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

"Brother Zhou, don't refuse so quickly," Feng Sanniang interjected with a mischievous smile. "Aunt Xue isn't going to eat you. As long as you agree to become a guest elder of our Six-Linked Palace, you can have this demon core for free."

She blinked and continued teasingly, "I know that you, Brother Zhou, are a guest elder of the Wonderful Sound Sect, a place known for its many beautiful women. What, Brother Zhou, do you perhaps think that our Six Linked Halls can't produce any beauties...?"

Zhou Yuan knew that Feng San Niang was joking, and he laughed as well:

"That's not it. Both Third Sister and Palace Master Xue are top-tier beauties, how could I dare to look down on them?"

Upon hearing this, Xueye's smile deepened.

She pushed the jade box forward again: "Master Zhou, please accept it."

Zhou Yuan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"No, this gift is too generous. I really can't accept it for nothing. How about this—"

He took out spirit stones from his storage bag. "I'll pay the cost price of 100,000 spirit stones, which is considered a purchase from the Palace Master."

The two women were taken aback by Zhou Yuan's insistence and were momentarily at a loss. But seeing his resolute attitude, they had no choice but to nod in agreement.

On a snowy night, he retrieved the jade box, took the spirit stones, and then handed the jade box back to Zhou Yuan.

The transaction is complete, and neither party owes the other anything.

"Brother Zhou, can I ask you something?" Feng San Niang suddenly changed the subject.

"Please speak, Third Sister."

"Decades ago, Elder Qi Yuan of our Sixth Hall summoned you. Have you seen him since?"

Zhou Yuan's gaze sharpened slightly, then he shook his head: "No. I haven't left since I settled in Tianxing City. I've also been using the excuse of cultivating my techniques to avoid Elder Qi."

Feng Sanniang and Xue Ye exchanged a glance, a complex expression flashing in their eyes.

Xueye sighed and whispered:

"To be honest, in recent years, Elder Qi has become increasingly audacious. He has secretly colluded with many Core Formation elders in the hall, harboring treacherous intentions..."

Zhou Yuan was slightly startled.

He never expected that Xueye would say such things to him, the new elder.

This person is trying to win me over and make me their confidant.

He thought for a moment and then said:

"Elder Qi is probably doing this because he has something to rely on. I suggest that Palace Master Xue plan ahead and gradually transfer the headquarters' resources to Tianxing City."

Zhou Yuan knew this.

According to the original story, in another ten or twenty years, Qi Yuan will launch a rebellion and seize the position of Palace Master with the elders he has won over.

And Xue Ye will most likely die in this rebellion.

If resources could be transferred to Tianxing City, the forces of the Reverse Star Alliance would absolutely not dare to make a move here.

Tianxing City is the stronghold of the Star Palace; who dares to act recklessly?

"That's a good suggestion." Upon hearing this, Xueye's eyes lit up slightly, and her gaze towards Zhou Yuan softened even more.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Zhou Yuan took out a list he had prepared beforehand and handed it to the manager of Yu Huan Ju: "Help me gather these medicinal herbs."

The list contained all the necessary ingredients for refining the Dragon Immortal Pill.

Although not as precious as the main ingredient, they are still worth tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and paid the spirit stones on the spot.

After finishing his business, Zhou Yuan went to the temporary headquarters of the Miaoyin Sect in Tianxing City.

Unfortunately, neither the sect leader nor the left and right envoys were present; only a few disciples remained.

Zhou Yuan did not linger and returned to Wuya Cave.

In the days that followed, he devoted all his energy to refining the Jiaoxian Pill.

The equipment slots have been rearranged—except for the first slot, [Miniature Spirit Eye Spring], which remains unchanged, all other five slots have been replaced with items that enhance alchemy:

[Equipment Slot 2: Ancient Alchemy Jade Slip (Jiaoxian Pill)]

[Equipment Slot 3: Jade Slip of Alchemy Insights]

[Equipment Slot 4...]

Five layers of enhancement, stacked upon each other!

Zhou Yuan spent a whole month thoroughly studying the formula for the Jiaoxian Pill, deducing every step, and analyzing the changes in the medicinal properties of each herb.

