I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Golden Flame Gate, Spirit Plant Hall.

As soon as Xu Zhou stepped inside, he was greeted with smiles by several stewards.

"Master Xu Dan, what brings you here today?"

The steward kindly said, "We still have a few saplings of the Azure Yang Wood and Profound Yin Wood that you requested before. If Master Xu still wants them, I can arrange to sell them to you at an 80% discount."

Xu Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Please prepare a few trees for me, three of each type of spirit wood, is that alright?"

Three plants? No problem!

Seeing that the other party readily agreed, Xu Zhou asked again, "Besides these two types of saplings, does the Spirit Plant Hall have any other spirit trees?"

"Yes, which one would you like, Master Xu?"

After the other party gave an introduction, Xu Zhou chose "chalcedony wood" and asked them to prepare three plants.

The spirit trees he had planted before were destroyed due to over-activation of the Five Fiends Formation. He later cultivated a few more, which have only recently reached a usable state.

Originally, he was supposed to focus on the secret realm during this period and had no time to spare, but unexpectedly, Zhang Wufeng dug up all the people, which gave him a lot of spirit stones to spare. He could just buy a few more plants to grow in case of unforeseen circumstances.

After the transaction was completed, the deacon looked excited.

Jade marrow wood is a top-grade spiritual wood, and if cultivated well, it can even advance to the second rank, so its value is naturally not low.

Even if you sell them at 80% of the price, selling three plants at once is still a big deal.

Just when he thought the transaction was over, Xu Zhou asked again, "Does your Spirit Plant Hall still have Blood Refining Jujube seeds?"

The deacon who received him looked slightly taken aback.

"Does Master Xu need to refine blood dates?"

Xu Zhou nodded: "It's not just the Blood Refining Dates."

If there are any other Cloud Dew Flowers, Warm Jade Fruits, or Turbidity-Clearing Spirit Leaves, I want them all.

The deacon's pupils dilated sharply.

He didn't even answer immediately, but cautiously asked, "Master Xu, whose foundation are you helping to establish?"

Xu Zhou frowned: "Why ask so many questions? Go check the inventory. If you have any, bring them up. You won't be shortchanged on spirit stones."

The deacon immediately came to his senses, nodded hastily, and left.

A moment later, two wooden boxes made of high-grade spirit wood were handed to Xu Zhou.

One of them held a round, blood-red spiritual fruit, while the other held two leaves that shimmered with seven-colored light.

The steward who brought it explained, "It just so happens that we still have Blood Refining Dates and Turbidity-Clearing Spirit Leaves in the storeroom. However, we really don't have the other rare and precious herbs you requested."

Xu Zhou asked, "When will it be available?"

"this..."

The steward smiled wryly and said, "That's hard to say. Although these kinds of spiritual plants are not as effective as Foundation Establishment Pills in assisting Foundation Establishment, they are still very effective. Although the Spirit Plant Hall grows them, there are always many people watching over the harvest."

If we really have to wait, it will probably be at least two or three years. With bad luck, seven or eight years is quite common.

Xu Zhou nodded slightly: "It's alright, you can remember it for me. If there's any news, remember to let me know."

The deacon readily agreed.

After handing over the storage bag containing spirit stones, Xu Zhou got up and left.

As he fumbled for the two wooden boxes in his arms, he couldn't help but start calculating in his mind.

"The Blood Refining Jujube is best at nourishing blood and strengthening qi. Even old cultivators with declining qi and blood can improve their chances of passing the qi and blood barrier during the Foundation Establishment stage after consuming this product."

"As for the Turbidity-Clearing Spirit Leaf, it is an extremely rare soul-stabilizing spiritual object. Among the three stages of Foundation Establishment, the soul is the most dangerous. If one has this leaf to protect them, their chances of success can be increased by at least 10%."

"Warm Jade Fruit can temper magical power and increase the probability of passing the magical power barrier. Cloud Dew Flower, on the other hand, is the main ingredient of the Meridian Protection Pill."

"Once I gather all of these, and study some Foundation Establishment techniques, I'll be roughly equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Thinking of this, Xu Zhou couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

No wonder Qi Refining cultivators crave Foundation Establishment Pills.

A single pill can increase the probability of Foundation Establishment by 30%, and at the same time, it can ensure that even if the cultivator fails, he will not perish.

In comparison, all those other miscellaneous rare and precious materials bundled together are no match for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"It would be best to send another letter to ask Chen'er."

"Since he achieved a certain level of cultivation, this kid has gone out to gain experience. I remember there's a merchant guild stationed nearby where he went before, so I can take this opportunity to have him ask around for me."

...

Zhang Wufeng's organization can be described as very high-profile.

In the past few days, news of his plan to explore Sunset Valley has been coming in continuously.

Xu Zhou occasionally released his divine sense in the mansion and could always hear several gossipy disciples of the Hundred Herbs Hall discussing this matter.

"Master Zhang has really gone all out this time."

"I heard that Master Zhang Dan invited several array masters from the Imperial Array Hall to search for the secret realm with their divine sense for this expedition."

