Closing the Jade Box and casting a Sealing Spirit Restriction, Zhou Xun departed from there.

He arrived a dozen miles away and dismantled the Celestial Spirit Five Elements Array he had set up.

Then, determining the location of the Golden Cloud Valley White Cloud Immortal City station, he shot into the sky, transforming into a streak of azure Spirit Light, speeding away.

...

Two days later, Zhou Xun returned to the station.

This time, the Cultivator in charge of guarding was Hu Zhencai.

"And I was wondering who it was, turns out it's Daoist Zhou!"

Upon seeing Zhou Xun's figure, Hu Zhencai immediately broke open the Array, creating a passage for Zhou Xun to pass through.

"So it was Brother Hu on duty these past two days!" Zhou Xun cupped his hands.

"Has anyone from our White Cloud Immortal City returned?" Zhou Xun asked casually.

This time, he had been out for five days.

Calculating thus, the Golden Cloud Valley had been open for over twenty days, someone should have started returning by now.

"A Daoist Liu returned, reportedly with a substantial harvest, capturing a High-Grade Bloodline Demon Beast cub inside!"

Hu Zhencai said with a face full of envy.

"Speaking of which, I almost regret not going treasure hunting inside and instead acting as support here, not to mention having to guard!"

"A High-Grade Bloodline Demon Beast cub, once tamed, is destined to become a Tier Two Spirit Beast in the future, indeed a great opportunity!" Zhou Xun nodded.

Generally speaking, a High-Grade Bloodline Demon Beast will reach Tier Two level upon maturity.

"However, although we gain nothing here, the advantage is the high safety, and besides, with Brother Hu's skills as a Middle-Grade Talisman Master, what resources can't be earned? It's better to cultivate steadily!"

"You should know, every time the Golden Cloud Valley opens for treasure hunting, the death toll inside can reach sixty to seventy percent!"

"Brother Zhou is absolutely right!" Hu Zhencai fully agreed.

What he said earlier was just out of envy for the harvest of those treasure-seeking Cultivators.

Suddenly, Hu Zhencai smiled again and said:

"Brother Zhou's cautious nature must be why he declined Daoist Yean's invitation, it's just a pity about those two Quasi-Third Tier Spirit Medicines!"

After saying this, Hu Zhencai's face was again full of envy.

During this period, two groups returned from the Golden Cloud Valley, each with significant gains.

It showed the abundance of resources inside the Golden Cloud Valley.

In fact, it was Hu Zhencai's misconception.

After all, with seven or eight days left to the end of the Golden Cloud Valley, those returning at this time must have made significant gains; otherwise, who would be willing to leave.

Zhou Xun was surprised when he heard Hu Zhencai.

"Daoist Yean's business with me, even Brother Hu knows about it?"

Then Hu Zhencai realized that what he had said earlier was inappropriate and said embarrassedly:

"Um...I just happened to hear about it!"

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Zhou Xun did not force him.

However, from Hu Zhencai's earlier words and actions, it was clear that Lv Jingwu had spread the word about their obtaining the Quasi-Third Tier Spirit Medicine and Zhou Xun declining Yean Lei's invitation.

Zhou Xun's refusal of Yean Lei, while Yean Lei had a significant harvest, made the Cultivators at the station mock Zhou Xun.

After chatting for a few more moments, Zhou Xun then went to visit Master Yufeng to report back.

Upon leaving, Master Yufeng earnestly said:

"Zhou Xiaoyou, being cautious is good, but being overly cautious can often make you miss many opportunities, Xiaoyou should balance this well!"

Zhou Xun cupped his hands and agreed.

Unexpectedly, his mere refusal of Yean Lei's invitation had even reached Master Yufeng's ears.

It seemed that in the eyes of these station Cultivators, his reputation as timid and cowardly was inevitable,

...

Returning to his residence.

Soon after sitting down, Wang Erniu came to visit upon hearing the news.

