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

Chapter 318 Observing the Grand Ceremony! A Proclamation to the South! The Ancient Medicine Garden!

Zhou Yuan pushed open the stone door to the quiet room.

Walk out slowly.

After twenty years of seclusion, the sun still shines brightly outside the cave, the air is fresh, and it carries the unique spiritual energy of the plants and trees and the dampness of the mountain springs of the Xingyi Mountains.

He did not go directly there, but instead strolled up to the summit of Shengxian Peak.

The wind at the summit was fierce, making his robes flutter loudly.

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking down at the rolling mountains, the swirling clouds and mist, and the palaces and pavilions built against the mountains.

An invisible, vast, ocean-like divine consciousness quietly emanated from his brow and temple, spreading silently in all directions like calm ripples on water.

One hundred li, three hundred li, five hundred li, eight hundred li —

Within a radius of eight hundred miles, the mountains and rivers, the plants and insects, the birds and beasts, even the disciples of the Ascension Sect who were cultivating, talking, and handling affairs, and even some hidden spiritual vein nodes and natural restrictions, were all reflected in his mind with unparalleled clarity, down to the smallest detail.

They could even vaguely sense the aura of some powerful beings further away.

"Eight hundred miles of divine sense—"

Zhou Yuan understood, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

It should be noted that the range of divine sense of ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators is usually between three and four hundred miles.

When he first entered the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, his divine sense had already reached eight hundred miles!

He benefited from the qualitative change brought about by cultivating the Great Evolution Technique to the sixth level!

This level of spiritual power is comparable to that of some old monsters who have just entered the Nascent Soul stage!

Divine sense is a cultivator's eyes, ears, and touch; it is also the foundation for performing many secret techniques, controlling magical treasures, and discerning opportunities.

With such terrifying divine sense, the "Twelve Thorns of the Divine Court" divine sense attack technique will allow him to almost completely overwhelm ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from now on!

His opponent was probably no different from a clay chicken or a clay dog ​​in front of him, and was already intimidated before the battle even began.

He did not deliberately conceal the powerful aura that belonged to a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

This aura, like a primordial beast awakening, carried a profound and vast depth, slowly spreading from the summit of Shengxian Peak and enveloping the entire core area of ​​the Xingyi Mountain Range.

On three mountain peaks only a hundred miles away from Ascension Peak, the Heavenly Hatred Old Monster was either handling affairs or meditating in his respective cave.

At almost the same time, the three of them—Marquis Nanlong, Ancestor Linghu, and the others—saw their bodies tremble violently, and they suddenly opened their eyes, their faces filled with disbelief, horror, and ecstasy!

"This aura—deep as the sea, boundless and limitless—far surpasses the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!" Old Monster Tianhen suddenly stood up, his gaunt face flushed with excitement. "It's Senior Brother! Senior Brother Zhou has emerged from seclusion! He—he succeeded?!"

"Late Nascent Soul stage! It's definitely the aura of a late Nascent Soul stage cultivator!" Marquis Nanlong also rushed out of his cave, looking towards the main peak, his eyes filled with shock and admiration. "Only twenty years! Senior Brother has actually broken through that insurmountable barrier!"

"May God bless my Immortal Ascension Sect! May God bless my senior brother!" Patriarch Linghu was also in tears. After his lifespan increased greatly, his greatest wish was to see the sect prosper and the sect leader reach the pinnacle. Now, his dream has come true!

Without prior arrangement, the three transformed into three streaks of light of different colors and sped toward the main peak of Ascension Peak at top speed, their hearts filled with indescribable excitement and pride.

Inside the core cave of Shengxian Peak.

Yuan Yao, Zi Ling, Yan Li, and Mei Ning, who were cultivating in their respective quiet chambers beside the Spirit Eye Spring, were almost simultaneously awakened by the vast aura emanating from the mountaintop that sent shivers down their spines.

"This is... Zhou Lang's aura?" Yuan Yao's beautiful eyes lit up, and she rushed out of the meditation room first, her pretty face full of surprise and disbelief. "So profound and vast... he broke through?!"

"It's Brother Zhou! This aura—it's so strong! Several times stronger than before!"

Zi Ling followed closely behind, her bright face filled with excitement.

-

Yanli and Mei Ning exchanged a glance, both able to see the excitement and admiration in each other's eyes.

The oppressive aura emanating from Zhou Yuan at this moment instilled in them a sense of awe and security from the bottom of their hearts.

