Cultivation: I have an equipment slot

"Zhang Yan".

"I've brought all the resources you gave me."

Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord arrived at Zhang Yan's door and spoke to him.

Zhang Yan has been away from the Central Plains for over thirty years, and he still misses the Qingheng Sect and his Daoist partner, Qingluan.

After returning from the Xuanhuang Secret Realm last time, Zhang Yan made a request to the Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord.

Help him bring some cultivation resources to the Azure Phoenix who remains in the Central Plains.

However, the most fundamental problem is that the laws governing Middle-earth are incomplete.

Qingluan can only remain at the Nascent Soul stage and cannot break through to the Dharma Aspect stage.

Zhang Yan currently has no solution.

"Thank you, Lord Tian."

"If the Heavenly Emperor needs me in the future, please don't hesitate to ask."

Zhang Yan thanked the Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord.

Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord was also from the lower realm and had previously helped Zhang Yan.

It can be said that, apart from his master, the Lord of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, and the Crimson Flame Heavenly Lord, he was the Heavenly Lord who took the best care of him.

"Hahaha!"

"It's a trivial matter, nothing to worry about."

Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord looked at Zhang Yan and laughed loudly.

Zhang Yan is now a disciple of the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

Last time, the Divine Weapon Pavilion Master even went around proclaiming that Zhang Yan had the potential to become a Nine-Turn Nascent Soul cultivator.

If nothing unexpected happens.

Zhang Yan will be the next head of the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

With Zhang Yan's words, the Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord was completely satisfied.

As they chatted, Zhang Yan asked many more questions about the Middle-earth Minor World.

The news that Zhang Yan had become a disciple of the Divine Weapon Pavilion Master had already reached the Small World.

Now that the Qingheng Sect has risen in status and no one dares to offend it, Zhang Yan doesn't need to worry too much about Qingluan.

We need to find a solution as soon as possible.

"Help Qingluan rebuild her foundation."

As Zhang Yan watched the Fire Dragon Heavenly Lord depart, he recalled Qingluan's smiling face and thought to himself.

The road must be walked step by step.

Life returned to normal, and Zhang Yan continued to refine fourth-order flying swords.

In the blink of an eye, three years have passed since the Xuanhuang Secret Realm ended.

Of Zhang Yan's 360 flying swords, 240 have already been transformed into fourth-tier low-grade swords.

Such a refining speed is unmatched by any fourth-tier weapon refiner.

Lin Qingyue's weapon-refining skills have improved considerably during this period.

Needless to say, Huang Lian and the others were also involved.

Those Heavenly Lords wouldn't go through the same detailed process of refining fourth-tier magic weapons as Zhang Yan.

Such opportunities to observe are rare and precious.

"Junior Brother Zhang."

"I've been communicating with you during this time."

"I have benefited greatly from this, but I need to go into seclusion to cultivate for the time being, so I must take my leave."

On this day, Lin Qingyue suddenly said goodbye.

"Senior Sister Lin."

Why the sudden seclusion?

Zhang Yan asked curiously.

It wasn't just Lin Qingyue; there were quite a few other senior brothers as well.

In the last few days, he suddenly went into seclusion.

Such a coincidence must have a reason.

Moreover.

Lin Qingyue is most devoted to weapon crafting, and even she has to go into seclusion, so there must be a compelling reason.

"Junior Brother Zhang, don't you know?"

Lin Qingyue looked at Zhang Yan and asked in return.

Zhang Yan shrugged, completely bewildered.

"It seems the Pavilion Master didn't tell you."

"The Five Sects Grand Competition, which takes place once every hundred years, is about to begin."

"Because your cultivation level is insufficient, the sect leader didn't tell you..."

Lin Qingyue quietly told Zhang Yan the reason.

Within the Human Race Dao Alliance, the five major immortal sects collectively control thirty-six great worlds.

Among them are six large worlds, rich in resources, forming a unique resource-rich world.

