High-grade Formation

Li Chengjie sensed the condition within his body. Though he was still weak, the lethal poison and severe injuries had indeed been contained and were rapidly improving. Gratitude filled his heart. "Thank you, Steward, for saving my life... I feel much better."

Zhou Wenwu looked at him gravely. "Alchemist Li, what exactly happened? Do you know who attacked you?"

A trace of confusion and lingering fear flashed through Li Chengjie's eyes. He thought back carefully, his brows tightly furrowed. "In reply to Steward Zhou, those two claimed that one was called Old Hei, and the other Viper.

"They... they said they were acting under orders, that they were to take my life and steal the pills and spirit stones from the shop. But... but they never said whose orders they were following. When I fought them, I demanded an answer, but Old Hei only said, 'The dead don't need to know that much...'"

Li Chengjie paused, a puzzled look appearing on his face. "Steward Zhou, ever since coming to the inner district, I have always been cautious and prudent, devoted to pill refinement and business. I have never forged such a life-and-death enmity with anyone. If there was one conflict, it would be Shopkeeper Chen from Hundred Herbs Hall coming during the day and demanding that I sell my pills at market price. I refused, and our exchange turned unpleasant. But... but even so, surely it would not warrant sending assassins to take my life? This... this is far too vicious and hasty! I truly cannot think of anyone else I might have crossed?"

Li Chengjie paused again. Confusion and a sliver of lingering fear mingled on his face as he slowly shook his head, his tone carrying more speculation. "Steward Zhou, since arriving in the inner district, I have always been cautious and prudent, focused on pill refinement and business, and kind to others. Though I had an unpleasant exchange with Shopkeeper Chen that day, it was ultimately only a business dispute. As the manager of Hundred Herbs Hall, with the Chen Family behind him, would he truly dispatch assassins at once and resort to such an extreme act over this? This... this risk is simply too great, too reckless of the consequences.

Li Chengjie pondered for a moment before continuing his analysis, as though trying to convince himself. "In my view, perhaps... perhaps it was not necessarily Shopkeeper Chen's doing. Think about it: the outskirts of the Marketplace have been chaotic lately, with rogue cultivators running rampant, and I have heard that even the inner district is not absolutely peaceful. My Li's Pill Pavilion has been doing fairly well recently, with some spirit stones and pills coming in every day. Perhaps... perhaps some brazen rogue cultivators set their sights on me, learned that I lived alone and that my Cultivation level was low, and came under cover of night to kill and rob me! Those two spoke vaguely, saying only that they were acting under orders without naming their employer. Perhaps they deliberately meant to muddy the waters, or perhaps they had come to rob me from the beginning, and that so-called 'acting under orders' was merely an excuse!"

As Zhou Wenwu listened to Li Chengjie's analysis, an imperceptible complexity flashed through his eyes.

Zhou Wenwu knew full well that Chen Kun was the prime suspect. Yet Li Chengjie seemed more inclined to believe it had been a random robbery—perhaps because he did not want to believe people could be so sinister, or perhaps because, deep down, he did not wish to completely tear apart relations with a local power like the Chen Family. After a brief consideration, Zhou Wenwu did not expose it outright. Instead, he followed Li Chengjie's line of reasoning. "Mm, what you say is not without reason. There have indeed been some restless fellows committing crimes all over the place lately. However, whether someone was behind this or it was a random robbery, this matter absolutely cannot be tolerated! Your shop's defenses are indeed a weak link and must be strengthened."

Seeing Zhou Wenwu acknowledge part of his speculation, Li Chengjie felt somewhat relieved. He hurriedly nodded, his tone resolute. "Steward, you are absolutely right! After this ordeal, I am deeply shaken! The shop's protection was as good as nonexistent. Had I not possessed a few means of preserving my life, along with some decent luck, I would already have perished!

"This Protective Formation must be set up immediately, and it must be the best! Does Steward know where in the Marketplace I can buy a reliable first-tier high-grade Protective Formation? I am willing to spend everything I have to ensure my safety from now on!"

