Chapter 55 Fifth-Order Array Master

One day before the news that the Zhu Family of Lingchuan County had returned to the ranks of the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan spread throughout the Prefecture, the bell rang again within Black Magpie Mountain.

Chen Songli looked at the person monitoring the warning Formation display panel and called Zhu Lingyue over.

"She looks a bit like Mother; does Mother know her?"

"Come out with me to take a look. This is the Clan Grandmother of the Zhu Family, from the same generation as the Zhu Family Ancestor!" Zhu Lingyue was a little surprised.

Chen Songli paused her steps, "Mother, wait a moment. Make a hand seal and conceal my cultivation level."

Zhu Lingyue also paused and praised Chen Songli, "Oh! Yes, yes, you have your father's caution."

After all, being at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining with Four Spiritual Roots was astonishing, especially for someone just over ten years old!

Zhu Lingyue had already mastered the "Qi Concealment Art" to the Major Achievement level, so Zhu Baiyao, who was also in the Late Stage Qi Refining, definitely could not see her true cultivation.

She made a hand seal onto Chen Songli and used her own cultivation to help suppress Chen Songli's power.

"It's done. Songli, your surface cultivation level is now the Qi Refining Second Layer!"

...

Outside the mountain, when Zhu Baiyao stepped into the periphery of Black Magpie Mountain, as a Third-Rank Formation Master, she immediately sensed the traces of a Formation.

But she didn't know what kind of Formation it was; she had never seen it before. She felt traces of Formations everywhere, giving her the feeling of being monitored.

Under the spirit jujube tree, Zhu Baiyao knocked twice on the Defensive Formation Array, and Zhu Lingyue came out, followed by Chen Songli.

"Grandmother Baiyao, why are you here?" Zhu Lingyue was somewhat surprised.

"What's wrong, you little girl? Can't I come see my own granddaughter?"

"Yes, yes. I thought something had happened to the Zhu Family!" Zhu Lingyue laughed happily.

"Songli, quickly come and greet your Great-Grandmother!"

"Greetings, Great-Grandmother!" Chen Songli greeted obediently.

"Oh my, this little girl is my Zhu Family's little granddaughter. She is truly beautiful."

Zhu Baiyao patted Chen Songli's head, "Where is your man?"

"He is in seclusion!" Zhu Lingyue replied.

"Alright. You are already at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. It seems your man has treated you very well all these years! No wonder you haven't sent many letters back to the Zhu Family."

"Grandmother Baiyao, I have been busy raising the children and Cultivating all these years; where would I have the time!"

"I know your little thoughts. Fine. Since your man is in seclusion, I won't enter the mountain. To get to the main point, I came this time to inform you that Uncle Zelin has advanced to Foundation Establishment. Our Family has renegotiated the territory with the Lu Family, and Liangxi County now belongs to our Zhu Family."

"Ah? Uncle Zelin has advanced to Foundation Establishment? That's wonderful! The Zhu Family is back in the ranks of the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan!" Zhu Lingyue was genuinely happy.

"Mm, in the future, your tribute can also be reduced a bit. Remember to inform me after your man finishes his seclusion!"

Zhu Lingyue nodded.

...

After chatting for a while, before leaving, Zhu Baiyao took out half a bottle of qi overflowing pill for Chen Songli, whose surface cultivation was the Qi Refining Second Layer.

Chen Songli quickly tried to decline, but failing to refuse, she could only accept it.

"Remember to bring these children back to your maiden home when you have time later for the younger generation to communicate more!"

After Zhu Baiyao finished speaking, she returned to the Zhu Family.

...

Three days later, the Lu and Zhu Families officially announced that Lingchuan County and Liangxi County belonged to the Zhu Family, while the other counties belonged to the Lu Family.

It was said that the Lu Family handed over Liangxi County very readily, without any dispute, and the Lu and Zhu Families announced a marriage alliance.

The Lu Family announced the tribute rules, remaining consistent with the previous ones, with no increase.

The Zhu Family also announced the same rules as the Lu Family, maintaining consistency between the two families.

The Qi Refining Immortal Clans in Yuanwu Prefecture remained as usual; the Cultivation environment was still stable, with no conflict between old and new forces. All the Qi Refining Immortal Clans expressed their praise!

The Yun Family of Liangxi County immediately followed the Chen Family and submitted to the Zhu Family without hesitation!

A few days later, the Zhu Family secretly sent someone to inform the Chen Family that the tribute items were reduced by twenty percent based on the original amount.

Zhu Lingyue immediately returned to her maiden home to thank the Zhu Family Ancestor on behalf of Chen Li. Although her own man was also Foundation Establishment, they preferred to keep a low profile!

The Zhu Family's Foundation Establishment Immortal Banquet was set for half a year later, considering that Zhu Zelin was still in seclusion consolidating his cultivation, and also to give some Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans time to arrange for their representatives to attend without conflicting with their own seclusion times.

Zhu Lingyue brought this news back and waited for Chen Li to come out of seclusion.

...

Three months later, at the Immortal Cave containing the "Great Sun Seed Jade" on Black Magpie Mountain.

