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

Chapter 338 Xuan Qingzi Shows Goodwill! Old Monster Feng's Threat! The Main Material for the Thousand-Mile Guiding Talisman!

After Zhou Yuan obtained the precious bottle of Cold Marrow from the gray-robed elder, he did not step out of the courtyard of the Immortal Guest Residence.

He would sit cross-legged in his quiet room every day, either trying to understand the mysteries of the second level of the "Ming Wang Jue" or the "Da Yan Jue".

Life was peaceful and fulfilling, as if they were completely unaware of the increasingly tense atmosphere and lurking dangers outside.

He truly had no idea that the Yinluo Sect had already gathered more than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators, laying a trap that awaited his appearance.

However, even if he knew, he probably wouldn't care too much.

His strength gave him enough confidence.

On the evening of the day before the auction was about to begin, an unexpected visitor suddenly arrived at the door.

"Xuan Qingzi of the Taiyi Sect? Why would he come looking for me at this time?"

Zhou Yuan straightened his robes and went to the reception room in the front yard.

There sat an old Taoist priest with white hair and a youthful face, exuding an air of otherworldly wisdom, leisurely enjoying tea in the guest seat.

It was Elder Xuan Qingzi of the Taiyi Sect, whom he had met briefly at the teahouse a few months ago.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Zhou, it's been a few days, but you're still as dashing as ever."

When Xuan Qingzi saw Zhou Yuan, he put down his teacup, smiled, and bowed.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanqingzi, you are too kind. May I ask what brings you here today?"

Zhou Yuan took his seat in the main seat and asked the question directly.

He had no close relationship with this elder of the Taiyi Sect, so the elder's sudden visit was definitely not just for tea and reminiscing.

Xuan Qingzi's smile faded slightly, and he became more serious. He looked directly at Zhou Yuan and slowly said, "I have come here today because there is a very important matter concerning your safety, which I must tell you."

"Oh? I'd like to hear more about it."

Zhou Yuan remained expressionless, picked up his teacup, and took a small sip.

"As far as I know, the Yinluo Sect has gathered no fewer than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators, including Xu Changqing and Sun Erniang from the Tianlan Grassland, as well as another late-stage cultivator of unknown identity. They have already laid a trap in Jinjing, waiting for you to appear at the auction or leave Jinjing before they strike to ambush you!"

Xuan Qingzi said solemnly, "Among these twenty-odd people, there are as many as three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators! The rest are also outstanding individuals in the early to mid-stages of the Nascent Soul realm."

"They even prepared a powerful trapping formation, and to counter your exorcising divine thunder, they borrowed a Buddhist treasure—"

Zhou Yuan paused slightly in his teacup, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He wasn't surprised that the Yinluo Sect wanted to deal with him—that was expected.

To his surprise, the Yinluo Sect, after he had killed its former sect leader and nearly ten Nascent Soul elders, was severely weakened, yet it was still able to assemble such a formidable lineup in such a short time!

However, he quickly realized what was going on.

Of these twenty-odd people, probably only seven or eight truly belong to the Yinluo Sect.

The rest were likely external aids that the Yinluo Sect had brought in at great expense.

There are rogue cultivators who covet his treasures, elders from demonic sects who are on good terms with the Yinluo Sect, and possibly even some who have no grudge against Zhou Yuan but want to take this opportunity to befriend the Yinluo Sect or fish in troubled waters.

"I see."

Zhou Yuan put down his teacup, his face remaining calm and composed, showing no sign of panic or anger, as if what Xuan Qingzi had said was just a trivial matter.

"Thank you for informing me of this, Fellow Daoist Xuan Qingzi. However, you must have come all this way for more than just to tell me a piece of news, right?"

Seeing that Zhou Yuan could remain so calm and composed after hearing such terrible news, Xuan Qingzi couldn't help but think even more highly of him.

This person must either have something to rely on or possess an extremely strong will. Either way, they deserve his utmost attention.

He laughed heartily and, without beating around the bush, said directly, "Fellow Daoist Zhou is straightforward! So I will speak frankly as well. The Yinluo Sect is powerful, and although you possess extraordinary abilities, you are ultimately alone. You cannot fight against so many opponents. If you were to engage in a direct confrontation, you would likely suffer a loss."

"However, if I am willing to step in and use the reputation of the Taiyi Sect to mediate for you, I think the Yinluo Sect would not dare to refuse me this favor!"

