Another ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Elder Yu returned to the Yang Family together with Formation Master Liu Zihao.
Upon arriving at the cliffside Forbidden Ground of the Yang Family, Liu Zihao could not help but sigh with emotion.
No one knew how many towns had been destroyed and how many lineages had been wiped out in this Beast Tide. It had truly not been easy for the Yang Family to survive this great calamity.
"Greetings, Yang Family Patriarch."
Liu Zihao cupped his hands and said, "Many formations were damaged after the Beast Tide. I have been busy repairing those around Wangyue City these past few days, so I have kept you waiting."
"Ah, Formation Master Liu, you are too polite. Please, come in."
As Yang Guanfeng spoke, he took a bundle from his robes. "These are the remaining forty Spirit Crystals. Please count them. The matter of the Yang Family Forbidden Ground's protective formation shall be entrusted to you."
The defensive formation required fifty Spirit Crystals in total. Elder Yu had previously paid ten Spirit Crystals as a deposit, and this payment settled the remainder.
"Hahaha, Yang Family Patriarch, you are too courteous. We are repeat customers, so there is no need to count them."
Liu Zihao smiled and waved a hand, placing the bundle of Spirit Crystals into his storage pouch.
The formation he had come to set up for the Yang Family was called the Pine Forest Thick Earth Array.
It likewise made use of the Yang Family Forbidden Ground's natural terrain. Though this formation was only of Qi Gathering Mid-stage quality, it covered a broad area and possessed outstanding defensive power.
It could encompass both the main and side courtyards of the Yang Family Forbidden Ground. Moreover, if someone suitable controlled the formation, even an ordinary late-stage cultivator would find it difficult to break through it by force.
Since they were repeat customers, Liu Zihao also reinforced the original Cloud Mountain Mist Array while he was at it.
Fifty Spirit Crystals did hurt to part with, but with this protective formation in place, Yang Guanfeng felt as though he had swallowed a Calming Pill. His heart settled considerably.
"Yang Family Patriarch, do you intend to eventually include the courtyards at the foot of the mountain within the formation as well?"
Liu Zihao asked.
"Of course we do, but our family assets are still somewhat thin at present. We will have to plan it out gradually."
"That is no matter. I can first draw up a plan for you. You can prepare slowly, and it will be more convenient to set it up in the future."
Liu Zihao had taken notice of the Yang Family's potential for growth and thus wished to build ties with them.
Yang Guanfeng naturally accepted his goodwill with pleasure.
The Yang Family had only just begun to rise. Being able to befriend more capable and unconventional practitioners would be beneficial to the younger generation.
Liu Zihao spent three months setting up this formation.
Three months later, the Pine Forest Thick Earth Array descended over the Yang Family Forbidden Ground like an inverted porcelain bowl.
Before Liu Zihao left, he gave Yang Guanfeng the completed formation blueprint. It listed the names of each formation and the materials required, so the Yang Family could begin preparing them at a leisurely pace.
During this trip to the market, Elder Yu also brought back three storage pouches.
Though they were only the lowest-quality spatial items, they were still exceedingly precious to the Yang Family.
"The space inside these pouches is about the size of half this little room. With them, we will no longer have to carry great bags and small bundles whenever we go out."
Elder Yu handed the three pouches to the three children. Watching them handle the pouches with curiosity in their eyes, his face was full of smiles.
He considered himself a man who had died once already. The Yang Family was now his root and foundation.
As long as he could watch the younger members of the Yang Family grow and see the Yang Family gradually flourish, he would be content.
Elder Yu then took a large bundle of books from one of the storage pouches.
"These five stacks contain several basic sets of Five Elements Sorcery."
He raised a hand and pointed. "These two books—one is called the Circulating Qi Induction Art, and the other the Hundred Bones Body Tempering Record. Both are Qi Gathering Realm cultivation techniques. One follows the path of circulating qi through the heavens, while the other tempers the fleshly body. I have examined them carefully. Their cultivation thresholds are not high, so they are quite suitable for our family."
Even when cultivated to the utmost, these two techniques would only reach Qi Gathering Perfection. They contained no method for Condensing Essence, and were far inferior to the Nether Spirit Path Seeking Scripture cultivated by Yang Lingrui and the other two.
Elder Yu had bundled up the three storage pouches and, relying on his silver tongue, had forced the price down to fifty Spirit Crystals.
