A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 229 It’s done!

Five days later, when Tingyang Xiao returned to the Five Elements Sect, he discovered that something was amiss.

Why is everyone giving him such a cold shoulder?

Inside the Green Wood Hall, he looked at Li Weizhou, who was ignoring him, and asked suspiciously, "Brother Li, do you perhaps intend to discard me after using me?"

Li Weizhou roared in anger, "Bullshit!"

Then he explained the reason: "Do you know that if I hadn't been able to bend and stretch, and hadn't painfully handed over all the inheritance and spiritual energy left by our ancestor to that old man Hu the other day, then the entire Five Elements Sect would have suffered the might of the Earthly Venerable and been reduced to dust! I trusted you so much, and yet I was almost killed by that old man Hu!"

Ting Yangxiao was taken aback upon hearing this. After his ancestor returned to Thunder Mountain, he only told him that the matter had been resolved and briefly mentioned that he could sell a Grade Earth Spiritual Vein to Li Weizhou. He didn't say anything else, so he had no idea that there was such a thing...

He asked doubtfully, "That shouldn't be the case. Would that old bastard Hu Wanshan really dare to make a move? After I returned to the family that day, I immediately went to see the patriarch and begged him to help. I had a fortuitous encounter with the art of escape, and although my cultivation is far inferior to Hu Yuan's, my movement speed is not much slower than his. After informing the patriarch, he immediately set off... Where did things go wrong?"

Li Weizhou leaned back in his chair, flicked his wide sleeves, and said angrily, "How was I supposed to know where things went wrong? Old Man Hu's qi was unstable, and his temperament followed suit. I always felt like he was about to explode at any moment. At that time, I truly felt that I was only one step away from being easily killed. Do you know how much I sacrificed? The Five Elements Sect was almost emptied out!!"

Hearing this, Ting Yangxiao blushed, half with shame and half with anger.

However, he wasn't stupid. After his eyes darted around, he slammed his hand on the table and said indignantly, "That old bastard! How dare he bully my clan like this! I'll go back and report to our ancestor right now, and he'll definitely make you apologize! He'll make you pay back double what you took!"

"That won't be necessary. Our Tingyang family's ancestor said that Old Man Hu is also pitiful. He's already in such a state, yet he's still being pushed forward by the clan's members to seek benefits for the family. We'll talk about everything after he passes the tribulation. If he does, the ancestor will talk to him. If he doesn't, then he'll be left to me."

Li Weizhou changed the subject, saying, "But our Five Elements Sect suffered too much this time. Our ancestor's two thousand years of spiritual energy... is gone! Our ancestor's inheritance... is gone! Even the spiritual vein foundation of the mountain-protecting formation was damaged by that old man, and we urgently need an earth-type spiritual vein to replenish it. Our ancestor said that at least one earth-grade earth-type spiritual vein is needed to replenish it. He gave... he should have told you about that, right?"

Tingyang Xiao suddenly chuckled, scratched his head, and looked at Li Weizhou, saying, "Ancestor is indeed ancestor; he could tell at a glance that we're cut from the same cloth. Hehe, Li Weizhou, don't give me that! Ancestor said you want a Grade Earth Spiritual Vein, but it's for sale, not given away. Don't think I'm treating you like an outsider. Within the Tingyang Clan, only a few of the most core disciples and elders are qualified to buy a Grade Earth Spiritual Vein. Of course, the price will be discounted. The three major merchant alliances can also take on this kind of business, but their prices will be absolutely astronomical. Don't worry, what I'm giving you will definitely be a discounted price!"

Li Weizhou said expressionlessly, "Thirty-six, are you planning to renege on your promise?"

Ting Yangxiao blinked and looked at Li Weizhou, saying, "Don't be like that, of course I'm on your side. Besides, the ancestor has spoken, so don't worry, what's yours will definitely be yours. But now that you're a member of the family, you have to follow the rules. To be honest, even if it's given to you for free, you'd better not take it. What's given away for free is the most valuable, don't you think?"

Li Weizhou thought for a moment and nodded, "That makes sense. But I really don't have many spirit stones. Fortunately, I still have some savings. Would you like some Ice Heart Pills?"

Upon hearing this, Ting Yangxiao's eyes lit up immediately, then his expression turned somewhat strange as he said, "That Ice and Snow Secret Realm, you did it? Good heavens, is that Ice Dragon still around? Having one of those things is almost enough..."