The Fifth-grade Formation that Chen Li was making was in the final stages. He named this set of Formations the "Fifth-grade Poison Toad Attack Array."

Ten days later, he finally finished making the entire set of Formations. For the past few months, to prevent the bones and hides of the Sixth-level Yao Beasts from being wasted, he had been completely focused and meticulous, terrified of ruining the eight-thousand-Spirit Stone worth of Formation Materials!

Today, his efforts finally paid off; he completely created this Fifth-grade Attack Formation.

He now had three sets of Fourth-grade Attack Formations, one set of Fifth-grade Attack Formations, and one set of 3.8th Grade Attack Array. All of these dealt damage suitable for the Foundation Establishment level!

Later, he planned to create a Fourth-grade Spirit Trapping Formation, a Fifth-grade Spirit Trapping Formation, and possibly a Fifth-grade Defensive Formation!

However, a Fifth-grade Defensive Formation consumed several thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones per day; only true tycoons would dare activate this Formation!

Chen Li harvested another batch of qi overflowing grass that had been ripened by fifty days within the Immortal Cave, planted a pile of hundred-year auxiliary Spiritual Plants, and then exited seclusion.

At Concentric Heart Hall, upon seeing Chen Li emerge, Zhu Lingyue informed him of the Zhu Family's advancement to Foundation Establishment. Chen Li immediately offered his congratulations!

A few days later, Zhu Lingyue also had to enter seclusion to attempt a Breakthrough to the Eighth Level of Qi Refining. She had refined enough qi overflowing pill, so the youngest child, Chen Songmei, would be looked after by him. Chen Li going to the Zhu Family's Foundation Establishment Immortal Banquet alone would suffice.

When Chen Songli saw Chen Li emerge from seclusion, she came over with several questions regarding the Third-Rank Formation patterns.

Inside Concentric Heart Hall, Chen Li answered all the questions Chen Songli encountered one by one.

Chen Songli quickly grasped the meaning of the Formations, and Chen Li was shocked by his eldest daughter's talent. A fifteen-year-old girl could already comprehend Third-Rank Formations, surpassing even him.

"Songli, let's stop here for today. Digest this first!"

"Mm, Father, are you a Fifth-grade Formation Master?" Chen Songli asked curiously.

Chen Li nodded. Chen Songli was surprised, "Then Father must have reached Foundation Establishment, right?"

"I used my Divine Sense to probe, and Father is at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining, but a Fifth-grade Formation should require Foundation Establishment to refine, shouldn't it?"

Chen Li smiled without answering, throwing out the Third-rank "Qi Concealment Art." Chen Songli immediately understood; she also needed to conceal her brilliance like her father!

He then called Chen Songyan and Chen Songxuan over and told them all to practice the "Qi Concealment Art" as well, so they could be called the Sixth-rank Immortal Clan later!

Being too conspicuous was not good. With their Spiritual Root Aptitude—three of them having Four Spiritual Roots—it was impossible for them to Cultivate this fast in a normal Qi Refining Family.

Chen Li, with Five Spiritual Roots, advancing directly from the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment in just over ten years, was too conspicuous. Therefore, he needed to hide even more; without reaching Nascent Soul, they were ultimately just ants!

So, Chen Li required them all to Cultivate and suppress their cultivation levels—suppressing by one or two layers was acceptable!

...

A few days later, inside Immortal Learning Tower, the few of them started communicating again.

Chen Songxiao was still in seclusion and did not participate this time. Chen Songmei was sleeping soundly in Chen Songli's arms, so their conversation did not wake her.

Chen Songxuan smiled and said, "Father, Uncle Niu is basically freed up now. My Spiritual Plant Puppets can basically cover the management of all the spirit rice and spiritual fields!"

"Not bad. What are your thoughts for the next step?" Chen Li asked.

"Son thinks the next step is to make some offensive Puppets. Father bought all the necessary Materials, and I can try it!"

"Oh, and Father, Uncle Niu expressed his desire to learn Alchemy. Could Father teach him when you have time?" Chen Songxuan added.

"Okay. Song Xuan, you handle matters methodically. You can make your own decisions regarding your future cultivation advancement or other matters. I will take care of Uncle Niu's Alchemy affairs!"

"Yes, Father!" Chen Songxuan was extremely happy, having received Chen Li's approval.

Chen Songyan, who was standing by, hadn't intended to speak, but when Chen Songli's gaze fell on him, her eyes seemed to convey, 'It's your turn now.'

He could only say, "Father, the Iron Fire Ant's maturity is still in the larval stage; they cannot release Ant Fire yet. Currently, these larvae can only perform simple nest building and transportation; it will still take three to four years of nurturing to reach the soldier ant stage. I tried every method this time, but it truly still requires this much time to grow!"

Chen Songli looked unconvinced. Chen Li thought for a moment and replied, "I understand. Continue nurturing them! I will also think of a way later!"

"Yes, Father!" Chen Songyan breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Songyan looked at Chen Songli's face, blinking twice, as if to say, 'Even Father has no solution, and you still don't believe it?'

"All of you, practice this 'Qi Concealment Art' as soon as possible. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me. I am not in seclusion recently!"

The children said in unison, "Yes, Father!"