Chapter 568: Chapter 177: Cultivation Soars

Zhou Xun took out a piece of Tier Three Top-Grade Calming Incense and placed it before him,

with a flick of his finger, a powerful qi brushed past the incense tip and ignited it.

A wisp of sandalwood fragrance slowly rose, swirling around Zhou Xun’s nose.

As the faint sandalwood scent entered his nasal cavity, a sense of tranquility surged, rushing to the back of his mind.

Instantly, the originally chaotic thoughts disappeared, and he became serene.

In this state, Zhou Xun’s six senses were raised to their most sensitive state.

At the same time, Zhou Xun’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit rapidly soared to their peak.

The whole person was as clear and bright as a mountain forest after the rain.

Slowly opening his eyes, his pupils were as calm as an undisturbed lake.

Then he picked up the pill bottle in front of him and gently removed the stopper,

an astonishing fragrance of medicine instantly escaped, prompting Zhou Xun to take a deep breath,

and suddenly the mana within his meridians seemed to grow slightly!

"Indeed, the efficacy is superb!" he exclaimed.

Then Zhou Xun poured one out and swallowed it without hesitation,

as the elixir entered his stomach, a surge of medicinal power arose, transformed into pure Spiritual Qi, filling his meridians,

feeling this, Zhou Xun started the Purple Sky Thunder Technique incantation, continuously refining this Qi into mana,

merging it into the golden Inner Core shining within his Dantian.

Even more astonishing was that,

the pill in his belly showed no sign of being consumed,

"Such a pill contains such abundant medicinal power, no wonder it’s said to save cultivators decades if not hundreds of years of arduous cultivation!"

Zhou Xun couldn’t help but marvel,

it was a pity that this kind of pill had long been lost, with only a few remaining in some Ancient Ruins, using one meant one less in the world.

Days went by, Zhou Xun devoted himself entirely to refining the medicinal power,

one day, two days... one month, two months...

until two years later,

seated on the cushion, Zhou Xun finally opened his eyes again!

Calculating with his fingers, he spoke,

"I didn’t expect that this refinement would take two whole years!" reflecting aloud,

then turned his attention inward, sensing towards his Dantian,

within his Dantian, an ethereal glow emerged, a golden Inner Core suspended, with Spirit Charm flowing around, an implicit sense of wholeness!

"This Profound Cloud Pill truly lives up to its reputation; consuming just one has saved me nearly a hundred years of hard cultivation. Now, I’m only a small step away from the Realm of Perfection!"

"At most, in no more than twenty years, I’ll be able to attempt breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage!"

Upon this thought, Zhou Xun smiled gently.

After Nascent Soul, he would no longer need to hide his name and would have the qualification to retain some opportunities and secrets as a Nascent Soul Cultivator!

Upon completing his inspection, Zhou Xun stood up, formed an incantation with one hand, casting a Dust-Removal Technique on himself, becoming refreshed,

then opened the door to the Cultivation Room and stepped out.

...

Outside the Cultivation Room, in the hall, a youth dressed in Celestial Talisman Sect attire was carefully feeding a Spirit Liquid to the Phoenix Butterfly!

It was Luo Yuancheng,

"Greetings, Master!"

The sound of the door opening alarmed Luo Yuancheng, he turned his head, seeing Zhou Xun emerge, joy flooded his face, and he promptly came forward to salute.

"It’s Yuancheng, you have worked hard these two years!" Zhou Xun chuckled, waving a hand, lifting the youth with a surge of force.

Then he sat at the stone table in the hall,

where the Phoenix Butterfly was resting on Luo Yuancheng’s palm, greedily absorbing a drop of Spirit Liquid,

after two years of nurturing, the Phoenix Butterfly became increasingly resplendent, seemingly growing in size.

"In at most ten years, ordinary Tier Two Spirit Liquid will be almost ineffectual to it!"

After careful observation, Zhou Xun came to this conclusion.

"Come!"

With a slight gesture, the Phoenix Butterfly, now sated with Spirit Liquid, fluttered and landed on Zhou Xun’s fingertip, a weak sense of intimacy was transmitted!

"Its progression speed has indeed exceeded my expectations!"

After a few scrutinous glances, Zhou Xun nodded with satisfaction, then gently released his hand, allowing the Spirit Butterfly to return to its nest.

Only then did Zhou Xun direct his gaze towards the youth before him, scanning Luo Yuancheng with his Divine Sense, assessing his status with a slight nod of approval,

"Well, not bad, Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment, it seems you haven’t slackened these two years, at most twenty years, and you may be able to attempt Core Formation!"

"You have served me diligently all these years; after your Core Formation, I shall accept you as a Registered Disciple and teach you the true Nurtured Talisman Technique!"

As for Crystal Condensing Pills or Core Formation insights, Celestial Talisman Sect is a sect inherited from ancient times and lacks none of these resources,

the Nurtured Talisman Technique, originally from the ancient Celestial Talisman Sect, was a serendipitous gain for Zhou Xun, this technique greatly aided him and could be considered a reciprocation of kindness,

by imparting it back to a Celestial Talisman Sect disciple, he fulfilled the karma between both sides,

moreover Luo Yuancheng’s character and aptitude were excellent, and his talent in Talisman Dao skills was noteworthy,

currently a Tier Two Top-Grade Talisman Maker,

Zhou Xun had long contemplated taking him as a disciple,

imparting the Nurtured Talisman Technique to him would do justice to this art!

"Disciple thanks Master!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Yuancheng was overwhelmed with emotion, tears welling in his eyes,

he had long heard from Master Qianfu that Zhou Xun possessed the complete long-lost Nurtured Talisman Technique of their Celestial Talisman Sect,

which is crucial to their sect’s foundations,

furthermore, becoming Zhou Xun’s disciple gave him a sense of support.

