Chapter 143: Chapter 141: Foundation Establishment 3rd Layer

“Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water, is it?”

Outside Haoyang Cave, upon hearing Zhou Minghan’s words, Zhouyang’s expression shifted slightly, causing him to gaze thoughtfully at the Water Demon Pouch in his hand.

The “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water” mentioned by Zhou Minghan should actually be universally referred to as “Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects.”

The so-called “Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects” are spiritual objects that naturally emerge only under certain special environments.

Zhouyang doesn’t know much about “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water,” but he knows quite a bit about various “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fires,” which also belong to the same category of Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects.

For instance, the “Red Lotus Earth Fire,” which can only be nurtured deep beneath the heart of the earth.

Another example is the “Celestial Spirit Thunderfire,” naturally born when lightning from the sky happens to strike into a volcano during its eruption, merging with the erupting Earth Fire.

And there’s the legendary “Sun Golden Flame,” said to be born within the sun itself.

These three types of “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fires,” each possesses the power to annihilate Golden Core Stage Cultivators, and none can subdue or refine them except for Golden Core Stage Cultivators and Nascent Soul Stage Great Powers.

Of course, these are merely the most renowned and potent ones; there are several other naturally occurring “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fires,” whose power is not particularly strong, which even Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators or Foundation Establishment Cultivators can subdue and refine.

Nonetheless, regardless of the type of “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fires,” they are spiritual objects naturally nurtured by heaven and earth under conditions of timely climate, geographical advantage, and human harmony, each possessing its unique efficacy.

High-tier cultivators practicing Fire Element Techniques, when cultivating famous Fire Element Divine Techniques, if they can find the corresponding “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fire” as a source to refine, can quickly master the divine technique, and its powers would significantly advance.

Zhouyang’s “Qianyang True Flame” divine technique is a top-tier Fire Element Divine Technique, and it’s an Innate Divine Technique!

However, due to Zhouyang’s current low cultivation, he cannot unleash even one percent of its real power; only if he achieves Nascent Soul Stage will the full potential of this divine technique be showcased.

If “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Fires” can aid Fire Element Cultivators in refining Fire Element Divine Techniques, “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water” must undoubtedly assist Water Element Cultivators in refining Water Element Divine Techniques.

The “Heaven and Earth Spiritual Water” in Zhouyang’s possession, when wielded by a Water Demon, could even extinguish his “Qianyang True Flame,” indicating its extraordinary nature.

Such spiritual objects, if encountered by Water Element Cultivators who require them, would indeed be a priceless treasure beyond estimation.

“How unfortunate, how unfortunate! Such a treasure is currently undervalued here!”

With a long sigh, Zhouyang expressed regret several times, then flipped his hand to take out a Jade Box for preserving items and stored the Water Demon Pouch inside. Considering, he decided to place a piece of Middle-grade Spirit Stone into the Jade Box as well.

This kind of celestial spiritual object, if not refined into the body for nourishment with magical power or placed long-term in an environment similar to its birthplace, can easily degrade into common water attribute spiritual qi due to lack of nourishment.

Fortunately, the Water Demon’s pouch is ideal for storing this object; Zhouyang should be able to preserve it for several decades without degradation as long as he doesn’t take it out.

Next, Zhouyang and Zhou Minghan handled the Water Demon corpse, and Zhouyang plunged into the Haoyang Cave to inspect the situation inside.

His primary concern was that the stalactite pillar producing “Earth Element Spirit Milk” might have been damaged by the Water Demon.

However, fortunately, despite occupying this place, the Water Demon did not touch the stalactite pillar, evidently recognizing its extraordinary nature and wanting it for itself.

Since only ten years have passed since the last production of “Earth Element Spirit Milk,” and the stalactite pillar shows no signs of yielding “Earth Element Spirit Milk,” Zhouyang felt reassured and decided not to rush in addressing this matter.

He then went on to check the Spirit Beast Chamber; due to his oversight, the Red Fire Chicken and Flame-devouring Spider kept inside were eaten clean by the Water Demon, resulting in significant losses.

Faced with the situation, Zhouyang could only consider it a lesson learned the hard way and quietly left the scene.

After returning above ground, Zhouyang explained the situation to Zhou Minghan, and the two of them directly returned to Yuquan Lake Oasis, summoning clan cultivators to discuss drainage strategies.

However, after a round of discussion, everyone realized that to drain the river water inside Haoyang Cave, the only option was diversion.

But channeling the river water underground involves too vast a project and may potentially cause regional ground collapses.

At this point, Zhou Xuantai, an Array Master, suddenly proposed a suggestion, suggesting instead of thinking about draining underground river water, they could set up a Spirit Gathering Array on the ground of Haoyang Cave, and invest spirit stones to elevate the area’s spirit vein level to Tier Three Middle Grade, so the spiritual qi underground can be drawn to the surface.

As soon as this suggestion was made, it was immediately adopted by Zhouyang and Zhou Minghan, but elevating Haoyang Cave’s spirit vein level from Tier Three Lower Grade to Tier Three Middle Grade would require at least thirty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

The Zhou Family couldn’t gather so many spirit stones all at once, leading to the plan being temporarily shelved for future implementation.

Of course, although the spiritual vein of Haoyang Cave cannot be used temporarily, the oasis construction work there must continue.

The water demon flooded the majority of the initially constructed oasis with water from the Dark River, seemingly ruining Xuan Yan’s ten years of hard work. However, the increased lake area actually reduced the difficulty of constructing the oasis.

With a lake covering tens of square kilometers providing the water source, Xuan Yan could now organize mortals to dig canals to irrigate the desert, without worrying about an insufficient water supply from the lake.

Moreover, since there was no need for anyone to guard the spiritual vein at Haoyang Cave temporarily, Zhouyang simply let his foster mother, Xuan Yu, go there to help Xuan Yan construct the oasis and look after the Red Flame Iron Ore Vein.

The construction of the oasis does not require Zhouyang’s supervision. The materials from the water demon were personally handled by Zhou Minghan for refinement, and even family affairs were taken care of by the injured Xuan Hao, who couldn’t cultivate.

Therefore, upon returning to the Yuquan Peak Oasis, Zhouyang could finally focus on secluded cultivation to enhance his cultivation level.

For these years, although Zhouyang never slacked off in his practice, without the ability to concentrate fully on secluded cultivation, his efforts were not as efficient as expected.

Furthermore, while outside, he didn’t dare to easily use the “Qianyang Immortal Light” to temper his body for fear of exposing the exotic treasure he carried.

This situation prevented him from casually consuming even “Nourishing Essence Pill,” a spirit pill for cultivating advancement, while he was practicing away from home.

Now that he had leisure time to close himself off in the family, he naturally no longer needed to worry about such matters.

Seasons passed, and after four cycles, Zhouyang, who had been in seclusion for four years, finally emerged from the seclusion chamber.

By this time, after four years of secluded cultivation, he had advanced his cultivation to the Third-Layer Foundation Establishment.

In fourteen years, including the previous ten years, he had increased his cultivation from the First-Layer Foundation Establishment to the Third-Layer; such speed was impressive.

Upon Zhouyang’s emergence, Zhou Minghan was taken aback.

Not only did he fail to show any signs of joy, but instead, with a worried and heartbroken expression, he looked at Zhouyang and said, “Xiao Jiu, why are you being so reckless! Your father and I have advised you several times not to rush your cultivation and abuse elixirs, so why won’t you listen? You’re harming yourself!”

Seeing this, Zhouyang quickly explained, “Great-grandfather, you misunderstood. Although your grandson did consume some elixirs, I absolutely did not recklessly consume them without regard for the effects of erysipelas!”

“Is that really so?” Zhou Minghan looked at him with concern, seemingly unconvinced.

Zhouyang’s expression turned serious, and he declared resolutely, “Matters concerning the Great Dao and cultivation are not something your grandson would dare to lie about!”

Zhou Minghan was more inclined to believe him. Seeing his sincerity, the worry on Zhou Minghan’s face dissipated significantly, and he said repeatedly, “That’s good, that’s good!”

He himself no longer had the opportunity to advance, but Zhouyang still had a great chance, so he was more concerned about Zhouyang’s cultivation than his own.

This matter was set aside, and Zhou Minghan continued, “Since Xiao Jiu has come out of seclusion, the time has come to start preparing for the Foundation Establishment celebration. I have already invited all the necessary guests, now it’s just a matter of spreading the word and receiving them.”

“Your grandson has no objections.” Zhouyang emerged from seclusion precisely for this matter and naturally would not object.

After confirming this, Zhou Minghan suddenly raised his sleeve and presented two treasures to Zhouyang.

“This {Profound Water Shield} was refined by me from the water demon’s fish scales. Although its attribute does not match your cultivation technique, it is still more useful than general Tier Three Middle-Grade defensive spiritual artifacts. You should refine it for self-defense!”

“As for this {Mist Dust Pearl}, it was refined from the water demon’s Dharma Eye. Unfortunately, it failed the first time, wasting one set of materials; otherwise, the two artifacts combined as a set would be even more powerful.”

During the previous battle with the water demon, Zhouyang knew that Zhou Minghan was not lacking in magical artifacts, and he indeed needed a sufficiently powerful defensive artifact. Therefore, this time he did not decline and accepted them directly.

“In that case, your grandson shamelessly accepts.”

After a polite remark, he took the artifacts back to his cave dwelling and began refining them.

As Zhou Minghan mentioned, the “Profound Water Shield” conflicted with Zhouyang’s cultivation technique. Upon refining, he found that he could only rely on the artifact’s inherent power for defense. As for the defensive magic attached to it, “Profound Water Shield,” it was not much use for a non-water-element cultivator.

However, the “Mist Dust Pearl” was different. It inherited the water demon’s ability to shield Divine Sense scanning. After activating this power, even Xuan Hao, who was at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, could only detect anomalies within five hundred meters, making it a superb tool for escape and ambush.

With these two artifacts, Zhouyang’s ability to survive and escape danger significantly increased, and he no longer needed to rely solely on the “Blood Escape Technique” in perilous situations.

As Zhouyang finished refining the artifacts and emerged, Yuquan Peak gradually welcomed visiting cultivators attending his Foundation Establishment celebration.