I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

Since there were no second-tier array masters in the market, Xu Zhou had no choice but to take matters into his own hands.

Although his self-taught array formation skills are somewhat outdated, he has still spent a long time studying them, and his array formation level, even if not as good as many second-tier array masters, is almost equivalent to a near-second-tier master.

The only problem is probably the lack of materials for array formations.

Xu Zhou originally planned to sell the Foundation Establishment Pills and then purchase some Tier 2 materials. However, things didn't go as planned, and the Foundation Establishment Pills couldn't be sold for the time being.

But the formation in Red Maple Valley couldn't wait; he wasn't willing to wait several months without any preparation.

In the end, Xu Zhou decided to use some old tricks.

The array was forged from spirit wood.

Spirit wood possesses the property of gathering spiritual energy, making it very suitable for use as the base of an array.

As time goes by, the spirit tree will continue to grow stronger, and the strength of the formation will also increase, even breaking through the original upper limit of the formation's grade.

This is a technique that Xu Zhou used to employ when setting up formations; he's simply repeating his old tricks now.

He acquired some common spirit tree seedlings and a second-tier spirit tree seed from the Thousand Veins Merchant Guild.

Upon returning to Red Maple Valley, they began setting up the formation.

They were busy until late at night before they finally finished setting up the array around the hut in the valley.

"We've finally finished setting up the basic structure of this 'Abyss Mist Array'."

Xu Zhou planted the last sapling, and after carving some array patterns on it, the many spirit wood saplings connected with each other, instantly forming a thin mist area with a radius of ten zhang around the hut.

After the mist rose, Xu Zhou tentatively released his divine sense.

The moment my divine sense touched the edge of the mist, it felt as if I had touched a soft veil, and my perception was greatly reduced.

He then nodded slightly.

If anyone approaches Red Maple Valley in the future, with this formation in place, he will not be completely unaware.

Although the barrier formed by the Abyss Mist Array is currently only like a soft veil, its power will continue to increase as the spirit wood grows.

Xu Zhou walked into the formation, returned to the front of the wooden house, and planted the second-tier spirit tree "Star-Picking Spirit Tree" that he had previously acquired there.

Once the spirit tree sprouts, he will be able to connect it to the formation, further enhancing the power of the Abyss Mist Formation.

With a second-tier spirit wood as its core, this Abyss Mist Array is also of second-tier quality.

Xu Zhou planned to use this formation as the center and continue to expand outwards until the formation covered the entire Red Maple Valley.

At that time, even if several Foundation Establishment cultivators came to attack, he could use the formation in the valley to temporarily block their attacks and retreat calmly.

"However, we are still far from that point."

Xu Zhou chuckled and shook his head.

After finishing his work, he finally breathed a sigh of relief and casually sat down in front of the wooden house.

The red leaves fluttering in the valley resemble the lights of a distant market.

Although this place cannot match the ethereal beauty of the sect's mountain scenery, it has its own unique charm.

...

Wang Mo, as the manager of the Golden Flame Sect in Red Leaf Market, suddenly received a message from the garrison elder this morning.

He dared not delay and immediately left the cave, heading towards Red Maple Valley outside the market.

Along the way, he couldn't help but wonder what the new elder wanted to see him about.

Upon arriving in the valley, Wang Mo was momentarily dazed.

The original location of the cabin in the valley was now shrouded in a thin mist.

Although the fog was thin, strangely enough, when he looked closely inside, he couldn't see the objects clearly.

Wang Mo was immediately filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Just as they were hesitating, a voice suddenly came from the fog: "Is that Steward Wang? Please come in."

As soon as he finished speaking, the fog in front of him naturally dissipated, revealing a path leading into it.

Wang Mo cautiously walked inside.

A moment later, he met the newly arrived Elder Xu in front of the wooden house and immediately bowed to him.

Xu Zhou was watering a mound of earth in front of the door.

He sensed Wang Mo approaching with his divine sense, but didn't immediately get up. He simply asked, "Manager Wang, if I remember correctly, you were in charge of the sect's alchemy hall business in the market, weren't you?"

Wang Mo dared not look him in the eye, and only lowered her head to say, "These are indeed the responsibility of this disciple."

Xu Zhou then said, "In that case, may I sell the pills I make in the Pill Hall?"

Wang Mo hesitated slightly.

He cautiously inquired, "Elder, would you mind refining a batch first, so that the Pill Hall can examine it?"

Xu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly: "There's another requirement?"

Wang Mo's heart skipped a beat, but he still smiled apologetically and explained, "I hope the elder will not take offense. There have been cases in the past where elders in the sect have used inferior goods to pass off as superior ones and accepted bribes."

