Four Seasons

Through a series of measures and strategic planning by Qi Yun.

The construction of the [Northern Defense Grand Formation] has finally shaken off the initial chaos and obstacles and is now on track with astonishing efficiency.

Spanning the entire northwestern border region, one can see cultivators busily at work everywhere.

One by one, the array bases were driven deep into the earth's veins according to the plan of the "Nine Heavens Suppressing Mountains and Subduing Demons Heavenly Wall Map".

Runes imbued with profound Daoist meaning were engraved on the mountain rocks and in the void, connecting the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Although it will still take some time before the grand formation is fully formed.

But the magnificent outline of the border crossing and the guarding of all directions has already begun to emerge, exuding a reassuring and profound aura.

Meanwhile, for Qi Yun and his interest groups, another "front" has also yielded remarkable results.

The resource point "allocation" operation, thanks to the tacit cooperation and efficient execution of the five Holy Sect True Person, has been steadily carried out within the framework of "reasonableness" and "necessity".

Batch after batch of spiritual materials, ores, and Spirit Plant were continuously "transported" from various strongholds, markets, and mines, and brazenly joined the torrent of building the great array.

Of course, a significant portion of it flowed into the pre-designated "distribution channels".

Naturally, the Yellow Springs Netherworld receives special attention.

Faced with Qi Yun's blatant and targeted plunder, the Yellow Springs Netherworld was filled with resentment and raging anger.

They lodged multiple strong protests, using vehement language.

They accused Qi Yun of abusing his power, enriching himself, and undermining the four-party alliance.

However, the response from the Holy Sect has consistently been, "We attach great importance to this and are currently investigating."

True Person Southern Dipper kept a low profile and remained silent on the matter, maintaining an ambiguous attitude.

Initially, Azure Sect and Phoenix Helm also had some reservations about the Holy Sect, especially Qi Yun's "greedy behavior".

However, as the [Northern Defense Grand Formation] progressed visibly, its potential and power far exceeded expectations.

Qi Yun's "care" for these two families was relatively "mild," and the losses were still within an acceptable range, so they gradually fell silent.

After all, a rapidly formed and powerful Northern Defense Grand Formation aligns with their core interests.

As long as their own foundation is not significantly shaken, they are happy to sit back and watch the tigers fight, and even secretly rejoice that the Yellow Springs Netherworld has drawn most of the firepower.

Thus, the situation became one of three parties tacitly approving, while one party was solely enraged.

The Yellow Springs Netherworld was naturally extremely dissatisfied.

But right now, the Holy Sect is turning a blind eye, while the Azure Sect 'Phoenix Helm is watching from the sidelines.

If we force a confrontation, we will not only gain nothing, but we may also delay the construction of the grand formation and be accused of "sabotaging the overall situation".

They could only grit their teeth and swallow their anger for the time being, watching helplessly as the resources they had accumulated over the years flowed into the Holy Sect and into Qi Yun's pockets like a flood.

With the strong "assistance" of the Great True Person, a vast and secretive resource transfer chain was efficiently established.

Massive amounts of resources, like rivers flowing into the sea, were continuously "allocated" and concentrated.

Of these, approximately 40% were actually used for the construction of the [Northern Defense Grand Formation], ensuring the smooth progress of the project and its outward appearance of glamour.

Approximately 30% of the proceeds, as agreed, flowed into the pockets of the five True Person and their backers, making them incredibly wealthy and further solidifying their loyalty to Qi Yun.

The remainder, through various clandestine channels, eventually all came under Qi Yun's control.

Over the past three years, the resources gathered through Qi Yun's efforts have been so diverse, so numerous, and Higher Vehicle of such high quality that they would leave any cultivator who has ever seen them speechless.

If used to establish a sect, it would be more than enough to create a well-established, medium-sized sect out of thin air.

However, Qi Yun was not blinded by this enormous wealth.

He deeply understood the principle that "it's hard to gain weight by eating alone, but it's easy to last by sharing happiness with others."

From this vast harvest, I selected the most precious items that were crucial for my own cultivation, for the deduction of the [Great Luo Heaven], and for my future Dao Path.

The vast majority of the remainder was continuously transported back to the Wuji Sacred Sect through secret and reliable channels.

Some of these resources were specifically allocated to high-ranking members of the sects who supported or were friendly to him, such as True Person Southern Dipper and True Person Qianxin, to solidify his network of connections;

Another portion was used to support emerging forces within the Holy Sect that might be loyal to him.

A complete, stable, and mutually beneficial supply chain operated silently for three whole years against the backdrop of the construction of the [Northern Defense Grand Formation].

In three years, Qi Yun not only firmly established the foundation of the [Northern Defense Grand Formation], but also...

Furthermore, they used this opportunity to weave a vast network of relationships that covered the Holy Sect and extended to the interests of the four sects, accumulating terrifying resources that would make even True Person envious.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The palace deep in the mountains remained serene and elegant, but the aura emanating from its owner was even more calm and reserved than it had been three years ago.

As the Law Power flowed, a mysterious resonance subtly arose between the ground beneath his feet and the nascent [Northern Defense Grand Formation], vast and profound.

Inside the quiet room of the imperial palace, Qi Yun sat cross-legged, holding a seemingly ordinary withered branch in his hand.

A faint, mysterious aura, seemingly about to dissipate, lingered on the withered branch.

