anwhile,
From Cloud Piercing Peak and Moyun City ca roaring and overwhelming congratulations.
"Congratulations to the Great Saint on successfully transcending the tribulation!"
"May the Golden God's longevity equal the heavens!"
"Congratulations to the Golden True Lord!"
"..."
In the city, humans and demons lived together; mortal cultivators and monsters each had their different ways of addressing others, but all the congratulations ca from the heart.
"I've seen Taoist friend Qing Song."
Zhou Yi instructed the clouds at his feet to rise into the sky and, with a clasped-hand salute, said, "I've been in seclusion in recent years and have not been able to visit to apologize; I hope the Demon King will be forgiving."
"There's no harm, no harm at all."
The Green Pine Demon King, who was no different in appearance from a human except for having jade-green skin, said, "I, being of a lazy nature, have never managed Thorn Ridge, letting it descend into chaos and turmoil. But since you arrived and built the city and established its rules, things have beco much cleaner."
"Please co to my residence for a chat."
Zhou Yi did not probe whether what Qing Song said was genuine or pretense and smiled, "It just so happens that the Spiritual Wine I brewed has aged three hundred years. Let us taste and appreciate it together."
"Excellent!"
As the Green Pine Demon King descended from the clouds, he said, "To tell you the truth and not to make you laugh, I've often disguised myself to enjoy a good drink in Moyun City, and I only return after getting utterly drunk."
Zhou Yi's thoughts shifted slightly, understanding that the Green Pine Demon King was making an overture of friendship, he asked smoothly.
"When I and the ox demon were not yet transford, we were saved and raised by the human race, which is why I built this city. What do you think of that, Taoist friend?"
"Before today, Greenwave Pond had so objections and often sent to supervise."
The Green Pine Demon King frankly admitted, "After today, however, it will probably let things take their course, even perhaps support in secret, to avoid provoking the Nascent Soul ancestors."
On the Nine Continents, the path of humans flourished, while demonkind dwelled in the corner of the Four Seas, always at a disadvantage in the wars between the two races.
On normal days, while humans were busy fighting between the righteous and the demonic, they were evenly matched with the demons. But once a victor erged from a sword fight, either the righteous or the demonic would lead the humans.
The victor would find an excuse, joining with the eight schools to start a war between the two races, facing a sky-covering wave of cultivators, which was a disaster for the demon race.
"I will report this matter to the Dragon Lord,"
Zhou Yi's eyes flickered; the sword fight was a chance for Moyun City, which, after hundreds of years of discreet developnt, had beco deeply involved with both demons and humans, making both sides hesitant to attack.
Such a course of action was not because Zhou Yi wanted to create a power and contend for dominance over the world.
This did not match Zhou Yi's interests or temperant. Dealing with a power's karma was too profound; in the future, it was bound to rebound on him. For example, being influenced by subordinates could cloud his judgnt, missing the chance to escape when necessary, potentially leading to his power's complete demise.
Many Nascent Soul ancestors did not die a natural death, but were trapped in power struggles, sothing that must be a lesson!
Zhou Yi's initial intention for establishing Moyun City was rely to protect the human race in the mountain, nothing more.
If one day the humans in the city provoked a Demon Emperor or Dao Jun, leading them to co for a kill, Zhou Yi would not hesitate to move to a different region for cultivation.
Based on compassion and ability, he offered blessings without seeking anything in return, thus having no attachnts!
Reflecting upon this, Zhou Yi couldn't help but feel grateful; even after more than 760 years since his transmigration, his nature had not changed due to the trials of ti.
Seated in Moyun Hall,
Fox demon maids brought forth Spirit Fruit, and tiger-headed strongn carried in vats of wine; the various delicacies need no ntion.
There were also the Golden Eagle, Black Tiger, and Turtle Pri Minister to accompany the feast; they talked and drank for a long ti.
The Green Pine Demon King stood up to take his leave: "When it's ti for Taoist friend's grand celebration, I will visit again to bother you. Under the Dragon Lord's command, the various demon kings, only two are closest to , plus three exceptionally talented brothers, who will surely attract all the cave demon kings to co and congratulate!"
At that mont,
Little Whirlwind rushed in to report, "Great King, the Jade Fang Demon King has arrived."
"Please invite him in quickly."
Zhou Yi was about to stand up when he heard the familiar hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, uninvited I co, how could I let Taoist friend co out to et ."
The Jade Fang Demon King swung his long nose as he laughed, "No wonder Qing Song ca eagerly, the fine wines of Mo Cloud Cave are famous among the mountains, truly living up to their reputation."
The Demon Kings under Greenwave Pond were not particularly close friends, but they had at least t and shared drinks at the Dragon Lord's banquet.
Green Pine Demon King simply sat down again for another round of banquet drinking. A few days later, the emissary from the Dragon Lord arrived, and only then did they reluctantly and affectionately part ways.
