I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

a few days later.

A piece of news suddenly spread through the Red Leaf Market.

The Fei family's mine was attacked at night.

It was assumed that the Fei family was weak and would suffer heavy losses in the attack, but the actual result was somewhat unexpected.

It is said that the attackers that night not only failed to breach the mine, but also trapped several of them.

Even the ringleader was captured alive by the Fei family.

There are also rumors circulating that the person captured alive was the fourth master of the Lei family, who lived next to the Fei family. He originally intended to strike a blow against the Fei family and vent his anger at being refused a share of the mine.

Unexpectedly, his attempt to steal a chicken backfired, and he ended up getting himself into trouble, having to beg his family to ransom him.

Although there is no evidence to support this rumor, the fact that the Lei family has not come forward to refute it suggests that the rumor is most likely true.

This incident became a topic of amusement for a time.

After all, the Lei family was stronger than the Fei family, and the fourth master of the Lei family was a formidable figure who had previously suppressed the Fei family, causing them considerable distress.

However, during this night raid, the fourth master of the Lei family personally took action but was captured alive, which was a huge embarrassment.

Some people couldn't help but wonder if the Fei family had used some kind of scheme to secretly set up a trap in the mine.

But after asking around, everyone learned that what truly trapped Master Lei on the night the mine was attacked was not some hidden master, but rather the array formation beside the mine.

This naturally aroused everyone's curiosity.

What kind of formation could help the Fei family launch a counterattack against the Lei family?

...

When Shen Guanlan arrived, Xu Zhou was working on a difficult problem recorded in the "Miscellaneous Writings on Elixir".

When he arrived at the wooden house, Xu Zhou still didn't know what the other party's purpose was.

"Senior Xu, there's news from the Fei family's mine!"

Shen Guanlan bowed in greeting and then offered his congratulations.

Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback, and then guessed that there must be something good about the formation, so he asked him to explain in detail.

A moment later, Shen Guanlan told him all the rumors circulating in the market.

"I heard that the fourth master of the Lei family was trapped in the formation that day and could not escape within that small space."

Upon hearing the description, I immediately recognized it as the style of a senior's formation, and came to inform them.

He finally finished speaking, then couldn't resist picking up his teacup and taking a sip. His eyes lit up immediately: "Excellent tea!"

Xu Zhou smiled slightly: "I'm sorry to trouble you to come and inform me this time. I'll pack you a packet of tea later."

"Thank you very much, senior!" Shen Guanlan thanked him with great joy.

He didn't lack tea leaves; the gift from Senior Xu was actually more valuable than the tea leaves themselves.

If I ever have another discussion with fellow market enthusiasts in the future, bringing out this tea will certainly be a topic of conversation.

After thanking him, he smiled and said, "I heard that the Fei family was also a bit confused after that."

They had someone else check it again, and after another test, even the array master almost got trapped inside, only then did they realize how powerful Senior Xu was.

I heard that the Fei family has already sent people towards the market to thank the elder again. Judging by the time, they should arrive around this afternoon.

Shen Guanlan said smugly, "The Fei family was blind to your greatness before, thinking I was trying to curry favor with you. Now, they've finally gotten a glimpse of your mastery of formations, and they should come and express their gratitude properly."

Just as he said.

In the afternoon, the Fei family really did send someone.

Besides Fei Guanyu, whom we had seen before, there was also a burly man.

Fei Guanyu's expression was complicated. He didn't even dare to look Xu Zhou in the eye. He simply bowed and made way for the big man behind him.

"My name is Fei Xin."

The burly man's expression was equally complex, but he still managed to bow with composure and said, "My visit is both to express my gratitude and to apologize. I hope Fellow Daoist Xu will forgive me."

This Fei Xin was naturally the patriarch of the Fei family.

Xu Zhou did not delay and immediately returned the greeting, saying, "It's just a small matter, why would I need to apologize?"

"This matter cannot be left ambiguous," Fei Xin shook his head.

