Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 277 Foundation Establishment Appearance
After receiving the promise of 200 spirit stones, Ding Xia was full of energy and quickly attracted the attention of most of the cultivators present.

The crowd stopped their vandalism and began to pay attention to Ding Xia's every move.

After all, the Enlightenment Spring is what they truly desire.

Is this the formation master who destroyed the Lesser Mysterious Yin Spirit Array?
Li Xiangming looked at the confident Ding Xia with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty in his eyes.

This woman is about the same age as her younger brother, Lee Sang-jeong, or even younger, yet she possesses such abilities; it is truly unbelievable.

Pei Si leaned close to Li Xiangming and said with a smile, "Brother Meng, Ouyang Zhen's movements are much faster than yours."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming looked somewhat embarrassed.

Ouyang Zhen found Ding Xia without leaving his house, right in front of the Green Cloud Cave gate.

He went to Dendrobium Market under the pretext of looking for a formation master, but brought nothing back.

Pei Si spoke with a smile, his expression relaxed.

Li Xiangming couldn't tell whether the other party was just chatting casually or deliberately pointing him out, so he just laughed it off and asked, "Brother Pei, have you heard of the formation master surnamed Ding?"

Is the surname Ding?

Pei Si pondered for a moment and said, "I know a formation master named Ding Chongji in Wei County."

"What is this person's background?"

Li Xiangming followed up with the question.

Pei Si shook his head: "I don't know either. Ding Chongji is a formation master who has only become active in Zhangning Prefecture in the last ten years or so. The reason I heard about him is because a sect in Wei County asked him to set up a formation, which confirmed that he is a senior second-level formation master. Before that, there were no rumors about him. However, one of his friends is quite famous."

"Oh?"

Li Xiangming, curious, cupped his hands in greeting: "Please enlighten me, Brother Pei."

Pei Si glanced at him: "It is said that this person lives on Swallowing Elephant Island year-round."

Swallowing Elephant Island?
Li Xiangming's expression changed.

Tunxiang Island is a renowned Golden Core cultivator in Wei County.

The name of the Elephant-Swallowing Immortal caused children to cry at night.

Unexpectedly, Ding Chongji was able to become sworn brothers with the Golden Elixir Master.

Is this the true value of a second-tier array master?
While Li Xiangming was shocked, his gaze toward Ding Xia became intense.

Although he didn't know Ding Xia, the fact that he could break the Lesser Profound Yin Spirit Array meant that his array skills were definitely more advanced than Li Xianghua's.

Although Li Xianghua is known as a genius, his spiritual talent is actually inferior to that of Li Xiangren and Li Xiangyu, and his performance in magical duels is far inferior.

However, his status within the family remained high.

A major reason for this is that he is a very rare array master.

Whether it was Tailai Peak, Monkey Valley, or Maojing Mine, Li Xianghua's knowledge of formations greatly helped the Li family.

If they could recruit another Ding Xia, the Li family's strength would be greatly enhanced.

As if noticing Li Xiangming's gaze, Ding Xia turned around, her eyes filled with suspicion.

Li Xiangming reacted quickly, immediately responding with a smile to show his friendliness.

Ding Xia noticed nothing amiss, returned a sweet smile, and then continued to focus on her work.

Despite the murmurs around her, Ding Xia seemed unaffected, flying back and forth among the hundreds of cave entrances, constantly studying and exploring. Just as everyone was growing impatient, Ding Xia suddenly pointed to one of the inconspicuous cave entrances and said casually, "This is the inner cave."

"found it?"

The crowd surged forward, looking at the deep, dark cave entrance that seemed to stretch endlessly into the distance.

This time, however, no one rushed in.

They still harbored doubts about the young Ding Xia, not only questioning her abilities but also worrying that she was being manipulated by Ouyang Zhen to deliberately harm everyone.

Only Li Xiangming knew that the cave entrance Ding Xia pointed to was the correct path leading to the inner cave.

This further elevated his opinion of Ding Xia.

With such a formation master assisting him, how could Ouyang Zhen not be unstoppable?
I have no idea where Ouyang Zhen found this person!
Li Xiangming felt both envious and anxious for Green Cloud Cave.

If Green Cloud Cave fails to take countermeasures in time and is attacked into its inner cave, then the sect will be destroyed today.

Once these people see the spiritual fields in the inner cave and the wealth accumulated by Green Cloud Cave over decades, even if they are certain that there is no Enlightenment Spring, they will not be willing to leave.

Regardless of whether Fairy Green Cloud is real or fake, she should step forward now.

Just as Li Xiangming was lost in thought, a powerful divine sense swept across from outside the cave.

Everyone present felt a chill run down their spine.

"It's a foundation-building cultivator!"

"How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator appear?"

The scene was chaotic, with the cultivators taking up positions in different areas as if facing a formidable enemy.

Just two or three breaths later, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in black robes floated above the main hall of the Green Cloud Cave.

"Seventh Uncle!"

Ouyang Zhen called out, then stepped forward and bowed respectfully, saying, "This junior nephew welcomes Seventh Uncle!"

Upon seeing this, the crowd erupted in uproar.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Ouyang family actually came in person!

Those present could certainly invite Foundation Establishment cultivators to assist them.

But that was a plan made after the Enlightenment Spring was born.

We haven't even settled anything yet, and we're already making a big fuss based on mere rumors. Wouldn't we be ridiculed by the world?

But the Ouyang family clearly didn't think that way. They already considered the Enlightenment Spring as something they had already secured and had made thorough preparations.

What a mistake!
Everyone felt remorse.

With someone at the Foundation Establishment stage here, how can they seize the Enlightenment Spring?

Once the Enlightenment Spring is brought back to the Ouyang family today.

No matter how many backup plans they have, it will be to no avail.

After all, the Ouyang family is not like the Green Cloud Cave. Who would dare to ask the Ouyang family for the Enlightenment Spring?
Li Xiangming was also very surprised.

Although the Ouyang family is a major Golden Core clan with many cultivators, precisely because of this, they require a massive amount of cultivation resources.

As the backbone of their clans, Foundation Establishment cultivators are mostly responsible for guarding important family businesses and cannot be easily mobilized. Some might argue that the Enlightenment Spring is far more valuable than these businesses?

However, a family is not like a lone cultivator.

It's perfectly normal for independent cultivators to come upon hearing of an opportunity.

However, due to their size, clans obtain far more information than independent cultivators.

At Li Xiangming's wedding, for example, no fewer than a hundred opportunities were heard in just one day.

These opportunities are varied and include all sorts of things.

However, how much of it is true?
If we investigate every rumor thoroughly.

Then you will know what it means to try to fill a basket with water but end up with nothing.

The same applies to the Enlightenment Spring.

Both Li Xiangming and Ouyang Zhen received only fragmented and incomprehensible information.

He persuaded his family to place a bet based solely on a vague and unsubstantiated rumor.

But how many bets can a family place?
Li Xiangming sought Li Qianxiong's support.

It was because he was implicated by the evil Green Robe and had no other choice.

He has to come.

The reason why Li Qianxiong agreed to send Li Xiangren was actually a compromise he had no other choice but to make.

The news of the Enlightenment Spring originated from Hao County.

As the seat of Zhangning Prefecture, Hao County was densely populated and teeming with cultivators.

Even a Qi Refining Stage 9 cultivator like Li Xiangming had to keep a low profile.

Li Qianxiong was worried about Li Xiangming's safety, which is why he specially arranged for Li Xiangren to go with him.

It wasn't to help Li Xiangren find the legendary Enlightenment Spring for Li Xiangming.

If the Enlightenment Spring originated in Pu County.

