Having learned more detailed information about the "Heavenly Spirit Trial," Zhou Chun had a clearer idea of how he should participate in this trial.
He was definitely not content with just going through the individual trial stages; he was determined to partake in the competition of the group trials.
In such group trial areas, any kind of danger could be encountered.
Although he had the help of two spirit pets, the Rock Earth Turtle and the Silver Lightning Python, there was still danger if he happened to face multiple enemies joining forces.
Therefore, enhancing his combat abilities on the spot was imperative.
As for talismans, that was an easier matter.
The Clan Leader of the Zhou Family, Zhou Daoyi, was proficient in talisman making and could create many types of high-grade first-order talismans.
Zhou Chun asked the family leader to tailor-make a batch of versatile first-order talismans for him as a reward for his contributions to the family.
But as for magic artifacts, Zhou Chun could only continue to search the marketplaces for them.
After visiting various shops selling magic artifacts in the marketplace, Zhou Chun added two more high-grade first-order magic artifacts for himself.
Now that he had reached the twelfth level of the Qi Refinement Realm and his divine sense and mana had greatly increased, it was no problem for him to use four or five high-grade first-order magic artifacts in succession during a battle.
Then, considering the possibility of facing a war of attrition, Zhou Chun also bought three Rejuvenation Pills for backup.
With everything prepared, Zhou Chun devoted himself to quiet cultivation within the family, waiting for the beginning of the "Heavenly Spirit Trial."
However, before the "Heavenly Spirit Order" showed any changes, Green Lotus Temple had already started spreading the news about Foundation Establishment Pills.
The situation was almost as Zhou Daoyi had received in the news. Green Lotus Temple had indeed put a lot of money on the line this time, offering up to thirty Foundation Establishment Pills as a reward.
According to Green Lotus Temple's reward criteria, one could earn a Foundation Establishment Pill for slaying two missionary envoys of the Dragon Transformation Sect.
Furthermore, if one provided important information or clues that led to a significant victory for Green Lotus Temple in their actions against the Dragon Transformation Sect, they could also be rewarded with a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Besides, apart from Foundation Establishment Pills, Green Lotus Temple also offered a number of elixirs that could enhance the cultivation level of Qi Refinement Realm cultivators, as well as items similar to the Spirit Ascension Fruit to assist in foundation establishment, as rewards to encourage the cultivators within the territory to report and slay the sect members of Dragon Transformation Sect.
Once this piece of news was released, the cultivators in several states in the southern part of Jingguo Country became even more devoted and put forth much more effort against the Dragon Transformation Sect than before.
On the Zhou Family's side, Zhou Daoyi was also tempted.
Resources like Foundation Establishment Pills were tightly held by the major powers and only occasionally released to the marketplace, giving other medium and small powers and loose cultivators a glimmer of hope.
Such an event as Green Lotus Temple offering thirty Foundation Establishment Pills this time might not happen once in a hundred or two hundred years.
If he missed this opportunity, even for a Purple Mansion Phase Cultivator like Zhou Mingde, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill for Zhou Chun to establish his foundation would not be an easy task.
But he had agreed to escort Zhou Chun to the Heavenly Spirit Sect ruins to participate in the "Heavenly Spirit Trial," and if he left now, he might not be able to receive the message in time to return to the family.
Thus, he had to suppress his own impatience and first keep an eye on the situation.
In just over two months, the Dragon Transformation Sect suffered heavy losses in their activities in Jingguo Country.
The cultivators who couldn't resist the temptation and defected to the Dragon Transformation Sect were also killed in large numbers, severely deterring others who were in a state of indecision.
But Zhou Daoyi judged that after taking this loss, the Dragon Transformation Sect would certainly not concede defeat easily.
There should be an even fiercer counterattack to come.
At this time, the "Heavenly Spirit Order" that had always been carried by Zhou Chun finally showed changes.
He held the order in his hand, and the two characters for "Heavenly Spirit" on it were now flickering with a faint light and felt slightly warm to the touch.
Seeing this, Zhou Chun hurriedly went to find the Clan Leader Zhou Daoyi to report the situation.
"That's right, this must signify that the Heavenly Spirit Trial is about to commence," Zhou Daoyi confirmed after checking the "Heavenly Spirit Order."
He then looked at Zhou Chun and said, "Wait here for now. As soon as I have informed the Supreme Elder and handled the situation, I will take you to the Heavenly Spirit Sect ruins."
After waiting for half an hour, Zhou Chun left Jiufeng Ridge with Zhou Daoyi.
Perhaps because it was just the two of them, Zhou Daoyi did not summon the Sky Azure Cloud Python for travel, but instead chose to fly with Zhou Chun using a flying magic artifact.
The two of them headed north, covering over six or seven thousand li in just over two days, and directly arrived in Lingzhou at the northernmost boundary of Jingguo Country.
Lingzhou, also known as Southern Lingzhou.
Because in the territory of Cheng Country to the north of Jingguo Country's Lingzhou, there is also a place called Lingzhou, referred to as Northern Lingzhou.
The ruins of the Heavenly Spirit Sect from thousands of years ago were located in a desolate area at the border of the Southern and Northern Lingzhous.
It is said that thousands of years ago, the area of Lingzhou was the most prosperous cultivation region within tens of thousands of li around, and the gates of the Heavenly Spirit Sect were located there.
However, after the fall of the Heavenly Spirit Sect, the once spirit-energy-rich gates were utterly destroyed in that great battle, turning them into ruins.
After escorting Zhou Chun into Lingzhou territory, Zhou Daoyi first inquired about the exact direction, and then took Zhou Chun straight to the ruins of the Heavenly Spirit Sect.
Before long, a vast expanse of stony wilderness filled with broken stones and weeds appeared in Zhou Chun's line of sight.