I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Xu Zhou quickly took his leave.

Having chosen his successor, he now has many things to do as soon as possible.

"The Miscellaneous Materia Medica is all-encompassing and requires frequent contact with various different medicinal materials."

"Since you have chosen this lineage, it may not be suitable for you to stay in the sect's spiritual land for a long time."

Gu Huayin's words still lingered in his mind: "I suggest you go and discuss with the sect leader about taking on an overseas mission."

Staying in large markets and maintaining regular contact with chambers of commerce would be much more helpful to you.

Xu Zhou sighed inwardly.

I thought I would stay in Qianmu Forest for a long time, but after coming to Baicaotang, I have to go out again.

Not long after, Xu Zhou accepted an overseas assignment.

After that, he needed to rush to Red Leaf Market to take over the sect's guard there.

Xu Zhou did not stay in the sect for long.

Although the requirement is to arrive within a month, arriving earlier would give more time to arrange accommodation.

If given the chance, you might even have a chat with the former town garrison commander. A few casual words of advice from him could potentially help you establish yourself more effectively in the market.

Before leaving, he made a special trip back to Qianmulin.

Besides parting ways with Song Rou temporarily, he also wanted to take away the important items that were originally in the cave.

Before leaving, he turned back and took one last look at the mountains and forests.

This was also his base after he first started out at Baicaotang. He lived here for a long time, and it held great significance for him.

He was treated with respect by his fellow disciples for the first time here, and became known as "Master Xu" in people's mouths.

Before he knew it, he had become the "elder" in other people's eyes.

After taking one last look, Xu Zhou looked away.

Then, it fled into the distance towards the Red Leaf Market.

This departure may be the last time I return.

...

Hongyefang City is located in the northwest of Mu Kingdom.

This market town is unlike any other small market town. It is located on a main road and is guarded by several Foundation Establishment cultivators, making it resemble a small immortal city.

The distance between them and the sect was quite far, and it would normally take several months to arrive.

However, after Xu Zhou establishes his foundation, he can travel directly by flying and arrive in just half a month!

"The way Foundation Establishment cultivators fly is quite different from when they are refining Qi."

Xu Zhou couldn't help but smile as he thought about his experiences when he was just twenty years old.

"Perhaps, at this very moment, some young man on earth might inadvertently look up and discover that there are immortals in the world, thus beginning a journey to seek immortality?"

Despite flying so openly in the air, he was not worried about his safety.

Foundation Establishment cultivators are very difficult to kill by sneak attacks.

At this moment, Xu Zhou was above the clouds, traveling while familiarizing himself with the use of the spiritual energy shield.

"This spiritual energy shield is quite interesting."

"It's not like magic, but more like a supernatural power. Once you've established a foundation, you can quickly learn and comprehend it."

"Once encountered by an enemy, one can activate the protective shield in an instant to defend oneself, and is not afraid of ordinary sneak attacks."

Xu Zhou sensed the power of the protective shield he had deployed.

"Unfortunately, activating the protective barrier consumes a lot of my magic power. With my current magic power, I can't even hold it for the duration of an incense stick burning if I open it at full strength."

"But that's enough."

"In the end, it's just an emergency measure to prevent sneak attacks."

"As long as I don't provoke trouble, few people in the United States can easily threaten me."

"Even if I'm really unlucky and encounter an enemy who is also at the Foundation Establishment stage, I should be able to hold on and run to the nearest market."

After Xu Zhou mastered the technique, he closed the protective shield.

He glanced into the distance.

"Red Leaf Market should be just around the corner."

A moment later, he indeed spotted a group of rather conspicuous buildings ahead.

As rumored, this market town is quite large, far surpassing the Dongling market town, and its area is comparable to that of a large city in the mortal realm.

Outside the market, a huge flying ship was also docked.

The flying boat was tens of feet long, with numerous spiritual patterns engraved on its hull. A purple star flag hung on it, clearly the symbol of the Thousand Veins Merchant Guild.

When Xu Zhou first arrived at this place, he did not approach rashly. Instead, he stood a few miles outside the market and activated a sect token.

A moment later, a figure gradually approached from the edge of the clouds.

"Is that Xu Zhou, Junior Brother Xu, on the other side?"

Xu Zhou looked up and saw a cultivator in blue robes slowly descending and bowing slightly in his direction.

A thought struck him: "I am Xu Zhou. Is the visitor Senior Brother Lin Zhibai?"

"Exactly."