After the sect discovered this, they issued a strict order that the same thing must not happen again, and the disciples acted in accordance with the rules.

Xu Zhou remained silent for a while before finally nodding in agreement: "Alright, I'll let you confirm the pills later."

Wang Mo repeatedly apologized for the offense, but finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He secretly marveled at how Elder Xu seemed to truly understand alchemy.

After all, most of the alchemists at Baicaotang live a life of luxury and few would come to the border areas to guard the markets.

He continued with a fawning smile, "Once the elder has finished refining the pills, you can hand them over to me at any time. According to the rules, all proceeds from the sale of the pills in the Pill Hall belong to the elder."

Xu Zhou nodded.

He paused, then asked, "Speaking of which, does the Pill Hall sell second-tier pills to the public?"

"Of course there are," Wang Mo said as he recalled. "Although there aren't many Foundation Establishment seniors in Red Leaf Market, they do occasionally appear and always buy pills in the market. The Pill Hall also has quite a few in reserve."

"Tell me in detail what kinds of pills they frequently buy."

Xu Zhou asked this question to confirm which type of pill sold best, so he could learn the formulas for that pill and accumulate wealth through alchemy as soon as possible.

At that moment, Wang Mo briefly described the second-tier pill transactions that Dantang had conducted in the previous six months, based on his memory.

After he finished speaking, Xu Zhou remained outwardly calm, but inwardly his heart sank.

The pills Wang Mo mentioned were mostly elixirs that aided in cultivation; other types of pills, such as those for treatment, accounted for less than half of them.

This is not hard to understand. Foundation Establishment cultivators have greatly increased physical strength, so even if they are occasionally injured, they can recover easily and rarely need to use elixirs for treatment.

However, in the art of alchemy, the most difficult to refine are precisely those that aid in cultivation.

It seems he won't be able to earn spirit stones as easily as he initially thought.

After a long silence, Xu Zhou finally spoke.

"Here's what we'll do: after you go, collect another batch of medicinal herbs for me."

He wrote down all the necessary medicinal herbs on a piece of paper and handed it to the other party.

Wang Mo readily agreed and then carefully took the paper.

As he was about to leave, Wang Mo hesitated for a moment, then suddenly asked in a low voice, "Elder Xu, there is something I would like to ask you."

Xu Zhou looked at him suspiciously: "What is it?"

"May I ask, Elder, who set up this formation here?"

"Hmm?" Xu Zhou raised an eyebrow slightly.

Wang Mo was a little nervous and stammered as he explained, "To be honest, Elder, this formation seems to have an ancient feel to it, and it is much more sophisticated than the formations commonly seen in the market."

The disciple currently resides in a cave dwelling within the market, but the protective array outside the cave dwelling is somewhat crude. He has been wanting to find someone to set up an array for self-defense, but he has been struggling to find a suitable array master.

"I wonder if Elder Xu could introduce me to someone?"

Seeing his sincere expression, Xu Zhou pondered for a moment.

He finally shook his head: "It was just something I randomly got someone to set up, and now I don't know where they went."

Wang Mo looked regretful, but still thanked him and left.

...

Soon after, Wang Mo delivered the medicinal herbs to the wooden house.

Xu Zhou didn't take it for nothing; he handed over the prepared spirit stones.

Most of these medicinal herbs are only Tier 1, and they are almost all the main ingredients for Qi Condensation Powder. There are also a few Tier 2 medicinal herbs, but their medicinal properties are different.

Xu Zhou took out the main ingredients of the Qi Condensation Powder and secretly calculated in his mind.

"I'm a bit short on spirit stones, so I'll refine some Qi Condensation Powder to sell first."

Then, his gaze fell on the remaining second-tier medicinal herbs in the storage bag.

"I didn't expect that learning the second-tier alchemy inheritance would be so difficult."

"To study the 'Miscellaneous Materia Medica,' the various medicinal materials recorded in it are indispensable. Otherwise, my study speed would be greatly limited."

"I don't mind studying it slowly, but if I don't share enough insights, I won't be able to explain it to Senior Brother Gu."

Xu Zhou also felt somewhat helpless about this.

Now that I've accepted Senior Brother Gu's alchemy inheritance, I can only do my job well.

"For the foreseeable future, we will likely have to continue relying on selling Qi-Condensing Powder to make a living."

"During this period, I would occasionally purchase some second-tier medicinal herbs to familiarize myself with their medicinal properties and advance my study of the Miscellaneous Elixir Manual."

"Once I've mastered the basics, I'll be able to refine second-tier pills. At that point, things should be much easier."

After making plans for the future, Xu Zhou stood up and walked towards the newly built alchemy room.