Guizhenzi's Visit

A crisp jade chime sound echoed from within the cave dwelling.

The stewards of Chessboard Mountain were startled.

Then, twelve rays of divine light descended before the cave dwelling where Zhou Yuan was in seclusion.

BOOM!

The cave dwelling opened.

A voice emerged.

"You may enter."

These twelve beings exchanged glances and respectfully entered the cave dwelling.

With just a slight lift of their heads, they saw the green-robed Daoist on the Dao Platform radiating brilliant divine light.

It was clear his Divine Abilities and cultivation had advanced further.

The beings' hearts tightened, and they quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look further.

"We pay our respects to the Great Master."

"Congratulations on emerging from seclusion, Great Master, and advancing your Divine Abilities and cultivation."

Zhou Yuan glanced at the twelve Heavenly Humans and Divine Demons, nodding slightly.

These twelve Heavenly Humans and Divine Demons hailed from twelve different races within the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

They were all pure and self-disciplined individuals, rarely involved in karma or killing.

After he occupied Chessboard Mountain, he relied heavily on these twelve beings to manage the dojo, allowing him to cultivate in peace.

Zhou Yuan briefly inquired about any significant matters in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

Upon receiving a negative answer, he dismissed the topic.

"You have managed the affairs of Chessboard Mountain diligently and responsibly."

"I have gained some insights during this period of seclusion, so I will share them with you."

With that, Zhou Yuan ignored the excited expressions of the stewards below.

He began to expound on Divine Abilities, Mystical Arts, artifact forging, and alchemy.

Although his cultivation was only in the True One Realm, with the help of the Myriad Dao Book, his understanding of Divine Abilities and techniques was profound enough.

As he spoke, the twelve Heavenly Humans and Divine Demons benefited greatly, secretly expressing their gratitude.

Three days later, Zhou Yuan stopped lecturing.

He bestowed some spiritual treasures and elixirs upon the twelve beings before giving his instructions:

"The marketplace of Chessboard Mountain is about to open. Many beings will be coming. You must instruct your clan members to prepare early."

"Do not be negligent in any way."

"The Chessboard Mountain marketplace will be led by your twelve clans in rotation, with a change every twelve years. Each year, you may take half of the profits."

The stall fees, entry fees, as well as the profits from the sale of elixirs and treasures in the alchemy and artifact shops, added up to a considerable sum.

Even half of it was a large amount for these clans.

The Heavenly Humans and Divine Demons responded with excitement, patting their chests and assuring him:

"We will not fail the Great Master's trust. We will definitely manage the marketplace well and prevent any trouble."

"We will collect more Daoist books and inheritances for the Great Master."

Zhou Yuan nodded slightly, thinking they were teachable.

His primary goal in opening this marketplace was to collect Daoist charm.

The marketplace profits were sustenance for cultivation, and while important, they took a backseat to Daoist charm.

These cultivators of the Heavenly Human and Divine Demon realms were not foolish.

To take, one must first give.

This way, he wouldn't have to worry about them not putting in their full effort.

"Brother Daoist is indeed accomplishing great things."

At the summit of Chessboard Mountain, Guizhenzi, clad in a black Daoist robe, gazed at the bustling marketplace filled with beings and couldn't help but marvel inwardly at his fellow Daoist Taiyuanzi's skillful management.

With the Chessboard Mountain marketplace raking in riches daily, the Chessboard Mountain lineage would no longer lack cultivation resources.

However, only Taiyuanzi could establish such a marketplace in the Myriad Spirit Mountain Range.

Firstly, his strength was formidable, and his methods were sharp. Two thousand years ago, he had cleanly dealt with a mountain master on Chessboard Mountain, a congenital being in the True One Realm.

Secondly, his potential was extraordinary, and many Grand Unity Great Sages were willing to give him face. When two Greater Divine Ability users from Phoenix Perch Mountain lectured in the Myriad Spirit Mountain two thousand years ago, he had comprehended an Innate Yin and Yang Greater Divine Ability. Such exceptional comprehension meant that as long as he didn't perish, becoming a Grand Unity Great Sage was a certainty.

Thirdly, this Daoist friend had somehow comprehended methods for artifact forging and alchemy that were truly profound. The acquired spiritual treasures he forged made even cultivators like himself, who were in the True One Realm, envious. This was the core technology that allowed the Chessboard Mountain marketplace to thrive.

