"Why are you looking for me?" Zhou Shu was speechless.
Before he figured out the intentions of the grotto-heavens, he didn't want to interact too much with them. Moreover, the people from the grotto-heavens were so infuriating that he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to control himself from teaching them a lesson.
"Nothing. I just came to tell you that the Seven Star Dragon Abyss Sword you forged is not bad," Zheng Yongtai said. "Are you interested in joining our Sima Grotto-Heaven?"
"Join the Sima Grotto-Heaven?" Zhou Shu was stunned and puzzled.
"That's right. Since the grotto-heavens have appeared, we will definitely open our doors to recruit disciples," Zheng Yongtai said.
"There are definitely benefits to joining in advance. Since you can forge connate divine weapons, you will definitely be able to pass the Sima Grotto-Heaven assessment. At that time, when you become a disciple of the Sima Grotto-Heaven, you can call me Uncle-Master," Zheng Yongtai said proudly, as if it was a great honor to call him uncle-master.
Zhou Shu's face darkened. Do you think I'm crazy? Why would I call you uncle-master? Why would I join the Sima Grotto-Heaven to be a disciple!?
"I can already forge connate divine weapons. If I join the Sima Grotto-Heaven, what can you teach me?" Zhou Shu didn't directly refuse.
Although Zheng Yongtai's tone was also arrogant, it was still better than the people earlier. In any case, he had nothing to do now, so he might as well get some information from Zheng Yongtai.
"The Sima Grotto-Heaven can teach you many things," Zheng Yongtai said proudly. "Do you think it's so great to be able to forge connate divine weapons? Let me tell you. Any one of our disciples can forge connate divine weapons! What is the success rate of forging connate divine weapons? I'm afraid you won't succeed once even if you forge a dozen times, right?"
Zhou Shu was silent. He couldn't say that he didn't have a success rate when it came to forging weapons…
… because he had never failed.
"Does the Sima Grotto-Heaven have a way to increase the success rate of forging connate divine weapons?" Zhou Shu asked.
"Of course, our Sima Grotto-Heaven's forging techniques are definitely much stronger than yours. If you master our forging techniques, it won't be a problem to increase the success rate to thirty percent."
Zhou Shu almost couldn't bear to refute this innocent child. The highest success rate is only thirty percent?! They only succeed in forging three out of ten times?
How pitiful. How many forging materials are wasted…
"Of course, this is only one of the advantages," Zheng Yongtai continued. "After you join our Sima Grotto-Heaven, you will still have a chance to break through to the Earth Immortal realm!
"Your cultivation techniques outside are lacking. Even if you cultivate to death, it's impossible for you to cultivate to the Earth Immortal realm. Only by joining our grotto-heavens can you learn a complete cultivation technique and have a chance to break through to the Earth Immortal realm."
Zheng Yongtai's words made Zhou Shu's heart tremble. The Ten Nations Continent's Martial Dao is lacking?
No wonder there wasn't an Earth Immortal on the Ten Nations Continent for so many years. Logically speaking, even if the concentration of spiritual qi of heaven and earth on the Ten Nations Continent isn't as high as in the Demon Realm, this shouldn't happen.
So this is the real reason!
Zhou Shu didn't cultivate the Martial Dao of the Ten Nations Continent. Although he had obtained Great Xia's Emperor Xuan Jade Book, he only cultivated it casually. The foundation of his Martial Dao came from the Legendary Armament Canon.
The Eight-Nine Arcane Art, Dragon Elephant Prajna Technique, and Golden Bell Shield Technique were all rewards from the Legendary Armament Canon.
On the Ten Nations Continent, there was also someone who had broken through to the Earth Immortal realm.
It was Lu Wenshuang!
But Lu Wenshuang's breakthrough came after she cultivated the God of War Catalog.
"The Martial Dao of the Ten Nations Continent is lacking. Did you do it on purpose?" Zhou Shu stared at Zheng Yongtai.
"You don't have to look at me like that. I didn't do it." Zheng Yongtai shrugged indifferently. "I wasn't even born at the time. I'm not sure why.
