Cultivation Begins with Daily Intelligence Reports

184: There is a master guiding him.Shui Sheng paused, her eyes shifting, a hint of a merchant’s shrewdness and cunning flashing within them as a smile played on her lips:

“However... I appreciate your sentiment and your apology. Coincidentally, I heard you were looking for a suitable Family Protecting Grand Formation for your Family?”

As she spoke, she took out a cyan Jade Slip from her Storage Pouch—its material smooth and warm, containing internal spiritual light—and handed it to Lin Jingyu.

“This is the ‘Water Wood Flowing Cloud Formation,’ a First-tier High Grade Compound Grand Formation. It possesses the triple effects of defense, offense, and illusion.

It is especially skilled at guiding and transforming Water and Wood spiritual power. Under its full activation, it is sufficient to withstand the attacks of several cultivators at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining.”

“If this Formation were sold at market price, it would require at least nine thousand Spirit Stones.

But today... seeing your sincerity in apologizing, considering my friendship with Sister Qin Yue, and especially considering the Face that Old Man Gu Yue gives you, I’ll give you a discount. Five thousand Spirit Stones, how about it?”

Shui Sheng said this because she had decided in her heart to befriend Lin Jingyu, this Alchemist with boundless prospects.

Gu Yue pursed his lips, feeling extremely proud.

No matter how impressive you Formation Masters usually are, don’t you still have to be below us Alchemists?

When Lin Jingyu heard this, his heart was instantly filled with ecstasy!

A First-tier High Grade Compound Grand Formation! And it was a top-tier item specifically optimized for a Water and Wood environment! It only required five thousand Spirit Stones.

How was this different from receiving it for free? Shopkeeper Shui was clearly doing him a favor.

Regarding this obvious intention to befriend him, he didn’t hesitate at all and immediately said:

“Since Shopkeeper Shui is so generous, this Junior will respectfully accept.”

He suppressed his excitement, took the Formation Plate with both hands, and quickly swept his Divine Sense into it.

The Formation Diagram was complex and exquisite, the spiritual power circulation lines were incredibly clear, and he could feel the immense power contained within.

If this Grand Formation was placed in the Family’s ancestral land, it would increase their defensive strength several times over.

Ordinary clansmen would no longer have to worry about being attacked by isolated Yao Beasts.

If the Demonic Cultivators had attacked last time, with this Grand Formation in place, Lin Lingshan would have been invincible.

He could easily crush them.

He immediately counted out a card containing five thousand Spirit Stones and pushed it toward Shui Sheng.

Shui Sheng smiled and accepted it, giving him a meaningful look: “Work hard, little brother, I have high hopes for you. If you ever need assistance with Formations in the future, come find me at Tianfa Pavilion anytime.”

Lin Jingyu’s Face lit up with joy; wasn’t this like getting a pillow when you’re sleepy?

He immediately took out the Formation Diagram for the Spirit Enlightenment Formation and sincerely said:

“Senior Shui Sheng, please help me construct this Formation. Just tell me exactly how many Spirit Stones it will cost.”

The Spirit Enlightenment Formation was the very purpose of his trip to the Southeast Market Town.

He had obtained the Family Protecting Grand Formation, but not yet the Spirit Enlightenment Formation.

Shui Sheng took the Formation Diagram into her hands, glanced at it, and then said:

“This Spirit Enlightenment Formation isn’t difficult, but I need you to agree to one condition, otherwise, I won’t make it for you.”

A playful smile hung on her lips.

Lin Jingyu was startled. He cupped his hands and cautiously asked:

“Senior, please speak. As long as this Junior can do it, I will definitely give it my all.”

“That is: from now on, you are not allowed to call me Senior! Just call me Elder Sister. I’m not much older than Sister Qin Yue.”

Shui Sheng said, keeping her Face straight.

Huh?

Lin Jingyu paused in a daze, then quickly spoke:

“Alright, Elder Sister Shui Sheng.”

Shui Sheng nodded in satisfaction.

Gu Yue, standing nearby, really couldn’t hold back, his facial muscles twitching.

