Invited by the Old Demon! To Mount Motuo!

Even with Zhou Yuan's current speed, it would still take him several months to travel from the remote and desolate southern border of the Great Jin to the capital of the Great Jin.

This is normal, though, because he was only traveling to get things done, so he was just maintaining a normal flight speed.

If he had used his escape technique throughout, the time would likely have been reduced many times over.

But it's unnecessary.

This day.

Zhou Yuan finally arrived in the capital of the Great Jin Dynasty.

From afar, the majestic city resembles an ancient behemoth lying on the earth, covering an astonishing area of ​​hundreds of miles. Its towering walls reach into the clouds, exuding an aura of vicissitude and profound weight.

The city is filled with buildings standing side by side, and the streets are crisscrossed, making it a bustling and lively place.

With Zhou Yuan's current level of spiritual power, even before entering the city, he could roughly sense the number of Nascent Soul stage cultivators in the city by simply scanning it from afar.

This realization even moved him slightly.

In one city, there are more than fifty Nascent Soul cultivators who reside there permanently!

This number is comparable to the total number of Nascent Soul cultivators gathered during the decisive battle between the Star Palace and the Reverse Star Alliance in the Chaotic Star Sea.

This is the Great Jin Dynasty, the center of the human realm and the cultivation world, a true land where hidden talents abound.

Its overall strength completely overwhelms the two places, Luanxinghai and Tiannan, and they are not even in the same league.

This is normal, though. The Great Jin Dynasty is vast and rich in resources, with abundant spiritual energy. Various cultivation resources and rare treasures abound, so naturally, more powerful individuals are born.

Otherwise, how come there isn't a single Nascent Soul stage cultivator in the Chaotic Star Sea and Tiannan, while the Great Jin has four or five old monsters at the Nascent Soul stage in plain sight?

This is the difference in foundation.

Zhou Yuan did not linger outside the city and flew directly into it.

The rules in the imperial city remain the same as before: there are special patrolling cultivators who patrol the air to maintain order and strictly prohibit cultivators from flying around the city at will, so as not to disturb mortals or cause conflict.

However, whether it was during the reign of the Ye family dynasty or now under the joint management of the ten major sects, these patrol teams still cannot truly restrict the actions of Nascent Soul stage cultivators.

When Zhou Yuan unabashedly released his powerful aura as a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the members of the patrol team sensed this aura, which was as vast as an abyss. Their expressions changed drastically, and they avoided him as far as possible, not daring to come forward to stop or question him, for fear of angering this unknown senior expert.

Next, Zhou Yuan flew directly to an area west of Jinjing City that was shrouded in a powerful illusion array.

This is the famous Jinxi Market, now the most prosperous and largest trading place for cultivators in Jinjing.

There are more than twenty Nascent Soul cultivators who are permanent residents in this market, not counting those who come temporarily to shop.

Therefore, no one dares to act recklessly here, otherwise they would offend the ten major sects that control this place, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

Zhou Yuan landed and stepped into the market.

The streets were wide and clean, lined with shops on both sides, and displayed a dazzling array of signs.

The streets were bustling with people. There were cultivators dressed in various clothes haggling over prices, and independent cultivators selling their treasures at street stalls, making it a lively and extraordinary scene.

Of course, most of the shops on both sides of the street mainly cater to cultivators in the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation stages. Although the items sold inside are not bad, they are no longer considered precious to a cultivator of Zhou Yuan's level and are not worthy of his attention.

Zhou Yuan did not linger in front of these low-end shops, but instead walked straight into the depths of the market.

The powerful aura he unintentionally exuded, befitting a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, caused passing cultivators to feel a chill run down their spines. They all showed expressions of awe, voluntarily making way for him and daring not to obstruct his path.

"This senior... he looks so familiar! It's like... it's like that Senior Zhou who disappeared for decades!"

"I didn't expect to see you in Jinjing again today..."

"That's right, it's him! I recognized him too! It's said that Senior Zhou isn't a native cultivator of our Great Jin, but comes from the distant southern land of the Tianlan Grassland. He caused quite a stir in Jinjing back then!"

Furthermore, among the crowd were several knowledgeable Core Formation cultivators who recognized Zhou Yuan's identity at a glance, their faces showing shock and disbelief.

Because, decades ago, Zhou Yuan caused such a huge commotion in Jinjing. First, he fought against several Nascent Soul cultivators, then he participated in the earth-shattering event at Kunwu Mountain, and finally, he single-handedly destroyed the Yinluo Sect, one of the Ten Great Demonic Sects!

This led to the Yinluo Sect being removed from the list of the Ten Great Demonic Sects, causing a sensation throughout the entire cultivation world of the Great Jin Dynasty.

These deeds made Zhou Yuan famous throughout the Great Jin Dynasty, making him a legendary figure.