But the five major immortal sects can't possibly divide these six resource-rich worlds equally.

However, we can't do that just to compete for resources.

The powerful figures from the various immortal sects clashed fiercely.

This would not only cause internal discord, but also deplete the human race's high-end combat power.

then.

Thus, a grand competition of the five sects was born.

The powerful figures from the various immortal sects will not make a move.

Instead, the disciples of the sect competed to determine who was superior.

Then, based on the ranking of the major sects, six resource worlds were divided, each producing cultivation resources.

Among the five major immortal sects.

The strength of the Divine Weapon Pavilion was already at the bottom.

Aside from the six resource worlds and the thirty worlds, the Divine Weapon Pavilion only occupies one Heavenly Fire World.

The remaining four sects occupy twenty-nine great worlds.

Their own power was weak.

Within the sect, the primary focus remains on training disciples skilled in weapon crafting.

As a result, the Divine Weapon Pavilion always came in last place in the Five Sects Grand Competition.

Therefore, resources are scarce.

Otherwise, through weapon crafting, one can also exchange cultivation resources from other immortal sects.

Now, the Divine Weapon Pavilion probably can't even maintain its reputation as one of the Five Great Immortal Sects.

That's why.

Only Black Wind Heavenly Lord of the Human Race Alliance dared to openly undermine the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

"The Five Sects Grand Competition".

"All the major sects value it highly."

"The main force among them are all disciples at the Dharma Aspect Realm."

"Although you are exceptionally talented, you are still too young."

"Moreover, disciples will be injured or killed during the competition. The Pavilion Master should know this, which is why he did not plan to let you participate."

"No, I'm not telling you this news."

Lin Qingyue spoke slowly.

Although she preferred weapon crafting, she was only at the Dharma Aspect Realm.

We must prepare for the upcoming Five Great Competitions.

The Divine Weapon Pavilion has been at the bottom far too many times.

Everyone in the sect was holding their breath.

We absolutely must fight for it.

"The Five Sects Grand Competition".

Zhang Yan kept this news in mind.

Lin Qingyue is right; the Five Sects Grand Competition mainly focuses on the Dharma Aspect Realm.

Even if Zhang Yan participates now, it won't change anything.

"Junior Brother Zhang."

"You can keep these resources."

"I know you have many flying swords, but you're still lacking some resources."

"Once the Five Sects Tournament is over and I am still alive, I will discuss the art of weapon crafting with you again."

Lin Qingyue handed Zhang Yan a storage bag, then left without a second thought, riding the wind away.

"Senior Sister Lin."

Zhang Yan put away the storage bag and stared blankly at Lin Qingyue's back.

Although Lin Qingyue is straightforward and outspoken, she is an extremely pure person.

“I received care from my master.”

"Of course, I should contribute to the Divine Weapon Pavilion."

"I must participate in these five major competitions."

Zhang Yan had an idea in mind.

Not only for the sake of the Divine Weapon Pavilion, but also because he didn't want a woman like Lin Qingyue to perish in the Five Sects Grand Competition.

"Senior brother."

"I need to go into seclusion and can no longer follow you to learn weapon crafting."

After Lin Qingyue left, Song Qizhen came to say goodbye again.

"You're here for the Five Sects Grand Competition?"

Zhang Yan stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the mountains, and spoke softly.

"As expected, you can't hide it from your senior brother."

Song Qizhen smiled憨厚ly and admitted it directly.

Although Song Qizhen had condensed a seventh-stage Nascent Soul.

He is the most talented disciple of this generation, second only to Zhang Yan.

Even geniuses must undergo trials of blood and fire to transform into capable individuals.

Moreover.

The Five Sects Grand Competition is indeed very important to the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

"Go."

"On the path of weapon crafting."

"If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime."

Zhang Yan replied calmly and indifferently.

Song Qizhen left again, and the once bustling weapon-refining pavilion became deserted. "It's just the two of us left again."

