Exchanging for Treasures

Three days later.

A dark, shadowy bird appeared in the sky above Little Willow Marsh. Su Ru, with a gloomy face, stepped off the bird's back.

What happened?

Before Zhou Ning could speak, he heard the Chen Household Foundation Establishment cultivator with a small mustache and small eyes speak slowly and deliberately, "The Daoist Mu came and killed one of my Chen Household cultivators."

As he spoke, he tossed out a communication talisman, from which came Wang Guanhe's weak last words. "Ancestor of the Chen Household, I am— Wang Guanhe, the one who killed me is the Daoist Mu— "

"Did you understand the corpse test?" Su Ru asked.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Chen Household was named Chen Kexing. He gestured with his lips, noting that there were several Qi Refining cultivators in the distance, guarding the coffin.

"It is the Dove Umbrella Poison, the signature poison of Daoist Mu. Your Su Yunjin, who High-Grade Spirit Root, died from this poison." Chen Kexing said leisurely, waving his fan.

Upon hearing this, Su Ru's eyes turned cold. As a loyal follower of the Su Household, he naturally knew that Yunjin was not dead.

"Chen Kexing, your mouth is still as rotten as ever?" Su Ru laughed sarcastically.

Chen Kexing wasn't intimidated by him. They were both Foundation Establishment cultivators; why was he pretending to be ruthless?

However, he didn't offend the old man to the point of death, otherwise, if the old man went mad and dragged him down with him, that would be terrible.

Su Ru looked at Zhou Ning: "Now that Daoist Mu is here, why are you unaffected?"

Zhou Ning reported, "I went to Fortune Star Market a few days ago to buy medicinal herbs, and on my way back I encountered this—"

Su Ru's withered face suddenly hardened, and he rebuked, "Go to the market? My Su Household pays you a salary every year, how dare you abandon your post?"

Do you know what crime you have committed?

Zhou Ning cupped his hands in apology. "I have committed the crime of dereliction of duty."

Su Ru paused for a moment.

Then, with a stern face, he said, "Considering this is your first offense, I will waive your salary for three years."

Chen Kexing was aware of the Su Household's corrupt practices.

He chuckled and deliberately asked, "Young Zhou, you're from Hedong Commandery, right? And with Middle-Grade Spirit Root, you should be able to become Alchemist. Logically, your comprehension shouldn't be bad, and you should have no problem Heart-Questioning Platform. Why did you fail?"

Su Ru remained silent, but Zhou Ning could sense that the other's Divine Sense was firmly watching his reactions.

Zhou Ning pondered for a moment and said, "Life is all predestined. Perhaps I was born destined not to enter a sect. I am doing quite well now. No matter what I choose, there will always be regrets. Perhaps if I entered a sect, I would just be an mediocre disciple."

Su Ru relaxed his guard considerably.

Chen Kexing laughed heartily, waving his fan with a flourish.

Then, with a sudden movement, she pointed at Zhou Ning and said sarcastically without any mercy, "You've done a good job as a dog, but it's a pity the Su Household still doesn't want you."

Zhou Ning's expression froze for a moment, then he cupped his hands and said, "Senior Chen, please don't say that!"

Chen Kexing raised his head, his expression disdainful. "So what if I say it?"

A mere Qi Refining junior, not entering a sect, marginalized by the Aristocratic Clan, destined to spend his entire life in the Qi Refining!

Zhou Ning remained silent; being weak, any rebuttal would seem futile.

After Foundation Establishment, he will make this person return the property completely!

Seeing Chen Kexing's foul mouth belittling Zhou Ning, Su Ru suppressed his initial impulse to speak up.

This child's ability to become Alchemist and avoid the calamity of the Daoist Mu indicates he possesses a certain amount of good fortune.

However, there's no need to panic. Let him waste his time here, year after year.

Moreover, the Chen Household harbors wolfish ambitions and will surely send new cultivators to Little Willow Marsh.

