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

Chapter 312 Obtaining the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman! Advancing to the Sixth Level of the Great Evolution Technique! Xue Ye Joins the Team!

"When soldiers come, generals will block them; when water comes, earth will dam it."

Zhou Yuan picked up his teacup, gently blew on the emerald green leaves floating in it, and spoke in a relaxed tone.

There was no trace of pressure on his face.

It was as if they weren't talking about an imminent catastrophe, but rather a trivial matter.

This composed demeanor stems from absolute confidence in one's own abilities.

This also stems from the thorough preparations he had made long ago and continues to refine.

Gazing at his calm profile on a snowy night, the worries in my heart somehow subsided a bit.

She knew Zhou Yuan well and knew that he was by no means an arrogant or blindly optimistic person.

Since he is so calm, he must have already made plans and has a backup plan.

Perhaps I'm overthinking it.

"Alright, since you already know what's going on, I won't say any more."

Xueye sighed softly, her tone softening, "Just—be careful in everything."

Ling Yuling nodded solemnly, "Sister Xue is absolutely right."

"Moreover, both the Reverse Star Alliance and the Demon Clan are formidable enemies of the Star Palace. If Senior Zhou has any needs, Yu Ling will certainly do her utmost."

"Thank you both for your kindness. I will remember it."

Zhou Yuan nodded his thanks, but he knew better than to be too timid.

The Star Palace might not kick him while he's down, but it would never wage a full-scale war against the Demon Clan or the Reverse Star Alliance for his sake.

Ultimately, you still have to rely on your own fists.

The atmosphere then lightened up again.

Xueye steered the conversation elsewhere, asking softly, "Master Zhou, how is Ouyang Qing, that clever and obedient little girl who used to follow you around, doing now?"

"So many years have passed in the blink of an eye. You must have grown up by now, right?"

Mentioning Ouyang Qing, Zhou Yuan's face revealed a gentle smile: "Qing'er is intelligent and resilient, and has never slacked off in her cultivation over the years. She is now at the mid-stage of Core Formation, and can be considered a rising star in the sect. If no unforeseen circumstances arise, it is not an unrealistic expectation that she will form a Nascent Soul in the future."

"Mid-stage Core Formation?"

A hint of surprise and emotion flashed in Xueye's beautiful eyes. "When I first met her, she was just a timid little girl in the Qi Refining stage. I never imagined she would achieve such success. If Ouyang Gongruo knew in the afterlife that his daughter had such an experience with Master Zhou, he would surely be gratified."

When Ouyang Qing's deceased father was mentioned, both Zhou Yuan and Xue Ye fell silent.

The tragedy of the Six-Linked Palace and the sacrifice of Feng Sanniang were a shared pain in their hearts, and also the starting point for their deadly feud with the Reverse Star Alliance.

Seeing this, Ling Yuling changed the subject at the right time and chatted with Zhou Yuan, Tian Hen and others about some strange stories and cultivation experiences in the Chaotic Star Sea.

Old Monster Tianhen, Marquis Nanlong, and Ancestor Linghu also joined the conversation, sharing some local customs and interesting stories about the cultivation world in Tiannan.

The group chatted happily.

Time slips away quietly.

Seeing that it was getting late, Ling Yuling and Xue Ye exchanged a glance and got up to say goodbye.

"Senior Zhou, Sister Xue, fellow Daoists, I have troubled you for a long time. Yu Ling should return to Tianxing City to report back."

Ling Yuling cupped her hands in greeting.

Then, she looked at Zhou Yuan, a hint of hesitation flashing in her beautiful eyes, but she still took something out of her sleeve and handed it to Zhou Yuan.

It was a talisman cut into a special shape, made of neither gold nor jade, with fine silver runes flowing along its edges. It was only the size of a palm, yet it emitted a faint spatial fluctuation. It was half of a "Ten Thousand Mile Talisman".

"Senior Zhou, this is a sub-talisman of the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman. The holder of this talisman only needs to leave words on it with their magic power, and no matter how far apart they are, the holder of the corresponding mother talisman can instantly sense and receive them. The mother talisman is in Yu Ling's hands. If you need to contact the Star Palace or send messages in the future, Senior, you can use this talisman for convenience and speed."

