Chapter 554: Chapter 554

After leaving Dan Yun Peak, Zhouyang and his group didn’t linger and went straight to Xiuyang City, deep in the heart of the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

Several months later, the group successfully entered Xiuyang City.

Upon entering the city, Zhouyang and his Dao companion Xiao Ying parted ways.

Xiao Ying took Lu Xuewei and the other four into the city, rented a cave residence, and settled down to familiarize themselves with the environment of Xiuyang City.

Meanwhile, Zhouyang headed directly to the Profound Sun Mountain Range, miles away.

Because there was still a bounty on his head on the "Demon Slaying List," Zhouyang chose not to take the main path to the mountains, to avoid complications. Instead, he sent a flying sword communication to Xu Zhengyang, a Golden Core Stage Cultivator he knew in the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, asking to meet him.

He was in luck, as Xu Zhengyang happened to be cultivating in the sect at the time. After receiving Zhouyang’s message, he immediately came out to meet him.

Not having met for over a hundred years, Xu Zhengyang had made progress and now possessed Seventh-Layer Golden Core cultivation.

However, compared to his progress, Zhouyang’s advancement was evidently more astonishing to him.

"Zhou Xiaoyou, indeed you live up to being favored by Junior Martial Uncle Qingyang. When we last parted, you were only at the Fourth-Layer of the Purple Mansion. I never imagined that after more than a hundred years, you would join our ranks. Such a cultivation speed is truly enviable!"

In a green bamboo forest, Xu Zhengyang looked at Zhouyang with a face full of marvel and admiration.

Each time he met Zhouyang, he was shocked by Zhouyang’s rapidly rising cultivation.

Zhouyang’s growth speed was unmatched by many of the core disciples in the Profound Sun Immortal Sect, only a few with a Spirit Body could achieve such speed.

And he knew well that Zhouyang was not a Spirit Body Cultivator.

"I dare not accept such praise from senior. I have merely just stepped into this realm, while you are not far from Refining Pill and Forming Infant. Compared to senior, I have a long way to go!"

Zhouyang clasped his hands, showing great humility, without a trace of pride in front of Xu Zhengyang despite having formed a Golden Core himself.

Hearing his words, Xu Zhengyang couldn’t help but laugh heartily, "Hahaha, Xiaoyou, you are too modest. I’ve cultivated over seven hundred years to reach my current level, while you have achieved Golden Core Great Success at just over three hundred years of age. You have real prospects for the Great Path ahead!"

After the laughter, his face turned serious as he looked at Zhouyang, "You must be aware that the Beast Taming Sect is still after you, and your name remains on the ’Demon Slaying List.’ Coming to see me at this time must mean you have something important to discuss?"

"Since Elder Xu brings it up, I dare to ask senior one thing: how does senior view the descriptions of me on the ’Demon Slaying List’?"

Zhouyang looked at Xu Zhengyang and asked the abrupt question in a grave tone.

It was evident that Xu Zhengyang was momentarily stunned, not expecting such a question.

But he quickly regained his composure, with a smile on his face, "I don’t care about the ’Demon Slaying List.’ All I know is, if you are valued by Junior Martial Uncle Qingyang, then you are a friend of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect!"

"With Elder Xu’s words, I am relieved," Zhouyang clasped his hands once more, then said seriously, "I would like to ask Elder Xu to notify Elder Qingyang that Zhouyang has come as agreed."

His so-called agreement was the one with Lu Xuanji and also the promise he made to Master Cyan Yang.

Master Cyan Yang once made an agreement with him to visit the Profound Sun Immortal Sect after forming his Golden Core.

In the Kunxu Realm, Lu Xuanji also instructed him to arrive at the Profound Sun Immortal Sect within ten years after leaving the realm.

However, the agreement with Lu Xuanji wasn’t something he could discuss in front of Xu Zhengyang, so Zhouyang decided to meet Master Cyan Yang first.

"I guessed you’re here for this reason," Xu Zhengyang nodded in understanding. "Wait a moment, I’ll send a message to Junior Martial Uncle Qingyang for you."

Xu Zhengyang promptly sent a flying sword communication to Master Cyan Yang.

Soon, the response from Master Cyan Yang returned.

"Junior Martial Uncle Qingyang has agreed to see you. I’ll take you to his abode," Xu Zhengyang said with a smile to Zhouyang and then escorted him into the gates of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect.

With the guidance of this Golden Core Stage Cultivator, their journey was uneventful as they quickly reached the main peak of the Profound Sun Mountain Range, Profound Sun Peak.

Although Zhouyang had stayed in the Profound Sun Immortal Sect over a hundred years ago, this was his first time stepping onto the heavily protected Profound Sun Peak.