Therefore, it is highly unlikely that the Li family would send out Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Unless Li Xiangming can prove the authenticity of this opportunity, or at least provide concrete evidence like the treasure in the Purple Yin Cave in Dai Mountain, the Li family will not bother to investigate.

Similarly, the Ouyang family would not act rashly based on a mere rumor.

Because countless experiences have taught them that rumors are ultimately just rumors.

But now, Ouyang Zhen is taking a desperate gamble, arranging for Foundation Establishment cultivators before the Enlightenment Spring has even been created.

This would certainly provide Ouyang Zhen with great protection.

But what if one doesn't obtain the Enlightenment Spring?

He will inevitably bear the stigma of wasting Foundation Establishment combat power within the clan.

They might even be scorned and called incompetent.

For a prodigy like Ouyang Zhen, reputation is also a crucial resource.

Not to mention the enormous price that comes with privately requesting someone to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

He spared no expense in order to comprehend the spiritual spring.

Thinking of this, Li Xiangming couldn't help but glance at Ding Xia again.

What prompted Ouyang Zhen to make this decision was undoubtedly Ding Xia, the unexpected formation master.

Without Ding Xia, Ouyang Zhen might still be troubled by the Lesser Mysterious Yin Spirit Array.

Therefore, he naturally wouldn't force the Ouyang family to take the lead.

Upon seeing Ding Xia, Ouyang Zhen immediately unleashed all his trump cards, swiftly breaking through the formation. He even disregarded the risk of Green Cloud Fairy's intervention, forcibly breaching the Green Cloud Cave's mountain gate, intending to leverage his Foundation Establishment advantage to preemptively seize the Enlightenment Spring by force.

This decisive action is enough to prove that Ouyang Zhen's reputation is well-deserved.

Li Xiangming glanced warily at the Foundation Establishment cultivators and Ouyang Zhen and the others in the air, while silently retreating.

With the Ouyang family's foundation building approaching, the situation became clearer, and there was no point in continuing to get involved. It would be better to think about a way out.

There are quite a few people who share his views.

However, Ouyang He saw the crowd's little tricks, sneered, and with a wave of his hand, the cave entrance to the outside world exploded with a "boom," blasting an unnamed cultivator who was trying to slip away to pieces.

Now things are in chaos again.

Someone couldn't help but ask, "What does this senior mean?"

Ouyang He, however, remained arrogant and silent.

Ouyang Zhen, who was below, hurriedly spoke up: "Fellow Daoists, since we have all come here, why rush back? Why not follow us into the inner cave and explore the Enlightenment Spring?"

Upon hearing this, Li Xiangming's heart sank.

They immediately realized that Ouyang Zhen intended to use everyone as cannon fodder in the exploration of Green Cloud Cave.

With over a hundred disciples in the Green Cloud Cave, even a little tantrum could cause considerable chaos.

Not to mention there's also the sect leader, Fairy Green Cloud, who's in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Although Ouyang Zhen believed that with Ouyang He by his side, victory was assured.

However, driving away other cultivators, dealing with the disciples of Green Cloud Cave, and reducing one's own losses are also valuable.

Furthermore, keeping these people confined in the Green Cloud Cave can also prevent the news from leaking out and attracting other Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Those present who were able to locate Green Cloud Cave from just a few words were no ordinary people.

They quickly realized the Ouyang family's purpose, and their faces all showed embarrassment, as if they had swallowed a dead fly.

But even if you think of it, what then?

If this were outside, twenty or thirty late-stage Qi Refining cultivators would scatter in all directions, and even if Ouyang He were at the Foundation Establishment stage, he might not be able to stop them all.

But inside this cave, as long as Ouyang He controls the entrance, everyone is helpless.

Forcing your way out is not an option; the person who just broke through serves as a cautionary tale.

"Brother Meng, this is bad!"

Pei Si whispered nervously, "The Ouyang family will definitely force us to enter the inner cave. It's easy to get in, but difficult to get out."

(End of this chapter)