Qi Yun closed his eyes and concentrated, using his own Divine Sense and Dao Foundation as a guide, carefully drawing out that wisp of "spring" energy.

The process is slow and meticulous, allowing no room for error.

However, just as that wisp of energy was about to completely break free from the binding of the withered branches!

Like a duckweed that has lost its roots, the already faint trace of "spring" suddenly became extremely unstable, its radiance flickering and fading rapidly, lasting for less than a breath.

Like wisps of smoke scattered by the wind, it dissipated completely, vanishing without a trace.

The quiet room returned to silence.

Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes, calmly gazing at the withered branch in his hand that had completely lost all its spiritual energy and become no different from ordinary wood.

"Still not right----"

He muttered to himself, his tone devoid of any frustration or surprise, as if he had already anticipated this outcome.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the withered branch snapped in two and was tossed aside.

He exhaled a long breath, the breath deep and lingering, carrying a hint of contemplation that was barely perceptible.

"Yin and Yang determine the universe, Clarity and Turbidity shape heaven and earth. The four fundamental rare items required for advancing to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage are [Yin and Yang]."

I have mastered [Clarity and Turbidity] for two years now, and I originally thought that with this momentum, breaking through to the mid-stage within ten years would be a certainty.

Unexpectedly, these Four Seasons alone have trapped me for three whole years.

Looking back on the attempts I've made over the past two or three years.

At first, he also thought that the four strange objects were similar in nature, all being materialized spiritual objects of heaven and earth.

Although the acquisition of [Yin and Yang] and [Clarity and Turbidity] was not without its twists and turns, the goal was clear and the path was well-defined.

But when it came to the [Four Seasons] and the even more ethereal [Innate], he discovered they were completely different.

These two strange objects are different from person to person, and are extremely abstract.

The "Four Seasons" alone do not simply mean finding four treasures that contain the power of the four seasons.

It requires monks to follow a strict order of "spring, summer, autumn, and winter".

One must sequentially perceive, absorb, and condense the "original Dao intent" corresponding to the season, integrating it into the Dao Foundation, without any errors, omissions, or reversals.

If the order is messed up, all previous efforts will be wasted.

But even this first step, "spring," stumped him.

He tried countless spiritual objects related to "spring": ancient tree buds brimming with vitality, ancient flower stamens gathering morning dew, ancient jade recording the nurturing power of spring breezes and rain, and even captured a wisp of the purest life force in the world at the beginning of spring.

There are many varieties, too numerous to mention.

But without exception, they all failed.

The "springtime feeling" contained in these external things is either too complicated or not pure enough.

It either remains superficial and fails to grasp the true meaning of the Four Seasons.

Or—like this withered branch today, seemingly containing a wisp of Innate spring energy, but in reality, its foundation is shallow and it cannot withstand the process of stripping and refining. It will collapse on its own with the slightest provocation.

"So, where exactly does the problem lie?"

Qi Yun fell into deep thought, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the cloud bed.

Is the spirit item you're looking for not high enough quality?

Or is the method wrong?

Or rather, the formation of these Four Seasons does not rely on the accumulation of external things, but requires a unique opportunity?

Three years of smooth sailing had amassed immense wealth and woven a vast network of connections, but at this crucial juncture of cultivation, he encountered a seemingly simple yet profoundly mysterious bottleneck.

Outside the window, the mountain breeze still blows, bringing with it the distant hustle and bustle and vitality.

At this moment, the quiet room was interrupted by a series of rapid and forceful footsteps.

The newcomer did not conceal his aura; that intense, fiery aura belonged to True Person Chiyang.

True Person Chiyang strode into the meditation room, his usually resolute and ruddy face now shrouded in an unyielding solemnity. "Nephew Qi, the acting sect leader has ordered you to return to the Holy Sect immediately!"

Seeing True Person Chiyang's expression, Qi Yun's eyes flickered slightly. "So urgent? What happened?"

Upon hearing this, True Person Chiyang pursed his lips and did not answer immediately. Instead, he suddenly flicked his sleeve, and a crimson flame instantly surged out from his sleeve.

Like an inverted glass bowl, it firmly enveloped the entire quiet room, isolating it from all external and internal sensations and prying eyes.

After doing all this, he took a deep breath, stared into Qi Yun's eyes, and said in a deep voice, word by word, "Qianxin and the others—are back."

Two dead, five seriously injured! And one person—still missing and their whereabouts unknown!

The silence created by the isolation Formation Art in the quiet room felt particularly oppressive at this moment.

Only the heavy words of the True Person Chiyang echoed in the limited space.

Two dead, five seriously injured, and one missing!

The elite delegation, composed of eight Foundation Establishment True Person, was practically rendered useless.

What a devastating loss this is!

Qi Yun's pupils contracted slightly, and his calm, ocean-like aura involuntarily rippled at this moment.

He slowly stood up, his dark blue Daoist robe fluttering even without wind.

The fact that the mission heading south to investigate the "Four Imperials Heaven" suffered such heavy losses far exceeded the worst expectations.

This not only signifies the failure of the reconnaissance mission, but also foreshadows that the situation to the south is likely far more dangerous than they imagined!

"Let's go." Qi Yun's voice remained calm, but his eyes were sharp as knives.

Without further delay, the two took a step forward, transforming into two streaks of rainbow light and heading straight for the Wuji Sacred Sect.