As for the issue of him being a disciple of the Celestial Talisman Sect, that’s even less of a problem,

The Cultivation Realm inherently has no rule that restricts one to only a single master. Moreover, with Zhou Xun’s strength, Master Qianfu would be eager for Zhou Xun to take Luo Yuancheng as a disciple,

thus deepening Zhou Xun’s connection with Celestial Talisman Island!

Upon hearing Luo Yuancheng address him as ’Master’, Zhou Xun nodded slightly, indicating his approval.

"Very well, since you call me Master, there are some truths you should know!"

As Zhou Xun spoke, he wiped his hand across his face, revealing his true appearance, and said casually,

"My original name is Zhou Xun, ’Wang Lin’ is merely an alias. Before you, I had five other disciples, so you rank as the sixth under my tutelage!"

Luo Yuancheng looked at the face, which seemed slightly younger than his own, in astonishment,

"I never imagined Master possessed such grace!"

"Once you reach Core Formation, we’ll formally hold a disciple initiation ceremony," Zhou Xun said slowly.

"Yes!"

Then Luo Yuancheng took his leave.

...

After the newly accepted sixth disciple left, Zhou Xun lost interest in staying in the cave mansion,

Having been in secluded cultivation for two years and making significant progress, Zhou Xun decided it was time to venture out.

The path of cultivation is not solely about rigorous practice; there should be a balance, which aligns with the true essence of the practice.

Previously, while cultivating by Wangchuan Lake, he was accompanied by scenic beauty and companionship,

whereas Celestial Talisman Island felt rather lonely.

"Very well, I shall visit Daoist Brother Iron Mountain on Ringless Island!"

Coincidentally, he was also nearing the Peak Core Formation, allowing him to consult on the matter of Nascent Soul Formation.

With this thought, Zhou Xun’s figure flashed, and in the next instant, he appeared above Celestial Talisman Island,

producing a token and slowly injecting mana into it!

Soon after, a faint azure silhouette rapidly approached from afar, transforming into a large, majestic beast with the head of a tiger, the body of a leopard, and wings on its back,

it was Zhou Xun’s mount, the Earth Element Beast,

which Zhou Xun typically released before entering seclusion.

"Master!"

Feng Chong greeted him respectfully!

"To Ringless Island!"

Zhou Xun instructed coolly, then leapt onto the broad back of the Earth Element Beast and sat cross-legged.

"Yes."

With a flap of its wings, Feng Chong transformed into a breeze and set off.

Several hours later, Zhou Xun reappeared above Ringless Island, having visited this place several times before,

the guards already knew of Zhou Xun’s identity,

thus with no obstruction, Zhou Xun landed within the island.

"Daoist Brother Iron Mountain, it’s Zhou Xun visiting you again!" Zhou Xun transmitted his message even before entering the main hall.

"Hahaha, Younger Brother Zhou’s visit is certainly a joy!"

"Eh?"

True Monarch Iron Mountain first laughed, then scrutinized Zhou Xun, showing surprise and doubt on his face,

"Your cultivation level... how did it advance so quickly? Two years ago, I last saw you, you had just entered the Late-Stage Core Formation!"

"Now... it seems you’re only a step away from Core Formation Perfection!"

The mana aura emanating from Zhou Xun revealed his true cultivation level. Among close friends, Zhou Xun rarely used the Concealing Technique.

"Haha, Daoist Brother still has such keen insight,"

"Last time I visited Sea Suppression Immortal City, I was fortunate to acquire a Profound Cloud Pill, hence my significant progress!"

Zhou Xun did not hide anything and briefly explained the effect of the Profound Cloud Pill.

True Monarch Iron Mountain, hearing this, repeatedly sighed in admiration,

"Scriptures have noted there are those favored by the heavens in the world, encountering opportunities as frequently as eating and drinking, and I believe Younger Brother you are such a person of great fortune!"

"Daoist Brother overpraises me!" Zhou Xun waved his hand dismissively,

"After two years of closed-door cultivation, I came to see you,

firstly to relax my mind, secondly to seek your guidance on Nascent Soul Formation!"

Although Zhou Xun possessed the Nascent Soul Formation Insights from Tianhan City, passed down over millennia, they were, after all, only recorded in a jade scroll,

and True Monarch Iron Mountain had personally gone through it, which naturally offered a different perspective,

providing Zhou Xun with unique insights.

"I had long known the day would come when Younger Brother surpasses me, but didn’t expect it would arrive so soon!"

True Monarch Iron Mountain sighed, then patted his storage bag, retrieving a jade scroll, and handed it to Zhou Xun,

"This is my Nascent Soul Formation Insights!"

He then began to slowly explain, revealing every detail of his Nascent Soul Formation process with no reservations.

At times, he even personally demonstrated, recreating the scenes from his experience

It wasn’t until seven days later that True Monarch Iron Mountain finished detailing all the issues he encountered during Nascent Soul Formation and his solutions!

"Thank you, Daoist Brother!"

Zhou Xun expressed his gratitude, stood up, and performed a grand salute!

Having a True Monarch Nascent Soul who presented every detail of his Nascent Soul Formation process, as if personally experienced, was of great importance to Zhou Xun!

Even among close family, such full disclosure of Nascent Soul Formation details was rare,

since the process also involves examining one’s previous cultivation, naturally including most of one’s cultivation secrets,

once leaked, it could lead to being targeted, and even result in death or ruin!

True Monarch Iron Mountain’s actions demonstrated utmost trust in Zhou Xun!

Afterwards, Zhou Xun didn’t linger and left Ringless Island, heading toward the Four Yin Land where he had buried the Blood Demon Child!