Casting a Stone to Find the Way

Three days passed quickly. In a vast manor, more than thirty Nascent Soul Cultivator, including Zhou Hualei, Zhou Guangyao, Shen Long, Chu Buyu, Xu Xin, Ye Hongyao, and Shen Yushan, gathered in a Cyan Stone Pavilion to enjoy tea and chat.

Zhou Yuhua's Nascent Soul Formation Celebration was a grand affair, and many powerful forces received invitations.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, I didn't expect you to receive an invitation as well."

Ye Hongyao greeted him with a gentle smile.

Shen Long nodded and said, "I just happened to have some free time, so I came over for a drink. I didn't expect Fairy Ye to have come to the Western Desert Cultivation World."

"This shows we're quite destined to meet. It's a pity you're a step too late. I met your master more than half a year ago. I don't know if he's still in the Western Desert."

Ye Hongyao said.

"Fellow Daoist Lin has already left the Western Desert and should be heading to the North Sea Cultivation World."

A distinguished-looking young man in a golden robe spoke in a loud voice.

"How did Fellow Shangguan know about my master's movements?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

The young man in the golden robe Shangguan named Shangguan Yulong, and he came from the Shangguan Clan in the Southern Border Cultivation World.

"I went to the Thousand Puppet Marketplace to purchase refining materials and met Fellow Daoist Lin at a gathering. We exchanged refining techniques, and he inquired about the Flood Dragon Essence Blood. Fellow Daoist Jin from the Thousand Puppet Sect advised him to try his luck in the North Sea Cultivation World. More than a thousand years ago, a fourth-tier Earth Dragon did appear in the Western Desert, but it was in the Heavenly Sand Ruins. It's too difficult to find the Flood Dragon Essence Blood in the Western Desert."

Shangguan Yulong explained.

"Yes! When it comes to the frequency and number of appearances of fourth-order Flood Dragon, the North Sea Cultivation World is number one, followed by the East Hua Cultivation World of the Southern Border and the East China. Third-Rank Flood Dragon are very rare even in the Western Desert, let alone fourth-order Flood Dragon."

Shen Yushan expressed his strong agreement.

The Master Ice Silkworm was helping Shen Long keep an eye on the fourth-tier Flood Dragon Essence Blood, a fact Shen Long was fully aware of.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Zhou, is there a sect called Ganyang Sect in the Western Desert?"

Shen Long asked casually.

He found the Ascension Cave Abode of True Monarch Ganyang in the Immortal Burial Mound. This person came from the Ganyang Sect of the Western Desert Cultivation World.

"Ganyang Sect? It was destroyed by multiple forces two hundred years ago."

Zhou Hualei said.

"They've been wiped out!"

Shen Long was somewhat surprised.

"Yes! True Monarch Ganyang of the Ganyang Sect is a formidable figure. I heard he possesses a Gold-Magnetic Formation, which he used to kill Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator. However, True Monarch Ganyang has been missing for many years, and rumors say he died in Heavenly Sand Ruins. The truth remains unknown."

Zhou Hualei said.

"True Monarch Ganyang? We've mentioned him in the records of our Sun and Moon Palace. His Gold-Magnetic Formation is indeed powerful. He's been to the North Sea Cultivation World."

Chu Buyu said.

Shen Long's face showed a look of sudden realization, and he said, "One of our Spirit Control Sect's classic texts also mentions True Monarch Ganyang and the Ganyang Sect. I thought the Ganyang Sect was a major power in the Western Desert, but I didn't expect that sect to be wiped out."

"The Gold-Magnetic Formation is indeed powerful. Without a Yuan Magnetic Treasure, it's impossible to move, let alone break. Fellow Daoists with exceptionally strong physical bodies will be less affected."

Shangguan Yulong said.

After chatting for more than two hours, Zhou Hualei suggested exchanging materials, and Shen Long and the others had no objections.

Zhou Hualei took out over a hundred materials, including materials for refining Spirit Treasure, Millennial Spirit Herb, fourth-order Demon Core, and Spirit Wood that was thousands of years old, among others.

He wants to exchange materials for talisman-making; materials of equal value are also acceptable.

Shen Long traded a bottle of Yin-Yang Jade Spirit Pill for some Earth Ridge Essence Milk. Earth Ridge Essence Milk is a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, the main ingredient for refining Earth Ridge Jade Essence Pill, and it has a miraculous effect in curing fire poison.

Earth Ridge Essence Milk is a unique substance found only in the Western Desert Cultivation World; it is completely absent in other parts of the Gan Yang Realm.

In addition, Shen Long exchanged two fourth-tier Spirit-Tracking Beast Demon Core with Shangguan Yulong using a fourth-tier Demon Core, exchanged a bottle of Mystic Ice Jade Lotus Pill with Shen Yushan for two thousand-year-old Seven-Star Spirit Nourishing Flower, and also exchanged two Millennium Green Wind Grass with Chu Buyu.

