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

"Senior, you are wise! I... no, I am Xiao Jingsong, and my granddaughter Xiao Cuier, though we live among mortals, have always been law-abiding citizens."

"I opened this inn simply to make a living. I have never caused any harm to the common people, nor have I interfered in their affairs... I just want some peace and quiet."

The old man is Xiao Jingsong.

He hurriedly bowed to Zhou Yuan, his voice tinged with nervousness, fearing that this suddenly appearing and unfathomable "senior" was an enforcer sent by the Seven Sects to clean up the "rule-breaking" rogue cultivators.

The little maid Xiao Cuier beside her also realized that something was wrong.

Seeing her grandfather's respectful and fearful demeanor, and recalling the sudden paleness on his face just now, she guessed that the seemingly young "guest" in front of her was probably a powerful immortal master whose cultivation far surpassed that of her grandfather!

She immediately became reserved, hiding behind her grandfather and only peeking out half her head, curiously and fearfully glancing at Zhou Yuan.

"What do I care about your mundane existence?"

Zhou Yuan waved his hand, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority, "The cultivation world has its own rules. As long as you don't overstep your boundaries or abuse your magic in the mortal realm, who cares where you hide?"

His words were not false.

In the Tiannan region, perhaps because resources are relatively concentrated and sects have a strong desire for control, the boundary between cultivators and mortals is drawn more clearly.

But in a wider world, such as the Chaotic Star Sea he was about to visit, or the legendary Great Jin Empire, it was common for cultivators and mortals to live together and even build cities and markets together; the boundaries were not so clear.

Zhou Yuan stopped beating around the bush and focused his gaze on Xiao Jingsong, stating his purpose directly: "The concealment technique you two, grandfather and grandson, practice seems quite remarkable. Even I was almost fooled if I hadn't deliberately investigated."

Xiao Jingsong's heart skipped a beat, realizing that they were after the Nameless Concealing Breath Technique!

He dared not hide it and quickly replied:

"Senior, you truly have discerning eyes. The concealment technique I cultivate was learned by chance from an ancient animal hide book I obtained by chance many years ago, and it is indeed extraordinary."

"Let me see it." Zhou Yuan stretched out his hand, his tone leaving no room for argument.

A hint of pain flashed across Xiao Jingsong's face, but more than that, he felt fear and helplessness.

He could easily imagine the consequences of refusing a cultivator who was at least at the Foundation Establishment stage and whose spiritual sense was terrifyingly strong.

He gritted his teeth and carefully took out a yellowed, worn-out animal hide book with a faint, ancient smell from his bosom, holding it in both hands.

He respectfully handed it to Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan took the book made of animal hide. He felt that the hide was tough and smooth, definitely not ordinary animal hide.

He unfolded the book made of animal hide and glanced at it.

Just as he expected, the animal skin book contained a concise and profound "Nameless Breath Concealment Technique" written in a peculiar ink.

This Concealing Breath Technique not only has an excellent effect on hiding the fluctuations of magical power, but it also seems to be able to confuse the spiritual sense of lower-level cultivators to a certain extent.

It was indeed much more advanced than the common breathing techniques he had encountered in Huangfeng Valley.

In the blank space next to the main text of the Breath Concealment Technique, a lot of content was written in an even more ancient script with peculiar strokes, resembling bird-and-insect script.

Although Zhou Yuan did not recognize the script, based on his memories of the original work, he immediately concluded that it was demonic script!

The record is of the top-level escape technique of avian demon beasts called "Nine Transformations of Gale"!

Unfortunately, his cultivation level is still shallow, and he is not yet able to cultivate this advanced escape technique that requires the bloodline of the demon race or a special physique.

They couldn't understand the demonic script either.

However, this item is of extraordinary value, especially for those who may be heading to the Chaotic Star Sea, where monsters roam freely, and perhaps there will be a chance to decipher it in the future.

"I'll take this animal hide book."

Zhou Yuan closed the animal skin scroll, his tone calm but carrying an unyielding air.

Instead of forcibly taking them, he took out several high-quality jade bottles from his storage bag and placed them on the table. "In exchange, these pills are for your cultivation. Some of them are suitable for those in the Qi Refining stage to improve their cultivation and stabilize their foundation. They should be enough for you for a while."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingsong was first taken aback, then his gaze fell on the jade bottles, and the pain and fear in his heart were immediately replaced by great joy!