Li Weizhou laughed and scolded, "You're dreaming! If I really had that ability, why would I need to ask you for a Grade-Earth Spiritual Vein? I could just exchange it with the three major merchant alliances. I have a descendant from the Medicine King Valley in Central Continent who happens to know how to build an ice cellar similar to the Ice and Snow Secret Realm, where Ice Soul Insects can be raised. Of course, it will come at a great price. I don't like to waste time. The Five Elements Sect is currently severely weakened, and the power of the Earthly Venerable is... In short, one hundred Ice Heart Pills are the price I can offer, no matter what."

"Five hundred! Not a single one less! And an ice cellar as well! Don't think I don't know what conditions you offered the Six Sects of Northern Spirit—trying to rip off your own people?!"

"How could that be?! Even if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have included it... Precisely because it's for the family, I'm providing an extra batch of Ice Heart Pills, one hundred and fifty at most!"

“That’s more like it… Four hundred, really, I can’t give any less, otherwise I won’t be able to convince the elders in the family treasury. You have to understand me.”

"Alright, for my brothers, I'm going all out! One hundred and eighty coins! I'm really bringing out the Five Elements Sect's most valuable assets!"

"...You're ruthless. No more arguing. I'll give you one last number: three hundred. Deal, deal..."

"One last time, 250. If it works, great; if not, goodbye."

Li Weizhou picked up his teacup, interrupting Ting Yangxiao, and made a gesture of seeing the guest off.

After thinking for a moment, Ting Yangxiao said, "How about adding another 10,000 pairs of walkie-talkies produced by the Five Elements Sect?"

It seems he has done a lot of research on the Five Elements Sect.

Li Weizhou smiled upon hearing this and said, "Alright, we'll do it your way. Thirty-six, listen to my advice. A real man shouldn't be too petty. Being too narrow-minded will not only hinder your progress in cultivation, but it will also affect your appearance."

Ting Yangxiao: "..."

After staring at Li Weizhou for a long time, he sighed and said, "You were right not to go to Zhongzhou, otherwise the family would have been in trouble from then on. To be so shameless, I am completely impressed."

As she spoke, she took out a storage bracelet and said, "You're lucky; this time you brought an earth-elemental spiritual vein. But you need to give me your Ice Heart Pill quickly so I can go back and report. What do you say about the Ice Cellar? This thing is incredible! The family really knows how to use it well; you won't have to worry about the few spiritual veins you have left."

"I'll discuss the ice cellar matter in detail when I go to Zhongzhou. Let's be magnanimous. I wouldn't even betray the Six Sects of Beiling, would I betray my beloved family and friends?"

Li Weizhou smiled, suppressing his excitement, and led Ting Yangxiao to check the goods. After sending them away, he went straight to Houtu Peak.

Ah, for the Tingyang Clan, the ice cellar is certainly important, and the Ice Heart Pill has an excellent auxiliary effect on the clan's members.

However, the ability to continuously generate electricity is what makes the existence so irresistibly tempting to the Tingyang clan...

First, cast a long line to catch a big fish.

Sooner or later, I'll need a Heavenly-level spiritual vein!
……

Situ Qingyue stood with her hands behind her back in a moon-white robe, while Zhou Yueniang sat on a soft chair. Although she and Ximei always bickered, now that she was pregnant, Ximei cared about her the most.

Of course, Xi Mei might only be concerned about her unborn nephew, but in any case, she is taking good care of Zhou Yue Niang now.

Unlike the others, Feng Biwu wore a long bohemian-style dress. She also liked taking photos, but of course, she only allowed Li Weizhou to take them for her.

Of Li Weizhou's women, she had the best figure, and although her pretty face rarely smiled, her complexion was the most vibrant.

Standing languidly to one side, surrounded by shimmering water droplets, she resembled a scene from a traditional Chinese ink painting of Jiangnan...

Qi Erniang was secretly delighted. She hadn't expected that the first spiritual vein Li Weizhou would choose to strengthen was Houtu Peak, so her eyes and brows kept brightening.

After looking around, Li Weizhou chuckled, his gaze finally settling on Zhou Yueniang's lower abdomen.

Observing with spiritual sense, there was a cluster of extremely pure and refined golden spiritual energy, which was exceptionally dazzling.

With guidance from Bai Zhiwei and Granny Jinhua, Zhou Yueniang used the Hidden God Palace to refine the Sharp Gold Tempering Pill left by the Hu clan's ancestor, extracting the most refined part to nourish the "fetal primordial body".

Li Weizhou felt that it was just a fertilized egg.

However, there was always a sense of blood connection that gave him a very strange feeling.

He likes this feeling.

Li Weizhou opened his storage ring and took out a dark yellow, dragon-shaped spiritual marrow.

Looking at the thing that was struggling desperately to escape, Li Weizhou really didn't know what to say.

When I was reading novels on the other side of the world, I always heard people talk about dragon veins, so this is what they're like...

Although it was a sentient being, feeling almost like a living thing, he couldn't be soft-hearted for the sake of family peace.

After taking a deep breath, his eyes hardened, and his hands moved in a series of hand seals.

Li Weizhou himself didn't feel anything special, because the Daoist techniques were directly imparted to him by the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, so he naturally learned them.

However, to Situ Qingyue and the others, this profound and complex Daoist technique was infinitely mysterious, even making them dizzy and afraid to look at it for long. Clearly, this technique was far beyond their level of understanding…

But soon, they began to feel something was off.

The previously lively dragon-shaped spiritual marrow suddenly let out a mournful cry.

The mournful cry instantly overwhelmed them with grief, especially Xi Mei, whose cultivation was still shallow; she burst into tears...

Seeing this, Li Weizhou dared not delay. He accelerated his movements and cast the final spell. A phantom of a triangular flag leaped up and swallowed the struggling dragon marrow whole.

As the grief subsided slightly, Li Weizhou, disregarding his comforting sister, focused his mind on surging waves as he fully activated the Five Elements Array!

A thick, earthen-yellow pillar of light suddenly rose from the ground. The Five Elements Array had been activated many times before, and the women had long since become familiar with it, having gone from initial shock to a state of familiarity.

However, this time, it was shocking once again.

The giant sword that materialized from the yellowish-brown pillar of light was much larger than before, and it was still growing bigger!
When the earth-yellow pillar of light shot into the sky, the spiritual energy of the entire Five Elements Sect trembled.

The other four peaks also seemed to be drawn in, rising simultaneously.

However, its grandeur is far inferior to that of Houtu Peak.

The earthen-yellow beam of light was initially no thicker than a bucket, but as it rose into the air, it suddenly expanded and transformed into a giant sword that reached the heavens and the earth. The sword was wrapped with fine spiritual patterns, like the scales of an earth dragon. With each flash, earthen-yellow spiritual mist fell from the clouds and sprinkled across the mountains and rivers of the Five Elements Sect.

Such power...

Situ Qingyue stood with her hands behind her back, gazing at the sky. Her moon-white robe fluttered in the spiritual wind, but her eyes were fixed on the changes in the pillar of light.

Her expression was grave, more worried than pleased, for she feared an imbalance of the five elements...

Qi Erniang was the most excited. Her divine power seal had been hidden in the spiritual veins of Houtu Peak, absorbing nourishment.

Although one cannot be as lazy and fortunate as Feng Biwu, whose Dao Seal can transform into countless forms and merge into the water veins of the world to draw spiritual energy, it is still possible to draw spiritual energy from a single spiritual vein.

At this moment, she could clearly feel a surge of spiritual energy flowing into the Hidden God Palace like a tsunami…

Li Weizhou had no time to care about the reactions of the crowd. He was enveloped in a layer of earthy yellow spiritual light, and the hand seals at his fingertips changed more and more rapidly. With each hand seal, the giant sword in mid-air became more solid, and the spiritual patterns on the sword's body lit up an inch.

The triangular flag shadow hovered between the giant sword's brows, occasionally emitting wisps of pale golden light that drew out the remnants of the dragon-shaped spiritual marrow and merged them into the giant sword. The spiritual marrow, which had been wailing incessantly, now seemed to be soothed, transforming into specks of golden light that burrowed into the depths of the earth's veins along the light wisps.

"boom!"

A muffled sound came from underground, and the ground of Houtu Peak suddenly cracked open with countless fine lines. Pale yellow spiritual spring water gushed out from the cracks, condensing into small waterfalls in the air before slowly cascading down to nourish the parched land.

"Based on earth, it generates metal and transforms water, nourishes wood and ignites fire, and its cycle never ceases!"

Li Weizhou shouted and pointed his fingertips sharply in the direction of Gengjin Peak.

The massive earth-elemental sword, reaching to the heavens and the earth dragon scales on its blade suddenly lit up. Strands of pale golden light were drawn from the earth-yellow spiritual light and, following the trajectory of the spiritual veins in the air, darted towards Xuanjin Peak like silver snakes.

In an instant, fine golden spiritual patterns wrapped around the golden-white pillar of light above Xuanjin Peak, and then the golden-white pillar of light suddenly shone brightly and grew stronger.

Earth produces gold!
This process is ongoing!
Li Weizhou did not stop; his fingertips changed their magic gestures again, pointing towards Biyue Peak.

A wisp of light immediately separated from the golden-white pillar of light, cascading down like a rushing stream and landing inside the pale blue pillar of light on Biyue Peak, where the pillar of light also shone brightly.

Immediately afterwards, emerald green light threads split off from the pale blue beam of light and drifted toward Qingmu Peak.

Aquatic wood!
Finally, as Li Weizhou once again guided the beam, strands of light separated from the emerald green pillar and drifted toward Li Huo Peak.

Five beams of light connected in mid-air to form a huge five-element totem: earth yellow, gold white, water blue, wood green, and fire red. The five colors of spiritual light flowed along the trajectory of mutual generation, like interlocking jade discs.

What started as a single, prominent, earthy-yellow beam of light eventually became five beams aligned again, repeating the cycle endlessly.

Become!

No, besides that, Li Weizhou added some of his own personal touches...

Because that alone is not enough!

Li Weizhou's face was tense. As his fingertips swept across the void, faint silver-blue ripples suddenly appeared between the five beams of light.

That wasn't the spiritual light of a spiritual vein, but rather the patterns that appeared when space was touched, like ripples spreading out after a stone is thrown into a lake, but more solid and carrying a touch of "unfathomable" mystery.

This is the "weight" of space that he comprehended from the Eastern Emperor Bell, and the "concealment" of space that he saw through from the Heavenly Mirror. At this moment, he has fused these two insights into the formation. With each rise and fall of his fingertips, it seems to "fold" out tiny spatial gaps between the five pillars of light.

The five elements of spiritual light, which originally flowed in a plane, slowly "sank" into the void through these gaps, and then "floated" out from another place. The five pillars of light were still in the same place, but they seemed to be hidden behind an invisible "veil", making it difficult to distinguish between reality and illusion.

"Is this... the law of space?"

Situ Qingyue's pupils contracted slightly. Under her divine sense, she keenly sensed a sense of "isolation" from those ripples. She tried to release a wisp of her divine sense to probe outside the array, but as soon as her divine sense touched the ripples, it was silently "led" to the "void"?!

This……

The four ladies also wielded some authority over the Five Elements Array, and they were always pondering its workings.

But clearly, the Five Elements Formation at this moment is completely different from the formation they usually study!
Let alone Master's family, even if the Five Sacred Mountains True Lords were to be resurrected, they probably wouldn't recognize this great formation.

After Li Weizhou completed the final move, he swayed unsteadily, his face turned deathly pale, and his consciousness was nearly depleted.

If it weren't for the Blood Eye constantly replenishing wave after wave of divine consciousness and true spirit, Li Weizhou would have been mostly dead this time due to his extraordinary performance.

However, after being hugged by Situ Qingyue, amidst the worried exclamations of the crowd, he suddenly grinned.

Damn it, when are we going to find a local deity to test its mettle?

As for the Celestial Venerable…

The Celestial Venerable must wait a little longer.

But there's no need to rush. Once we find some more Earth-level or even Heaven-level spiritual veins, or a few more Five Directions Flags, our defenses will be impregnable.

That day is not far away!

……

P.S.: I'm taking handfuls of various medications, so updates might be unstable lately. Actually, the book's earnings are quite good. Last month, I wrote 4,000 words a day and earned 52,000 yuan in royalties; the month before that, I wrote 7,000 words a day and earned over 69,000 yuan. Overall, it's been relatively stable. But there's really no way around it; life is full of unforeseen circumstances. Every book I write is meant to be family-friendly, but I never expected so many hardships in real life. I can only sleep two or three hours a night; I'm practically numb. I hope to recover soon. My only regret is letting down my readers; I feel ashamed. But I believe this will all pass. Keep going!

(End of this chapter)