Setting up the formation and purchasing materials had cost sixty Spirit Crystals. The remaining Five Elements Sorcery and two cultivation techniques had cost another thirty.
Of the one hundred and sixty Spirit Crystals earned previously from selling Demon Beast corpses, only twenty remained.
After settling the accounts, all five members of the Yang Family sighed inwardly. Spirit Crystals truly disappeared like water through one's fingers. They would have to be more frugal in the future.
"Ancestor, a letter arrived from White Stone Town today."
Yang Lingrui stepped forward and handed a letter to Yang Guanfeng.
The latter opened it and saw that it was Gao Hui's handwritten letter. Only five words were written inside: The Zhang Family has sent people.
"Has that Zhang Family finally made a move?" Elder Yu asked.
"Yes. They have been restless for a long time. Now that they have waited for more than three months, their patience should be worn away."
Yang Guanfeng put away the letter and turned around. "Lingrui, Linghu."
"Your disciples are here!"
The two stepped forward in response.
"Come with me. Let us see just how capable this Zhang Family truly is."
"Yes!"
Yang Guanfeng took a storage pouch and immediately set off with the two of them.
Yang Lingqing watched their departing figures and softly murmured a wish for their safety.
"Hehe, Lingqing, do you wish to go with them as well?"
Elder Yu lowered his head to look at her and asked gently.
Yang Lingqing nodded. "It would be a lie to say I do not. Ever since I began cultivating, I have never left home. I still want to go out and get some fresh air."
Hearing Yang Lingqing's words, Elder Yu felt a little distressed.
"Ah... child, you are simply too sensible. It pains people's hearts."
"Ancestor Yu, there is no need to feel this way. Lingqing does not feel wronged."
Yang Lingqing lifted her face with a smile. "Going outside to fight and make merry is interesting, but it is also too bustling. With my temperament, I would probably find it tiresome after watching for only a little while."
"Hahaha, little girl, you make me, at my age, seem somewhat overly sentimental."
As he spoke, Elder Yu gently stroked Yang Lingqing's head with his broad palm.
"Hehe, Ancestor Yu is still young!"
Yang Lingqing smiled with a hint of mischief. "Ancestor Yu, then I shall head down first."
"Mm, go on."
After saluting Elder Yu, Yang Lingqing turned and walked out of the Forbidden Ground. With a light leap, she descended the cliff.
Today was the day of the Yang Family's council meeting. It should originally have been presided over by Yang Guanfeng, but because of the Zhang Family, he could not attend. Yang Lingqing was temporarily taking his place.
Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu had discussed it long ago. Should anything happen to either of them, the Yang Family would thereafter be led by Yang Lingqing.
This was a perfect opportunity to let her come into contact with family affairs, and it also counted as her first appearance before the entire Yang Family.
Yang Family, council hall.
At this moment, the stewards and principal members of every branch had already arrived. Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei had also taken their seats.
Yet today's atmosphere was somewhat different from usual.
"I heard the two masters say earlier that today's council meeting will be presided over by an Immortal Master."
"Yes, I heard that too. There was some activity up on the cliff a few days ago. They all said another Immortal Master from our family had successfully cultivated!"
Their whispers were heard by those around them, and several more people began quietly discussing the matter.
"Immortal Master Lingrui had already succeeded long ago and displayed great might in the Beast Tide. This newly successful one—could it be Immortal Master Linghu or Immortal Master Lingqing?"
"Perhaps both of them have succeeded?"
"If that is true, it would be wonderful news for our family!"
"Yes, yes, a great joyous occasion!"
They all knew that the three children had been taken into the Forbidden Ground.
But ordinary people did not understand the twists and turns of cultivation. Since the two had never appeared before to display any sorcery, they could only make half-guessing, half-uncertain conjectures.
Just as everyone was whispering among themselves, a gentle breeze suddenly swept through the hall.
Everyone felt their minds brighten. When they looked up again, they saw a young girl dressed in white robes seated in the chair of honor.
"Descendants of the Yang Family, we greet the Immortal Master!"
Thud.
Led by Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei, everyone in the Yang Family fell to their knees in unison.
Faced with such a scene, Yang Lingqing showed not the slightest trace of nervousness or timidity.
Her gaze swept familiarly across the crowd before she lightly waved her arm.
"Rise. Begin the council."
Before you continue