The green-robed cultivator Lin Zhibai approached and said with a smile, "I thought it would take my junior brother a few more days to arrive, but I didn't expect him to come so quickly."

Xu Zhou smiled in response: "I just didn't want to delay the sect's affairs, so I came a few days early."

"Haha, I should thank you, Junior Brother Xu. Your early arrival allows me to explain the details of the market to you in detail and leave sooner."

Xu Zhou followed him and walked towards a valley outside the market.

Both of them were at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, with the other party only having established Foundation Establishment about twenty years earlier than Xu Zhou.

Looking back, they can even remember how they were practicing their qi, and their conversations made them even closer.

A moment later, the two arrived in the valley.

"This is Red Maple Valley, a place specifically for guarding the market and cultivating cultivation."

Lin Zhibai pointed to the hut in the valley and said, "You will live here from now on. Unless your sect disciples ask for your help, you will hardly need to go to the market to manage things."

Xu Zhou glanced around and couldn't help but say, "This... is actually a quiet place."

"Junior brother really knows how to give face."

Lin Zhibai shook his head: "The spiritual veins here are rather scarce, which is not of much help to Foundation Establishment cultivators. It's just barely enough to provide shelter."

However, I have cleared a spiritual field behind the valley where a batch of spiritual plants can be grown. Would you like to take a look, Junior Brother?

Xu Zhou immediately became interested: "I hope you can lead the way, senior brother."

Soon after, Xu Zhou visited the sacred fields there.

The spirit field isn't very large, only a few dozen acres, and the activity level of the spirit veins is only so-so.

For Foundation Establishment cultivators, this spiritual field is of little value, at most used for cultivating their character. Unless they plan to stay here for an extended period, they might be able to use the spiritual field to cultivate some precious spiritual plants.

Compared to the spiritual lands of sects, this Red Maple Valley is naturally somewhat barren.

But for many years to come, this will be his home, entirely under his own control.

He was quite satisfied with this.

...

As evening approached, several Qi Refining disciples came to visit the valley.

These individuals were all at the peak of Qi Refining, but due to their advanced age, they had given up Foundation Establishment and now simply focused on managing their sect's affairs in the market.

They received news today that the new Foundation Establishment Town Guardian had arrived, so they quickly tidied themselves up and came to meet him.

Xu Zhou knew he would need to deal with these people frequently in the future, so his tone and attitude were quite gentle.

"This is just a small gift; I hope the elder will not find it offensive."

After exchanging greetings, the group carefully presented a storage bag.

Xu Zhou had a sudden thought, but he didn't refuse and accepted it.

Seeing this, the men relaxed considerably.

As the sect's business managers in the market, they were genuinely afraid that the newly arrived Foundation Establishment elder would dislike them and replace them. They were also somewhat uneasy when they came this time.

Seeing that Xu Zhou was easy to talk to and accepted the gift, they felt much more at ease.

A few more days passed.

Through Lin Zhibai's introduction, Xu Zhou met the other Foundation Establishment Town Guardians in Red Leaf Market.

These people did not come from any sect, but from several major families that established the market town.

Strictly speaking, these few people are the true owners of the market.

Although they were all just family cultivators, each of them was quite powerful, with the weakest being at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, and they exuded a dangerous aura.

Upon first meeting, Xu Zhou felt several divine senses sweep over him.

These divine senses were very well concealed and were quickly withdrawn. If it weren't for his years of meditation, which gave him a divine sense stronger than that of an average early Foundation Establishment cultivator, he wouldn't have even noticed them.

Fortunately, these people were still quite respectful on the surface.

Although Xu Zhou's cultivation level was low, he had the backing of the Golden Flame Sect, and his status was different from theirs.

Even a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator would have to smile obsequiously when he saw him.

Although people might not take him seriously behind his back, they will never lack respect on the surface.

During the meeting, Xu Zhou paid particular attention to one of them.

This person was a female cultivator with a somewhat pale complexion. Although her voice was soft when she spoke with him, Xu Zhou always felt that there was a hint of coldness in the depths of her eyes.

He pretended not to see it and continued to treat the other person gently, without any unusual behavior.

I just secretly made a note of it in my mind.

"Hu Wenjun, one of the two foundation builders of the Hu family."

"The Hu family."

Xu Zhou remained expressionless as he memorized the other person's name.

Afterwards, he chatted happily with these Foundation Establishment cultivators, as if they were old friends who had met long ago.