Mortal: I have a Spirit Gathering Cauldron

After flying for an hour, Lin Feng landed directly on a desolate mountaintop.

This mountain is not large, with sparse vegetation, exposed rocks, and pitifully thin spiritual energy. It is the most inconspicuous place within the territory of the seven sects of Yue Kingdom. Not to mention cultivators, even birds and beasts are unwilling to stay here.

Lin Feng found a relatively flat rock face halfway up the mountain, summoned his flying sword, and quickly carved out a hidden cave in the rock face.

He took out the array flags of the Reversed Five Elements Array and planted them around the cave, then infused them with spiritual energy. White mist surged from the array flags, completely enveloping the entire mountain wall.

From the outside, it looks like an ordinary rock wall, blending in with the surrounding scenery without any abnormalities.

After entering the cave, Lin Feng set up a high-level spirit-gathering array. Six array flags were planted in six positions, spirit stones were embedded in the grooves of the array plate, and spiritual light shone, gradually increasing the concentration of spiritual energy in the cave.

Once everything was arranged, Lin Feng sat cross-legged and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Focus on healing your wounds first; we can talk about everything else once you're better."

Lin Feng took out a Rejuvenation Pill from his storage bag and put it in his mouth.

The elixir entered the stomach, transforming into a warm current that flowed along the meridians to the limbs and bones. Wherever the warm current passed, the pain in the injured area lessened somewhat.

He closed his eyes, circulated his internal energy, and guided the medicinal power to flow through his body.

The broken ribs slowly healed under the influence of the elixir, and a faint cracking sound came from the fracture site, as if something was growing inside.

The injuries to the internal organs are slowly healing, and the stagnant blood is dissolved by the medicine and expelled from the body through the meridians.

He sat cross-legged and practiced breathing exercises, allowing the medicinal and spiritual energy to slowly circulate within his body.

Outside the cave, the wind and sand howled, while inside, all was silent except for the buzzing sound of the spirit-gathering array.

Five days later.

Lin Feng opened his eyes and stretched his body.

The broken ribs have mostly healed. Although pressing on them still causes some soreness, it no longer affects normal activity. The injuries to the internal organs are also about 70-80% healed, and there is no longer a stinging sensation when breathing.

"That's about it." Lin Feng stood up, stretched his limbs, and his bones cracked and popped.

But he was in no hurry to leave the pass.

The perilous mine adventures of this period have actually loosened the bottleneck of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage to the extreme, leaving only one step away from completion!

"Let's go all out and break through before we move on."

Lin Feng sat down again, took out a high-quality Qi-Harmony Pill from his storage bag and swallowed it. He closed his eyes and guided the medicinal power to impact the dantian barrier.

Golden true essence surged wildly within the dantian, crashing against the dantian barrier again and again like an angry dragon.

Once, twice, three times...

Lin Feng didn't know how many times he had been attacked, but he felt that the barrier was getting thinner and thinner, more and more fragile, like a piece of paper that had been soaked in water.

Then--

"Click."

A crisp sound, as if heaven and earth had broken free of their shackles!

His dantian suddenly expanded to twice its size, and his golden true essence boiled like magma. The surge of spiritual power was several times more powerful and sharper than before!

Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, done!

Lin Feng did not open his eyes, but continued to circulate his cultivation technique, guiding the newly generated spiritual energy in his dantian to every meridian and acupoint.

The spiritual power is increasing, and the true essence is solidifying.

The Foundation Establishment stage is stabilizing at a speed visible to the naked eye.

A whole day.

When the golden true essence in his dantian finally calmed down from its surging state and became steady, Lin Feng slowly opened his eyes.

He exhaled a breath of stale air, which condensed into a golden arrow of energy in the air in front of him, flying several feet before dissipating.

"Mid-Foundation Establishment." Lin Feng clenched his fist, feeling the surging spiritual energy within his body, and a slight smile appeared on his lips. "Much faster than expected."

He stood up, put the array plates and flags of the high-level spirit gathering array and the inverted five elements array into his storage bag, and cleaned up everything in the cave, leaving no trace.

When we came out of the cave, it was exactly noon outside.

The sunlight was a bit dazzling, so Lin Feng squinted, summoned the Wind-Escape Shuttle, and transformed into a silver streak of light, rushing towards the direction of Yellow Maple Valley.

It is wartime now.

The invasion by the demonic forces has begun, and the seven factions of Yue Kingdom and the six sects of the demonic forces are locked in fierce fighting on the border.

