The Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto is located directly below the Great Hall of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor, while the stone house at the entrance is diagonally behind the Great Hall of the Northern Emperor, on the north slope of the mountain.
The stone house is entirely constructed of thick granite, and the solid wood door is a full foot thick. The door and stone walls are covered with countless runes.
The north slope only receives some sunlight on summer afternoons, and the thick stone walls block out the sunlight, making the rooms dark and cold.
The stone house has a separate, enclosed room, through which a tunnel leads to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto.
Zhou Wuji had visited the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto once and was deeply impressed by this cold, enclosed stone house.
This time, he, along with his Yiping, Yang Tie Ying, and Shangxing, will be staying here permanently.
Although Flying Profound Hall is secluded, it is a proper main hall with all kinds of furnishings and utensils. It is also an independent courtyard, making it very comfortable to stay in.
The stone house also had a courtyard, but it was small and empty, with thick stone slabs on the ground and not even a blade of grass.
Daoist Yiping was sighing and lamenting, Shangxing and Yang Tie Ying also looked worried.
Moving from the Flying Profound Hall to the stone house was like falling from the sky into a pit; the huge difference made it difficult for the group to adapt.
Zhou Wuji thought it was good, because the stone house had four rooms, and he and Yiping each had their own bedroom. There was also a separate kitchen and toilet in the courtyard.
Next to the kitchen, there is a neatly stacked pile of dry firewood, which can be used to cook and boil water to meet daily needs.
Zhou Wuji didn't want to criticize his Yiping, so he scolded the two younger ones, spouting some profound truths like "A sharp sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold."
Yang Tie Ying and Shangxing were young after all, and Zhou Wuji's words stirred their blood, and they quickly became excited.
Daoist Yiping smiled silently to the side. At his age, he was naturally not swayed by Zhou Wuji's words, but he thought it was fine this way.
It's better for two energetic teenagers than for everyone to look miserable.
Moreover, Zhou Wuji wasn't lying.
For the two teenagers, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto was indeed a good training ground, but they needed enough elixirs to dispel the Yin energy in order to avoid damaging their physical foundation.
With proper training, even ordinary people can unleash their talents and abilities. Without proper training, even geniuses can be ruined.
The key is to master the timing and degree of heat control.
According to regulations, the guardians of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto will also distribute Golden Yang Pill, even if it is only a first-stage Golden Yang Pill, it will be of great benefit to cultivators.
That's why some people are willing to take on the arduous task of guarding the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto.
Daoist Yiping came to take their turn, but they didn't get the Golden Yang Pill.
Zhou Wuji didn't know if it was due to the steward's negligence or if the Daoist Yiding making things difficult for him.
The struggles within a sect can sometimes be this simple and direct. It is precisely these small conflicts that accumulate, causing the seven sects to become like sworn enemies.
Zhou Wuji had never practiced the Golden Yang Pill, but fortunately he learned the formula from Wuzheng.
Golden Yang Pill is of the highest Yang nature, specifically designed to dispel Yin energy. Although it can strengthen the spirit and body, its medicinal properties are excessively hot and dry.
This elixir has a very limited application range, but it is quite complex to refine. For Wuzheng, refining the Golden Yang Pill is not worthwhile.
Given the current situation, it's unclear when we'll be able to obtain the Golden Yang Pill.
Zhou Wuji possessed profound cultivation and an incredibly solid foundation; he was able to dispel all Yin energy solely through the Northern Dipper Tianshu Scripture.
Daoist Yiping is fine for the time being, but it's hard to say what will happen in the long run.
For the sake of several people, Zhou Wuji asked Wuming to help him purchase a batch of medicinal herbs.
Wuming many people, he has some face when he goes out to buy things, and at least he won't get ripped off.
He still had over two thousand taels of silver, enough to buy medicinal herbs.
Wuming heard that Zhou Wuji had been rotated to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto, she was very angry for Zhou Wuji, but there was nothing she could do about it. She could only grumble along with Zhou Wuji...
Zhiyuan left, but fortunately, Yizhen's name was still very useful in Yunyang City. Two days later, Wuming sent someone to deliver the medicinal herbs.