Ling Yuling explained that her mother had specifically asked her to give this to Zhou Yuan before she left.

Zhou Yuan took the half of the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman. It was slightly warm to the touch, and the silver runes on the talisman seemed to have a life of their own as they slowly flowed.

He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Ling Yuling and said, "This talisman is indeed convenient. However—Does Young Palace Master Ling have any extra, complete Ten Thousand Mile Talismans? I am willing to purchase one with high-grade spirit stones. Just one will suffice."

He needs a complete Thousand-Mile Talisman for emergency communication between Biling Island and Tiannan.

He needs to master more channels for two-way instant messaging.

Ling Yuling was slightly surprised to hear this.

But he did not refuse.

Although the Wanli Talisman is precious, it is not something that the Star Palace cannot afford.

After a moment's thought, she took out another complete Thousand-Mile Talisman from her storage bag, which emitted a soft spiritual light, and presented it with both hands: "I will give this talisman to Senior Zhou. There is no need to buy it. Consider it a gift from Yu Ling to congratulate Senior on establishing his sect."

"Gifts are unnecessary."

Zhou Yuan shook his head, his attitude resolute, "This talisman is precious, and I cannot take it for free."

"Ten high-grade spirit stones in exchange for this talisman. What do you think, Young Master Ling?"

Without waiting for Ling Yuling's response, he took out a jade box, opened the lid, and inside were ten high-grade spirit stones with abundant spiritual energy and different attributes.

"this----"

Ling Yuling was also shocked when she saw the ten high-grade spirit stones.

Ten high-grade spirit stones are a considerable sum, even for the Star Palace.

Zhou Yuan is incredibly generous!

She wanted to decline, but seeing Zhou Yuan's resolute expression, and considering that he possessed what appeared to be a large, high-grade spirit stone mine, she figured he might not really lack these spirit stones. So she stopped being coy, took the jade box, handed the complete Ten Thousand Mile Talisman to Zhou Yuan, and solemnly said, "Then—thank you for your generous gift, Senior Zhou. I am truly grateful."

The transaction was completed, both parties got what they wanted, and their relationship seemed to have taken a step further.

"Goodbye!"

Ling Yuling cupped her hands in greeting again, her gaze lingering on Zhou Yuan and Xue Ye's faces for a moment before she turned and, led by the Gale Beast, walked out of the cave.

Outside Biling Island, a Nascent Soul stage elder from the Star Palace was waiting in hiding to escort her safely back to Tianxing City.

Xueye, however, remained standing in the same spot and did not leave with Ling Yuling.

"Lord of Snow Night Palace, you—"

Zhou Yuan looked at her.

A faint yet unwavering look appeared on Xue Ye's cold face as she spoke, "Master Zhou, I—want to stay for now. The demon race and the Reverse Star Alliance's retaliation could come at any time. The more people there are, the more strength there will be. Although my cultivation is not as high as yours, I am still a Nascent Soul cultivator. I can still play a role in assisting formations and restraining enemies."

"I discussed this with Yu Ling before coming here, and she agreed. I will send a message to the Star Palace to explain. I will return to Tianxing City after this matter is settled."

Her reasons were sound, and her attitude was frank.

Ling Yuling was not surprised when she left, which showed that the two had a tacit understanding.

Zhou Yuan looked into Xue Ye's clear and determined eyes and remained silent for a moment.

Keeping her around would indeed strengthen the defenses of Biling Island.

Xueye is proficient in ice magic and formations, which may have miraculous effects in some aspects. Moreover, she is someone I can trust.

"That's fine too."

Zhou Yuan finally nodded.

"Then I will trouble Palace Master Xueye. Please forgive the simplicity of this place."

"It is my honor to be able to assist Master Zhou." A hint of relief and joy flashed in Xueye's eyes. She bowed slightly and said that with the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman, Zhou Yuan's remote control and communication problems over Biling Island were greatly solved.

He left the transformed demon beasts such as Gale Beast, Thunderclap, Earth-Splitting Turtle, Shadow Python, and Sea Rhinoceros Beast on the island to be responsible for daily patrols, guard duty, and maintaining the formation.

