In northern Giant Forest Province lay a natural rift valley called Green Luo Valley. After thousands of years of growth, the soil within the gorge had become exceptionally fertile, and flocks of local birds fertilized it year-round, making the valley one of the finest tracts of land in Giant Forest Province.
Yang Wenqing had now purchased the valley and the surrounding land. Pavilions and towers of various styles, all suited to the tastes of Jade Clarity Cultivators, had been built along its rock walls, while precious spirit medicines grew in the soil below.
He had set this place aside for Zhou Xiaohe's advancement. The stretches of farmland flanking the stream at the valley entrance looked ordinary, but their true purpose was to monitor security.
At the source of the underground river deep within the valley stood a large Water-Spirit Formation that detected spiritual fluctuations in the surrounding area.
Yang Wenqing stood in a lookout post on the eastern side of the valley, surveying the surroundings. Two Qi Refinement Practitioners from Zhou Xiaohe's lineage stood beside him.
Lan Ying circled back and forth overhead, monitoring spiritual fluctuations in the surrounding space. Only after confirming that nothing was wrong did she return to perch on Yang Wenqing's shoulder.
"Maintain this level of vigilance. If you discover a problem, send word to our sect immediately. I'll come through the teleportation formation at once."
Yang Wenqing checked on Zhou Xiaohe inside one of the towers and confirmed that his cultivation was proceeding without trouble. After giving the two Zhou clansmen beside him those instructions, he took Lan Ying with him and streaked south in a flash of golden light, vanishing over the horizon in an instant.
A short while later, he appeared beside a Medium Flying Shuttle hovering beneath the clouds. As he stepped