The ingredients include four types of herbs, four types of herbs, eight types of minerals, seventy-two types of herbs, as well as some special metals and irons, totaling more than a hundred kinds of medicinal materials.
Zhou Wuji possessed a strong Divine Sense and had thoroughly read books such as the " Green Satchel Scripture Jing," " Compendium of a Hundred Herbs," and " Pill Scripture Pharmacology," imprinting the contents of these books deep into his memory.
His understanding of medicinal herbs and their pharmacology far surpasses that of Wuzheng, and coupled with his skilled alchemy techniques, refining the Golden Yang Pill is not particularly difficult for him.
Zhou Wuji first tried refining one batch, but the heat was a little off, and the elixir failed to be completed, turning into nothing but dregs.
He learned his lesson: blind self-confidence is not advisable, so he opened the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment.
An additional one-ounce-plus destiny element was added to the Golden Yang Pill Golden Yang Pill, elevating it to the Mastery level.
Upon re-opening the furnace, Zhou Wuji successfully refined a batch of Golden Yang Pill, all of which were at the first level, totaling one hundred and twenty pills.
This elixir is hot in nature; even if they were guarding the entrance to the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto, Yang Tie Ying and Shang Xing would only need to take one pill every five days.
As for Daoist Yiping, one pill every half month is enough.
Zhou Wuji spent five days refining a batch of Golden Yang Pill, and he felt relieved.
He wasn't afraid, but he was worried that the two younger ones wouldn't be able to withstand the Yin energy and would damage their foundation.
In just a few days, Yang Tie Ying Qi and Blood were still strong and unharmed, had not yet Qi Consumption, but now her face was already turning somewhat bluish.
After taking a Golden Yang Pill, Shang Xing's face immediately became rosy, and the accumulated Yin energy in her body was swept away.
Yang Tie Ying was even more excited after taking the pill. He practiced his fist techniques twice in the courtyard before releasing the effects of the Golden Yang Pill. He felt refreshed and invigorated.
Daoist Yiping stroked his beard and smiled. Several days had passed since they moved in, and for the first time, the courtyard had a lively atmosphere.
He was actually quite angry. Not only was he stuck here watching the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto, but they were also withholding his Golden Yang Pill.
But he didn't dare complain to Zhou Wuji, knowing that Zhou Wuji was ruthless and cruel, and that it wasn't worth making a fuss over such a small matter.
Zhou Wuji understood Daoist Yiping's thoughts. He despised the actions of the Yuheng Lineage, but he wasn't particularly angry.
Zhiyuan said a lot before leaving, and he deeply agreed with her.
Most importantly, he really enjoyed working in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto, but he didn't want to lose this good job because of his troublemaking.
Unfortunately, this matter concerned the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, so he couldn't openly discuss it with his Yiping -Master Yiping.
The urgency in refining the Golden Yang Pill was also partly intended to compensate Uncle Yiping and his two sons.
With this urgent matter resolved, Zhou Wuji felt relieved and led Yang Tie Ying into the first level of the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto.
Zhou Wuji last came here last October to kill some Sha Ghost.
These Sha Ghost are formed from the yin energy, and they also gather the Yin Spirit of heaven and earth to give rise to a trace of spirituality. They are like weeds in the mountains and forests, impossible to get rid of completely.
Yang Tie Ying, with his strong Qi and Blood and qi and lack of restraint, attracted an Eighth Rank Fierce Ghost shortly after walking on the first floor.
The ghostly figure flickered and elusive. This was Yang Tie Ying's first time facing Yin Spirit, and he hesitated as he gripped his longsword.
Zhou Wuji laughed and said, "Don't be afraid. Even Seventh Rank Sha Ghost would have a hard time hurting you. Just circulate your Qi and Blood and attack it."
Encouraged by Zhou Wuji, Yang Tie Ying mustered his courage, stepped forward, and slashed straight down with his sword, shattering the crimson ghostly shadow upon impact.
Although there was no True Qi on the sword blade, Yang Tie Ying Tieying's Qi and Blood and qi surged like boiling fire, slicing through the ghostly shadows and burning them into black smoke...
Yang Tie Ying was overjoyed. This success greatly boosted his confidence and also allowed him to see the weakness of the Vengeful Ghost.