Zhou Yuan paid no attention to the discussions and gazes of the cultivators around him. He walked steadily and came straight to a magnificent building.

The building occupies a vast area and is magnificent in scale. It is constructed entirely of a precious black jade and exudes a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

Above the main gate, three simple and elegant characters are written: "Shi Zong Ge".

Although the name is simple and straightforward, its underlying meaning is enough to make any cultivator take notice.

As the name suggests, the "Ten Sects Pavilion" is a super shop jointly established by the ten major sects of the Great Jin Dynasty. It specializes in selling all kinds of rare and precious items that are hard to find elsewhere. It has a profound background and strong strength.

Without hesitation, Zhou Yuan stepped into the shop.

The lobby on the first floor is spacious and bright, luxuriously decorated, and several shop assistants are greeting customers.

A middle-aged steward, dressed in a brocade robe and possessing late-stage Core Formation cultivation, immediately recognized Zhou Yuan's extraordinary aura. He quickly abandoned the other guests, hurried forward, his face beaming with respect, and bowed deeply, saying:

"I was unaware of your presence, senior. I apologize for not welcoming you properly. May I ask what you require?"

Without wasting any words, Zhou Yuan took out a jade slip that he had prepared beforehand. Inside the jade slip was a list of the materials he needed.

The steward respectfully accepted the jade slip and immersed his divine sense into it to examine it carefully.

However, when he saw the names of the materials listed in the jade slip, his expression changed instantly, revealing shock, and his hand holding the jade slip trembled slightly.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, suppressed his shock, and said cautiously to Zhou Yuan, "Senior, the materials you listed are... extremely rare and precious. Many of them are things that even I have never heard of."

"My authority is limited, and I cannot make the decision on my own. I need to consult the elders of this pavilion. Please come with me to the third floor for a seat and a cup of spiritual tea. I will go and fetch the elders right away."

After saying that, the manager respectfully led Zhou Yuan up the stairs to the third floor of the shop.

The third floor is a more elegant and luxurious hall, clearly a place specifically for entertaining VIPs.

Not long after, three Nascent Soul stage cultivators with profound auras arrived together and personally greeted Zhou Yuan.

Moreover, the three of them clearly recognized Zhou Yuan, as they bowed and greeted each other with polite smiles upon meeting.

"I was unaware of Fellow Daoist Zhou's esteemed presence. I apologize for any shortcomings in my welcome and hope you will forgive my lack of hospitality!"

All three were very polite, taking the initiative to greet each other with respect in their tone.

Zhou Yuan returned the greeting with a cupped hand and exchanged a few polite words.

The steward quickly and respectfully presented Zhou Yuan's jade slip to the three elders.

After the three elders took turns examining the list of materials in the jade slip, their expressions, like those of the steward before them, were filled with shock and disbelief.

The materials listed here are all extremely precious, even extinct, natural treasures in the human realm. Many of them are only known by name and have never seen the real thing. There are even some materials that they have never heard of and have no idea what they are.

The three looked at each other, each seeing the helplessness in the other's eyes.

They asked Zhou Yuan to wait a moment, and then sent someone to the warehouse to carefully check and verify the information.

However, several hours later, the result was disappointing.

In the end, Zhou Yuan only managed to gather a substitute for one of the materials from the Ten Sect Pavilions, and it cost him a hefty sum of over 100,000 spirit stones.

"Fellow Daoists, if your organization or other channels obtain any information about the remaining materials mentioned on this jade slip in the future, please keep an eye out for them and save them for me. If you are able to find them, I will reward you handsomely and will certainly not treat you unfairly!"

Before leaving, Zhou Yuan solemnly said something to the three Nascent Soul elders and left his contact information.

After leaving the Ten Sects Pavilion, Zhou Yuan stood on the bustling street and pondered for a moment.

He knew that although places like the Ten Sects Pavilion had a wide variety of goods, the truly top-tier treasures were probably still in the hands of the most elite sects.

Therefore, he planned to try his luck at the two leading sects of the righteous and demonic paths in the Great Jin Dynasty—the Heavenly Demon Sect and the Taiyi Sect.

The treasure troves of those two sects have been passed down for tens of thousands of years, and their depth is unfathomable. Perhaps they contain what he wants.

"Let's go to the Heavenly Demon Sect first!"

After a moment's thought, Zhou Yuan made his decision.

After determining the direction, Zhou Yuan took to the air, transforming into a streak of light and speeding towards the northwest of the Great Jin Dynasty.

More than a month later.

Zhou Yuan's figure appeared before a vast, boundless mountain range.

This is the famous Wuyue Mountain Range in northwestern Shanxi.