He then entrusted the child talisman from the half of the Mother-Child Myriad Mile Talisman to the Gale Beast for safekeeping.

Instruct it to immediately alert itself via the Wanli Talisman if it discovers large-scale enemy activity or any unusual situation.

"Rest assured, Master! Lie Feng will certainly guard this island well and will not allow any villains to take advantage of it!"

The Gale Beast solemnly accepted the order.

Tianhen the Old Monster then spoke up, "Senior Brother, the situation here is unclear and fraught with danger. I have nothing urgent to attend to, so I will stay here for the time being and guard this place with Fellow Daoist Xueye, so that we can look after each other. It will not be too late to return to Tiannan after the turmoil here has completely subsided."

"That's excellent! With Junior Brother Tianhen overseeing things, I can feel even more at ease."

Zhou Yuan readily agreed.

The Heavenly Hate Old Monster is incredibly powerful and experienced; with him around, the safety of Biling Island is greatly enhanced.

With the arrangements made, Zhou Yuan didn't delay any longer.

Biling Island is connected by the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman, guarded by the Heavenly Hatred Old Monster and a group of transformed demonic beasts, with an early warning network on the outer perimeter and a large array protecting the core. It should be safe for the time being.

He needs to return to Tiannan to handle sect affairs and make longer-term preparations.

"Let's go back."

Zhou Yuan addressed Nanlong Marquis, Linghu Patriarch, and the newly joined Xue Ye.

The four left the cave and arrived at the spirit stone mine deep inside the mountain.

A vast space has been excavated here, and the teleportation array is located in the deepest part, protected by multiple layers of restrictions.

Zhou Yuan activated the teleportation array, and after verifying that everything was in order, he was the first to step into the array.

Marquis of Nanlong, Elder Linghu, and Xueye followed closely behind.

A sudden burst of white light followed by violent spatial fluctuations, and the four figures vanished from Biling Island.

Tiannan, Dongyu Kingdom, Shengxian Sect, Shengxian Peak Cave.

The teleportation array's light faded, and Zhou Yuan and his companions reappeared in the familiar quiet room.

"I'm finally back." Linghu Patriarch took a deep breath of the familiar, slightly cool spiritual energy of Tiannan and sighed.

Although the outer sea is also full of spiritual energy, there is always a sense of unfamiliarity and oppression.

Marquis Nanlong nodded in agreement.

Xueye curiously examined the quiet room, which was covered with many restrictions, and felt even more admiration for Zhou Yuan for being able to set up such a stable long-distance teleportation array.

"Junior Brother Nanlong, Junior Brother Linghu, you should go back and rest first. This trip to the outer seas has been arduous for you two," Zhou Yuan said to the two.

"Senior brother, you flatter me. It's just my duty." The two bowed and took their leave, each returning to their respective mountain caves.

Zhou Yuan then took Xue Ye and left the teleportation chamber, returning to the main hall area of ​​Ascension Peak through the hidden passage.

-

Instead of rushing back to his core cave, he took Xueye and strolled slowly through the Ascension Sect, giving them a general tour.

The Xingyi Mountains stretch endlessly, with their peaks displaying exquisite beauty.

The newly built palaces and pavilions are built against the mountain in a staggered and orderly manner. Although they are not as majestic and profound as the Star Palace Holy Mountain, they still have their own vitality and solemn atmosphere of a new sect.

Cultivators dressed in uniform cyan disciple robes flew overhead on magical artifacts, and upon seeing Zhou Yuan, they all respectfully bowed from afar.

He addressed the sect leader as "Sect Leader," his expression filled with awe.

The sect is filled with spiritual energy, and its medicinal fields, animal gardens, weapon-refining workshops, alchemy rooms, and lecture halls are all well-organized and complete.

He watched silently through the snowy night, a look of surprise occasionally flashing in his clear, cold eyes.

Although she knew that Zhou Yuan had founded the "Ascension Sect", seeing it with her own eyes, she realized that the sect's new atmosphere, abundant resources, and great potential far exceeded her previous imagination.

