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

Chapter 321 Planning Before Going to the Great Jin! The Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman!

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Zhiyang—"

Zhou Yuan seemed to suddenly remember something, turned his gaze to Master Zhiyang, and casually asked.

"I heard a story from my younger days: it was rumored that the righteous and demonic paths had joined forces to discover a remnant root of the legendary Mysterious Heavenly Vine?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Venerable Zhiyang, Old Demon Hehuan, and Wei Wuyai all shifted slightly.

The Mysterious Heavenly Vine is a legendary divine object. Why did Zhou Yuan suddenly bring it up?

Master Zhiyang pondered for a moment, then nodded and said frankly, "Fellow Daoist Zhou is well-informed. This is indeed true. During a joint exploration, several of my righteous and demonic comrades stumbled upon a small section of what appears to be the root of the Mysterious Heaven Immortal Vine deep within a dangerous place. Unfortunately, the root has already withered completely and is impossible to cultivate."

"Back then, both the righteous and demonic paths spent a great deal of effort on this item, trying countless secret methods and even enlisting the help of several fellow Daoists skilled in cultivating spiritual plants in an attempt to revive it—unfortunately, all their efforts were in vain. That withered root has no trace of life left."

He paused, then continued, "Later, seeing no hope of revival, after discussion among the fellow Daoists present, the withered root was roughly divided into several parts—"

"And in my possession, I have a copy—"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's eyes flashed with understanding, followed by an expression of interest.

He said to Venerable Zhiyang, "I see. Fellow Daoist Zhiyang, I, Zhou, also yearn for the name of the Mysterious Heavenly Vine."

"Although we know it is no longer alive, it is, after all, the remains of an ancient divine object. Preserving it for research and observation may offer some enlightenment."

"I wonder—would you be willing to part with that root in your possession and trade it to me? I am willing to exchange it for something of equal value, or something you need, and I will never let you suffer a loss."

He directly requested a transaction.

Master Zhiyang was slightly taken aback, not expecting Zhou Yuan to suddenly propose trading these useless, almost worthless roots.

However, given Zhou Yuan's current strength and status, it would be unwise to refuse if he had already spoken, as it would only offend him unnecessarily.

Moreover, he had been holding that root for hundreds of years and had studied it countless times, but he had found nothing about it; it was no different from a piece of junk.

If this can earn Zhou Yuan a favor or some practical benefit, why not do it?

"Since Fellow Daoist Zhou is interested, this item will only gather dust if it remains in my possession."

"No need for a transaction, I'll simply gift it to you for your research." Master Zhiyang was quite accommodating, a warm smile spreading across his face. As he spoke, he took a wooden box from his storage bag—

He waved and opened the box.

Inside the box lay a withered root, about three inches long and as thick as a little finger, grayish-brown in color, shriveled and thin, with fine cracks all over its surface and no luster.

It looks no different from ordinary dead tree roots.

If it weren't for the words of the Venerable Zhiyang, ordinary people would find it hard to believe that these are the roots of the Xuan Tian Immortal Vine.

"This is it."

Master Zhiyang handed the jade box to Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan smiled and accepted the jade box.

"Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Zhiyang. I will remember this favor."

Zhou Yuan bowed to Master Zhiyang in thanks. He naturally wouldn't accept it for nothing and would find an opportunity to make amends in the future, but there was no need to say anything more at the moment.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, why do you only ask Elder Daoist Zhiyang, but not me?"

Just after Zhou Yuan accepted the jade box handed over by Master Zhiyang, the silent Old Demon Hehuan spoke up, his tone feigning dissatisfaction. Zhou Yuan, Master Zhiyang, and Wei Wuyai were all taken aback and turned their gazes to Old Demon Hehuan.

The Old Demon of Hehuan continued, "Back then, I also received a portion of that Xuan Tian Immortal Vine root! Since Fellow Daoist Zhou is interested in this item, my portion is simply gathering dust, so I might as well give it to you as well—"

That's all.

Before Zhou Yuan could respond, the Old Demon of Hehuan threw out a wooden box, which flew straight towards Zhou Yuan.

A hint of surprise flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes, which then turned into a smile.

This old demon of the Hehuan Sect is indeed adept at changing his stance according to the wind, and knows when to yield and when to stand firm.

He had previously berated himself for being arrogant, but seeing that his strength far exceeded his expectations, he immediately changed his attitude and offered up what was no longer of much use to him as "junk," both as a gesture of goodwill and as a way to make amends for his previous behavior.

This "gift" came at just the right time.

He reached out and took the box, scanning it with his divine sense. He confirmed that inside was indeed a section of grayish-brown root that was very similar to the one belonging to Master Zhiyang—dry, withered, and lifeless.

"In that case, I thank Fellow Daoist Hehuan for his kindness. I am deeply grateful for your thoughtfulness."

Zhou Yuan bowed in thanks towards the direction where the Old Demon of the Joyful Union was, his tone calm, accepting this "apology" and gesture of goodwill.

He naturally wouldn't expose the other party's intentions, and simply accepted it without question.

Seeing that Zhou Yuan had accepted it, the old demon of the Joyful Union seemed to relax the gray mist slightly, and let out a dry laugh: "I'm glad Fellow Daoist Zhou likes it."

Wei Wuyai watched from the side, sighing inwardly.

This old demon of the Hehuan Sect truly lives up to his reputation as a demon who has lived for thousands of years; his shamelessness and adaptability are truly remarkable.

However, in doing so, all three of them had "gone soft" in front of Zhou Yuan, and indirectly acknowledged his status as the "Number One Person in Tiannan".

Although no one witnessed this exchange of skills in the valley, its impact on the four of them, and even on the future landscape of Tiannan, will likely be profound.

"Alright, this matter is settled. We've been gone for quite some time, and I'm afraid our fellow Daoists outside are getting impatient." Zhou Yuan put away the two jade boxes, a gentle smile returning to his face, and said to the three, "Let's return to our seats first, lest we neglect our guests."

"That's exactly right."

Master Zhiyang nodded.

"Let's go," Wei Wuyai said.

The four said no more, each displaying their unique abilities, and their figures quietly disappeared from the valley, as if they had never existed.

Only the still calm pool and the slowly returning spiritual light of the protective barrier remain, witnessing the brief but earth-shaking peak duel that just occurred.

When Zhou Yuan and his three companions reappeared at the banquet square atop Shengxian Peak, it did not cause much of a stir.

In the eyes of the guests, these four great cultivators had merely left their seats for a moment to privately discuss some important matters concerning the overall situation in Tiannan.

Seeing them return to their seats with normal expressions, everyone took it as nothing unusual and continued their banquet and conversation.

The atmosphere at the banquet became even more lively and harmonious after Zhou Yuan's return.

The grand celebration of the late-stage Nascent Soul realm lasted until sunset, when the sky was ablaze with rosy clouds, before finally coming to a close amidst the joyful atmosphere of the guests and hosts.

Guests from all sides, respectfully seen off by the disciples of the Ascension Sect, departed one after another on their escape lights. As many left, their gazes toward Zhou Yuan were filled with a deeper sense of awe and a desire to make his acquaintance.

After the celebration, the Ascension Sect returned to its former tranquility and order.

However, news of Sect Master Zhou Yuan's successful advancement to the late Nascent Soul stage and the grand ceremony he held had already spread like wildfire throughout every corner of Tiannan. Zhou Yuan's name was once again thrust into the spotlight, becoming the focus of countless cultivators' admiration and discussion.

point.

However, the news that shook the entire Tiannan cultivation world once again, and even more violently, quietly spread from the core circles of several top forces within a few days after the celebration ended, and spread to the entire high-level cultivator community at an astonishing speed!

The source of the news was none other than the three giants of Tiannan who had personally participated in the "sparring" in the valley that day: the Old Demon of Hehuan, the Venerable Zhiyang, and Wei Wuyai! They did not hide anything, and even intentionally or unintentionally revealed some "details" of that day within their respective circles: "Fellow Daoist Zhou's strength is unfathomable. Even with the combined efforts of the three of us—Fellow Daoists Zhiyang, Wei, and myself—we could not withstand his sword formation and supernatural powers for long before realizing our inferiority and admitting defeat."

"Fellow Daoist Zhou is not only a master of swordsmanship, but also possesses supreme secret techniques such as the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder and the Divine Sense Attack. His magical power is so profound and his control so exquisite that it is beyond our reach."

"From this day forward, the title of the number one person in Tiannan shall belong to Fellow Daoist Zhou. I am completely convinced."

Although the three people's statements differed slightly and their tones were different, their core meaning was surprisingly consistent—Zhou Yuan possessed terrifying strength to fight three people at once and win!

His cultivation and supernatural abilities have completely surpassed those of the three of them, making him the undisputed number one powerhouse in Tiannan!

This news is even more explosive than Zhou Yuan's advancement to the late Nascent Soul stage!