Zhou Wuji led Yang Tie Ying around the first floor, where they killed some Vengeful Ghost, including a Sha Ghost.
Letting Yang Tie Ying practice his skills in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto, where the Yin energy is dense, can greatly stimulate his Qi and Blood and keep him focused.
After slaying the Sha Ghost, Yang Tie Ying suddenly trembled. He naturally focused his spirit through Swordsmanship and actually opened the Divine Aperture between his eyebrows, establishing a connection with the star power above the nine heavens.
A wisp of starlight descended, traveled through Yang Tie Ying's body, and returned to his Divine Aperture Divine Aperture, completely stabilizing it.
Zhou Wuji was somewhat surprised. The Yin energy in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto was intense, and it also contained Qi of Earth Sha, which would interfere with various spiritual energies, including stellar power.
His cheap apprentice actually managed to condense his divine Divine Aperture and enter the Qi Consumption realm in the Ten Thousand Ghosts Grotto.
Judging from this, this kid is actually quite talented in Qi Refining, far surpassing him in some respects.
Previously, he had been practicing martial arts, but when he switched to Qi Refining, his intense Qi and Blood and qi posed a hindrance. This time, when he faced the Yin Spirit in the underground cave, he successfully condensed his Divine Aperture by focusing his mind.
Of course, the effects of the Golden Yang Pill also play a role in this.
Zhou Wuji observed Yang Tie Ying's changes through the Mind Mirror, which moved him quite a bit.
Without the blessing of the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, it's unknown how long it would have taken him to reach this point.
Watching Yang Tie Ying connect with the star power above the nine heavens, the whole process was very natural, such a Celestial Person, yet it was also extremely complex and exquisite.
Zhou Wuji had this experience several times, but at that time he was focused on his own changes.
At this moment, as he watches from the side, he can observe all the changes in his disciple's Qi and Blood and True Qi, as well as the details of his connection with the power of heaven and earth and stars.
Through this comprehensive observation, Zhou Wuji discovered a problem: his previous understanding of stellar power was somewhat flawed.
The stars are high in the sky, like the sun and moon.
As was his habit, he naturally assumed that stellar energy was projected down from the heavens and permeated the world, and that other spiritual energies were the same.
As he sensed this time, the star power wasn't a direct projection, but rather it permeated all directions, enveloping the heavens and earth, and was omnipresent.
In the understanding of cultivators, stellar power is an extremely vast Law Domain, so vast that it is immeasurable.
Similarly, various Spiritual Qi are like countless overlapping Law Domain, forming the order of this world.
The cultivator's main task within the many Law Domain is to eliminate various interferences and resonate with the vast Law Domain with their Divine Sense, rather than considering whether or not to project star power.
At this moment, Zhou Wuji felt that he had truly made progress. This progress stemmed from a profound understanding of heaven and earth, rather than from the blessing of the Northern Emperor's Book of Heavenly Punishment, although there was no substantial difference between the two.
He recalled Zhiyuan's words: ultimately, techniques are far removed from the origin of heaven and earth.
Although the Tianji Sword is powerful, it is still a Method Formula that utilizes True Qi, and it is far inferior to the Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder.
Zhou Wuji had been weighing his options for the Heavenly Capital, and now he finally made up his mind to use five taels and six mace of his destiny to enhance the Northern Dipper Heavenly Pivot Yin Thunder.
Such a direct path to the Great Dao is worth any investment of.
"Master, I think I've Qi Consumption!"
Yang Tie Ying awoke from his Qi Consumption and shouted excitedly at Zhou Wuji.
Zhou Wuji nodded slightly. "A fine sword is forged through tempering and polishing; that's the principle."
"If you keep practicing like this, you'll get it. If you keep practicing, advancing to the Seventh Rank is just around the corner..."
Yang Tie Ying nodded vigorously. "I will train hard and never let my master down!"
He then exclaimed with utmost sincerity, "What Master said is truly a profound truth, a profound truth!"
He wanted to praise his master, but after thinking for a long time, he couldn't come up with any good words. He could only repeat, "A profound saying!"
He raised his voice on the last occasion, almost shouting it.
Zhou Wuji chuckled to himself...