If the situation turns bad, the Su Household's enclave is destined to be lost, and once the Chen Household makes a move, Zhou Ning will be the first target.

If Zhou Ning dares to run away, the Su Household will have an excuse to hold him accountable, and at that point, it won't just be a matter of deducting his salary!

Once Su Ru understood the connection, he rode away on the Azure Feather Eagle.

Little Willow Marsh regained his composure.

Six months later.

In Fortune Star Market, Zhou Ning slapped his Pill Furnace, and four shiny black pills flew out.

He looked at the figure shrouded in the cloak, his expression calm. "Fellow Daoist Black Husband Fu, has Zhou passed the test?"

Black Husband said admiringly, "When thunder is about to strike, people need to take medicine. Fellow Daoist Huang Shan, you are truly outstanding!"

For the first time, her State of Mind, which had long been devoid of joy or sorrow, began to stir with hope.

Perhaps, with this person's help, she wouldn't have to stop at Qi Refining in this life, nor would she have to suffer the pain of meridian erosion.

Zhou Ning nodded. "That's good, but I hope Black Husband Fu will prepare the Jade Marrow Ganoderma."

Black Husband naturally agreed.

The two agreed to refine pills again two years later.

Nine months later, Little Willow Marsh.

Zhou Ning stood on the edge of the island, gazing at the distant scenery. The sunlight shone on the willow branches, casting delicate shadows on the water's surface.

The tortoise nibbled on willow catkins and leaves, while the fish darted to and fro among the willow shadows.

"The Realm-Breaking Jade Stone is now abundant. This time, we must enter Land of Wei and finish the battle quickly to obtain the formation."

97

In the distance, two cultivators at the Late Qi Refining were boating on the lake, cleaning up the spiritual mud.

They lacked the insight of Wang Guanhe and Chen Long, and never noticed Ceramic Crystal Sand.

"It's time to go."

Zhou Ning returned to the villa, hung up the "Seclusion" plaque, and his consciousness entered the Realm-Breaking Jade.

When the view returned, all that remained was a small grove of trees, dry and barren.

Before this journey, Zhou Ning noticed three bright spots on the surface of the jade, which should represent the grove of trees, Gazing Immortal Port, and...

Withered Wood Grotto-Heaven.

He did not enter the Withered Wood Grotto-Heaven; that place was a sealed space. Although there were resources inside, obtaining the concealment formation was of paramount importance.

As for Gazing Immortal Port, Zhou Ning didn't go there either. He still vividly remembered being ambushed by True Person Lu last time, so this time he planned to go to a new market and trade formations directly.

With this thought in mind, Zhou Ning discerned the direction. He had heard He Zhuoran mention that there was a market town three thousand miles to the east, nestled in the mountains.

Zhou Ning hadn't flown more than a few miles when he suddenly noticed a ripple in the air ahead.

Immediately afterwards, a figure in a green robe appeared, the hem of which was woven with tortoise shell and earth vein patterns, and his long hair was casually tied up with a jade hairpin.

Zhou Ning stared in disbelief. "True Person Lu!"

True Person Lu glanced at Zhou Ning, his tone revealing neither joy nor sorrow. "Where have you been all these years?"

Zhou Ning immediately cupped his hands and said, "True Person, I was killed in the Withered Wood Grotto-Heaven and have just been reincarnated."

True Person Lu was furious. He had been suppressed by True Person Huajing for several years because he had guided this person.

He wasn't released until last year! He was so angry!

"So, my Withered Wood Earth Marrow Heart is gone?"

Was his Divine Ability wasted?

Is this supposedly the reincarnation of Ji Wumian, such a useless piece of trash?

Zhou Ning felt ashamed. After thinking for a moment, he took out a white jade bottle. "True Person, I brought other treasures with me."

True Person Lu glanced at it, slightly surprised. "Millennial Earth Spirit Milk, where did you get that?"

