The Patriarch and Elian didn't linger long at Xuantie Mountain. Their next destination was Qingyuan Mountain, where they planned to arrange a new third-rank formation.
"Let's use the Thunderfire Sword as the formation core," Elian suggested after observing the spiritual veins of Qingyuan Mountain.
The Patriarch shook his head and refused.
"Immortal swords are precious and rare. Using one for a formation would be a waste."
"Let's use my Flaming Heart Piercing Needle instead."
The third-rank Flaming Heart Piercing Needle was an artifact the Patriarch had obtained during the beast uprising. To establish this formation, he willingly offered it.
Elian considered this for a moment and agreed with the Patriarch's reasoning. While the Flaming Heart Piercing Needle was valuable, the family had recently acquired four third-rank precious metals. If necessary, a new third-rank artifact could be forged for the Patriarch.
With their decision made, they set up a third-rank offensive formation on Qingyuan Mountain using the Flaming Heart Piercing Needle. The needle's powerful offensive capabilities, combined with the defenses Qingyuan Mountain had accumulated over 300 years, would ensure that even Purple Mansion cultivators would face significant losses if they dared attack.
With the formation on Qingyuan Mountain complete, only the one for Pingyang City remained.
Pingyang City was only about 3,000 miles from Qingyuan Mountain, so the two reached it within an hour.
Upon arrival, the Patriarch studied the terrain carefully and eventually suggested, "What if we use Pingyang City as the main formation core and its six surrounding towns as subsidiary cores?"
"We could create a Seven Star Demon-Slaying Formation."
Elian's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he ascended to the skies to survey the terrain.
After careful examination, he was delighted to discover that the proposed formation would cover Pingyang City and the surrounding hundreds of miles of land.
The entire city and six towns would be protected by the formation, along with the fertile plains and wilderness within its boundaries. The people of Pingyang City could expand outward, establishing villages and farming the fertile lands under the formation's protection.
As the city's spiritual vein advanced, the formation's power would also grow, with a theoretical maximum coverage of 1,000 miles.
When Elian descended, he told the Patriarch, "Setting up this formation will require significant adjustments."
"First, we'll need to cultivate six low-grade second-rank spiritual veins, which will cost about 120,000 spirit stones. Additionally, the six towns will have to be relocated to align with the subsidiary cores."
The Patriarch nodded gravely.
"We'll also need a high-grade third-rank formation disk."
He looked at Elian as he said this. Crafting such a disk required top-tier third-rank precious metals, and the only suitable material available was the Whiteblade Metal Sword Embryo Elian had obtained.
"The disk isn't an issue," Elian said, taking out a high-grade third-rank formation disk. He had acquired it from Daoist Mo's estate, and it was paired with the Grand Plough Celestial Sword.
The Patriarch accepted the disk with visible joy.
"This will work perfectly."
Setting up the Seven Star Demon-Slaying Formation was no small task. For now, they used the disk to establish a low-grade third-rank defensive formation. The larger project would commence once the six low-grade second-rank spiritual veins were cultivated and the towns relocated.
After completing the formation, Elian handed two artifacts to the Patriarch: the Thunderfire Sword and a defensive treasure previously owned by Deng Yuanwu.
The Patriarch hesitated, but Elian shook his head and said, "After advancing to the Purple Mansion stage, the bronze tower has become somewhat obsolete for you."
"With this defensive artifact, paired with the Diamond Glass Barrier, your defenses will be among the best of any early-stage Purple Mansion cultivator."
The Patriarch accepted the defensive artifact but declined the Thunderfire Sword. "You've already given up the Vajra Banner. Adding this sword to the list might weaken your combat power."
"No matter," Elian replied with a faint smile.
"I plan to craft a natal artifact using Yuan Magnet Bracelet."
"I'm only at the first stage of the Purple Mansion. With the Fiery Void Sword, Grand Plough Celestial Sword, Vajra Seal, and Pure Water Green Lotus Platform, I already have four third-rank artifacts. Adding the magnetic treasure will leave me with more artifacts than I can control effectively."
Hearing this, the Patriarch finally accepted the Thunderfire Sword.
With this sword and his advancing natal artifact, the Patriarch now possessed three third-rank artifacts. The Crimson-Gold Three-Treasure Flags he held were particularly special, containing three divine abilities—more than either the Vajra Banner or Xu Daoyuan's Void Earth Cauldron. This made the flags exceptionally powerful.
Combined with the two divine abilities he had studied for years, the Patriarch was now a well-rounded and formidable early-stage Purple Mansion cultivator.
After dividing the treasures, Elian returned to Linghu Isle. Since returning to Yu County, he had been tirelessly busy preparing for the Purple Mansion breakthrough and dealing with the Metal vein. For several years, he had not had a moment of leisure. Finally, he could relax.
Back at Linghu Isle, he took three days to unwind, clearing his mind and appreciating the scenery.
It was the Grain Rain season, and a fine drizzle fell from the sky. Sitting in a pavilion, Elian listened to the gentle sound of raindrops while gazing at the peach blossom forest before him.
Over the years, the Spirit Peach trees had borne numerous fruits. After harvesting the peaches, Elian had scattered the pits across the island. Unintentionally, an entire forest of peach blossoms had grown, stretching for ten miles.
Now, the blossoms were in full bloom. The fragrance mingled with the rain, creating a captivating and tranquil atmosphere.
"Peaches flourish, their blossoms radiant," Elian murmured, gazing at the peach blossoms, listening to the rain, and inhaling the earthy fragrance mixed with the scent of flowers. For the first time in years, he felt a sense of peace.
He reflected on his journey. Along the way, he had been decisive and ruthless, his hands stained with the blood of many.
Since leaving Qingyuan Mountain, his rare moments of leisure were consumed by relentless cultivation, driven by fear.
The existence of the natural Spiritual Root (Spirit Peach Tree) weighed heavily on him, leaving him with no sense of security. He feared that one day it might bring disaster to his family.
At times, he dreamt of Chen Changqing, Chen Changyan, and Chen Qinghe. He dreamt of enemies descending in droves, destroying the family's century-old legacy for the natural Spiritual Root.
Each time he woke from such dreams, his heart was taut with resolve. Turning this fear into motivation, he dedicated himself to cultivation with even greater intensity.
Over the years, he had slain countless Foundation Establishment cultivators and even several Purple Mansion ones. Some weaker Purple Mansion Immortal Clans, after centuries of effort, had not exacted as much revenge as Elian had achieved alone in just a few decades.
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D