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

Chapter 324 Saintess of Tianlan: You're only at the late stage, yet you dare to be arrogant in my Tianlan!

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, it's not that we didn't want to inform you, it's just that Her Highness the Holy Maiden's identity is special!"

The slightly plump old man, sweat beading on his forehead, hurriedly explained, his tone filled with helplessness and fear, "We are merely elders of the Junxian tribe, and we truly do not know the Holy Maiden's exact location. If we rashly reveal incorrect information, it will delay your important matters!"

"It's just to tell you the location."

Zhou Yuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping over the two men with an undeniable air of authority. "With so many tribes of the Tu Yuan people, and quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators, are you afraid of me alone? Or do you think I'm the kind of person who would slaughter innocent people over a mere disagreement?"

These seemingly casual words caused the two elderly men's hearts to pound and their pressure to increase dramatically.

Of course they're afraid!

The man before us has a notorious reputation.

During the great battle between Tiannan and Mulan, this person killed more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators!

A truly ruthless person, one in a million!

There are even rumors that he is a nemesis who can easily defeat the three great cultivators of Tiannan by fighting against three opponents at once!

Who knows if he might turn on you and be ruthless?

Moreover, what he said is also correct. It's just telling the saintess's possible location, not revealing core secrets. It seems that it's not entirely unacceptable.

The two exchanged a glance, a hint of struggle and compromise flashing in their eyes.

The gaunt old man took a deep breath, as if making a decision, stepped forward, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are wise. We had no such intention. However—never mind. We truly cannot be certain of Her Highness the Holy Maiden's exact whereabouts at this moment. But if you truly wish to see her, given Her Highness's status, the most likely place she would reside is our clan's Holy City of Hulan!"

Another slightly plump old man quickly added, "Exactly! Hulan Holy City is one of the most core holy cities of our clan, historically the place where the Holy Maiden cultivates in seclusion, presides over major sacrifices, and communicates with the sacred beasts. This time, Her Highness the Holy Maiden has successfully communicated with the upper realm and invited the sacred beasts to reside here permanently. Such a momentous event must be announced to the entire clan in Hulan Holy City, receiving the worship of all tribes. Fellow Daoist, the possibility of meeting Her Highness the Holy Maiden is the greatest if you go to Hulan Holy City!"

"Hulan Holy City—" Zhou Yuan pondered in his heart. He had heard this name from low-level cultivators and mortals before. It was indeed the headquarters of the Holy Temple, and the most likely place. He looked at the two old men and, seeing that their expressions did not seem fake, nodded slightly.

"Thank you both for informing me." Zhou Yuan didn't press them any further; having a clear objective was enough.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you are too kind. It is our honor to be able to answer your questions." The two old men bowed quickly, as if they had been granted a pardon.

Zhou Yuan said no more. He identified the west, and with a sway of his body, the Wind and Thunder Wings on his back flashed with a faint blue light, transforming into a golden-blue rainbow that shot towards the horizon. His speed was so fast that in the blink of an eye, he turned into a small dot and disappeared from the sight and perception of the two old men.

Only when Zhou Yuan's aura completely disappeared did the two Grand Immortal Masters of the First Division truly breathe a sigh of relief, as if a tremendous burden had been lifted. They looked at each other, both seeing lingering fear in each other's eyes.

"Quickly! Immediately use the most urgent communication talisman to report to the Temple Elders, at the highest level, that Zhou Yuan has appeared in our territory, inquired about the Holy Maiden and the Holy Beast, and has already set off for Hulan Holy City, and—and also send a copy to the Holy Maiden's Palace!"

The gaunt old man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said urgently to his companion, his voice still trembling.

"Yes! We must report this immediately! This beast's strength is unfathomable. Its sudden incursion into the grasslands, heading straight for the Holy Maiden and the Sacred Beast, must have some ulterior motive! It's definitely not a benevolent creature!"

The slightly plump old man nodded repeatedly, his face still showing signs of shock. "I'll send a message immediately! You quickly inform the other tribes to strengthen all vigilance and activate the core restrictions of the city's protective array! In case this person returns or has accomplices!"

The two dared not delay for a moment and immediately split up, transforming into two streaks of light and rushing toward the tower in the center of the city.

The entire Junxian Holy City was in a state of high tension and vigilance due to Zhou Yuan's brief arrival and terrifying pressure. The spiritual light of the city's protective array was noticeably brighter than usual.

Ten days later.

Deep within the Tianlan Grassland lies a core area lush with water and grass, so rich in spiritual energy that it transforms into mist.

A colossal stone city, immense in scale and imposing in its grandeur, stands like a primordial beast crouching in a green ocean, towering above the earth.

The city wall is hundreds of feet high and is made entirely of a giant "Hulan Stone" that glows with a faint blue light. It is incredibly sturdy and is covered with countless ancient and powerful defensive and spirit-gathering runes.

Banners fluttered atop the city walls, and guards clad in spirit armor, exuding a fierce aura, patrolled back and forth.

Inside the city, the streets are wide and straight, paved with smooth bluestone slabs, and can accommodate ten horse-drawn carriages side by side.

The buildings on both sides are no longer just tents and stone houses, but more of the rugged, majestic stone palaces, towers and squares.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of incense, the unique fragrance of herbs from the grasslands, and the complex spiritual energy formed by the gathering of countless cultivators.

The area was bustling with people, including not only ordinary grassland tribespeople but also many powerful cultivators dressed in various tribal costumes. This place was prosperous and thriving, far surpassing the former holy city of Junxian.

This is the sacred land of the Tuwu people, the location of the temple headquarters, and the main city of the "Hulan Tribe," one of the oldest and most powerful super tribes on the grasslands—the Holy City of Hulan!

In the very center of the holy city, in an area shrouded by numerous restrictions and powerful formations, stands a magnificent tower, pure white and over three hundred feet tall, resembling a jade pillar supporting the sky—the Hulan Holy Temple!

The temple exudes an ancient, sacred, and majestic aura, serving as the spiritual symbol and core of power for the entire Tianlan Grassland.

At this moment, deep within the temple, on an open-air plaza covering tens of acres, with a smooth, mirror-like white jade surface and twelve giant pillars engraved with patterns of the sun, moon, stars, wind, rain, thunder, lightning, and galloping beasts.

In the center of the square, a strangely shaped monster lay prone.

This beast is about four zhang long, and its entire body is as red as fire, resembling burning lava.

Its head resembles that of an ox, with a pair of curved, sharp, crimson horns. Its eyes are closed, and its breathing is long and deep, as if it is dozing off.

Below the neck, however, it was not a bull's body, but a long, slender body covered with fine, crimson scales, resembling a dragon. Its four strong, powerful claws were tucked under its body, and a crimson dragon tail lay casually on the ground.

The demonic energy it emitted was at the level of a level seven demonic beast (equivalent to the late stage of Core Formation), which was not particularly powerful.

However, the dozens of cultivators standing at a distance around the square, maintaining a respectful and solemn posture, looked at the crimson bull-headed, dragon-bodied demon beast with eyes full of heartfelt fervor, awe, and reverence!

These cultivators, the lowest in cultivation level, were at least at the Foundation Establishment stage, and among them were many "masters" at the Core Formation stage! They didn't even dare to breathe loudly, as if afraid of disturbing the sacred beast's peaceful slumber.

What's even more striking is that from time to time, Nascent Soul stage "immortal masters" would pass by the edge of the square or fly in from other directions of the temple and land.

These powerful figures, who usually commanded the winds and rains and held high positions on the grasslands, would all stop in their tracks when passing through the square and their gaze swept over the dozing monster. Without exception, they would bow slightly in the direction of the monster, their expressions filled with undisguised respect, before quietly leaving to continue with their own affairs.

It was as if this seemingly "only" level seven demonic beast was a being of far greater nobility and supreme status than them.

This demonic beast is none other than the "Tianlan Sacred Beast," which was successfully summoned from the "Upper Realm" not long ago by the Holy Maiden of Tianlan, Lin Yinping, who presided over a sacred ceremony and declared that it would permanently reside in this realm to protect the Tianlan clan!

At one point, the crowd that had been standing quietly outside the square suddenly parted as if by an invisible hand, creating a straight passage.

Three figures walked side by side from the depths of the temple.

The person in the center is a tall, graceful woman dressed in a magnificent silver robe with a thin white veil covering her face.