"They've even brought in a formation master; the price must be quite high."

"After all, he is a top-grade alchemist, and it's for the sake of Foundation Establishment, so he can afford to shed this much blood."

Xu Zhou, who was also a top-grade alchemist and had previously organized people to explore secret realms, was occasionally the subject of discussion.

"Speaking of which, this Alchemist Xu has also explored the secret realm before. Could it be that he also wants to establish his foundation?"

"No way, how old is he this year? When my dad joined Baicaotang, I heard he was already a pill refiner."

"At over seventy years old, attempting Foundation Establishment is tantamount to courting death."

"No wonder Master Zhang is working so hard. If he drags it out for a few more years, won't he end up like Master Xu?"

Xu Zhou was tired of hearing these kinds of comments.

When Zhang Wufeng was mentioned, everyone felt that he had a very high chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, and was very likely to become the new Foundation Establishment expert of the Hundred Herbs Hall in the future.

When people talk about him, they mostly feel regret and pity.

Several of the deacons who knew him well privately sympathized with him, saying, "If only Master Xu were twenty years younger."

Xu Zhou remained remarkably calm, not only ignoring the issue but even treating it as a joke.

These days, he still stays quietly in his cave.

Because Zhang Wufeng poached many people, the number of people seeking pills decreased, allowing him to refine pills less often and giving him more time for cultivation and study.

Through some connections, he obtained several books containing the insights of those who had previously established their foundations. He is currently in seclusion, studying them diligently, hoping to gain a deeper understanding of foundation building.

Not long after, it was heard that Zhang Wufeng had set off with his men.

Xu Zhou didn't think much of it after learning about it and continued to immerse himself in his studies.

Thus, three or four months passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Xu Zhou was studying the "Dream-Eating Heart Sutra" at his residence.

This scripture truly lives up to its reputation as the core cultivation method of the Yin Soul Sect. It also contains explanations of the Foundation Establishment Divine Soul Barrier and some divine sense secret techniques that can be used during Foundation Establishment.

If he can master this, Xu Zhou's chances of passing the Divine Soul Barrier will increase by another 50%.

Just as he was concentrating, he suddenly sensed someone visiting outside his cave.

Xu Zhou put down the books and walked out the door.

Outside the door, Zhang Wufeng arrived.

However, it was different from when he last came.

At this moment, Zhang Wufeng's expression was slightly unnatural. After a moment of silence, he cupped his hands and said:

"Senior Brother Xu, it's been a long time."

Xu Zhou didn't answer immediately, but only glanced at him before saying, "Junior Brother Zhang's sudden visit is quite unusual. Has something happened in the secret realm?"

Zhang Wufeng's face darkened instinctively: "No."

He fell silent for a moment after he finished speaking.

"Is that really true?"

Xu Zhou noticed the undisguised fatigue on the other person's face, with a slight frown between their brows, suggesting that things hadn't gone smoothly for them.

A moment of silence fell over the room.

After a long pause, Zhang Wufeng gritted his teeth slightly.

"However, we did encounter some trouble."

He forced himself to turn his gaze back and said seriously, "I have come today to ask you for something important."

Seeing this, Xu Zhou stopped joking and asked, "What is it?"

"The matter is somewhat complicated."

Zhang Wufeng carefully chose his words and said, "During this exploration of the secret realm, we encountered a second-tier beast that was skilled in using miasma. After a fierce battle, the team that went in to explore barely managed to escape."

However, after escaping, several of the senior brothers were afflicted by miasma and barely managed to emerge from the secret realm before collapsing.

Xu Zhou's eyes flickered: "You've already tried the 'Clear Spirit Pill'?"

"I've already tried it."

Zhang Wufeng said with a wry smile, "The Qingling Pill has indeed had some effect and has stabilized the situation. However, that part of the miasma has already penetrated deep into the bone marrow. To remove it, we must take the Qingling Pill day and night."

I really don't have many Qingling Pills left, so I have to ask my senior brother for help. I heard that Senior Brother Xu also practices medicine, so I beg you to help me save the other senior brothers.

Xu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Didn't you go see any other doctors? Why did you have to come to me?"

Zhang Wufeng's face flushed slightly as he explained, "The other doctors all said that this poison has penetrated deep into the meridians. To remove it, the toxins must be forced out all at once, and the process cannot be stopped. If we are not careful, we will damage the foundation."

The other physicians were not skilled enough, so they dared not make a move.

"Now, in the Hundred Herbs Hall, besides a few elders, the only person I can think of... is you, Senior Brother."

Xu Zhou remained silent upon hearing this.

After a long pause, he nodded: "In that case, I can give it a try."

Zhang Wufeng's expression immediately relaxed, and he was about to speak.

Xu Zhou spoke again: "However, Junior Brother Zhang should also understand that removing toxins that have penetrated deep into someone's meridians is no ordinary matter."

This matter is not only mentally exhausting, but if I am not careful, I may also be infected by the poison gas.

Therefore, this matter...

He raised his head and looked at Zhang Wufeng.

"Xu will not act for nothing."