The Future Person in Charge

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye, and Elder Yu and Formation Master Liu Zihao returned to the Yang Family together.

Upon arriving at the Yang Family's cliffside forbidden area, Liu Zihao was quite emotional.

This beast tide had destroyed countless towns and wiped out families; it was truly not easy for the Yang Family to survive this great calamity.

"Greetings, Patriarch Yang."

Liu Zihao cupped his hands and said, "Many formations were damaged after the beast tide. I've been busy repairing them around Wangyue City these past few days, so I've kept you waiting."

"Ah~ Master Liu, you are too kind. Please, come in quickly."

As Yang Guanfeng spoke, he took out a package from his embrace. "Here are the remaining forty spirit crystals. Please count them. The matter of guarding the Yang Family's forbidden area is entrusted to you."

A total of fifty spirit crystals were needed to set up the defensive formation. Elder Yu had previously paid a deposit of ten spirit crystals, and this was now the final payment.

"Hahaha, Patriarch Yang, you're too polite. We're old customers, no need to count."

Liu Zihao waved his hand with a smile and put the spirit crystal package into his storage bag.

The formation he was here to set up for the Yang Family was called the Pine Forest Thick Earth Array.

This formation, also built utilizing the natural terrain of the Yang Family's forbidden area, was of Qi Gathering Mid-stage quality. However, it had a wide coverage and outstanding defensive capabilities.

It could encompass the main and branch courtyards of the Yang Family's forbidden area. Furthermore, if a suitable person were to oversee the formation, it would be difficult for ordinary late-stage cultivators to break through it by force.

Because they were repeat customers, Liu Zihao also took the opportunity to reinforce the original Cloud Mountain Mist Array.

The fifty spirit crystals stung a bit, but with this guardian formation in place, Yang Guanfeng felt much more at ease, as if he had taken a calming pill.

"Patriarch Yang, do you have any plans to include the courtyards below the mountain in the formation in the future?"

Liu Zihao inquired.

"Naturally, we do. However, our family's finances are still a bit tight at the moment. We'll have to plan this slowly."

"That's not a problem. I can draw up a plan for you first, and you can prepare slowly. It will be more convenient to set it up later."

Liu Zihao saw the development potential of the Yang Family and thus intended to forge a connection.

Yang Guanfeng readily agreed to his overture.

The Yang Family had only recently started, and befriending more talented individuals would be beneficial for the younger generation.

Liu Zihao spent three months setting up this formation.

Three months later, the Pine Forest Thick Earth Array was like an inverted porcelain bowl covering the Yang Family's forbidden area.

Before leaving, Liu Zihao gave Yang Guanfeng the planned formation diagrams, which also listed the names of each formation and the required materials. The Yang Family could start preparing slowly.

Elder Yu also brought back three storage bags from the market.

Although they were only the lowest quality spatial items, they were still very precious to the Yang Family.

"This bag has an internal space equivalent to half of this room. With it, we won't need to carry bulky bags when we go out in the future."

Handing the three bags to the three children and watching them play with them with wide-eyed curiosity, Elder Yu's face was filled with smiles.

He considered himself someone who had already died once. The Yang Family was now his root.

He would be content to watch the younger generation of the Yang Family grow and the family prosper.

Afterward, Elder Yu took out a large bundle of books from one of the storage bags.

"These five stacks are several sets of basic Five Elements sorcery."

He pointed and said, "These two books, one called the Circulating Qi Induction Art and the other called the Hundred Bones Body Tempering Record, are both Qi Gathering level cultivation techniques. One follows the path of circulating energy throughout the body, and the other focuses on tempering the physical body. I've examined them carefully, and the cultivation threshold is not high, which is perfect for our family."

These two cultivation techniques, when cultivated to their peak, only reached the Qi Gathering Perfection level. They did not contain methods for Essence Condensation, making them far inferior to the Nether Spirit Path Seeking Scripture that Yang Lingrui and the other two were cultivating.

Elder Yu managed to negotiate the price down to fifty spirit crystals for the three storage bags.

