57: Reproduction

Although that gigantic peak, split into two, is the origin of the name Yixian Gorge.

However, the residences of Xu Hongyuan and the two others were not located on this massive peak.

The summit of this gigantic peak was the residence of the Old Man Qingshan, so no one dared to establish an Immortal Cave there.

Zhou Liyue followed the three men, bypassed the massive peak, and traveled for roughly an hour before arriving at a small mountain peak.

“This place is named Xiao Xuan Peak, it is where our Immortal Cave is located.”

Xu Hongyuan introduced this to Zhou Liyue.

Zhou Liyue nodded, assessing the peak before her.

It was only about a hundred zhang high and could not compare to the Zhou Family’s Jade Moon Peak.

It was covered by a first-tier Low Grade Formation.

With Zhou Liyue’s current mastery of Formations, breaking this Formation would be effortless.

This location in Yixian Gorge was relatively remote, the Spiritual Qi was thin, and it offered no benefit to cultivation.

However, Zhou Liyue showed no sign of disdain.

After all, the three of them were only at the Qi Refining Early Stage, and securing this stable Immortal Cave was already quite difficult.

Seeing that Zhou Liyue had no hint of displeasure, Chen Shuyun, who had been observing her closely, slightly relaxed his expression.

Xu Hongyuan no longer hesitated.

He flipped his hand, took out a token, and injected magical power into it.

The token brightened slightly, and the Formation covering Xiao Xuan Peak opened a path.

Zhao Xuanfang entered first, not waiting for them, and headed straight inside.

Xu Hongyuan gestured to Zhou Liyue, making a sign of invitation.

Zhou Liyue smiled freely, confident in her skills and certain that this Formation could not trap her.

Only then did she follow Chen Shuyun into Xiao Xuan Peak.

Seeing that all three had entered, Xu Hongyuan glanced around, stepped into the Formation, and the Grand Array closed behind him.

Zhou Liyue followed behind Chen Shuyun, observing the location of Xiao Xuan Peak.

Though the place was small, it was quite refined due to the care taken by the three men.

Upon reaching the Immortal Cave, Chen Shuyun briefly tidied a quiet room and then led Zhou Liyue there to stay temporarily.

After settling Zhou Liyue, Xu Hongyuan summoned Chen Shuyun and the other person, took the Spiritual Plants they had found during this outing from their hands, combined them with his own share, and sent them elsewhere.

End of the month, midnight.

Zhou Liyue’s residence.

“Fellow Daoist Mingyue, the time for the gathering has arrived.”

Chen Shuyun’s voice sounded outside the room.

Hearing this, Zhou Liyue opened her eyes, got up, set up a water mirror, checked her appearance, and then opened the door and walked out.

For the past several days, Zhou Liyue had been cultivating diligently in this quiet room.

Coming outside, Xu Hongyuan and the two others had already prepared themselves completely.

“Put this on later.”

Xu Hongyuan said to Zhou Liyue, handing her the black cloak he was holding.

“Thank you, Elder Brother Xu.”

Zhou Liyue accepted it and offered her thanks.

“Let’s go.”

Xu Hongyuan didn't mind, waving his hand casually, and led the way outside.

The four left Xiao Xuan Peak, concealing their figures, and proceeded forward.

Xu Hongyuan stopped, took out a black cloak and put it on, concealing his entire body in the darkness.

The three others quickly followed suit.

After traveling for a while longer, they arrived outside a small mountain valley and stopped.

“Do you have the token?”

Outside the valley, two figures stood, addressing the four.

Xu Hongyuan took out a jade token and handed it over.

The two men accepted it, checked that it was safe, and only then cleared the path.

“Please!”

Xu Hongyuan retrieved the jade token, nodded to the two men, and led the three into the mountain valley.

This valley gathering was organized by a Late Qi Refining Cultivator in Yixian Gorge.

Upon entering the valley, they saw it was not large, with a small amount of light concentrated in the center.

Before Xu Hongyuan and his group entered, there were already about ten figures gathered in the center of the valley, all wearing cloaks and concealing their faces.

Seeing the four arrive, no one spoke; they simply sat cross-legged, cultivating quietly.

Xu Hongyuan was not surprised by this sight.

He led the three to the center of the valley, found an empty space, and also sat down cross-legged to wait.

Zhou Liyue adhered to the principle of "speak less, observe more."

She remained silent throughout the journey, simply following Xu Hongyuan’s lead and going with the flow.

After a little more time passed, seeing that no one else arrived, the person in charge spoke:

“Since no one else is coming, let’s begin.”

After speaking, he fell silent again.

“Then allow this old man to start things off.”

A hoarse, aged voice sounded.

Magical power circulated in his hand, holding an object in his palm, and he continued:

“This is a first-tier Low Grade Black Iron Shield, and I wish to trade it for one Spiritual Plant of Zeland Grass.”

Everyone looked at the Black Iron Shield, pondering.

Before long, a voice sounded:

“I will trade with you.”

As he spoke, he took out a jade box, opened the seal, and revealed the appearance of a Spiritual Plant.

The owner of the aged voice lit up with joy and quickly sent the Black Iron Shield in his hand flying toward that person.

That person received it, checked it briefly, and tossed the jade box in his hand over.

Seeing the two complete the transaction, the rest of the Cultivators did not delay and spoke up one after another.

“I wish to purchase a first-tier Low Grade fire-attribute offensive Spell...”

... Zhou Liyue watched everyone speak.

Although she was not interested in the items being traded, she watched with keen interest.

Among those who spoke, some completed transactions while others haggled—all experiences Zhou Liyue had never been exposed to on Jade Moon Peak.

“I wish to use this treasure to exchange for one request.”

A young female voice spoke after the previous transaction was completed, holding an item wrapped in magical power in her hand.

“Hmm?”

Zhou Liyue casually glanced over, her heart startled, and she nearly stood up.

The item held by the female Cultivator was exactly like the fragment she had seen in the Family treasure vault.

She had spent some time exploring that fragment, but aside from its unique material, it held no other peculiarities.

However, upon hearing that this item had been found in a Foundation Establishment Immortal Cave, she had taken note.

Anything valued by a great Foundation Establishment Cultivator must be an extraordinary treasure.

She just hadn't expected to see an item similar to her Family’s fragment here again.

Zhou Liyue suppressed the excitement in her heart, calmed her emotions, and was not eager to speak immediately.

The Cultivators looked at the palm-sized fragment, sweeping their consciousness over it, but none gained any insight.

“Little girl, what is this object?”

Someone asked directly.

“This...”

The female Cultivator was hidden in a corner, cloaked and unseen.

Hearing the question, her voice was somewhat hesitant.

“This... I don’t know either, but this is my Family’s heirloom, so it must be extraordinary.”

Her voice lacked confidence, but the last sentence was spoken with great emphasis.

“Heh...”

Someone chuckled lightly, shook his head, and looked away.

Seeing no response, the female Cultivator grew anxious and quickly said:

“This is definitely a treasure; I just don’t know its purpose.”

When she spoke this time, her voice was noticeably more certain than before.

“Oh?”

“What is your request?”

“To kill one person!”

“What is their cultivation level?”

“Sixth Layer of Qi Refining.”

“Heh...”

Hearing the female Cultivator’s request, everyone involuntarily chuckled softly.

Most of those present had cultivation levels only at the Qi Refining Early Stage, with a few at Mid-stage Qi Refining.

Asking them to kill someone whose cultivation was higher than their own for a treasure whose use was unknown—wasn’t that seeking death?