Chapter 18 - Constructing the Array

Chapter 18 – Constructing a Formation

The Withered Wood Daoist had left. After inspecting the graveyard and finding nothing else that needed attending to, Xiao Xianyu also swiftly made his way back. The people of Xinshou Village were all deep in their dreams, blissfully unaware that just moments ago, they had skirted the edge of life and death. Had Xiao Xianyu and the Withered Wood Daoist not intervened to halt the corpse fiend, the entire village might well have become a living hell, with its people erased from existence. But the world brooks no ifs; they had stopped the demon and saved the villagers.

Xiao Xianyu returned to Uncle Gu’s house, where he saw Aunt Gu asleep, slumped over the table, the lone oil lamp flickering gently. She must have waited for him until exhaustion overtook her. Xiao Xianyu felt a surge of gratitude; while some villagers had their faults, there were truly kind people among them. With a wave of his hand, he gently lifted Aunt Gu with a current of soft immortal energy and carried her to her room, tucking her in before retiring to his own chamber.

Advancing from the Qi Refining stage to Foundation Establishment in one leap, Xiao Xianyu could not help but feel exhilarated. His master had described the stages of cultivation to him in detail, but the actual experience of ascension could never be conveyed by mere words. This breakthrough carried its share of fortuitous coincidence. Still, an advance was an advance; unless faced with some catastrophic calamity, there would be no turning back. Thus it is said, once your cultivation rises, it is almost impossible to descend.

To consolidate his breakthrough, Xiao Xianyu remained diligent, cultivating in his chamber until dawn. The next morning, as usual, he went out to absorb the morning light, then returned. As always, a servant sent by Master Zhang’s household was already waiting at the Gu family’s gate, inquiring after Xiao Xianyu’s availability.

Seeing Xiao Xianyu stroll by with hands clasped behind his back, the servant hurried forward to offer his respects. “Young Divine Doctor, my master sent me to invite you as a guest to the Zhang household. Might you have some time?”

Xiao Xianyu smiled. “Mr. Zhang is too polite, but I’ll have to decline. You’d best return.”

The servant pleaded, “Young Divine Doctor, my master instructed me not to return without you, or I’ll surely be punished. Please, have mercy on me!”

With that, he fell to his knees. Xiao Xianyu quickly helped him up and, seeing his face up close, found him familiar. “Wait… are you Little Shun?”

Indeed, it was the young man who, two days earlier, had called for a master to perform rites at the Zhang residence; he, too, worked for the Zhangs.

Little Shun looked at Xiao Xianyu in surprise. “You know my name, sir?”

Xiao Xianyu chuckled. “No need for all this ‘Young Divine Doctor’ business. My surname is Xiao, and I’m likely a year or two your senior. Just call me Brother Xiao.”

Little Shun shook his head hurriedly. “I wouldn’t dare, sir. I wouldn’t dare.”

Xiao Xianyu laughed. “Why not? Tell Master Zhang that if he dares punish you, I’ll be very upset.”

Little Shun blinked, a little bewildered. “Is that all? No more intimidating words?” he thought to himself. Yet, whatever his doubts, he didn’t dare speak them aloud. He nodded quickly. “Yes, sir. I’ll take my leave.”

Xiao Xianyu watched him go. After breakfast, Uncle and Aunt Gu went to work in the fields, and Xiao Xianyu strolled idly through the village. He neither saw the Withered Wood Daoist on the streets nor sought him out at the Earth God Temple; most likely, the Daoist was now in seclusion, striving to improve his cultivation, and should not be disturbed.

The villagers greeted him warmly whenever they saw him. Though they might gossip behind his back, in person they were unfailingly polite. Judging by their current attitude, one would never guess the rumors they spread about him. Of course, Xiao Xianyu had no intention of holding grudges. He hadn’t heard the gossip with his own ears, and even if he had, his temperament would never allow for pettiness towards ordinary mortals.

Many sought out Xiao Xianyu for medical treatment, from minor ailments to serious diseases. He treated them all, relying solely on the art of acupuncture rather than prescribing medicines, and the results were immediate and impressive. Before long, the entire village came to seek his help. As a cultivator, Xiao Xianyu felt no fatigue, and within half a day, he had cured every ailment in the village.

Yet, he mused, mere treatment addresses the symptoms, not the root. To truly strengthen the villagers and rid them of disease, he needed to enhance their constitutions. And so, Xiao Xianyu resolved to establish a spirit-gathering formation in Xinshou Village, to draw the vital energies of heaven and earth. Living amidst such spiritual abundance, the villagers would gradually grow robust and free of illness.

Once the idea took hold, Xiao Xianyu set out that afternoon to search for materials to construct the formation.

The village children, having witnessed his miraculous healing, were filled with curiosity. Many followed him from a distance, their numbers soon swelling to over a dozen, ranging from teenagers to little ones barely five or six years old. Whenever Xiao Xianyu turned to look at them, they would scatter and hide; but as soon as he turned away, they would emerge and trail after him once more.

Amused, Xiao Xianyu simply shook his head and paid them no mind.

The materials needed for a spirit-gathering formation must contain the essence of heaven and earth. The villagers, being mere mortals, could not withstand a formation of immortal or higher grade; a spiritual-grade material would suffice. Xiao Xianyu had none such on hand—all must be found anew.

After his master had bestowed three treasures upon him, nothing else was left. “If you want treasures,” his master had said, “find them yourself, seize them yourself. If you can find none, forge your own.”

Leaving Xinshou Village, Xiao Xianyu expanded his spiritual sense to search for the location of spirit essence. This was a feat only possible now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment stage; had he remained at Qi Refining, such a search would have been impossible.