Chapter 132: Chapter 120: The Campaign Begins, New Cave Mansion (Double-Length)_2

But just at this moment, another escape light suddenly appeared in the main hall.

A middle-aged cultivator with a dignified face, wearing a jade crown, stepping on cloud boots, and dressed in a white Daoist robe, appeared in the hall, landing beside Gu Yuan.

"Master!"

Seeing the newcomer, Qiu Mingshan was startled and immediately bowed with great respect.

This person was the steward of the Human Resources Hall, the late-stage Foundation Establishment Daoist Yu Guang, and also Qiu Mingshan’s master, Rune Mountain.

Most of the positions in the Cyan Peak Daoist School were held by people from the Seven Vein and the Noble Family, yet Rune Mountain came from the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute, also considered a Humble Lineage disciple.

"Junior Brother Gu is no longer someone you can entertain; you may leave first..."

Rune Mountain looked at his disciple who had lingered for many years, then at Gu Yuan in front, couldn’t help but sigh, and waved him to leave first.

Qiu Mingshan’s expression froze; he felt a bit disheartened but still bowed and left the hall.

Looking at the golden Great Sun hanging high outside the hall, Qiu Mingshan couldn’t help but laugh at himself.

Who would have thought that in just a few years, he had lost even the qualification to entertain the other party?

How terrifying is the might of a Golden Core?

But at this moment, the cultivator guarding the hall quietly approached and handed him a storage bag.

"Senior Brother Qiu, this was just transmitted sound by Junior Martial Uncle Gu for me to give to you."

Qiu Mingshan was stunned, took the storage bag, opened it, and found it filled with a dazzling array of spirit stones and treasures, beautifully brilliant.

With treasures in hand, but Qiu Mingshan still wore a dark expression.

He knew that spiritual energy was already out of his reach.

...

...

"Congratulations to Junior Brother for achieving the Dao Foundation and extending your life by three hundred years. It has been many years since a person like Junior Brother appeared in our Hidden Flood Dragon Institute; I offer you a cup in celebration!"

In the hall, Rune Mountain raised a jade cup and toasted Gu Yuan from afar.

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Gu Yuan also raised his jade cup, expressing his gratitude.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Rune Mountain got straight to the point: "There’s no reason to visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason; Junior Brother, are you here today for the Cave Mansion affair?"

"Senior Brother’s insight is sharp; indeed, I wish to request a spirit island for cultivation."

Gu Yuan nodded.

According to the Daoist Academy Decree, any Daoist cultivator who reaches Foundation Establishment can be allocated a Tier Two Spirit Island for cultivation; the spiritual land on the island can also be mined and planted by the cultivator at will, cultivating spirit fields and spiritual materials.

It can be said that once you become a Foundation Establishment, you can barely be the master of an island and have your own Dao field; however, compared to a Tier Three Spirit Island, it’s vastly different.

"Junior Brother also hails from the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute; we are not outsiders, so I will speak bluntly. There are still many Tier Two Spirit Islands in the Human Resources Hall that Junior Brother can choose from at will, but don’t expect too much."

"What do you mean by this, Senior Brother?"

"Junior Brother might not know that a Foundation Establishment cultivator can live for four hundred and fifty years, and the Flowing Cloud Banquet is held once every hundred years, each banquet producing ten Foundations, meaning that before a generation of Foundation Establishment cultivators dies, the Daoist School has several dozen new Foundations, and this number only increases every few years."

"Although our Cyan Peak Daoist School is large and prosperous, supporting such a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators is somewhat challenging."

"The Tier Two Spirit Islands still available are barren and chaotic places, sometimes even plagued by Fire Fiends and Earth Miasmas, barely supporting daily cultivation. To use them as a Dao field or to cultivate spiritual objects would be extremely difficult."

Rune Mountain sighed slightly.

"Isn’t there any other way?"

Gu Yuan furrowed his brow and couldn’t help but ask further.

The matter of the spirit island was crucial for his future cultivation and could not be neglected.

"Difficult!"

"The distribution of spirit islands has long been determined, first come, first served; you can’t just take someone’s island when they have cultivated for decades and managed the island’s affairs smoothly, with a hundred acres of spirit fields."

