I have Immortality In The Cultivation World - Chapter 91

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: Willow Trees Planted Unintentionally
 

Zhou Yi spent sixty years in seclusion, during which three Foundation Establishment Pills appeared in the marketplace.

About every fourteen or fifteen years, one would appear, as if the Foundation Establishment Pills had a maturity period. It was hard not to arouse suspicion among Loose Cultivators, thinking that Dan Ding Sect was casting bait.

Even so, even the most hidden Loose Cultivator could not resist revealing themselves.

For instance, the Foundation Establishment Pill from thirteen years ago eventually ended up in the hands of the Chu State Imperial Clan, and an aged master hidden within a spiritual land successfully ascended to a true Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Afterward, he was taken in by Dan Ding Sect and became a formal disciple, and it seemed like no one was at a loss.

“Common Imperial Clans control armies and secret agents. It’s much easier for them to search for spiritual lands within their territories than it is for Loose Cultivators,” he said.

Zhou Yi took out the Great Dry Map, covered in a century’s worth of dust, marked with all the abnormal and dangerous places within the territory, one of which might just be a natural spiritual land.

“After achieving Foundation Establishment, I’ll investigate them one by one, just to have a contingency plan.”

Dan Ding Sect has stood for thousands of years, seemingly like a towering tree, yet Zhou Yi habitually extends the timeline. Over tens of thousands of years, the rulers of Cloud Continent have changed several times, so it doesn’t seem all that stable.

Moo!

The cow’s mooing at the door reminded Zhou Yi that a Qi Refinement late-stage cultivator had entered the store.

Zhou Yi put the map into his storage bag, put on a professional fake smile, and greeted the visitor with a bow, “What brings Brother Zhao here today?”

“What else could it be?”

Zhao Zhi walked up to the counter, poured himself a drink without invitation, and said, “I just received news that a Foundation Establishment Pill will appear at this year’s auction.”

Zhou Yi initially attended the Zhengyang City auctions with great interest but seldom went after a few times.

Real treasures, once consigned to the auction house, their news spreads outside. Several wealthy and powerful families hold a secret auction, where spiritual objects and inheritances don’t even make it to the public listing.

Only the Foundation Establishment Pill, appearing once every decade or so, cannot be manipulated behind closed doors at auctions, and these families also dare not cut in line.

“Are you interested?” he asked.

Zhou Yi cautioned, “Those are fought over by the rich and powerful. We Loose Cultivators, fighting alone, would just be throwing our lives away by going. Better to live freely for a few more years.”

Over the years, Zhou Yi had made some acquaintances while running his tavern, and Zhao Zhi was one of them.

“Brother Zhao, you’re already over a hundred years old. How much longer can you be carefree?”

Zhao Zhi’s lips moved slightly, his words turned into a transmitted message, “Over these years, I’ve managed to gather quite a few secret agents. By chance, I learned that the East City Li family, although they only have an initial-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, their ancestor was quite a renowned Alchemist…”

“Brother Zhao, there’s no need to continue,” Zhou Yi interrupted, now formally addressing him by his surname and shaking his head, “Persecuting cultivators in the marketplace equates to the practice of demonic and evil paths. Dan Ding Sect, when exterminating demons, shows no mercy.”

Zhao Zhi said, “There’s no need for us to take action; someone has already set their sights on the Li family. We’re just waiting to reap the benefits.”

“As you please,” Zhou Yi retorted, not believing in such opportunism, which was only convincing to children. Either it was a show put on by Zhao Zhi himself, or perhaps it entailed changing identities altogether.

Though Alchemist inheritance is valuable, it could not break through the principle Zhou Yi held in life.

Do no evil, be vigilant in solitude!

With a potentially endless life span, if one does not put restrictions on oneself, Zhou Yi feared he might turn into a monster he himself could no longer recognize.

“Brother Zhao’s integrity is admirable,” Zhou Yi praised sincerely.

Zhao Zhi bowed in respect, “I do not seek your complicity, brother. Once I acquire the Foundation Establishment Pill, I ask that you help me stop someone. In return, I am willing to share a portion of the Alchemist heritage.”

Zhou Yi understood at once – this was Zhao Zhi’s real intention.

To achieve a part, aim for the whole.

Zhou Yi neither agreed nor declined but asked, “You’re acting so urgently, putting all your eggs in one basket. Is there some other change in the marketplace?”

“Can’t hide anything from you,” Zhao Zhi admitted after a pause, and his transmitted voice followed, “Recently, Xuan Yu the real person accidentally revealed that in the future, the appearance of Foundation Establishment Pills could be delayed.”

