“Are you saying those two individuals were hired by Zou Yu?”

“Correct.”

During their return journey, Liu Zihao recounted his encounter to Yang Lingrui.

Yang Lingrui immediately suspected Zou Yu’s involvement upon hearing the details.

Liu Zihao’s brow furrowed, disappointment clouding his eyes.

“He’d go this far to harm me? We shared eight years as formation hall colleagues! Though we competed at times, we collaborated frequently too… This… sigh…”

Never had he imagined Zou Yu’s hatred ran deep enough to hire attackers.

His master’s removal to Chongtian had shown him how people chase profit, but Zou Yu’s betrayal made him feel this world’s cruel reality firsthand.

“Don’t despair, Mr. Liu. While Zou Yu exists, so do people like us,” Yang Lingrui reassured. “Our family Elder taught me: ‘Keep your ferocity but nurture kindness.’

“Never oppress the weak – show compassion. Against scheming villains, strike without mercy!”

Liu Zihao murmured these words, the gloom lifting from his face.

“The Elder speaks wisdom. I’m grateful for this lesson.”

Five days later, they reached the Yang Family estate.

Liu Zihao immediately began preparatory work at the mountain’s foot.

He’d previously designed formation plans under Yang Guanfeng’s oversight.

Normally, he’d simply update existing blueprints for current needs.

Yet he scrapped every prior design.

His role had changed – this was his first major task as a Yang Family member.

For his new family, mere adequacy wouldn’t suffice. Every detail demanded perfection.

Three months vanished into drawing formation diagrams.

He never left his courtyard during this period, wholly consumed by his work.

When finally presenting his masterpiece to Yang Lingqing, the complexity stunned her.

Though familiar with basic diagrams, she couldn’t discern top from bottom in these intricate designs.

“Allow me to explain, Master.” Liu Zihao lifted a wooden ruler. “This shows five interlinked formations.

“The primary ‘Hexagram of Four Symbols’ combines isolation, surveillance, defense, and offense. Anchored in Song Mountain’s Forbidden Area, it activates four subordinate formations below.

“These four share identical structures and positions. Beyond their core functions, their overlapping creates five additional effects!”

“The Summoning Rain and Invoking Wind formations could generate cold rain;

Determining Clarity and Avoiding Snow could bring forth warm sunlight;

Combining Summoning Rain with Determining Clarity produced gentle moisture;

Pairing Invoking Wind with Determining Clarity created arid heat;

When all four formations activated simultaneously, they formed the ‘Hundred Forms Returning to Origin Formation,’ nourishing the bodies, minds, and spirits of all humans, animals, and plants within.”

Yang Lingqing’s eyes widened with awe.

“Master’s diagram resembles the work of immortals! Lingqing is humbled to witness such divine craftsmanship!”

Even Chen Yang, observing covertly, gained enlightenment from Liu Zihao’s formation diagrams.

“Remarkable! This cross-disciplinary approach holds true wisdom!”

Chen Yang silently marveled: “His mastery of formation arts dwarfs my elementary understanding of Talisman Technique.”

Though he’d reached late-stage Gathering Qi himself, Chen Yang had never grasped complete talisman creation.

Yet Liu Zihao, merely at the Sixth Level, could design perfect formation diagrams – truly admirable.

“The Yang Family’s decades of struggle and sacrifice finally bear fruit. First obtaining three Condensing Essence stage methods, now gaining such talent – excellent, truly excellent!”

With the diagrams completed, the formation arranging phase commenced.

Though Liu Zihao understood perfect formations, his limited cultivation required assistance from Yang Family cultivators during implementation.

Gao Hui personally came to assist upon hearing the news.

The process demanded vast spiritual materials, including rare components scarce in common markets.

But with 40,000 Dynasty merits, the Yang Family procured everything from the Dynasty Treasury for 17,000 merits.

After six months of collective effort, five formations took shape across the territory.

During midsummer’s peak, the first cold rain descended from the new formations, banishing seasonal heat.

Revitalized northern and southern banks saw commoners prostrating in gratitude, chanting praises to the Immortal Master.

Chen Yang reclined in the ancestral hall, absorbing the accumulating power of wishes.

Seasons cycled swiftly through the year.

That year brought unprecedented drought to Tiger-Chasing’s southeast – a rare sight in decades.

While Wangyue’s populace suffered failed harvests, Yang Family territories flourished under climate-controlled formations.

The northern bank remained untouched by drought, while the southern bank endured the worst three months through formation protections.

Song Mountain’s foothills became legendary paradise. By next spring, mass relocation toward Yang lands began.

Three months saw two new southern bank villages, pushing population beyond 20,000.

These migrants abandoned minor families and sects whose leaders desperately tried preventing exodus through bribes or threats.

Since the “voluntary” relocation of nineteen families to Mobei region, none dared oppose the Songshan Yang Family among Wangyue’s noble families and sects.

“Master,” reported Zhao Qi – now at Second Level of Gathering Qi – outside the Forbidden Area’s main courtyard, “Qinghe Town’s Pan Baolu and Fengling Huang Family’s Huang Yan request audience.”

Having risen to prominence in southern Wangyue since the Mobei relocation, the Yang Family now received constant visitors – some seeking alliance, others begging Liu Zihao’s formation expertise.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep