Chapter 84 Cultivating backbones, shadows take root

The news that Lin Feng and Xia Zhihe were about to reach the Spiritual Realm was like a spring breeze, dispelling the gloom that had accumulated in Ye Li's heart due to the recent series of misfortunes. The young seedling of Youge had weathered many storms, but far from dying, it was on the verge of its first qualitative transformation in its core strength. This made her even more determined to focus on cultivating core members and building a truly reliable team.

Of the original five, Lin Feng was calm and capable, while Xia Zhihe possessed exceptional alchemy talent, both promising talents. Later additions, Zhang Yuan and Li Yun, also proved their loyalty and value through trials and tribulations. However, the future of Youge couldn't rely solely on her, nor on Lin Feng and a few others. She needed more capable individuals, distributing her strength to create a more stable structure.

In her retreat room, five jade slips emanating a faint chill hovered before Ye Li. These were the secret techniques she had painstakingly selected or modified for Lin Feng, Xia Zhihe, Sun Xiaohou, Zhao Xiaoyi, and Zhang Yuan, based on their respective characteristics, spiritual roots, and existing cultivation techniques. Because Li Yun's cultivation techniques were relatively unique and deeply connected to the traditions of Danxia Peak, Ye Li had not made any hasty changes. Instead, she had prepared a batch of precious spiritual plant seeds and secret recipes for her.

Ye Li valued Lin Feng for his calm ability to coordinate situations and meticulous intelligence analysis. She refined a top-grade Xuan-level auxiliary technique called "Ice Heart Art," removing its overly feminine aspects and enhancing its calming effects, heightening perception, and sharpening thinking speed. While this technique doesn't directly increase combat power, it significantly enhances Lin Feng's ability to process complex information and respond to emergencies, crucial for his future management of the growing Youge. She also included a set of her own compilations, "The Essentials of Covert Communications and Information Encryption," encompassing many of the secret methods used by Li Zun in his previous life to manage his vast power.

For Xia Zhihe, her dual wood and water spiritual roots and natural talent for alchemy are crucial. Ye Li combined the essence of the fragmentary ancient alchemy text, "Qingmu Yunling Pian," obtained from the Sutra Library, with his own alchemy experience and compiled it into a book. This chapter, while not a specific recipe, explains the profound techniques for harmonizing the properties of spiritual herbs, nourishing the alchemy furnace with wood-elemental spiritual energy, and improving the quality of the resulting elixirs, which are sufficient to elevate Xia Zhihe's alchemy attainments to a new level. Furthermore, it includes a modified recipe for a second-grade, top-grade elixir, "Yunshen Dan," which has miraculous effects on nourishing the soul and spirit, a precious resource needed for reaching the Spiritual Mansion Realm.

Sun Xiaohou's strengths lie in his agility and intelligence-gathering abilities. Ye Li taught him not an offensive technique, but rather a unique form of physical movement and breath-concealing called "Illusionary Breathing Technique." This technique, derived from the superficial aspects of "Universe Traceless Steps," while far less profound than the original, boasts ease of initiation and minimal spiritual power requirements, making it ideal for those like Sun Xiaohou who frequently lurk and gather intelligence. Upon achieving minor mastery, he can stalk like a ghost, undetectable by cultivators of the same level.

As for Zhao Xiaoyi, a man known for his loyalty and reliability but somewhat less gifted talent, Ye Li refrained from imparting advanced techniques to him. Instead, she refined his solid "Thick Earth Technique," enhancing his earth-based spiritual energy to a more robust and resilient form, prioritizing defense and endurance. At the same time, she systematically taught Zhao Xiaoyi the fundamentals of resource management, accounting, and the deployment of small formations, aiming to cultivate him into a reliable "steward" of Youge, responsible for the tedious yet crucial internal logistics support.

Zhang Yuan's background in the Weapon Hall and his talent for identifying materials were key points. Ye Li combined the scattered knowledge inherited from the Xuanhuan Venerable regarding the purification of several rare metals and basic rune enhancement with her own experience refining the Mystic Ice Sword and the Star Array, compiling it into the first chapter of "The Essence of Hundred Forgings" and passing it on to him. While this essence didn't cover advanced weapon refining techniques, the material processing concepts and rune manipulation techniques contained within were enough to allow Zhang Yuan to break through his current bottlenecks, potentially enabling him to become Youge's own weapon refiner in the future.

As for Li Yun, Ye Li remotely guided her through Zijing, informing her in detail about the cultivation methods and characteristics of several ice-type spiritual herbs unique to the northern border that she had discovered. She also provided several ideas for using these spiritual herbs to refine new elixirs, encouraging her to try boldly and open up new paths beyond the Danxia Peak inheritance.

After preparing these, Ye Li did not immediately teach through Zi Jing. She knew that the inheritance of skills was of great importance and must be done in person to ensure that there were no mistakes and to provide guidance based on each person's actual situation.

