I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Xu Zhou's statement is not entirely true.

In reality, the bottleneck is not in alchemy, but in formation.

Since Xu Zhou chose to conceal his cultivation of array formations, it became difficult for him to obtain resources through official sect channels.

He has only just begun to understand the principles of array formation and needs extensive practice to accumulate experience in array setup; otherwise, he will find it difficult to comprehend the subsequent content of the array formation inheritance.

If you can't understand it, you can't learn it, let alone enter a deep learning state.

Therefore, Xu Zhou had to resolve the issue of array resources no matter what. Even if he was unwilling to take risks, he had to go out now.

After hearing his explanation, Li Zelei nodded in empathy: "Sigh, you've gotten to this point too."

He then said, "But don't worry, I'm planning to take on a mission from a sect these days, so you can come along."

Xu Zhou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He already knew that Li Zelei would take on some sect missions every year to go out and earn contribution points and resources, and also to gain experience so as not to become rusty.

He timed his visit perfectly to avoid putting the other party in a difficult position.

"But where does Junior Brother wish to go?"

Li Zelei's question caused Xu Zhou to fall silent for a moment.

After a long pause, he asked, "Where can we go?"

Li Zelei pondered for a moment and said, "It depends on what resources you want."

Within the Mu Kingdom, besides the spiritual lands controlled by the Golden Flame Sect, there are several exceptionally dangerous deep mountains and treacherous places, but these are also rich in resources.

In addition, there are several markets where cultivators can obtain what they need. However, each market has different characteristics, and the resources available for purchase also vary.

He described in detail the characteristics of these dangerous places and markets.

Li Zelei had traveled extensively throughout the Mu Kingdom, visiting almost every place he could, and his account was filled with numerous details.

In addition to the scenery of various places, even the background of people and connections, everything was complete and more accurate than the records in the library, which broadened Xu Zhou's horizons.

After listening, Xu Zhou hesitated for a long time before saying, "It was my oversight in this matter. I would prefer to go to the market and buy all the necessary items at once, but I'm not sure which market to go to."

Li Zelei generously replied, "It's alright, Junior Brother can take his time to decide. I'll still be in the sect until the beginning of next month."

"Then thank you very much, Senior Brother."

After finishing the business, Xu Zhou felt much more relaxed.

The two chatted casually about their recent situations.

Halfway through the conversation, a young figure suddenly ran over, his face showing a hint of grievance. It was Li Pozhu who had returned.

He walked up to Xu Zhou and handed back the bottle of Huangyadan that he had just received.

Xu Zhou and Li Zelei were both puzzled.

Upon further inquiry, it was discovered that Li Pozhu had gone to show off to his younger brother. As a result, his older brother, Li Pojing, found out and immediately gave him a lecture, ordering him to return the gifts and forbidding him from making excuses to ask for more presents.

Upon learning the details, the two couldn't help but burst out laughing.

In the end, Huang Yadan was still given away.

After Li Pozhu bowed his head and left, Xu Zhou looked at Li Zelei and smiled, "Your eldest son does have some sense of propriety."

Li Zelei shook his head helplessly: "He's just a bit stubborn."

...

Xu Zhou returned to his cave and began compiling a list of the materials he needed.

The materials required for the array are extremely high. Not only should we buy them, but we should take this opportunity to buy a large quantity.

Although encountering a bottleneck in alchemy is merely an excuse to cover up the problem in array formation, it is still very necessary.

In addition, we also need to collect some of the main ingredients for Ningqi Powder.

Similar to Huangya Dan and Yinqi Lu, Ningqi San is a spiritual medicine that assists in cultivation, but it is specifically used in the later stages of Qi Refining.

At this level, the price of Qi Condensation Powder is much higher than that of Qi Induction Dew, and even the medicinal materials are scarce. If Xu Zhou wants to have a stable supply of Qi Condensation Powder after his breakthrough, he needs to accumulate a sum of medicinal materials in advance.

In conclusion, Xu Zhou needed a great deal of material.

Fortunately, he had anticipated this day and had saved up a considerable amount of spirit stones in advance.

Even so, the expenditure of spirit stones still needs to be carefully calculated. If you want to buy all the materials at once, you also need to choose the right market.

In the entire Mu Kingdom, the easiest place to acquire various resources is naturally the Red Leaf Market.

The market town was located in the northwest of Mu Kingdom, close to the border of Yan Kingdom. Foreign cultivators would often come here to rest, bringing with them rare resources that were uncommon in Mu Kingdom for sale.

With this advantageous location, Red Leaf Market has attracted many cultivators, and over time, it has become the largest market in the Mu Kingdom.

However, Xu Zhou did not intend to go.

The main reason is that Red Leaf Market is run by several families, one of which is the Hu family of Thousand Swords Peak.

More than ten years ago, a young cultivator from the Hu family disguised himself as a treacherous cultivator and caused trouble everywhere, even robbing the sect, and almost killed Senior Brother Zheng Feng and Li Zelei.

Afterwards, Xu Zhou handed over the relevant evidence to the Zheng family, which led to the discovery and public execution of those arrogant members of the Hu family.

However, the Hu family may not be willing to swallow this insult.

If they still harbor resentment, they naturally won't provoke the powerful Zheng family; they will only pursue Xu Zhou.

After all, it was Xu Zhou who handed over the curse-removing bell and related evidence to the Zheng family.

Without him, the Zheng family wouldn't have come to the Hu family.

