Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

Two days later.

"Give it a try."

Lu Yuan handed the array flag to Jiang Zhi, who then inserted it into the array's core.

The Qi Gathering Array is activated.

Amidst the flashes of light, perfect array patterns appeared, encircling the furnace.

The weapon-refining room instantly gathered a large amount of spiritual energy.

Moreover, along with the spiritual energy came scorching heat.

As if the hot air from an air conditioner unit was blowing in, Jiang Zhi's beautiful eyes lit up instantly, and she exclaimed in surprise, "Your Qi-gathering array is much stronger than the one I used before."

Lu Yuan nodded slightly and smiled, "Within this market, no one understands Qi Gathering Array better than me, even though he is a first-level array master."

After learning the other party's identity as a weapon refiner, Lu Yuan increased the concentration of fire-attribute spiritual energy at the nodes of the array patterns when setting up the Qi-gathering array this time.

This can be considered as adapting to local conditions.

This cannot be achieved simply by using the blood of a fire-attribute demon beast; it requires targeting the array patterns.

Even this small change is something that ordinary array masters cannot do.

If his cultivation reaches the late stage of Qi Refining and his total spiritual power increases again, he can try to discard the Azure Spirit Stone and draw the Spirit Gathering Array entirely with the blood of demon beasts.

In this way, one can gather spiritual energy of a certain attribute separately.

Instead of what we have now, where we cast a net and catch all the fish, shrimp, turtles, and crabs.

Ultimately, his thirty years of experience with Qi Gathering Array made him far superior to ordinary people.

"Such a boastful tone, but I like it."

Jiang Zhi looked at Lu Yuan's confident expression, her eyes filled with admiration.

"I've already called you Sister Jiang, why are you still coming?"

Lu Yuan looked helpless.

"Don't overthink it. The liking I'm referring to is this confidence, not you as a person. My will to become an immortal is in no way weaker than yours."

"Could you perhaps control your sweat? Or is the fairy testing me?"

now.

With the Qi-gathering array activated and the furnace radiating intense heat, the refining room felt like a sauna; even with cooling talismans applied, the discomfort was palpable.

Who do you think you are, looking down on someone like this...?

Lu Yuan simply opened his gaze and became unrestrained.

As for Jiang Zhi, her body was covered with a thin layer of oily sweat, her skin was moist and glistening, and her clothes were slightly damp and clung to her body.

She didn't try to show it off, but she had a naturally alluring charm.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi glanced down and then chuckled, "Fellow Daoist, your will is not strong enough."

Done.

She took out a loose robe from her storage bag and wrapped it around herself, then said seriously, "Weapon refiners are in constant contact with furnace fire, so it is inevitable that fire poison will enter their bodies. By sweating more regularly and taking first-grade detoxification pills, they can completely expel it."

This is a detail related to the cultivation of weapon refiners, which Lu Yuan was indeed unaware of before.

"and……"

Jiang Zhi paused slightly as she said this: "Since I was twelve, I have been all alone, living in a daze every day. Only when I am forging weapons and covered in sweat can I feel my true self."

"Feel sorry."

Lu Yuan cupped his hands in greeting.

He never expected that this middle-aged woman would have such a side.

Jiang Zhi didn't mind and said, "The mid-grade magic weapon flying sword I'm forging will be ready in the next two days. If you're free, stay a couple more days and draw fire attribute array patterns on the flying sword."

"it is good."

……

Two days later.

Lu Yuan drew fire-attribute array patterns on a first-tier mid-grade magic sword, successfully upgrading its quality from ordinary to exquisite.

Successfully obtained fifty low-grade spirit stones.

For successfully setting up the Qi-gathering array, although it was a task assigned by the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, Jiang Zhi was very generous and gave her another hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Spirit stones were secondary; the biggest gain from this trip was befriending a first-tier weapon refiner and gaining his trust.

Go home.

Lu Yuan then noticed the paper crane lying quietly at the door.

These paper cranes are a minor spell used by cultivators in the market to transmit information. They can only fly to a fixed location, and if they are intercepted midway, they will spontaneously combust.

However, no one would normally do that.

After all, this is of no benefit whatsoever. On the contrary, if one offends a Foundation Establishment cultivator, one will only bring enemies upon oneself.

Unwrapping the paper crane, I found it was from Zhang Dashan.

The message on the paper crane was simple: Zhang Dashan had told the Zhou family that he was willing to become their son-in-law and invited Lu Yuan, the pharmacist, and Ji Ming to the wedding banquet.

Ji Ming was still in the Jiuling Mountains and had not yet returned, so he naturally could not participate.

Three days later.

Lu Yuan first went to find the pharmacist, and then the two of them each rented a spirit horse and rode towards the Zhou family.

The Zhou family is located at Qingyue Lake, 300 li east of Jiulingfang City.

Both he and the pharmacist were barely at the mid-stage of Qi Refining, and fearing they might encounter cultivators on the road, they dared not fly and expend their spiritual energy.

Fortunately, the journey went smoothly.

After riding for several hours, Lu Yuan and Yao Lao arrived at Qingyue Lake, which was also home to the Zhou family, a family of cultivators.

A manor built on the lakeside is the core territory of the Zhou family, with villages and towns scattered along the valley.

A visible light shield enveloped Qingyue Lake, reflecting a glossy sheen in the sunlight.

Lu Yuan and the pharmacist dismounted and stood still.

"I heard that the Zhou family has a protective formation, which should be this place."

Lu Yuan nodded, observing the formation.

Based on his judgment, the formation before him should also be a first-order formation.

However, the fact that it encompasses an area of ​​dozens of miles is enough to prove that the person who set up this formation was quite skilled in formations.

If it were Lu Yuan, he could do the same with either the Spirit Gathering Array or the Five Elements Mist Array.

However, the time required will be calculated in years.

If any array pattern or array node deviates, all previous efforts will be wasted.

"Who goes there? This is the Zhou family's residence. Unauthorized entry is strictly prohibited."

Lu Yuan was observing the formation when two Zhou family cultivators appeared, looking at him warily.

Lu Yuan immediately took out the letter, which bore the Zhou family's seal, and cupped his hands, saying, "We are here at Zhang Dashan's invitation to attend his wedding banquet. This is our invitation."

The two Zhou family cultivators glanced at the letter, then their gazes swept over Lu Yuan and the pharmacist, and they knew that this was the poor relative of the Zhou family's son-in-law.

Even if a son-in-law has a low status, there is no reason to refuse him entry.

But the arrogance and disdain in his eyes were still unavoidable.

"Please come with me, both of you."

After confirming that there was no mistake, the two Zhou family cultivators immediately sent one of them to lead the two into the great formation.

"Fellow Daoists, you must not enter any other places except Zhang Dashan's residence, lest you bring trouble upon yourselves."

The Zhou family cultivator leading the way spoke coldly.

"Thanks for reminding me."

The pharmacist replied with a smile.

Lu Yuan didn't expect to be well-liked; he only wanted to celebrate Zhang Dashan's success. Therefore, he didn't take the man's disdain to heart.

A short while later.

Led by the Zhou family cultivator, Lu Yuan and the pharmacist arrived at a secluded courtyard.

The villa is not large, with a few rooms and a fairly large courtyard.

The courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, but it wasn't lively.

It's unclear which branch of the Zhou family the mortal woman was from, but she had no other relatives besides herself.