Chapter 120 Lingyun Discusses the Departure Date, Dongfeng Entrusts the Old Ground

In the stone room of the Lingyun Cave Dwelling, the silver glow of the Zhou Tian Star Array spilled onto the bluestone platform, while the gurgling sound of the spiritual spring made the room feel exceptionally quiet.

Lin Yue sat on the main prayer mat, with Su Qingyuan, Luo Ningshuang, A He, and Ling Wei seated beside him in turn. All four women were dressed in martial attire, clearly sensing the recent tense atmosphere; spiritual power quietly gathered at their fingertips, ready to respond to any unforeseen changes at a moment's notice.

Liu Qingyan stood on the east side of the stone room, the pure spirit immortal flute resting against her palm, her plain white Daoist robe shimmering with a faint green spiritual light. Ever since news of the Dao-Seeking Great Competition in Tianyan City arrived, she had been organizing the affairs of the East Peak. At this moment, her eyes held a touch of composure: "The journey to Tianyan City is perilous. We must arrange for reliable people to look after the East Peak's Medicine Garden, Immortal Cave, and the Thirty-Six Islands of Huangmu Reef so that we can proceed without worries."

Lin Yue nodded, his gaze sweeping over the four women, his tone solemn: "We will set off for Tianyan City in three days. This competition is not only about the Ancient Spiritual Vein Mine but also about dealing with Wu Tianli and formidable enemies from various Sects. Master Liu and I have already settled the arrangements for the East Peak's territory. I have gathered you today to inform you of the itinerary and to clarify the preparations before our departure."

Hearing this, Su Qingyuan's crimson flame skyfall sword hummed softly in its Sword Casket. She raised her hand to press against the hilt, a flash of Battle Intent in her eyes: "Rest assured, husband. I have finished nurturing the three broken swords in the Sword Casket; the Heaven-Burning Sword Domain can be activated at any time."

Luo Ningshuang took several jade bottles from her Storage Pouch, their surfaces shimmering with the spiritual light of pill veins: "I have refined a hundred each of 'Anti-Poison Pills' and 'healing pills' to counter the poison arts of the Xuanyue Sect."

A He held the azure spirit vine bow, her spirit plant bead glowing with a faint green light, her tone carrying a hint of worry: "But... if no one looks after the spirit plants in the Medicine Garden, will there be any problems?"

Ling Wei immediately spoke up, the hundred treasure exquisite disk rotating in her palm: "I have already drawn the Formation diagram for the Medicine Garden's Three-Ring Spirit Gathering Array. We just need to arrange for Disciples to maintain it according to the diagram, and the growth of the spirit plants won't be affected. Moreover..." She looked toward Liu Qingyan, "Senior Brother Lin Dexuan under Master Liu is proficient in spirit plant management, and Miss Gongsun Lüe has a sharp perception of Spiritual Veins. It couldn't be more appropriate to leave it to them."

Liu Qingyan nodded and took out a jade token engraved with "East Peak Deacon" from her robes: "Lin Dexuan is steady and meticulous. He will be responsible for the daily management of the East Mountain Medicine Garden and the Hundred Herb Medicine Garden, with Miss Gongsun Lüe assisting him in caring for the spirit plants. Additionally, I will send Li Qing, a Formation Disciple of the East Peak, to maintain the Zhou Tian Star Array and the Medicine Garden's protective Formations to ensure everything is foolproof."

She paused, then took out another golden token and handed it to Lin Yue: "This is the Mountain-Governing Token for the Thirty-Six Islands of Huangmu Reef. Previously, Wu Tianli and Mo Renxing were reluctant to hand them over. Before we set off this time, we need to stop by Huangmu Reef on the way to complete the handover."

Lin Yue took the token. As his fingertips touched the cold metal, he could clearly sense the earthly spiritual charm contained within. Although the Spiritual Vein of Huangmu Reef was not as rich as that of the East Mountain Medicine Garden, it hid Deep Sea Spirit Ore, an important material for refining Spirit Treasures. After this handover, the East Peak's resource reserves would reach a new level.

"In the three days before we leave, everyone will prepare separately: Qingyuan, consolidate your sword domain; Ning Shuang, refine more high-grade Medicinal Pills; A He, cultivate enough spirit plant seedlings; and Ling Wei, check the Formation Runes and Formation Flags of the qinglan boat." Lin Yue's gaze swept over the four women, his tone carrying a hint of warmth. "On this journey together, everyone must work in unison. No matter what danger we encounter, no one is to act alone."

The four women responded in unison, their eyes filled with determination. Since becoming bound to Lin Yue, they were no longer alone, but partners who could entrust their backs to one another. No matter how fierce the storm in Tianyan City might be, as long as they fought side by side, they had nothing to fear.

On the morning of their departure, Lin Dexuan and Gongsun Lüe were already waiting outside the Immortal Cave. Lin Dexuan was dressed in East Peak Deacon Robes, holding a management manual for the Medicine Garden: "Rest assured, Senior Brother Lin. I will certainly look after the Medicine Garden and record the growth of the spirit plants daily. I will not fail your trust."

Gongsun Lüe handed over a spirit plant Jade Slip, which recorded the maintenance points for various spirit plants: "I have noted down the cultivation methods for the Nirvana Spirit Plants. I will personally inject spiritual spring water every day to ensure they do not wither."

