I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 166: Chapter 165 Waiting for a High Price

Zhou Yi listened to the conversation in the hall, finding it amusing.

They spoke of passing down the sect's legacy with their words, but upon hearing about the danger of the righteous versus the demonic sword fight, they were unwilling to risk their lives for the sect.

It seemed that one's life and possessions were, in the end, more important than ancestral pride!

"True Monarchs live for two hundred years, indifferent to kinship, Pure True Monarchs for five hundred, detached from the sect. Nascent Soul ancestors with a thousand years of life have long lost all concerns, their battles employing mana could obliterate thousands of miles, causing the death of tens of thousands in misfortune, as if ordinary people had poured boiling water into an ant's nest!"

Zhou Yi shook his head slightly, silently recited the Heart Sutra to calm his chaotic thoughts.

Even if he became invincible in all of heaven and earth, he knew he must maintain a sense of reverence, or else he would meet his end due to indifference.

The birthday celebration lasted three days, during which Zhou Yi mingled with his fellow cultivators, discussing everything under the sky at times, and at others, exchanging knowledge on the Four Arts of Cultivation, which marked his preliminary entry into the East Sea Cultivation World circle.

Upon leaving the Earth Fire Palace, Feng Yang gifted Zhou Yi a scroll of the essence of Artifact Refining, in the name of exchange.

"Since Daoist Tang is so engrossed in the way of Artifact Refining, you should visit the Earth Fire Palace more often to exchange insights," Feng Yang said.

"It's exactly what I wish for!" replied Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi did not refuse the gift, accepting the scroll was also a way to respond to the overture.

Afterward, he left with Wan Bao on a cloud, heading straight to the vicinity of Red Cloud Island.

Eventually, Wan Bao couldn't help but ask, "Daoist friend, Feng Daoist has the intention, why then do you still refuse?"

"Even mortals practice the courtesy of refusing thrice. If I were to hastily join the Earth Fire Palace, wouldn't that seem suspect?" Zhou Yi answered.

"Holding out for a better offer!" Wan Bao sighed. "I too had entertained the thought, inviting you to join Red Cloud Island, to protect my disciples and their descendants in the future."

Zhou Yi furrowed his brow and asked, "Does Daoist friend plan to participate in the battle between righteousness and demons?"

"I have reached the culmination of the Golden Core for more than fifty years and have yet to find the threshold of breaking through to Nascent Soul. If I delay any longer, I will lose all chance," Wan Bao said.

"I have been paying attention to the news from the Nine Continents. Not long ago, the righteous sects agreed to share the Nascent Soul manuscripts with Loose Cultivators, requiring only the killing of a demonic Golden Core!"

"I see," said Zhou Yi, his expression unchanged, yet he sighed internally. According to what Dragon Lord had said, those without great destiny had already lost their path to Nascent Soul.

The manuscripts on breaking through to Nascent Soul that Wan Bao could obtain were similar to teachings on how a Nascent Soul might achieve Divinity Transformation, not worthless, but of little use.

Of course, this was not something he could say to Wan Bao—it would be useless and might unnecessarily provoke resentment.

...

The changing tides of the East Sea Cultivation World had no bearing on Zhou Yi.

He pondered the Lightning Method at night, and during the day, he managed the Four Arts Hall; time flew by swiftly.

Three years later.

Feng Yang invited Zhou Yi to observe treasure refining and taught him many secrets of creating magical artifacts.

Zhou Yi reciprocated by taking out the Emerald Peak Seal for Feng Yang to study together; the ancient treasure's rough crafting methods provided much inspiration.

Both parties were willing, and their exchanges flourished!

Another three years passed.

For his eight hundredth birthday, Zhou Yi secretly returned to Cloud Continent, and after celebrating for several months, he finally came back.

He also gathered information on the battle between righteousness and demons. With the righteous side largely prevailing and having offered incredibly generous rewards, Loose Cultivators from the Four Seas joined in droves, forcing the demonic path into constant retreat.

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Five more years went by.

After twelve years of effort, Zhou Yi had established firm roots in the East Sea.

On regular days, he rode clouds and roamed the East Sea, visiting peers for wine and pleasure, sometimes engaging in philosophical discussions or sparring with spells, living a carefree life.

Zhou Yi's magical artifact, the Spirit-Settling Mirror, had gained no small reputation among True Monarchs. Its Spirit-Settling Light, combined with exquisite Lightning Method, allowed him to spar back and forth with veteran Golden Cores.

Of course, sparring was different from life-and-death battles, with both sides keeping their trump cards hidden, not even displaying a third of their full strength.

At the same time, the Four Arts Hall's reputation among Loose Cultivators rose day by day. When coming to purchase pills and talismans, they would casually seek advice on their cultivation troubles, and Zhou Yi's offhand guidance would often lead to revelations.

