Cultivation: From Servant to Revered Immortal

On the wasteland between White Cloud Immortal City and Red Leaf Square.

A streak of green spirit light was flying swiftly.

It was Zhou Xun heading to Red Leaf Square. His face appeared somewhat pale, and his vital energy and blood were somewhat depleted.

Half a month ago, Zhou Xun began cultivating the Blood Escape Secret Technique.

After consuming a large amount of essence blood, he finally succeeded, and then set out for Red Leaf Square.

Back then, when he left Red Leaf Square, it was a humiliating escape, but now he returns in glory, and his heart feels different.

With his current Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, his flying escape speed has greatly improved,

and in less than a month, he was about to arrive at Red Leaf Square.

Occasionally, he could still see low-tier cultivators hurrying below.

A few hours later, Zhou Xun's escape light landed at the entrance of the market.

Seeing Zhou Xun descend from the sky, the surrounding cultivators all showed expressions of awe.

Looking at the familiar sights before him, Zhou Xun felt a wave of nostalgia in his heart.

"Zhou... Alchemist Zhou?"

At this moment, a voice tinged with uncertainty reached his ears.

Zhou Xun looked in the direction of the voice, and saw an old man with tattered clothes and dry hair, looking at him in disbelief.

Seeing the somewhat familiar face of the old man, Zhou Xun recognized him.

"You are Hong... Hong San?"

Seeing that Zhou Xun recognized him, Hong San's expression was excited.

"I never thought Alchemist Zhou would still remember this old man!"

Seeing the fallen state of Hong San, Zhou Xun felt a wave of lament.

Back then, Hong San was so full of spirit, managing the largest hall of the Iron Mountain gang, promoted to Vice Gang Leader, with a high status and power.

Now, he carried a tattered bag, making a living running errands outside the market.

Zhou Xun scanned with his divine sense.

At this time, Hong San's cultivation had already fallen to Second Layer Qi Refining, and his body seemed to have suffered extremely severe injuries.

This person could be considered an old acquaintance of his, having cooperated for some time in the past.

Unfortunately, after the chaos at Red Leaf Square, they lost contact.

Yuxiang Tower.

Zhou Xun and Hong San sat facing each other.

Not long after Zhou Xun reached Foundation Establishment, the news was relayed back to Red Leaf Square by the Lin Family.

When hearing that the young Alchemist Zhou from back then had become a great cultivator at Foundation Establishment, it inspired countless loose cultivators of Red Leaf Square, making him the most admired figure among all the loose cultivators there.

After all, Zhou Xun himself started as an ordinary loose cultivator, eventually becoming a powerful cultivator at Foundation Establishment!

If Zhou Xun can do it, I can too!

This was the sentiment in the hearts of countless loose cultivators.

When Hong San heard that Zhou Xun had reached Foundation Establishment, he initially thought it was just someone with the same name, but later all the streets and alleys were talking about the life story of that Elder Zhou.

From a Spirit Contract Servant at Miaofu Pavilion, then expelled, later joining Pill Treasure Pavilion, achieving the rank of alchemist.

After the chaos at Red Leaf Square, he was lost from contact, and it was thought that Zhou Xun had perished that night.

Who would have thought that twenty years later, the news of Zhou Xun breaking through to Foundation Establishment would arrive.

It truly was a shocking eye-opener for the people of Red Leaf Square.

When Hong San heard these things, he immediately confirmed that this Zhou Xun was the Zhou Xun he knew back then.

"If only I hadn't distanced myself from Alchemist Zhou back then, how wonderful that would be!"

Thinking about his fallen end, he couldn't help but feel immense regret.

"How did you fall into such a state?" Zhou Xun curiously inquired.

"Back during the chaos at Red Leaf Square, our Iron Mountain gang, as a subordinate force to the Sunx Family, was also ordered to attack the Lin Family, and our task was to follow the Sunx Family in attacking the Fire Element Stone spirit ore!"

"There, the Sunx Family used us subordinates as cannon fodder, attacking under the risk of the arrays!"