Seeing the more than five-thousand-zhang-tall Tier Six Top-Grade Spirit Mountain, he, like countless first-time visitors, was astounded by the countless high-tier spirit elixirs cultivated on the mountain.

The Profound Sun Immortal Sect’s immense foundation was vividly displayed on this Profound Sun Peak.

The variety of high-tier spirit elixirs grown on this Profound Sun Peak was worth many times more than the Tier Six Top-Grade Spirit Mountain itself.

As he scanned the area, many rare spirit elixirs, extinct in the outside world, were cultivated in abundance on this peak.

He even saw a grove of "Yuan Condensing Fruit" trees near the mountain’s base. Yes, a grove!

The grove contained no fewer than a hundred "Yuan Condensing Fruit" trees, many of which bore mature spirit fruits ready for alchemy.

"Elder Xu, may I boldly ask if your esteemed sect possesses a Secret Technique to allow the ’Yuan Condensing Fruit’ trees to propagate?"

Zhouyang, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the "Yuan Condensing Fruit" grove, couldn’t suppress his curiosity and asked his question.

"Does Zhou Xiaoyou not know? When a Spirit Plant Cultivator reaches Tier Six, they can master the ’Transplanting and Grafting’ Divine Technique. At that time, spiritual roots like the ’Yuan Condensing Fruit’ tree, which cannot normally reproduce, can be propagated like ordinary Spirit Wood," Xu Zhengyang explained, looking surprised at Zhouyang’s lack of knowledge, but nonetheless answered his query.

Zhouyang nodded in realization, finally resolving a long-standing mystery in his heart.

He had always been puzzled about how major sects could meet their internal demand for the Foundation Establishment Pill, while still selling large quantities externally.

The mystery was solved now, realizing they had mastered the technique to propagate ’Yuan Condensing Fruit’ trees, turning one tree into several or dozens!

With this propagation technique, major sects’ cost of refining the Foundation Establishment Pill was frighteningly low.

The Foundation Establishment Pill’s value lies in the rarity of its main ingredients, the ’Yuan Condensing Fruit’ and Tier Four Demon Pill.

If the Profound Sun Immortal Sect could mass-produce ’Yuan Condensing Fruit’ and cultivate auxiliary materials in large quantities, their cost for refining a furnace of Foundation Establishment Pill would be less than twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Under such circumstances, selling a Foundation Establishment Pill on the market for fifteen to twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones each would allow them to profit a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones per furnace!

This is truly a lucrative profit!

Although Zhouyang was envious of such profits, he could only feel envious.

A Tier Six Spirit Plant Cultivator is a Realm only Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators can achieve, and not just any Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator can reach it.

Not to mention the Zhou Family, even among the many major powers with Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, few can achieve this.

Zhouyang was keen to take a closer look at the numerous high-tier spirit elixirs on Profound Sun Peak, to remember their appearance for future reference.

But Xu Zhengyang did not give him the opportunity and quickly brought him to Master Cyan Yang’s cave dwelling.

Soon, Zhouyang found himself inside Master Cyan Yang’s cave dwelling, "Cyan Yang Cave", once again meeting the person who had been a benefactor in his life.

By this time, over two hundred years had passed since Master Cyan Yang had refined a pill and formed an infant. During these two hundred years, he had made small progress by one layer, reaching the second layer of the Nascent Soul.

Improving a cultivation by one layer in over two hundred years is already very fast for a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator.

It should be known that the lifespan of a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator can be as long as three thousand years, and nearly half of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators may spend their entire lives stuck in the early-stage Nascent Soul Realm.

Zhouyang knew that Master Cyan Yang could improve by one layer so quickly, not only because of his extraordinary talent but also because of his background in the prestigious Profound Sun Immortal Sect.

The slow progress of other Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators is mainly because, after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, it becomes incredibly difficult to rely on external objects to enhance one’s cultivation.

The spiritual objects and elixirs that can enhance the cultivation of Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators are rare in the world.

This leads many Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators to rely solely on sitting in meditation and absorbing spiritual qi to improve their cultivation after forming their Nascent Soul.

But that is only true for ordinary Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators. As someone from the historically prominent Profound Sun Immortal Sect, Master Cyan Yang may have access to Tier Six Spirit Pills that ordinary Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators cannot enjoy.

To say nothing else, Profound Sun Peak can gather enough alchemical ingredients to refine a batch of Tier Six Spirit Pills every thousand years.

Once these spirit pills are refined, they are naturally shared among the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect.

"You are doing well and have not disappointed this old man!"

