Third Tier

"This is the Profound Origin Water Realm?"

Lu Qingyu looked ahead, her eyes suddenly widening.

"Exactly."

Zhou Yuan smiled.

Seeing Lu Qingyu's appearance, he couldn't help but think of how shocked he was when he first came to the Profound Origin Water Realm.

"Profound Origin Water Realm".

Looking ahead, Lu Qingfeng saw a vast expanse of water, like a dreamlike place, dotted with islands, and with mysterious mirror-like reflections mirroring the scenery from all directions.

It may be a desert or a hilly area.

It could be a palace or a mythical beast.

It's dazzling.

Nearby, an island rose from the water, spanning over a hundred miles. Upon this island, numerous other floating islands and pavilions dotted the sky, seemingly lifted by white clouds. Streaks of light and sword light flashed among them, as cultivators moved about.

Like Heavenly Realm Immortal Court, it possesses a distinctly celestial atmosphere.

"The area Profound Origin Water Realm is the residence of the Mystic Origin Sect, and outsiders are not allowed to enter without permission. The outer islands are the various industries operated by the Mystic Origin Sect, and outsiders are also not allowed to enter without permission. The entire Profound Origin Water Realm is the private property of the Mystic Origin Sect."

"This place, called 'Gathering Immortals Island' or 'Gathering Immortals Market,' is the only open location in the Profound Origin Water Realm and the venue for the Mystic Origin Auction."

Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu were both here for the first time, Zhou Yuan explained from the side.

"Is the entire Profound Origin Water Realm the private property of the Mystic Origin Sect?"

Lu Qingyu clicked her tongue in amazement.

Gathering Cloud Mountains.

Although the Four Gathering Cloud Sects nominally occupied the Gathering Cloud Mountains, many Rogue Cultivator still lived there, making it impossible for the four factions to completely control it.

The Sunset Glow Sect currently occupies most of the Gathering Cloud Mountains, but within this majority, there are still Rogue Cultivator occupying the mountain peaks and gathering in groups.

All the way here.

Places like Frostwater Marshes and Seven-Star Linked Ravines are Rogue Cultivator not only by sects but also by independent cultivators.

The Profound Origin Water Realm is so vast that it rivals the Gathering Cloud Mountains and the Frostwater Marshes. This entire area, spanning tens of thousands of miles, belongs to the Mystic Origin Sect; it's unimaginable how powerful they are.

"Not just the Profound Origin Water Realm."

"Around the Profound Origin Water Realm, the Mystic Origin Sect also has separate residences and various industries."

"The true scale is probably unknown to True Person except the Mystic Origin Sect."

Zhou Yuan also sighed.

For the Sunset Glow Sect to develop to the scale of the Mystic Origin Sect, it would take at least three to five thousand years, and countless opportunities would be required.

Inheritance.

Fortuitous opportunity.

Strength.

None of them can be missing.

"Mystic Origin Sect".

Lu Qingfeng looked at the Profound Origin Water Realm, a slight thought crossed his mind, but he quickly suppressed it.

Zhou Yuan led the way.

The three arrived at the outer perimeter of Gathering Immortals Island.

Gathering Immortals Island is a gathering place for Rogue Cultivator from all over. Since they cannot bring their spirit birds and mounts inside, they either put them in Spirit Beast Pouch or leave them on the outskirts of Gathering Immortals Island for the Mystic Origin Sect to look after.

Spirit Beast Pouch are rare, but the materials for crafting them are even rarer.

Fortunately, Mei Qingyan and Yue Lingxi had previously Gathering Immortals Island and purchased a large amount of refining materials for Lu Qingfeng. Among these materials were various materials for refining the Violet Insect Bell and the Nine-Strategies Profound-Hao Sticks, as well as materials for refining the Spirit Beast Pouch.

Lu Qingfeng casually crafted a few Spirit Beast Pouch, which made things much more convenient.

Add the Ironwing Flying Eagle and the White Crane to your Spirit Beast Pouch.

Zhou Yuan also added the Curlfeather Pelican to his Spirit Beast Pouch.

Then enter Gathering Immortals Island.

"In addition to the many shops run by the Mystic Origin Sect Gathering Immortals Island, there are also shops run by other sects or Rogue Cultivator on Juxian Island. Most of the Law Artifact, materials, elixirs, and spirit medicine can be found here."

"The price is reasonable."

"Every ten years at the auction, Gathering Immortals Island will set up additional stalls specifically for the exchange of individual Rogue Cultivator."

"If Elder Lu is interested, you can go and have a look around later."

As Zhou Yuan led Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu inside, he introduced them to the outside world.

Lu Qingfeng looked around.