He sat down in front of Xu Zhou, sighed and said, "It's also because I'm ignorant of array formations, and there's no one in my clan with the insight to see through Fellow Daoist Xu's array formation. I'm truly blind and have made you laugh at me."

As he spoke, he handed the storage bag that he had prepared to Xu Zhou.

Xu Zhou scanned the contents with his divine sense and knew the number of spirit stones. His expression immediately turned serious: "Fellow Daoist Fei, this is a bit too much."

"Not much, not much."

Fei Xin said, "Fellow Daoist Xu's mastery of array formations is already so advanced; he may well be able to make further progress in the future."

The Fei family now only wishes to establish a good relationship with you, fellow Daoist.

Xu Zhou was still somewhat hesitant.

Fei Xin continued, "Furthermore, the Fei family also wishes to entrust these spirit stones to Fellow Daoist Xu so that you may help construct a protective array for the Fei family. I wonder if you would be willing?"

Xu Zhou pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "I am capable of building formations for mines, but the clan protection formation is of paramount importance, and I do not yet have the ability to do so."

Fisher visibly became disappointed.

"but..."

Xu Zhou then spoke up, "If Fellow Daoist Fei is willing to give me a few years, once my array skills advance further, perhaps I will be able to help the Fei family."

Fei Xin's eyes immediately brightened.

"In that case, these spirit stones shall be considered as a deposit. Fellow Daoist Xu, please do not refuse."

Seeing that things had come to this point, Xu Zhou accepted the storage bag.

The auction is about to take place, and he does need spirit stones to prepare for what's to come.

The two then chatted for a few minutes.

Although Fei Xin's cultivation level was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he had stayed at this stage for a long time and was very experienced. A few words he occasionally said during their conversation gave Xu Zhou some new insights into his cultivation methods.

As dusk approached, Fei Xin, feeling it inconvenient to stay any longer, got up to say goodbye.

Xu Zhou carefully wrapped a bag of tea leaves and presented it as a gift, escorting the two of them all the way to the front of the valley.

After the two had walked some distance, Fei Guanyu revealed a bitter expression:

"Ancestor, now that the mine has just stabilized, if we take out so many spirit stones again, the clan will probably be in dire straits for a while."

Fei Xin seemed somewhat pained as well, and simply said in a muffled voice, "It's already been given away, what's there to say?"

He paused, then sighed, "I only hope that Fellow Daoist Xu will live up to expectations and can truly build a protective formation for the Fei family within a few years."

In this way, I can go out and seek opportunities with peace of mind, instead of being stuck in the early stages of Foundation Establishment forever.

Upon hearing this, Fei Guanyu was startled: "Ancestor!"

Fissin waved his hand: "I was just saying it offhand, just pretend you didn't hear it."

"clear."

...

On the other side, Xu Zhou returned to the front of the wooden house.

Xu Zhou took out the storage bag that Fei Xin had given him and looked at it in silence for a moment.

Among them were a full ten thousand spirit stones.

In addition to these, there are many other minerals and spiritual items. All together, a rough estimate puts their total value at over 20,000.

For the Fei family, this resource would likely be a devastating blow.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Xu Zhou could earn 10,000 spirit stones in two or three years while he was practicing Qi Refining. That's because he was a top-grade alchemist and had the Golden Flame Sect as his backer, so he didn't have to worry about the many issues related to medicinal materials and sales.

The Fei family is just a small family, and no one in the family is proficient in advanced skills. It is really exaggerated for them to be able to come up with 20,000 spirit stones.

Xu Zhou understood Fei Xin's meaning.

This gift of spirit stones was less of a reward and more of a hope that he would keep his promise and truly help the Fei family build a strong protective array.

He wanted to refuse earlier because he was afraid of future trouble.

If the Chamber of Commerce's auction hadn't been just a few months away, he might not have accepted it.

"Fine."

"Consider it an advance payment."

Xu Zhou shook his head and finally accepted the result.

He then couldn't help but sigh.

When he was learning formations, all he wanted was to replace alchemy and incidentally learn some self-defense techniques.

Unexpectedly, after years of dedicated practice, the art of array formation has become even more sought after than alchemy.