"But on account of the Seven Star Dragon Abyss Sword, let me tell you. If you want to break through to the Earth Immortal realm, you have to join a grotto-heaven, and our Sima Grotto-heaven is the most suitable.
"With my personal recommendation, after you join us, you will definitely be treated differently. It won't be a problem for you to become the core."
Zhou Shu couldn't help rolling his eyes in his head. After talking for so long, that's it?
If it's just for these reasons, why would I join the Sima Grotto-Heaven?
"Are there any other benefits?" Zhou Shu asked. "For example, letting me reach the Grotto-Heaven realm?"
"What are you thinking?" Zheng Yongtai said angrily. "You have to take it one step at a time when cultivating the Martial Dao. Whoever tells you that you can reach the heavens in a single bound is definitely a liar."
Zheng Yongtai lectured seriously.
Zhou Shu smiled inwardly. Zheng Yongtai is a little arrogant, but he isn't a bad person. When he went to Great Xia, he didn't kill anyone. He has principles.
"I'll think about it," Zhou Shu said. "I'm very curious. The grotto-heavens have hidden themselves for many years. Why did they suddenly appear and recruit disciples?"
Zhou Shu looked at Zheng Yongtai. This was what he was most puzzled about. Also, the hidden Demon Kings of the Demon Realm had appeared one after another and suddenly tore the barrier between the two worlds. It was hard to say whether the two were related.
"Let me tell you. This concerns a huge secret that ordinary people will never know," Zheng Yongtai said mysteriously.
"You know about it?"
"Although I'm not an ordinary person, I don't know," Zheng Yongtai said.
Zhou Shu's face darkened. What was with the mysterious tone then? You made me think you were some big shot.
"This has nothing to do with us," Zheng Yongtai said. "Little Zhou, it's not a good habit to bite off more than you can chew. If you want to come into contact with those secrets, you will naturally have a chance when your cultivation increases.
"But even if you join our Sima Grotto-Heaven and complete your cultivation technique, it's impossible for you to break through to the Earth Immortal realm without ten years of bitter cultivation. It will take at least fifty years for you to catch up to my cultivation.
"So, don't even think about asking about those secrets. The right thing to do is to cultivate obediently."
Zheng Yongtai looked experienced and patted Zhou Shu's shoulder.
Now that Zhou Shu was in a weakened state, there were no energy fluctuations on his body. Previously, when he fought the demonic beasts, Zheng Yongtai hadn't arrived. When Zheng Yongtai arrived, Zhou Shu had already stopped fighting.
Therefore, Zheng Yongtai didn't know that Zhou Shu's current cultivation was already above his.
In terms of realm, Zhou Shu was already at the peak of the Earth Immortal realm. In terms of strength, Zhou Shu could even fight ordinary Grotto-Heaven experts.
If he encountered a Demon King with the bloodline of a true dragon, his Dragon Binding Technique might be able to kill them.
Zheng Yongtai naturally didn't know about these things now. He continued, "I invited you because I think you're pleasing to the eye. Otherwise, when our Sima Grotto-Heaven really opens recruitment to the world, it will be difficult for you to join. What else are you considering?"
"Joining the Sima Grotto-Heaven is not a small matter. I have to understand it clearly," Zhou Shu said seriously. "Are there only the Sima Grotto-Heaven and the Xu Ling Grotto-Heaven? I think the Xu Ling Grotto-Heaven is quite strong."
"You're wrong about that." Zheng Yongtai shook his head. "The ranking of the Xu Ling Grotto-Heaven is below our Sima Grotto-Heaven's, and their strength is inferior to ours. Moreover, let me tell you this. You're a forger. Our Sima Grotto-Heaven has the legacies of forgers. The Xu Ling Grotto-Heaven doesn't even have a forger. What can you learn if you join them?"
"If they don't have forgers, won't I be valued more if I join them?" Zhou Shu said.
Zheng Yongtai: "…"
What you say makes so much sense. How can I refute it?
"You have to look long term," Zheng Yongtai said. "Let me tell you. Among the grotto-heavens that exist now, our Sima Grotto-Heaven is the strongest. The other grotto-heavens can't compare to us at all. Even if they temporarily give you some benefits, if you want to go higher and further, who else can compare to us?"