Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

170: Array Master Chunyu XianInside Tianfa Pavilion, the grand and solemn atmosphere seemed to solidify.

Above the dome, countless stars formed by Formation models still slowly moved along mysterious trajectories, emitting various spiritual lights that illuminated the entire space in a bizarre yet silent manner.

The air was filled with dense Spiritual Qi and the unique low hum of Formations in operation, but now, due to a sudden conflict, it was permeated with invisible gunpowder smoke.

The young Attendant took a deep breath, his fingertips trembling slightly, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart.

He had served in Tianfa Pavilion for several years, seen all kinds of guests, and handled various disputes, but a situation like today was a first.

With Tianfa Pavilion’s lofty status and backing, no matter what happened, they could always gain the upper hand.

But this time, they suffered a silent loss.

They couldn’t even get angry.

This could only be attributed to a loophole in Tianfa Pavilion’s rules.

On his pale face, the professional smile almost couldn’t be maintained, and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.

He silently took out a warm, jade-like green token engraved with intricate runes from his waist, condensed a faint spiritual light on his fingertip, and carefully injected it into the token.

The runes on the token’s surface lit up one by one, emitting an extremely subtle yet highly penetrating hum, like a drop of water falling into a calm lake.

Ripples spread out, quickly transmitting upward along the ubiquitous Formation Veins within Tianfa Pavilion.

This signal meant that a tricky matter requiring higher-level handling, possibly even involving conflict, had occurred downstairs.

In just a moment, a steady yet slightly hurried sound of footsteps came from upstairs.

Tap, tap, tap... The footsteps were neither fast nor slow, yet carried an inexplicable weight, tapping on the mirror-smooth jade steps, and clearly tapping on the heartstrings of everyone downstairs.

Making the already tense atmosphere even more stagnant. Everyone’s gaze was involuntarily drawn upward.

Everyone looked up in unison. They saw a thin, stern-faced Middle-aged Cultivator, dressed in a dark green robe, slowly walking down.

His robe was made of extraordinary material, with spiritual light subtly flowing, and intricate Formation patterns embroidered with silver threads on the cuffs and lapels, signifying his noble status as a Formation Master.

His aura was clearly at the peak of the ninth layer of Qi Refining.

His face was gaunt, with slightly high cheekbones, but his eyes were astonishingly sharp, sweeping over the crowd downstairs like a hawk, pausing slightly when his gaze finally fell on Lin Jingyu.

Deep within those eyes was undisguised scrutiny and a hint of unresolvable anger.

Clearly, he had already learned most of the ’using rule loopholes to earn Spirit Stones’ farce that had just happened downstairs through the ubiquitous surveillance Formations within the pavilion.

In his view, such behavior was nothing short of a cunning provocation, not only slapping Tianfa Pavilion’s face but also a slight and insult to his reputation as the Great Master in charge.

Although Tianfa Pavilion’s rules were strict and its reputation highly valued, it would never go back on its word or undermine itself for a mere few thousand Spirit Stones.

But this thorn was undoubtedly firmly embedded in his heart. His face was gloomy, and even the surrounding air seemed to grow several degrees colder.

As soon as Li Duoduo saw that this was indeed Great Master Chunyu Xian, whom she had been waiting for, she immediately felt as if she had found her backbone, or seen a Sharp Weapon she could use to strike her opponent.

She forcibly suppressed the distorted expression on her face caused by anger and shame, and tried to force out a smile that she thought was charming and alluring, but which actually appeared extremely strange due to stiff muscles.

She swayed her snake-like waist, took a step forward, and said in a deliberately raised voice:

”Oh, Great Master Chunyu Xian! You’ve finally arrived! It’s truly our immense honor to have you personally take action!”

As she spoke, her tone changed, and she glanced venomously at Lin Jingyu, deliberately raising her voice with a pointed meaning:

”Forget seven thousand Spirit Stones, even ten thousand Spirit Stones would be worth it if it means inviting you!”

”Unlike certain ignorant petty thieves, who are shortsighted and only resort to petty tricks that are beneath them, picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons, just making themselves a laughingstock!”

Her words were like poisoned needles, wishing to immediately nail Lin Jingyu to the pillar of shame, while also greatly elevating Chunyu Xian, trying to salvage some of the embarrassment of being ignored just now.

”Enough.”

Chunyu Xian’s voice was utterly indifferent; he didn’t even bother to look at her properly, directly and impolitely cutting her off.

He was annoyed and just wanted to quickly complete this commission that felt like swallowing a fly, not wanting to get involved in these boring and petty grievances and grudges.

His time was precious, and he didn’t want to waste it listening to such meaningless flattery and attacks. Tianfa Pavilion’s reputation and rules had their own ways of being upheld; they were not for others to use as a weapon.

Li Duoduo’s warm welcome was met with a cold shoulder, leaving her utterly choked. Her face immediately turned green and red, a spectacle of embarrassment.

To think that as the Third Manager of Daling Pavilion, she was a person of standing in this Southeast Market Town. Who usually wasn’t polite to her?

Yet now she had to be so subservient in front of a Formation Master, and even be ignored! But she knew she was asking for a favor at this moment and dared not lash out, only suppressing the anger that was almost bursting forth.

She stepped aside, making way, and squeezed out stiff words through gritted teeth:

”Great Master Chunyu Xian, you... please come this way.” She absolutely could not swallow this insult.

She immediately unleashed all her anger on Qin Yue and Lin Jingyu, who were quietly observing.

She suddenly twisted her waist, turned to Liu Lili, whose eyes were somewhat flickering behind her, and her voice rose again, full of exaggerated showing off and blatant provocation:

”Lili! What are you standing there for? Let’s go!”

”Today, we’ve gone all out! We must invite Great Master Chunyu Xian and the Artifact Refining Great Master from Tianqi Pavilion to jointly customize the best and most top-tier Pill Furnace for you!”

”We’ll use the best spiritual materials and engrave the most powerful Fire Gathering Formation and Temperature Control Formation!”

She deliberately emphasized the words ”best,” ”top-tier,” and ”most powerful,” each word like a heavy hammer striking the nerves of everyone from Miaoling Pavilion.

Miaoling Pavilion currently had no Alchemists.

As she spoke, she lifted her chin high, looking at Qin Yue out of the corner of her eye, the sarcasm in her tone almost overflowing:

”Unlike certain impoverished households, who are so stingy that they won’t even provide a decent, exclusive Pill Furnace for their Disciples, needlessly delaying a Genius’s future!”

”Tsk tsk, it’s truly so shabby it’s laughable, I feel ashamed for them!”

These words not only belittled Miaoling Pavilion but also rationalized Liu Lili’s betrayal, as if her departure was entirely Miaoling Pavilion’s fault.

Upon hearing this, Qin Yue still maintained her composed demeanor, a hint of a cold smile even playing on her lips, her eyes calm and unwavering, as if watching a clumsy actor perform with great effort.

To argue with her? That would be degrading herself and inviting trouble. She merely gently brushed her sleeve, as if it had gathered dust, but in her heart, she sneered, ’A mere clown, ultimately not fit for the stage.’