The emissary was a blue-scaled fish demon, respectfully presenting an invitation, requesting Zhou Yi's presence at a banquet in the Dragon Palace.
Back in the day, Huang Niu received invitations from the four Imperial Clans. Perhaps due to the brotherhood, the other three clans did not send invitations, which could be seen as an implicit gesture of goodwill.
Zhou Yi opened the invitation, which was made of jade inlaid with golden lettering.
—On the ninth day of the ninth month, you are cordially invited to a banquet at Greenwave Pond.
The signature at the end was: Ao Cang.
Zhou Yi casually rewarded the ssenger with a hundred-year-old Spirit Ginseng, "Please tell the Dragon Lord that this king will surely attend the banquet on ti."
"Thank you for the Demon King's generous gift."
The fish demon emissary quickly stuffed the Spirit Ginseng into his chest, eyes rolling around, "On my way here, I heard sothing. The Dragon Lord seems to be opening the Greenwave Treasure Vault, allowing you to choose a congratulatory gift."
A thought struck Zhou Yi. When Huang Niu attended the banquet, he was only given armor and divine weapons; he wasn't allowed to enter the treasure vault. Zhou Yi handed over another two-hundred-year-old Spirit Ginseng.
"What is said about the Greenwave Treasure Vault?"
"The vault was built by the first Dragon Lord, and it contains many divine weapons and treasures, as well as collections from successive Dragon Lords."
The fish demon emissary was the type to spill the beans once paid. He blurted out everything he knew, "Ninety percent of it is rare but useless Spiritual Objects; the king must prepare in advance. I heard the General of the Vault boasting that inside there are the seventh Dragon Lord's reverse scale, the twelfth Dragon Lord's shed horn..."
"Thank you for the tip, emissary!"
Hearing all this, Zhou Yi understood that the so-called treasure vault was more like an antique collection room, filled with rare but mostly useless Spiritual Objects.
Among them, the Dragon Lord's reverse scales and shed horns were true treasures, materials suitable for crafting Magic Artifacts.
The Dragon Lord Ao Cang's intention to ingratiate was obvious, which is why he didn't gift armor or weapons as usual but allowed Zhou Yi to pick his own treasures. If Zhou Yi chose a Superior Spiritual Object, he would naturally grow closer to Greenwave Pond. If he chose a useless trinket by bad luck, Ao Cang would have a reason to give a bonus gift.
After sending off the Dragon Palace emissary, Zhou Yi began to retreat to organize his Mana.
"Even as a Golden Elixir True Monarch, one cannot rest easy and must always remain vigilant!"
He recited the Heart Sutra a hundred tis, the elation of forming the Golden Core gradually faded, and his mind returned to tranquility.
"The priority now is to find a Cultivation Technique suited for post-Golden Core, which cannot be asked from the Dragon Lord as demon clans have their bloodline inheritance. The next would be a Magic Artifact. The Spirit-Calming Mirror has fully restored its power, but there are still three types to refine: for escaping, self-defense, and combat."
"The Mountain and River Cauldron must not be neglected in refinent, either. A Life-bound Magic Treasure is more powerful when summoned at will!"
The thod of refining Magic Artifacts is a hundred tis more valuable than ordinary Magic Devices, especially iconic treasures like the Divine Fire Fan from the Spirit Sword Sect and the Light Dividing Sword. They possess might greater than ordinary treasures.
The Spiritual Objects required for their forging, the thods of refinent, and the inscription of the prohibitions are closely guarded secrets of major sects.
"I'm in no rush for techniques. Continue to improve the Lightning thod to reach Divine Skills level, and for close combat, rely on the True Dragon's Nine Transformations."
"The Five Elents Escape Technique is sowhat outdated. Life-and-death techniques must be addressed soon, in search of a higher-level Escape Skill!"
Zhou Yi quickly set post-Golden Core goals: to search for Cultivation Techniques, Magic Artifacts, and Escape Techniques suitable for the Golden Core Stage, then began to stabilize the Mana within his Dantian. With two months until the Double Ninth Festival, the Dragon Lord clearly had this in mind.
...
Ti flew by in an instant.
Early in the morning.
Zhou Yi had completely stabilized his realm. On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, he took out his divination sticks to prophesy.
His life span had been rapidly depleting; his hair montarily turned bluish-grey but then returned to normal.
"The heritage of ancient great teachings is indeed profound and mysterious. Investing five hundred years of lifespan into the minor Heaven Technique, I still managed without strain or reaching completion."
The divination stick fell to the ground.
An average draw.
Plain and unremarkable, all affairs remain tranquil.
Zhou Yi nodded in satisfaction, increasingly aware of how precious peace is with age.
"So be it, it's good. If indeed there are any hidden treasures in the vault, it would resolve so karmic debts to take them; it's distressing to miss out if I don't!"
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