"Right, I can try refining a Spirit Gathering Array!"
Zhou Yan's gaze sharpened, a flicker of hope arising in his heart.
As the name suggested, a Spirit Gathering Array could refine spiritual energy and provide it for martial artists to cultivate.
This was an extremely potent type of array.
With a slight shift of his thoughts, an array disc flew out and hovered before him.
He flipped his wrist, and a drop of blood fell onto the array disc. Instantly, the disc erupted with a brilliant crimson glow, burning as if like flames. Streaks of crimson light shot out from the disc, integrating into the surroundings and vanishing.
Within this array disc lay an immensely vast network of array patterns. These patterns had been decomposed from the original array. Zhou Yan integrated them into the current formation, and the array began to operate naturally.
Soon, a ball of spiritual energy surged from the array, forming a vortex in the void. It spun ceaselessly, like a funnel, madly devouring the surrounding spiritual energy.
Moments later, Zhou Yan felt that this array was indeed a Spirit Gathering Array.
This type of Spirit Gathering Array could absorb all spiritual energy in the heavens and earth, not only aiding martial artists in their cultivation but also allowing them to cultivate pure spiritual energy.
However, Zhou Yan's current cultivation level was insufficient to fully control it.
But once his cultivation recovered to the Nascent Soul realm, he would be able to completely command this array and unleash its immense power.
Zhou Yan harbored anticipation.
What he lacked most now was time.
He wished to recover his strength as quickly as possible.
"I can already refine Grade Three elixirs. If I can refine a Grade Four elixir, will I be able to advance to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm?"
Zhou Yan mused and resumed his alchemy.
Time slowly trickled by.
Zhou Yan's cultivation steadily broke through.
Soon, he advanced from the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm to the early stage.
The early stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm was his weakest cultivation.
However, Zhou Yan paid it no mind. With such a cultivation, even an ordinary guard he pulled from the royal palace of Great Xia would be thousands of times stronger than him.
"No, I'm still a distance away from my plan!"
Zhou Yan thought to himself.
His current cultivation had reached the early stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, and he was only a single step away from advancing to the middle stage.
Yet, that single step required an eternity.
Moreover, even if he broke through to the middle stage of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, he would still be unable to leave this place.
"If only I could obtain a Grade Five elixir."
Zhou Yan thought.
Elixirs, though precious, were not priceless. As long as he had sufficient savings, he could acquire them.
Zhou Yan pondered for a moment, then decided to venture out to search for medicinal herbs and then visit the Pill Cauldron Sect to seek guidance from the sect leader.
The Pill Cauldron Sect was a large sect in Tianyun Province, possessing extremely profound foundations and countless alchemists. He believed that the Pill Cauldron Sect would undoubtedly have a large supply of Grade Five elixirs.
With this thought, Zhou Yan resolved to leave the mountain range and begin his plundering.
After all, the rarer an elixir, the more precious it became.
"Whoosh!"
A fireball exploded in the forest.
Birds in the forest scattered in panic.
The corpse of a third-tier demonic beast was tossed onto the ground.
"The demonic core of a third-tier demonic beast. This should be enough to exchange for a Grade Six elixir, right?"
Zhou Yan murmured to himself. "If I can find a second-tier demonic beast, perhaps I can also obtain a Grade Five elixir!"
A flicker of longing appeared in Zhou Yan's eyes.
"Whoosh!"
His figure, like an arrow, instantly left its original spot and rushed towards a mountain forest.
Zhou Yan traversed the forest for a long time before finally finding a second-tier demonic beast.
"Roar!"
This second-tier demonic beast was in the process of hunting its prey.
It heard Zhou Yan's presence, turned its head, its eyes instantly turned crimson, and it glared at Zhou Yan.
"Roar!"
The second-tier demonic beast roared, its sonic waves vibrating and stirring up a storm.
Zhou Yan's expression changed, and he retreated hundreds of feet.
This second-tier demonic beast was simply too formidable; he was no match for it!
"If this mission fails, I'll likely be expelled, or even killed outright. Regardless, I must strive to obtain a Grade Five elixir!"
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth.
He held firm in his resolve.
"Roar!"
The second-tier demonic beast attacked again, lunging towards Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan's heart pounded: "This fellow is indeed a second-tier demonic beast, possessing such power! I cannot resist it!"
Zhou Yan turned and fled.
This time, he did not simply run away but dodged to the side.
The second-tier demonic beast pursued Zhou Yan, tearing and biting.
Zhou Yan was forced to retreat repeatedly, barely avoiding danger.
His body was torn open by claws, blood flowing down.
This second-tier demonic beast was truly ferocious, its speed astonishing and its attacks sharp. A single claw strike could shatter a boulder.
Zhou Yan cursed inwardly, continuously swinging his fists towards the second-tier demonic beast.
*Bang bang bang!*
Fists collided with claws, creating deafening sounds that forced Zhou Yan to stagger back several steps.
His face paled, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
His injuries were already severe.
"This second-tier demonic beast is too strong; I am no match for it. But I still have a chance!"
Zhou Yan took a deep breath.
His gaze turned cold.
With a thought, he retrieved a black spherical bead from his storage ring.
A strong aura of danger emanated from this black bead, causing a sense of dread.
Zhou Yan formed a hand seal and pressed down sharply.
Instantly, a pitch-black rune appeared and landed within the black bead.
The black bead then emitted a blinding light.
A terrifying pressure descended, enveloping the entire valley.
"Roar!"
The second-tier demonic beast felt an intense threat and froze in place.
The next moment, its eyes revealed deep fear.
It was actually afraid of this pressure!
"Rumble!"
The second-tier demonic beast dared not continue pursuing Zhou Yan. Its body flickered, and it turned to flee into the distance.
"Phew, phew..."
Seeing the demonic beast escape, Zhou Yan let out a long sigh of relief. His body flickered, and he also retreated to the side.
Who knew how many second-tier demonic beasts were hidden in this mountain range.
He had to ensure his safety before hunting demonic beasts.
Once he encountered those second-tier demonic beasts, Zhou Yan would have no power to resist and would surely die!
...
"Huh?"
Zhou Yan suddenly opened his eyes, a look of surprise appearing in them, and he murmured, "I can actually sense the location of that black bead?"
He extended his right arm and looked at his palm.
Within his palm lay a pitch-black spherical bead, exuding a terrifying aura.
"Could it be... the legendary Black Fiend Bead?"