Jiang Li's gaze remained fixed on the faint halo enveloping the entire Qingyun Sect. The flowing spiritual energy there caused even this ancient empress to tremble. She could sense that this formation not only possessed a terrifying ability to gather spiritual energy, but also faintly exuded an indescribable defensive power, as if the heavens and earth were isolated from it.
"Master, what kind of grand formation have you set up?" Jiang Li couldn't help but ask, her tone carrying a hint of awe that she herself was unaware of. "The mystery of this formation far surpasses any formation I have ever seen in my previous life."
Lin Zhou was squatting on the ground, studying the fragments of the gun-based laws given to him by the system. Upon hearing this, he casually said, "Oh, you mean this? It's called the Nine Revolutions Spirit Gathering Array."
He picked up the rabbit that Da Huang had caught yesterday and held it up to the sun to see if it was dead. Finding nothing unusual, he casually tossed it to Jiang Li beside him: "Here, we'll eat it for lunch today."
Jiang Li caught the dead rabbit, and felt a surge of pure spiritual energy emanating from her fingertips, which startled her again. Such spiritual energy would be enough to cause countless battles in the outside world, yet her master had casually tossed it to her again. This was because rabbits or wild beasts of this level were highly nutritious to eat; at best, they might help one break through to a higher realm, and at worst, they would nourish the body.
Suppressing her shock, she pressed on, "The Nine Revolutions Spirit Gathering Array... it sounds extraordinary. I wonder what its wondrous uses are?"
"A clever use?" Lin Zhou scratched his head, thought about the system's explanation, "It can draw the surrounding spiritual energy here, making it more concentrated than elsewhere, and also keep out petty thieves and wild beasts."
He spoke of it casually, as if he were talking about something extremely ordinary.
Jiang Li: "..."
Is the spiritual energy here more concentrated than elsewhere? This concentration is probably several times denser than the forbidden areas of ancient imperial tombs! Enough to fend off petty thieves? This formation's defensive power can probably withstand a full-force attack from a Nascent Soul stage cultivator!
What exactly is this master's misunderstanding about "powerful"?
Lin Zhou ignored what she thought, dusted off his hands, and stood up: "By the way, your senior brother has gone down the mountain, so there's no one to cook lunch."
He looked at Jiang Li and instructed her as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "It's your turn today. Just make something simple and don't make it too complicated."
Jiang Li: "???"
She was an ancient empress who ruled over a vast empire and guided countless cultivators. When had she ever done such a mundane task as cooking?
But seeing Lin Zhou's matter-of-fact expression that said, "You're a disciple, so you should do the work," she swallowed back the refusal that was on the tip of her tongue. She nodded silently: "...Yes, Master."
Well then, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. For the sake of this formation and spiritual energy, cooking a meal won't hurt.
...
Meanwhile, outside Tianfeng City.
A figure slowly walked over; it was Xiao Chen, who had just left the Qingyun Sect.
He changed into a clean blue robe. Although he was still thin, his back was straight, his eyes were sharp, and he exuded an aura completely different from usual.
The city guards glanced at him, initially ignoring him, but upon seeing his face clearly, they suddenly exclaimed, "Isn't this... Xiao Chen from the Xiao family?"
As soon as he said this, several cultivators gathered around and curiously examined Xiao Chen.
"It really is him! Wasn't he kicked out of the Xiao family? Why is he back?"
"That's not right. I heard he was crippled a long time ago, his meridians were all broken and his cultivation was completely gone. How come he looks like this now..." Someone tried to probe Xiao Chen's cultivation, but was repelled by an invisible spear intent, and couldn't help but change his expression. "Such a strong aura! This is definitely not a cripple!"
"Wasn't he crippled? He was finished after coming out of the Eternal Gun Tomb back then, what happened? Was it a last burst of energy before death?"
"It doesn't seem like it. Look at his steady gait and clear eyes; there's not a trace of decline in him."
The discussions grew louder, and the gazes directed at Xiao Chen contained surprise, doubt, and a hint of schadenfreude.
Xiao Chen remained expressionless as he walked straight through the city gate, ignoring the surrounding discussions. He knew these voices would soon reach where he wanted to go. In Kaiyuan City now, even the most powerful patriarch was only at the Nascent Soul stage. He might not be a match for a Nascent Soul cultivator in person, but with the pills his master had given him, he wouldn't be afraid.
Sure enough, in less than half an hour, the news that "Xiao Chen has returned and his cultivation has been fully restored" spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Tianfeng City.
Inside an elegant study in the Xiao family mansion.
The current patriarch, Xiao Lie, slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly, his face grim: "What did you say? Xiao Chen is back? And he's recovered his cultivation?"
The servant who brought the news trembled as he reported, "Yes, Master, everyone outside is saying that Xiao Chen just entered the city. His aura is powerful; he's definitely not a cripple!"
Xiao Lie's eyes flickered, his heart churning with shock. That good-for-nothing he had personally abandoned had actually recovered? How could this be!
"Oh dear, I shouldn't have treated him like that in the first place. I didn't expect him to recover. I need to think of a way to get him back to his clan."
Meanwhile, at another location, the Su family mansion.
Su Wanqing was sitting by the window playing the zither when she heard the maid's panicked report. Her fingertips trembled, and a string snapped.
"Who did you say came back?" Su Wanqing's voice trembled slightly.
"It's...it's Young Master Xiao Chen," the maid whispered. "Everyone outside says that he not only returned, but also recovered his cultivation, and he seems even more powerful than before."
Su Wanqing suddenly stood up, her face turning pale instantly.
Xiao Chen... he didn't die? He's back?
She bribed someone from the Li family to assassinate him back then; if he finds out…
No, no, no, he definitely doesn't know. If he did find out, how could I possibly get away with it?
Su Wanqing's heart clenched, and a hint of fear flashed in her eyes.
...
Appendix: Realm Settings (from low to high)
1. Qi Induction Realm: Sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, drawing it into the body, and stepping into the threshold of cultivation.
2. Foundation Establishment Realm: Spiritual energy is transformed into liquid, the foundation of the dantian is established, lifespan increases to two hundred years, and one can control simple magical artifacts.
3. Golden Core Realm: The spiritual energy in the dantian condenses into a core, the spiritual power undergoes a qualitative change, one can fly through the air, and one's lifespan is five hundred years.
4. Nascent Soul Realm: The Golden Core shatters, and the Nascent Soul is born, possessing a second life form with a lifespan of a thousand years and a significant leap in strength.
5. Nascent Soul Transformation Realm: The Nascent Soul transforms into a deity, allowing one to roam the vast void, manipulate objects from a distance, influence the rules of a region, and have a lifespan of five thousand years.
6. Refining Emptiness Realm: The spirit merges with the void, controls the power of space, can create small worlds, and has a lifespan of ten thousand years.
7. Integration Realm: The physical body and the soul are perfectly integrated, and every move has immense power.
8. Mahayana Realm: The Great Way is perfected, touching the origin of the world, which is the last step before ascension.
9. Tribulation Transcending Realm: One must draw upon the heavenly tribulation to temper oneself. Success leads to ascension to immortality, while failure results in death and the dissipation of one's cultivation.
(Note: Each realm is divided into four sub-stages: beginner, intermediate, advanced, and peak.)
(There are more realms to come, which will be discussed later. For now, we will focus on these realms.)
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