Chapter 338: Chapter 323: A Perfect Encounter!
The exchange meeting with only eighteen people naturally couldn’t last very long. From start to finish, it took less than two hours.
After the exchange meeting ended, Jiang Fengxian, being the host, clapped his hands, and several spiritual monkeys brought spirit fruits and spirit wine into the cave hall, filling the empty plates and bottles on the tables in front of everyone. Then, one by one, the attendees shared the issues they encountered in their daily cultivation, exchanging insights and experiences.
Zhouyang attended such an exchange meeting for the first time and gained a lot from it.
Over the past three years, he has taken a spirit pill to increase his cultivation every six months, and now he’s just a step away from reaching the Third-Layer of the Purple Mansion.
After hearing the cultivation insights shared by peers during this exchange meeting, he felt confident that with a few months of retreat upon returning home, he would surely advance smoothly to the Third-Layer of the Purple Mansion.
Of course, he wasn’t just a listener. He also shared some of his own cultivation insights with others and patiently and thoroughly answered cultivation doubts of others when he could provide solutions.
The exchange meeting of eighteen people lasted less than two hours, yet the exchange meeting of eighteen people continued for almost three days before it ended.
During these three days, the eighteen participants freely expressed themselves, bringing forth all the doubts encountered in their cultivation, and waited for others to resolve them, or discussed solutions to similar doubts with like-minded individuals.
Sometimes, when two people held opposing views, they would argue intensely, neither side willing to concede.
At such times, the others would separate the disputing duo, calm them down, and switch the topic to continue discussions.
Zhouyang greatly enjoys these exchange meetings akin to academic symposiums. He is not the type to keep things to himself, and if participating in such meetings brings him gains, he is happy to share his cultivation insights and help others progress together.
Originally, after the exchange meeting ended, everyone was supposed to leave.
But just when Jiang Fengxian was about to announce the end, a short, slightly chubby middle-aged cultivator suddenly looked at everyone in the hall and said, "Fellow Daoists, please wait before leaving and listen to what I have to say."
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Li, what do you want to say?"
Jiang Fengxian frowned slightly in surprise at the short and chubby middle-aged cultivator, and everyone, including Zhouyang, turned their gaze towards him.
"Here’s the situation: Seven or eight years ago, I obtained a treasure map where the cave mansion of a predecessor Golden Core Stage cultivator was marked."
"As everyone knows, I enjoy researching the life stories and biographies of predecessor cultivators, seeking the cave mansions left behind by them to find opportunities."
"Therefore, after obtaining this treasure map, I spent several years researching and searching for clues, and finally confirmed the location of the predecessor cultivator’s cave mansion on the map half a year ago."
"However, what frustrates me is that the location of this predecessor’s cave mansion is not in our Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, but deep within the Spirit Mountain amidst the Wilderness Jungle."
"My strength is low, and I know that I can’t safely traverse tens of thousands of miles through the Wilderness Jungle alone to reach the predecessor cultivator’s cave mansion."
"Moreover, even if by luck I reach there, I won’t be able to breach the guardian array left by the predecessor on my own."
"Everyone here today can be considered trustworthy people, hence I’m seeking to recruit three fellow daoists from among you to join me in the treasure hunt. Are there any daoists willing to accompany me?"
Under everyone’s gaze, the short and chubby cultivator solemnly expressed his intentions.
A cave mansion left behind by a predecessor Golden Core Stage cultivator?
Upon first hearing the news from the short and chubby cultivator, everyone’s expressions turned very intrigued, listening attentively.
But when the cultivator mentioned needing to penetrate tens of thousands of miles into the Wilderness Jungle to reach the cave mansion, many people’s expressions changed.
Penetrating tens of thousands of miles into the Wilderness Jungle is already within the territory of the Barbaric Alien Race. If a cultivator is discovered there by the Barbaric Alien Race, they would be viewed as invaders and killed on sight.
Therefore, even Golden Core Stage cultivators dare not easily venture into that area.
While a Golden Core Stage cultivator’s cave mansion is desirable, one must have the ability to claim it.
Most cultivators in the cave hall were loose cultivators, and the fact that they managed to cultivate this far meant that not only were they well-qualified and fortunate, but more importantly, they understood the art of judgment and decision-making better than others.
However, for those whose cultivation was inherently challenging, inheriting the legacy of a predecessor Golden Core cultivator, and acquiring their lifetime’s wealth could help them progress to another level.
Thus, right after the chubby cultivator finished speaking, someone immediately asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, since you know the location of the predecessor’s cave mansion, do you also know the predecessor’s name? And can you confirm there really is a legacy within, rather than just an abandoned empty cave mansion?"
The chubby cultivator was well-prepared for these questions and promptly replied, "The name of the predecessor cultivator won’t be unfamiliar to anyone. The uproar caused in Nanman Country over three hundred years ago, surely everyone remembers? Based on my research, the owner of the cave mansion should be that very individual!"
