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

(Yesterday I saw a comment that a reader suggested equipping the Spirit Eye Spring, so I've equipped it now.)

Looking at the spiritual spring, which was only a few feet in diameter, with its misty spiritual energy floating gently on the water like a milky white veil, Zhou Yuan suddenly had an extremely bold idea.

"Since this Spirit Eye Spring can be moved by those with advanced cultivation levels or with the help of special treasures... wouldn't it be considered a special 'miracle of heaven and earth' containing boundless spiritual energy?"

"Equipment slot... Can you recognize and equip it?"

Once the idea surfaced, it grew wildly in his heart like a vine, becoming impossible to suppress.

He slowly walked forward to the bubbling, clear spring, reached out his hand, and carefully touched the warm, jade-like water.

A surge of extremely pure and cool spiritual energy flowed into his body through the meridians in his arm, invigorating his spirit.

He took a deep breath, immersing his mind in his sea of ​​consciousness, and attempted to issue commands to the pale blue light screen:

"Equip this Spirit Eye Spring!"

The next moment, the mechanical and clear prompt in his mind made his heart leap!

[A "Miniature Spirit Eye Spring" (Tier 3, Low Grade) has been detected. Would you like to equip it?]

Really!

An uncontrollable surge of joy erupted in Zhou Yuan's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he silently chanted in his mind, "Equipment!"

hum!

An invisible, mysterious power descended instantly, enveloping the small spring.

The once gurgling, clear spring water, along with the strange jade base beneath it that had been imbued with spiritual energy for countless years, suddenly blurred and became ethereal, as if it had been "plucked" from reality by an invisible hand.

The next moment, a flash of inspiration, and the entire miniature Spirit Eye Spring vanished into thin air!

All that remained was a pit several feet deep with smooth, mirror-like edges, from which a little ordinary groundwater seeped out; there was nothing more miraculous about it.

Meanwhile, in Zhou Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness, the information in the equipment slot on the pale blue light screen had been updated:

【Equipment 1: Miniature Spirit Eye Spring (Tier 3, Low Grade)】

[Effect 1: Mana regeneration speed is greatly increased!]

[Effect 2: Slight increase in cultivation speed!]

[Effect 3: Slightly increases the concentration of spiritual energy in the surrounding environment (passive diffusion).]

[Effect 4: Allows for a brief depletion of spiritual energy from the Spirit Eye during spellcasting, but this will weaken the various buffs from the Spirit Eye Spring...]

[Note: This is a rare spiritual object formed from the materialization of a celestial vein node over a long period of time. It contains pure and stable spiritual energy and is a cultivation treasure coveted by Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators. Because it has materialized, it can be collected and transferred through specific methods.]

"Hahaha! Heaven is on my side!"

Even with Zhou Yuan's current composure at the Foundation Establishment stage, he couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter, which echoed through the empty cave.

Who would have thought that this treasure, considered the foundation of the cave dwelling and often a source of bloodshed upon discovery, could be "carried" by oneself in this way!

What does this mean?

This means that from now on, no matter where he is—whether in a perilous wilderness, a remote border region with scarce spiritual energy, or a simple, temporarily rented cave dwelling—as long as he is willing, he can enjoy a cultivation environment that is close to or even surpasses that of a typical spiritual vein node!

This is an incredible opportunity that defies all common sense in the cultivation world!

Even better, this way, he no longer needs to worry about the hidden "Fountain of Spiritual Vision" being accidentally discovered, stolen, or destroyed by others after he leaves. His true "home" can go with him, without any further worries!

"With this spring at my disposal, combined with the recovery effects of the other three mid-tier spirit stones in my equipment slots, my cultivation speed and endurance will be elevated to another level!"

"Furthermore, effect 4 allows me to occasionally unleash bursts of mana far exceeding the total amount available at this stage!"

Zhou Yuan clenched his fist, feeling the equipment slots take effect. It was as if every pore on his body was autonomously breathing in and out pure spiritual energy, and the circulation of liquid true essence in his body became smoother and lighter.

