In a few more years, I'll be able to elevate my Spiritual Root to the pinnacle of Middle-Grade, after which I'll need Spirit Medicine of Quasi-Third Tier or higher.

Soon, three days passed, and the day of the exchange meeting arrived.

Zhou Xun could see Fang Tianlun from afar, standing at the entrance of his Cave Mansion to welcome guests.

"Alchemist Zhou, you're here!" Fang Tianlun laughed heartily upon seeing Zhou Xun arrive.

"Having heard that Daoist Fang is hosting an exchange meeting, how could I not attend?" Zhou Xun replied with a polite bow, then walked inside.

The layout of Fang Tianlun's Cave Mansion was identical to Zhou Xun's; if not for some different decorations, he would have thought he was entering his own Cave Mansion.

In the reception hall, there were already seven or eight people present.

Upon entering, everyone's gaze turned towards Zhou Xun, and seeing him, they all greeted him.

"Alchemist Zhou,"

"Alchemist Zhou is here too!"

Master Chuyun even pointed to the seat beside him, inviting Zhou Xun:

"Daoist Zhou, come sit beside me!"

Because they were neighbors, the two had more interactions and were more familiar with each other than the others.

Zhou Xun naturally complied and sat next to Master Chuyun.

"Why the sudden exchange meeting?" Zhou Xun asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Daoist Zhou, you might not know since you just arrived. To strengthen the ties among the Daoists of Golden Spring Lane and facilitate mutual exchange, someone proposed holding an annual exchange meeting. It's an opportunity to trade treasures that everyone can use and to share cultivation insights!"

Zhou Xun suddenly understood.

Most residents of Golden Spring Lane are cultivators above Late-Stage Qi Refining; everyone has some resources and connections, indeed needing a reason to gather everyone together.

During an hour of casual conversation, a middle-aged man with a prominent cheekbone wearing a cyan Magic Robe walked in.

Fang Tianlun accompanied him with a particularly respectful demeanor.

Seeing the man enter, everyone in the reception hall stood up to greet him:

"Greetings, Elder Feng!"

Zhou Xun also followed the others in greeting.

"No need for formalities, please, sit, sit!" The middle-aged man smiled warmly, his manner putting everyone at ease.

"This Elder Feng was a member of Golden Spring Lane before his breakthrough. Now he's a Steward Elder of White Cloud Immortal City. I didn't expect we could invite him here today!" Master Chuyun explained to Zhou Xun, who seemed unfamiliar with the person.

Zhou Xun nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Everyone settled down.

At this moment, Fang Tianlun stood up, bowed, and started speaking:

"Thank you, Elder Feng, and all Daoists, for honoring us with your presence at this exchange meeting. The rules remain unchanged; each Daoist will take turns to show the treasures for trade and what they seek in exchange!"

"After the exchange meeting, there will be a discussion meeting!"

"I, Fang Mou, will start with an introductory offer."

Fang Tianlun gave his waist a pat, and a crimson fan appeared in his hand.

"This is a Magical Artifact that I recently refined, named 'Red Flame'. Injecting mana, with a flip forward, several fire serpents fly out, their power comparable to a High-Grade Technique, without the hassle of spellcasting!"

"This artifact is categorized as High-Grade, exchanged for five hundred Spirit Stones or two sets of materials for crafting High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts!"

"A High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, Daoist Fang has advanced to Tier Two Artifact Refiner!" A blue-robed elder exclaimed in surprise.

High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts can only be refined by Tier Two Artifact Refiners, like when Zhou Xun commissioned Master Yeyun, who was a Tier Two Low-Grade Refiner.

When Zhou Xun previously sought him for repairing a High-Grade Spiritual Artifact Flying Fork, he had speculated that those who could repair High-Grade Spiritual Artifacts were close to Tier Two, if not already there.

"A lucky breakthrough!" Fang Tianlun modestly replied.

"I will take it for five hundred Spirit Stones!" A black-faced man spoke.