Previously, Zhou Yuan's status as the "fourth great cultivator of Tiannan" gave him the right to be on equal footing with the three Supreme Yang Masters.

Now, these three veteran giants have personally acknowledged, and even proclaimed with a hint of awe, his achievement of "easily defeating three opponents single-handedly" has directly propelled Zhou Yuan to an unprecedented and unparalleled pedestal!

"The number one person in the south!"

This weighty title, imbued with boundless majesty and power, along with the "testimony" of the three old demons of the Hehuan Sect, swept through the upper echelons of the entire Tiannan cultivation world in a very short time, like a hurricane, and then spread downwards! The sensation and shock it caused even surpassed the previous promotion ceremony!

Everyone understood what this meant. It meant that from this day forward, the landscape of the cultivation world in Tiannan would be completely transformed!

It was no longer a three-way power struggle with subtle checks and balances, but the emergence of a true, unparalleled leader!

The prestige and status of the Ascension Sect will rise accordingly, making it the undisputed number one sect in Tiannan!

The name Zhou Yuan will likely shine like a great sun over the next thousand years, illuminating the entire southern region and becoming the beginning of an insurmountable legend!

Inside the quiet chamber of the core cave dwelling on Ascension Peak.

Zhou Yuan paid little attention to the huge uproar caused by the "propaganda" of the three old demons of Hehuan.

For him, empty fame was merely a byproduct of his strength—useful, but not fundamental. What he cared more about was how to transform that strength into resources for further advancement.

At this moment, he sat cross-legged beside the Spirit Eye Spring, with two jade boxes floating in front of him—a warm jade box given by the Venerable Zhiyang, and a black jade box given by the Old Demon Hehuan.

The box lid was open, revealing two dry, withered, and lifeless gray-brown roots inside.

"Mysterious Heavenly Vine - a legendary divine object closely related to the secret of ascension in this world. Even if it is just two completely withered roots, it must have something extraordinary about it."

Zhou Yuan muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping over the two sections of roots. With his current spiritual sense and knowledge, he could clearly tell that these two sections of roots were indeed devoid of any vitality or spiritual energy, no different from ordinary withered branches, seemingly just "souvenirs".

But he had a vague feeling, or rather, a vague sense of something from the "Equipment Slot," the mysterious thing that had accompanied him through his transmigration—that these two seemingly useless roots might not be as simple as they appeared.

He glanced at the invisible equipment bar.

The equipment slots currently have seven slots, with the first three each equipped with a "Creation Pill," providing a continuous boost to enlightenment.

The fourth to seventh slots are equipped with treasures that assist in cultivating the Azure Origin Sword Technique.

His gaze fell on the fourth square.

"Give it a try."

With a thought, Zhou Yuan took out the section of Xuan Tian Immortal Vine root given to him by the Venerable Zhi Yang from the warm jade box.

When he "equipped" this piece of dried root into the fourth slot, it became: [Equipment Slot 4: Mystic Immortal Vine (Fragment) Root]

(Effect: Slightly enhances perception and comprehension of the mysteries related to "Laws".)

"Laws—Enlightenment Bonus?" Even with Zhou Yuan's composure, seeing this message still stirred up a storm of emotions within him!

law!

It is the fundamental rule that constitutes this world and governs the birth and death of all things!

It is the true manifestation of the Great Way!

Even though the roots of this Mysterious Immortal Vine have withered to this extent, they can still grant him a slight ability to enhance his understanding of "laws" through the equipment slot.

Even if it's just a tiny bit, it's still an absolutely incredible effect!

Its value far exceeds any treasure that enhances magical power, strengthens divine sense, or increases cultivation speed!

Because this is an enlightenment concerning the origin of "Tao"!

"No wonder—no wonder this thing is called the 'Immortal Vine,' it has indeed touched upon the level of laws!"

Zhou Yuan understood immediately, and after a moment of elation, he quickly calmed down.

Although the effect was extraordinary, for him at the moment, the "law" was still too ethereal and unattainable.

He is currently only in the late Nascent Soul stage, and has not even touched the threshold of the Deity Transformation stage, let alone comprehend or utilize the laws.

The effect of this equipment seems more like paving the way for the future, or perhaps bringing him an unexpected enlightenment at some extremely special moment when the laws of heaven and earth manifest.

It belongs to the category of top-potential stocks that are "promising in the future" but "have no obvious current utility".

Even so, that's enough.

Zhou Yuan was very satisfied.

After dealing with the roots of the Xuan Tian Immortal Vine, Zhou Yuan turned his attention to another matter.

