145: Chapter 145 Steady Development and Dramatic Changes in the Secret Realm

Time flew by like a white horse passing a crack, and in the blink of an eye, another year had passed.

The matter of the "Blazing Summer" Luck Dynasty was like a seed that had been sown; it had already taken root and sprouted.

Whether it could grow into a towering tree depended on the watering of time and the nourishment of national fortune.

The core strength of the Lin Family also returned to the regular rhythm of clan development.

Secret Realm exploration was the top priority.

That vast, unknown territory concealed the treasures and risks left behind by the Boundless Sect and was the key to the Lin Family's future foundation.

Clan Leader Lin Yaozong and Great Elder Lin Yao Shan took turns leading teams, organizing the clan's elite, and centered around the palace complex firmly guarded by the Yi Wood Azure Radiance Formation and the simplified version of the Lesser Five Elements Myriad Manifestation Formation, they steadily pushed into the unknown areas surrounding them.

Every time they returned from exploration, there were more or less gains—perhaps a few high-year Spirit Medicines, perhaps some broken but still research-worthy ancient Cultivator artifacts, or perhaps the practical combat tempering brought about by fighting Yao Beasts.

On the side of Black Python Mountain (now Black Python County), it was also a scene of prosperity.

The edge area near the buffer zone had almost become a "Formation testing field" for Lin Cangchen, Lin Lingtu, and others.

Relying on a large number of basic Formation materials "confiscated" and purified from Wei Wushang, these two pillars of the Lin Family's Formation field, along with several "Cang" generation Clan Members who showed a strong interest in Formations (although their talent was far inferior to the two of them, their enthusiasm was commendable), would go over there to wander every few days.

Consequently, that area on the edge of the buffer zone became visibly "dangerous."

On the surface and in the dark, one did not know how many sets of early warning, enemy-trapping, confusing, and even slightly counter-attacking Formations had been buried.

Most of these Formations were not of high grade, mainly first-rank middle-grade or First Grade, Low Rank, but there were so many of them, and occasionally they had some crude linkages, like laying down a thicket of Formation thorns, forcing any uninvited guest who wanted to sneak over from here to lose a layer of skin first.

As Lin Lingfeng jokingly put it: "Now, if even a mouse wants to sneak in from over there, it has to ask if the Formation Flags buried by Cangchen agree!"

The Lin Family's development momentum also attracted the attention of many small surrounding families.

In addition to the Zhao Family and Liu Family, who had long been closely attached, seven or eight smaller families, mostly with only one or two Cultivators at the Qi Refining Late Stage in charge, approached through various channels one after another, hoping to find a place to settle down in the newly established Black Python County, even if it was just to be attached to the Lin Family.

After consulting with the clan elders, Clan Leader Lin Yaozong did not accept them all.

Instead, he screened seven families with relatively good reputations and whose conduct was not too eccentric (in the Law of the jungle of the cultivation world, this was already considered "righteous"), unifiedly bestowed them a first-grade mid-rank spirit vein, and allocated about five thousand li of territory to each, allowing them to establish their clan grounds here, multiply, and at the same time bear the corresponding duties of protection and tribute.

This move not only further enriched the population and strength of Black Python County but also rooted the Lin Family's influence more deeply here.

With the expansion of territory and population, the name "Black Python Mountain," which was originally slightly casual and cramped, was clearly no longer appropriate.

Upon the Lin Family's application and with the formal approval of the Azure Cloud Sect, this territory of two hundred thousand li was renamed "Black Python County," and the Lin Clan officially became the master of this county.

As for Lin Cangchen himself, he had not slackened in the slightest over this year.

In terms of cultivation, he was steady and down-to-earth.

Relying on the exquisiteness of the Five Elements Spirit Nurturing Art and the superior cultivation environment of the Secret Realm, shortly after turning twenty, he naturally broke through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, and was only one step away from the final accumulation and polishing before Qi Refining Perfection.

However, he encountered a significant Bottleneck in his Formation research.

Regarding the fluctuations suspected to be a spatial rift at Emerald Chirp Lake, he had almost flipped through all the Formation legacies on hand and finally only found two sets of First Grade, Low Rank attack Formations that barely touched upon the concept of "space."

The so-called "spatial" application of these two sets of Formations was outrageously superficial, nothing more than using spiritual power to create some visual dislocation or tiny spatial folds to interfere with opponents; it was almost a drop in the bucket for understanding and stabilizing a real spatial rift.

The Dao of space is vast and profound, one of the most mysterious Laws in the world.

Even though Lin Cangchen had acquired Divine Sense ahead of time due to Destiny, and his Formation Realm was stabilized at second rank low grade, his progress in this brand-new field was still like a snail's pace.

Most of his time was spent on understanding those obscure and difficult basic spatial theories, and he was almost unable to make a start on the actual Formation construction.

Fortunately, Lin Cangchen had a good mindset and knew that this matter could not be rushed, so he did not obsess over it.

In addition to daily cultivation and researching spatial Formations, he would occasionally find time to visit the "Immortal Nurturing Hall" established by the clan to teach the "Cang" generation little beans who were interested in Formations about the most basic principles of Formations.

Watching their bright eyes filled with thirst for knowledge, it was quite a unique pleasure.

On this day, Lin Cangchen was chatting with Clan Leader Lin Yaozong in the main hall of the Black Python County Master's Mansion, discussing the recent arrangements for various clan affairs.

"...Therefore, this spatial Formation is truly profound. I have studied it for so long, and I feel like I haven't even touched the threshold, but I have pulled out quite a bit of hair."

Lin Cangchen shrugged and mocked himself helplessly.

Clan Leader Lin Yaozong stroked his beard and laughed: "You kid, how old are you to dare to speak of touching the Dao of space? Being able to have this heart is already rare. Take it slow, no need to..."

Before his voice faded, the pale silver light gate at the back of the main hall, which he was maintaining, leading to the fixed entrance and exit of the Secret Realm's Qingshi Town, suddenly fluctuated.

A slightly disheveled figure stumbled out, and it was none other than Lin Lingfeng!

"Clan Leader! Cangchen! It's bad!"

Lin Lingfeng breathed slightly fast, his face full of urgency.

Clan Leader Lin Yaozong's expression became stern: "Ling Feng? Aren't you following Great Elder Yao Shan exploring the Secret Realm? What happened?"

Lin Lingfeng reported quickly: "Clan Leader, in the depths of an unexplored ice valley, we encountered a second rank low grade Cold Python!"

"It is more ferocious than the one in the cold pool before, larger in size, and its cold energy can almost freeze spiritual power!"

"The Great Elder is struggling to support it with the help of the temporary Formation laid by Ling Tu, and he asked me to come out and ask for reinforcements immediately!"

"Another second rank low grade Cold Python? And in the depths of an ice valley?"

Clan Leader Lin Yaozong frowned, immediately stood up, "Let's go! Go in immediately!"

He maintained the Secret Realm entrance, took Lin Cangchen and Lin Lingfeng, and stepped into the light gate.

The familiar scene shifted, and the three of them were already in the quiet side room of the Secret Realm's Qingshi Town clan grounds.

Without the slightest delay, Lin Lingfeng led the way with ease.

The three of them rose on their artifacts, turning into three streams of light, and flew rapidly toward the depths of the Secret Realm, in the direction where the Great Elder and the others were in danger.

The strong wind blew against their faces, and thoughts raced through Lin Cangchen's mind.

The Secret Realm was indeed full of crises.

This newly appeared second rank low grade Cold Python was probably not an accident.

That unexplored deep ice valley might hide more secrets, or perhaps... a greater Opportunity?