He paused, stroked his beard, and smiled, "As for Xu Changqing, Sun Erniang, and the others from the Tianlan Grassland, they are, after all, on the territory of my Great Jin. As long as I intervene in the name of the Taiyi Sect, I believe they won't dare to be too presumptuous. At that time, I can act as a peacemaker and let your grudges with the Yinluo Sect be wiped clean. I might even be able to get the Yinluo Sect to compensate you for your losses. What do you say?"

His terms were clear: he could protect Zhou Yuan, resolve the current crisis, and even permanently resolve the feud.

Of course, the condition is that Zhou Yuan owes him a huge favor, and Zhou Yuan must lend a helping hand if the Taiyi Sect needs it in the future.

After listening to Xuan Qingzi's words, Zhou Yuan remained silent for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table as if he were thinking seriously.

A moment later, he raised his head, smiled slightly at Xuan Qingzi, and said in a calm but unwavering tone, "Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist. However, the enmity between me and the Yinluo Sect cannot be resolved with just a few words. Back then, they invaded Tiannan and killed my fellow Daoists; later, they provoked me at my sect's founding ceremony, and I killed their sect leader and elders. This is a blood feud, one that must be settled to the death. Even if I were willing to reconcile, the Yinluo Sect would never be satisfied. Rather than leaving a hidden danger that could stab me in the back at any time, it is better to—sever all ties completely."

He paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Besides, even if they don't come looking for me, once I have the time, I plan to personally go to the Yinluo Sect and settle the score with them!"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Qingzi's smile froze slightly. He hadn't expected Zhou Yuan's attitude to be so firm, even rejecting the mediation he had proposed in the name of the Taiyi Sect without hesitation.

He gave Zhou Yuan a deep look and thought to himself: If this person is not arrogant, then he really has extraordinary abilities and is confident that he can fight against the encirclement and killing of more than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators by himself!

"Since you have made your decision, I will say no more. I only hope that you will take good care of yourself."

Xuan Qingzi sighed, stopped trying to persuade him, and got up to take his leave.

He was somewhat disappointed. He had originally hoped to use this opportunity to make this promising young cultivator owe the Taiyi Sect a favor, but now it seemed that he had miscalculated.

Zhou Yuan stood up and saw Xuan Qingzi out of the Immortal Guest Residence.

Back in the quiet room, the calm on his face gradually faded, replaced by a cold, murderous intent as thick as ice.

"Yinluo Sect—since you insist on courting death, don't blame me for being ruthless!" he muttered to himself, a cold glint in his eyes.

However, he was not immediately blinded by anger.

He forced himself to calm down and began to carefully weigh the pros and cons.

With his current strength, combined with his many trump cards such as the Great Geng Sword Formation, the Evil-Repelling Divine Thunder, the Void Heaven Cauldron, and the Divine Court Thorn, he could defeat those twenty-odd Nascent Soul cultivators in a head-on confrontation.

However, the problem is that doing so will inevitably expose his terrifying combat power, which far exceeds that of ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, thus pushing him to the forefront of the entire Great Jin cultivation world!

The wood is beautiful in the forest, and the wind will destroy it.

He understands this principle.

Although he was not afraid of most cultivators in the Great Jin Immortal Cultivation World, he knew in his heart that there were still a handful of people in this human realm who could truly threaten his life. Those were a few old monsters in the Nascent Soul stage who did not care about worldly affairs and were single-mindedly pursuing ascension!

Those Nascent Soul stage cultivators rarely interfere in the affairs of the cultivation world.

Because every time they go all out, it depletes their already limited lifespan.

However, if Zhou Yuan's performance is too dazzling—a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who is less than three hundred years old, yet still able to slaughter more than twenty cultivators of the same level on his own!

Such extraordinary talent and strength will surely arouse great interest among those Nascent Soul stage monsters!

They must be guessing that Zhou Yuan possesses an earth-shattering opportunity!

Perhaps it's some ancient cultivation technique that allows for rapid breakthroughs, or perhaps it's some heaven-defying magic weapon that can drastically enhance combat power—

Faced with immense temptation, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find it difficult to maintain composure.

At that time, it is likely that a Nascent Soul level expert will personally take action to capture him, search his soul, and seize his treasures!

"The Yinluo Sect—is involved with Old Monster Feng."

Zhou Yuan frowned.

He remembered that Old Monster Feng seemed to have a direct descendant who was one of the elders of the Yinluo Sect!

If he accidentally kills the descendant of that old monster Feng during the ensuing conflict!