With a flick of his wrist, a small cauldron, no bigger than the palm of his hand, appeared in his palm. It had three legs and two handles, was light gold in color, had an ancient and grand design, and was engraved with countless complex and profound runes.

It is none other than the Heavenly Treasure—the Void Heaven Cauldron!

Back when he was in the early Nascent Soul stage, he obtained this treasure in the Void Heaven Palace and barely managed to cultivate the first level of the Treasure-Gathering Technique, thus gaining initial access to treasures.

He had been nurturing the cauldron, but limited by his cultivation level, he had never been able to truly activate the Void Heaven Cauldron as a weapon in combat.

Now, his cultivation has reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and his magical power, divine sense, and control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth are far beyond what they used to be.

According to the information inherited from the Void Heaven Cauldron, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level is sufficient to begin attempting cultivation and to initially master the second level of the Tongbao Technique!

Once the second level of the Tongbao Technique is successfully cultivated, one can truly unleash a portion of the power of the Void Heaven Cauldron for offense and defense. At that time, this treasure will reveal its terrifying nature as a "Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure"!

"It's time."

Zhou Yuan's gaze was intense as his consciousness sank into the Void Heaven Cauldron. The complex and profound array of restrictive runes on the second layer, which slowly rotated like golden stars, was clearly presented before his "eyes".

He composed himself and began to follow the inherited methods, channeling his pure and vast magical power and powerful divine sense from the late-stage Nascent Soul realm into the cauldron, attempting to refine and control the core of the restrictions that represented the second layer of power.

Cultivation knows no time.

In a quiet room.

Only the murmuring of the Spirit Eye Spring and the occasional soft hum of the Void Heaven Cauldron could be heard.

A month later.

Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a faint golden light flashing in them before disappearing.

The Void Cauldron before him seemed more restrained than before, but the runes on its body faintly shimmered with a mysterious luster.

"The second layer of the Tongbao Technique has finally been successfully refined."

97

Zhou Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, a look of satisfaction on his face.

He is now able to activate the Void Heaven Cauldron for simple offense and defense.

For example, it can be used to forcefully confront its solid body, or to activate its basic supernatural powers such as "suppression", "restriction", and "refinement".

This undoubtedly gives him another powerful trump card.

To fully unleash its power, one would probably need to reach the Nascent Soul stage, or even higher.

After putting away the Void Heaven Cauldron, Zhou Yuan stood up and walked out of the quiet room.

He arrived at the main hall of the cave dwelling, and with a slight thought, a communication talisman transformed into a stream of light and flew out.

Before long, a graceful figure dressed in a blue sect robe, with a tall and straight posture and a beautiful yet capable appearance, strode into the hall.

She bowed respectfully to Zhou Yuan: "Disciple Ouyang Qing greets Master!"

It was Zhou Yuan's eldest disciple, Ouyang Qing.

Decades have passed, and she has long since shed her youthful naiveté and timidity. Her cultivation has improved, and her temperament has become calm and composed. She has become a core disciple who can stand alone in the Ascension Sect and is deeply trusted by Zhou Yuan.

"Qing'er, there's no need for such formalities."

Zhou Yuan gently gestured for her to stand up and asked, "How has the collection of the materials list I gave you before I went into seclusion progressed over the years? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Qing's face showed a hint of shame. She bowed her head and reported, "Reporting to Master, over the years, your disciple and several senior uncles have utilized most of the sect's channels and resources, and secretly inquired and offered rewards through several major chambers of commerce and auction houses in Tiannan, as well as some hidden black markets. Most of the supporting materials on the list have been collected. However—only the few key materials that you specifically marked are still completely unknown. Your disciple and we have done our best, but it seems—there is very little production or news of these materials in the entire Tiannan region. The occasional rumors are mostly unfounded!"

Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke.

He clearly felt uneasy, believing he had failed to complete the task assigned by his master.

Zhou Yuan's expression didn't change much after hearing this, as if he had expected it.

He waved his hand gently and said, "Alright, this isn't your fault. The materials I need are all core components for crafting high-level puppets; they are extremely rare and hard to come by. To expect to gather them all in this relatively barren land of Tiannan is indeed asking too much."

He paused, his gaze piercing through the mountains to reach a distant place, and slowly said, "It seems—it's time to make a trip to the Great Jin."

"The Great Jin Dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise and longing flashed in Ouyang Qing's beautiful eyes.

The Great Jin Dynasty, a sacred land for cultivation in the human realm!

