Chapter 1 Retreat from the Clan

“Chen Li, Outer Sect Disciple of the Formation Pavilion, twenty years old, Five Spiritual Roots, Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. Today, he leaves the Sect and is removed from the Myriad Valley Sect registry.”

At the entrance of the Myriad Valley Sect's External Affairs Hall, an ordinary-looking young man in inconspicuous clothing returned his Sect token.

Half an hour later, at Shili Peak of the Myriad Valley Sect, on an ordinary hilltop before a stone tablet, Chen Li said softly, “Master, with this parting, I know not when I shall return!”

His Master, Chen Huaian, had Four Spiritual Roots and was at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. He passed away last year at the age of two hundred and forty.

Twenty years ago, Chen Huaian had picked him up—an infant from another world. For twenty years, he had protected him as he grew up safely. His kindness was as heavy as a mountain. Today, he came to bid farewell.

...

Southern Border, a town on the edge of the Boundless Forest, Liangxi County in Nanwu Kingdom. Black Magpie Mountain, outside the eastern city, had already been set up with a first-Rank defensive Formation.

A simple Guest Welcoming Pavilion had been built before the mountain entrance, with a plaque hanging on it bearing four large characters: “Chen Immortal Clan.”

In front of the gate, the young man gazed at the “Chen Immortal Clan” plaque he had hung with his own hands. In his Sea of Consciousness, the “Locked” status of the [Family Luck Bar] finally vanished.

Twenty years ago, ever since he arrived in this world, a display box similar to a progress bar had existed in his Sea of Consciousness, named: [Family Luck Bar]. Previously, the Luck bar was in a “Locked” state, but now it was gone.

Chen Li suppressed the excitement in his heart, resealed the mountain entrance within the Formation, and returned to the mountain.

Inside an Immortal Cave on the mountain, Chen Li sat cross-legged in meditation. His consciousness entered his Sea of Consciousness, and upon entering, some information was displayed.

[This unlock allows for the evolution of the Place of Opportunity. Proceed with evolution?]

Chen Li: [Yes]

[Evolution complete. Inject information?]

Chen Li: [Yes]

[Injection complete]

In his Sea of Consciousness, information on three Places of Opportunity appeared.

[1. The Immortal Cave where Foundation Establishment Cultivator Li Daoan passed away]

Location: [Location information injected. Map guidance mode can be activated.]

Danger: [Stone Turbid Qi. Information on this Qi can be viewed.]

Restriction: [Fourth Grade Concealment Formation - Myriad Phenomena Returning to Dust Formation. Information on this Formation can be viewed.]

Recommended Persons: 1

[2. Crimson Sun Spirit Fruit]

Location: [Location information injected. Map guidance mode can be activated.]

Danger: [Boundless Forest Yao Beast] [Five-Colored Serpent Python - Third-level Demon Beast (guarding beside the tree). Information on this python can be viewed.]

Restriction: None

Recommended Persons: 1

[3. Inside the Silver Tiger Demon's belly]

Location: [Location information injected. Map guidance mode can be activated.]

Danger: [Boundless Forest Yao Beast] [Silver Tiger Demon - Third-level Demon Beast. Information on this tiger can be viewed.]

Restriction: None

Recommended Persons: 1

[Work hard to build the Family to increase Luck Points. When the Luck Bar changes color, the next evolution of the Place of Opportunity can be unlocked.]

Chen Li saw the information for the Red Luck Bar!

[Red Luck Bar]: 0 / 100

[Luck Bar Ranks]: [Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, Purple]

[Luck Points can be obtained through tags. There are eight tags; you may choose five.]

[1. Family reclaims spirit fields, plants spirit rice, and harvests spirit rice >= 1,000 catties] + 20

[2. Family members marry and have children, descendants >= 5] + 20

[3. The Family's highest combat power breaks through to the Late Stage Qi Refining] + 20

[4. Family harvests Spirit Stones >= 1,000] + 20

[5. Family raises a third-level spirit pet >= 1] + 20

[6. Family develops a third-Rank Family spirit boat >= 1] + 20

[7. Family territory sets up a Fourth Grade Formation Array capable of defending against Foundation Establishment Cultivators] + 20

[8. Family Masters the refinement of foundation establishment pills] + 20

[Please select tags...]

Absorbing the flood of information, Chen Li quickly captured the key points: [Place of Opportunity] and [Luck Bar Tags]. The information on the [Place of Opportunity] made him quite joyful, while the [Luck Bar Tags] were a bit difficult to choose from.

What should I choose?