Although Xu Zhou tried his best to conceal it, after so many years, he wasn't sure if the other party had found out the truth. Therefore, whenever he had a choice, he would try to avoid direct contact with the Hu family.

In contrast, Li Zelei has nothing to worry about.

When Xu Zhou handed over the evidence, he modified some of the content, deleting his own name, which meant even the Zheng family knew little about it. If an investigation were to finally uncover it, it would be very difficult to trace it back to him.

Since Red Leaf Market is not an option, Xu Zhou doesn't have many other choices.

After much deliberation, Xu Zhou finally decided to go to Donglingfang Market, located in Dongling Valley.

Dongling Market was run by the nearby Cai family and was only a small market. However, it was located in the center of the Mu Kingdom and was considered a transportation hub, so although it was small in scale, it stored a wide variety of resources.

After deciding on the goal, Xu Zhou told Li Zelei about it.

Both parties agreed to set off together after giving each other five days to prepare.

On his first trip down the mountain for training, Xu Zhou dared not be negligent and made careful preparations.

Basic talismans and magical artifacts are essential, and healing pills have been prepared in advance for immediate use.

After buying all these things, Xu Zhou returned to his cave dwelling and stared at his own spirit tree, examining it from head to toe.

"Should we bring it along?"

This spirit tree was no ordinary thing; it was a spirit tree that he had carefully cultivated for several years before it grew.

The value is secondary; the key is that as long as this spiritual wood exists, Xu Zhou can use the borrowing formation at any time to set up various formations.

After thinking for a while, he decided to take it with him.

Xu Zhou bought a basin-shaped magical artifact from the sect, filled it with some spiritual soil, and began to transplant the spiritual wood into it.

The spirit tree suddenly changed its environment, and its aura immediately weakened. Its branches and leaves swayed slightly, as if expressing its dissatisfaction.

Xu Zhou couldn't help but smile: "I know you're upset. Don't worry, you'll be compensated."

He took out a porcelain bottle from his storage bag, poured out a few drops of spiritual liquid, and dripped it onto the roots of the spirit tree.

The spiritual liquid was quickly absorbed, and in just a moment, the spirit tree returned to its original upright state.

Xu Zhou chuckled inwardly, then put the pot and all into a special warm spirit bag.

...

Five days later, Li Zelei also received his mission, said goodbye to his family, and set off with Xu Zhou.

The market was far away, so the two of them did not use any magical artifacts to fly. Instead, they used basic wind-controlling techniques to travel on foot.

Xu Zhou originally felt somewhat guilty for dragging Li Zelei down.

But Li Zelei immediately explained, "We Qi Refining cultivators should not fly on magical artifacts unless we have reached the Foundation Establishment stage. The cultivation world is still too dangerous. Qi Refining cultivators do not have divine sense. If we fly too high, we will not be able to avoid danger."

There is much more life-saving knowledge like this.

Xu Zhou knew that these insights were learned by the other party through repeated experiences, so he listened carefully and dared not be negligent.

He was a little nervous on his first time going down the mountain.

Every time he walked a certain distance, he would subconsciously use his divine sense to check the condition of the spirit wood in the Wenling Bag.

If he encounters danger, this sacred tree may become his greatest reliance.

However, despite his vigilance, the two did not encounter any accidents during their ten-plus days of travel.

Clearly, most of the potential problems had already been eliminated by Li Zelei.

It wasn't until they were only a few days away from Dongling Valley that Li Zelei gradually became wary.

"Junior brother, you must be extra careful these next few days."

"Cultivators often like to set traps near markets, specifically targeting those cultivators who let their guard down."

"I have seen no fewer than ten cultivators die because of this, including two fellow disciples."

Xu Zhou knew the gravity of the situation and had been extra careful these past few days.

With only half a day's journey to Dongling Valley, the two passed through a mountain stream and suddenly noticed something amiss.

Xu Zhou glanced to his left and sensed a suction force coming from that direction, rapidly drawing the surrounding spiritual energy towards it.

According to the classic texts he studied, this seemed to be the formation stage of some kind of rare and precious material.

To everyone's surprise, Li Zelei's expression changed after sensing the suction force.

"Run! Don't make a sound."

Xu Zhou immediately regained his composure and quickly left with Li Zelei.

They only slowed down after running for more than ten miles.

Li Zelei then turned around and said, "Junior brother, did you just think some rare and precious treasure had appeared?"

Before Xu Zhou could answer, he continued, "Junior Brother may know a lot about the spiritual things of heaven and earth, but when it comes to the wickedness of the human heart, I, your senior brother, know it better."

There is a common ambush tactic among cultivators: using a secret technique to create the illusion of a spiritual being emerging, attracting passing cultivators to investigate.

Once the cultivator gets close enough to investigate, they will immediately be attacked by the waiting assassins and could easily die on the spot.

Li Zelei said seriously, "If you want to live a long life in the cultivation world, remember that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Such sudden opportunities are more likely to bring about a death crisis."

Xu Zhou solemnly agreed.

He knew in his heart that Li Zelei was telling the truth.

Just as the fluctuation came from that place, he subconsciously released his divine sense to investigate.

His divine sense had revealed the situation behind the river and the forest in its entirety.

Five Qi Refining cultivators were hidden in the shadows.

Among them, three possessed powerful auras, clearly indicating that they were at the late stage of Qi Refining!

If the two of them had really gone there out of curiosity, they would already be surrounded!