Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

186: Clan Protection ArrayThe sun set in the west, twilight gathered, and the sky gradually darkened.

Under the gnarled old locust tree at the entrance of Lin Family Village, Lin Lingshan’s burly figure stood like a frozen statue, only the shallow pits worn by his repeated pacing revealing his inner anxiety.

The evening breeze blew, carrying a few withered leaves, adding to the desolation. Each time he looked towards the dusty path leading to the market town.

His gaze seemed to penetrate the deepening dusk, his heart pounding heavily in his chest, interweaving with the cries of tired birds returning to their nests into an unspeakably tense symphony.

”Why isn’t he back yet...” His throat rumbled, his whisper almost inaudible, his clenched fists already damp.

Ever since he read the message on the note Lin Jingyu left, his heart had been suspended over a scorching flame, finding no peace for a moment.

Cultivating Qi? Long forgotten. His mind was entirely consumed by the great protective Formation, which concerned the fate of their clan.

The spirit eye was truly too important, concerning whether the Lin family could break free from this situation of relying on others and being at their mercy.

If the spirit eye could be successfully activated, it would bring a large amount of Spiritual Qi.

Cultivating Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators would not be a difficult task.

Just as he was burning with anxiety, a paper kite slowly appeared at the edge of the sky. Clad in green and gray robes, with a still somewhat slender figure, who could it be but Lin Jingyu?

”Jingyu!”

A brilliant light suddenly burst forth in Lin Lingshan’s eyes, his suppressed worry instantly turning into ecstasy. He let out a low roar, his figure shooting forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, stirring up a cloud of dust.

”How is it? Is everything going smoothly? That Formation...”

His voice was hurried, with an undisguised tremor, ”Are there enough Spirit Stones? Did the people in the market town make things difficult?”

Lin Jingyu controlled his support to descend from the air, steadying himself. Meeting Lin Lingshan’s eyes, which were filled with anticipation and apprehension, his expression was calm, but a steady arc curved at the corner of his lips as he said indifferently:

”Uncle Lingshan, rest assured. The Formation, Formation diagrams, and all the spiritual materials needed to nourish the spirit eye are all prepared, without a single oversight.”

Hearing this, Lin Lingshan’s body trembled violently, as if struck by lightning, yet also like a long-awaited rain after a drought! He was momentarily speechless, only slapping his thigh heavily, letting out a muffled ”pah” sound.

His face flushed with excitement, he suddenly spread his arms and gave Lin Jingyu a firm hug, his palm-like hands vigorously patting the young man’s back, his voice choked:

”Good! Good! Good boy! Heaven bless my Lin family! You are truly the Qilin of my Lin family! This kindness and virtue, all of us in the Lin family will never forget!”

Lin Jingyu could feel the strong rise and fall of the tough man’s chest and the weighty affection. He gently broke free from the embrace, his tone still steady but with an undeniable strength:

”Uncle Lingshan, you exaggerate. The Lin family is also my Foundation. There’s no time to lose, please gather the clansmen immediately and announce this at the ancestral hall.”

”Good! Good! I’ll go now!”

Lin Lingshan haphazardly wiped the corners of his eyes with his sleeve, then turned and ran towards the village at top speed, his deep voice spreading like rolling thunder:

”Ring the bell! Assemble! All Lin clan members, proceed to the ancestral hall immediately! There is great joyous news!”

Lin Jingyu did not follow immediately, but first returned to his own small courtyard. Lin Jingxia was already waiting at the entrance, craning her neck in anticipation, and upon seeing her brother return, she immediately rushed to him like a swallow returning to its nest.

”Brother!” Her eyes were full of reliance and concern.

Lin Jingyu smiled slightly, taking out a few small items from his Storage Pouch: a hairpin embedded with a faintly glowing fluorite, exuding a soft radiance.

Several pieces of perfumed soap secretly made with spiritual plant petals, emitting a fragrant scent, and a small packet of candied sweets refined with spiritual honey, subtly imbued with Spiritual Qi. All were trinkets beloved by young girls in the market.

Lin Jingxia took them, her face immediately blossoming into a joyful smile, holding them dearly. After a brief comfort, Lin Jingyu took her to the ancestral hall.

At this moment, the ancestral hall was already bustling with people.

Hearing the bell’s summons, regardless of gender or age, everyone put down their work and rushed over.

Inside and outside the ancestral hall, it was packed with people, their faces a mix of doubt, unease, and a hint of faint expectation. Low discussions buzzed like a tide, and a suppressed atmosphere enveloped the ancient building.

Lin Jingyu stepped out from the crowd, walking calmly to the center of the ancestral hall.

His gaze swept across the entire hall, and an invisible, steady demeanor spread, gradually quieting the clamor. All eyes focused on him.

He said no more, directly taking an item from his Storage Pouch.

It was the size of two palms, with dozens of finger-sized Formation Flags inserted into it, faintly glowing with mysterious spiritual light.

He took a deep breath, a faint spiritual light emanating from his fingertips, slowly channeling into the Formation Plate.

”Om...”

The Jade Slip trembled slightly, emitting a low, pleasant hum. Immediately, its surface shone brightly.

Lines of incredibly complex runes, containing the profound principles of heaven and earth, emerged from within the slip, flowing, combining, and transforming.

A cool and vitalizing aura then permeated the air, invigorating everyone present.

”Everyone,” Lin Jingyu’s clear voice rang out, distinctly reaching everyone’s ears, ”Do you know what this is?”

The crowd stirred.

An old Cultivator with white hair and beard squinted, staring intently at the glittering Formation Plate, his gaunt body trembling slightly with excitement, and he hissed:

”This... this spiritual light, could it be... could it be the Formation Plate for a great Formation!”

His voice was sharp with extreme shock, but it was like a giant stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up monstrous waves in the crowd!

”An eye for talent.” Lin Jingyu nodded, his voice suddenly rising, resolute and decisive, ”Precisely! This is the Formation Plate for a First-Grade High Grade composite clan-protecting great Formation—the ’Waterwood Flowing Cloud Formation’!

This Formation Plate was purchased from the Tianfa Pavilion in the Southeast Market Town, costing a full ten thousand Spirit Stones!”

His gaze, like electricity, slowly swept over every shocked face, his voice imbued with powerful conviction and strength:

”From today onwards, my Lin family will completely bid farewell to a past of being bullied and having no defenses! With this Formation established, even several Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivators can be repelled.

I will use this Formation to protect my Lin Bloodline, ensure the well-being of my clan, and restore the prestige of the Lin family.

The days of being bullied and easily manipulated will be no more!”

Silence! A deathly silence!

Everyone was stunned by this sudden immense surprise, dumbfounded, as if they couldn’t believe what they had heard. The air was filled with a nearly solidified shock.

The next moment!

”Boom!!!”

A tremendous roar of cheers, exclamations, and ecstatic shouts suddenly erupted, like a mountain collapse and a tsunami, rushing straight to the sky, shaking the newly replaced beams and pillars of the ancestral hall as if they were rustling.

”A clan-protecting great Formation! It’s a real clan-protecting great Formation!”

”Heaven has eyes! Our ancestors protect us! My Lin family finally... finally has a Foundation to stand in the cultivation world!”

”This is great! No more worrying about those thieves and rogue Cultivators breaking in at night!”