Spirit-Nurturing Formation

That night, Shen Jingchuan meditated and cultivated as usual.

The next morning, he called Meng Ke.

As soon as the call connected, Meng Ke heard that he was back, and her voice was full of joy as she said, "Wait for me, I'm coming to find you."

Shen Jingchuan said, "I'll come pick you up."

"No need," Meng Ke said, "I can drive there myself."

After hanging up the phone, Shen Jingchuan went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

An hour later, Meng Ke arrived excitedly in his car. As soon as he entered the gate of West Mountain Separate Garden, he headed straight for the underground parking garage.

But when she got near the entrance to the underground parking garage, the front of her car suddenly felt heavy, as if it were sitting on something soft and yielding. Even with the accelerator floored, the car just wouldn't move.

Shen Jingchuan was inside the house, and his Divine Sense had already detected it. He couldn't help but chuckle.

Soon, the phone rang.

As soon as he answered, he heard Meng Ke yelling on the other end, "Did you do this? Why won't the car move? Let me in right now!"

Shen Jingchuan smiled as he went downstairs to the basement, opened the basement door, and gently waved in that direction.

The obstruction parted, and Meng Ke's car drove in smoothly.

She didn't even bother to park properly; she slammed on the brakes, pushed open the car door, and jumped out.

She rushed to him, leaped up, wrapped her arms around his neck, and draped her legs over him.

"Tell me honestly, did you do this? What kind of trick have you up to this time?"

Shen Jingchuan reached out and supported her, then took out a jade pendant from his pocket and handed it to her.

"I set up an array in this courtyard called the Spirit-Nurturing Formation, which is like covering our entire courtyard with an invisible membrane."

"Here's a jade tablet for you; it's the key to that formation. Don't rush, feel it carefully. Doesn't it feel especially comfortable here?"

Meng Ke was skeptical, so she calmed down and took a deep breath.

Sure enough, the temperature and humidity in the courtyard were just right, making even breathing easier and feeling comfortable all over.

"Wow!" Her eyes lit up. "You know what, it's true."

She held the jade pendant, turning it over and over to examine it, and asked, "Is this the key? Does that mean I'll have to carry it with me every day when I come home?"

Shen Jingchuan carried her upstairs, saying, "Yes."

"If you leave a Divine Sense imprint on this jade pendant, it will recognize you."

Meng Ke asked hesitantly, "But my Divine Sense is too weak, can I really do it?"

"It's alright," Shen Jingchuan said, "A wisp of Divine Sense is enough. Just use your Spiritual Power to guide your Divine Sense upwards, forming an imprint, and the token will be yours to use."

"From now on, if you carry it with you, the Spirit-Nurturing Formation will recognize you, and you can freely enter and exit at any time."

Meng Ke did as he said, recognized the jade pendant as her owner, jumped off him, and ran towards the main gate.

She pushed open the door and walked out, and the membrane, as expected, didn't stop her; it automatically moved aside as soon as she got close.

Then, she turned around and walked back smoothly.

She clearly sensed the difference between going in and going out.

Once inside the courtyard, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and only opened them after a long while.

"It really felt so good."

She ran all the way to the second courtyard and saw Shen Jingchuan standing there with his arms crossed.

"Have you finished experiencing it?" Shen Jingchuan asked, "Hurry up and eat."

Meng Ke leaned closer and said, "Jingchuan, you're amazing! It's like spring here, the temperature isn't high, and it's so comfortable."

She turned around and pointed to the lawn in front of the yard.

"You said you'd hold the wedding on the lawn in this yard in a few days. Now I understand, if that's the case, this place is perfect."

Shen Jingchuan said, "Alright, I've given you the keys. Have you already found a wedding planning company?"

"I've already found it," Meng Ke said. "My mom arranged everything, it's all set, just waiting for you to arrange the venue."

She suddenly thought of something and said, "That's right, if it's snowing and windy outside, can we still hold the event here in this open space?"

Shen Jingchuan said, "Don't worry, even if there's a typhoon outside, this yard will be fine."

"That's amazing?"

"Of course," Shen Jingchuan said, "Have you forgotten? Your car couldn't even crash into this spot?"

Meng Ke thought about it and realized that it was indeed true.

She looked up at the sky, which seemed empty but was actually veiled by a thin film, and asked, "Then... can the bullets penetrate it?"

Shen Jingchuan thought about it carefully and said, "I haven't tried it, so it's hard to say. But ordinary bullets shouldn't be able to penetrate it."

Upon hearing Meng Ke's question, Shen Jingchuan began to ponder the Spirit-Nurturing Formation more.

When I bought it, the shopkeeper said that even a cultivator in the Qi Refining Late Stage would have to put in a lot of effort to break the formation.

He placed the array plate into the light sphere and upgraded it by one level. Now, this array is probably only breakable by Foundation Establishment cultivators; those in the Qi Refinement Realm have no chance at all.

He deduced that this formation could definitely withstand ordinary machine gun bullets; it should even be able to hold off artillery shells for a while, since this was a formation, not ordinary armor. He just wasn't sure how long it could last.

After thinking about it for a while, he shook his head again.

Forget it, why bother thinking about this? He's on Earth, and he hasn't offended anyone important.

For ordinary people to break through this formation is wishful thinking, unless they use heavy weapons.

He composed himself, put his arm around Meng Ke's waist, and said, "Let's go, let's eat first."

The two walked to the dining table, sat down, and ate breakfast together in the sunshine. Meng Ke suddenly asked, "By the way, tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve. How do you plan to spend the New Year?"

Shen Jingchuan was taken aback. He remembered that in the other world, the Spring Festival was also on this day.

"Me?" he said, "I just live alone."

Meng Ke glanced at him and said, "How about... we go to my house?"

Shen Jingchuan quickly waved his hand and said, "No, I've already arranged everything."

Meng Ke's smile faded slightly as she said, "You don't even want to spend the New Year with me?"

Shen Jingchuan stopped, put his hand on her shoulder, and looked at her.

"Silly girl, in a few days you'll be my wife, and then we'll be together every day. Why are you in such a hurry?"

He paused, then chuckled, "Why don't you stay tonight?"

Meng Ke blushed, lightly punched him, and said, "What's the big deal? A few more days won't make a difference. I'll be yours sooner or later anyway."

"Alright, I know you might have other things to do, but I won't ask. Just come on the day, my mom has arranged everything else."

She added, "I've sent out all the invitations. I've invited Elder Yang, Elder Li, Elder Wang, and Elder Wen. I've also invited your uncle and your aunt."

"Is there anyone else you'd like to invite?"

Shen Jingchuan thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "That's all."

Meng Ke said, "Keep the guests simple, don't invite just anyone, to avoid making a ruckus."

She paused for a moment, then said softly, "I invited my dad to the wedding too. My mom... didn't object."

Shen Jingchuan glanced at her and said, "Alright then. Perhaps this opportunity can ease the tension between your father and mother."

Meng Ke nodded, gazing at the invisible membrane in the courtyard, and whispered, "I hope so."