172: Golden Elixir Banquet

Zhou Xiuyuan and the other two left Youxiong Village.

They traveled at a leisurely pace. Although they had gained some understanding of this world, the three of them dared not be careless.

Especially in an environment where various Barbarian tribes were somewhat hostile and hateful towards Cultivators.

Fortunately, when Yun Qingsi left Youxiong Village, she obtained a bone fragment engraved with the totem of the Youxiong tribe from Youxiong Cangshan.

Although it was just a symbolic bone fragment, it greatly reduced the trouble and hostility they encountered.

Zhou Xiuyuan used his old trick, and through Qi Refining Stage cultivation techniques, he exchanged for the totem cultivation methods of several other small and medium-sized tribes.

As for the large tribes...

The three of them chose to avoid them from a distance.

Although only the super-large tribes had the presence of a Barbarian King,

the large tribes also had Barbarian Generals who could rival Late Qi Refining Cultivators.

Moreover, there were also the totem spirits of each tribe.

During this journey,

Zhou Xiuyuan and the other two had already witnessed the Barbarian tribes summoning totems.

The three of them had observed from afar a war of aggression between two large tribes.

Both sides fought with true fury.

The totems summoned by both tribes, with the combined power of their respective clans, already possessed power no less than that of a Foundation Establishment Stage Great Cultivator.

Although these totem spirits seemed not to be living beings and lacked much of a sense of agility, for the three of them, whose cultivation was only at the Qi Refinement Stage, they still posed a considerable threat.

The Barbarian tribesmen were bold and uninhibited, not deeply cunning, and each tribe had its own characteristics.

This greatly enriched the experiences of the three of them.

One year later.

"Big Brother Zhou, Senior Brother, this should be the border of Barren Prefecture," Yun Qingsi said, taking out a beast hide and pointing to the mountain range stretching before them.

Crossing this mountain range would bring them into the territory of Luo Prefecture.

In Luo Prefecture, the Luotian Sword Sect was revered.

Hearing this, Zhou Xiuyuan's mind filled with the intelligence he had gathered from various tribes in Barren Prefecture. His right hand unconsciously tightened around the one heart sword he held, eager for action.

During this past year, besides traveling,

what Zhou Xiuyuan did most was to comprehend the Great Snow Mountain Visualization Method.

In his mind, a massive millstone slowly rotated.

This was the consciousness millstone Zhou Xiuyuan had condensed based on this visualization method.

Within the millstone, a sword-shaped phantom was constantly crushed and then reassembled.

Each time it was crushed and reassembled, this sword-shaped phantom would solidify a bit more.

This sword phantom was Zhou Xiuyuan's sword of consciousness, his sword of heart. Crushing it naturally came with boundless pain.

The first time Zhou Xiuyuan crushed it, he almost fainted from the pain.

However, by now, Zhou Xiuyuan could completely endure it.

Zhou Xiuyuan had already passed this visualization method to Shen Xuanzhao and Yun Qingsi.

However, Junior Sister Yun was not very interested.

Shen Xuanzhao only extracted some useful characteristics for himself and integrated them into his own cultivation.

After all, neither of them was a Sword Cultivator and could not be as single-minded as Zhou Xiuyuan, focusing solely on the Dao of the Sword.

Over the past year, Shen Xuanzhao had already Broken Through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining, and Yun Qingsi had also successfully Broken Through to the Qi Refining Level Seven a few days ago.

With the strength of the three of them, as long as they did not encounter a Foundation Establishment Stage Great Cultivator, their personal safety should be assured.

"Junior Sister, you didn't take the wrong path this time, did you?" Shen Xuanzhao's tone carried a hint of teasing.

Yun Qingsi had volunteered to lead the way, and twice before, they had almost gotten lost in the hundred thousand mountains of Barren Prefecture.

Hearing this, Yun Qingsi's face flushed, and she glared fiercely at Shen Xuanzhao.

"Brother Shen, even if we take the wrong path, it doesn't matter. We can just go back the way we came. Junior Sister Yun has already done her best," Zhou Xiuyuan said with a serious expression and calm tone.

"Haha~" Shen Xuanzhao chuckled.

"Please lead the way, Junior Sister."

After laughing for a while, he ignored Yun Qingsi's increasingly rosy face.

As Yun Qingsi's gaze grew more and more dangerous, he immediately stopped laughing.