"Let's go! Let's go to the main hall and wait for Zhou Lang!" Yuan Yao composed herself, a smile she couldn't hide on her face, and called to the three women.

The four women left the cave together and followed the passage, soon arriving at the most magnificent and solemn "Ascension Hall" atop the main peak, where they eagerly awaited their arrival.

Before long, Zhou Yuan slowly walked in from outside the hall.

He still had that young and calm face, but his temperament had undergone a subtle change, becoming more reserved and profound. His every move seemed to blend in with the surrounding world, carrying an indescribable majesty.

"Zhou Lang!"

"Brother Zhou!"

The four women immediately surrounded him upon seeing him, their beautiful eyes sparkling as they looked him up and down, as if to confirm that this was not a dream.

"Congratulations, my husband, on your further advancement in the Great Dao and your attainment of the late Nascent Soul stage!" The four women congratulated him in unison, their voices filled with heartfelt joy.

Looking at the four stunningly beautiful women before him, Zhou Yuan smiled gently and nodded, "I'm so glad I succeeded. I've kept you ladies waiting."

He looked at Yuan Yao with admiration in his eyes.

Yuan Yao's aura was very stable.

Clearly, they have not slackened in these twenty years.

Just then, a whooshing sound came from outside the hall. Tianhen Old Monster, Nanlong Marquis, and Linghu Ancestor also rushed over in a flurry.

"Senior brother! Congratulations! You've reached the late Nascent Soul stage! The path to the Great Dao is now clear!"

The three entered the hall and bowed deeply to Zhou Yuan, their faces filled with excitement and reverence.

Upon seeing Zhou Yuan in person and feeling the real, powerful aura of a great cultivator, their last trace of doubt vanished, leaving only immense excitement.

"My three junior brothers, there's no need for such formalities—"

Zhou Yuan raised his hand in a gesture of support and smiled, "This successful breakthrough is also inseparable from the daily management of the sect by my fellow disciples, which allowed me to focus on my seclusion. The sect's current state is largely due to the contributions of my fellow disciples."

"Senior brother, you flatter us. This is our duty!" the three quickly said modestly.

After a round of pleasantries and excitement, Old Monster Tianhen spoke first, his expression solemn: "Senior Brother, you have now successfully advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage, becoming the fourth great cultivator in Tiannan! This is the greatest event since the founding of our Ascension Sect! In my opinion, we must hold a grand celebration, inviting all sects in Tiannan to join us! Firstly, to demonstrate the power of our Ascension Sect, and secondly, to let the world know that our sect has a late Nascent Soul stage great cultivator in charge, making our position unshakeable!"

Marquis Nanlong nodded in agreement: "Senior Brother Tianhen is absolutely right! Senior Brother's advancement to the late Nascent Soul stage is a major event that will shake the cultivation world of Tiannan and even the surrounding areas. Holding a grand ceremony to announce it to the world is the perfect opportunity! We can also take this chance to strengthen our ties with other sects and solidify our sect's position in Tiannan."

Linghu the Elder stroked his beard and smiled: "I also believe this is a win-win situation. What do you think, Senior Brother?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment.

Holding a celebration would indeed help enhance the prestige and status of the Ascension Sect, and could also further deter some potential rivals.

His strength has greatly increased, and he is no longer afraid of any challenge. Showing off his muscles appropriately is beneficial and harmless.

"Alright."

Zhou Yuan nodded slowly and made a decision, "Then we will proceed with the preparations for the celebration as suggested by our three junior brothers. We will send invitations to all the sects and families of any size in Tiannan, as well as some well-known independent cultivators. As for the date—let's set it for six months from now. I'll leave the specific arrangements to our three junior brothers."

"Senior brother, rest assured! We will do our utmost to make this ceremony a resounding success, so that the whole world will know the might of our Ascension Sect!"

The three, including Tianhen Laoguai, solemnly accepted the order, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

For them, presiding over the celebration of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is an honor.

After arranging the celebration, Zhou Yuan gave his three junior brothers a few instructions on matters that the sect needed to pay attention to in the near future, and then told them to go and get busy.

Only Zhou Yuan and the four women, Yuan Yao, remained in the hall.

"Let's go back to the cave and talk." Zhou Yuan smiled gently at the four women and took the lead towards the back mountain passage. The four women gladly followed.

Returning to the spiritually rich core cave, Zhou Yuan sat down at the stone table beside the Spirit Eye Spring and personally brewed a pot of calming and soothing spiritual tea. The fragrant aroma of the tea was refreshing and invigorating.