Inside Cyan Yang Cave, after Zhouyang finished his salutations, Master Cyan Yang, sitting cross-legged on the jade bed, openly looked at him with joy and praised him.

At this time, there were only the two of them in the cave dwelling, as Xu Zhengyang, who brought Zhouyang, had already been sent away by Master Cyan Yang.

"Without the nurturing of senior back then, how could I have achieved today?"

"Senior’s nurturing kindness and life-saving grace are so great that this junior will remember them forever!"

Zhouyang expressed his gratitude with a bow, showing no arrogance in response to Master Cyan Yang’s praise.

Upon hearing his words, Master Cyan Yang smiled and shook his head, saying, "Indeed, this old man has helped you quite a bit, but it was mainly because of your own diligence and effort. Within a short two hundred years, you have grown from a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator to a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Such a pace of growth is rarely seen even among those core disciples heavily cultivated by the sect!"

Upon hearing this, Zhouyang ceased his humble remarks.

In fact, excessive humility in front of someone like Master Cyan Yang, a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, might easily cause displeasure.

"There is something I want to inform Elder Qingyang about, concerning the ghost cultivator I have been nurturing. There is more to this matter, and I hope Elder will understand."

Changing the topic, Zhouyang raised the issue of nurturing his ghost cultivator.

Although Master Cyan Yang needed his help now and would likely overlook this matter, Zhouyang felt it necessary to explain.

Immediately, he recounted his experience of seeking treasures in the Wilderness Jungle to Master Cyan Yang without concealing the matter of the "Nine Heavens Profound Gold."

Since the "Nine Heavens Profound Gold" has already been refined into his lifebound spiritual artifact, the "Qianyang Golden Tower," even if Master Cyan Yang knew about it, he couldn’t do much about it.

"So that’s how it is!"

"If what you say is true, then this matter indeed is not a big deal."

Master Cyan Yang nodded slightly, seeming to believe Zhouyang’s explanation.

"Everything I have said is true, without any falsehood. If Elder doesn’t believe me, you can verify it personally."

As Zhouyang spoke, he immediately summoned Xu Song, who was hidden in the "Spiritual Treasure Token."

He had already informed Xu Song about this in advance. When Xu Song appeared, although he inevitably shivered under the aura of Master Cyan Yang, a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, he didn’t overreact excessively.

And Master Cyan Yang, with just a glance, knew Zhouyang was not lying.

One must know that whether it is those human demon cultivators or ghost cultivators like Xu Song, as long as they have committed many killings, they will have an aura of blood and evil qi.

Ordinary cultivators may not see this aura, but how could a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator like Master Cyan Yang fail to see it?

In Master Cyan Yang’s eyes, the aura of blood and evil qi on Zhouyang was much more intense than on Xu Song, which indirectly corroborated his explanation about Xu Song not practicing killing techniques.

He quickly withdrew his gaze and nodded slightly towards Zhouyang, saying, "This old man understands your point. After completing that major task, this old man will help you remove the bounty on the Demon Slaying List. However, as for the Beast Taming Sect, this old man is powerless."

Zhouyang was overjoyed and immediately bowed deeply, saying, "Being able to remove the bounty on the Demon Slaying List is already satisfying enough for this junior. The great kindness of senior, this junior thanks you in advance." The source of thɪs content is N()velFire.net

The bounty from the Beast Taming Sect is merely a personal vendetta, signifying enmity between him and the sect.

But the bounty on the Demon Slaying List signifies that he is a demon that everyone wants to fight against, which severely hinders his activities in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm.

With such a bounty, he wouldn’t dare to easily enter Immortal Cities. If his whereabouts were found, the controllers of those Immortal Cities could openly manipulate arrays to kill him and claim his head for the reward.

But if the bounty on the Demon Slaying List could be removed, those controllers wouldn’t dare to continue such actions, as it would greatly tarnish the city’s reputation.

It should be known that there are quite a few high-tier cultivators in the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm with bounties from certain forces.

As long as these people don’t wander into the cities belonging to the forces that placed the bounty on them, they can freely enter and exit any Immortal City. No controller would be stupid enough to act against them within the city.

After the initial excitement, Zhouyang’s expression turned solemn, and he looked at Master Cyan Yang with seriousness, saying:

"Elder once mentioned that after I formed a Golden Core, I could visit the Profound Sun Immortal Sect to meet elder and help elder with a significant matter."

"Not long ago in the Kunxu Realm, this junior was fortunately saved by Elder’s senior martial brother, Master Xuanji, and agreed to assist him with a major matter."

"Now, as agreed, I am here. May I ask Elder Qingyang what exactly this major matter you need my assistance with is?"