Although the white veil covered most of her face, it could not conceal her dreamlike eyes, clear as a spring from the heavens and seemingly containing the endless starry sky. Her hair flowed like a waterfall of black clouds, her skin was whiter than snow, and her temperament was aloof and otherworldly, like a fairy from the moon palace descended to earth.

The spiritual energy emanating from his body had reached the peak of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, seemingly only one step away from the late stage!

She is none other than Lin Yinping, the contemporary saintess of the Tianlan Grassland, who is revered as a deity by countless Tuwu people!

To his left, walking side by side, was a handsome young scholar dressed in a blue Confucian robe, with a gentle and refined demeanor, who seemed to be well-versed in poetry and literature.

A faint smile played on his lips, and his gaze was calm. But if one were to sense it carefully, one could discover that his aura was as deep as the sea, hidden and unleashed. He was clearly a great cultivator in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

This person is none other than Xu Changqing, the "Great Immortal Master Xu," who is renowned on the grasslands and hailed as the most gifted person in hundreds of years!

He had only been at the late Nascent Soul stage for a little over three hundred years, yet he had already stabilized his realm and possessed unfathomable strength. He was recognized as one of the strongest individuals in the grasslands and was also the pillar of the Holy Temple.

To Lin Yinping's right was a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a pale yellow palace gown, with a seductive and fiery figure and long, lustrous hair like purple silk.

This woman was extremely beautiful, with spring-like eyes and a captivating charm. However, deep within her eyes, a faint purple light flickered, revealing a hint of eeriness and danger.

Most strikingly, on her bare arms, which were as white as snow, each was "embedded" with a fist-sized, hideous, and seemingly alive black ghost head with sharp teeth that opened and closed constantly!

The ghost head bit down hard on her flesh, and faint wisps of black energy seeped into it, but the purple-haired beauty remained calm, even with a charming smile on her lips, as if she felt no pain at all.

Her aura had also reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

She is none other than the only female immortal master on the grassland, a mysterious figure skilled in exorcising ghosts and controlling souls—"Immortal Master Sun" Sun Erniang!

Saintess Lin Yinping, along with two top immortal masters from the grasslands, arrived together and walked straight to the front of the plaza, stopping about ten feet away from the dozing crimson sacred beast.

All three of them turned their gazes to the sacred beast from the "upper realm".

"It seems that this sacred ceremony was extremely successful. The arrival of the sacred beast avatar was stable, without the instability seen in the past. Perhaps it can truly stay in our Tianlan Grassland for a long time, as the prophecy foretold, to protect our people."

Lin Yinping's clear and melodious voice rang out, like jade beads falling onto a plate, carrying a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction. As a saintess, she presided over the holy ceremony and communicated with the "upper realm." Successfully summoning the sacred beast and stabilizing it was a great achievement and honor for her.

"You've worked hard, Holy Maiden."

Xu Changqing nodded slightly and said in a gentle voice, his gaze also turning to the sacred beast with scrutiny and inquiry, "However—the Holy Maiden is able to communicate with the sacred beast, I wonder if the sacred beast has any other instructions or requests besides requiring our clan to provide faith power and specific sacrifices? If so, our clan will do its utmost to satisfy it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yinping gently shook her head, a hint of helplessness seemingly showing on her stunningly beautiful face beneath the white veil: "Master Xu, you are unaware of this."

"The divine beast avatar that descended this time seems to have not fully awakened its intelligence due to crossing realms or the suppression of the rules of this realm. It can only communicate with some very simple thoughts to express the most basic needs, such as eating, resting, and disliking being disturbed too much. It cannot communicate about matters of the upper realm or more profound cultivation methods at the moment."

She paused, then continued, "However, based on the vague thoughts occasionally conveyed by the sacred beast, and the records of our clan's ancient heritage, it is speculated that perhaps once the sacred beast's avatar adapts to this realm for a period of time, absorbs enough spiritual energy, and restores its cultivation to the peak of the seventh level, or even attempts to break through to the eighth level of transformation, it will gradually regain some of the memories and intelligence from its original body in the upper realm. At that time—"

A glint of anticipation and ambition flashed in her beautiful eyes: "With the guidance of sacred beasts, the transmission of upper-realm cultivation techniques, and the sharing of insights into the Great Dao, perhaps my Tianlan Clan truly has a chance to give birth to its own Nascent Soul cultivator!"