Rune Mountain shook his head but then said pointedly: "However, if a private transaction is made and both parties are willing, it’s possible; with Junior Brother’s treasures, you might have some opportunity."

Exchanging spiritual energy for a spirit island?

Gu Yuan immediately shook his head.

This is a losing deal.

What spiritual energy exchanges for is not just resources but the effectiveness of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It forms the basis, the help in vying for true inheritance.

A mere Tier Two Spirit Island is still not worth it.

But thinking of the Dao-One Cyan Lotus Seed he possessed, Gu Yuan’s brows furrowed again.

The reason he was urgent to move into a new Cave Mansion was not only to escape the noise of Qianyuan Cave but also to find a better treasure land to cultivate and enhance his strength.

After Foundation Establishment, the power of the various Qi Refining Seals he had previously also increased significantly. Breaking through to a new realm would inevitably require new methods, especially since he was cultivating Three Qi simultaneously.

He still had his eyes on Bian Chuyao’s Ancient Seal.

"Apart from this, the only option is to wait for the Red Moon Great River..."

Seeing Gu Yuan’s expression, Rune Mountain silently sighed, knowing that the spiritual energy wouldn’t work, but still mentioned another method.

"Red Moon Great River?"

This was the second time Gu Yuan heard of this today.

It seems that the older generation of Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Daoist School were already well aware.

"The expedition against the Red Moon Great River is not far off. This time it’s not a minor skirmish; the Daoist School is serious, and Foundation Establishment cultivators must participate. If spirit islands or spirit meridians are conquered, the Daoist School will not stint on rewards, setting up arrays, or ordering the Mountain Shifting Hall to incorporate the spirit island completely under the Daoist School’s jurisdiction, just like the previous Wave Mountain."

"About a year’s time won’t delay much; with Junior Brother holding multiple spiritual energies and your formidable power, if you can conquer a spirit island, it can naturally serve as a Dao field for cultivation, while the spirit islands of the Human Resources Hall are just stepping stones."

Rune Mountain explained.

Gu Yuan reluctantly nodded, seeing no other option.

"Then I must trouble Senior Brother to fetch a map, to first find a spirit island for cultivation!"

"No problem, no problem!"

With a wave of his wide sleeve, a map glowing with spiritual light appeared in front of Gu Yuan.

On the map, nearly all the spirit islands appeared dim, having long been chosen by others. Only at the very edges were about a dozen spirit islands, flickering with faint light.

All leftover corners.

Gu Yuan sighed slightly, ultimately choosing an island named "Earth Flame Island" situated in the middle of the selected islands.

"This island is rich in spiritual energy, but the earth vein contains fiery Qi, and at noon, flames emerge from the island, burning everything on it. Spiritual objects can’t survive, making it nearly impossible to plant any spirit fields, and you’ll have to bear with it."

Rune Mountain sighed, handing a jade token to Gu Yuan.

"No problem, thank you, Senior Brother."

"Besides this, your insignia should also be updated; after Foundation Establishment, the Transmission Hall will open to you. Within it, you can study the Foundation Establishment Seals, but be aware that these seals are extremely difficult to cultivate. If you wish to progress aggressively, you must not slack."

"Over the years, our Humble Lineage has produced outstanding Qi Refining disciples, but the further one cultivates, the harder it becomes. A single word from a Golden Core outweighs ten thousand scrolls. A Qi Refining disciple almost never gets summoned by a Golden Core, but after Foundation Establishment, one occasionally receives guidance, a vast difference in status."

Rune Mountain seemed to recall something and advised softly, then also replaced his insignia.

"Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother!"

Gu Yuan bowed and expressed his thanks.

Then Gu Yuan didn’t linger, and directed his escape light directly towards the Transmission Hall.

The matter of the Red Moon River expedition was almost universally known, and time was running out for him. To continue aggressive advancement, he must seize this time to improve his strength.

After Foundation Establishment, with rapid escape light, it wasn’t long before he arrived at the Transmission Hall.

The Transmission Hall remained in its usual state, unattended, with only a solitary Jade Hall standing.

Yet after Foundation Establishment, Gu Yuan still couldn’t grasp the depth of this hall, only feeling a vast and majestic aura enveloping it, filled with a sense of solemnity.

"Swish!"

Gu Yuan took out his insignia, and cyan-colored light emitted from the hall, directly guiding him inside.