Huang Lian appeared out of nowhere, holding two spiritual fruits in his hand.

Zhang Yan didn't stand on ceremony and reached out to take one.

"Yoona is participating too?"

Zhang Yan asked.

Huang Lian didn't speak, he just nodded.

The Huang family members have always been disciples of the Divine Weapon Pavilion.

I have a better understanding of the brutality of the Five Great Competitions.

The five major immortal sects fought each other, each forming their own alliances. Naturally, the more powerful disciples they had, the fewer casualties they would suffer.

Over the years, the casualty rate of the Divine Weapon Pavilion has been over 50%!
Two disciples each.

There was one who couldn't come back.

However, Huang Lian did not tell Zhang Yan any of this.

that's it.

Only Huang Lian remained; Zhang Yan had lost his interest in forging swords.

Crafting a fourth-tier flying sword requires too many resources.

Zhang Yan's storage bag is now empty again, with only some resources left behind by Lin Qingyue when she left.

It is worth approximately five million spirit stones.

Therefore, Zhang Yan needs to find a way to earn some resources.

At the same time, one must improve one's cultivation level and break through to the Nascent Soul stage as soon as possible.

A few days passed.

Suddenly, a disciple from another sect came to visit.

Zhang Yan and Huang Lian both know each other.

It was Yang Lianqing from Corpse Demon Skull Mountain. The three of them had been to the Gengjin Small World together and had some acquaintance.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, Fellow Daoist Huang."

Yang Lianqing was still dressed in a black robe, but in the past ten years, he had broken through from the peak of the Golden Core stage to the early stage of the Nascent Soul stage.

Moreover, he possesses considerable talent, having condensed a sixth-stage Nascent Soul like Huang Yun'er.

But on Corpse Demon Skull Mountain.

The status of a sixth-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is not considered high.

Although no prodigies of the ninth-level Nascent Soul stage have emerged from this generation of disciples.

However, there are three geniuses who have condensed their eighth-stage Nascent Soul.

“Your clan truly commands our respect.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Lian felt envious and sighed.

If it were before.

He might feel jealous.

But then he thought of Zhang Yan beside him, who had the aptitude to condense a Nine-Turn Nascent Soul.

Huang Lian felt a little better.

"Fellow Daoist Yang."

"Why did you suddenly come to see us?"

Zhang Yan asked with a smile.

Although Yang Lianqing was a disciple of Corpse Demon Skull Mountain, there was no major conflict of interest between the two.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang."

"As you know, I have broken through to the Nascent Soul stage."

"But my zombie is only at the peak of the Golden Core stage."

"Most of my strength lies in zombies, so I want to upgrade zombies to the Nascent Soul stage as well."

"And I have received news that the Human Alliance has recently discovered another small world."

"In that small world, there is a Yin Spring, which has been accumulating for an unknown period of time, and contains a large amount of Yin Spring water."

"My three zombies, if I just soak one of them, can be upgraded to the Nascent Soul realm."

Yang Lianqing rubbed his hands together and said with a low laugh.

Within that small world of Yin Spring.

Not only does it contain Yin Spring water, but generally speaking, pure spiritual energy flows inside Yin Spring.

After leaving the spring, the water forms pure spiritual crystals.

This one spirit crystal is equivalent to one thousand spirit stones of the same volume.

So Yang Lianqing decided to go with Zhang Yan; he wanted Yin Spring Water, and Zhang Yan wanted Spirit Crystals.

In fact, he also intended to take care of Zhang Yan.

After all, he had already broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, while Zhang Yan was still at the Golden Core stage.

After Yang Lianqing told Zhang Yan the location, Zhang Yan felt that it looked somewhat familiar.

"In the message my master gave me."

"The location of the Yin Spring Small World".

"It seems to be one of the areas where the Vermilion Bird Fire Sword's origin was dropped."

Zhang Yan had a sudden thought and finally remembered.