Setting up the formation and purchasing materials cost sixty spirit crystals, while the Five Elements sorcery and the two cultivation techniques cost thirty.

Of the one hundred and sixty spirit crystals obtained from selling the demonic beast corpses earlier, twenty remained.

After calculating the expenses, all five members of the Yang Family felt a pang of emotion. Spirit crystals were truly spent quickly; they would have to be more frugal in the future.

"Old Ancestor, White Stone Town sent a letter today."

Yang Lingrui stepped forward and handed a letter to Yang Guanfeng.

Upon opening it, Yang Guanfeng saw it was a personal letter from Gao Hui, containing only five words: "The Zhang Family has arrived."

"Has that Zhang Family made a move?" Elder Yu asked.

"Yes, they've been restless for a while. After waiting for over three months, their patience should be wearing thin."

Yang Guanfeng put away the letter and turned to say, "Lingrui, Linghu."

"Your disciple is here!"

The two stepped forward and responded.

"Come with me. Let's go see how capable this Zhang Family is."

"Yes!"

Yang Guanfeng packed a storage bag and, taking the two with him, set off immediately.

Yang Lingqing watched their retreating figures, softly murmuring "Safe travels."

"Heh heh, Lingqing, do you want to go too?"

Elder Yu looked down at her and asked gently.

Yang Lingqing nodded, "It would be a lie to say I don't want to go. Ever since I started cultivating, I haven't left home. I always want to go out for some fresh air."

Hearing Yang Lingqing's words, Elder Yu felt a pang of sympathy.

"Sigh... You child, you're just too sensible, it makes my heart ache."

"Ancestor Yu, there's no need for that. Lingqing doesn't feel wronged at all."

Yang Lingqing smiled brightly, "It's fun to go out and spar, but it's too chaotic. With my personality, I'd probably get bored after watching for a while."

"Hahaha, you little girl, you make me, an old man, sound a bit sentimental."

As he spoke, Elder Yu gently stroked Yang Lingqing's head with his broad palm.

"Hehe, Ancestor Yu is still young!"

Yang Lingqing said with a slightly mischievous smile, "Ancestor Yu, I'll be going down then."

"Mm, go ahead."

After Yang Lingqing bowed to Elder Yu, she turned and walked out of the forbidden area, leaping lightly down the cliff.

Today was a day for the Yang Family to hold a council meeting. It should have been presided over by Yang Guanfeng, but due to the Zhang Family's affairs, he couldn't be present, so Yang Lingqing was appointed at the last minute.

Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu had discussed it long ago: if anything were to happen to them, Yang Lingqing would take charge of the Yang Family from then on.

This was the perfect opportunity to let her get involved in family matters and serve as her debut before the entire Yang Family.

Yang Family, Council Hall.

At this time, the stewards and key members from each branch had already arrived. Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei were also seated.

However, the atmosphere today was somewhat different from usual.

"I just heard from the two elders that an Immortal Master will be presiding over today's council."

"Yes, I heard about that too. There was some commotion on the cliff a few days ago. They all said our family had another Immortal Master achieve success!"

Their hushed whispers were overheard by those around them, and a few more people began to murmur softly.

"Immortal Master Lingrui already achieved success some time ago and displayed great power during the beast tide. As for the newly successful one, I wonder if it's Immortal Master Linghu or Immortal Master Lingqing."

"What if both of them succeeded?"

"If that's truly the case, it would be great news for our family!"

"Indeed, indeed, a joyous occasion!"

They were all aware that the three children had been brought into the forbidden area.

But mortals didn't understand the intricacies of cultivation. Moreover, the two had never appeared before to display their sorcery, so they could only guess.

As everyone was whispering amongst themselves, a gentle breeze suddenly swept through the hall.

Everyone felt their minds clear, and when they looked up again, they saw a young woman in a white magic robe sitting in the main seat.

"Descendants of the Yang Family, pay respects to the Immortal Master!"

Clatter.

Led by Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei, the Yang Family members all knelt down in unison.

Faced with this scene, Yang Lingqing showed no signs of nervousness or timidity.

She scanned everyone with familiarity, then waved her arm.

"Rise, let the council begin."