Body refinement techniques all rely on visualization diagrams as their foundation. With this Ancient Elephant Visualization Diagram, Chu Xuan was now able to continue elevating his cultivation. He immediately sat down, tossing a piece of Black Magic Whale meat into his mouth. He swiftly began refining it and continued focusing on visualizing the Ancient Elephant.

In the blink of an eye, ten years passed in the blink of an eye. Chu Xuan's internal aura surged explosively, as though an ancient giant elephant was about to burst forth, roaring through the heavens!

"It's done!"

He opened his eyes, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.

After ten years of painstaking cultivation and consuming massive amounts of whale meat, he had indeed broken through to the 42nd level of body refinement.

The 42nd level of body refinement was equivalent to the second stage of Deity Transformation.

However, lacking martial techniques, he was essentially a powerhouse in raw strength but was not yet able to contend directly with a second-stage Deity Transformation cultivator.

Still, with his formidable physical prowess, as long as he closed the distance to a first-stage Deity Transformation cultivator, that opponent would be heavily injured in the blink of an eye. Within seven steps, his fists were both fierce and fast!

"It's time to return to Desolate Island. It's been more than a year, they should have forgotten about me by now," Chu Xuan said with a smile as he took a confident stride, heading back toward the Starshatter Sea.

...

Desolate Island. The small market established a year ago had grown considerably, now bloated and sprawling. Dark stone houses sprang up from the ground.

When Chu Xuan returned here, he was quite surprised by these stone houses. For he realized with astonishment that his spiritual sense could not even penetrate them.

He casually grabbed a Golden Core cultivator and asked, "Fellow Daoist, how were these stone houses built? Why do they block spiritual sense?"

The Golden Core cultivator, clearly annoyed, replied, "I don't have time. Ask someone else..."

Chu Xuan exuded a faint Nascent Soul aura.

The Golden Core cultivator's expression stiffened, and he immediately grew respectful. "...Better to ask me, Senior. These stone houses are made of Nether Stones. That's why they can block spiritual sense."

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. Nether Stones? He had indeed seen them mentioned in ancient texts. However, they were said to be rare and precious. Why, then, did it seem like they were so common now?

The Golden Core cultivator respectfully explained, "Half a year ago, the volcano erupted again, and large amounts of Nether Stone were ejected. The closer one gets to the volcano cluster, the more Nether Stones there are. As a result, the price of Nether Stone has dropped significantly.

"Now, throughout the entire Southern Third Ring Sea, Nether Stones are as common as ordinary stones, with little value. The only way to make money off them is by taking them out of the Southern Third Ring and selling them elsewhere.

"However, instead of reselling Nether Stones, it's better to make room for other more valuable treasures. After all, Desolate Island is truly teeming with treasures now."

Chu Xuan nodded thoughtfully. So, it was the volcano eruption again. That was unexpected.

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The Golden Core cultivator winced, "Senior, could you please let go? It really hurts."

Chu Xuan smiled faintly. "Don't rush, I have a few more questions."

The Golden Core cultivator forced a smile, "Of course…"

A moment later, Chu Xuan received the information he was after and released his grip.

The Golden Core cultivator immediately darted away like a rabbit, not daring to look back. He feared that this eccentric Nascent Soul senior might grab him again to continue questioning.

"Black Wind Island has long since stopped investigating my whereabouts. I didn't expect it was because they suffered such heavy losses…"

Chu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle. When the volcano erupted six months ago, many Nascent Soul cultivators from Black Wind Island were out searching for treasures.

As a result, most were wiped out. Even Black Wind True Master had been severely injured. Fearing that enemies would target him, Black Wind True Master fled under the cover of night, retreating back to Black Wind Island.

Naturally, the cultivators of Black Wind Island had scattered as well. As for the deaths of Dong Wei and Wang Pengjie, they had long been forgotten. With their lives in jeopardy, who would care about old comrades?

Now, Desolate Island had fallen under the control of the three great powers—Moon Association, Yellow Spring Island, and Baigu Island.

The B-grade forces from the West and East Third Rings had been hearing of the volcano's eruption and the vast treasures that appeared, and they had all been eager to get in on the action.

However, they were blocked at the entrance by Hao Yue True Master, Huang Quan True Master, and Bai Gu True Master.

At most, a few scattered loose cultivators had managed to sneak in. As for the B-grade forces from the East and West Third Rings, they couldn't make large-scale incursions.

"It's quite a coincidence that Black Wind Island's majority of cultivators ran into the volcanic eruption while searching for treasure. It's hard not to think something fishy was at play…"

Chu Xuan stroked his chin, a smile creeping across his face. Black Wind Island's retreat was most beneficial to the other B-grade forces in the Southern Third Ring. If anyone believed that the Moon Association, Yellow Spring Island, and Baigu Island had no involvement, no one would believe them.

However, this was quite advantageous for him. Since Black Wind Island had fled, his current identity was still usable. There was no need to come up with a new name. After all, inventing a name was also a troublesome matter.

Chu Xuan strode into Desolate Square, his gaze sweeping across the empty stone houses.

Earlier, the Golden Core cultivator had mentioned that the stone houses in the busier areas required a rent to be paid. Currently, half of the land in Desolate Square was controlled by the Moon Association, with the remaining half claimed by Yellow Spring Island and White Bone Island. Therefore, to rent a stone house, one had to pay rent to one of these three factions.

Before long, Chu Xuan selected a stone house and stepped inside. Looking through the window, he could see that the house was empty, with only a few stone tables and chairs inside. A talisman was affixed to the door, a sound transmission talisman.

Chu Xuan sent his voice into the talisman, and soon after, a sharp-faced Golden Core cultivator hurried over, his face full of smiles.

"Senior, greetings. I am Zhu Yong, a Golden Core cultivator from the Moon Association. Your choice is excellent. This stone house is the best in this area," he said with a grin. "The rent is twenty great spirit stones per month. If the rent is not paid within a month, we'll consider it as you voluntarily abandoning the stone house. All the items inside will be reclaimed, so please understand, Senior."

Chu Xuan's face remained emotionless. Twenty great spirit stones? That could buy two high-grade magic treasures. Why not just rob someone?

He furrowed his brows. "The monthly rent is a bit too high. Could you lower the price?"

Zhu Yong nodded eagerly, "Of course, Senior. Please, tell me what you'd like."

Chu Xuan casually said, "Just drop a zero. Two great spirit stones."

Zhu Yong stared at him, dumbfounded. After a long pause, he finally croaked out, "Huh?"

Chu Xuan glanced at him sideways, "What? You don't want to? This is just a plain stone house. Two great spirit stones is already too much for me."

Zhu Yong shrank back his neck, "Senior... I don't have the authority to decide this. Please wait a moment, I'll go get a Nascent Soul cultivator from our Moon Association."

He took out a sound transmission jade and muttered a few words.

Chu Xuan stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

A moment later, someone hurried over.

"Having more friends always makes things easier. Naturally, the price is negotiable, but fellow daoist dropping the price by ten times at once... isn't that a bit..."

Chu Xuan heard the familiar voice and narrowed his eyes. It was none other than Tie Jun. He smiled slightly and released the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator at the seventh layer.

Tie Jun froze for a moment, then laughed heartily and cupped his hands. "Fellow daoist has such cultivation. Why didn't you say so earlier? I'll take charge! This stone house, with the monthly rent of two great spirit stones, is yours, fellow daoist!"