In particular, in just a few decades, Zhou Yuan has managed to gather so many Nascent Soul experts!

This tactic and cohesion are truly terrifying.

"Master Zhou—no, Sect Master Zhou, although your Ascension Sect has only been established for a short time, its foundation is already more stable and its grandeur more impressive than many large sects in the Chaotic Star Sea that have been passed down for thousands of years."

"Given time, he will surely become a regional hegemon," Xueye exclaimed sincerely.

"You flatter me, Lord Xueye. It's just that many hands make light work."

Zhou Yuan smiled calmly, showing no smugness.

His original intention in founding the Ascension Sect was to create a foundation where he and those around him could cultivate in peace and pass on their lineage. The current situation can be considered as an initial achievement of his goal.

After the visit, Zhou Yuan, with Xue Ye in tow, returned to the back of Ascension Peak, activated the restrictions, and entered the core cave dwelling that only his closest confidants could enter.

Upon entering the cave, Xueye shuddered, and for the first time, an uncontrollable look of shock appeared on her usually cool and beautiful face!

The concentration of spiritual energy here has reached an unbelievable level!

If the spiritual energy of the Xingyi Mountains outside is a stream, then this place is a vast ocean of spiritual energy!

The rich and pure spiritual energy almost turned into a tangible spiritual mist. With each breath, the surging spiritual energy would flow into the limbs and bones, cleansing the meridians and nourishing the nascent soul. Its effect was even more significant than taking some pills that could improve one's cultivation!

She had cultivated on the eightieth floor of the Star Palace Sacred Mountain, where the spiritual energy was already among the best in the Chaotic Star Sea, but compared to this place, it seemed much thinner!

"This—the spiritual energy here—" Xue Ye's mouth gaped open, momentarily speechless.

Zhou Yuan didn't explain, but simply led her deeper into the area.

After passing through several passages, a huge underground space suddenly appeared before my eyes. At the center, the giant Spirit Eye Spring, thirty feet in diameter, with clear blue water and spiritual energy swirling into mist, came into full view of Xue Ye!

"The Fountain of Spiritual Eyes?! And—it's so enormous?!"

Xue Ye was completely stunned, her beautiful eyes wide open, as if she had witnessed the most incredible miracle in the world!

She had seen the Spirit Eye Spring before; the Star Palace also had one, but the largest one was only about ten feet in diameter and had been revered as a treasure of the palace.

And this one in front of us—is thirty zhang in diameter!

This is no longer a "spring," it's practically a "lake"! The total amount and purity of the spiritual energy it contains are simply immeasurable!

"With this Spirit Eye Spring here, Sect Master Zhou, your cave dwelling truly deserves to be called the number one cultivation holy land in the human realm!"

It took him a long time to find his voice in the snowy night, his tone filled with amazement and envy.

She finally understood why Zhou Yuan and those around him had made such rapid progress in their cultivation.

Cultivating in such an environment, progressing by leaps and bounds in a day is no exaggeration.

Just then, the stone doors of the two adjacent quiet rooms slid open simultaneously.

Two beautiful figures, one in black and one in red, emerged together.

The woman in black robes was Yuan Yao, who had already reached the Nascent Soul stage and whose temperament had become increasingly aloof and ethereal, yet also possessed a touch of allure. The woman in red dress was Yan Li, who remained radiant and beautiful, and whose cultivation had reached the peak of the late-stage Core Formation realm.

Both women were delighted to see Zhou Yuan return. Yuan Yao's gaze fell on Xue Ye beside Zhou Yuan, she paused for a moment, then smiled and stepped forward gracefully.

"Sister Xueye, it's been many years, but you're still as charming as ever."

Yuan Yao bowed gracefully to Xue Ye, her tone gentle and kind.

She had met Xueye once before when she was in the Chaotic Star Sea.

She had a good impression of this aloof yet loyal elder of the Star Palace, and learned about their friendship from Zhou Yuan.

"Yuan... Fellow Daoist Yuan?"

Xueye recognized Yuan Yao, a hint of amazement flashing in her eyes.

When they first met in the Chaotic Star Sea, Yuan Yao was just a Core Formation cultivator. Although she was beautiful, she was still quite naive.

