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

"this……"

The old man looked at the forty glittering spirit stones on the table, then at the two old jade slips, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

He hesitated for only a moment before greed took over.

Anyway, making a copy and keeping it here is the same thing, there's not much difference...

"Fine, fine, since you're so sincere in collecting old things, I'll make an exception this time!"

The old man waved his hand dismissively, quickly sweeping forty spirit stones into his storage bag. "But don't make a fuss about this. I don't want other disciples to try and bargain!"

"I understand, thank you, Elder Xu!"

Zhou Yuan was overjoyed.

After the old man finished making the copies, he quickly and carefully put away the two old jade slips.

These two alchemy formulas have been passed down and studied by countless alchemists over the years, each mark representing a profound foundation.

If the equipment is successfully equipped, the success rate of refining Foundation Building Pills and Youth Preservation Pills will likely increase to an astonishing degree!

Things went more smoothly than expected.

Suppressing his excitement, Zhou Yuanqiang bowed to the old man and then turned and left Yuelu Hall.

Instead of returning directly to Xuankun Mountain, he flew towards the location of the Hundred Herbs Garden provided by Lin Xu.

He summoned a flying artifact and pierced through the clouds and mist.

About half an hour later, two towering mountain peaks appeared ahead, steep and covered with lush vegetation.

Between the two mountains lies a basin shrouded in clouds and mist.

Zhou Yuan lowered his altitude and extended his divine sense, and indeed sensed an invisible barrier protecting the outer edge of the basin.

Through the thin mist, one could vaguely see a neatly planned medicinal garden within the basin, with square plots of medicinal fields arranged in an orderly fashion, and various medicinal herbs gleaming with different colors of spiritual light under the sunlight.

In the center of the herb garden stands a simple thatched hut built from dried grass and bamboo.

This is the Garden of a Hundred Herbs.

Zhou Yuan arrived outside the barrier, took out the cyan jade talisman that Lin Xu had given him, and sent a transmission talisman into the barrier.

A moment later, the invisible barrier in front of them rippled out like water, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through.

A young cultivator dressed in yellow, with an unremarkable appearance, stepped out.

It was Han Li.

"Is it you?"

Han Li recognized Zhou Yuan at a glance; he was the mysterious man who had witnessed him killing Senior Brother Lu on the outskirts of the Taiyue Mountains last night!

His expression instantly turned extremely vigilant, and his right hand subconsciously reached for the storage bag at his waist, his magical power subtly flowing around him.

If what happened last night is exposed, he will have no place to stand in Yellow Maple Valley.

"This must be Junior Brother Han. It's nice to see you again."

Zhou Yuan seemed very relaxed, even with a friendly smile on his face.

Han Li frowned, his mind racing.

This person not only knew what happened last night, but also found out my name and address?

What exactly is his purpose?

"Junior brother, there's no need to be nervous."

Zhou Yuan noticed Han Li's wariness and, without beating around the bush, directly took out the cyan jade talisman that Lin Xu had given him. "I am here to collect some medicinal herbs on the orders of my Uncle-Master Lin."

Han Li's pupils contracted slightly when he saw the jade talisman engraved with the character "Lin".

He recalled that Master Ma had indeed instructed a few days ago that if anyone carrying the Lin family's token came to collect the medicine, they could be allowed to pass.

"So you're one of Uncle Lin's men..."

Han Li took a deep breath, suppressing his surprise and doubt, and stepped aside to make way for the entrance of the barrier. "Senior brother, please come in."

Zhou Yuan nodded and stepped into the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Upon entering, the rich spiritual energy of plants and trees immediately invigorates the spirit.

Looking around, all kinds of medicinal herbs are growing vigorously in the medicinal fields, many of which have reached the age of decades or even hundreds of years.

Han Li took out three jade boxes from his storage bag and handed them to Zhou Yuan: "These are three portions of ingredients for the Jade Condensation Pill that Uncle-Master Ma instructed us to prepare long ago. Please keep them safe, Senior Brother."

"Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother Han." Zhou Yuan took the jade box, scanned it with his divine sense, and confirmed that the medicinal materials were correct.