Gathering Immortals Island over a hundred li in circumference. Although it is called a market town, its actual area is vast. Shops are nestled among the mountains and rivers.

It is different from ordinary cities.

It exudes an ethereal, otherworldly aura.

Only a few distant mountain peaks, where many Rogue Cultivator traded, were relatively noisy, but they were located on the edge of Gathering Immortals Island.

Zhou Yuan led the two to a stop, familiar with the route.

Lu Qingfeng looked up and saw a beautiful Qingshan. The mountain itself wasn't particularly unusual, but the scenery was quite lovely. It was full of Spiritual Qi, and there were auspicious clouds floating around it.

"This is Cloudrise Mountain. The scenery is quite nice, and it can be considered a medium-level place for cultivation."

"There are still Half Moon until the auction begins, and the auction will last for a month."

"I've been staying here for the past few days to practice my spiritual cultivation."

Zhou Yuan led the two inside and negotiated with the steward of the mountain. Before long, they had three jade tokens in their hands.

"Isn't this just an inn in the mortal world?"

Lu Qingyu took the jade pendant and smacked her lips.

Ordinary Inn.

It consists of a courtyard and a house, which contains guest rooms.

In the heart of Gathering Immortals Market lies a mountain, within which numerous cave abode have been carved out.

"Although the Mystic Origin Sect may not be well-known in Biyang Lake, it is a leading sect within this area of hundreds of thousands of miles."

"Gathering Immortals Market was meticulously crafted by the Mystic Origin Sect, so it is naturally incomparable to ordinary markets."

Zhou Yuan smiled.

It sounds easy, but in reality, Cloudrise Mountain a place where Spiritual Qi gathers. Even a Yellow-grade cave abode requires ten Spirit Stone Fragments per month. The three cave abode he wants are all Earth-grade, and each one requires one Spirit Stone per month.

It is estimated that the stay in Gathering Immortals Market will last for one and Half Moon, which will cost one and a half Spirit Stone.

That is to say, Zhou Yuan, as the head of a sect, still had to entertain guests and visit friends, which is why he was so extravagant.

Otherwise, they would never have come here.

Zhou Yuan handed the two jade tokens to Lu Qingfeng and Lu Qingyu, then looked at Lu Qingfeng and said, "You must be tired from your journey. Elder Lu and Fairy Qingyu, you can rest in the cave abode for a while. I'll go out for a walk and see if my old friends have arrived."

The Sunset Glow Sect is currently enjoying immense success and has a bright future ahead.

But we must be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace.

Although the strength of the Sunset Glow Sect is growing rapidly, it's still wishful thinking to try and occupy the entire Gathering Cloud Mountains. It's likely that other sects will soon be eyeing the surrounding areas.

Zhou Yuan's visit to the Profound Origin Water Realm was largely due to his invitation to several friends to help him stay at the Sunset Glow Sect for a while.

There is no time to lose right now.

After saying that, he turned to leave.

Seeing this, Lu Qingfeng called out to Zhou Yuan.

"Is there anything else, Elder Lu?"

Zhou Yuan turned around.

"Nothing serious."

"It's just that I made some progress in alchemy and weapon crafting a while ago, and advanced to the third rank. If any of you seniors need alchemy or weapon crafting, just prepare the materials, and I can do it for you."

Lu Qingfeng smiled.

"Third tier?"

Elder Lu—

Zhou Yuan glared, his eyes fixed on Lu Qingfeng.

Lu Qingfeng stood there calmly, letting Zhou Yuan look him over.

When Lu Qingfeng first emerged from Shangyang Country and the Weeping Marsh, he was unfamiliar with the place and the people, so to be on the safe side, he only displayed the skills of First-Order Alchemist and weapon refiner.

I then spent a year getting to know them.

He then revealed to the Sunset Glow Sect that he had broken through to the second level.

Prior to this, the Sunset Glow Sect did not know how long Lu Qingfeng had remained at the first level, so although they were surprised, they were not too shocked, but rather more pleased.

But this time...

Zhou Yuan knew it 'without the slightest clarity'—

Elder Lu had only been at the second tier for a little over four years, yet he had actually raised both his alchemy and weapon crafting skills to the third tier?!

"This--"

Zhou Yuan stared in disbelief, stunned for a long while, before finally managing a wry smile and saying, "Elder Lu, you are truly a genius!"

More than four years.

Advancing from the second to the third tier, he also made progress in alchemy and weapon crafting simultaneously.

Such talent cannot be described as merely genius.

He's an absolutely unparalleled genius!

For ordinary cultivators, it takes decades or even hundreds of years of hard work and meticulous study to overcome this stage.

Even for geniuses, it takes twenty or thirty years to achieve this level of accomplishment.

