After seeing everyone off, Su Ming closed the courtyard gate and activated all the restrictions of the “Minor Heavenly Cycle Water Rhythm Formation.”

The sounds from the outside world were instantly cut off, as if the entire world now consisted only of him and this new cave dwelling.

Su Ming returned to the meditation room and sat cross-legged on the prayer mat.

He didn’t immediately begin cultivating. Instead, he calmed his mind and spirit, extending his consciousness into the newly acquired storage pouch at his waist and the Xuantian ring on the index finger of his left hand, which had already re-established its connection.

With a wave of his hand, Su Ming took out the one hundred low-grade spirit stones, the elixirs, and some other miscellaneous belongings he had accumulated before, placing them all in front of him.

Low-grade spirit stones: A neat little pile of exactly one hundred and twenty pieces, stacked squarely. This was the most tangible wealth, their spiritual energy gentle and abundant, the hard currency for cultivation, setting up formations, and transactions.

Condensed Jade Pills: One of the core rewards for being the top scorer in this assessment, a precious item specifically used to assist Qi Refining mid-stage cultivators in breaking through minor bottlenecks and stabilizing their cultivation. Their value far exceeded that of ordinary spirit stones.

Reviving Spring Pills: Standard healing elixirs issued by the sect, effective for both internal and external injuries, essential items for venturing out on missions.

Azure Edge Sword (First Tier, Middle Grade): The standard-issue sword for outer sect disciples, sharp and agile, inscribed with simple “Sharpness” and “Lightness” runes. It was a common item, but sufficient for daily use.

Blank formation plates, formation flags (several): “Specialties” and self-made products from the Repair Hall. The materials were ordinary but the specifications standard, serving as the foundation for his practice and formation setting.

Various types of spiritual ink, talisman paper, low-grade spiritual materials: Routine consumables for repairs and talisman making. The quantity was considerable, but the grades were not high.

Special materials: The “Void Stone Powder” was already exhausted, leaving only an empty bottle. A small amount of Soul Stabilizing Sand remained. These two were key for setting up the “Minor Void Spirit Attraction Formation” and needed to be replenished as soon as possible.

Miscellaneous items: Two brand-new sets of the outer sect disciple’s standard green robe; the iron token for “Formation Peak Candidate Steward”; a route map indicating the location of Clear Stream Valley; a jade plaque for controlling the cave dwelling’s basic restrictions; and that ancient, purpose-unknown Turtle-Knob Seal obtained in the mundane capital.

After taking stock of the storage pouch, Su Ming cautiously turned his attention to the index finger of his left hand.

However, Su Ming did not rashly take out all the items inside, especially not within this new sect cave dwelling that he hadn’t fully figured out yet.

He merely “inspected” the space inside the ring with his consciousness and communicated with Lin Yu.

A broken sword, rust-covered, murderous aura contained within.

Three jade slips. One of them was completely impenetrable by divine sense, layered with restrictions. One recorded the “Greenwood Longevity Art,” its contents complete. The last one was merely inscribed with the two characters “Alchemy Formulas,” its contents also sealed by restrictions.

“Master, it’s best not to disturb the things in the ring for now,” Su Ming said in his mind.

He was referring to those two jade slips sealed by restrictions (especially the one that was completely impenetrable), and that rust-covered, murderous aura-contained broken sword.

The origins of these items were unclear, their auras peculiar. If taken out, they might trigger the sect’s grand formation or the perception of a master, with unpredictable consequences.

“Mmm, keep them hidden. They are trump cards, but also trouble,” Lin Yu’s voice sounded. “At this stage, our visible resources are what’s in the storage pouch, plus the knowledge in your head and the foundation of the Repair Hall.”

Lin Yu’s phantom figure drifted out, circling the pile of spirit stones twice, clicking his tongue appreciatively. “One hundred spirit stones, for a Qi Refining stage cultivator, counts as a huge sum. But if you want to fill that pit of ‘Dao foundation damage,’ it wouldn’t even make a splash.”

Su Ming’s eyes dimmed for an instant before returning to calm. “The Dao foundation damage is indeed a serious hidden danger.”

Although he performed excellently in the Questioning Heart Forest, that was only a matter of temperament.

The physical injury, however, was solid and real.

