Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 739 - 723: The 1,000-Year Dharma Assembly, Reuniting with Old Friends

Due to the influence of the demonic calamity in the Beiting Continent cultivation realm, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators present at this Liuyun Immortal City's "Millennium Conclave" was much lower than expected.

When the conclave officially commenced, only ninety-three Nascent Soul cultivators were in attendance.

Among these ninety-three, nearly sixty were native Nascent Soul cultivators from the Liuyun Continent cultivation realm!

And among the thirty-odd Nascent Soul cultivators from other cultivation realms, Zhouyang spotted several familiar figures.

The most surprising of these figures was none other than Yin Hanguang, the Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, who came from the Westernmost Cultivation Realm.

Yin Hanguang knowing the way to the Liuyun Continent cultivation realm was not surprising, as he had visited this place before he ascended to the position of Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace.

However, not sitting in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, yet coming to the Liuyun Continent cultivation realm to participate in this "Millennium Conclave" was something totally unexpected for Zhouyang.

Did he not fear that the Anti-Light Alliance would hear of this and resume hostilities to attack the Great Brightness Immortal Palace?

Zhouyang looked at Yin Hanguang, who was staring at him with a playful look, feeling extremely troubled.

He had disguised himself as Lu Tianyang, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, thinking that it was unlikely anyone from that realm would attend the "Millennium Conclave," thus, he wouldn't have to worry about being recognized.

And Yin Hanguang, as the Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, would certainly know that there was no Nascent Soul cultivator named Lu Tianyang in the Westernmost Cultivation Realm.

Although he hasn't exposed him yet, Zhouyang still felt a sense of guilt as if he were a thief.

He didn't know if Yin Hanguang had seen through his true identity or if he merely found out that he was an impostor.

To avoid making a scene and exposing his true identity, he hesitated for a moment, then slightly moved his lips to transmit a message to the other party, explaining the situation.

Fortunately, the two had some acquaintance in the past, so upon hearing his explanation, Yin Hanguang was only slightly surprised, then smiled and nodded, letting the matter pass.

To avoid arousing suspicion among the other Nascent Soul cultivators present, the two did not engage in further conversation after that.

"Yin Hanguang appearing here is quite an unexpected boon. This person carries at least one Tier Seven Immortal Artifact. With his late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation and the Immortal Artifact in hand, his strength is no less than that of an average Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul cultivator. If I can recruit him to deal with that Dragon-Taming Star Feather, the success rate will certainly increase significantly."

"However, as the Palace Master of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace, he lacks neither magical artifacts nor spirit pills. What should I use to entice him?"

Zhouyang withdrew his gaze from Yin Hanguang and couldn't help but bow his head in contemplation.

He had witnessed Yin Hanguang's strength and had seen the power of the two Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts of the Great Brightness Immortal Palace.

Honestly, although the "Vermilion Bird Fan" is also a Tier Seven Immortal Artifact, its power really doesn't compare to the "Eye of Light" and the "Scepter of Light," these two Tier Seven Immortal Artifacts.

If he could persuade Yin Hanguang to help him deal with the Dragon-Taming Star Feather, the success rate would definitely increase significantly.

Just as Zhouyang was pondering how to persuade Yin Hanguang to help him, the Dao discussion segment of the "Millennium Conclave" had officially begun.

As the hosts of this "Millennium Conclave", the Dao discussion segment naturally started with a cultivator from the Liuyun Commerce Alliance.

And this opening cultivator was none other than Situ Jingming, known as a pillar of the Liuyun Commerce Alliance, a Ninth-Layer "Half-Step True Immortal" Nascent Soul cultivator.

"In recent years, I have had some insight into the power of laws, and I've inadvertently created a small divine technique. Currently, with many fellow Daoists gathered here, I kindly implore you all to evaluate and advise me on this technique. If your guidance brings me enlightenment, there will be substantial rewards!"

Situ Jingming, a robust white-haired elder, spoke firmly without delay. With a low shout, he reached out, gathering a massive clump of earth-attribute spiritual qi from the void. Under his divine sense and magic power, this earth-attribute spiritual qi rapidly manipulated itself into a three-zhang-long earthen yellow stone sword.

"This is the divine technique of the Exploding Stone Sword that I have created. Once it strikes an enemy, it can instantly shatter into three thousand six hundred stone shards. My initial intent was for these shards to form a cage to trap the enemy, but for now, it merely serves as secondary damage. With many Daoists present today, I hope someone can aid me in perfecting this technique, and I would be eternally grateful!"

As he spoke, Situ Jingming waved his hand under the gaze of many cultivators. The earthen yellow stone sword soared into the sky, exploding with a "boom" into countless stone fragments, tearing apart the surrounding white clouds until its magical power was fully exhausted and dissipated.

Afterward, Situ Jingming began to publicly discuss the cultivation method of the Exploding Stone Sword, appearing intent on spreading the technique to the world.

Zhouyang's attention was consequently drawn away, temporarily putting aside his thoughts of recruiting Yin Hanguang.

The original purpose of this "Millennium Conclave" was to facilitate the exchange of divine techniques and Dao cultivation between ancient cultivators. Many divine techniques presently seen in the cultivation realm were created and refined by predecessors through such exchanges.

However, as cultivation techniques and divine techniques have proliferated, many high-tier cultivators can't even complete the divine techniques inherited by their own sects or clans, leaving little interest or time to develop new methods.

Thus, such exchanges have become increasingly scarce.

Today, apart from private exchanges between high-tier cultivators with exceptional relationships, only at events like the "Millennium Conclave" does the host emulate the ancient cultivators in this kind of demonstration as an opening remark.

Zhouyang was not an Earth Element cultivator, so he couldn't evaluate Situ Jingming's Exploding Stone Sword divine technique. However, listening to Situ Jingming describe the creation process of the Exploding Stone Sword divine technique still provided him with considerable inspiration and enlightenment, proving to be not entirely unhelpful.

Situ Jingming took approximately half a day with his Dao discourse before handing over the stage to another Nascent Soul cultivator.

Like Zhouyang, this Nascent Soul cultivator was at the Third Layer and was facing the bottleneck of advancing to Mid-Stage Nascent Soul. The content of his discourse was related to cultivation, aimed at exchanging cultivation insights with other Nascent Soul cultivators to help find an opportunity to break through the bottleneck.

The "Millennium Conclave" attracts numerous Nascent Soul cultivators due to not only the subsequent exchange meeting but also this Dao discussion being a major highlight.

Zhouyang didn't know about others, but he personally gained a lot by listening to various Nascent Soul cultivators share their cultivation insights, feeling that the trip was indeed worthwhile.

There were ninety-three Nascent Soul cultivators present, and by convention, each person had to speak. Combined with some rest periods and Q&A segments, the entire Dao discussion and exchange session lasted for over two months.

During this two-month period, cultivators in the audience, who experienced breakthroughs due to enlightenment from the discussions, numbered seventy to eighty in total.

Although these breakthroughs merely elevated them by one layer within their current realm, the sheer number made up for it.

Although others did not immediately break through their cultivation, it does not mean they had no gains.

Overall, this [Thousand-Year Dharma Assembly] was indeed a grand opportunity for those cultivators who listened to the Dao.

For those cultivators who purchased entry tickets with Flower Spirit Stone, it was definitely worth the price.

When the Preaching Conference ended, the ninety-three Nascent Soul Stage cultivators departed the Dao Platform amidst great reverence from the listening cultivators and headed to an Immortal Hall on the Immortal Mountain that was not open to ordinary cultivators.

Although the Immortal Hall appeared small from the outside, it contained hidden wonders within.

The Immortal Hall, seemingly occupying less than two acres, housed a garden spanning thousands of acres, where various exotic flowers and rare herbs grew, offering satisfaction both in scenery and Spiritual Qi concentration.

Upon entering the garden of the Immortal Hall, Zhouyang and other cultivators each chose a pavilion in which to sit.

"In the previous Preaching Conference, I had many insights, and am now eager to return to my grotto to comprehend what I've learned in seclusion. Surely, there are many among you like myself, so let's conduct this exchange meeting as swiftly as possible!"

In one pavilion, after settling down, Situ Jingming cast a sweeping glance at the cultivators in the other pavilions and brightly spoke of serious matters.

As soon as he finished speaking, cultivators nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Fellow Daoist Situ speaks rightly. The current world is quite unstable; as the pillars of our respective sect clans, we cannot afford to stay away for long. It is certainly better to exchange required items as quickly as possible and return."

Except for those forces with multiple Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, most forces with only one would not leave their mountain gates for long, unless for important matters, to prevent vulnerabilities when not present.

This [Thousand-Year Dharma Assembly] brought together most of the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm, including many such single-support Nascent Soul cultivators, who naturally wished to achieve their goals and return soon.

Even cultivators like Master Cyan Yang, from top-tier factions, with no such worries, did not object.

So under Situ Jingming's initiative, the exchange meeting quickly commenced.

According to the rules, the hosts first showcased their items for exchange.

With the agreement of all cultivators, Situ Jingming waved his sleeve to place several treasures on the stone table inside the pavilion.

"This old man will first pave the way; these treasures are here for any fellow Daoist who takes interest. Just name your offers, and we'll further discuss if something catches my eye."

As a Ninth-Layer Nascent Soul "Half-Step True Immortal" realm cultivator, the items Situ Jingming brought out were naturally not lacking in quality. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

However, Zhouyang only glanced over the few treasures he laid out before losing interest.

His goal for attending this exchange meeting was clear: to obtain treasures that would aid his cultivation and strengthen his power.

Though the items Situ Jingming displayed were of decent grade, they were not what he needed and thus did not interest him.

Nevertheless, his lack of interest did not extend to others.

Clearly, after Situ Jingming presented his items, cultivators quickly began transmitting messages to him, expressing their interest in the treasures.

Soon after, cultivators took out jade boxes holding treasures with Magical Power, offering them to Situ Jingming for exchange.

Those items promptly changed hands, all swapped away by cultivators.

This high success rate made Zhouyang even more anticipative of the exchange meeting.

Evidently, the cultivators attending this [Thousand-Year Dharma Assembly], like him, came well-prepared, holding numerous treasures for exchange.

"One [Ten-thousand-year-old Red Sun Fruit], in exchange for a Gold Attribute Tier Six Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact."

The meeting hadn't gone on long when a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Celestial South Continent Cultivation Realm presented an item that greatly piqued Zhouyang's interest.

He looked towards the speaking cultivator and saw on the stone table before them a nearly one-zhang-tall crimson spirit plant, neatly placed in a rectangular jade box.

This crimson spirit plant bore only one fist-sized red spirit fruit, resembling an elixir, with golden spirit patterns covering its surface, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance.

This was the [Ten-thousand-year-old Red Sun Fruit], a spirit fruit highly suitable for Fire Element Technique cultivators, which could grant an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator a century of cultivation growth upon consumption!

"Fellow Daoist, Zhou here happens to have a Tier Six Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact [Elemental Destruction Golden Saber] meeting your requirements. Please consider if it suits you."

Without hesitation, Zhouyang promptly transmitted the details of his offering to the cultivator.

The [Elemental Destruction Golden Saber] was loot from defeating the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul demon cultivator [Blood Robe Ancestor] in the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm. Although it matched his spirit root attribute, he held no interest in refining it.

Using it to trade for a spirit fruit offering a century of cultivation growth, Zhouyang deemed worthwhile.

But this was only his perspective; in the eyes of most Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, the mere value of a Tier Six Spirit Elixir did not match that of a heritage-capable Tier Six Lower Grade Spiritual Artifact.

Even the proposing cultivator did not expect to truly get what they desired.

Thus, upon hearing Zhouyang, this person first paused in surprise, then with joy quickly replied: "Fellow Daoist, please show the artifact to Qin for a look. If it truly meets my requirements, I shall exchange with you immediately."

The outcome was unsurprising; the [Elemental Destruction Golden Saber], even among Tier Six Lower Grade spiritual artifacts, was an exceptional piece. The Qin-named Nascent Soul cultivator, upon trying the artifact with Magical Power once, immediately closed the jade box and handed it to Zhouyang, fearing he might regret the trade.

Seeing Zhouyang, an Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator, exchange a Tier Six artifact for an elixir caused many cultivators to secretly inquire about his background. Upon learning he hailed from the Westernmost Cultivation Realm, some cultivators' gazes turned more intrigued.

Zhouyang naturally sensed the malicious stares, yet maintained an impassive demeanor, inwardly coldly chuckling.

If he dared to display wealth, he certainly was not afraid of anyone harboring ill intentions.