"Thank you for your hard work over the years." Zhou Yuan looked at the four women with gentle eyes. He had been in seclusion for twenty years. Although his cave was safe, he was not completely unaware of the outside world and knew that Yuan Yao had taken good care of the cave and the women.

"You're too kind, Zhou Lang. This is what we should do," Yuan Yao said softly, pouring tea for Zhou Yuan. Zi Ling, Yan Li, and Mei Ning also shook their heads, indicating that it was no trouble for them.

Zhou Yuan enjoyed tea and discussed philosophy with the four women, chatting casually while also giving them guidance on their cultivation.

Yuan Yao was already in the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, so Zhou Yuan discussed some cultivation insights and supernatural abilities with her.

Zi Ling, Yan Li, and Mei Ning are already in the late stage of Core Formation, just one step away from breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Zhou Yuan inquired in detail about their cultivation progress, bottlenecks in their techniques, and preparations for Nascent Soul formation, and offered many pertinent suggestions and encouragement.

"The matter of forming an infant is fundamental to the path of cultivation, and is extremely dangerous; it cannot be rushed."

Zhou Yuan looked at the three women, his tone gentle yet firm, "You all have good foundations, and you possess the Spirit Eye Spring and ample resources. Simply proceed step by step, continue to accumulate and refine your magical power, and comprehend the world. When the time is ripe and your mind is at its peak, you can attempt it. I have several kinds of pills and formulas here that can help stabilize your mind and increase the success rate of Nascent Soul formation. I will give them to you later. Remember, do not lose your composure due to eagerness for quick success, or it will be counterproductive."

"Zhou Lang, we've got it." The three women nodded in agreement, their hearts filled with warmth.

With the guidance and resources provided by the great cultivator Zhou Yuan, they still felt pressured about reaching the Nascent Soul stage, but they gained more confidence and composure.

Just as the group was chatting happily, Zhou Yuan suddenly had a thought. His powerful divine sense detected a familiar, faint yet clear spatial fluctuation about a thousand miles away from the Ascension Sect, which was rapidly approaching.

"Little Purple is back?"

A hint of surprise and anticipation flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

Xiao Zi was left by him in the Fallen Demon Valley to search for the legendary "Ancient Medicine Garden" more than twenty years ago.

Why the sudden return now? Could it be that—a discovery has been made?

He suppressed his eagerness and continued talking with the four women.

After a short while, he sensed that Xiao Zi had entered the Xingyi Mountain Range and was heading towards Shengxian Peak.

"Please sit for a moment, I have a little one who's back." Zhou Yuan said with a smile to the four women, then got up and walked towards the main hall of the cave.

As soon as he stood still in the hall, the space about ten feet in front of him rippled like water, and a thin black crack, barely wide enough for a fist to pass through, silently appeared.

Immediately afterward, a flash of silver light appeared, and a small, adorable, squirrel-like creature with purple fur, purple eyes, and a fluffy tail nimbly emerged from the crack—it was Little Purple!

"Squeak!" Upon seeing Zhou Yuan, Little Purple immediately let out a joyful chirp. Like a swallow returning to its nest, it transformed into a streak of silver light and darted onto Zhou Yuan's shoulder. It affectionately rubbed its little head against his cheek and even stuck out its pink little tongue to lick it.

"You've worked hard, little one."

Zhou Yuan smiled, took out a high-grade wood-attribute spirit stone from his storage bracelet, and offered it to Xiao Zi's mouth. Xiao Zi's eyes lit up, and she hugged the spirit stone without any hesitation, crunching away with great relish, looking completely satisfied.

Although Xiao Zi couldn't speak, through the spirit beast contract and mental connection, Zhou Yuan could clearly perceive the messages it transmitted.

A simple thought, a mixture of excitement and a desire for credit—it's found it!

Not only did they find that secluded "ancient medicine garden," but they also discovered another wonderful thing along the way!

"Very good! Excellent work!"

Zhou Yuan was overjoyed and gently stroked Xiao Zi's soft silver fur, praising it generously. Xiao Zi squinted its eyes, enjoying its master's caresses, and wagged its tail proudly.

"Take me to see this," Zhou Yuan conveyed his thoughts to Xiao Zi.

Little Purple nodded, jumped off Zhou Yuan's shoulder, and with a swift stroke of its little paw, a stable spatial rift about a foot long reappeared. It glanced back at Zhou Yuan and then darted inside.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yuan took a step forward and followed closely behind, disappearing into the spatial rift.

The crack immediately closed, and the cave hall returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

Two months later.

