After the group of cultivators left, Xu Ning looked at Qi Ruifeng and asked, "Master, do you actually have three thousand spirit stones? Are you really going to agree to their extortionate request?"
Qi Ruifeng's face fell. He admitted, "I don't have any spirit stones, my good disciple. Quickly pack your things. We need to run away, now!"
Xu Ning was stunned, unable to react for a long moment. This scene... seemed so familiar.
Wasn't this exactly what happened with my last master? Xu Ning thought wryly. History really does repeat itself.
Nevertheless, Xu Ning snapped into action. He told Qi Ruifeng to take out a storage bag, quickly went to the small spirit field to harvest the few immature spirit herbs and collect what spirit stones he could, then returned to help his master dismantle the wooden hut and pack all the contents into the storage bag.
Finally, standing together and looking at the now-empty mountaintop, the master and disciple exchanged a glance and sighed simultaneously in perfect unison.
"Disciple, let's go," Qi Ruifeng said, then waved his hand, unleashing his Foundation Establishment cultivation to fly them both away from the mountain.
Flying through the air, Xu Ning couldn't help but ask, "Master, where are we going next?"
Qi Ruifeng sighed deeply, his expression lost. "I'm also confused. I don't know where to go."
Xu Ning truly felt like he couldn't lead this hopeless master! He's worse than I am, Xu Ning thought.
After thinking for a moment, Xu Ning asked, "Master, is it absolutely necessary to establish this sect? Couldn't we just... not?"
Qi Ruifeng's expression turned solemn. "Disciple, even before your master died, his dying wish was for me to rebuild the sect. As a result, I've wasted over two hundred years searching for the right opportunity, and the sect is still not complete. I'm filled with resentment and guilt! I cannot fail him."
Xu Ning considered this, then suggested, "But it's not like there's no way to proceed legally."
Qi Ruifeng perked up. "Disciple, tell me quickly! As long as the sect flourishes, no one can shake your position as Holy Son! You'll be honored for generations!"
Xu Ning was speechless. Who cares about that wretched Holy Son position in a non-existent sect? What he really wanted were those ancient cultivation techniques and secret formulas locked in his master's memory!
After thinking for a moment, Xu Ning instructed Qi Ruifeng to find a nearby market town. Once there, he had his master randomly select a trustworthy-looking person.
He then held out his hand to Qi Ruifeng. "Master, give me the spirit stones and the sect information. We'll pay someone else to go and handle the registration for us. We don't need to show up ourselves."
Qi Ruifeng's face showed a pained expression. Xu Ning suddenly realized—his master hadn't actually "forgotten" to register the first time. He had simply been distressed about paying the registration fee and had hoped to avoid it. That's why he had built the sect first, hoping no one would notice.
Now, there was no other way. Qi Ruifeng reluctantly handed Xu Ning a storage bag containing the registration fee.
Xu Ning took it and passed it to the selected person, explaining the task clearly.
Because Qi Ruifeng was a Foundation Establishment cultivator and his aura was intimidating, the hired person didn't dare run off with the spirit stones. The sect registration was completed smoothly and without incident.
Qi Ruifeng held the official documents, absolutely delighted, examining them again and again like a child with a new toy.
Afterward, the master and disciple found another, more remote mountain peak and began rebuilding the sect once more.
Midway through their construction efforts, during a break, Xu Ning couldn't help but ask Qi Ruifeng, "Master, did the sect leave behind any defensive formations or anything like that? We should set them up to protect ourselves from future trouble."
Qi Ruifeng sighed regretfully. "Yes, we did have many formations passed down, but they're all damaged beyond repair over the millennia. I don't know how to fix them."
Xu Ning said, "Let me see them. I used to be a carpenter in the mortal world. Maybe I can figure out how to repair them."
Qi Ruifeng was dumbfounded. "Carpenter? Fixing formations?"
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He recognized both words individually, but couldn't connect them in any meaningful way. The idea was absurd.
Xu Ning insisted, "Master, just let me see them first. It can't hurt to look."
Qi Ruifeng shrugged. "Alright, if you insist."
Then, Qi Ruifeng produced several sets of ancient, slightly worn formation flags from his storage ring. "These are the sect's former treasures, passed down through generations. Take a look at these spirit-level ones first."
Xu Ning was genuinely surprised when he examined them. Good heavens, he thought, these formations are all legendary spirit-level formations! Just what kind of sect was the Tiancheng Sect in its heyday?
Moreover, these formations were extremely complete as sets, including attack formations, defensive formations, spirit-trapping formations, spirit-gathering formations, and more.
Qi Ruifeng explained, "I heard from your grandmaster that these formations were only ever deployed on a single mountain peak back then. The sect had multiple peaks, each with its own set."
Xu Ning asked, curious, "Did my grandmaster hear that from his master before him?"
Qi Ruifeng nodded. "Yes! The glorious days of the Tiancheng Sect were over ten thousand years ago. We've just been passing down the remnants ever since."
