To set up the grand formation, Elian and the Patriarch spent two months forging seven sets of second-tier formation flags.
These seven sets consisted of forty-nine flags in total, with a cost of 50,000 spirit stones. Once forged, the flags were placed in seven spiritual veins and linked together through the array disks, forming a defensive formation spanning 800 miles.
From the sky, the Seven-Star Demon-Repressing Formation appeared as a transparent barrier covering the land, encapsulating the plains surrounding Pingyang City within an 800-mile radius.
Observing the protective barrier over the vast wilderness, the Patriarch smiled and said, "With this formation in place, Pingyang City will remain safe for years to come."
"Indeed," Elian agreed.
The Seven-Star Demon-Repressing Formation's power was formidable. Supported by six second-tier superior-grade spiritual veins and one third-tier inferior-grade vein, it could draw tremendous amounts of spiritual energy.
The output from these veins equated to the combined strength of six early Purple Mansion cultivators and one late-stage cultivator. Furthermore, the veins' energy replenished naturally, allowing the formation to maintain its defensive capabilities indefinitely.
Under such conditions, a single Purple Mansion cultivator could operate the formation, rendering even pseudo-golden core stage attackers helpless. Once Pingyang City's spiritual veins were upgraded to third-tier superior-grade, even Golden Core cultivators would struggle to breach the formation within a short time.
Relieved, both Elian and the Patriarch felt a sense of security. Pingyang City was the family's lifeline. Only with a secure stronghold could the family expand its population.
In this world, the likelihood of mortals possessing spiritual roots was approximately one in a thousand. The more mortals there were, the more cultivators would arise.
Low-level cultivators were invaluable. The Five Elemental Essence required by Elian and the Patriarch increased yearly, and the family's cultivators barely managed to meet their demands. Even so, the family still had to spend over 10,000 spirit stones annually purchasing Five Elemental Essence from other sources.
Apart from this, the family required manpower for guarding spiritual veins, managing industries, crafting pills and artifacts, and warding off monsters. For example, forging a batch of third-tier pills required hundreds of auxiliary ingredients. If Elian were a lone cultivator, collecting these resources himself would have rendered cultivation nearly impossible.
As part of a family, however, resources were readily provided by its 2,000 low-level cultivators and spiritual fields. Any specific herb or material could be gathered and delivered promptly.
"If we can reach a population of ten million mortals, the family will have tens of thousands of cultivators," Elian mused.
"By then, the Five Elemental Essence supply could be self-sufficient. Right now, Linglong, the Patriarch, and I have driven up the Five Elemental Essence prices in Qingzhou, Yang, and Bianzhou Regions by over 40%—it's becoming unsustainable."
He resolved to ramp up family efforts to gather more Five Elemental Essence. The recent crafting of the Patriarch's Whiteblade Star Pearls had already depleted most of their reserves.
When Elian reached the mid-Purple Mansion stage, he would require vast amounts of Five Elemental Essence to upgrade his four natal artifacts to superior third-tier grade. The total cost for the upgrades was estimated at 20,000 spirit stones per artifact, amounting to 80,000 spirit stones in total, even without accounting for the inflated market prices.
Switching his thoughts, Elian considered his spiritual goose farm. The Linghu Isle now supported a population of 1,000 spirit geese. Inspired by techniques from his past life, Elian had directed family members to develop a secret recipe that made the roasted geese not only delicious but also capable of enhancing cultivation.
The roasted spirit geese became a signature dish in family-owned restaurants, spreading across the major markets of the three provinces. Alongside the carbon-grilled Azure Spirit Fish, the dish was renowned as one of Chu Kingdom's two greatest delicacies, generating substantial annual revenue.
With the formation complete, Elian returned to Linghu Isle. The following years passed in routine—daily cultivation, artifact refinement, and honing his spiritual power.
Five years later, Chen Qinghao approached Elian for the Metal Crystal, attempting his first breakthrough to the Purple Mansion stage. Thanks to the foundation built with the Profound Jade Pill and other treasures, he succeeded in connecting five meridians on his first attempt.
With his robust foundation, Qinghao's chances of success in a second attempt—assuming a Five Elemental Crystal—rose to around 60%.
Three years later, Elian himself reached the peak of his current cultivation, standing on the brink of the mid-Purple Mansion stage. Wasting no time, he consumed a Creation Cloud Pill.
Elian's foundational artifacts and refined spiritual energy meant that even without the pill, he would have achieved the breakthrough within twenty years. With the pill, however, he ascended effortlessly to the mid-Purple Mansion stage.
Afterward, Elian focused on upgrading his natal artifacts to superior third-tier grade, completing the task within a year.
The day Elian finished refining his final artifact, the Patriarch awaited him outside the seclusion chamber.
"You're finally out," the Patriarch said.
"The Tianxu Mountain Alliance is about to begin. If you'd stayed in seclusion any longer, I'd have had to go alone."
Elian calculated the time—indeed, only a year remained before the planned attack on Qingyang Sect. Before the war, Tianxu Mountain had summoned the allied clans from three provinces to plan the offensive. Naturally, the Chen family had to send representatives.
The matter being of critical importance, both Elian and the Patriarch prepared to attend. With Chen Qinghao's newfound strength, he was left in charge of defending Pingyang City.
Traveling aboard the Purple Blood Boat, Elian and the Patriarch reached Tianxu Mountain within a day, being among the last to arrive. By then, 17 or 18 Purple Mansion cultivators and over 200 Foundation Establishment cultivators had gathered.
Elian's arrival reunited him with acquaintances from the Meng family, including Meng Xingwan, a female cultivator.
Decades ago, the Meng family had proposed a marriage alliance between Elian and Meng Xingwan. Now, Elian was a mid-Purple Mansion elder, while Xingwan had only reached the seventh level of Foundation Establishment.
Seeing the Patriarch and Elian, Xingwan respectfully lowered her gaze and said, "Greetings, Elders."
"Ah, Xingwan," the Patriarch said warmly.
The Chen family maintained strong ties with the Meng family, including several marriage alliances. Many Foundation Establishment cultivators from both families had become Dao companions over the years.
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D