Deep within the Fallen Demon Valley lies a valley cleverly concealed by natural illusion arrays and spatial rifts, yet possessing an exceptionally rich spiritual energy.

Zhou Yuan's figure quietly appeared. Not far in front of him, beneath a steep rock wall, in a shady and damp place, grew a small grass that was only about a foot tall, with a vibrant green body and five fiery red, candle-shaped fruits hanging alone at its top.

It is the Spirit Candle Fruit, the main ingredient for refining the "Creation Pill"!

Moreover, they are five ripe fruits, brimming with spiritual energy!

"Five Spirit Candle Fruits!"

An uncontrollable surge of ecstasy erupted in Zhou Yuan's eyes!

He never expected that Xiao Zi would not only find clues to the ancient medicine garden, but also discover such precious spiritual herbs along the way! And there were as many as five of them!

This is like a windfall!

It should be noted that the main ingredient for refining the Creation Pill is extremely difficult to find.

He had exhausted all his efforts and only managed to find a few in the Fallen Demon Valley, which was already a great stroke of luck.

Now, five more have been found here!

In addition, he had some auxiliary medicines left over, enough to refine five more Creation Pills!

"Little Purple, you've done a great job this time!"

Zhou Yuan patted Xiao Zi's head on his shoulder with delight. Xiao Zi squeaked, its little face full of pride.

Zhou Yuan carefully stepped forward and, using a special technique, picked the five Spirit Candle Fruits one by one and stored them in his equipment inventory!

To ensure that the medicine's potency is not lost.

"We have obtained the Spirit Candle Fruit; next, it's time for the ancient medicine garden."

Zhou Yuan suppressed his excitement and looked deeper into the valley.

"Let's go, continue leading the way."

Zhou Yuan said to Xiao Zi.

Xiao Zi nodded, then tore open another spatial rift and was the first to enter.

Zhou Yuan followed closely behind.

While Zhou Yuan was exploring the ancient medicine garden deep in the Fallen Demon Valley.

In Tiannan, in Tianluo Kingdom, lies the forbidden ground of the Hehuan Sect, the leader of the six major demonic sects, known as "Tianyang Pool".

This place is shrouded in a thick gray fog year-round, the swirling fog exuding an eeriness and ominousness. Within a radius of twenty miles, few people are seen; even the Nascent Soul elders of the Hehuan Sect dare not approach without permission.

But at this moment, only a dozen feet away from the mist, stood five or six cultivators of different clothes, all of whom were at the Nascent Soul stage, some male and some female.

They all looked solemn, gazing silently at the swirling mist ahead, as if waiting for something.

After a long while, a faint, yet captivating, sigh drifted through the mist.

-

"The fourth great cultivator—the one surnamed Zhou—is cultivating really fast."

The voice from within the mist carried a complex mix of emotions—a mixture of admiration, apprehension, and a hint of amusement—"Although I had long suspected he would eventually reach this point, I never imagined he would advance again in just over twenty years. Such speed is truly astonishing—"

The Nascent Soul cultivators outside the mist, including the sect leader of the Joyful Union Sect, all held their breath and dared not speak, their attitudes extremely respectful.

"However, since he's already come this far—" The voice in the mist paused, then became calm and certain, "It seems I'll have to personally attend the grand ceremony hosted by the Ascension Sect this time. I should also go and meet this—the youngest great cultivator in Tiannan."

As soon as he finished speaking, the mist swirled slightly, and then no more sound came out.

But the Nascent Soul cultivators outside the mist were all shocked.

The Old Demon of Hehuan is actually going there in person?

This is something that hasn't happened in decades!

It seems that the newly promoted Grandmaster Zhou Yuan holds a much heavier place in the hearts of the Ancestors than they imagined!

at the same time.

The forbidden area behind the Tai Zhen Sect in Fengdu Kingdom, a place of righteous alliance.

A message talisman transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the depths of the forbidden area.

A moment later, a flash of light appeared at the entrance to the forbidden area, and an old man dressed in a Taoist robe, with a clear face, an otherworldly air, and an air of detachment, as if he were one with the surrounding world, slowly walked out.

He was none other than the foremost figure of the righteous path in the south, the Venerable Zhiyang.

Several Nascent Soul elders from the Tai Zhen Sect who were waiting outside quickly stepped forward to pay their respects.

"Sect Leader, reliable news has come from the Ascension Sect: their Sect Master, Zhou Yuan, has recently broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage. The Ascension Sect has sent out invitations widely and will hold a grand celebration in March."