Zhou Ning breathed a sigh of relief. He was just glad the other party wouldn't blame him; otherwise, in a fit of anger, they might slap him to pieces, and his trip would have been for nothing.

From now on, I'll probably have to go straight to the Withered Wood Grotto-Heaven, otherwise I'll be constantly ambushed.

"I got it by luck," Zhou Ning said modestly.

"If that's the case, then it negates the Divine Ability I bestowed upon you." True Person Lu put away the millennium-old Earth Spirit Milk, which was also of great use to him.

The atmosphere was somewhat silent. Zhou Ning wanted to leave, but didn't dare to.

He thought for a moment and said, "True Person Lu, I still have treasures."

Having said that, he offered a bowl of Chen Earth from the medicinal garden.

True Person Lu glanced at it and thought, "What trash."

Seeing that he was useless, Zhou Ning smiled sheepishly, knowing he had made a fool of himself.

His mind raced as he considered the treasures he possessed. It seemed that the most precious item was [True Yang Gold], but it was too important to take out; otherwise, it might explode on the spot.

He couldn't take either of the two High Antiquity talismans; he still needed them himself, and judging from True Person Lu Divine Ability, he probably wouldn't need them.

As for the rest— Zhou Ning had a flash of inspiration and immediately presented a small bottle. "True Person Lu, please look at this, this is—"

Before he could finish speaking, the Ceramic Crystal Sand in the bottle seemed to draw upon the power of heaven and earth, its pale gold grains gleaming brightly, displaying a color like flowing moonlight.

The usually calm and collected True Person Lu exclaimed in shock, "Great Moon Sand, how do you have this?"

Before Zhou Ning could even take a second look, the entire bottle of Ceramic Crystal Sand was taken away by True Person Lu.

True Person Lu held the bottle, and a few grains of crystal sand floated out. He examined it repeatedly, his expression shifting between sighs and great joy, a mixture of anxiety and uncertainty.

This is even more exaggerated than when Zhou Ning saw the Jade Marrow Ganoderma.

Zhou Ning pondered to himself, "Is this thing really that exaggerated?"

He could glean some clues from Wang Guanhe and Chen Long's usual strict vigilance.

However, after consulting the relevant materials, it was only found that this item could be added to Law Treasure, but Law Treasure artifacts were far beyond Zhou Ning's reach.

After a long while, True Person Lu finally returned to normal, and the lines on his face softened considerably.

He said with delight, "Excellent, young friend Zhou, this item will be of great use to me."

Their Purple Mansion cultivators' Purple Mansion are exposed to the Great Void and are constantly eroded by the Great Void Gang Wind. Over time, this will affect their lifespan and combat strength.

Traveling, engaging in magical battles, and refining Divine Ability —all of these will wear down the Purple Mansion and may even cause cracks.

One of the effects of Great Moon Sand is to repair the Purple Mansion on the lower abdomen).

The preciousness of such life-extending items is self-evident.

True Person Lu stared at Zhou Ning for a while, resisting the urge to search his soul.

This kid is truly strange. In just a few years, his cultivation level has risen to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer without him even noticing. He's not far from establishing Immortal Foundation.

It's best to avoid provoking them.

True Person Lu asked seriously, "Do you have any more?"

After he finished speaking, he stared intently at Zhou Ning.

Zhou Ning certainly had some; he still had a large bowl left, enough to fill five or six bottles. But seeing True Person Lu's expression, he absolutely couldn't take any more out, or he would make things worse.

He shook his head. "It was obtained by chance."

True Person Lu was disappointed, but he still nodded and said, "If you have this, I can grant you three requests."

Zhou Ning was taken aback at first, then overjoyed, for this was a promise from the Purple Mansion True Person!

He immediately said, "True Person, I, Zhou, intend to establish my Immortal Foundation on a chosen day and would like to request a protective formation to defend against enemies!"

True Person Lu paused for a moment, then tossed out an object.