He put the jade box away, but did not leave immediately. Instead, he looked around the Hundred Herbs Garden with great interest, and finally his gaze fell on Han Li.

"Junior Brother Han, you'll be participating in the Crimson Forbidden Zone soon, right?"

Zhou Yuan suddenly asked.

Han Li's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "Well, most of the late-stage Qi Refining disciples in the sect who have some ambition will participate. But you, Senior Brother…didn't you already obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill last night?"

His tone carried a hint of probing.

"Ha ha,"

Zhou Yuan chuckled lightly, "My talent is mediocre. With just one Foundation Establishment Pill, how can I be confident of successfully establishing my foundation? I still want to go to the Crimson Forbidden Land to take a chance and find more spiritual herbs. If I can exchange them for another Foundation Establishment Pill, my chances of establishing my foundation will be much greater."

These words were spoken frankly, which put Han Li at ease.

He originally thought this person had a powerful background.

Unexpectedly, he was just an ordinary disciple who had to fight desperately to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Senior brother is indeed cautious." Han Li nodded, then asked, "Does senior brother have any advice for me regarding this matter?"

"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance," Zhou Yuan said solemnly. "The Crimson Forbidden Land is fraught with danger, and elites from various sects gather there. Fighting alone is far too perilous. If we happen to encounter each other, we can look after each other and team up to search for spiritual herbs. What do you think, Junior Brother?"

Han Li remained silent for a moment.

He was cautious by nature, disliked getting close to people, and was even less willing to form alliances with others easily.

But having witnessed Zhou Yuan's strength and methods last night, I know he is meticulous and decisive, and is by no means an ordinary person.

In a place like the Crimson Forbidden Zone, having a teammate like that might indeed increase one's chances of survival.

"This matter... allow me to consider it."

Han Li neither immediately agreed nor refused, saying, "If we really meet in the forbidden area, we'll see how things go."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan didn't insist and smiled, "Alright, it's settled then. Take care, Junior Brother. I'll take my leave now."

After saying that, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Han Li, then turned and left the Hundred Herbs Garden.

Watching Zhou Yuan's departing figure, Han Li stood there lost in thought for a long time.

---

After leaving the Hundred Herbs Garden, Zhou Yuan went straight back to his cave in Xuankun Mountain.

The stone gate closed, and the restriction was lifted.

He didn't rush to examine the two jade slips containing the pill formulas. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and began cultivating the "Twelve Divine Thorns".

For the next two months, Zhou Yuan did not step out of his cave.

He devoted all his time to cultivating this divine sense technique.

Because he understood that there was a limit to the number of magical artifacts and talismans that Qi Refining stage disciples could possess within the Crimson Forbidden Land.

The treasures held by elite disciples of various sects are not necessarily inferior to his.

However, the "Twelve Assassins of the Divine Court" is his unique killing move, a secret technique of attacking with divine sense!

Unpredictable, attacking it unprepared.

At the critical moment, a sharp thorn of divine consciousness pierces into the opponent's sea of ​​consciousness. Even if it only causes a momentary daze, it is enough to decide life or death.

In the quiet room, Zhou Yuan's eyes were closed, and a faint golden light seemed to flow between his brows.

Time passed day by day.

His spiritual consciousness gradually grew stronger.

Two months later.

Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them.

The Twelve Thorns of the Divine Court, Level Three!

His spiritual strength has now far surpassed that of ordinary Qi Refining Perfection cultivators, and he has even faintly touched the threshold of the early Foundation Establishment stage!

The third layer, the Twelve Divine Thorns, is even more terrifying in power.

A sharp spike of divine sense was emitted, enough to cause a violent tremor in the sea of ​​consciousness of an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator.

I fell into a long period of blankness.

If we seize this opportunity to launch an attack, the opponent will have no chance to fight back!

"That's about it..."

Zhou Yuan exhaled a breath of stale air, stood up, and stretched his limbs.

He glanced outside the cave and calculated the time; the day the Crimson Forbidden Land would open should be approaching soon.

Sure enough, a short while later, a sound transmission talisman passed through the barrier and hovered at the entrance of the cave.

It was a notice from the sect summoning disciples to participate in the Bloodstained Forbidden Land Trial.