Zhou Yuan glanced at the old turtle and chuckled:

"Fellow Daoist flatters me."

"This humble Daoist is trapped by the mundane matters of Chessboard Mountain, unlike you who are free and unfettered."

Guizhenzi pointed at Zhou Yuan and laughed heartily:

"Brother Daoist, how humorous you are."

The two chatted for a while.

Zhou Yuan knew Guizhenzi's purpose and didn't delay. A dark spiritual light flashed in his hand, and a small tortoise shell appeared in his palm.

The tortoise shell flowed with iridescent light, shimmering with immeasurable auspicious radiance. Involuntarily, it seemed to evolve the Heavenly Secrets of the Two Forms and Four Symbols endlessly.

As soon as this item appeared, it immediately captured Guizhenzi's attention.

"Finally, I have not failed Fellow Daoist's trust."

"After hundreds of years, this acquired spiritual treasure, the Two Forms Mysterious Tortoise Shell, has finally been successfully forged."

"This item uses the Mysterious Tortoise Shell from the Primordial Era provided by Fellow Daoist as the main material, supplemented by Five Elements Golden Essence, and the spiritual waters of the sun, moon, and stars. I then nurtured it with Innate Yin and Yang Qi."

"Although it has no offensive use and no defensive capabilities, it is truly a rare treasure for calculating Heavenly Secrets and discerning great trends."

"I wonder if it meets Fellow Daoist's dharma eye."

Guizhenzi laughed heartily, picked up the mysterious tortoise shell, and secretly circulated his Divine Ability. A profound aura enveloped his Primordial Spirit's sea of consciousness.

After a long while, the old man clapped his hands and praised:

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!"

"Brother Daoist's artifact refining techniques are truly superb."

"If I didn't know Brother Daoist's origins, I would have thought you were a disciple of that Dao Lord from Kunlun Mountain."

This tortoise shell was the remains of an ancestor from its clan who had fallen during the Dragon-Han Primordial Calamity.

Over the years, it had searched the four seas, hoping to find renowned artifact refiners to craft a spiritual treasure.

However, all the proposals from these artifact refiners were to forge the Mysterious Tortoise Shell into a supreme defensive treasure, which it rejected.

Only Taiyuanzi took a different approach, forging it into a supreme treasure for Heavenly Secrets, perfectly fitting its Great Dao.

"This tortoise shell greatly aids my cultivation."

"Thank you for your trouble this time, Brother Daoist."

Guizhenzi looked at Zhou Yuan with great gratitude.

"Brother Daoist's artifact refining consumed considerable resources."

"Please accept this Innate Spirit Fire."

With that, Guizhenzi carefully took out a fiery red tail feather that flowed with iridescent light.

A pure white flame on the tail feather appeared incredibly gentle, yet Zhou Yuan felt a great terror from it.

This fire...

Zhou Yuan's eyelids twitched, and he looked at Guizhenzi with some surprise:

"If I'm not mistaken, this fire is the Southern Bright Leaving Fire, isn't it?"

The Southern Bright Leaving Fire could be warm or hot. It appeared gentle but was actually extremely violent. When burning to its extreme, it turned pure white, incinerating everything in the six directions and eight wilds.

It was far more precious than the ordinary Innate Spirit Fire they had agreed upon earlier.

Guizhenzi stroked his beard and smiled:

"Brother Daoist's refined Two Forms Mysterious Tortoise Shell perfectly aligns with my Great Dao and is of great use for my cultivation."

"How could an ordinary Innate Spirit Fire express my gratitude?"

"Only the Southern Bright Leaving Fire from the tail feather left behind when the Primordial Vermilion Bird underwent nirvana can be considered a token of my appreciation."

"Please do not refuse, Brother Daoist."

Its clan was naturally inclined towards water, so although the Southern Bright Leaving Fire was precious, it was clearly more cost-effective to deepen its relationship with Zhou Yuan using it.

Seeing the old turtle's sincerity, Zhou Yuan pondered for a moment, then waved his sleeve, collecting the Vermilion Bird tail feather. He then took Guizhenzi's arm and laughed, and together they walked towards the cave dwelling:

"Fellow Daoist, please come in for a chat. I have recently been in seclusion comprehending the Dao and have made some progress in the arts of Heavenly Secrets and numerology."

"If you don't mind, we can exchange insights."

Guizhenzi's eyes lit up:

"Excellent!"

This Southern Bright Leaving Fire was indeed given wisely.