Xu Ning nodded thoughtfully, then picked up a set of formation flags. "Master, wait for me while I go and study these. Don't disturb me."
Qi Ruifeng couldn't possibly have any real hope that his disciple, a newly recruited mortal with no cultivation background, could repair ancient legendary formations. That was simply too far-fetched. He actually hoped Xu Ning would give up quickly and accept reality. So he didn't say much and just waved his hand. "Go ahead, disciple. Don't be discouraged if you can't figure it out."
"Then Master, wait for my good news!" Xu Ning said, feigning eagerness, and took the formation flags into the half-built thatched hut.
Qi Ruifeng sighed, shook his head, and then got up to continue working on the new sect buildings.
An hour later, seeing that Xu Ning still hadn't come out of the hut, Qi Ruifeng was about to go and check on him, worried something had happened.
But just then, he suddenly sensed something and turned around. In the distance, several figures were flying rapidly towards their mountain.
Qi Ruifeng immediately became alert, releasing his Foundation Establishment cultivation aura, and called out, "Who approaches!"
Before the figures even landed, a harsh voice rang out. "Who gave you permission to build a mountain gate here? Has no one told you that this entire mountain forest belongs to me?"
Qi Ruifeng frowned upon hearing this. "Yours? How did it become yours? This is unclaimed land."
As soon as he finished speaking, the group of people landed. Their faces were filled with fierce, predatory expressions.
When Qi Ruifeng recognized them, his heart skipped a beat. He knew of these people—they were a notorious group of rogue cultivators who ran rampant in the Ancient Chen Mountain Range, preying on smaller sects and lone cultivators.
Relying on the fact that they had two Foundation Establishment cultivators in their group, they robbed and plundered at will, committing all kinds of evil deeds. They were deeply hated but feared by all.
After the newcomers landed, the leader, a burly man with a scarred face, spoke arrogantly. "I am Qian Yang, and this is my fellow Daoist, Peng Yang. Have you heard of us?"
Of course, Qi Ruifeng had heard of them. He secretly cursed his bad luck for running into these ruffians at such a critical moment.
Realizing the sect's establishment was at a crucial juncture and he was alone, Qi Ruifeng felt it was best to avoid conflict. He quickly put on a respectful expression. "I've heard of you, of course I've heard of your illustrious names!"
Qian Yang nodded slightly, pleased by the fear in Qi Ruifeng's eyes. "Since you know who we are, then you'll have no objection when I say this mountain is mine, right? How about this—you pay me five thousand spirit stones every month as rent, and I'll graciously allow you to open your little sect here."
Qi Ruifeng was completely taken aback. Forget five thousand spirit stones a month—he couldn't even scrape together ten spirit stones right now. All his meager savings had just been used for the sect registration fee.
After thinking frantically for a moment, Qi Ruifeng quickly said, "Fellow Daoists, I've just started this sect. All my spirit stones have been used for official registration. I truly cannot afford such a high monthly fee. Perhaps we could negotiate a smaller amount?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Yang's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Since that's the case, then we'll just kill you and take whatever spoils you have ourselves. It'll save us the trouble of collecting monthly payments."
With that, Qian Yang and Peng Yang suddenly unleashed their Foundation Establishment cultivations and attacked Qi Ruifeng without hesitation.
Seeing this, Qi Ruifeng was also enraged. This was a crucial moment in the sect's founding, and he wouldn't allow anyone to destroy his dream again. He simultaneously unleashed his Foundation Establishment cultivation to meet the two attackers.
However, just as they were about to clash, all three combatants suddenly stopped and looked up at the sky in astonishment.
Twelve array flags suddenly flew out from the thatched hut and landed precisely on various strategic points around the mountaintop.
Immediately afterward, the surrounding spiritual energy began to surge inward, forming a transparent, shimmering light shield in the sky that enclosed the entire peak.
"This is... an array?" Qian Yang couldn't help but frown, a flicker of unease in his eyes.
Qi Ruifeng was initially stunned, then his eyes widened in disbelief. He suddenly remembered his cheap disciple and what he had taken into the hut.
While the group was still staring in shock at the first array, several more sets of array flags flew out of the hut and landed around the mountaintop, activating one after another. A second, then a third layer of formations shimmered into existence.
Qian Yang finally realized the danger. "Not good, this is a trap! We've walked right into it!"
Immediately, the group turned and tried to fly away desperately.
Bang bang bang—
They crashed directly into an invisible light barrier, tumbling back onto the mountain peak.
Peng Yang, his face pale, shouted, "Oh no, it's a Spirit Trapping Array! We can't leave!"
Qian Yang turned to look at Qi Ruifeng, his expression a mix of rage and fear. "You... you despicable and shameless old fox! You set a trap for us!"
Qi Ruifeng opened his mouth, originally wanting to curse back at the thug. But then he thought—the sect was now protected by ancient formations, it was officially registered, and he was now the Sect Leader. He had to maintain a dignified image.
So instead, he simply straightened his robes, clasped his hands behind his back, and said nothing, a faint, mysterious smile playing on his lips.