The Qingyuan Mountains, stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles, are imbued with a rich spiritual energy, attracting numerous immortal sects.
Naturally, such a place is home to various markets, but Qingxia Market stands out as a unique one.
Unlike other markets, this one has no strict rules. Anyone can come, as long as there's something to buy or sell: low-level disciples, independent cultivators, and even ordinary mortals. The market is bustling with activity and a down-to-earth atmosphere. Scattered
around Qingxia Market
are numerous low-rise buildings. These houses are occupied by independent cultivators and peddlers, as well as mortals hoping to find immortality.
Building a home and paying a few spirit stones grants protection.
One thatched hut, evidently newly constructed, has a hint of green, and its thatch is unevenly scattered, giving the impression of a lack of craftsmanship.
But inside, the hut offers a different scene.
There are many tiny array symbols placed in the four corners. Upon closer counting, there are actually three simple arrays, sound insulation, wall protection, and spirit gathering. They are enough to allow the people in the hut to practice with peace of mind without being disturbed by the outside world, and outsiders cannot know what is happening inside.
Zhou Shu's expression was indifferent. "Yang Hei, including today, you should have opened up 220 meridians, right?"
Yang Hei sat on the futon and nodded seriously. "Exactly 220. Every day you use spirit stones to set up a spirit gathering array, which is better than the effect of the Juyuntai. Combined with the pills, if there is no result, I will be so sorry for you."
Zhou Shu smiled with satisfaction. "Two hundred and twenty is about right. If you work harder in the Qi Refining Realm, you should be able to reach 250 before the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Got it, Zhou Shu."
Yang Hei looked at Zhou Shu with many confusions in his eyes. "By the way, I'm very surprised. The improvement methods you tell me every day always hit the nail on the head, as if you can see into my body. How do you do it?"
"I calculated it. It's just a small matter." Zhou Shu lowered his head slightly, and his voice became much lower. "The accumulated spirit stones are almost used up. Yang Hei, it's time for you to go."
"Huh?"
Yang Hei's face froze in shock, as if struck by lightning. He immediately stood up and asked excitedly, "What did you say? You want me to leave?"
Zhou Shu replied calmly, "Yes, your current talent is almost half-genius. It's time to find a sect to join and advance further."
Yang Hei glared at Zhou Shu and flatly rejected his request. "I'm not leaving!"
After escaping the pursuit, they had lived in Qingxia Market, thousands of miles away from the Wuwang Sect, for two months, practicing in seclusion every day.
Yang Hei's meridians continued to open up, while Zhou Shu made no progress, a stark difference from before.
Even Yang Hei could see that Zhou Shu's talent was now extremely poor. His spiritual power was so weak that it was imperceptible. He was just a mortal with spiritual roots, barely even a cultivator. Zhou Shu
had done his best to cultivate him; he owed him almost everything he had, but now he wanted him to leave, clearly not wanting to burden him. But how could he allow this to happen?
He shook his head stubbornly. "I won't listen to you this time. I won't leave!"
Zhou Shu wore a calm smile. "You have to listen to me this time. If you leave, it will benefit both you and me."
"I don't understand." Yang Hei was a little stunned.
"You will understand," Zhou Shu raised his head, his eyes clear as water. "There are five good immortal sects in the Qingyuan Mountains. I think Luowang Valley is more suitable for you to hone your skills. They are recruiting disciples right now. You should go there."
Yang Hei stood there in a daze. "Zhou Shu, do you really want me to leave?"
He had never imagined that Zhou Shu not only really wanted him to leave, but also had a plan for him to leave.
"Yes,"
Zhou Shu nodded calmly. "If you want to earn spirit stones, you have to enter the immortal sect to earn them. Many things can only be accomplished by joining a sect. If you want to help me, then improve your cultivation quickly."
"What about you? Why don't you come with me?"
Zhou Shu smiled. "I've considered it, and none of the sects here are suitable for me. When I find a suitable sect, I will certainly join. For now, I'll stay in the market; it's safe."
"But with your current cultivation level, how will you protect yourself..."
Zhou Shu didn't care. "Trust me, it's not a problem."
Yang Hei thought for a moment, then said with a firm expression, "Okay, I'll listen to you. Just wait, I will definitely make you truly well and resume your cultivation."
He was a little dull, but not stupid.
He also knew that only by joining the immortal sect could he advance faster, gaining sufficient strength to protect Zhou Shu and help him restore his damaged meridians.
Zhou Shu nodded gently, "I'll wait."
He had heard these words from his master once before, and hearing them again, his heart inevitably warmed. But he knew that waiting was never a good idea. To recover, he had to strive for it.
He already had some plans for this.
The two men locked eyes, their eyes filled with reluctance, but more so with a deep trust.
Yang Hei pushed the door open and left, never looking back.
"When we meet again, perhaps everything will be different."
Zhou Shu stood quietly for a moment, his expression gradually calming, his gaze clear.
Over the past two months, he had already determined what he would do for the foreseeable future.
That was to develop his talismans.
Before his damaged meridians healed, his spiritual power was bound to be scarce, making him unsuitable for using spells. Even refining elixirs and setting up formations would be beyond his capabilities. However, talismans presented no problem.
Talismans only required a small amount of spiritual power to activate. Moreover, there were numerous varieties, countless variations, and immense power. Used wisely, even with minimal spiritual power, he could fight just as well as other cultivators.
Through talismans, he could protect himself, and by crafting them, he could also accumulate spirit stones to prepare for the future restoration of his meridians.
There are two ways to make talismans: marking talismans and drawing talismans.
Infusing talismans requires a vast amount of spiritual energy, while drawing them requires much less. With the right materials and sufficient spiritual power control and comprehension, the talisman artist can create powerful talismans. With
his Qi channels fully open, Zhou Shu's control over spiritual energy surpasses that of most cultivators. Not to mention his comprehension, calculation and deduction are more than enough for the job. Furthermore, in his previous life, he was a master of calligraphy and painting, possessing profound brushwork and a natural advantage in talisman drawing.
He was confident in talisman drawing.
However, his memory bank contained very few books on the art of talismans. Tianyun Peak's main sword cultivators mostly studied sword techniques and monster hunting. There was only one book on talismans, and it only documented two talisman drawing techniques, nothing else.
The path he was about to take would undoubtedly be difficult at the beginning.
Zhou Shu lowered his head and touched his storage bag, feeling a chill in his heart.
As a former direct disciple, his storage bag was quite impressive; it had been given to him by his master, Liu Yuze, on his first day as a disciple.
However, the vast storage bag was now empty, save for a few pills and a small pile of spirit stones.
"These are the last thirteen low-grade spirit stones. No matter what, I must succeed."
He would rely on these spirit stones and the talisman to resume his journey.