Liu Qingyan nodded and instructed Li Qing once more: "The Formation Flags of the Zhou Tian Star Array need to be replaced every seven days. If you encounter any spiritual power fluctuations, contact me immediately with a Communication Talisman."

Once all the arrangements were made, Lin Yue led the four women onto the qinglan boat. Ling Wei activated the Formation Runes, and the boat's hull shimmered with a faint green spiritual light as it slowly rose into the sky and flew toward Huangmu Reef.

Three days later, the qinglan boat arrived above Huangmu Reef. It was currently noon, and the sunlight spilled onto the reef island's Spiritual Vein mine, shimmering with a faint golden spiritual light.

The qinglan boat hovered above Huangmu Reef. The midday sun shone down on the dilapidated reef island, where the black glow of the Xuantian Spirit-Eroding Runes in the deep trenches on the ground was like a lurking venomous snake. The golden light of the Spiritual Vein mine was dim and lusterless—Wu Tianli's plundering had long since left this spiritual reef in ruins.

Lin Yue leaped down, his zhensha divine staff shrinking into a three-foot iron rod. Using Breath Concealment and Essence Hiding, he transformed into the appearance of a hunched old man. Su Qingyuan, Luo Ningshuang, A He, and Ling Wei followed closely behind, all restraining their spiritual power to pose as ordinary Disciples. Liu Qingyan held her pure spirit immortal flute, a faint green spiritual light flowing over her plain white Daoist robe as her gaze swept the surroundings vigilantly.

"Elder Liu sure has a big mouth!" A black-robed Cultivator named Zhao Hu approached with five subordinates, the "Wu" character token on his waist dazzling. "Huangmu Reef is Elder Wu's Foundation. You bring a group of Outer Sect Disciples here to demand it—do you think there's no one left in our Wu Clan?"

Liu Qingyan's palm revealed a Sect Leader Token and a Betting Mirage Jade Slip: "Wu Tianli lost the Sect competition, and Huangmu Reef now belongs to the East Peak. The Sect Decree is here—do you dare to defy it?"

Zhao Hu's Divine Thought swept over the Jade Slip. His expression changed drastically, but he still forced a front: "You dare use a forged Jade Slip to bluff! This wretched old man (pointing at Lin Yue) can't even circulate his spiritual power smoothly; how is he fit to take over the spirit mine?" Before his words had even finished, his fingertips quietly made a hidden gesture, a trace of sinister intent flashing in his eyes.

Lin Yue suddenly straightened his back, his Breath Concealment Technique dissipating. The golden-red spiritual light of his Star-Moon Dao Body surged, and the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Peak instantly enveloped the entire area: "Whether the bet is real or fake is not for you to decide." The red glow of the zhensha divine staff flickered, its malevolent aura forcing Zhao Hu and the others to retreat repeatedly.

Liu Qingyan's pure spiritual power erupted simultaneously, her pale white spiritual light trapping the five members of the Wu Clan: "Sign the Handover Document, and I shall spare your lives!"

Zhao Hu's face turned deathly pale. He tremblingly took the document, but just as his fingertips touched the Jade Slip, a sudden change occurred!

"Do it!" Among the five trapped subordinates, three suddenly broke free from the spiritual light's restraint. Their black robes burst open, revealing dark green Daoist robes covered in poison patterns underneath, with Xuanyue Marks faintly visible on their foreheads. The three of them simultaneously performed hand seals, and the Xuantian Spirit-Eroding Runes on the ground abruptly lit up. Black light wove into a net, instantly transforming into a "Spirit-Eroding Poison Array" that surrounded Lin Yue, Liu Qingyan, and the others!

"It's the Xuanyue Sect infiltrators!" Ling Wei cried out. The spiritual light of her hundred treasure exquisite disk spun rapidly but was firmly suppressed by the poison Formation's spiritual power. "This Formation can devour spiritual power and is also releasing poisonous smoke!"

Dark green poisonous smoke filled the air instantly, carrying a bone-corroding and heart-rotting stench—it was the Xuanyue Sect's secret "Xuantian Soul-Eroding Smoke." Just as Su Qingyuan was about to activate her Heaven-Burning Sword Domain, the poisonous smoke seeped into her Meridians, causing her spiritual power to stagnate, and the humming of the crimson flame skyfall sword in its casket abruptly stopped. Luo Ningshuang brought out an Anti-Poison Pill, but its spiritual energy was instantly dissolved by the poisonous smoke. Her face turned pale, and she couldn't help but cough. The spiritual arrow A He had just condensed with her azure spirit vine bow was shattered by the poison Formation's black light, and the faint green light of her spirit plant bead dimmed as well. Liu Qingyan unleashed a Pure Spirit Illusion-Breaking Slash, but it only left a shallow mark on the poison Formation's light barrier. Instead, she was struck by the backlash of the poisonous smoke; faint black stains appeared on her Daoist robe, and her aura instantly became sluggish.

Only Lin Yue stood in the center of the poisonous smoke, his expression unchanged. He had long since tempered a Body Immune to All Poisons. When the Xuantian Soul-Eroding Smoke touched his skin, it dissolved instantly like ice meeting fire, and even the golden-red spiritual light around him didn't waver in the slightest.