Seeing Li Chengjie's determination, Zhou Wenwu approved inwardly and replied, "If you wish to purchase a formation with guaranteed quality, go to Heavenly Crafts Pavilion on East Street in the Marketplace. It is a shop operated by the sect and has an excellent reputation. They have a first-tier high-grade formation called the Minor Sumeru Vajra Array. It combines defense, warning, and simple illusion techniques. When fully activated, it can withstand the attacks of a late Qi Refining stage cultivator for some time—long enough for the Patrol Squad to arrive. Only... this formation is quite expensive, costing roughly fifteen hundred low-grade spirit stones."

Upon hearing the figure "fifteen hundred low-grade spirit stones," Li Chengjie's eye twitched violently beyond his control, and it felt as if his heart had skipped a beat.

Li Chengjie's entire fortune amounted to only 1,380 spirit stones (Mid-grade Alchemist), still quite a ways short of that sum!

This... this was simply too expensive!

Though Li Chengjie knew full well how important safety was, the price was far beyond what he could bear.

An exceedingly troubled expression appeared on Li Chengjie's face. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask whether there was a cheaper option, but found it difficult to say. After all, he had been the one to ask for the best.

Zhou Wenwu took in Li Chengjie's reaction at a glance and understood.

After pondering for a moment, a complicated expression appeared on Zhou Wenwu's face as he slowly said, "Fifteen hundred spirit stones is indeed no small sum. However..."

Zhou Wenwu shifted the subject, his tone carrying a trace of imperceptible apology and resolve. "Alchemist Li was attacked and severely injured within the inner district of Flowing Cloud Sect's Marketplace. Whatever the reason, the Flowing Cloud Sect Guards failed in their duty, and we bear some responsibility. It would be unreasonable, both emotionally and logically, to make you shoulder such an exorbitant cost for protection alone."

As he spoke, Zhou Wenwu took out a blank sheet of Talisman Paper from his robes. With a slight release of spiritual power from his fingertips, he swiftly wrote several lines upon it, folded it neatly, and handed it to Li Chengjie.

"Alchemist Li, take this note to Heavenly Crafts Pavilion and seek out Shopkeeper Liu. For the sake of this letter, he should offer you a discounted price."

Zhou Wenwu's tone was mild, yet it carried an undeniable force. "Go and have a look first. If the final price still feels beyond your means, we can think of another solution."

Li Chengjie froze for a moment before an indescribable surge of gratitude welled up in his heart.

Li Chengjie hurriedly accepted the seemingly ordinary yet immensely weighty note with both hands, his voice somewhat choked. "Steward Zhou... how can this be? I have yet to repay your Life-Saving Grace, and now you..."

Zhou Wenwu waved a hand, cutting him off. His expression was solemn. "Say no more. Maintaining order in the Marketplace and ensuring the safety of resident cultivators are duties that belong to Flowing Cloud Sect. Letting you suffer such an undeserved disaster was already our failure. This small convenience is nothing. Recover from your injuries quickly, set up your defenses, and devote yourself to refining pills and running your business in peace. That is what I most wish to see."

Li Chengjie no longer declined. He carefully tucked the note into his robes, keeping it close to his body, then gave Zhou Wenwu a deep bow. "Steward Zhou's great kindness has touched Li Chengjie to the depths of his heart! In the future, I shall certainly do all I can to refine more pills for the sect and repay this kindness!"

A faint smile appeared on Zhou Wenwu's face as he nodded. "It is enough that you have this intention. Go. Have one of the disciples take you there. Be careful in all things."

Before long, one of Zhou Wenwu's junior brothers led the still-injured but greatly invigorated Li Chengjie out of the Steward's Office and toward Heavenly Crafts Pavilion on East Street of the Marketplace.

Heavenly Crafts Pavilion stood in the most bustling part of East Street in the inner district. It was a three-story stone-and-wood pavilion, with a plaque hanging above its entrance bearing the three ancient, unadorned characters "Heavenly Crafts Pavilion." Faint spiritual light flowed over it, giving it an imposing air.

