During the refining process, flashes of lightning constantly erupted from the talisman paper and struck Chen Yang.

These stray bolts were terrifyingly powerful, each capable of inflicting severe injuries on a late-stage Gathering Qi practitioner.

The Yang Family cultivators guarding the ancestral hall couldn’t help but feel their hearts tremble at the thunderous booms.

“Such terrifying power!”

“Even the scattered energy feels like late-stage Gathering Qi!”

“The Immortal Master’s might is limitless! His cultivation level must’ve recovered greatly!”

Inside the hall, lightning bursts exploded against Chen Yang’s body.

Though fierce, his armor’s defenses proved stronger, blocking every strike.

Normally, talisman masters refining Thunder technique talismans would prepare lightning-dispersing formations beforehand.

Thunder spirits naturally rage during refinement, attacking the caster unless protective measures are taken.

Chen Yang hadn’t formally studied talisman arts and didn’t know these precautions.

Luckily, his own defenses were sturdy enough to endure them without trouble.

The refinement lasted ten full days.

Villagers at Song Mountain’s foot initially panicked at hearing thunder in clear skies.

Later, Zhao Qi descended with orders to calm them.

Learning this was their Immortal Master conducting blessing rituals, the people stopped worrying and flocked to the Hall of Yang’s Lineage to worship.

Ten days later, a dull boom echoed from the ancestral hall as black smoke billowed out.

At the final moment of failure, Chen Yang used spiritual power to contain the explosion within one meter, sparing the Yang Family’s ancestral tablets.

He’d anticipated failure midway when the connection to earthly thunder spirits broke, staying prepared.

“Special talismans require specific environments,” Chen Yang mused. “Building a lightning pool here isn’t feasible. We’ll need thunder-aligned spiritual materials and ores instead.”

He summoned Yang Lingqing and explained this.

She accepted the task, then shared her own plans.

Despite efforts to hide it, Chen Yang’s refinement had drawn outside attention.

She proposed upgrading Song Mountain Forbidden Area’s formation to Perfected Gathering Qi level for his future convenience.

“Next, I’ll install four mid-tier formations at the mountain’s foot—prioritizing the northern bank while covering the southern bank. They’ll summon rain, stabilize weather, invoke winds, and ward off snow, aiding farming and recovery for our common folk.”

Yang Lingqing bowed. “Your decision, Immortal Master?”

“Approved.”

Chen Yang agreed—this would improve commoners’ lives under their rule, boosting population growth.

It’d also deepen gratitude toward the Yang Family, granting him more power of wishes. Two gains at once.

“Thank you, Immortal Master!”

Yang Lingqing replied and sent Zhao Qi to Fish Ridge River.

The Yang Family’s formations had always been arranged by Formation Master Liu Zihao. Yang Guanfeng thought highly of him and had instructed Yang Lingqing to maintain good relations with him before departing.

But hiring him for a Perfected Gathering Qi formation seemed risky.

His cultivation level was around the sixth level of Gathering Qi, and even creating late-stage formations for the Yang Family had been impressive enough.

Moving up to Perfected Gathering Qi… his capabilities became questionable.

Given their long partnership, Yang Lingqing decided to consult him first. If he declined, they could ask for recommendations.

After buying lightning-strike wood at the marketplace per his senior sister’s orders, Zhao Qi went to the formation hall and mentioned Liu Zihao’s name.

The attendant’s startled reaction puzzled him. “Senior, is something wrong?”

“Not at all. You haven’t visited the marketplace recently?”

“Not for years.”

“No wonder! Formation Master Liu… fell on hard times these past two years. He couldn’t afford the hall’s fees and moved out.”

Zhao Qi quietly slipped five spiritual crystals into the attendant’s sleeve.

The attendant guided him to a guest room and explained:

Liu Zihao wasn’t a Loose cultivator but trained under a master – an Early Stage Condensing Essence formation expert in Moon Watching City, closely tied to City Lord Song Kaiyang.

This master’s guidance let Liu Zihao craft late-stage formations despite his mid-tier cultivation. Many clients had actually sought connections to his prestigious teacher.

Three years prior, a dynasty inspector arrived. City Lord Song became confined to Moon Watching City, and Liu Zihao’s master was trapped there too.

Then over a year ago, news broke: the master had been dragged to Chongtian City’s Prison.

The formation community erupted. Clearly, the Condensing Essence master had offended powerful figures.

Liu Zihao himself was summoned for questioning but released after three days when cleared.

Though unharmed, clients now avoided him, fearing association with trouble.

“So that’s what happened.”

“Young friend, perhaps choose another? The hall has good alternatives.”

Zhao Qi pondered. If Liu Zihao were truly problematic, the dynasty wouldn’t have freed him.

Most likely, with his current realm, he had not yet encountered events of the same level as his master and Song Kaiyang, nor had he participated in them. Others feared the unknown, while the Yang Family, involved in the dynasty’s maneuvers, understood the situation more clearly.

“Thank you for informing me, Senior. Formation Master Liu has cooperated with my family many times in the past, so I must pay him a visit,” Zhao Qi said, cupping his hands in salute.

Seeing him say this, the cultivator did not continue to persuade him and pointed out Liu Zihao’s current residence to him.

Following the address, Zhao Qi quickly made his way into the western area of the marketplace. This area was a trading spot for many Loose cultivators, with simple surroundings and facilities. Various stalls lined the streets, and one could hear the hustle and bustle of vendors calling out, just like in ordinary streets.

After walking through three alleys, Zhao Qi found Liu Zihao in a secluded old wooden house.

“Welcome, esteemed guest! Come in and take a look; the quality of my formation instruments and diagrams is guaranteed!”

Without business for arranging formations, Liu Zihao now relied on making formation instruments and diagrams to make a living. In fact, if he stopped pursuing progress in the formation path, he could live quite comfortably just selling these tools.

However, even after the incident involving his master, this cultivator still refused to give up on this path. Mastering any of the cultivation arts required money to see results. Thus, most of his income was spent on his own formation path training, leaving him with insufficient funds to stay at the formation hall.

“Are you… from the Yang Family?”

Liu Zihao had previously met Zhao Qi when he upgraded the formation for the Yang Family. Upon seeing Zhao Qi, he momentarily paused his actions, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.

“I’ve come to see you, Formation Master Liu.”

Zhao Qi raised his hand in respect, then presented the hundred spiritual crystals that Yang Lingqing had sent as a gift.

“Formation Master Liu has taken good care of my family. The Master specifically instructed me to deliver this to you.”

Zhao Qi continued, “Currently, my family needs to upgrade the formation, so we wish to invite Formation Master Liu for a visit.”

“This!”

Liu Zihao grasped the storage bag containing the spiritual crystals, looking at Zhao Qi with disbelief. Since that incident, other families and sects had been steering clear of him.

Let alone hiring him to arrange formations; the formations he previously set up for them had all been dismantled and rebuilt. They wanted nothing to do with him.

The changes in human relationships, driven by self-interest, had made him accustomed to and accepted his current situation over the past two years.

But now, the Yang Family was actively reaching out to him, inviting him to arrange a formation for their family, creating ripples in his heart like a stone dropped into a deep pond.

“Friend… is this true? Please don’t tease me…”

His hands trembled, emotions swirling within him, afraid it might be a false hope.

Zhao Qi smiled and stepped aside to gesture toward the door respectfully, saying, “Formation Master Liu, please.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep