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

In the lobby.

A figure stood with his hands behind his back.

He wore a mask made of some unknown material, revealing only a pair of gentle and reserved eyes.

Those eyes were as deep as the sea, their depths unfathomable.

"Please have some tea, gentlemen."

Zhou Yuan raised his hand to indicate that two cups of spiritual tea had been prepared on the stone table, their aroma wafting through the air.

Zhu Tiancheng and Wang Shanhai sat down, picked up their teacups, took a sip, and then put them down.

"It is truly remarkable that you, fellow cultivator, have reached this level among rogue cultivators."

Zhu Tiancheng got straight to the point, "We two old folks have come here to invite you to join the Star Palace."

Wang Shanhai took over the conversation and explained in detail the many benefits of joining the Star Palace.

Abundant cultivation resources, top-tier cultivation techniques, powerful protection, and various conveniences that are difficult for ordinary people to access.

"...With your cultivation and array formation skills, you would surely be highly valued if you joined the Star Palace," he concluded.

Zhou Yuan listened quietly, then shook his head.

"No. I'm used to a free and easy life and can't stand being restricted. I'd rather not join the Star Palace."

He refused decisively.

With his current wealth from owning a high-grade spirit stone mine on Biling Island, he truly doesn't need the help of any powerful force.

While the Star Palace's heritage is undoubtedly the most advanced in the Chaotic Star Sea, with its cultivation techniques, spells, and talismans all being incredibly appealing, the Star Palace has strict rules, and he dislikes following them blindly.

Moreover, as a transmigrator, he knew perfectly well that the Reverse Star Alliance would soon formally declare war on the Star Palace.

At that time, the entire Chaotic Star Sea will be plunged into war, and undercurrents will surge within the Star Palace.

Joining a constellation at this time is not a wise move.

Zhu Tiancheng and Wang Shanhai exchanged a glance, a hint of disappointment flashing in their eyes, but neither of them pressed the matter.

"Since you aspire to a carefree life, we will not force you."

Zhu Tiancheng stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "However, the gates of the Star Palace are always open to you, fellow Daoist. If you ever change your mind, you are always welcome to come to us."

Zhou Yuan stood up and returned the greeting: "Thank you both for your understanding."

The two said no more and turned to leave.

……

After seeing off the two Star Palace elders, Zhou Yuan led everyone away from Luo Tian Island.

They settled on an extremely remote desert island.

This island is only a few dozen miles in circumference, deserted and without any spiritual veins; it is practically abandoned.

Zhou Yuan dug out a cave on the island that led hundreds of feet underground.

They then spent six months meticulously setting up a teleportation array.

This teleportation array connects to the one that was originally set up in the cave on Biling Island.

With this preparation...

Even if war breaks out in the Star Sea in the future and the Star Palace restricts the use of teleportation arrays, he can still travel easily between the inner and outer seas.

Once everything was set up, Zhou Yuan activated the teleportation array.

With a flash of white light, the group appeared directly in the cave on Biling Island.

……

Another six months have passed.

Zhou Yuan secluded himself in his cave to consolidate his early Nascent Soul cultivation.

In the past six months, he also refined the venomous fangs of the transformed demon beast he had killed—the Netherscale Python—into a magical artifact.

The fangs already contained potent poison, and after being refined, their power was increased even further.

On the day he emerged from the pass, Zhou Yuan was in high spirits.

"The Void Heaven Palace is expected to open within the next year or two."

He murmured to himself.

He once dared not enter the Void Heaven Palace because he was not strong enough and was afraid of encountering a powerful enemy like the Barbarian Beard.

But now that he has achieved the Nascent Soul stage, what is there to fear?

After giving instructions to Yuan Yao and the others, he immediately left Biling Island and headed to Silver Shark Island. Then, he used a teleportation array to return to Tianxing City.

With Zhou Yuan's current spiritual strength, coupled with that exquisite concealment technique, even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn't be able to discern his true cultivation level without careful examination.

Next, Zhou Yuan concealed his aura at the mid-stage of Core Formation, walked out of the Starry Sky Palace, and first went to the cave dwelling that Han Li had lived in back then.

The communication talisman he left behind many years ago is gone.

But the cave was still empty.

"Still not here?"

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly, shook his head, and turned to leave.

……

Tianxing City Market, Six-Linked Palace Headquarters.

Zhou Yuan stepped into the main hall, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.

The Six-Hall Complex is now even more magnificent than before.

The hall was bustling with people coming and going.

His gaze quickly fell on the two figures.

One of them was Xue Ye, the master of the Six-Hall Palace.

Today, she wore a simple white dress, her jet-black hair piled high, which made her already exquisite face appear even more gentle and elegant.

Her features possess a touch of feminine charm, her demeanor is dignified and composed, and she exudes a gentle and refreshing aura. At this moment, she is talking to the person beside her, a faint smile playing on her lips.

With a sweep of his divine sense, Zhou Yuan could tell that her cultivation level was now at the peak of the late Core Formation stage, a pseudo-Nascent Soul realm.

It seems that her previous experience was also a trial for her.

The person standing next to her made Zhou Yuan's gaze sharpen slightly.

The person was dressed in the white attire unique to the Star Palace, with jet-black hair cascading down to their shoulders, and a jade-inlaid emerald green headband around their forehead, which made their skin appear even whiter.

This person had a face like white jade, dark eyebrows that reached her temples, phoenix eyes, a delicate nose, and red, tender lips; she was an absolutely stunning beauty.

Incredibly, it was difficult to tell whether the person was male or female at first glance.

She was said to be a woman—but this person had a lazy smile on her lips, her every move exuded elegance and composure, and her eyes and brows carried a touch of heroism, completely lacking the delicate demeanor of an ordinary woman.

He was said to be a man—but his face was so beautiful and charming, and the hint of allure between his brows was absolutely irresistible to men, especially his phoenix eyes, which were so captivating and mesmerizing.

"Master Zhou Dan!"

When the Palace Master of Snow Night saw Zhou Yuan, a look of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Her voice was warm and sincere, clearly showing that she was extremely happy about Zhou Yuan's arrival.

After all, she had already guessed that the masked man who saved her life last time was the Zhou Dan Master in front of her.

"What brings you here? Is there anything you need to buy?"

"Hmm, let's see if we have any advanced ancient pill formulas." Zhou Yuan nodded.

"Follow me!" The Palace Master of Snow Night personally led the way, inviting Zhou Yuan into a side hall.

She poured him a cup of spiritual tea with her own hands, her movements elegant and composed. As the tea aroma wafted up, her bright eyes would occasionally glance at Zhou Yuan.

In his eyes, there seemed to be a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

The white-robed man beside him saw the Snow Night Palace Master being so enthusiastic towards a male cultivator in the mid-stage of Core Formation, and a strange look flashed in his eyes.

The gaze lingered on Zhou Yuan for a moment, carrying a mixture of scrutiny and curiosity.

"Yu Ling, this is Master Zhou, whom I often mention to you," said Palace Master Xue Ye to the person beside her, her tone carrying a hint of a smile.

Upon hearing this, the man in white smiled lazily and nodded slightly to Zhou Yuan.

"Master Zhou, this is Ling Yuling, the foreign affairs enforcement envoy of the Star Palace."

"This is what the Lord of Snow Night explained."

Zhou Yuan was suddenly startled!

Ling Yuling!

He was very familiar with this name.

In the original work, this person is the young master of the Star Palace, known as the number one little rich woman in the human realm!

In the future, when she takes over the Star Palace, the sheer number of treasures she possesses and the immense wealth she accumulates will be enough to make any Nascent Soul cultivator envious!

And at this moment, the androgynous, breathtakingly beautiful young man standing in front of him was none other than the young master of the Star Palace!

However, at this time, she was likely still concealing her identity and had not revealed it. Very few people knew the identity of the young master of the Star Palace.

Zhou Yuan remained expressionless, merely offering a slight bow: "Fellow Daoist Ling."

Ling Yuling nodded, her phoenix eyes lingering on his face for a moment.

After a moment, she looked away.

I picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

His posture was relaxed and elegant.

The Lord of Snow Night Palace watched from the side, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.

Her friend was usually arrogant and never gave ordinary cultivators a second glance.

It's rare that he's willing to look at Zhou Yuan a few more times today.

"Master Zhou, have you come here to seek advanced ancient elixir formulas?"

The Palace Master of Snow Night asked, "What type is it? Our Six-Linked Palace does have some ancient pill formulas in our collection. If you have any suitable ones, we can show them to Alchemist Zhou..."