This man was a Demon Hunting Cultivator with Peak of Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivation.

He then took out a fist-sized egg.

"A Flying Spirit Beast Cyan Feathered Eagle Beast Egg, exchanged for one of the three major auxiliary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill"

Everyone marveled.

"It's actually a Flying Spirit Beast!"

"The Qingyu Eagle has a Middle-Grade Bloodline, selling it could easily fetch a thousand Spirit Stones, and it's a rarity!"

Listening to everyone's discussion, Zhou Xun's heart stirred, but he regretted that this person only sought Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine; such a treasure, he wouldn't offer.

"Daoist Hu, do you accept Spirit Stones?"

"Yeah, yeah!"

"Only accepting Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicine." The black-faced man shook his head; at his level of cultivation, only items related to Foundation Establishment could tempt him.

Waiting for a long time, seeing no trade happened, he could only shake his head and step down.

Soon it was Master Chuyun's turn; he brought out a stack of High-Grade Talismans.

And Zhou Xun, too, produced a few bottles of Qi Gathering Pills, exchanging them for a Tier Two Low-Grade Spirit Medicine.

After everyone displayed their treasures, Elder Feng stood up.

Everyone was surprised.

"Elder Feng's offering, it must be remarkable!" someone praised.

"Watching everyone trade so lively, I, Feng, also have something!"

With this, he patted his waist; a blue light flashed, and a blue Token appeared in his hand.

"This is a pass for the White Cloud Spirit Pool, granting the holder one session of cultivation there this year!"

"Exchangeable for two thousand Spirit Stones, of course, if multiple Daoists are interested, the highest bidder wins!"

White Cloud Spirit Pool?

Zhou Xun had never heard of it before, so he quickly inquired via transmission to the nearby Master Chuyun.

"Spirit Veins of Tier Three or higher can give birth to Spirit Pools, which produce extremely pure Spiritual Qi annually, immensely aiding Qi Refining Cultivator in cultivation, saving years of hard work without side effects!"

"Our White Cloud Immortal City's Spirit Vein is a Tier Three Middle-Grade; its Spirit Pool produces pure Spiritual Qi sufficient for four Qi Refining Cultivators annually,"

"In previous years, it was mostly reserved for the city's disciples; I don't know how an allocation became available this year!"

"With your Seventh-Layer Qi Refining cultivation, Daoist Zhou, one session could possibly break you through to Eighth-Layer Qi Refining!"

"Alchemist Zhou, if short on Spirit Stones, I can lend a little!"

Master Chuyun said with a chuckle.

"Thank you, Daoist Chuyun!" Zhou Xun replied with gratitude.

Such an opportunity to save years of hard cultivation, he must acquire it.

Then, a charming voice resonated:

"I didn't expect an allocation would be available this year, I am quite a distance from the Peak of Ninth-Layer Qi Refining, and I wish to buy it!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xun immediately spoke: "Quite a coincidence, Zhou Mou also fancies this allocation"

"Willing to offer two thousand one hundred Spirit Stones!"

He had over ten thousand Spirit Stones lying in his Storage Bag; no one here could outbid him.

"Alchemist Zhou is still young; why compete with an old cultivator like me? If I do not reach the Peak Qi Refining before sixty, I'll lose hope of Foundation Establishment!" Fairy Mingyue spoke softly and weakly.

"It's about my path; I truly cannot yield, hope Fairy understands!" Zhou Xun declined without hesitation.

"You, fine!" Fairy Mingyue's face turned unpleasantly, and she whispered something to Fang Tianlun.

Soon, her red lips slightly opened, and she announced a number:

"Two thousand five hundred Spirit Stones!"

"Three thousand!" Zhou Xun added five hundred without hesitation!

Three thousand Spirit Stones, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be tempted.

But Zhou Xun had already determined to stay in White Cloud Immortal City until his Foundation Establishment; exposing his wealth didn't concern him.

Even if he wanted to leave, changing to a new identity would suffice.

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