He didn't want to easily bear the wrath of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Let's hold off for now."

Zhou Yuan rubbed his temples, feeling a bit of pressure.

He wasn't afraid; it's just that he wasn't alone anymore.

Behind him are the Ascension Sect, and people like Yuan Yao and Zi Ling who need his protection.

If he were truly targeted by the Nascent Soul stage monster, he might be able to escape using various means, but those around him would inevitably be implicated.

"Our strength is still not enough."

Zhou Yuan clenched his fist, a glint of desire for power flashing in his eyes.

He needs to improve his strength more quickly, at least to the point where he can contend with a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The upcoming clandestine trade fair might be the key step for him to acquire more resources and further enhance his strength.

The following day, the highly anticipated "Tianzhen Grand Gathering" finally officially opened in the white stone hall that floated in mid-air in Jinxi Fangshi.

Zhou Yuan arrived at Jinxi Market on time. He looked up and saw a magnificent single-story hall made of huge white stones, floating quietly more than a hundred feet above the market, shrouded in a soft white light, exuding an ancient and majestic aura.

Below the main hall, there is another stone hall of slightly smaller size, which is the auction venue prepared for Core Formation stage cultivators.

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The auctions for Nascent Soul cultivators were all held in the floating hall above.

Zhou Yuan's figure flickered, and he flew directly towards the floating palace.

At the entrance of the main hall, two Core Formation stage cultivators were on duty. When they saw Zhou Yuanfei arrive, they sensed the unfathomable aura of the late Nascent Soul stage on him. They quickly bowed and paid their respects, not daring to mention the entrance fee of one thousand spirit stones per person, and respectfully invited him into the hall.

Zhou Yuan stepped into the main hall. The hall was extremely spacious, enough to accommodate over a thousand people.

At this moment, a few dozen cultivators were scattered throughout the main hall. The lowest level of cultivation was the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, and most of them were in the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm. Occasionally, a few late-stage cultivators with profound and abyssal auras could be seen sitting in their respective corners, closing their eyes to rest and not disturbing each other.

As time went on, more and more Nascent Soul cultivators arrived from all directions and poured into the main hall. By the time the auction officially began, nearly four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators had gathered in the hall!

Four hundred Nascent Soul cultivators!

This power is enough to easily overthrow any major power in Tiannan!

This gives a glimpse into the profound foundation of the cultivation world in the Great Jin Dynasty.

"clang--!"

A melodious bell rang out, and the entire hall fell silent instantly.

All eyes were drawn to the high platform in the center, which was made of white spirit jade.

A middle-aged man dressed in brocade robes, with a refined appearance and an aura at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, slowly walked up to the high platform, bowed to the four directions, and announced in a loud voice: "Fellow Daoists, welcome to this grand gathering of celestial treasures! I am Liu, the host of this auction. Without further ado, the highest bidder wins! Now, the auction begins!"

With a flick of his wrist, a strange crystal, the size of a fist, with an amber-yellow hue and seemingly swirling quicksand inside, appeared in his hand.

"The first item up for auction is Turmeric Crystal! Originating deep within the Western Regions' Great Desert, it's an excellent primary material for crafting top-tier earth-attribute defensive magic treasures! Starting bid: 10,000 spirit stones! Each bid must increase by at least 1,000!"

Zhou Yuan glanced at the ginger-yellow crystal and then withdrew his light. Although this item was rare, it was not something he urgently needed.

His biggest goal on this trip was to acquire rare materials and treasures that could enhance his strength or complete his weapon-forging plan.

The auction will last for several days, and the truly good items will most likely only appear in the last two days. He has plenty of patience.

On the first day, Zhou Yuan barely made a move, merely observing coldly as the Nascent Soul cultivators argued heatedly over each item.

The next day, he made several bids and acquired two or three ancient treasures with special functions, as well as a batch of spiritual herbs of good quality, which was considered a small success.

On the third day, he remained calm and composed.

until the fourth day.

"Fellow Daoists, the next item up for auction is quite special."

The host took a tray from the waiter, lifted the red silk on it, and revealed a piece of jade about the size of a palm, completely black, with a layer of warm luster on the surface like water ripples, and an irregular shape.

"This item is called the 'Severed Jade'! It is an extremely rare spatial treasure in the world! It can be used to refine storage magic artifacts with enormous capacity, or the core of certain special spatial arrays! Starting bid: 30,000 spirit stones! Each bid must be at least 2,000 spirit stones!"