If not resolved, his cultivation might very well stop at the Golden Core stage.

“Don’t lose heart,” Lin Yu floated in front of him, gesturing with his translucent fingers. “The current strategy is: open sources and reduce expenditure, target specific breakthroughs.”

“How so?”

“These fifty spirit stones,” Lin Yu pointed to half of the pile, “no matter what happens, this money cannot be touched. It’s for buying life-saving talismans, one-time teleportation charms.”

“Of the remaining seventy, thirty will be invested into the operation of the Repair Hall. Purchase higher quality repair materials, attempt to take on more complex commissions. You could even allocate a small amount as rewards for Old Wang, Ah Sheng, and the others if they make cultivation breakthroughs. Deep roots make for lush foliage. This enterprise is the most stable path for you to establish yourself in the sect and earn contribution points and favors.”

“Twenty spirit stones are for your daily cultivation expenses. The ‘Like Water Art’ is balanced and peaceful, its consumption isn’t extravagant, but you also shouldn’t be strapped for cash. Accumulating spiritual energy during the Qi Refining stage remains fundamental.”

“Finally, ten spirit stones…” Lin Yu’s gaze returned to the Xuantian ring. “We need to find a way, through a secure channel, to exchange for ‘Void Stone Powder’ and ‘Boundary Origin Sand’ as soon as possible. For every bit more of my soul power that recovers, your safety net and formation deduction ability will strengthen. The ‘Minor Void Spirit Attraction Formation’ is currently our most promising ‘unexpected weapon.’ We cannot slack off.”

Su Ming nodded. With a thought, he divided the spirit stones in front of him according to this plan.

“As for repairing the Dao foundation…” Lin Yu pondered, his phantom figure appearing solemn. “This cannot be solved with spirit stones. Since the sect has already taken notice of you, perhaps we can gradually work towards it, using the sect’s power to search for clues. For now, the primary task is still to consolidate your foundation, increase your visible value and indispensability. The more important you are, the more willing the sect will be to invest in you, and the greater the hope of repairing your Dao foundation.”

Su Ming took a deep breath and put away the items on the table.

“Understood. Regarding the Repair Hall, I’ll have Old Wang keep an eye out for special materials. As for contribution points… it seems I’ll need to take on a few big jobs.”

By now, it was deep night outside the window.

Moonlight, filtered through the formation, spilled coldly onto the floor of the meditation room.

Su Ming stood up, pushed open the door of the meditation room, and walked into the courtyard.

The night breeze was gentle, carrying the unique fragrance of grass and trees from the valley.

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the layers of night, looking towards that towering, cloud-piercing peak in the distance: Formation Peak.

There, lights blazed brightly, like a fire dragon coiling in the night sky. That was the power center of the Cloud Hidden Sect’s path of formations, and also his nominal “superior unit.”

“Master,” Su Ming gazed at the dazzling lights and said softly, “Back when I looked out from the menial post courtyard, that peak seemed insurmountably high, a palace in the heavens.”

“And now?” Lin Yu floated beside him, also looking in that direction.

“Now I feel…” A hint of sharpness unique to youth appeared at the corner of Su Ming’s mouth, only to be quickly submerged in the deep pool of his eyes. “No matter how high the mountain, there is always a path to follow. No matter how large the formation, there is always a pivot to grasp. It’s merely a larger, more complex game of chess.”

Lin Yu turned his head, looking at his disciple.

Lin Yu glanced sideways, looking at his disciple’s profile in the moonlight.

The youth’s figure still appeared somewhat slender, but his back was ramrod straight, like a new bamboo shoot, pliant yet firmly rooted in this newly acquired land, growing silently.

“Having this mindset is good,” Lin Yu’s voice carried a trace of imperceptible satisfaction before returning to its usual lazy tone. “Alright, it’s late, the dew is heavy. Don’t stand here sighing at the moon. There’s a pile of work tomorrow. Our ‘Su Family Spiritual Plant Garden’ is waiting for you, its ‘Technical Director,’ to plan the irrigation formations. Go back inside, sleep!”

Su Ming chuckled softly, shook his head, and turned to walk back into the cave dwelling that belonged to him.

The stone door slowly closed, shutting the courtyard full of moonlight outside.

Clear Stream Valley returned to silence.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep