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

Inside the alchemy room.

Silent and still.

Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged, his abundant magical power flowing throughout his body.

Three months.

This retreat lasted for three whole months.

The Golden Source Pills he had accumulated through embezzlement had been completely used up.

The price paid was enormous.

The harvest was equally astonishing.

The magical power within his body surged, far surpassing what it had been three months prior.

Qi Refining Level 11!

Only two more levels remain to reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

Such a cultivation speed was something he wouldn't have dared to even dream of in the past.

The aptitude of a pseudo-spiritual root seemed to have become a joke in his case.

Just then, a slight disturbance came from the simple barrier set up outside the alchemy room.

Zhou Yuan slowly opened his eyes, and a glint of light flashed in the dimly lit room.

He finished his cultivation, stood up, and walked to the restricted area.

A transducer talisman, glowing faintly, floats silently outside the door.

He reached out and the communication talisman transformed into a streak of light, flying into his hand. Immediately, a familiar voice rang in his mind.

It belongs to Manager Wang of Miaodan Pavilion.

The message was simple: the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Lin family who served as a steward in Yellow Maple Valley wanted to see him.

That Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Lin family?

Zhou Yuan's heart stirred.

Could it be that my plan to join Huangfeng Valley is finally showing some progress?

Counting the time, it has been almost half a year since he became a guest of the Lin family, and it is about time for him to give an answer.

His current cultivation level has reached the eleventh level of Qi Refining.

With this level of cultivation, he would definitely be considered an outstanding figure among independent cultivators.

If he can join the Yellow Maple Valley and receive the sect's protection, his path of cultivation will be guaranteed.

With that thought in mind, he no longer hesitated, removed the restriction, and pushed open the door to go out.

……

A moment later, Zhou Yuan appeared on the second floor of Miaodan Pavilion.

As soon as he stepped onto the stairs, Manager Wang greeted him with a broad smile.

"Master Zhou, you've finally emerged from seclusion! Lord Lin has been waiting inside for quite some time."

As he spoke, Manager Wang led the way.

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly and followed behind him.

Arriving at the door of that familiar VIP room, Manager Wang stopped, turned to the side, and made a "please" gesture.

"Master Zhou, please."

Zhou Yuan didn't say much, straightened his clothes, and pushed open the door to enter.

The room was still elegantly furnished, but the atmosphere was completely different from usual.

An invisible pressure filled the entire space, making it difficult for anyone to breathe.

In the main seat sat an elderly man dressed in a gray Taoist robe.

The old man had white hair and beard, a gaunt face, and half-open eyes. His aura was restrained, yet he gave people a sense of profound stillness and imposing presence, as if he had merged with the surrounding space.

Foundation Establishment cultivator!

This is a true Foundation Establishment cultivator; every gesture he makes carries a spiritual pressure far exceeding that of a Qi Refining cultivator.

Zhou Yuan glanced at it once, then immediately lowered his head, not daring to look directly at it again.

He stepped forward quickly, bowed deeply, and his expression was full of respect.

"Junior Zhou Yuan greets Senior Lin."

"Um."

The old man in the main seat, Lin Xu, the patriarch of the Lin family, slowly opened his eyes.

A pair of calm, still eyes merely glanced at Zhou Yuan, yet Zhou Yuan felt as if he had been seen through from the inside out, with no secrets left to him.

"Eleventh level of Qi Refining, not bad."

Lin Xu's voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

"Eleventh level of Qi Refining cultivation, not bad."

Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down his spine and lowered his posture even further.

"Senior, you flatter me. I was just lucky. I also had some success in alchemy recently, which is why I was able to break through."

"Just luck?" Lin Xu chuckled noncommittally. "On the path of cultivation, there aren't that many lucky breaks."

He picked up the spirit tea on the table, gently stirred the lid, and stopped looking at Zhou Yuan, instead slowly speaking.

"I have already made arrangements for your entry into Yellow Maple Valley."

Become!

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan felt a surge of joy, but he dared not show it on his face, and simply waited respectfully for what was to come.

"but……"

Lin Xu changed the subject, put down his teacup, and made a soft "tap" sound.

The sound wasn't loud, but it made Zhou Yuan's heart skip a beat.

coming.

He knew things wouldn't be that simple.

"I have one more condition before entering Yellow Maple Valley."

Zhou Yuan's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface.

"Please speak, senior. I am all ears."

Lin Xu raised his eyelids and re-examined Zhou Yuan, his calm gaze carrying a hint of undeniable authority.

"Refine pills for my Lin family for another ten years."

ten years!

Zhou Yuan frowned almost imperceptibly, but quickly returned to normal.

He understood what the other person meant instantly.

This was because they feared that once they entered Huangfeng Valley and obtained the status of a sect disciple, they would immediately turn their backs on them and break free from the Lin family's control.

He tied himself to the Lin family with a ten-year contract.

Ten years as a guest advisor.

This period of time is neither long nor short.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

reject?

Very serious consequences.

Offending a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was also an inner sect deacon of Yellow Maple Valley.

He will likely find it difficult to move an inch in this market from now on, and may even face death.

promise?

This means that he will have to serve the Lin family for the next ten years.

Although he could line his own pockets by refining pills for the Lin family, he could also use the Lin family's channels to collect all sorts of "old items" that he wanted, which brought him many benefits.

But ultimately, this means being at the mercy of others.

If the Lin family makes even more outrageous demands in the future, how should he deal with it?

The pros and cons are weighed quickly in one's mind.

Ultimately, one thought overwhelmed all concerns.

Yellow Maple Valley!

Compared to entering Huangfeng Valley, one of the seven major sects of Yue Kingdom, being a guest elder for ten years was not so difficult for Zhou Yuan to accept.

He knew better than anyone how tough life was for a wandering cultivator.

Without a powerful backer or a strong background, one is like a rootless duckweed, which can be overturned by a storm at any time.

The identity of a sect disciple is the most needed protection for him at the moment.

Moreover, he only has a pseudo-spiritual root. Without the resources of a sect, it would be extremely difficult for him to establish his foundation on his own.

He had no choice in this deal.

Having figured all this out, Zhou Yuan raised his head, his face now completely calm.

"I agree to your request, senior."

He didn't mention any additional conditions, nor did he try to bargain.

Faced with an absolute disparity in strength, any clever tricks are futile and will only provoke the other party's resentment.

The wisest choice is to agree decisively.

Seeing that Zhou Yuan was so sensible, Lin Xu finally showed a genuine smile of satisfaction.

"Very good, you're a smart person."

He took out a palm-sized cyan token from his storage bag and casually tossed it to Zhou Yuan.

"Two months later, you may come to the mountain gate to report with this order. Someone will then guide you there."

Zhou Yuan reached out and took the token. It was slightly cool to the touch. The front was engraved with the words "Huang Feng" and the back was decorated with cloud patterns.