yes, Master."

She responded softly, bowed slightly, and hid the sadness in her heart.

Zhou Yuan broke the restriction and spent a moment alone with Fan Jingmei, enjoying some tender time together.

This woman was very good at serving people. She possessed a gentleness and fiery spirit that Yuan Yao and Yan Li, the sisters, did not have, which made people quite happy.

Ten days later.

Zhou Yuan left Jinwu Cave, leaving Fan Jingmei with several bottles of Foundation Establishment cultivation pills that would last her a long time, along with the instruction to "cultivate well."

Fan Jingmei knelt at the entrance of the cave, watching his figure disappear at the end of the winding mountain path, and did not get up for a long time.

……

Zhou Yuan returned to Wuya Cave.

In the quiet room, he took out the high-grade wood-attribute spirit stone that he had spent 170,000 spirit stones to buy, held it in his palm, and with a slight thought, equipped it to the third equipment slot.

A pale blue light screen appeared in my mind:

[Equipment Slot 3: High-level Wood Attribute Spirit Stone]

[Effect: Significantly increases mana regeneration speed! Slightly increases the efficiency of wood-attribute cultivation techniques!]

A gentle yet powerful wood elemental energy flowed slowly into his body from the spirit stone, resonating with the Qingyuan magic power he had accumulated through cultivating the Qingyuan Sword Technique.

With a thought, he casually cast a low-level intermediate spell called "Azure Wood Shield," which then dissipated.

As the mana was depleted, the high-grade spirit stone in the dantian immediately fed back a stream of pure spiritual energy, replenishing the loss at an astonishing speed.

"With the blessing of this spirit stone, even if one continuously casts intermediate to high-level spells, one can restore one's mana to full strength within a breath or two." Zhou Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

The biggest goal of this trip has been successfully achieved.

Another three months passed.

On this day, Zhou Yuan was in his quiet room studying the mental techniques of the fourth level of the "Great Evolution Technique" when suddenly his expression changed and he opened his eyes.

Through mental connection, he sensed the aura of his avatar Zhou Tian, ​​which was already not far outside Tianxing City.

He immediately got up, left the Boundless Cave, and came to the first level of the market. In an inconspicuous inn, he found Yuan Yao and Yan Li, whom he had not seen for more than half a year.

The two women sat facing each other, their expressions showing the weariness of their long journey, yet unable to conceal the anticipation and unease of their impending reunion. The door opened, and the figure they had longed for appeared in the doorway.

"Brother Zhou!"

Yanli rushed forward first, her eyes red-rimmed, and hugged Zhou Yuan tightly around the waist. Yuan Yao was a step behind, but she couldn't hide her excitement either. She stood in front of Zhou Yuan, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears.

"Brother Zhou, we've finally arrived..." she said softly, her voice slightly choked.

After a long journey of more than half a year, traversing most of the Inner Star Sea and encountering several dangers, it is unknown whether they could have arrived safely in Tianxing City if it weren't for Zhou Tian's secret escort.

Reunited at this moment, a thousand words are condensed into a tight embrace.

Zhou Yuan put his arms around the two women's slender waists, gently stroked their trembling backs, and said softly, "Come on, I'll take you to your new home."

The two women stopped crying and started laughing, following closely behind.

Zhou Yuan led them all the way to the forty-seventh level of the Holy Mountain, arriving at the "Boundless Cave" where no one could disturb them within a radius of twenty miles.

When the cave's restrictions were lifted and a rich, pure spiritual energy rushed towards them, the two women could hardly believe their eyes.

"The spiritual energy here is much richer than that of Jade Peak!" Yanli exclaimed, taking a deep breath, her pretty face full of surprise.

"Brother Zhou, is this your newly built cave dwelling?" Yuan Yao's beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at the spacious, clean, and well-protected cave dwelling before her, feeling a great sense of security.

"Yes, we'll settle here from now on," Zhou Yuan nodded.

At this moment, a figure in black robes silently landed at the entrance of the cave and then stepped into the hall.

It is the embodiment of the universe.

Upon seeing the figure shrouded in a black robe and exuding a faint, chilling aura, the two women were first startled, then looked puzzled.

"Brother Zhou, who is he...?" Yuan Yao asked cautiously.

"He is my incarnation," Zhou Yuan said frankly. "For the past six months, he has been secretly following you and escorting you to Tianxing City."

Upon hearing this, the last trace of doubt in the two women vanished, replaced by a deep sense of warmth and gratitude. It turned out that Brother Zhou had been concerned about their safety all along and had arranged all of this long ago.

"Thank you, Brother Zhou!" the two women said in unison, their eyes filled with affection.

Zhou Yuan smiled slightly and said no more.

That night, in the Boundless Cave, the three, who had been separated for a long time, naturally shared an endless and tender moment.

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