I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

After everything settled down, Xu Zhou remembered to look at the secret manual that Li Zelei had given him.

These manuals, like the previous "Five Thunder Golden Body," are all relatively short classics.

Given Xu Zhou's learning efficiency after awakening his divine consciousness, he should be able to finish reading it all in two or three months at most.

Among them, "White Rainbow Sword Qi" is a method that specializes in cultivating Geng metal sword qi. The sword qi cultivated is like a white rainbow piercing the sun, sharp and unstoppable.

The Thunderclap Escape Technique is a rare thunder-based escape technique. Once mastered, it moves like a thunderclap, giving one the upper hand in both offense and evasion.

Both of these supernatural powers are excellent methods.

Unfortunately, Xu Zhou couldn't learn that.

The cultivation requirements for "Thunderbolt Escape Technique" are the same as those for "Five Thunder Golden Body," and the latter is even a prerequisite for the former.

Xu Zhou's Qi-refining body, without the assistance of unique rare and precious materials, would be unable to withstand the tempering of heavenly lightning; practicing this would be tantamount to courting death.

As for the "White Rainbow Sword Qi", to nurture the sword qi within the body, one's own flesh and blood must be strong enough to withstand the sword qi without harming oneself.

In other words, these three secret manuals are interconnected; you either practice them all or don't touch any of them.

Xu Zhou was also at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Never mind, let's just leave it for now."

"Although I can't practice it right now, I can still give it a try if I can break through to the Foundation Establishment stage."

...

Time flies, and six years have passed in the blink of an eye.

For the past six years, Xu Zhou has done almost nothing but alchemy and studying. Through tireless effort, he finally mastered the refining technique of Qi Condensation Powder.

The ability to refine Qi Condensation Powder is a major dividing line among top-grade alchemists.

From then on, Xu Zhou no longer lacked resources for cultivation and was able to maintain his continuous intake of Qi Condensation Powder.

Many inner sect cultivators would come to ask for medicine, willingly paying a lot of spirit stones and resources for it.

Even some late-stage inner sect cultivators who he once looked up to now address him as "Alchemist Xu" when they meet.

Every time Xu Zhou accepted a gift and saw the joy on the recipient's face, he couldn't help but sigh.

If he weren't an alchemist, maintaining a supply of Qi-Gathering Powder would be quite difficult.

The Qi Condensation Powder is no longer as potent as the Yellow Dragon Pill or the Qi-Inducing Dew. It is difficult to refine and the medicinal materials are scarce, making it almost a strategic resource. Most late-stage Qi Refining cultivators in the inner sect find it difficult to maintain a stable intake.

Only alchemists who are rolling in money can sustain this level of consumption.

This made Xu Zhou secretly feel that since breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining, his cultivation speed was much faster than before.

It wasn't that he improved faster, but rather that everyone else's speed slowed down.

As time went by, with the help of a massive amount of Qi Condensation Powder, Xu Zhou's cultivation finally made another step forward.

He broke through the eighth level of Qi Refining.

This breakthrough didn't significantly improve Xu Zhou's overall strength; his total mana increased by 30%, but there were no other unique changes. It was nothing like the feeling he had when he broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, where even his soul felt cleansed.

But that makes sense, since it's just a small improvement in skill level.

Compared to his cultivation level, he controlled his lifespan very tightly.

These past few years, my focus on alchemy has caused my lifespan to decline slightly. But even so, my vital energy remains at its peak, around the age of thirty, without any sign of decline.

Even if he doesn't cultivate his body, the Qi and blood barrier of Foundation Establishment shouldn't be too difficult for him in the future.

In addition, Xu Zhou's array formations have also improved.

Shortly after breaking through to the eighth level of Qi Refining, he finally succeeded in carving several array patterns on the five spirit trees he had planted.

Introducing objects into the array is a sign that the array technique has been upgraded to the intermediate level.

Although both involve engraving restrictions on objects, this is actually a completely different path from a weapon refiner forging magical artifacts.

The artifact itself has perfect patterns, so even if a cultivator doesn't understand it at all, they can still drive it with their will.

However, the array patterns on the spirit wood turn it into a magical artifact similar to a jigsaw puzzle. How to unleash its power depends on the array master's on-the-spot arrangement and execution.

The advantage is that the power of the formation far surpasses that of the magic weapon.

Xu Zhou roughly estimated that if he could set up an array in advance and take advantage of the terrain, even an ordinary Qi Refining Peak cultivator might not be able to do anything to him.

From then on, Xu Zhou was no longer the Qi Refining cultivator who could only rely on forbearance to protect himself.

If he were to encounter the same calamity cultivators again, he would be able to handle it with ease.

"A true top-tier array master, once the array is deployed, can even directly confront a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"My 'Five Fiends Formation' is still rather crude. However, it's more than enough to deal with ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."