After the initial excitement, Zhou Yuan calmed down. He glanced at the two-eyed rat beside him, which was soaking in a puddle and looking around blankly.

The spirit beast has completed its mission; it's time to send it back.

He went over and pulled the little guy out of the now-normal puddle.

I fed it its last earth pear and then placed it at the entrance of the cave.

"Let's go back."

The Twin-Pupil Rat chirped twice, seemingly lingering over the empty pit, then sniffed the faint spiritual energy on Zhou Yuan's body that made it feel comfortable and close (the passive diffusion effect of the Spirit Eye Spring). Only then did it turn around and nimbly dart out along the narrow passage it had come from, returning to the Qilin Pavilion on its own.

After seeing off the Twin-Eyed Rat, Zhou Yuan returned to the center of the cave.

He looked at the bare pit, thought for a moment, and then cast a few simple earth-based spells to fill it in, compact it, and move some gravel and dry moss to cover it, trying to erase as much of the trace that the spiritual spring had ever existed as possible.

Although the Spirit Eye Spring has been taken away, the concentration of spiritual energy in this place will gradually decrease to a normal level, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.

After doing all this, he took out the five tracking flags given to him by the sect leader, Zhong Lingdao.

These flags are of poor quality, have a small coverage area, and their illusionary effects can only confuse mortals and wild beasts. They are useless against cultivators with even a little cultivation, but they are sufficient for temporarily marking territory and blocking interference from irrelevant mortals.

Following a simple incantation, he placed the five small flags at the cave entrance and several key locations around it, then infused them with magical power to activate them.

Suddenly, a thin layer of white mist appeared out of nowhere, covering an area of ​​several feet around the cave entrance. The light was slightly distorted, making it appear from the outside as just an ordinary patch of mountain vines, making it difficult to detect the cave entrance behind it.

Let's leave it at that for now.

Zhou Yuan nodded, withdrew the spell, and flashed out of the cave.

He did not immediately begin the excavation and construction of the cave dwelling.

The most urgent task is to go to the Tianxing Sect market in Yuanwu Kingdom to dispose of those hot-button "stolen" magical artifacts and exchange them for real spirit stones, as well as to purchase a batch of array equipment that can be used to protect the cave, and other cultivation supplies.

******

Several days later, on the border of Yuanwu Kingdom, in Tianxingzong Market.

Zhou Yuan, a cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, made no attempt to conceal his cultivation level as he walked unhurriedly through the bustling city streets.

Unlike last time when he disguised himself as a Qi Refining cultivator and cautiously investigated the situation, this time he was "returning to familiar territory" and came officially as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. His purpose was clear, and he walked with ease.

With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, he was already considered a mid-level force in this market. In addition, his calm demeanor and sharp eyes meant that no foolish "windwalker" would mistake him for a newcomer and try to strike up a conversation with him.

His gaze calmly swept over the familiar shop signs on both sides of the street, but his direction was very clear, heading straight towards that secluded alley deep in the market.

The place we were going to was, of course, the secret shop that Gu Lin had recommended last time.

Those magical artifacts obtained from the disciples of the six sects of Yue Kingdom, and which more or less bear the characteristics of their original owners or sects, are too risky to sell within Yue Kingdom. Only the "black market," with its deep background, no questions asked about its origin, and a certain guarantee of credibility, is the best way to sell them.

Reaching a deserted alley corner, Zhou Yuan's mind stirred, and a large black cloak appeared out of thin air, covering his body with the hood pulled down to obscure most of his face.

Although the rule of that secret shop is not to ask about origins, an extra layer of disguise always provides a bit more peace of mind.

After many twists and turns, the lonely, dilapidated little house with its peeling paint reappeared before our eyes.

The wooden door was tightly shut, still without any markings, and the place looked as desolate as if it had been abandoned for many years.

Zhou Yuan stepped forward, reached out his hand, and knocked on the wooden door a few times, neither too hard nor too softly.