Chen Li fell into thought. What he was currently best at was the research and deployment of Formations; he was already a Third-Rank Formation Master within the Sect. He also frequently made and sold them to his fellow disciples, saving up quite a few Spirit Stones.

He really wasn't skilled in anything related to spirit field cultivation, though he did have a few spirit plant techniques for spirit rice.

As for breaking through to the Late Stage Qi Refining, according to the Sect's experience with his Five Spiritual Roots, the further one went, the harder it became to break through. Most spent their entire lives in the Qi Refinement Stage.

However, with the Place of Opportunity, the Late Stage Qi Refining would no longer be a hurdle. As for marrying and having children, his "little brother" functions normally, so that should be no problem.

Chen Li no longer hesitated and chose [1], [2], [3], [4], and [7].

[Tags selected and fixed. The list is as follows:]

[Red Luck Bar]: 0 / 100

[Family reclaims spirit fields, plants spirit rice, and harvests spirit rice >= 1,000 catties]: 0

[Family members marry and have children, descendants >= 5]: 0

[The Family's highest combat power breaks through to the Late Stage Qi Refining]: Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, not yet achieved

[Family harvests Spirit Stones >= 1,000]: 0

[Family territory sets up a Fourth Grade Formation Array capable of defending against Foundation Establishment Cultivators]: Not yet deployed

Chen Li withdrew from his Sea of Consciousness, his eyes shining with light. These dreary days finally had something to look forward to.

Just as Chen Li was excitedly studying the detailed information of the Place of Opportunity, the Formation on Black Magpie Mountain fluctuated; someone had arrived at the mountain gate.

At the mountain gate, before the Guest Welcoming Pavilion, the Yun Family Head, looking like a middle-aged man in white brocade, was examining the Formation. Seeing Chen Li come out, he said, “Brother Chen, I haven't seen you for a few days, and you've already set up this Formation. As expected of a talent from the Sect.”

“Family Head Yun, why have you come today? Is something the matter?” Chen Li replied directly.

“Yes, there's news that another Foundation Establishment Senior has arrived in the Prefectural City. He intends to establish a clan there and start a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, and he's requiring the Qi Refining Immortal Clans of our Qingxi County to pay tribute to him. However, the Lu Family's Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan has already signed tribute terms with us, and it seems the Lu Family hasn't given up on those terms yet.”

Chen Li thought for a moment and said, “I think we should clarify the news with the Lu Family first. If the Lu Family doesn't contest it, we can then discuss tribute terms with the new Foundation Establishment Senior. That would be best.”

“Our families think so too, so we want to send a joint letter to the Lu Family and the new Foundation Establishment Senior to explain the situation. If both sides find it acceptable, that would be for the best.”

After speaking, the Yun Family Head produced a joint letter from his Storage Pouch. Chen Li saw there were no issues and signed it readily.

Seeing Chen Li sign, the Yun Family Head said out of the blue, “Brother Chen, do you want a wife?”

“Huh?” Chen Li didn't react for a moment.

Chen Li thought about it; he felt he still didn't know her. After all, an unvirtuous wife harms three generations. What if she's a troublesome woman?

He decided he needed to learn more; it wasn't wise to make a decision too early. He would stall for now.

Seeing Chen Li hesitate, the Yun Family Head added, “That marriageable girl from my Yun Family also has a Spiritual Root; she's at the Qi Refining Second Layer, and her appearance and character are both good. Along with one mu of spirit fields from my Yun Family as a dowry, it certainly won't slight you, Fellow Daoist.”

Chen Li sighed and could only use delaying tactics, saying, “Family Head Yun, I have only just established my Immortal Clan, and things aren't settled in many respects. I still need to wait for a while. Once conditions are ripe, I will certainly accept this marriage proposal.”

Hearing Chen Li's tactful refusal, the Yun Family Head was somewhat unhappy, but he didn't show it. He sighed twice and left.

...

[Friendly Reminder: Formation Ranks start at first-Rank (lowest) to ninth-Rank (highest). Other Magical Artifacts and Cultivation Techniques follow the same logic. Ranks 1-3 correspond to the Qi Refinement Stage, Ranks 4-5 to the Foundation Establishment Stage, Ranks 6-7 to the Golden Core stage, and Ranks 8-9 to the Nascent Soul stage. Some Ranks between 3 and 4 can also have the power of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. Among Yao Beasts, a Fourth-level Demonic Beast is at minimum the Early Foundation Establishment Stage; a Fourth-level Demonic Beast at Perfection is at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. A Fifth-level Demonic Beast is at minimum the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, and at Perfection, it is at Foundation Establishment Perfection, and so on.]