Upon hearing this, both Xu Changqing and Sun Erniang's eyes lit up! A Nascent Soul cultivator!

That is the true pinnacle of this world, with lifespan skyrocketing and supernatural powers so great that it can suppress the fortune of a clan and expand its territory!

If the Tianlan Clan could produce a Nascent Soul cultivator, even if it were still difficult to invade the most resource-rich and powerful Great Jin, it would be more than enough to conquer the "barren" lands in the south and seize a wider living space and resources!

Whether it's the blessed land of Tiannan or the border resources of Dajin, they are far richer than the grasslands!

"Transformation into a Divine Realm—" Xu Changqing muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming.

Sun Erniang licked her red lips, and the ghost heads on her arms made an excited "crunching" sound as they rubbed together.

Just as the three were lost in their own thoughts, filled with anticipation for the sacred beast and the future, a sudden "whoosh!"

A crimson streak of light flew rapidly from outside the Holy City, piercing through layers of restrictions, and arrived above the square in the blink of an eye. After circling once, it landed in the direction where Lin Yinping was.

Lin Yinping frowned slightly, raised her hand, and the crimson light fell into her slender hand, transforming into a crimson jade communication talisman engraved with a wolf head totem.

She probed with her divine sense, reading the information within. The next moment, her brows furrowed instantly on her cool and aloof face, and a hint of surprise and seriousness flashed in her beautiful eyes.

"Holy Maiden, what is it?" Xu Changqing noticed the change in her expression and asked. Sun Erniang also cast an inquiring glance at him.

Lin Yinping took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and shared the contents of the communication talisman with the two of them through divine sense. At the same time, her clear, cold voice rang out with a hint of chill: "It's an urgent secret report from the Junxian Tribe. Several days ago, Zhou Yuan, that newly promoted late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from Tiannan, suddenly appeared in Junxian Holy City, using his power to intimidate us, and inquired about my and the Holy Beast's whereabouts from two of my Junxian Tribe elders. After learning about Hulan Holy City, he has already set off in this direction!"

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing's usually gentle and refined face showed surprise for the first time. Sun Erniang's beautiful eyes also narrowed, a purple light flashing within them.

"A cultivator from Tiannan, how dare you venture alone deep into the heart of my grasslands? And you even dare to openly inquire about the whereabouts of the Holy Maiden and the Holy Beast? This boy—truly arrogant!" Sun Erniang's voice was charming, yet it carried a hint of cold killing intent.

"Zhou Yuan—this man is indeed extraordinary."

Xu Changqing's surprise quickly turned into solemnity. He said in a deep voice, "Although I have lived on the grasslands for a long time, I have paid attention to the movements of the major powers in the surrounding area, especially the newly rising number one person in Tiannan." According to reliable intelligence, decades ago, when this person was still in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, his combat power was already astonishing. He once used an incomparably sharp golden flying sword formation, supplemented by some kind of golden divine lightning that countered demonic paths. It is also rumored that his magical power is profound and almost inexhaustible, allowing him to continuously cast powerful spells without running out. His true combat power is probably already far beyond that of an ordinary mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, enough to pose a threat to a late-Nascent Soul cultivator."

He paused, then continued, "And just recently, this person successfully broke through to the late Nascent Soul stage and held a grand ceremony at his sect. After the ceremony, news secretly circulated among the close circles of the three great cultivators of Tiannan, claiming that Zhou Yuan had privately challenged the three to a duel and easily defeated them all!"

"Although no one witnessed it firsthand, the three great cultivators did not seem to deny the matter, and even seemed to subtly praise him as the best in the south. Such rumors, though seemingly baseless, may not be entirely without cause."

"Heh, one against three, and you win easily?" Lin Yinping sneered upon hearing this, shook her head, and a disdainful smile curled at the corner of her mouth beneath the white veil. "Master Xu, you yourself said it's just a rumor."

"The three great cultivators of Tiannan—Zhiyang, Hehuan, and Wei Wuyai—are all old monsters who have been famous for hundreds of years. They are proud and arrogant; how could they easily admit defeat to a junior?"

"In my opinion, this is just a rumor deliberately spread by Tiannan to promote this newly promoted Grand Master and consolidate his position. Even if there was a real exchange, it was probably just an ordinary contest that ended there. The three great cultivators of Tiannan were concerned about their reputation and the overall situation, so they did not use their true trump cards. It cannot be considered a real victory or defeat."