Previously, the master of the Divine Weapon Pavilion had promised him to search for information about the four spirit swords.

Over the course of three years, some clues have been discovered.

Even if Yang Lianqing didn't come, he was thinking of going there anyway.

Since Yang Lianqing has taken the initiative to invite me, I'll just go along with him.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yang."

"I will take a trip with my fellow Daoist."

With the addition of spirit crystals, Zhang Yan agreed.

When Yang Lianqing arrived, he was already prepared.

Zhang Yan didn't have much to say either.

Huang Lian could only stay in the sect because his cultivation level was too low.

Several disciples from Skull Mountain also arrived, and they all promised to protect Zhang Yan.

The group then set off.

The upper realm is centered around thirty-six great worlds.

There are many small worlds around.

As small worlds perish, new small worlds will emerge.

Generally speaking, a new small world appears.

The Human Alliance has issued an exploration mission.

This time, however, Yang Lianqing obtained the exploration qualification before the Human Alliance issued the exploration mission, thanks to his connections within his sect.

The most abundant resources are found in small worlds that no one has ever entered.

Otherwise, if you just follow others, you probably won't even get a taste of the soup.

Arrived at the Human Alliance.

Yang Lianqing paid a sum of resources, and the group was teleported to the Yinquan Small World, which had only recently been discovered.

"This is the Yin Spring Small World."

Zhang Yan stepped into the teleportation array and, upon seeing his surroundings again, realized he was already in the Yin Spring Small World.

It has been confirmed that there are no humans in this small world.

Between heaven and earth, only a crescent moon hangs high in the sky; there is no sun here.

It is shrouded in night all year round, and its interior is filled with yin energy due to the presence of the Yin Spring.

Zhang Yan did not cultivate demonic arts, but once he entered it...

I felt a chill in my body.

Fortunately, he was equipped with the Vermilion Bird Blazing Sword, which allowed him to dispel the chill with his fiery body.

"Judging from the intensity of this yin energy..."

"The springhead of this Yin Spring is quite large, and it has been accumulating for at least ten thousand years!"

"More than enough to temper us zombies!"

Yang Lianqing sensed the dense Yin energy and said with delight.

The words have not yet fallen.

Several disciples of the Corpse Demon Skull Mountain released their zombies.

The zombies, their flesh withered and dry, were enveloped in a chilling aura, as if they had come alive.

It continuously inhales and exhales yin energy.

With the addition of several disciples from the Corpse Demon Skull Mountain, the scene looked incredibly eerie.

Fortunately, Zhang Yan is very powerful and has enough confidence.

Zhang Yan has broken through to the peak of the Golden Core stage, but I wouldn't dare say that he can suppress the late-stage Nascent Soul stage at will.

However, escaping from a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator is still not a problem.

Among these disciples.

The strongest among them was only at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, so Zhang Yan wasn't afraid of them having any ulterior motives.

The group fell from the sky.

Breaking through the thick fog, I could see the situation in the small world.

The continent below is covered with water and swamps, filled with moisture, but no living creatures can be seen.

Only a few withered trees, mostly rotten and fallen into the marshland, remained.

"These waterways."

"It must have been formed by the gushing of a dark spring over a long period of time."

"As long as we find the source, we will find the source of the Yin Spring."

The cultivator in the mid-Nascent Soul stage spoke, his voice hoarse.

“Search along these rivers.”

Yang Lianqing made the suggestion.

The group dispersed, no more than twenty miles apart, and began their search.

Zhang Yan was in the middle, flying over a fork in the tributary.

Wow!
Suddenly, a splash of water, hundreds of meters high, erupted from the river below.

A creature about five meters long, with a dark green body, resembling a cicada, suddenly leaped up and pounced on Zhang Yan!

This creature was actually emanating an aura.

The fluctuations were comparable to those of a peak Golden Core cultivator.

"It's a Yin Cicada!"

Yang Lianqing reacted the fastest, shouting out the origin of this creature. (End of Chapter)