He spoke to Yun Qingsi with a serious expression.

"Hmph~" Yun Qingsi snorted, glancing at the two of them.

She took out the beast hide map to confirm it again, then took the lead and headed towards the distant mountain range.

Zhou Xiuyuan and Shen Xuanzhao exchanged glances, a slight smile in their eyes, and followed closely behind Yun Qingsi.

In the Zhou Family Great Hall on Jade Moon Peak, Qingyuan Town.

"Father."

Zhou Leyi saluted Zhou Licheng.

"This is a congratulatory gift. You should keep it well." Zhou Licheng nodded, handing over a Storage Pouch.

Zhou Leyi took it and hung it at his waist.

He had originally intended to search for Zhou Xiuyuan after Breaking Through to Foundation Establishment.

However, after he came out of seclusion, Zhou Licheng told him that Zhou Xiuyuan was temporarily safe.

Moreover, even Mo Xuan could not perceive Zhou Xiuyuan's location, so how could he, with his newly Broken Through Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivation, find Zhou Xiuyuan?

Zhou Leyi could only suppress the worry in his heart.

He came to find Zhou Licheng today precisely because True Person Gu of the Xuanqing Sect's Golden Core Banquet was approaching, which had been agreed upon when he came out of seclusion.

"Take those two boys, Xiuqi and Xiuzhi, with you to see the world," Zhou Licheng thought for a moment, then instructed Zhou Leyi.

Zhou Xiuqi was Zhou Lejin's child, just turned twelve, with slightly below-average talent.

Zhou Xiuzhi was the child of Zhou Lean, the youngest of the 'Le' generation, only eleven this year, with average talent.

This trip was a good opportunity to take them out to see the world.

Over the years, the Zhou Family's 'Xiu' generation had a total of sixty-two Disciples, of whom thirty-four had cultivation talent.

"Yes, Father." Zhou Leyi assented, left the Zhou Family Great Hall, and found Zhou Xiuqi and Zhou Xiuzhi, who were discussing and exchanging ideas together.

"Second Uncle."

Upon seeing Zhou Leyi, both rose and saluted.

"Xiuqi, Xiuzhi, follow me to the Xuanqing Sect," Zhou Leyi nodded, helped them up, and said.

Zhou Xiuqi and Zhou Xiuzhi were filled with pleasant surprise.

They quickly tidied themselves up and stood behind Zhou Leyi.

At their age, unless there were special arrangements within the family or they were accompanied by an elder, they would not be able to leave Jade Moon Peak.

Now that they had an opportunity to go out, and even to the Xuanqing Sect, it naturally pleased them greatly.

Zhou Leyi waved his hand, and a cyan spirit boat appeared in his palm, then suddenly transformed, becoming several zhang in size.

Zhou Xiuqi and the other two watched in amazement, filled with envy.

"Let's go," Zhou Leyi said in a low voice, and a gentle breeze swept the two of them onto the cyan spirit boat.

With the surge of magical power, the cyan spirit boat instantly vanished from its spot, exiting the Jade Moon Peak Great Formation, and flying towards Xuanqing Mountain... Outside Xuanqing Mountain.

A cyan spirit boat stopped.

Zhou Leyi put the spirit boat into his Storage Pouch and brought Zhou Xiuqi and the other two to the front of Xuanqing Mountain.

"Greetings, Senior Zhou."

Upon seeing the snake-patterned robes on the three of them,

the Xuanqing Mountain guard Disciple's expression became solemn, and he quickly stepped forward to greet them.

"No need for formalities." Zhou Leyi's magical power gave a gentle lift.

Zhou Xiuqi and Zhou Xiuzhi followed behind Zhou Leyi, their eyes constantly surveying the immortal mist-shrouded Xuanqing Mountain before them, their excitement evident.

"May I ask your esteemed name, Senior?" the guard Disciple respectfully asked.

"Zhou Family, Zhou Leyi."

The guard Disciple committed the name to memory, then instructed the Disciple behind him.

"Senior Zhou, please follow me." The guard Disciple turned sideways and led Zhou Leyi and the other two into the Xuanqing Sect.

"Dong dong dong~"

Three bell chimes, a deep sound echoing through the immortal mountain.

A Disciple announced:

"The Zhou Family comes to offer congratulations!"