Now, upon seeing him again, she realized that he had successfully condensed his Nascent Soul, his temperament had changed drastically, and his appearance was even more beautiful than before. Standing next to Zhou Yuan, they looked like a perfect couple, causing a slight ripple to stir in her heart, but she quickly suppressed it.

She quickly returned the greeting, sincerely praising, "Fairy Yuan. Congratulations on your attainment of the Great Dao."

She could tell at a glance that Yuan Yao was already at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

"Sister, you flatter me. I was fortunate enough to achieve the Nascent Soul stage thanks to Zhou Lang's great help, and even more so to the miraculous effects of the spiritual spring in this cave."

Yuan Yao said modestly, glancing tenderly at Zhou Yuan, making no attempt to hide her affection and dependence.

"It's truly enviable."

Xueye whispered these words, which came from the bottom of her heart.

I envy Yuan Yao for being treated so sincerely by Zhou Yuan, I envy her for being able to cultivate in such a blessed land, and I envy her for being able to stay with her beloved and explore the Great Dao together.

"If you're envious, why don't you stay here for a while longer?"

Yuan Yao, being quick-witted, noticed Xue Ye's longing for the cave's environment and vaguely sensed the special affection between her and Zhou Yuan. She took the initiative to extend an invitation, displaying her poise and generosity.

"There are many quiet rooms here, and the spiritual energy is inexhaustible. Sister, you will surely achieve twice the results with half the effort by cultivating here. In our leisure time, we sisters can also discuss the Dao and drink tea together. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Upon hearing this, Xue Ye's heart skipped a beat, and a faint blush rose on her beautiful face. She was even somewhat afraid to look at Zhou Yuan.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic and shyness: "I appreciate Fairy Yuan's kindness. However—I came here mainly to help Brother Zhou—brother Zhou deal with the calamity on Biling Island. After this matter is settled, I need to return to the Star Palace to report back, so it is inconvenient for me to stay long." She made an excuse to decline, but in her heart, Yuan Yao's generosity and invitation stirred up more complex feelings.

"So Sister Xue came here specifically to help Zhou Lang."

Yuan Yao suddenly realized, and her gaze towards Xue Ye held a greater sense of genuine gratitude and closeness. She gave Zhou Yuan a reproachful look.

"Zhou Lang, you too! Why didn't you tell me and Sister Yanli when Biling Island was in trouble? Although my cultivation is not as good as yours, I am still a Nascent Soul cultivator, and I could at least do my part—"

"We can't always hide under your wing and be just pretty vases, can we? Next time there's a war, be sure to take us with you!"

Her tone was both charming and firm, clearly indicating that she had some reservations about Zhou Yuan always "protecting" her from behind while she faced the risks alone.

Looking into Yuan Yao's concerned yet stubborn eyes, Zhou Yuan felt a warmth in his heart, knowing that she genuinely wanted to share his burdens.

He smiled and nodded in agreement: "Okay, as you wish. I'll definitely bring you next time. However, you must be realistic about your abilities and not overexert yourself."

"That's more like it!" Yuan Yao was finally satisfied, and then enthusiastically pulled Xue Ye along to introduce her to the other quiet rooms in the cave, as well as some of the wonderful uses of the Spirit Eye Spring. Yan Li also added with a smile, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

As Xueye gazed upon the harmonious and heartwarming scene before him, feeling the abundant spiritual energy and tranquil atmosphere within the cave, the gloom in his heart caused by the threat of the demon race seemed to have been somewhat dispelled.

What a blessing it would be to cultivate here for a long time and discuss the Dao with kindred spirits! This thought flashed through her mind, but she quickly suppressed it. Right now, there were more important things to do.

For the next two years, Zhou Yuan did not live in constant fear of potential threats, nor did he wait aimlessly.

He deeply understood that cultivation was the fundamental principle, and devoted most of his time to seclusion.

With the boundless spiritual energy of the Spirit Eye Spring, the continuous "comprehension" boost from the "Creation Pill" equipment, and the assistance of rare pills such as the "Mysterious Origin Condensing Pill," his cultivation was progressing at an astonishing speed. More importantly, he devoted a great deal of effort to cultivating the "Great Evolution Technique."