Upon seeing Zhou Xun, Wang Erniu angrily said:

"Big brother, that Lv Jinwu is too much, boasting everywhere about obtaining two Quasi-Third Tier Spirit Medicines while spreading that you refused Yean Lei's invitation, claiming that if it weren't for you, he wouldn't have had this opportunity, and that he should thank you properly!"

Hearing this, Zhou Xun showed no concern, pouring Wang Erniu a cup of Spirit Tea with a slight smile.

"Here, try this Spiritual Mist Tea!"

"Big brother, how can you still have the mind to drink tea? Do you know how people outside...how they evaluate you!" Wang Erniu asked.

"No more than calling me timid...cowardly!" Zhou Xun took a sip of Spirit Tea, smiled faintly, with an expression of tranquility.

"Big brother knows, but...why not counteract it?"

"Hahaha, it's just rumors, what harm can they do to me?"

"Moreover, a commoner has guilt for his treasures, his showing off is the path to death, I imagine Brother Feng and Brother Yean hate him to death by now!"

"Originally, keeping silent and profiting quietly was enough, now I fear the whole White Cloud Immortal City will know!"

"He has an Alchemy Master as a father, providing cover, naturally unaffected. But Brother Feng, without any background, and Brother Yean, merely Master Yufeng's registered disciple, losing such a Spirit Medicine will be in vain!"

There's another reason Zhou Xun didn't mention.

'The Tier Three High-Grade Spirit Medicine has already fallen into my hands, the supreme opportunity of the Golden Cloud Valley is already in my grasp, mere Quasi-Third Tier, not worth my attention!'

"Big brother's insight is admirable!" Wang Erniu admired, and the two then started discussing Foundation Establishment matters.

...

Three thousand miles from the station, there was a valley.

At this time, more than eight Cultivators gathered inside the valley.

If someone scanned with Divine Sense, they would find that all these people had Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

The two leading individuals were even in the Fake Pill Realm.

All these individuals wore special black cloaks, which had the effect of blocking Divine Sense detection.

"Fourth Grandpa, when do we strike!" A clear voice came from one of the black-robed individuals, addressing the lead person.

"What fourth grandpa, call me Boss!" A turbid and somewhat aged voice sounded, reprimanding the black-robed individual.

"Yes...yes, Boss!" The black-robed person immediately admitted fault.

"I will tell you once more, our actions this time must not reveal our identities, if caught, you should know what to do, all...is for the family!" The aged voice continued.

"For the family!" Everyone shouted in low voices.

"Boss, news from White Cloud Immortal City says their team obtained two Quasi-Third Tier Spirit Medicines and another team got a High-Grade Bloodline Demon Beast cub!"

At this time, a black-robed individual stepped forward to report.

"Not bad, not bad, worthy of a White Cloud Immortal City team, their harvest is indeed remarkable!" Another aged yet powerful voice sounded, belonging to another leader among the group.

"So, should we take action?"

"No, wait for those three teams to return before we act!"

"But wouldn't they increase their ranks by nearly ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators upon return?"

"The Crystal Condensing Reishi is critical, it must have been tasked to those three teams!"

"So, as agreed, after obtaining the Crystal Condensing Reishi, you and I will each receive one Elixir!"

"Naturally, Brother Feng, do you not trust the Heart Demon Oath?"

...

In the station, inside a temporary Cave Mansion.

A thin-faced, scholarly middle-aged man was sitting in the Cultivation Room, his expression stern, holding a peculiar Jade Talisman.

If Zhou Xun were here, he would recognize this man as Hu Zhencai.

The Jade Talisman glowed, and the middle-aged man's lips moved, as if saying something.

All this was naturally unknown to the other Cultivators at the station.

As time passed, the days drew closer to the end of the Golden Cloud Valley.

Zhou Xun planned to visit the returned treasure-hunting Cultivators to see if he could purchase any Golden Spirit Grass.

His Spirit Beast Profound Armor Armadillo had been stuck at Tier One Peak for some time.

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