"I encountered a Late-Stage Qi Refining cultivator in battle, returned severely injured, and my foundations damaged!"

"Later, I barely held onto life, but my cultivation dropped to Second Layer Qi Refining. Naturally, there was no longer a place for me in the Iron Mountain gang!"

"Afterwards, I left the Iron Mountain gang and became a loose cultivator, barely scraping by!"

"However, this allowed me to escape the subsequent Lin Family purges. It's hard to say if it's good or bad!"

"Fortune hides within misfortune, and misfortune lies beneath fortune!"

Hong San recounted his experiences in a calm tone, as if narrating someone else's story.

Zhou Xun nodded at his words.

Who can really clarify the vicissitudes of fate? Perhaps today's calamity is tomorrow's blessing.

Just like Hong San, if he hadn't been severely injured and left the Iron Mountain gang, he might have lost his life during the subsequent Lin Family purges.

The two then drank together.

After so much tempering, Hong San seemed to have seen through the ways of the world, showing no fear in facing Zhou Xun, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Still acting as he pleased, drinking and eating meat heartily.

Seeing this, Zhou Xun couldn't help but praise inwardly.

He never expected the Hong San of old to have such a mentality!

"I must take my leave!"

After drinking and eating to their fill, Zhou Xun stood up to take his leave, and with a flash, he disappeared.

"Our reunion is indeed fate, inside the bottle is a Healing Pill. Although it may not completely restore your foundation, it should allow your cultivation to recover to Third-Layer Qi Refining, Brother Hong, take care!"

At this moment, Hong San heard Zhou Xun's voice transmission.

At the same time, a white jade bottle suddenly appeared on the table.

Hong San picked up the medicine bottle and opened it to take a smell.

It was the Tier One High-Grade Healing Pill he had longed for, one he couldn't afford even with his entire fortune.

With a complex expression, Hong San murmured to himself:

"Brother Zhou... Brother Zhou, I won't be able to repay this favor in this life, I'll repay it in the next!"

Zhou Xun left Yuxiang Tower and went straight to the Lin Family's residence.

After reporting his name, he went in with the respectful gaze of the guards to report.

...

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in brocade, in his early thirties, came out to greet him, followed by several Lin Clan elders.

"Daoist Zhou's visit is an honor for my Lin Family!" Lin Anshu quickly came over and said with a smile on his face.

"Daoist Lin, you are too kind. I, too, am originally from Red Leaf Square, and even studied at Pill Treasure Pavilion. You could say that Zhou Mou is half a Lin Family member!"

Zhou Xun laughed heartily, greeting back with clasped hands.

Hearing Zhou Xun's words, Lin Anshu and the elders behind him were delighted.

Just a few days ago, they received a letter from Xun Houqing.

It informed them that Zhou Xun had been promoted to a Tier Two Middle-Grade Alchemist.

And Zhou Xun, even at his current age, was not over forty years old, surpassing even Master Yun Ku of the past in potential.

Not to mention, Zhou Xun was also an Honored Guest Elder of White Cloud Immortal City, friendly with the Cloud Light Sect.

These things could not help but make the Lin Family take him seriously.

One could say, in terms of status in the Cultivation Realm of Xui Country, Zhou Xun surpassed even their Grand Elder Lin Yuanru.

"Well said, Daoist Zhou. From now on, consider the Lin Family your home, feel free to come back anytime!"

Lin Anshu said with a smile, then led Zhou Xun into the Lin Family's guest hall.

Inside, it was filled with spiritual delicacies, various rare demon beast flesh, spirit fruit, and spirit wine.

Simultaneously, the Lin Family Grand Elder was leading the Lin Family's higher-ups in greeting at the door.

Among these people, Zhou Xun spotted a familiar figure.

That steward who managed the rental houses in Luliu Lane back in the day.

This person was merely at Middle-Stage Qi Refining cultivation. If not for familiarity with Zhou Xun, he would not have been included in such a high-profile reception.