His eyes were full of disdain.

This Shui Sheng was older than him, yet she was still pretending to be young now.

It was truly excessive.

But there was nothing he could do; after all, she maintained herself well, and her complexion looked no different from that of a sixteen-year-old girl.

As for him, dealing with Pill Furnaces all day, he had aged prematurely, and they no longer looked like they belonged to the same generation.

Alas.

After Shui Sheng left.

Vice President Gu Yue finally couldn’t hold back. He grabbed Lin Jingyu’s arm, his enthusiasm making him seem like he had found his long-lost grandson, and his tone was exceptionally cordial:

“Little Friend Jingyu! This old man is much older than you, so if I take the liberty of calling you Jingyu, you don’t mind, right?”

“Senior Gu Yue, you speak too seriously. You are an elder, and such a form of address is this Junior’s honor,” Lin Jingyu quickly and respectfully replied.

“Haha! Good! Good! Truly a polite and excellent young man!”

Gu Yue laughed until his eyes squinted shut, the wrinkles on his Face smoothing out:

“Jingyu, this old man is extremely curious, where exactly did you inherit your profound and unpredictable Alchemy techniques from?”

“This old man has been immersed in the Dao of Pills for most of his life and believes he has gained some insight, but... but your ability to refine Supreme Grade Spirit Pills is simply... simply astonishing! Unheard of!”

He truly couldn’t hold back and asked the question he most wanted to know.

An Alchemy Legacy of this level absolutely would not be unknown.

It came, he was indeed asked about his Legacy. Lin Jingyu already had a contingency plan in mind, and at the appropriate moment, his Face showed a perfectly measured hint of melancholy remembrance and regret.

He sighed softly, his tone carrying a reminiscence of the past and infinite respect for the master Senior, yet his words were cleverly vague:

“I dare not hide anything from Senior Gu Yue. My Alchemy techniques were taught to me when, by coincidence, I encountered a wandering Senior during my childhood.”

“That master Senior had extraordinary bearing, a detached and transcendent nature, like a carefree cloud or wild crane. He disliked worldly disturbances and was unwilling to leave his name.”

It was similar to what he had told Qin Yue before, but relatively speaking, it was even more vague and ethereal.

“That elder merely offered me some casual guidance for a few days, imparting some basic Methods and principles, before drifting away. His immortal traces are faint, and he did not disclose his name or the source of his Legacy.”

“This Junior’s Aptitude is dull. Afterward, I mostly relied on the principles taught by the Senior, exploring and guessing on my own, practicing haphazardly. To have these minor skills today is truly a matter of luck, and I apologize for making Senior laugh.”

Another wandering Senior! Another Dragon that Shows Its Head but Not Its Tail! And nameless!

Gu Yue and the surrounding Alchemists exchanged glances again. The suspicion in their hearts was now eighty or ninety percent confirmed—this youngster absolutely had an old, reclusive monster behind him, one whose cultivation was unfathomably deep and who was merely playing in the mortal world!

A Disciple trained by such a Master is a Prodigy in his own right, but the key is that he cannot be offended; they must desperately try to build a good relationship with him.

This speculation was exactly the same as Qin Yue’s.

After all, such a powerful Alchemy Legacy could never have appeared out of thin air.

Thinking of this, the smile on Gu Yue’s Face instantly became even more cordial and benevolent, sweet enough to drip honey:

“So that’s how it is! The actions of a Master are indeed profound and unpredictable, beyond the comprehension of common folk like us! It is truly fortunate that Jingyu was able to obtain such an Opportunity!”

“What is even rarer is your Exceptional Talent and superb Comprehension Ability, that you could reach such a Realm merely through your own exploration! The younger generation is truly formidable! Truly formidable!”

He rubbed his hands together and finally got to the main topic, his tone filled with unprecedented eagerness and anticipation:

“Jingyu, I wonder if you would be interested in joining our Southeast Market Town Alchemist Association?”

“With your skill level, no assessment is necessary. This old man can personally guarantee your entry and directly grant you the badge and benefits of a First-tier High Grade Alchemist!”