This cultivation technique was created by the Great Evolution Divine Lord through his life's work, specializing in the cultivation of divine sense, and its mysteries are boundless. Zhou Yuan had previously cultivated the fifth level to perfection, and his divine sense strength far surpassed that of others at the same level. In the past two years, combining his own insights with sporadic guidance from the Great Evolution Divine Lord, he finally broke through the bottleneck in one fell swoop and successfully cultivated the sixth level of the Great Evolution Technique!

The moment Zhou Yuan successfully cultivated, he felt a sudden tremor in his sea of ​​consciousness, as if the universe had just begun and the galaxy had been inverted! His total spiritual energy surged once more, and its refinement reached a new level! His perception range, insight, micro-management of spells, and especially his control and protection of his own soul, all reached—

He had reached a completely new realm! He felt that his spiritual strength had now firmly reached the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage, and even—touched the edge of the Divine Transformation stage! Although it was only a faint and imperceptible sensation, it was enough to make his heart surge with excitement.

The sixth level of the Great Evolution Technique brings not only a quantitative increase, but also a qualitative change.

His understanding and application of divine sense techniques such as the "Twelve Divine Thrusters" have reached a whole new level.

Now, when used again, its power and stealth are far greater than they were two years ago.

On this day, Zhou Yuan was consolidating his sixth level of cultivation in the meditation room when he suddenly felt something and woke up from his meditation.

He raised his hand and waved, and the complete "Ten Thousand Mile Talisman" that he always carried with him flew out of his storage bag and hovered in front of him.

At this moment, the talisman was emitting a soft white light and trembling slightly. A line of clear silver characters appeared on it, which was the demonic power imprint of the Gale Beast: "Master, signs of a large-scale gathering of demonic beasts have appeared simultaneously in the southwest, northwest, and southeast directions of Biling Island, about a thousand miles away —"

The handwriting was slightly messy, clearly indicating that the Gale Beast was extremely nervous and anxious when writing it.

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes. Instead of panicking, he showed a sense of relief and fierce fighting spirit, as if "it's finally here."

"Finally—it's here after all? And, as expected, it's quite a spectacle."

He muttered to himself, his tone calm, yet filled with chilling murderous intent.

He stood up and pushed open the stone door of the meditation room. With a slight thought, several communication talismans transformed into streams of light and shot towards various parts of the Ascension Sect.

A moment later, at the main hall of the peak.

Marquis Nanlong and Ancestor Linghu have arrived. Both of them have solemn expressions, and they have obviously learned about the changes in the outer sea through their respective channels.

Yuan Yao and Xue Ye also arrived together.

Yuan Yao, dressed in a black outfit that perfectly accentuated her beautiful figure, exuded a heroic and spirited aura, her beautiful eyes blazing with fighting spirit. Despite the snowy night, her white clothes remained as pure as snow, her cool expression revealing little emotion, only the slight tightening of her grip on the sword hilt hinting at her inner turmoil.

"Senior brother, is this Biling Island—"

Marquis Nanlong asked.

"Not bad." Zhou Yuan nodded and briefly explained the message on the Ten Thousand Mile Talisman.

"Brother Zhou, let's go together!" Yuan Yao said in unison on the snowy night.

Zhou Yuan's gaze slowly swept over the four people present. Although Marquis Nanlong and Ancestor Linghu were surprised, they showed no intention of backing down.

Yuan Yao and Xue Ye were even more determined to fight.

"good!"

Zhou Yuan said no more, his eyes gleaming. "Then let us go and see what these demons of the Chaotic Star Sea have to offer! Let's see if their teeth are tougher, or if our swords are sharper!"

"Walk!"

With a wave of his hand, he took the lead and headed towards the passage where the teleportation array was located in the back mountain. Nanlonghou, Linghu Laozu, Yuan Yao, and Xue Ye followed closely behind without hesitation.

Five figures transformed into five streaks of light and disappeared into the depths of the passage.

A moment later, in the quiet room inside the main peak, which was covered with many restrictions, the teleportation array flashed white light and completely swallowed the five figures.