“No wonder,” Zhou Yi muttered to himself.

Zhou Yi apologized, “I am not skilled in magical combat, my friend. You should seek someone else’s help.”

In his time of cultivation, the number of times Zhou Yi had engaged in combat could be counted on one hand. Whenever possible, he avoided conflicts. Frequently engaging in combat meant potentially encountering cultivators who, despite being outclassed, could have sudden breakthroughs, carry supreme treasures for protection, or have mighty elders safeguarding their lives.

Zhao Zhi offered several rewards, but seeing Zhou Yi’s resolute attitude, he had no choice but to leave, disappointed.

…

The cave abode.

Zhou Yi executed the Jade Dew Art to promote the growth of spiritual medicine.

The medicinal field, spanning two zhang in radius, contained over a dozen plants of wood-element spiritual medicine, the youngest of which were a hundred years old. The Spirit Ginseng in the middle was over fifteen hundred years old, its green leaves transformed into soft, green hair.

As Creation Dew Drops fell, the Spirit Ginseng’s surface formed eyes, mouth, nose, and ears, emitting a comfortable moan.

Ah——

Zhou Yi flicked his own forehead, “How many times have I warned you not to make such strange noises!”

The Spirit Ginseng looked aggrieved, “I was just trying to please the Immortal Master. That Bodhisattva from Phoenix Cry Pavilion the day before yesterday…”

“Out! I was studying the secret Buddhist Law,” Zhou Yi said sternly.

Zhou Yi kicked the Spirit Ginseng away, wondering if he had been a bad influence on the child.

A thousand-year-old spiritual medicine could potentially develop some spiritual intelligence. Once sentient, its value would skyrocket. The Spirit Ginseng had wisdom comparable to a teenager, which was why Zhou Yi couldn’t bring himself to consume it entirely.

In the future, adding a few drops of the Spirit Ginseng’s essence blood into the pills during alchemy could significantly enhance their efficacy.

Zhou Yi meditated to recover his energy. After two to three hours, he took out the “Spiritual Treasure Art” and pondered over it, word by word.

“Nurturing, offering mana daily to refine and boost the spirit of the magic artifact… hmm, another way to consume mana. Melting, extracting the Essence of Five Metals to infuse into the magic artifact—this part of the spell seems incomplete,” he reflected.

Zhou Yi, with his increasing knowledge, quickly noticed that there was something amiss with the latter part of the Spiritual Treasure Art.

In theory, the art of melting spiritual treasures could incorporate all things to increase the power of a magic artifact. However, later on, it only detailed how to integrate the Essence of Five Metals, transforming the magic artifact into a paramount treasure.

“It seems to be a recipe for refining treasures? Could it be that different formulas for the Spiritual Treasure Art can produce different supreme treasures?” Zhou Yi wondered.

Zhou Yi spat out the Mountain and River Cauldron and then took out Mystic Iron, Purple Spirit Copper, and other spiritual ores of the Five Metals to use the melting method of the Spiritual Treasure Art.

Streams of Five Metals Essence were drawn out from the ore, merging into the Mountain and River Cauldron. This process differed fundamentally from when Zhou Yi had previously refined and weighted Mystic Iron for his own use. The Five Metals Essence was slowly transforming the very foundation of the Mountain and River Cauldron.

Half a month later.

All the spiritual ores had been used up, and Zhou Yi sensed the power of the Mountain and River Cauldron.

“Its weight has increased slightly, but it’s still a mid-grade magic artifact?”

“Those spiritual ores alone were worth two to three thousand Spirit Stones, enough to buy a high-grade magic artifact. With the Spiritual Treasure Art being such a rip-off, no wonder my peers laugh at me!” Zhou Yi lamented with a slight shake of his head, then he stored the Mountain and River Cauldron in his Dantian for nurturing.

…

The tavern.

The doors opened again.

Zhou Yi was chatting with several regular customers who enjoyed good wine about how to improve the taste of Spiritual Wine when an old man with white hair entered.

“Benefactor!”

The visitor was none other than Chen Yang, his face etched with sorrow. He knelt down with a thump as soon as he stepped inside.

The regular customers, being tactful, excused themselves upon witnessing such a scene, leaving Zhou Yi with greetings.

Zhou Yi had some recollection of Chen Yang. Occasionally, when he would leave his reclusion, he had seen a young man full of ambition turn into an old man playing with his grandchildren, prompting him to reflect on the changes of life.

Chen Yang took out a round jade pendant from his chest, holding it carefully with both hands and lifting it above his head.

“Benefactor, this is a relic from my ancestors. I only ask that you take action and avenge my grandson!”