The Misty Moon Mountains stretch for hundreds of thousands of miles, covering a vast area. The majority of the area within the mountains is controlled by the Heavenly Demon Sect, the number one demonic sect in the Great Jin Dynasty, and is the foundation of its sect.

Within this mountain range are countless treacherous peaks, rife with poisonous miasma and teeming with ferocious beasts, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach.

Among them, the largest and tallest main peak is tens of thousands of feet high, piercing the clouds like a pillar supporting the sky.

The upper half of this peak is covered by white snow all year round, reflecting a dazzling light under the sun, and the climate is extremely cold.

However, at the summit of this mountain, there is a vast, flat area spanning dozens of miles, which was carved out by someone with great magical power and has been transformed into a sprawling complex of palaces.

There are countless pavilions and towers, arranged in a harmonious and orderly manner, and each one is exceptionally beautiful and exquisite, with carved beams and painted rafters, all made of precious spiritual wood or beautiful jade, radiating a hazy precious light.

Moreover, the entire mountaintop was protected by some kind of large-scale barrier, and outside the barrier, the cold wind howled and snow filled the sky, creating a desolate scene.

Inside the forbidden area, however, it was warm as spring, filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and the spiritual energy was so dense it was almost impenetrable, as if it were another world altogether. This was the core of the Heavenly Demon Sect—the Demon Palace.

No rogue cultivator dared to approach this area; it was an absolute forbidden zone.

Zhou Yuan didn't linger and flew directly into the depths of the mountains.

His whereabouts were discovered by the patrolling disciples on the outskirts of the Heavenly Demon Sect within half a day.

However, no one came forward to stop or question him, clearly indicating that they had received instructions from above to allow him to pass.

Soon after, Zhou Yuan arrived at the true mountain gate restrictions of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

The restrictions here don't seem very sophisticated; in fact, they appear rather ordinary. They are far fewer and simpler than the restrictions Zhou Yuan broke through in Yueyang Palace back then.

Zhou Yuan knew that it wasn't that the Heavenly Demon Sect lacked the ability to set up more powerful restrictions, but rather that they disdained to set up too many restrictions.

This is the confidence and strength of the number one sect in the demonic path; they believe that no one dares to run wild on their territory.

At this moment, the barrier in front of them automatically parted to create a passage, where three figures were waiting.

All three of them were at the late Nascent Soul stage!

One of them was an acquaintance of Zhou Yuan—the Seven Wonders Immortal.

"Hahaha! Fellow Daoist Zhou, it's been a long time! You've come to our sect without giving us any prior notice, causing us to fail to greet you properly. It's truly impolite!"

Master Qimiao greeted him with a smile, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, his tone extremely warm.

"Fellow Daoist Qi Miao, you are too kind. I have come here to discuss a transaction with your sect. It was a sudden matter, and I hope you and all the other Daoists will forgive any inconvenience." Zhou Yuan smiled and returned the greeting, getting straight to the point.

"The news of Fellow Daoist Zhou's recent appearance in Jinjing has already been relayed back to the sect by my junior brothers!"

"I didn't expect you to visit my Heavenly Demon Sect so soon, fellow Daoist! What a surprise!"

Master Qimiao chuckled, as if he had expected this.

Immediately, True Person Qi Miao personally led the way, taking Zhou Yuan to a grand hall atop a mountain peak rich in spiritual energy and with beautiful scenery. He then served Zhou Yuan the finest spiritual tea and fruits, intending to discuss the transaction in detail with him.

Zhou Yuan didn't stand on ceremony and directly took out the jade slip containing the list of materials and handed it to Seven Wonders True Person.

Seven Wonders Immortal took the jade slip, carefully examined its contents, and couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly.

He did not reply immediately.

Instead, they sent someone with the jade slip to the sect's treasury to check if these materials were in stock, and asked Zhou Yuan to rest here for a while and wait patiently.

However, a few hours later, the late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who went to check the treasury returned, but he did not bring the answer Zhou Yuan wanted.

He walked up to Zhou Yuan and the Seven Wonders Immortal, and said with a somewhat strange expression:

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, our sect's Supreme Elder, Master Hu, has heard of your visit and wishes to invite you to come and meet him. Would you do me the honor?"

Supreme Elder?

Isn't that Hu Qinglei, the legendary Nascent Soul stage cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Sect?

Zhou Yuan's mind raced, but his face remained impassive as he nodded and said:

"Perhaps Fellow Daoist has something that I need."

Seeing this, the Seven Wonders Immortal led the way.

Zhou Yuan followed behind him, the two of them flying one after the other towards the highest mountain peak.

After flying for about an hour, they finally arrived outside the highest mountain peak.

This peak is the true core forbidden area of ​​the Heavenly Demon Sect—Mo Tuo Mountain.

The magnificent palace complex on the mountain is the residence of Hu Laomo, the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

—The Demon Palace.