Establishing a Clan in the Eastern Wilderness: A Daily Divination, Cultivating Longevity in a Grotto

The group entered the temple.

The main hall was small, about three zhang square. In the center stood a statue of a deity, but it was unclear when it had been decapitated and limbs severed; its broken body lay in the dust, covered with a thick layer of ash. Inside the hall, fragrant grasses grew luxuriantly, and wild grasses flourished, creating a desolate scene.

Li Changsheng looked around and made up his mind.

"Brother-in-law, lend a hand." He squatted down and lifted the headless statue, straightening it.

Chen Wenyuan stepped forward to help, and the two of them worked together to put the statue back in its place.

Li Changsheng then used his Cleansing Spell to remove the dust from the statue. Chen Wenyuan then used his magic to sweep the hall, clearing away all the weeds and withered leaves.

Li Changle was also busy surveying the terrain, looking for the most suitable place to set up the formation.

A moment later, the hall was completely transformed.

Li Changsheng took out several spiritual fruits from his storage bag and respectfully placed them on the offering table in front of the statue.

Then, he lit three incense sticks and bowed deeply.

Seeing this, Chen Wenyuan and Li Changle also lit incense and candles and bowed three times.

"I apologize for taking this opportunity to seek refuge here, and I apologize for any inconvenience caused," Li Changsheng said softly. "This small offering is just a token of my appreciation."

...

...

Outside the temple, Du Liuniang was arguing with Du Changfeng.

"Clan leader, are we just going to wait here like this?" Du Changfeng said, his face full of reluctance. "Wansui Mountain is rich in spiritual energy; we might find some rare and exotic plants! Why don't we go out for a stroll before it gets dark?"

Du Liuniang frowned: "Changfeng, evil spirit..."

"Evil spirits only come out at sunset!" Du Changfeng interrupted her. "It's broad daylight now, what are you afraid of? Even if we run into them, can't we just run?"

Seeing that Du Liuniang's expression relaxed, he added, "Clan leader, our Du family barely survived the chaos of the bandits. If we don't fight back now, we'll truly be at the bottom of Qinglan County!"

After a moment of silence, Du Liuniang finally nodded.

"Carry a message talisman; send a signal immediately if anything changes."

Du Changfeng was overjoyed and called to another clansman. The three of them went out of the temple and headed towards the mountainside.

...

...

Inside the hall.

"Let's rest in the temple and wait for the sun to set and the evil spirits to emerge before we start hunting." Li Changsheng looked at Li Changle: "Little sister, take out our Green Vine Trapping Killing Formation and set it up at the entrance."

Li Changle responded, took out the array plate and array flags, and began to set up the array. She was now a mid-grade first-level array master, and setting up this high-grade first-level array was a piece of cake for her.

Everything is set up.

Li Changsheng closed his eyes and regulated his breathing, his mind as calm as still water.

The Chaos Origin Scripture circulated slowly within his body, drawing strands of spiritual energy into his dantian. Although there were no subsequent cultivation methods and his cultivation level was unlikely to improve significantly, maintaining optimal condition was essential.

Chen Wenyuan sat cross-legged beside him, the ghost-headed knife resting on his lap, its blade faintly glowing with spiritual light.

It was almost sunset.

Chen Wenyuan opened his eyes from meditation and looked out through the broken window. Dusk was deepening, and mist filled the mountains and forests, with faint sobs that could be heard in the distance.

"Clan leader," he said in a low voice, "Du Liuniang and the others haven't returned yet."

Li Changsheng also opened his eyes, his gaze calm: "It'll be soon, most likely around this time."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.

Chen Wenyuan listened intently, his expression slightly relaxed: "The sound of three footsteps... they're back."

He got up and walked towards the door, but was stopped by Li Changsheng.

"Wait a minute," Li Changsheng said softly, "Let's ask first."

He walked to the door and spoke through the door panel: "Who's outside?"

There was no response.

There was only knocking on the door, once, twice, three times.

Li Changsheng asked again, "Clan Chief Du?"

The knocking continued, but there was no response.

The knocking grew more and more urgent, turning from "thump thump thump" to "bang bang bang," as if the person outside was impatient.

The younger sister, Li Changle, was deathly pale, clutching the array plate tightly: "Brother... this is so rude, it definitely wasn't Sister Du or the others!"

Just then—

The knocking stopped abruptly.

Outside the courtyard gate, all was deathly silent, save for the mournful sound of the wind.

Cold sweat beaded on Chen Wenyuan's forehead: "Clan leader, the evil spirit... the evil spirit is appearing earlier than usual?"

Li Changsheng remained calm: "Evil spirits are most active at sunset, but they are not absent at other times. Everyone, be alert."

He retreated into the hall, circulating his spiritual energy to maintain peak condition.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea has passed.

Rapid footsteps approached from afar, growing ever closer. Then, Du Liuniang's panicked voice rang out:

"Clan Chief Li! Open the door quickly!"

The voice was urgent, fearful, and panting.

Li Changle's eyes lit up, and she was about to get up to open the door when Li Changsheng pressed her shoulder down.

"Hold on."

He closed his eyes and connected his mind with the celestial book—

[Maliciousness detection].

A dense, inky malice was lurking outside the courtyard gate. There was only one wisp of malice, yet it was colder and more eerie than any previous perception.

The person coming from outside the door was not Du Liuniang.

"Big brother?" Li Changle looked at him in confusion.

The voice outside grew increasingly anxious: "Clan Chief Li! Open the door quickly! Those rice children are catching up! Hurry!"

Li Changsheng ignored the voice and whispered to Li Changle and Chen Wenyuan:

"Once my brother-in-law opens the door, I'll immediately activate the Green Vine Trapping and Killing Formation."

Li Chang Le was taken aback: "But isn't it Sixth Sister outside the door?"

"Do as instructed." Li Changsheng's voice brooked no argument.

He then looked at Chen Wenyuan: "Open the door."

Chen Wenyuan took a deep breath, gripped the ghost-head knife tightly, strode to the door, and suddenly pulled it open—

The door was wide open.

The area outside the door was empty.

There was no Du Liuniang, no Du Changfeng, and no one else in sight.

Only a yellowed old book floated quietly in mid-air.

The book was about the thickness of a palm, its cover torn, its pages yellowed, clearly an ancient text. On the cover of the ancient text was a strange human face—with all features, clear eyebrows and eyes, grinning broadly.

"quack--"

The face let out a strange laugh, and the ancient book transformed into a beam of yellow light, rushing straight into the doorway!

"Little sister!" Li Changsheng called out in a low voice.

Li Changle was already poised to act, and suddenly activated the array plate in his hand—

The Green Vine Trapping and Killing Formation was activated with a roar!

Countless ethereal blue vines surged from the ground, intertwining into a net that tightly bound the ancient book. The vines were covered with barbs, each gleaming with a chilling spiritual light.

The ancient face was trapped in the formation, struggling desperately, causing the vines to creak and groan. But for every vine that broke off, ten new ones would surge up and bind it even tighter.

At that very moment—

The face opened its mouth and let out a sharp screech!

That hiss was no ordinary sound, but an invisible ripple that shot straight into the sea of ​​consciousness!

Li Changsheng felt as if a steel needle had been pierced into his mind, and a wave of intense dizziness washed over him. His vision went black, the world spun around him, and he almost lost his balance.

The younger sister, Li Changle, screamed in agony, clutched her head, and squatted down, her face as white as paper, trembling with pain.

Chen Wenyuan let out a muffled groan and fell backward to the ground, unconscious.