Now that the formation method has finally been completed, Xu Zhou has begun to contemplate action after a period of stillness.

"We're running out of the array materials we bought earlier."

"The resources for alchemy are still plentiful; there are plenty of people in the sect who can help me collect medicinal herbs. However, it's only enough for Qi Condensation Powder; the other herbs are still somewhat scarce."

"To supplement this material, I still need to make a trip to the market."

Xu Zhou thought for a moment, then dispersed the spirit wood around him to cover up the traces of his array.

Unless placed in a specific location, these spiritual trees are just ordinary things. In the eyes of others, they would only be regarded as ornamental plants that Xu Zhou keeps in his spare time.

Afterwards, Xu Zhou went out to visit several people.

Although he is now able to protect himself, he would still prefer to travel with more people to make his journey more stable if given the choice.

Since his failure to establish his foundation, Li Zelei's cultivation level has declined and his strength has been greatly diminished, so he has no intention of going down the mountain.

However, there were many people within the sect willing to accompany him, an alchemist.

...

Several days later.

Xu Zhou and his group then embarked on their journey to Donglingfang Market.

Accompanying him were three late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

Upon hearing Xu Zhou's invitation to travel with them, almost all of them immediately agreed. Even those who had other important matters to attend to decided to postpone their plans.

After all, there are plenty of opportunities to handle personal matters, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to curry favor with Master Xu!

The four of them traveled together, and this trip was much safer than the last one.

Even if some cultivators noticed them, they would turn and run away as soon as they discovered the exact cultivation levels of the group, and would not dare to show themselves.

Xu Zhou only needed to occasionally use his divine sense to probe the way, just to ensure that no accidents would happen.

The rest of the time was spent chatting with familiar colleagues.

One of them was Tong Jin, whom Li Zelei had introduced to him.

The other party was a well-known weapon refiner in the sect. Over the years, he had maintained contact with Xu Zhou, often visiting to deliver gifts and requesting pills from Xu Zhou many times.

He has a friendly personality, and the two of them chatted a lot and became good friends.

"In my opinion, that Junior Brother Hu from the Imperial Array Hall is somewhat neglecting his duties."

Tong Jin was a bit blunt, and when the conversation got interesting, he blurted out something without thinking.

Xu Zhou couldn't help but ask curiously, "I've heard that Hu Anming is quite serious about studying array formations. Over the years since he started, he's exchanged ideas with his fellow disciples every so often. Why do you say he's neglecting his studies?"

Tong Jin shook his head: "What's so special about array formations? He's a promising young cultivator. At his age, shouldn't his priority be Foundation Establishment?"

Xu Zhou smiled slightly: "Why should Senior Brother Tong care about him? He has excellent aptitude and can establish his foundation whenever he wants. He's not in the same world as us."

"Why."

Tong Jin said sullenly, "That's what they say, but when I think about how he's not even fifty yet, and he's at the ninth level of Qi Refining but isn't in a hurry to establish his foundation, I just can't stand it."

I heard he has no interest in cultivation now, spending his days scheming against the senior disciple of the Imperial Array Hall; what a waste of his time.

Xu Zhou didn't care how much time Juan was wasting.

He only paid attention to the array formation insights that the other party occasionally shared.

Every time the other side organized a formation exchange meeting, Xu Zhou would collect the exchange notes that were circulated and read and ponder them carefully in private.

It can be said that these notes played a significant role in enabling him to become a mid-grade array master within ten years, saving him from many detours.

As for other matters, Xu Zhou didn't care much.

Suddenly, Tong Jin seemed to remember something, chuckled, and said, "I heard someone mention an interesting story the other day. Master Xu, why don't you guess why Hu Anming became enemies with the junior brother from the Imperial Array Hall?"

Xu Zhou wasn't particularly interested in this, but still replied, "These two are both genius disciples of the Imperial Array Hall, so it's normal for them not to like each other."

"Yes," Tong Jin nodded, "but the reason they initially started arguing is quite interesting."

Xu Zhou gestured for him to continue.

Tong Jin didn't keep him in suspense and said with a smile, "It is said that Hu Anming once went out and suddenly discovered that he was being spied on by divine sense. He tried to catch the other party, but the other party escaped."

Although he's disappeared without a trace, he's not hard to find. Juanming's spiritual sense is highly developed, making him virtually unbeatable within the Qi Refining stage. Besides the senior disciple of the Imperial Array Hall, no one else could have escaped his detection.

Xu Zhou felt a sense of unease; why did this matter sound so familiar?

Tong Jin continued, "Later, Hu An ordered someone to confront this senior brother, but the other party dared to do it but dared not admit it. The two disagreed and thus began their feud."

He couldn't help but sigh, "I really don't understand why these two are fighting over such a trivial matter."

Xu Zhou was still waiting to reply.

A woman's voice came from behind them.

"Senior Brother Tong, stop with the idle talk, we'll be at Dongling Market soon."