As a saintess, she herself was a prodigy at the peak of the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. She had her own pride and judgment towards other experts of the same level and did not completely believe those exaggerated rumors.

"Even so, this person should not be underestimated." Xu Changqing did not argue with Lin Yinping, but his tone remained solemn. "Putting aside those rumors, his cultivation speed alone is astonishing. According to intelligence, he has probably been cultivating for less than three hundred years!"

"To have reached the late Nascent Soul stage at such a young age—such talent is truly heaven-defying! Even in the Great Jin Dynasty, there are probably only a handful of such individuals. He must possess some extraordinary opportunity or special inheritance. His solo journey to the grasslands, targeting the Holy Maiden and the Sacred Beast, is no random act; he must have something to gain!"

"Master Xu is absolutely right."

Sun Erniang chuckled, but her eyes flashed with a cold light. "However, no matter how strong he is, he is still just one person. My grasslands, on the other hand, have tens of thousands of tribes, far more Nascent Soul cultivators than those in Tiannan, and we also have Master Xu, myself, and the Holy Maiden in charge. For him to dare to intrude alone is simply walking into a trap, courting death!"

A strange light flashed in Lin Yinping's beautiful eyes. She understood the unspoken meaning in Sun Erniang's words, and Xu Changqing also seemed to be deep in thought.

"What Master Sun means is—" Lin Yinping looked at Sun Erniang.

"This person is a rising star in the south, with great potential. He will surely be a major threat to our grasslands in the future."

Sun Erniang smiled alluringly, but her tone was as cold as a knife. "Now that he dares to come to our door alone, isn't this a golden opportunity? As long as he steps into the territory of Hulan Holy City, on our home turf, with the combined strength of the three of us, and by secretly mobilizing the elite Nascent Soul cultivators from various departments, we can lay a trap—no matter how powerful he is, he won't be able to escape! If we can seize this opportunity to eliminate him, we will not only remove a future major enemy, but also severely damage the morale of Tiannan and seize his treasures and opportunities. It's a win-win situation!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Changqing's eyes flashed with interest. Killing Zhou Yuan would indeed be of great benefit to the grasslands. Moreover, as Sun Erniang had said, on their own territory, with superior numbers and meticulous planning, their chances of victory were extremely high. However—

"This matter requires careful consideration and meticulous planning," Xu Changqing pondered. "Zhou Yuan is no ordinary person. His escape techniques, sword formations, divine sense, and magical power are all extraordinary, and he may even have unknown trump cards. If we are to make a move, we must kill him in one strike and not give him any chance to escape. Otherwise, we will end up harming him instead of killing him. We must also be careful not to let him disturb the sacred beast."

"Master Xu has considered everything thoroughly."

Lin Yinping nodded, her eyes already filled with murderous intent. "In that case, let's properly welcome this distinguished guest from Tiannan. First, we need to ascertain their exact whereabouts and arrival time. Meanwhile—"

She looked at Xu Changqing and Sun Erniang, her tone becoming decisive: "Immediately, in the name of the Holy Temple and myself, issue an emergency summons to the eight core tribes surrounding the Holy City, including the 'Golden Wolves,' 'Azure Feathers,' and 'Mysterious Tortoises,' as well as all Nascent Soul stage immortal masters near the Holy City! Order them to each select their elite forces and secretly assemble at Hulan Holy City as quickly as possible! The pretext—simply say that the Holy Beast has decreed that all immortal masters must gather to discuss a grand plan to resist the external demons and revitalize Tianlan!"

"Yes, Holy Maiden!"

Xu Changqing and Sun Erniang solemnly replied.

The three exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with cold light. A vast net targeting Zhou Yuan had already been quietly cast across Hulan Holy City.

They are just waiting for their prey to step inside.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan, who was flying leisurely towards Hulan Holy City tens of millions of miles away, was unaware that a meticulously planned ambush targeting him, orchestrated by the most elite forces of the grasslands, had already begun.

He continued at his own pace, pondering how to have a "friendly" conversation with the "Heavenly Sacred Beast" from the Spirit Realm.

The wind on the grassland seemed to carry an air of solemnity and conspiracy.