This is assuming you specialize in either alchemy or weapon crafting.

Lu Qingfeng, however, cultivated both paths simultaneously, and in just four years, he advanced from the second rank to the third rank.

Zhou Yuan was shocked.

"You flatter me, Sect Master."

"Just lucky. Just lucky."

Lu Qingfeng said modestly.

Having spent more than five years in the Gathering Cloud Mountains, I am now familiar with the surrounding area and it's time for a 'promotion'.

Especially in places like Gathering Immortals Market where cultivators gather, a second-tier alchemist or weapon crafter, while not bad, is not considered anything special.

However, a third-tier alchemist or weapon craftsman can find a place in the field.

Taking this opportunity to 'advance' and leverage his status as a third-tier alchemist and artifact crafter, he can also make many connections with Spirit Void Cultivator and expand his network. The wider his network, the more careful cultivators and sects will be before they want to mess with him, considering whether it's worth it and the consequences of provoking a third-tier alchemist and artifact crafter and their vast network.

Once you become famous, you can avoid a lot of trouble.

Certainly.

We can also lend a hand to the Sunset Glow Sect.

"Elder Lu is a genius of unparalleled talent and a man of great righteousness. I thank you in advance!"

Zhou Yuan, being an experienced and shrewd man, guessed one of the reasons why Lu Qingfeng was revealing his identity as a third-tier alchemist and artifact crafter. He was grateful and thanked him aloud.

"Sect Master, you flatter me."

Lu Qingfeng waved his hand and said.

Zhou Yuan pursed his lips and said nothing more, but said, "Elder Lu's advancement to the third level is truly a cause for celebration. I will now go and find a few old friends. Unlike me, they are not short of money, so I will have to trouble Elder Lu then."

"That is certainly the case."

Lu Qingfeng nodded.

Zhou Yuan was overjoyed and took his leave of Cloudrise Mountain.

Outside of Cloudrise Mountain.

Zhou Yuan hurried along, the joy on his face fading, replaced by a deep sorrow. "In just over five years, he's gone from the first rank to the third. Such a genius—"

Third-Order Alchemist!

Third-Order Artifact Refiner!

It can be used to refine third-tier elixirs and Third-Rank Dharma Artifact.

Third-tier elixirs are highly sought after by many cultivators at the Grain Avoidance) and Heart Movement stages, as they greatly benefit their cultivation. Various third-tier elixirs for healing and recovery are also very useful for Spirit Void Cultivator, and can even turn the tide and save them from dire situations.

Needless to say, Third-Rank Dharma Artifact are even more so.

Among the Four Gathering Cloud Sects, Jin Jiuxiao and Feng Yun, as sect leaders and Spirit Void Cultivator, possessed only second-tier magical Law Artifact.

One can imagine how precious a Third-Rank Dharma Artifact is.

A third-tier Third-Order Artifact Refiner who can forge third- Third-Rank Dharma Artifact naturally enjoys a high status and is highly sought after even by Spirit Void Cultivator.

Third-Order Alchemist and Third-Order Artifact Refiner.

Even if it is something that is achieved through ordinary hardship, it is not something that the Sunset Glow Sect can possess.

Not to mention a genius like Lu Qingfeng with limitless potential!

When Zhou Yuan heard this, he was shocked and incredulous, then overjoyed, and after reflecting on it, he felt a sense of loss and uncertainty.

A second-tier alchemist and Sunset Glow Sect if they are treated with sincerity.

But how can a third-tier alchemist and weapon crafter, a small Sunset Glow Sect and a small Gathering Cloud Mountains, retain them?

Sincerity?

It's just a joke.

Moreover, even if Lu Qingfeng stays temporarily, with his talent in alchemy and weapon crafting, who knows when he will be able to advance to the fourth rank.

At that time, the Sunset Glow Sect will definitely not be able to retain them.

"Never mind."

Don't overthink it.

"Elder Lu's talent is such that keeping him in my Sunset Glow Sect is like a pearl being buried in dust. Judging from what he just said, he is willing to help my Sunset Glow Sect overcome its difficulties."

That's enough.

Zhou Yuan shook his head and smiled nonchalantly, "If he can step forward, he will be of extraordinary status. Given our previous friendship, his help to the Sunset Glow Sect would be no less than having three or five more Spirit Void Cultivator overseeing things. We shouldn't ask for too much, lest we ruin our relationship."

Thoughts are clear and open.

The crisis facing the Sunset Glow Sect can be resolved.

Zhou Yuan walked with much lighter steps as he went to visit his friend.

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Progress still needed (11/40)

To the person who said I wasn't updating diligently in the last chapter, I beg you, have a conscience! Or I can help you with that. [○?`Д′?○]