541: Chapter 541 To support Xu Ruyu's strategy, everyone gave up their last remaining resources.

The Grand Elder said no more. Beside him, Hua Xunhuan glanced at Granny Liu, and Granny Liu nodded slightly.

Although Zhao Yan didn't understand much about Formations, hearing Xu Ruyu say it could be completed in three days put his mind at ease.

Xu Ruyu continued, "However, there is a difficulty at hand that perhaps can only be solved if everyone pools their strength together."

Everyone began asking what the difficulty was.

A Disciple named Chen Ping gathered his courage and squeezed through the crowd to the front. He was previously responsible for maintaining the Mountain Protection Array within the sect and was the most devoted to Formations.

"Sect Master, just say the word. As long as we can help, we would go through fire and water."

Xu Ruyu smiled and shook his head.

"There's no need for everyone to risk their lives.

It's just that setting up this Formation requires quite a lot of Spirit Stones.

As you know, all the resources of our Hehuan Sect were forcibly kept at Tianyin Mountain by Cang Songzi and his people; we didn't bring out a single Spirit Stone.

To set up the Formation now, I can only rely on everyone contributing the last of the Spirit Stones they have on them."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

No one complained, and no one sighed.

This silence was not hesitation; it was preparation.

Zhao Yan was the first to reach into his robes, pulling out a cloth bag and tossing it casually onto the ground.

The bag hit the bluestone floor with a crisp clatter. The mouth of the bag loosened, and several Spirit Stones rolled out, looking particularly striking against the dusty floor.

"Sect Master, these are the Spirit Stones I've saved for over a decade. Take them and use them." He grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "My life, Zhao Yan's life, was given to me by the Hehuan Sect. What do a few Spirit Stones matter?"

Leng Ningshuang did not speak.

She took off the Storage Pouch at her waist, crouched down, and placed it on the ground.

That Storage Pouch was given to her by her Master when she first entered the sect. It had been with her for decades; its leather surface was worn shiny, and its drawstring had been replaced several times.

The bag contained all her savings. She didn't open it to look, nor did she hesitate.

Ning Caihe took a cloth bag from his sleeve and placed it gently on the ground.

The bag wasn't large, and the Spirit Stones it could hold were limited, but he placed it down very solemnly.

After setting it down, he took a step back and stood beside Leng Ningshuang.

Qingyan, her face flushed, pulled a small pouch from her bosom and placed it on the ground.

The pouch was pink, embroidered with a small flower in fine stitches—she had embroidered it herself.

It contained the pocket money she had saved for several years, which she had always been reluctant to spend.

As she put it down, her fingers were trembling, but she did not pull back.

The Grand Elder took a palm-sized jade pendant from his sleeve and placed it on the ground.

The pendant was green, carved with ancient patterns, and it emitted a warm, gentle glow in the dim hall.

That was an Ancient Treasure he had obtained from a ruin in his youth; it had been with him for hundreds of years.

"Sect Master, I am at this age now; these things are no longer of use to me."

His voice was calm, as if he were speaking of a very ordinary matter.

Hua Xunhuan took off her earrings, bracelets, and necklace, placing them on the ground one by one.

The earrings were emerald, the bracelets were white jade, and the necklace was pearl—they were all her favorites.

She had worn them for decades, never letting them leave her person.

As she set them down, her fingers did not tremble, but her eyes brightened for a moment, as if stung by something.

Granny Liu leaned on her cane, fished a Spirit Stone out of her sleeve, and placed it on the ground.

The Spirit Stone was only the size of a thumb and of poor quality; its color was dull, and there were several cracks on its surface.

That was the last of her savings.

After placing the Spirit Stone on the ground, she stood up straight. There was no reluctance in her clouded old eyes, only an indescribable calm.

Then came the second, the third, the tenth, the twentieth.

One Disciple after another stepped forward, placing their Spirit Stones, Magical Artifacts, Medicinal Pills, and various treasures on the ground one by one.

Spirit Stones collided with Spirit Stones, making a tinkling crisp sound; Magical Artifacts rubbed against each other, producing dull metallic noises; Jade Slips fell to the ground with rhythmic clacks.

The sounds rose and fell like rain, or like the beating of drums.

"Sect Master, all of mine are here."

"Sect Master, this is my entire net worth. Use it as you wish."

"Sect Master, I don't have anything good, just these few Spirit Stones. Please don't look down on them."

Among the more than three hundred Disciples, no one hesitated, and no one held anything back.

Spirit Stones piled up in the center of the hall, growing higher and higher, turning from a small pile into a large one, and from a large pile into a small mountain.

Spirit Stones were on top, Magical Artifacts in the middle, and Medicinal Pills and Jade Slips at the bottom.

All kinds of Spirit Stones—large and small, round and irregular, bright and dull—were squeezed together.

All kinds of Magical Artifacts—sabers, spears, swords, halberds, bells, tripods, towers, and seals—new and old, complete and damaged, were stacked up.

Xu Ruyu looked at that small mountain, his eyes reddening slightly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt that whatever he said wouldn't be enough.

In the end, he just nodded and said in a steady voice, "Good. With your full support, this Great Array will surely be completed."

He turned around, no longer looking at the pile of Spirit Stones.

"Now, those with Cultivation in Formations, stand forth. We will begin setting up the Formation immediately."

A dozen or so people stepped out from the crowd.

Some were older, veteran Cultivators who had specifically researched Formations in the Hehuan Sect before; some were young but interested in the Dao of Formations and had studied it themselves for a few years. There were men and women, tall and short, fifteen in total.

Chen Ping walked at the very front; he was the leader of these people.

He was in his thirties, of medium build and ordinary appearance, but his fingers were long and his knuckles distinct—clearly someone accustomed to delicate work.

He walked up to Xu Ruyu, cupped his hands, and said, "Sect Master, my name is Chen Ping. I was previously responsible for maintaining the Mountain Protection Array in the sect, so I have some understanding of Formations.

The other fellow brothers have also learned a bit. Although we can't compare to the Sect Master, we can still handle the grunt work."

Xu Ruyu nodded. "Good. Follow me.

The rest of you, follow the arrangements of Xiao Nianyin and the Grand Elder. Guard the mountain gate and do not go out.

No one is allowed to enter or leave.

If someone tries to force their way in, there's no need to report to me; Xiao Nianyin will handle it."

He turned and walked toward the outside of the hall.

The fifteen people followed behind him.