Half an hour later, Shen Long stood up and took out dozens of materials, mostly pills, and quite a few fourth-order Demon Core.

He said, "In exchange for materials of equal value, alchemy materials will be given priority."

The Nascent Soul Cultivator present all took out their items for Shen Long Shen Long to examine and communicated with him through telepathy.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, how about I exchange a two-thousand-year-old Dragon Transformation Grass for five Golden Soul Pill?"

A portly Red-Robed Elder transmitted his voice, took out an exquisite yellow jade box, and handed it to Shen Long.

Shen Long opened the jade box, glanced at it, quickly closed it, nodded, and agreed to the exchange.

Zhou Hualei traded two thousand-year-old Li Fire Ganoderma Ye Hongyao for a fourth-tier ice-attribute Demon Core from Shen Long. Zhou Hualei took a fancy to the Inner Core of a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast and proposed to exchange it for Millennial Spirit Herb. Ordinary Millennial Spirit Herb were not enough to catch Shen Long's eye, so Zhou Hualei took out Millennium Mystic Ice Jade Lotus to exchange for the Inner Core of the fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast.

Shen Long traded most of what he brought out, obtaining many necessities in return, and was very satisfied.

About half an hour later, the exchange ended, and after chatting for half an hour, the cultivators gradually went back to rest.

"Fellow Daoist Shen is quite capable, actually possessing the Inner Core of a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast. Our clansmen, who reside in the North Sea Cultivation World, have been unable to collect even a single Inner Core of a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast."

Zhou Guangyao exclaimed in surprise, her eyes filled with joy.

The Zhou Clan possesses a unique Pupil Technique, which requires the use of the Inner Core of Golden-Eyed Beast to refine elixirs to aid in cultivation.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Shen has a way to lure and kill Fourth-Rank Spirit Beast. I don't believe it's just a coincidence that we encountered a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast."

Zhou Hualei frowned and said.

"Could he still possess the Inner Core of a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast? With this Inner Core, Ancestor Hua Lei could cultivate the Golden-Eyed True Pupil to the Twelfth Floor."

Zhou Guangyao asked curiously.

"We can't rule out that possibility. Let him stay a few more days and try to find out about the inner core of a Inner Core -tier Golden-Eyed Beast. If all else fails, knowing his method of luring and killing a fourth-tier beast would be a good alternative."

Zhou Hualei said in a deep voice.

"This person is quite Divine Ability. We can't use force; we have to use persuasion. He's brought out quite a few good things, including Dragon Scale Pill, Golden Soul Pill, and Seven-Star Spirit Nourishing Pill. If we want to sway him, ordinary things won't do."

Zhou Guangyao frowned and said.

Shen Long had killed many Nascent Soul Realm Barbarian Race cultivators, demonstrating his formidable strength; they dared not underestimate Shen Long.

"He's Alchemist, so he'll definitely be interested in high-grade spirit medicine. There's no rush. I'll go ask Hua Yue to refine a batch of Golden-Eyed Jade Liquid first, which may help me cultivate the Golden-Eyed True Pupil to the Twelfth Floor."

Zhou Hualei said excitedly, then got up and left.

In the Spirit Control Pavilion, Shen Long sat cross-legged on a Cyan Prayer Mat, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He possessed more than one fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast Inner Core; he was merely testing the Nascent Soul Cultivator of the Zhou Clan with one. Judging from Zhou Hualei's attitude, he was eager to obtain the Inner Core of a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast.

To test the waters.

If Shen Long wasn't mistaken, Zhou Hualei would contact him later to inquire about the inner core of a fourth-tier Golden-Eyed Beast Inner Core.

The Zhou Clan has a long history and profound heritage. Shen Long hopes to exchange it for some rare items. He is not afraid that the Zhou Clan will have ulterior motives. He dares to do so because he has something to rely on.

Sun and Moon Garden, the residence of the cultivators of the Sun and Moon Palace.

Xu Xin and Chu Buyu sat around Zhang Qing stone table, sipping tea and chatting.

"Junior Sister Chu, Fairy Ye's feelings for Fellow Daoist Shen are quite special!"

Xu Xin said with a smile.

"This has nothing to do with us. The Zhou Clan is quite powerful. We hope to use Zhou Clan strength to find out the truth about Senior Sister Lin's murder and bring the murderer to justice."

Chu Buyu changed the subject.

Xu Xin nodded and said, "The Zhou Clan should give us face; finding the real culprit is only a matter of time."

"I hope so! I'm a little tired, I'll go back and rest now."

After saying this, Chu Buyu got up and walked towards the Cyan Pavilion not far away.

Xu Xin hesitated, a look of disappointment on his face.