The moment they entered, an attendant dressed in blue came forward to greet them.

After the disciple displayed Zhou Wenwu's token and explained their purpose, the attendant did not dare neglect them. He promptly led the two to a quiet room on the second floor, then hurried off to invite Shopkeeper Liu.

Not long afterward, a middle-aged cultivator in embroidered robes entered. He had a prosperous face and shrewd eyes—it was none other than Shopkeeper Liu of Heavenly Crafts Pavilion. His gaze swept over Zhou Wenwu's disciple and Li Chengjie before settling on Li Chengjie. With a professional smile, he said, "You must be Alchemist Li? To what do we owe the honor, and what might you require?"

Li Chengjie hurriedly rose to his feet and once again took out the note Zhou Wenwu had given him, offering it with both hands. "Shopkeeper Liu, I am Li Chengjie. I wish to purchase a set of your Minor Sumeru Vajra Array. Steward Zhou asked me to deliver this to you."

When Shopkeeper Liu heard "Minor Sumeru Vajra Array," his brows rose almost imperceptibly. Upon hearing the mention of Steward Zhou, his expression immediately grew more serious.

Shopkeeper Liu accepted the note, unfolded it, and examined it carefully.

There was not much polite preamble on the note. It simply read: "For Shopkeeper Liu's personal attention: Li Chengjie, Alchemist of Li's Pill Pavilion, is an external hire of Flowing Cloud Sect. He was unfortunately attacked within the Marketplace and urgently requires stronger protection. Please grant an appropriate discount on the formation he purchases; it may also be charged to my account. Zhou Wenwu."

After reading it, Shopkeeper Liu's smile broadened, now with a greater measure of sincerity. He carefully put away the note and said courteously to Li Chengjie, "So it was Steward Zhou's instruction. I have also heard of Alchemist Li's ordeal. It is truly outrageous! This Minor Sumeru Vajra Array is indeed one of the finest first-tier Protective Formations in our pavilion, originally priced at fifteen hundred spirit stones. Since Steward Zhou has spoken, how could Liu refuse to give him face?"

After a brief consideration, Shopkeeper Liu said readily, "How about this, Alchemist Li? I will sell you this formation at twenty percent off—twelve hundred low-grade spirit stones. What do you think?"

Twelve hundred!

Li Chengjie's heart jolted. It was still an enormous sum, but compared to the original price, it saved him a full three hundred low-grade spirit stones!

This was truly charcoal in the snow!

Suppressing his excitement, Li Chengjie hurriedly cupped his hands. "Thank you, Shopkeeper Liu! I am deeply grateful for such a generous discount! Twelve hundred it is!"

Though twelve hundred spirit stones would nearly drain all the liquid spirit stones he currently possessed, thinking of Zhou Wenwu's kindness and the urgency of his own safety, Li Chengjie no longer hesitated and paid the spirit stones without complaint.

Seeing Li Chengjie pay so readily, Shopkeeper Liu beamed. He personally went to retrieve the formation. It too came in an ancient Jade Box. Once opened, it contained everything: a formation plate, Formation Flags, and a Jade Slip. Spiritual light swirled within, and its quality was superb.

"Alchemist Li, this is the complete set for the Minor Sumeru Vajra Array, along with the Cultivation Technique for controlling it. When setting it up, take care that the positions align with the Spirit Vein nodes, so that it may exert its full effect. Should anything be unclear, you may come to the pavilion and ask at any time," Shopkeeper Liu instructed attentively.

"Thank you for your guidance, Shopkeeper Liu!" Li Chengjie thanked him again, carefully cradling the Jade Box as though it contained a priceless treasure.

After leaving Heavenly Crafts Pavilion, Li Chengjie walked back toward the Steward's Office, looking at the formation worth twelve hundred spirit stones in his arms with complicated emotions.

There was heartache, gratitude, and an even heavier sense of responsibility and anticipation for the future.

Zhou Wenwu's helping hand had not only saved him an enormous amount of spirit stones, but had also allowed him to feel a trace of warmth and protection from the upper ranks of the sect.

He would remember this favor.