After the mission is completed, you must return to your sect to report within the specified time, otherwise you will be judged as deserting in the face of battle, and you will be punished at the very least, or even hunted down by the seven sects.

Lin Feng can't run away yet. The ancient teleportation array has just been found, and Xin Ruyin hasn't fixed it yet, so he can't escape.

Moreover, Lin Feng had another plan.

The initial battle of the demonic invasion has now ended, and what follows is the second, protracted war with both sides gaining and losing ground.

At this point, the intensity of the war is not actually high. If you are careful, you can avoid much danger with your own methods, but you can still make a lot of money.

To incentivize their disciples to participate in the battle, sects will undoubtedly offer a large amount of contribution points and rewards. Spirit stones, pills, magical artifacts, cultivation techniques—anything can be exchanged for enough battle merits.

"I'll take advantage of this opportunity to gain some merit and exchange it for some benefits," Lin Feng thought to himself.

The Wind-Traveling Shuttle was very fast, and a few days later, Lin Feng returned to Yellow Maple Valley.

Instead of returning to his cave dwelling first, he went directly to the Mission Hall, briefly reported the events that had been cut from the mine to the steward on duty, and then flew directly towards his cave dwelling in the northwest of the Taiyue Mountains.

The Wind-Swept Shuttle streaked across the sky above the mountains and forests, the wind whistling, and the trees beneath its feet rushing past.

Lin Feng did not stop when passing by his own cave.

He continued flying forward.

There's no time to go back to the cave now; there are more important things to do.

Before heading to the battlefield, he wanted to hand over the jade slip inscribed with the teleportation array patterns to Xin Ruyin for repair.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Yuanwu Kingdom, Jinma City.

After explaining his identity and purpose in a teahouse in Jinma City, Lin Feng followed the teahouse owner to a hilly depression west of Jinma City and found Qi Yunxiao.

Upon seeing Lin Feng, Qi Yunxiao immediately came forward, his face showing a hint of excitement: "Senior Lin, you've arrived! I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly. Please come with me, and let me show you some hospitality."

Lin Feng followed Qi Yunxiao's lead and walked behind the hill.

It was a depression surrounded by low hills, and the inside was not visible from the outside. Several clumps of green bamboo grew in the depression, and hidden among the bamboo groves were a few bamboo houses, quiet and elegant.

Qi Yunxiao pushed open the bamboo door and led Lin Feng inside.

The bamboo house was simply furnished, with a landscape painting hanging on the wall. Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the bamboo curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Lin Feng sat down, and Qi Yunxiao took out a wooden box about a foot long from the cabinet, placed it on the table, and pushed it over with both hands.

"Senior Lin, this is a modified 'Inverted Five Elements Array' array artifact." Qi Yunxiao opened the box, revealing the array flags and array plate inside.

The runes on the array plates and flags are denser than before, with flowing spiritual light and deeper colors.

"Although the power hasn't reached 50% of what I promised, it's still more than 25%, which is much stronger than the original set." Qi Yunxiao said this with a hint of pride in his tone. "Give us another year, and we'll definitely be able to increase the power to over 30%."

Lin Feng picked up a battle flag and examined it carefully.

"Good stuff." Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction, putting the array flags and array plates into his storage bag. "Young friend Qi's array-wielding friend is indeed impressive."

Qi Yunxiao grinned, a smile that held a hint of shyness and pride.

Lin Feng picked up his teacup, took a sip, put it down, and said seriously, "Young friend Qi, I have another important matter to ask of you, which will require the help of your friend."

Qi Yunxiao's smile faded, and he sat up straight: "May I ask what brings you here, Senior?"

"There's a formation that needs repairing." Lin Feng looked into Qi Yunxiao's eyes, his tone solemn. "Don't worry, the reward will definitely satisfy you. Spirit stones, magic artifacts, and even if you need thousand-year-old spiritual herbs, I can get them for you."

Qi Yunxiao pondered for a moment.

"Then this junior thanks you for your kindness, senior." Qi Yunxiao stood up. "Please follow me."

Lin Feng followed Qi Yunxiao out of the bamboo house, and soon the two arrived at the foot of an inconspicuous little hill. The hill was not high, the vegetation was sparse, and it looked no different from the surrounding hills.

Qi Yunxiao took out a token from his pocket, infused it with spiritual power, and cast a spell.

A portal of light appeared on the mountainside, its glow swirling with spiritual energy.

"Please, senior." Qi Yunxiao stepped aside and gestured for him to enter.