"Jade with a crack!"

Zhou Yuan's eyes, which had been slightly closed, suddenly opened, a glint of light flashing in them!

In his early years, he obtained an extremely profound method of talisman crafting, the Thousand-Mile Guiding Talisman!

He had always wanted to refine this talisman, but he had been unable to do so because he lacked several core materials.

And this broken jade is one of the main materials needed to refine the Thousand-Mile Traction Talisman!

"I want this!"

Zhou Yuan made up his mind.

At this moment, quite a few knowledgeable cultivators below the stage have begun bidding.

"Thirty-five thousand!"

"forty thousand!"

"Forty-five thousand!"

The price climbed steadily and soon broke through the 50,000 spirit stones mark.

When the price reached 60,000 spirit stones, the bidding became noticeably less frequent.

Although the Jade of Broken Gaps is rare, its uses are relatively limited. Apart from refining large storage artifacts and a few spatial arrays, it seems to have no other significant applications.

Spending 60,000 spirit stones to buy a piece of jade with limited uses is not cost-effective for many Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Seventy thousand spirit stones."

Just as the countdown to the Asian Games began, Zhou Yuan finally spoke, his tone calm, and directly raised the price by 10,000.

The entire room fell silent instantly.

All the Asians turned their heads to look in the direction where Zhou Yuan was.

Seventy thousand spirit stones has already exceeded the price many people are willing to pay for this piece of broken jade.

Moreover, the bidder was a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. It would be unwise to offend a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator for a piece of jade with limited uses.

"Seventy thousand spirit stones once! Seventy thousand spirit stones twice! Seventy thousand spirit stones three times! Sold! Congratulations, fellow Daoist!" The presiding officer gave the final verdict.

Zhou Yuan successfully bid for the broken jade.

He paid the spirit stones and put the black jade piece into his pocket.

With this item, he was one step closer to creating the Thousand-Mile Traction Talisman.

The auction continued for the next few days, with a variety of rare and precious items on display.

There are five-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, top-tier ancient treasures, and long-lost cultivation manuals. Every time such a treasure appears, it triggers a fierce battle.

This brought the atmosphere of the auction to a climax.

Zhou Yuan made a few more bids, acquiring some items that interested him, but most of the time, he remained a detached observer.

He didn't have high expectations for this public auction to begin with.

What he really cared about was the extremely secretive and high-barrier-to-entry underground trade fair that would be held after the auction!

Nakwa is a true treasure trove! Many illicit, ill-gotten, or too precious to be openly displayed treasures can be found there.

The Ye family's replica of the spiritual treasure "Pingshan Seal" will be auctioned off at a secret trading fair.

The gray-robed old man who had traded the Snow Marrow to him also intended to conceal his identity and sell the Snow Marrow at the secret trading meeting.

Finally, the "Tianzhen Grand Gathering," which lasted for several days, came to a close.

Zhou Yuan, holding Ya Liu's hand, walked out of the floating hall at a leisurely pace.

He had just stepped out of the market area and onto a relatively quiet street when suddenly he stopped. His keen senses made him realize that the air around him seemed to freeze instantly!

An invisible, powerful spatial fluctuation surged forth like a tide, instantly enveloping an area of ​​several tens of feet in radius!

The surrounding scenery blurred, as if completely isolated from the outside world! A powerful trapping formation that had been set up long ago was activated!

"As expected, they planned to make their move after I left the auction." Zhou Yuan sneered inwardly, but San Pi remained calm as still as water. He stopped and glanced around.

All around, figures appeared like ghosts on the rooftops in front of, behind, and on both sides of the street.

Twenty powerful Nascent Soul cultivators surrounded him!

Among them, the leader of the group, Sanya, was none other than Xu Changqing, Sun Erniang, and a mysterious cultivator with a cold aura and wearing a black mask!

Outside the great formation, Yinluo Sect Master Li Gu held a formation plate in his hand, coldly staring at Zhou Yuan inside the formation, while San Pi revealed a smug grin.

He was in charge of overseeing the grand formation, ensuring Zhou Yuan could not escape, and preventing interference from outsiders.

"Yinluo Sect's Ugly Chou!"

"Irrelevant Ya, please take a detour!" Li Gu coldly shouted at the few Nascent Soul cultivators nearby who had been alerted and wanted to watch.

Sensing the intense killing intent and numerous powerful auras emanating from the area, the cultivators quickly distanced themselves, not daring to approach.