143: Daily practice, spatial fluctuations

He was no longer content with merely setting up existing Formations according to instructions, but began to try and understand the function of each basic rune, research the principles of energy flow in Formation patterns, and even deduce the possibilities of different Formation combinations and variations.

Inside his Immortal Cave, he often drew complex Formation patterns on the ground or with Spirit Stone powder, sometimes furrowing his brow in thought, other times rapidly pointing his finger to alter a rune structure and observe the changes in Spiritual Qi flow.

Failure was common; often a tiny mistake would cause the entire Formation model to collapse, and while the Spiritual Qi backlash wasn't strong, it was enough to leave him disheveled for a while.

But he enjoyed it immensely.

His Formation Dao Cultivation was rapidly solidified and improved through these repeated failures and rebuilds.

He could now skillfully set up various second-tier complex Formations and make some localized improvements to existing Formations.

"Xuanlei Island has a unique terrain, rich in thunderous Spiritual Qi.

If the power of thunder could also be incorporated into the defensive Grand Formation, wouldn't it be both offensive and defensive?"

A thought sparked in his mind.

He began to research how to combine the natural lightning power of the thunder field with the island's own defensive Formation.

This was a massive undertaking, requiring extremely high Formation Dao attainments and precise control over thunder power, not something that could be accomplished in a day.

But he had already begun to try, burying Formation base Materials for attracting and storing lightning throughout the island, step by step outlining the blueprint of his "Nine Heavens Thunder-Fire Formation" in his mind.

He also did not give up on Talisman crafting.

The Talisman Jade Slips obtained from rogue Cultivators and Secret Realms provided various Talisman drawing methods, from low-tier to high-tier.

His powerful Divine Sense and the initial mastery of the first layer of the Qiankun Spirit Eye Technique, "Insight," gave him a distinct advantage when drawing Talismans.

Insight into minute details allowed him to clearly grasp every tremor of the Talisman brush tip and precisely control the even distribution of Spiritual Qi in the cinnabar Spirit Ink; his powerful Divine Sense enabled him to complete the outlining of complex runes in one go, ensuring smooth and unobstructed Spiritual Qi flow.

He started with the most familiar "Thunderstrike Talisman" and "Vajra Talisman," achieving a success rate of over eighty percent, and all of them were of superior quality.

He then began to attempt more complex "Fire Dragon Talismans," "Ice Seal Talismans," and even the second-tier "Golden Rainbow Piercing the Sun Talisman."

A considerable amount of failed Materials accumulated, but successful works also gradually increased.

These Talismans, whether used for combat or to exchange for Spirit Stones, were excellent reserves.

"Elementary Puppet Arts Explained" became his pastime outside of Cultivation.

The hard ironwood on the island and the bones and shells obtained from hunting Yao Beasts became excellent Puppet Materials.

He was no longer content with making the simplest "Stone Puppet" and "Ironwood Guard."

He began to try making more flexible and aggressive "Blade Mantis Puppets" (using the giant pincers of hammerhead crabs) and "Arrowfish Puppets" (mimicking the streamlined shape and attack methods of Ghost-faced Arrowfish).

He even had the wild idea of incorporating fragments of thunder-struck wood hearts into the Puppet core to create "Thunder Puppets" capable of releasing faint lightning.

The process was full of stumbles; most of the Puppets produced were crude in appearance, sluggish in movement, and their strength at most resembled that of a Qi Refining seventh or eighth layer.

But for Lin Feng, the process itself was an excellent exercise in precise Divine Sense control and a practical application of material science and energy conduction.

He even thought that if he could mass-produce low-tier Puppets, he might be able to form a Puppet army in the future, which would be very useful for guarding the island or exploring dangerous places.

On this day, Lin Feng was concentrating on drawing a complex second-tier "Misty Illusion Formation" Formation Flag inside his Immortal Cave.

Suddenly, he frowned and stopped his Talisman brush.

Through the warning Formations set up around the island, he detected an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible spatial fluctuation appearing on the outer southeastern side of the island.

This fluctuation was very strange; it was not a Yao Beast or Cultivator approaching, but rather something briefly tearing through space.

He immediately put down his work, activated the Turtle Breath Qi Concealment Art to its extreme, and stealthily moved like a ghost.

The Qiankun Spirit Eye Technique quietly activated, a faint clear light flashing in his eyes, and the power of insight opened.

Soon, in a secluded crevice between rocks, he discovered a trace of residual, extremely faint black mist, rapidly dissipating into the air.

The aura of this mist carried a hint of... Devilish Qi?

But it was extremely weak, completely different from the surging Devilish Qi he had felt at the Secret Realm altar before, more like a tiny trace of aura clinging to something.

"Devilish Qi? How could it appear here?"

Lin Feng's heart tightened, and his vigilance was raised to the highest.

He carefully searched every inch of the nearby area but found nothing else.

That trace of spatial fluctuation and Devilish Qi residue were too weak and fleeting, as if it were just an illusion.

However, it seemed to come from afar, and this spatial fluctuation should also be caused by a nearby teleportation Formation or some teleportation Talismans, whose power was too strong, causing the surrounding space to fluctuate.

But he trusted his Spirit Eye and Formation perception.

"Was it a passing Devil Cultivator? Or... was something thrown nearby by spatial turbulence?"

Lin Feng's brows furrowed, and a shadow fell over his heart.

Xuanlei Island was remote, had special Spiritual Qi, and was obscured by thunderclouds, making it always safe.

But the appearance of this Devilish Qi gave him a strong sense of crisis.

Fortunately, the thunder field here was abundant, and Devil Cultivators avoided it, so it was still alright.

However, if some Nascent Soul grand Cultivator discovered the mystery of this island and wanted to enter, it would only take some time and effort.

He could not slack off for a moment on his path of Cultivation!

"The island's defenses must be strengthened as soon as possible!"

He immediately returned to his Immortal Cave and prioritized the Formation.

At the same time, he decided that the next time he used [Gather Beast], he would be more careful, controlling the range and intensity, so as not to attract uncontrollable entities or too frequent beast tides that might draw the attention of certain powerful beings.

He came to the Spirit Spring where the Golden Phoenix Egg was placed; the eggshell was still warm and moist, and the life fluctuations were stable.

Under the nourishment of the miniature [Rain Prayer] and the essence blood aura, the fallen phoenix grass's reddish-gold luster became even more gentle, and even in the nearby soil, an extremely tiny, almost negligible new sprout seemed to have emerged?

Lin Feng carefully confirmed it several times before daring to believe—the fallen phoenix grass had actually successfully propagated!

Although the new sprout was so weak it seemed a single breath could scatter it, this was undoubtedly incredibly good news!

No matter what that trace of Devilish Qi meant, he had to make himself stronger and Xuanlei Island more solid before any potential threat arrived!

He took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the Formation Materials, Talisman paper, cinnabar, Puppet parts, and the "startling thunder" sword being nurtured in his Dantian inside the Immortal Cave.

On the path of Cultivation, he moved forward bravely.