She first contacted Zhang Yuan and Li Yun, who were relatively close by and currently carrying out a sect mission. Through encrypted instructions, she instructed them to rendezvous with a small gathering place for independent cultivators called "Luomae Town," a thousand miles away from the Xuanyun Sect, after their mission was complete.

A few days later, in a quiet room of an inconspicuous inn in Luofeng Town.

Zhang Yuan and Li Yun rushed over and were extremely excited and respectful when they saw Ye Li who had been waiting there for a long time.

"Pavilion Master!"

Ye Li nodded slightly, motioning for them to sit down. She carefully examined their progress and physical condition, then nodded with satisfaction. Zhang Yuan had already reached the peak of the middle stage of the Condensing Veins Realm, and Li Yun had also consolidated her cultivation in the early stages of the Condensing Veins Realm.

"You two have done a good job recently." Ye Li first affirmed their achievements in the Northern Territory. "The development of Youge requires talents from all walks of life. I called you here today because I see that you have a calm mind and are worthy of cultivation."

As she spoke, she handed the two jade slips she had prepared to each of them.

Zhang Yuan took the jade slip containing the "Essence of Hundred Forgings" and scanned it with his spiritual sense. An expression of ecstasy and disbelief suddenly appeared on his face! The knowledge contained in it far exceeded what he had learned in the Instrument Hall. Many material processing problems that had troubled him for a long time were actually solved here!

"This... Thank you very much for your generous gift, Pavilion Master! Zhang Yuan will study hard and will never let you down!" He was so excited that his voice trembled.

Li Yun's eyes lit up when she saw the jade slips containing information on the cultivation of ice-type spiritual herbs and the recipes for elixirs. She felt as if she had found a treasure. "I will devote my wholehearted efforts to cultivating spiritual herbs and delving into the art of alchemy!"

Ye Li said seriously, "Kung Fu techniques and skills are the foundation of life. I am passing them on to you two today because of my trust and responsibility. You must practice diligently and not slack off, and you must not pass them on to others. In the future, Youge's weapons, armor, and special elixirs may depend on you two."

"Yes! Disciples will remember this!" The two responded in unison, feeling the burden on their shoulders was heavier, but the direction forward was also clearer.

Ye Li then gave detailed answers to some of the problems the two encountered during their cultivation, and left some pills to assist in their cultivation before letting them leave.

Next, she followed the same method and secretly met with Lin Feng and Xia Zhihe, who had quietly returned to the sect after completing the breakthrough, as well as Sun Xiaohou who had been lurking outside and Zhao Xiaoyi who had been guarding the rear, to pass on the secret techniques she had prepared for them.

Lin Feng was given "Ice Heart Sutra" and the management strategy, which gave him more power. He felt that his ideas were clearer and he had a grander blueprint for the future structure and development of Youge.

Xia Zhihe obtained the "Qingmu Yunling Chapter" and the Yunshen Pill recipe, and her understanding of alchemy has become deeper. She is confident that she can raise her alchemy level to the peak of the second level in a short period of time.

Sun Xiaohou learned the "Phantom Hiding Technique" and felt like a fish in water. He couldn't wait to try his skills.

Zhao Xiaoyi obtained the "Thick Soil Secret" and management knowledge. Although his progress will not be too fast due to his limited talent, he is down-to-earth and manages the logistics work in an orderly manner.

Each time Ye Li imparted her teachings, she didn't just give them a hand; she engaged in in-depth communication and guidance, ensuring they understood and began practicing. In this process, she wasn't just training her subordinates; it was like carving precious works of art, gradually infusing her own ideas and expectations into the hearts of these core members.

Receiving the Pavilion Master's personal training and such a precious inheritance, Lin Feng and the others were filled with gratitude, their loyalty reaching its peak. They knew this wasn't just an advancement in their technique, but also a clear sign that the Pavilion Master considered them future pillars of support. The cohesion of the entire You Pavilion was at an all-time high.

After completing all this, Ye Li finally breathed a sigh of relief. Cultivating backbone members is not a one-day job, but the seeds have been sown. With enough sunshine and rain (resources and support), they will grow into towering trees in due course.

She felt that Youge, this once somewhat fragile seedling, was now digging its roots deep into the soil, becoming more resilient. And through this systematic teaching and guidance, she herself had sorted out and refined what she had learned, gaining a deeper understanding of power.

"Next, it's my turn..." Ye Li's gaze drifted towards the refining room in the courtyard, where the Earth Fire Vein was activated. Before heading to the Bingpo Xuan Palace, she had one more crucial task to complete – to begin the initial ritual of refining the "Void Divine Crystal" inherited from the Xuanhuan Venerable. This would be the crucial first step towards refining her own natal magic weapon.

The backbone of Youge is growing, and her sharpest sword is about to be tempered again.