A mid-stage Nascent Soul elder reported this.

Upon hearing this, even the usually calm and composed Master Zhiyang showed a slight change in expression, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"So fast—"

He muttered to himself, his tone tinged with an indescribable emotion, "I thought he would need at least sixty years or even longer to hone his skills, but I never expected—this boy's talent, opportunities, and temperament are truly remarkable."

He looked up and gazed eastward, where the sunlight seemed to penetrate thousands of mountains and rivers.

"The landscape of Tiannan is likely to change."

Master Zhiyang spoke slowly, then instructed, "Prepare the gifts. I will personally attend this grand ceremony."

"Yes! Senior Brother Sect Leader!" The elders were startled and quickly responded.

Nine Kingdoms Alliance, Transformation Gate.

Wei Wuyai also received the news. He stood on the cliff outside his cave, gazing at the churning sea of ​​clouds, and remained silent for a long time.

"Zhou Yuan — Late Nascent Soul Stage"

He repeated the name softly, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Back in the Battle of the Mulan Grasslands, Zhou Yuan was only at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, yet he already displayed astonishing combat power. Now, he has also entered that realm.

"Very well, it's time to go and meet him. Let's see what kind of demeanor this newly joined fellow practitioner possesses."

Wei Wuyai finally made his decision and said to the disciples standing behind him, "Prepare a generous gift. Three months from now, you will accompany me to the Ascension Sect in Dongyu Kingdom."

The next two months.

The entire cultivation world of Tiannan was in an uproar!

The Northern Liang Kingdom, the Yu Kingdom, the Jiang Kingdom, the Cheqi Kingdom, the Yuanwu Kingdom, the Zijin Kingdom—without exception, all the cultivation sects of any size and the cultivation families of considerable strength received invitations from the Ascension Sect of the Eastern Yu Kingdom.

The invitation was concise and derogatory, yet it was enough to shake the mind of any leader who received it. Zhou Yuan, the sect leader of the Immortal Sect, had successfully advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage and become the fourth great cultivator in Tiannan!

To celebrate this grand event, a grand ceremony will be held at the entrance of the Ascension Sect. We sincerely invite fellow Daoists from all walks of life to attend and witness this momentous occasion!

For a time, regardless of the size or strength of the sect that received the invitation, they were all caught in an indescribable uproar and discussion.

Those small and medium-sized sects and cultivation families, upon receiving the invitations, were initially filled with trepidation and disbelief, followed by ecstasy and trepidation.

Receiving an invitation to the celebration of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is itself a form of recognition and honor!

Even just showing up and giving a gift can greatly enhance one's reputation and status in the local area!

Therefore, each family racked their brains to prepare the most precious congratulatory gift they could offer, and carefully selected the people who would attend the ceremony, making sure they did not fail to observe proper etiquette.

Those major sects that were originally ranked alongside the Ascension Sect as one of the great sects of Tiannan, and even had some competitive relationship with it, such as the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Imperial Spirit Sect,

Upon receiving the invitation, Tianjimen's feelings were far more complex.

Shock, fear, envy, vigilance, and even a hint of jealousy were intertwined.

However, no sect dared to be negligent in the face of a newly promoted, powerful, and very young late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

The sect leaders and elders held an emergency meeting and ultimately decided that at least one high-ranking Nascent Soul elder from their sect would be sent to personally attend the ceremony with lavish gifts as a sign of respect.

At the same time, it was also to personally observe and assess the strength and attitude of this newly promoted Grand Master and the Ascension Sect.

In an instant, the names "Zhou Yuan" and "Ascension Sect" swept through every corner of the entire Tiannan cultivation world at an astonishing speed!

Whether it's a reclusive master living in seclusion in famous mountains and rivers, a family of immortal cultivators gathered in places with spiritual veins of all sizes and with a lineage of hundreds or thousands of years, or a major sect of immortal cultivators with tens of thousands of disciples and control over a country, "Zhou Yuan" is probably the name that has been mentioned, discussed, and speculated about the most in the past hundred years.

Teahouses, taverns, market fairs, sect lecture halls, family secret chambers—almost everywhere cultivators gathered, people were discussing with great interest and mixed emotions this legendary figure who, at a "young age," had set foot on the summit of Tiannan and become the fourth great cultivator.

The entire cultivation world of Tiannan was like a pot of water about to boil.

The news of Zhou Yuan's advancement to the late Nascent Soul stage and the grand ceremony he was holding caused a complete uproar!

All eyes were on Dongyu Kingdom and the Xingyi Mountains.