He originally thought he'd be lucky to even save his life. Author Luan Xinghai Han Paopao's novel, "In Huangfeng Valley, I Have an Equipment Slot!", awaits you on Cola Novels. Unexpectedly, this senior not only didn't forcibly seize it, but also offered compensation!

Judging from their quality and aura, these pills are far beyond what low-level rogue cultivators like them could easily obtain. In particular, a few bottles of them might even help him break through the bottleneck of the ninth level of Qi Refining!

"Thank you so much, senior! It is my honor that you have taken a liking to this book made of animal hide!"

Xiao Jingsong's voice trembled with excitement, and he quickly bowed again.

He and his granddaughter had already mastered the Concealing Breath Technique from the animal hide book, so the book itself held little practical use for them beyond its sentimental value. To be able to exchange it for such precious cultivation resources was like a windfall!

Zhou Yuan said no more, put away the animal skin book, turned around and removed the soundproofing barrier, pushed open the door and went out, his figure quickly disappearing from the inn.

The grandfather and grandson looked at the pills on the table, then at the empty doorway, as if in a dream.

……

Not long after, Zhou Yuan returned to the quiet courtyard that the Qin family had arranged for him.

He was not in a hurry to investigate the Black Fiend Cult.

As a time traveler, he clearly remembered that the Black Fiend Cult's lair was hidden deep within the imperial palace.

The leader of the sect is none other than the Emperor of Yue himself. If we were to investigate rashly at this moment, it would only alert him and be counterproductive.

He spends most of his time in quiet rooms.

The first thing I studied was the "Nameless Breath Concealment Technique".

After equipping the animal hide book obtained from the Xiao family grandfather and grandson into the equipment slot, the effect immediately appeared:

[Equipment Slot 4: Animal Hide Book (Tier 3)]

[Effect 1: Greatly increases the learning speed of the Spirit Concealment Technique!]

[Effect 2: Enhanced comprehension of demonic script!]

[Effect 3: Enhanced comprehension of the Nine Transformations of Gale Escape Technique]

[Note: This is a strange animal hide that records ancient and exquisite techniques for concealing one's breath and the secret escape techniques of the demon race, possessing a unique ancient charm.]

With the terrifying boost from his equipment slots, Zhou Yuan's comprehension of this already exquisite Breath Concealment Technique became almost divinely aided.

Those obscure methods of circulating qi, techniques for concealing divine sense, and key points for simulating aura seemed to become transparent.

He could easily understand and control it.

In just two or three days, Zhou Yuan had completely mastered the "Nameless Concealing Breath Technique".

Furthermore, due to the powerful divine sense brought by the third level of the Great Evolution Technique and the Soul Extinction Secret Technique, the effect of his performance far exceeded that of the original version!

He tried to control his breathing.

In an instant, the surging magical power fluctuations around him, belonging to the peak of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment, and the powerful divine sense aura far exceeding that of his peers, receded like a tide and disappeared without a trace.

At this moment, in the perception of others, he was just like an ordinary person without any cultivation.

With his powerful divine sense, comparable to that of the early stage of Core Formation, as support, and in conjunction with this enhanced Nameless Breath Concealment Technique, he was able to achieve this.

Zhou Yuan was confident.

Unless a cultivator at the mid-stage of Core Formation or above, and skilled in detection, deliberately scans him carefully, it is extremely difficult to discern his true cultivation level!

This greatly facilitated his subsequent actions and future conduct.

After mastering the art of breath control, Zhou Yuan did not go out but continued to stay in the quiet room.

A year ago, his cultivation level had already reached the peak of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

The unstable environment on the front lines has suppressed my urge to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Now that he is in the relatively safe Qin Mansion and has recently acquired a powerful concealment technique, he is not worried that his cultivation progress will be easily seen through after his breakthrough. It is the perfect time to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

He swallowed several Jade Condensation Pills that he had prepared beforehand, and began his seclusion, mobilizing the surging liquid true essence that was already full in his dantian to launch an attack on that invisible bottleneck.

All the people in the Qin household knew was that the newly arrived "Master Qin Yuan" preferred quiet and rarely went out.

No one bothered them.

Ten days later.

The fluctuations of spiritual energy in the quiet room gradually subsided.

Zhou Yuan opened his eyes.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, and his aura was even more profound and restrained than before he went into seclusion.

With the help of the elixir and his long-term accumulation, he broke through the bottleneck of the late Foundation Establishment stage in one fell swoop! The total amount and condensation of the liquid true essence in his dantian reached a new level, and his divine sense seemed to rise with it, becoming more and more solid.