Zhou Ning quickly caught it; it was quite heavy in his hand. It was a palm-sized, brownish-yellow plate with a surface intricately carved with mountains and ancient seal script resembling cracks in a rock wall.

"It was a gift from the Purple Mansion, it should be fine, right?" Zhou Ning immediately put it away. With this item, his trip would definitely not have been in vain.

Seemingly sensing his doubt, True Person Lu said calmly, "This is an array plate I used in my early years. In terms of concealment, it is difficult to detect below the Purple Mansion."

Zhou Ning was completely relieved, but still planned to try it out when he had some free time.

Thinking of the Su Household's Spirit Vein, he brought up his second matter. "True Person Lu, I've heard that the Panshan Sect can move mountains. Can the Spirit Vein underground be moved as well?"

"Spirit Vein?" True Person Lu scoffed. He was genuinely suspicious of this person. How could he act like a clueless brat, knowing nothing at all? Was he truly the reincarnation of Ji Wumian?

"The main vein carries the fortune of a region. If it's moved, and someone gets tainted by it, they'll never be able to advance in their cultivation for life," True Person Lu said. "Unless it's a minor, miscellaneous branch."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ning thought of the Spirit Vein of the Chen State. He had never heard of any ominous signs that would occur if Spirit Vein were moved, but—it seemed that no one had ever moved one.

Sects and Aristocratic Clan often cultivate Spirit Vein and upgrade Spirit Vein, but it is very difficult.

"Then what about the derivatives of the Spirit Vein, such as the Tree of the Spirit Eye and the Jade of the Spirit Eye?" Zhou Ning continued to ask.

True Person Lu glanced at him. "This kind of spiritual object can be easily dealt with with a Mountain-Moving Talisman."

Zhou Ning followed up, saying, "Please True Person, bestow upon me a talisman!"

"Could this child have discovered a spiritual object?"

Strangely, such heavenly materials and earthly treasures only appear when certain cultivators on the Dao Path of cultivation successfully attain the Golden Realm, causing a shift in the heavens and earth. As for those that remain, they have long been divided up by the sects.

True Person Lu flicked his finger, and three items appeared: a mountain-painting talisman, a black wooden box, and a nail-patterned talisman.

It turns out that it is a derivative of the transplanted Spirit Vein. It needs to be moved away first, then stored properly, and then placed in a new Spirit Vein. Otherwise, if the spiritual object is transplanted alone, it will slowly decay and wither over time.

"There is one last thing," True Person Lu said.

Zhou Ning fantasizes: One last thing, could you please promise me three more things?

He dared not say that, otherwise he feared he would be slapped to death.

Zhou Ning subconsciously wanted a Spirit Treasure Embryo. The Two Modes Primal Union Disc he had seen in the cave last time, and the Seven-Colored Pliers that pried off his tortoise shell Divine Ability, were simply unbelievably powerful.

Although it's unusable for ordinary Qi Refining Realm, he's about to reach Foundation Establishment.

However, Spirit Treasure Embryo seem to be quite rare. Even cultivators at the Purple Mansion don't have many of them, and they need to be nurtured regularly, otherwise their grade will drop.

As for genuine Spirit Treasure, Zhou Ning has even less need for them.

The difference between Spirit Treasure (spiritual treasure) and Spirit Treasure Embryo is that Spirit Treasure possesses spirit and consciousness.

Even if Zhou Ning possessed Spirit Treasure, he dared not bring it to Cuiwei Lake, otherwise the Spirit Treasure might become enraged and kill him, ending everything.

Forget it, I'd better not, lest I humiliate myself. Besides, I already have the Fallen Red Sword and the Gang-Splitting Thunderfire Awl, both of which are Foundation Establishment Law Artifact.

In the path of cultivation, the realm of attainment is of utmost importance.

Zhou Ning said, "True Person, could you please help me obtain an identity token so I can go to the He Household to ask for some things?"