Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

South of Yunli Mountain.

This side faces the Liushi region, where the mountains are desolate and barren.

There was originally no room for development.

It was only during a sparring session between Lu Zaian and Jiuyou that Lu Zaian accidentally shattered a hundred-foot patch of ground, instantly causing a wisp of earth fire to burst forth!

Lu Zaian used his divine sense to investigate deep underground and confirmed that the earth fire was of the second rank.

So he set up a series of arrays and built a "Nanming Palace" on top of them.

It was used as a place for daily alchemy and weapon crafting.

At this moment, in front of the Nanming Palace.

Lu Zaian's figure suddenly landed, and the two Qi Refining servants guarding him hurriedly bowed.

"Mountain Master!"

"Yes, I am going into seclusion to refine weapons. No one is allowed to enter the hall without my permission."

"Yes!"

The Nanming Hall is locked in a fire formation, and various spiritual materials and medicines are brought in and out on a daily basis, so several servants are assigned to guard it.

After dismissing everyone around, a figure had been waiting in the hall for some time.

"Nine Netherworlds, you've been gone for a year. Have you gained anything?"

"A remarkable achievement."

The figure turned around, revealing a smile; it was none other than the Nine Netherworld Avatar.

Over the years, all that has been done is for Jiuyou's clones to travel around and earn resources.

He traversed the entire northern airspace, from desolate marshes to vast, undeveloped areas.

It had been a year since he last came out of the mountains.

Now that he has returned from his travels, he sent a message to Lu Zaian, who was waiting for him at the Nanming Palace.

"Here, all these spiritual materials and herbs are in the storage bag. The list of what you need for refining weapons, alchemy, and setting up formations has been collected."

Jiuyou tossed out a storage bag and said.

"Oh? The efficiency this time is surprisingly high?"

Lu Zaian was pleasantly surprised. With a thought, he read Jiu You's memories and finally understood.

"So it turns out another auction is being held in Wasteland City..."

Jiuyou nodded, "Indeed, this is the first auction held since Tianming Palace took control of Huangze City. To generate enough buzz, they've acquired quite a few treasures..."

"Tsk tsk, the spirit stones I gave you back then wouldn't have been enough to buy this many things."

Lu Zaian smiled and shook his head.

"I just ran into a few clueless guys on the way and killed them on the spot..."

Jiuyou said indifferently.

"...I know you are inherently violent and bloodthirsty, but you should be careful not to provoke a powerful enemy."

The Nine Netherworld Avatar is a demonic being, and its nature is to enjoy fighting!

It's not something Lu Zaian can easily change.

"Even if I die after provoking a formidable enemy, I will not reveal my true form."

Jiuyou gave a brief response.

"...You guy."

Lu Zai'an finished counting the materials in the storage bag and then said:

"Then I will begin the refining process. This will take a long time, so please protect me."

"Ah."

Jiuyou took out the Blood Spirit Pearl and began cultivating to the side, while protecting Lu Zaian.

Lu Zaian nodded inwardly. Over the years, Jiu You had been consuming Crimson Blood Rice and had also killed many second-tier demons in the marshes, accumulating a large amount of blood energy in the Blood Spirit Pearl.

That's enough for Jiuyou to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment!

Pulling himself out of his reverie, Lu Zaian also began to focus on the work at hand.

"Heart Refining Stone, Earth Profound Iron, Jade Bone Silkworm Silk... Not bad. If these items are refined into array flags, the [Minor Yin Yang Creation Array] will truly reach the second-tier perfection!"

His vast divine consciousness surged forth and began to assist in the refining process.

Thanks to the heaven-defying power of "The Ghostly Wheel of Tribulation", he recently passed the 35th tribulation and his soul strength has entered a new realm, with his divine sense radiating a range of 15 miles.

Far exceeding the level of foundation building!

It can be said that even a cultivator who has reached the peak of Foundation Establishment cannot match Lu Zaian in terms of spiritual attainment.

Formations have always been Lu Zaian's strongest skill in cultivating immortality.

When the Small Yin-Yang Creation Array was initially set up, a lack of materials prevented the array from being fully completed.

Now, not only have they made up for it, but they've even reached a higher level.

……

Two months later, the battle flags were completed.

Lu Zaian exhaled a breath of stale air and sat down to meditate to restore his energy.

A day later, after recovering his strength, he resumed his alchemy.

Spiritual practice is like this: accumulating knowledge step by step, being down-to-earth.

In the Yunli Mountain, free from external distractions, Lu Zaian was able to calm down and improve himself.

"Next up is a batch of Haoqing Yuan Dan, 4 Yunling Water Grasses, 6 Sanxuan Qingzhi Mushrooms, and 12 Ghost Mushrooms..."

Lu Zaian picked up the medicinal herbs and put them into the cauldron one by one according to the proportions in the prescription.

This alchemy cauldron was a second-tier low-grade magic weapon that he refined himself, and he named it the Glazed Fire Cauldron.

Yes, Lu Zaian's weapon-refining skills have now caught up, reaching the second-tier low-grade level.

The Liu Huo Ding was modified according to my own alchemy habits, fire control, and pill-collecting techniques.

Although it is not the best second-tier alchemy cauldron, it is the most suitable alchemy cauldron for Lu Zaian at this stage.

And Haoqing Yuandan.

It was a pill formula that Lu Zaian obtained from the storage bag of the old Taoist Yin Fu.

It is a mid-grade second-tier item with a hint of high-grade quality, and can greatly enhance the magical power of water-type cultivators.

"Actually, my alchemy skills are already good enough to break through to the second-tier high-grade, it's just a pity I don't have a suitable pill formula to practice with..."

Lu Zaian suddenly muttered something.

In the brief moment of distraction, the earth fire surged, the flames greedily licking at the medicinal herbs in the cauldron, instantly turning some of them to ashes!

"hiss!"

Lu Zaian felt a pang of heartache and quickly pulled himself together to concentrate.

"I was careless. One can never be careless when it comes to alchemy. Luckily, I have backup materials..."

After a minor incident, it took a month.

Lu Zaian finally refined a batch of Haoqing Yuan Pills.

The top of the furnace was lifted, and nine dark blue pills flew out.

Each grain is round and plump, exuding a rich aroma that is incredibly tempting.

Three of them even have patterns, like clusters of flowers, with a spiritual charm!

"Not bad, nine pills have been formed, three of which have pill patterns. Now we have the confidence to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage!"

Lu Zaian's eyes were filled with joy, which was hard to express.

The medicinal materials required for this elixir are rare in the northern airspace, and the refining process is complex.

It took ten years to collect all the medicinal materials after obtaining the prescription.

Fortunately, it was successfully refined on the first try!

"The last thing left is refining the artifact. This time, we're going to refine a second-tier low-grade magic weapon—the Azure Frost Treasure Mirror."

Wherever this mirror reflects, frost forms.

Combined with my Xuanbing Cold Poison, its power can approach that of a mid-grade second-tier poison.

Furthermore, the mirror surface can reflect a certain degree of attack, making it a defensive weapon.

This can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

Lu Zaian did not have any suitable water-based magic weapons.

He had long coveted the Azure Frost Mirror recorded in the "Forging Treasures in the Melting Fire Manual".

Although his physical body was already beyond the reach of ordinary second-tier mid-grade magic treasures, having it was better than not having it at all.

The measures were increased layer by layer.

Only by maintaining a cautious and humble attitude at all times can one be worthy of one's immortal body.