Immortality and Cultivation: I can extract entries from all things.

A month later.

Fang He stood in the center of the underground secret room in the backyard of the pharmacy, with a map of the Qing'ao Island sea area spread out on a pine wood square table in front of him.

The seventeen red markers on the map are scattered like a string of scattered blood beads.

Su Yun'er carried a strong cup of tea down the wooden stairs, her footsteps echoing in the dark room.

"Shopkeeper, the tea is ready."

Fang He didn't even look up, pointing his finger at the northeast corner of the sea map.

"Put it on the table, you can go upstairs now."

Su Yun'er paused slightly, but without asking any further questions, she placed the teacup on the corner of the table and turned to climb the wooden ladder.

The door to the dark room closed, leaving Fang He alone.

He doesn't need anyone else to be present.

The following analysis involves Zhou family secrets and the survival of Qing'ao Island.

The less Su Yun'er knows, the safer she is.

Fang He closed his eyes and concentrated, and the term panel appeared in his mind.

The three terms were activated simultaneously.

Fang He opened her eyes and looked at the handwritten annotations next to the red marks on the sea map.

Northeast China Sea: Red-toothed fish are migrating south at unusual intervals, with the time intervals being accurate to three days.

Three vertical lines are drawn next to the annotation, representing three observation records.

In the northwest reef area, the ironback turtles gathered and then suddenly dispersed, all pointing in the same direction toward Qing'ao Island.

Next to the annotation is an arrow pointing directly from the reef area to the southeast coast of the island.

On the southeastern route, three merchant ships were attacked by sea monsters, and the line connecting the points of attack formed an arc.

The three black dots are connected by an arc, resembling a half-drawn bow.

Fang He took out a fragment of an array plate and held it in his palm.

This is a fragment picked up from the handover site of Qian Laosi. It is made of bronze and has broken runes engraved on the edges.

[Comprehension of Formation] Push it to its limit.

The spiritual energy fluctuations on the fragment unfolded in my perception, like a fine spider web, with each thread pointing to a specific frequency.

He then took out the second fragment, and the third.

The three fragments were placed side by side in the palm of the hand, and the spiritual energy frequency was clearly presented under the perception of [Spiritual Insight].

Exactly.

Not a coincidence.

The three fragments come from the same array formation, but are placed in the array's key components in different sea areas.

Fang He sketched on the sea map with charcoal.

One reef in the northeast, one trench in the northwest, one shoal in the southeast, one undercurrent in the southwest... Seventeen markers gradually connect to form a line.

The moment the line closed, Fang He's hand holding the pen stopped.

A giant outline, centered on Qing'ao Island and with a radius of about fifty miles, emerged on the sea map.

The seventeen array points are evenly distributed, like a giant net suspended below the sea, covering the entire island in the center.

He stared at the outline, cold sweat beading on his back.

"Beast-driving formation..."

The voice was deep and echoed in the dark room.

"This isn't a small-scale probe. We're going to drive all the sea creatures in the entire ocean here."

Fang He recalculated.

Of the seventeen array points, twelve have been confirmed to be operating normally, while the other five are still being set up.

Based on the density of the array's cores and the intensity of its spiritual energy, the array is estimated to be about 60% complete.

He tapped his fingertips on the table, calculating the time.

Based on the current progress, the remaining key elements will take approximately four months to complete.

That time coincides with the transition from summer to autumn, when the tides are at their strongest.

Driven by the formation, the sea monsters will be three times their usual size.

Three months from now, Qing'ao Island will face a catastrophic disaster.

Fang He put down the charcoal pencil, picked up the teacup, and found the tea had cooled slightly.

He took a sip, then his gaze returned to the sea map.

wrong.

There is still one thing that hasn't been investigated.

He picked up the fragment of the array plate he had obtained from Qian Lao again, and activated his [Spiritual Insight] to its limit.

The spiritual energy fluctuations within the fragments were peeled away layer by layer through perception, like peeling an onion.

At the very core, a faint spiritual energy imprint appeared.

Fang He's pupils constricted slightly.

The frequency of this mark... resonates with a certain node of the Zhou family's island-protecting formation.

It's not similar.

It's an echo.

Like the pull between a mother and child formation, like the connection of bloodlines originating from the same source.

The beast-driving formation of the Dark Abyss Pavilion and the Zhou family's island-protecting formation use the same formation foundation.

What does this mean?

Fang He put down the broken piece, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the teacup.

There is only one possibility that the Dark Abyss Pavilion was able to obtain the core data of the Zhou family's formation: someone within the Zhou family leaked the secret.

Moreover, its location is not low.

Ordinary members of the clan have no access to the node diagrams of the island-protecting formation.

Fang He remained silent for a moment, then put the fragments of the array plate into his storage bag.

This discovery cannot be written in a confidential letter.

Any trace left on paper will inevitably lead to trouble.

He could only report to Steward Zhou in person.

He unfolded a blank sheet of Xuan paper and wrote his analytical conclusions in neat small regular script.

The range of the beast-driving formation covers a 50-mile radius around Qing'ao Island.

Number of key points: estimated at seventeen, twelve confirmed.

Completion rate: Approximately 60%.

Expected full launch time: four months.

Animal tide size prediction: three times the normal size.

After finishing writing, Fang He added another line: The solution is presented in person.

He folded the secret letter and put it in his sleeve.

Looking up at the door to the dark room above, the light of the sky peeked through the cracks; it was almost dusk.

Fang He blew out the oil lamp and climbed the wooden ladder.

---

The main hall of the Zhou residence was smaller than the council hall, but it appeared more imposing.

A portrait of the Zhou family ancestor hangs on the wall, his gaze indifferent, looking down at the ground.

On the table sat a bronze sculpture of a sea monster, its single horn menacing and its casting rough.

Steward Zhou sat upright in the main seat, holding the confidential letter presented by Fang He in his hand, his expression solemn.

On the left is Zhou Tieshan, his burly body sitting upright, his early Foundation Establishment aura contained and not revealed.

On the right was Zhou Xiaolan, dressed in a blue robe, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, at a slower pace than Fang He had ever seen.

On the sea chart in front of the three, the outline of the beast-driving formation drawn by Fang He with a vermilion brush was shocking.

"Four months," Zhou Tieshan said first, his voice low. "If they complete it, Qing'ao Island will be reduced to ruins."

Manager Zhou placed the confidential letter on the table and turned his gaze to Fang He.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, is there any error in the range of this formation?"

"It's only larger, not smaller." Fang He said calmly, "Seventeen array nodes are the lower limit I've tracked down. If the Dark Abyss Pavilion has hidden arrangements in other areas, the scope could be even wider."

He walked up to the nautical chart and pointed to three red markers.

"These three are the key points of the formation: the northeast reef area, the northwest trench, and the southeast shoal. When these three operate simultaneously, they form the core force field that attracts the sea monsters. The other key points play a supporting role, expanding the driving range."

Zhou Tieshan stood up, walked to the nautical chart, and examined it carefully.

"When I led the patrol, I did find an abnormal density of sea creatures in the northeast direction. They were in groups and moved in a regular pattern." He pointed to the northeast reef area. "I personally investigated this place and found spiritual energy fluctuations on the seabed, but at the time I thought it was a natural undercurrent."

"That's a cover for the operation of the array's core," Fang He replied. "Dark Abyss Pavilion uses tidal spiritual power as a guide, and the array's fluctuations are almost identical to natural ocean currents, making them difficult to distinguish."

Zhou Xiaolan stopped tapping on the armrest and her gaze fell on Fang He.

"How can Fellow Daoist Fang distinguish them?"

Fang He frankly stated, "Although I am only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, I have some understanding of array formations. The spiritual energy frequency on that fragment of the array plate is slightly different from that of natural ocean currents."

He didn't tell the whole truth.

Distinguishing formations isn't about personal experience, it's about understanding the terminology.

But the entry is the trump card; it cannot be revealed.

Manager Zhou pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, do you have a solution?"

Fang He had already thought of the answer.

"The Beast Taming Array covers too large a range; forcibly destroying all the array's nodes is unrealistic. Since the Dark Abyss Pavilion dared to set it up, it must have guards." He said calmly, "The best solution is to use a two-pronged approach."

"explain."

"First, strengthen the defenses of Qing'ao Island. The Zhou family's island-protecting formation needs a comprehensive overhaul, with a focus on reinforcing the southeast and northeast coasts. These are the two directions from which the sea monsters are most likely to land."

Fang He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Second, send a small team out to sea to harass and delay their deployment. No need for a direct confrontation; disrupting one or two key nodes will throw off their timeline."

Zhou Tieshan nodded in agreement.

Manager Zhou frowned.

"The Zhou family's guard team has only forty people. They are short-handed because they have to guard the island and launch attacks at the same time."

Zhou Xiaolan added, "Moreover, the guards are mostly members of the Zhou family; the loss of even one is a significant loss. If the Dark Abyss Pavilion dares to attack Qing'ao Island, they must have come prepared."

Silence fell over the hall.

Manager Zhou looked at Fang He with a deep gaze.

"Fellow Daoist Fang, are you willing to share the Zhou family's burdens?"

Fang He cupped his hands in greeting.

"As a member of Qing'ao Island, Fang has an inescapable responsibility."

That's half true and half false.

He really didn't want to see Qing'ao Island destroyed, after all, the pharmacy was there, and his foundation was there.

But more importantly, this is an opportunity.

An opportunity to rise from the fringes of the community to the core circle.

After a moment's thought, Steward Zhou made a decision.

"Effective immediately, Fang He is hereby appointed as Assistant Maritime Patrol Manager."

The sound was not loud, but it was resounding.

"Form a ten-person independent cultivator patrol team, dedicated to monitoring unusual activity at sea and disrupting the Dark Abyss Pavilion's plans. The monthly salary is twenty spirit stones, with an additional five spirit stones as a bonus during patrols."

Fang He's heart stirred slightly.

With a monthly salary of twenty spirit stones, plus income from the pharmacy, one can earn up to thirty-five spirit stones per month.

This is already the standard of treatment for the Zhou family's guard captain.

Manager Zhou continued.

"With the Zhou family's warrant, you can recruit any independent cultivator on the island. Priority will be given to those with naval combat experience. You will have independent seafaring authority and can make decisions on the spot in emergencies without needing to consult with others."

Zhou Tieshan took out a bronze token from his sleeve and handed it to Fang He.

The token was a size larger than the previous guest minister token, with the words "Assistant" engraved on the front and a line of smaller characters on the back: "When Qing'ao is in trouble, the Assistant will stand guard together."

Fang He took the token; it felt cold and heavy to the touch.

This is not a reward.

It's money to buy your life.

It was the Zhou family's gamble on him when they had no one else to rely on.

But he needs this gamble.

"I accept the order." Fang He put away the token, his tone calm.

Zhou Xiaolan stood up and, for the first time, bowed to Fang He in an equal manner.

"Manager Fang, please take care of the safety of the sea area."

The title changed from "Fellow Daoist Fang" to "Assistant Fang".

It's not about intimacy, it's about recognition.

It was also a test.

Fang He returned the greeting, his expression unchanged.

"Mr. Zhou has one more request."

"explain."

"The patrol team needs vessels to provide cover when they go out to sea. Captain Chen is familiar with all the shipping routes, and merchant ships traveling by are unlikely to arouse suspicion. I would like to ask him for assistance."

Manager Zhou and Zhou Tieshan exchanged a glance and nodded.

"Approved. If the merchant ship is damaged as a result, the Zhou family will provide compensation."

Fang He felt relieved.

---

It was already dark when we left the Zhou residence.

Fang He gripped the assistant manager's token tightly and walked along the stone path toward the pharmacy.

The sea breeze blows from the southeast, carrying a salty, fishy, ​​and cool feeling.

A monthly stipend of twenty spirit stones, independent leadership authority, and a patrol team of ten independent cultivators.

These numbers went through my mind.

He wasn't overly excited; he was more focused on calm calculations.

Ten people.

The lives of ten people are now in his hands.

The Dark Abyss Pavilion is no pushover, and maritime patrols are not child's play like a patrol team.

People will die, and many people may die.

Fang He stopped and stood at the entrance of an alley, looking up at the night sky.

The starry sky over Qing'ao Island is not much different from that on Earth; the sparse starlight is diluted and dimmed by the sea fog.

He recalled his days on Earth before he traveled through time.

There are no sea beasts, no beast-driving formations, and no monthly rent pressure of five spirit stones.

But there's no entry panel, so there's no chance to turn things around.

Now is the chance.

The price was risking one's life.

Fang He took a deep breath, suppressed his distracting thoughts, and continued walking towards the pharmacy.

A lantern was lit at the entrance of the pharmacy. Su Yun'er was sitting on the threshold. When she saw him return, she quickly got up.

"Shopkeeper, it's so late..."

"Pack up. Starting tomorrow, the pharmacy's opening hours will be shortened." Fang He pushed open the door, her tone indifferent. "I have other things to attend to."

Su Yun'er was taken aback for a moment, but didn't ask any further questions and nodded in agreement.

Fang He walked into the backyard and stopped at the entrance to the dark room.

He glanced back at the front of the pharmacy, where Su Yun'er was busy under the lantern light.

A patrol team of ten.

He knew exactly who the first spot was.

Zhao Hengdao, with his fierce swordsmanship, owes me a favor.

Zhou Qing, a member of a collateral branch of the Zhou family, is arrogant but capable.

Who else?

Fang He shook his head, putting these thoughts aside for the time being.

I'll think about it tomorrow.

He pushed open the door to the dark room and relit the oil lamp.

The map of the sea area was still on the table, and the outline of the beast-driving formation looked like a ferocious net under the light.

Fang He stared at the outline, her gaze calm.

The Dark Abyss Pavilion wanted to close the net, but he insisted on tearing an opening.