Upon hearing the short and stout cultivator’s words, everyone present, except for Zhouyang, trembled.
The cultivator who asked the question couldn’t help but exclaim in shock, "What? Fellow Daoist Li, do you mean that the owner of that cave mansion is that senior? Does that mean the treasure that once triggered a battle among Nascent Soul Stage cultivators might also be in that cave mansion?"
The short and stout cultivator repeatedly shook his head and said, "I dare not guarantee that. I can only confirm that the owner of the cave mansion is indeed that senior, but I can’t guarantee anything else!"
What "this senior" and "that senior", Zhouyang listened to their cryptic conversation, initially feeling completely bewildered.
But when he heard the phrase "the treasure that triggered a battle among Nascent Soul Stage cultivators," a shiver ran down his spine as he immediately realized what they were talking about.
Over three hundred years ago, treasure, battle among Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.
Combining these conditions together, isn’t it exactly the same as the treasure he’s looking to investigate in Nanman Country this time?
"Fellow Daoist Xiao, the treasure that Fellow Daoist Li and the other person mentioned just now, is it the legendary Nine Heavens Profound Gold?"
To confirm his guess, Zhouyang lightly moved his lips, transmitting a message to Xiao Feng, who was the closest to him.
Xiao Feng heard his words, a flash of surprise in his eyes, and he gave him a slightly amazed look, "Oh, Fellow Daoist Huang has heard of that matter too?"
"To be honest, I only came to Nanman Country deliberately after hearing about this by chance a few years ago during my travels in the Cultivation Realm. After all, as an artifact refiner, who wouldn’t want to see an artifact refining sacred object like the Nine Heavens Profound Gold?"
Zhouyang had intended to inquire about this matter from Xiao Feng after the exchange meeting, and at this moment, he spoke openly and candidly, revealing the truth.
His honesty greatly increased Xiao Feng’s goodwill, who nodded with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Huang is not wrong. As artifact refiners, who among us wouldn’t want to use the Nine Heavens Profound Gold to refine magical artifacts?"
This remark indirectly answered Zhouyang’s earlier question.
At this moment, after hearing the short and stout cultivator’s words, several people immediately volunteered to join the expedition.
Even Jiang Fengxian, the owner of the cave mansion, gave the short and stout cultivator a charming smile and said, "If Fellow Daoist Li doesn’t mind, would you consider including me?"
"And me, as well. I, Xiao, am very interested in that treasure. If I could see it even once, my life would be without regret!"
Stopping his conversation with Zhouyang, Xiao Feng also expressed his intention to join the team with a loud voice.
Seeing this, Zhouyang immediately disregarded what others might think of him and promptly said, "I share the same intent. Fellow Daoist Li, would you not consider taking me just because my cultivation is low?"
This was the first time in his life he had ever pressured someone like this, and after speaking, he felt somewhat guilty.
But for the piece of Nine Heavens Profound Gold, he couldn’t care about such minor details.
With this, including Zhouyang, the number of volunteers reached six, even including Ninth-Layer Purple Mansion cultivator Xiao Feng and Eighth-Layer Purple Mansion cultivator Jiang Fengxian.
This situation was somewhat unexpected for the short and stout cultivator, leaving him unable to decide whom to choose.
After all, aside from Zhouyang, the other volunteers were familiar to him, people he had known for over a hundred years. Choosing someone and rejecting another would inevitably offend someone.
So, after pondering it over, he looked apologetically at the volunteers and said, "How about this? Aside from Fellow Daoist Xiao and Fellow Daoist Jiang, the rest of you could have a friendly match to decide who goes?"
"After all, this expedition into the Wilderness Jungle requires a strong team in order to increase the chances of success!"
This should be the most suitable solution.
Therefore, Zhouyang and the others exchanged glances and all nodded in agreement with this solution.
Having made the plan, Xiao Feng, who had already secured his place in the team, immediately addressed the crowd, "Phoenix Cloud Mountain is indeed in the Wilderness Jungle, making it inconvenient for magical combat here. How about the volunteering Daoists follow me to find a safe place in the outer area for a duel, while the rest of the Daoists could kindly wait here at Fellow Daoist Jiang’s place for one or two more days. Do you all understand my intentions?"
Those present were all seasoned cultivators and naturally understood the meaning behind Xiao Feng’s words.
Leaving the others at Jiang Fengxian’s place could prevent information from leaking out before their departure for the Wilderness Jungle.
Once they decided on the final team and left, even if someone leaked the information to a Golden Core Stage cultivator, it would be impossible for them to find them deep in the Wilderness.
Thus, no matter what they had in mind, at least on the surface, everyone politely agreed to this arrangement.