A month later, he finally had complete confidence.

Start the furnace and refine the elixir!

The seventh-level Crimson Fire Flood Dragon Demon Core was thrown into the furnace, where it was melted, fused, and sublimated together with hundreds of other medicinal ingredients in the flames...

Five days and five nights, without sleep or rest.

As the last wisp of medicinal fragrance wafted from the furnace, Zhou Yuan knew—

Become!

At the bottom of the furnace lay five pills, each the size of a longan and fiery red, with faint phantom images of dragons swirling on their surfaces.

It exudes an extremely rich medicinal fragrance.

Dragon Immortal Pill!

Zhou Yuan took out a pill and swallowed it.

A surge of powerful medicinal energy instantly spread through his body, warm and turbulent, far surpassing the Biling Pill he had taken to break through to the later stages!

He immediately sat down cross-legged and began to refine the medicinal power.

The equipment slots were switched again—all were replaced with items that increased cultivation speed.

Miniature Spirit Eye Spring

[Golden Pages (General Outline of the Azure Origin Sword Technique)]

[Jade Slip for Wood-Attribute Cultivation Techniques]

[The Jade Slip of the Azure Sky Technique]

Black Crow Beast Demon Core

……

Although the demon core of an eighth-level transformed demon loses most of its demonic power, it does not affect the cultivation speed boost it provides when equipped.

The effects are particularly pronounced for those in the Core Formation stage.

Spring has passed and autumn has come; another seven years have gone by.

On this day, in the quiet room, Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were even more profound than they had been seven years ago, their restrained brilliance like a deep pool in an ancient well.

Within his dantian, the four-colored golden core had reached its limit, its azure primordial power surging and overflowing, leaving no room for further improvement.

Peak of the late Core Formation stage – Pseudo-Infant Realm!

One more step forward, and you'll reach the Nascent Soul Path!

"finally……"

Zhou Yuan let out a long breath, and an uncontrollable smile appeared on his face.

In these seven years, with the support of the Flood Dragon Immortal Pill and that level-eight demon core, his cultivation speed has far exceeded expectations.

He completed the path that ordinary Core Formation cultivators would take decades or even centuries to traverse in just seven years.

"It's time to leave the customs area."

Zhou Yuan got up and walked out of the quiet room.

In the hall, Yuan Yao was sitting cross-legged alone, seemingly comprehending the Azure Sun Demon Fire Technique.

Sensing Zhou Yuan's presence, she opened her eyes, a delighted smile spreading across her face.

"Zhou Lang, you've emerged from the pass?"

"Hmm." Zhou Yuan walked over and put his arm around her waist. "How's your cultivation level?"

"I have already cultivated the Azure Sun Demon Fire Technique to the sixth level. In a few more years, I should be able to complete the transformation."

Yuan Yao nestled in his arms, then suddenly remembered something, "Oh, right, Zhou Lang, there's something."

"What is it?"

"Last month, Zhuo Ruting from the Miaoyin Sect came to see you. She said she had found the whereabouts of a high-grade spirit bamboo. However, you were in seclusion in your meditation room at the time, so I didn't disturb you."

Zhou Yuan's gaze suddenly sharpened!

High-aged Ling bamboo —

Thunder Bamboo!

He has waited for this day for far too long!

"Yao-mei, wait for me, I'm going to the market!"

Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Yuan kissed Yuan Yao on the lips and then got up.

However, at this very moment—

His divine sense detected that an aura was approaching from a dozen miles away outside the cave.

The aura wasn't strong, only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, but its direction was clear; it was obviously heading towards the Boundless Cave.

Zhou Yuan slowly opened the barrier, pushed open the stone door, and walked out of the cave.

In the distance, a beautiful figure was flying towards them on a magical artifact.

A moment later, the ritual implement landed on the ground.

She was a woman dressed in a purple palace gown.

She was tall and slender, with a graceful and light figure, and every move she made exuded an indescribable elegance.

However, her face was shrouded in a faint purple aura, obscuring her true appearance.

——ps——

Yesterday I mentioned to all my fellow readers that I noticed the number of requests for updates increased by nearly a hundred in one day. I am truly grateful to all of you who have been following my reading and urging me to update!