After all, Zhou Yi had cultivated in the Qi Refinement Realm for two hundred and seventy years, and in the Foundation Establishment Stage for a full five hundred years. His experience was unparalleled, having thoroughly understood these two realms, even more so than Nascent Soul elders.

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That day.

Zhou Yi was chatting with the Loose Cultivator Li Yu, discussing the plot of a storybook, just like the leisurely talks he once had with Pure True Monarch.

Li Yu was good at writing storybooks and drawing pictures of ladies, and the marketplace was filled with many of his excellent works. Hearing that the True Monarch enjoyed reading storybooks, he often came to exchange ideas, hoping if he could write a plot that satisfied Zhou Yi, he might get a pill to taste in return.

At the moment, the two were debating how the female lead number twenty-two should reverse woo the protagonist and be taken into his inner palace.

Li Yu retorted, "Senior Tang, if you write it the way you said, the character's personality becomes too... sudden..."

Zhou Yi, unable to win the debate verbally, pulled a bottle of Green Sun Pill from his storage bag and placed it on the counter.

Li Yu quickly stuffed the pill into his bosom and vowed, "...and suddenly it all got better! I'll go back and change the plot right away, add twenty more character illustrations, and make sure you're satisfied, Senior."

"Tsk tsk! Scholars in the Cultivation World are all the same, spineless!"

Zhou Yi reminded, "Make sure the illustrations are well-drawn. If I'm pleased, there'll be an extra reward."

Li Yu's eyebrows danced with excitement, and he chuckled knowingly.

At that moment.

A beam of light descended into the shop, manifesting into the Sect Leader of the Earth Fire Palace, Yuan Qi in person.

"Greetings to Senior Tang, my master invites you to visit. There is an urgent matter to discuss!"

"Wait a moment."

Zhou Yi took out a divination cylinder, performed a short divination, and a glowing spiritual sign fell to the ground.

An auspicious sign!

Zhou Yi raised his eyebrows, feeling certain about the forthcoming trip, and asked, "Did something happen at the Earth Fire Palace?"

Seeing Yuan Qi looking around, Li Yu knew to take his leave and quickly made an excuse to say goodbye.

Yuan Qi waved his hand to set up a soundproof formation and spoke with a mournful look, "My master heard that a Yin-Yang Spiritual Pearl appeared in the Xian Kong Sea Area and took the risk to look for it. He was unfortunately caught in the chaos of the Nine Heavens Gang Winds and barely escaped with his life, but he was badly injured!"

The Xian Kong Sea Area was a mysterious place in the Eastern Sea, forever enveloped by the Nine Heavens Gang Winds, while the Yin-Yang Spiritual Pearl, a rare aid in pill solidification, was rarely seen in the world.

"Let's go and take a look," Zhou Yi said.

Zhou Yi felt the matter was not so simple, wrapped Yuan Qi in his mana, and transformed into a beam of light flying toward the sky.

...

The Earth Fire Palace.

In the center of the island.

Feng Yang sat cross-legged within a formation, with surging earth fire constantly refining his body, wisps of black smoke drifting from his body.

The beam of light descended, revealing Zhou Yi, his divine sense swept over the black qi, and his eyebrows furrowed.

"Daoist Feng Yang, have you encountered the malicious beings from the Ghost King Sect?"

Zhou Yi had seen similar black smoke on the bodies of black skeletons, a mix of vitality and ghostly, yin sha energies, just as Xuan Zhou had described—half human and half ghost.

Feng Yang shook his head and said, "This poor daoist doesn't know which sect the demon is from; it seems they had predicted my movements and set traps and ambushes along my path. Luckily, I had a large number of Earth Fire Beads with me and managed to blast open the formation by force."

Zhou Yi asked, "How many people in the Earth Fire Palace knew about your trip to the Xian Kong Sea Area?"

Feng Yang replied, "I spoke with the Sect Leader and the elders before leaving, asking them to be on their guard to avoid being taken advantage of by enemies."

Zhou Yi continued, "Then who knew about the specific route and direction?"

Feng Yang was silent for a long while, not answering.

Zhou Yi said, "This person must hold considerable power within the Earth Fire Palace. Since they have already betrayed the sect, why are you still protecting them?"

The Sect Leader Yuan Qi said anxiously, "If my master suspects someone, we can summon them and use the Question Heart Technique. It won't cost them their lives!"

Feng Yang sighed, "Go call your junior brother here."

"Junior brother!"

Yuan Qi was first shocked, then furious.

The sect saw the junior brother as its hope, pouring resources into helping him condense his Golden Core. Who would have thought that not long after his Foundation Establishment, he would betray the senior of the sect!

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