Its area is dozens of times larger than that of Tiannan, rich in spiritual energy and abundant in resources. It is home to numerous sects and powerful figures, making it the true center of cultivation civilization in this world!

Rumor has it that not only are there Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there, but there are also ancient teleportation arrays connecting to other continents, making it a true battleground for the Great Dao! Master actually plans to go there?

"Indeed, Great Jin." Zhou Yuan nodded, his tone certain. "Only there is a greater possibility of finding what I need, witnessing a wider world, and pursuing a higher path. My mind is made up on this matter."

Ouyang Qing knew that no one could change her master's decision, so she said no more and asked, "When will Master set off?"

What do you need me to prepare, disciple? The sect is on our side—"

"It will take some time before we set off; we need to make some preparations."

Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "With your three senior uncles assisting us and the great formation protecting us, we have nothing to worry about in the short term. Besides—"

'

A faint yet confident smile appeared on his lips: "A few days ago, I had a 'sparring' session with Hehuan, Zhiyang, and Wei Wuyai, which solidified my title as the 'Number One Person in the South' —"

"Even if I temporarily leave Tiannan, I believe that no one will be so foolish as to come to my Ascension Sect to seek death."

Upon hearing this, Ouyang Qing was shocked, and then felt an overwhelming sense of pride and security.

Master's strength and reputation are already the sect's most solid support!

"However, before leaving, we need to make some arrangements." Zhou Yuan changed the subject and instructed Ouyang Qing, "Go and inform your three senior uncles, Tianhen, Nanlong, and Linghu, to come to my cave later for a meeting."

"Yes, Master! This disciple will go and do it right away!" Ouyang Qing accepted the order and hurriedly left.

Zhou Yuan stood alone in the hall, his thoughts racing. The journey to the Great Jin Dynasty was long and fraught with unknown dangers; he had to be fully prepared.

Besides improving one's own strength, the safety of the sect and those around them also needs to be carefully considered.

With a thought, he took out a dark gold puppet about seven feet tall from his storage bag.

This is the first and currently only puppet that he attempted to refine when his cultivation was still in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, using some rare materials and combining some of the puppet inheritance of the Great Evolution Divine Lord.

"Golden Guardian".

This puppet is both offensive and defensive, possesses immense strength, and can be controlled according to preset commands or divine sense to perform tasks such as guarding and attacking.

Although their agility is far inferior to that of a true Nascent Soul cultivator, and they consume a huge amount of spirit stones, they are sufficient to deal with most dangers as pure guards or one-time assault forces.

"This Golden Guardian will be left to Yao-mei for self-defense. With it, combined with Yao-mei's own Nascent Soul cultivation and the sect's grand formation, even if some villains attack, it will be enough to hold out for a while until I return or my three junior brothers come to our aid." Zhou Yuan made up his mind. Yuan Yao was his Daoist partner and had already formed her Nascent Soul, so entrusting the puppet to her control was the most suitable thing for him.

As for the sect's overall defense, there are three mid-Nascent Soul cultivators—Tianhen, Nanlong, and Linghu—along with the Gale Beast, the sect's protective formation, and his infamous reputation as "the number one person in Tiannan."

There should be no major safety concerns.

During his absence, he only needed to instruct the three men to be vigilant, close the mountain gates, and develop in a low-key manner.

"However, before heading to the Great Jin, there is one more place we should visit to retrieve something we should have gotten long ago." A hint of reminiscence and sharpness flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes.

Back then, when he was still a Qi Refining disciple in Huangfeng Valley, he participated in the "Bloody Forbidden Land" trial in Yue Kingdom.

In the forbidden area, he obtained a mysterious bronze treasure chest by chance.

The treasure chest was protected by a powerful ancient restriction. With his cultivation level at the time, he was simply unable to open it.

Later, as his cultivation level increased, especially after his mastery of formations improved, he successfully broke the seal on the treasure chest many years ago.

Inside the treasure chest, there was no earth-shattering skill or magic weapon he had initially expected, only a token that was neither gold nor jade, with an ancient shape and strange cloud patterns.

This token is the key to unlocking the restrictions on the towering "pagoda" that stands a hundred feet tall in the core area of ​​the Crimson Forbidden Land, a place no one has ever successfully entered before!

As a "transmigrator," Zhou Yuan possesses fragments of memories about the "original story" of this world.

He clearly remembered that several extraordinary treasures were hidden within the core pagoda of that blood-red forbidden land.

What captivated him most was an ancient and wondrous talisman called the Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman!