Morning.

Chu Xingchen carefully compared the system's blueprint, surveying the area, and then placed a small twig as a marker.

Although it couldn't conjure things out of thin air, the blueprint had its advantages—it could be reused.

After all, if he had to build it himself and it was a one-time-use tool, that would be too much of a scam.

This meant he could perhaps first set up a Spirit Gathering Formation at Ten-Li Slope.

After all, Ten-Li Slope wasn't a place where spiritual energy gathered, nor did it have the flow of a spiritual vein. Although there was spiritual energy, it naturally couldn't compare to places where spiritual veins converged.

Simply put, it wasn't a great place for cultivation.

Under the same conditions, cultivating in a place where spiritual veins converged would naturally yield better results.

Therefore, most reasonable sects would choose a mountain where a spiritual vein was entrenched to establish their sect.

In the past, when Li Yingling was cultivating, Chu Xingchen would roughly set up a formation with spirit stones for her to practice.

One person was manageable, but now with the addition of Li Xingtian, such wasteful behavior had to stop.

Just supporting Li Yingling's cultivation was almost enough to drain his resources. Now with Li Xingtian, continuing this way would clearly deplete the spirit stone reserve.

A steady and sustainable approach was the solution.

Building a Spirit Gathering Formation was still very necessary, and it would be more convenient for recruiting disciples in the future.

Although the materials on hand weren't enough to complete the Spirit Gathering Formation, some basic groundwork could still be done.

Chu Xingchen found the range again and placed another twig.

Boom!!

A distant gust of wind surged, followed by dirt flying up and scattering in all directions.

Chu Xingchen waved away the wind with annoyance and quickly stepped forward.

His gaze fell on Li Yingling, who was holding a wooden sword and diligently blasting a large pit.

Li Yingling was already at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so protecting herself with spiritual energy was no problem, and her clothes wouldn't get dirty from the dirt.

At this moment, she held the wooden sword, her expression serious as she continuously used her divine ability to blast the ground.

Another fierce sword energy struck the ground, accompanied by a loud crash and intense tremors.

Chu Xingchen quickly raised his hand to stop her, "Wait!"

Hearing her master's call, Li Yingling stopped her actions and looked at her master with a puzzled expression:

"Master, what's wrong?"

"Is this how you dig a pit?" Chu Xingchen asked with exasperation.

Li Yingling was very confused, "If not like this, then how?"

Chu Xingchen replied with annoyance, "After we bury the formation core, we'll need to backfill the soil. You're blasting it everywhere; what are we going to use to backfill? Your little head?"

Hearing her master's words, Li Yingling silently glanced at the dirt scattered all around.

But she still felt a bit aggrieved, "But if I don't dig like this, it'll take a long time."

Chu Xingchen comforted her, "I didn't say you had to finish in one day. Just dig a little whenever you have time after practicing. Later, when your junior brother finishes refining that broken stone, you can bring him along to dig."

"Don't rush, and I'll make you something delicious later."

Li Yingling looked up at Chu Xingchen, who wore a gentle expression, and nodded lightly, "I understand."

After speaking, Li Yingling began to control the wooden sword to dig the pit, then piled up the excavated soil.

To say the least, Li Yingling was obedient when she needed to be.

After watching for a moment and confirming there were no issues, Chu Xingchen left and continued to mark other array nodes.

Setting up the array nodes according to the blueprint was quite fast.

In no time, all the positions were set.

Then Chu Xingchen slipped back to the dilapidated temple.

At this moment, Li Xingtian was sitting cross-legged, with the millennia-old Bone Jade floating above his head.

The Bone Jade was continuously pouring energy, cleansing Li Xingtian's roots.

After observing for a while and confirming that his second disciple was fine, Chu Xingchen slowly sat back on his wooden plank.

As for the materials missing for the Spirit Gathering Formation, they weren't particularly valuable.

As long as there were spirit stones, they could still be bought.

Although he was poor, Chu Xingchen actually had some ideas.

As for what those ideas were, naturally, it involved the second disciple refining the Bone Jade in front of him.

As a reincarnator, he surely knew some ways to make money or perhaps knew of some unexcavated tombs of powerful cultivators?

Although grave robbing was unethical, it was a quick way to make money. Anything left behind by those powerful cultivators would likely be enough to build the formation.

Moreover, in the cultivation world, these tombs were uniformly called Secret Realms.

Generally, sects would have elders lead a large group of disciples to excavate tombs together.

Thinking this way, his moral standards seemed to align with those of the cultivation world.

After all, the dream of the Heavenly Dao Alliance was to be a righteous sect!

Chu Xingchen leisurely lay back on his wooden bed.

Now he just had to wait for Li Xingtian to finish refining and ask if he had any good ideas.

Noon.

Li Xingtian hadn't finished refining yet.

Li Yingling returned first, panting heavily, her spiritual power nearly exhausted.

She looked at the two people in the dilapidated temple, especially at her master, who was leisurely lying on the wooden plank.

Li Yingling asked in confusion, "Master! Why am I the only one digging? Aren't you going to dig too?"

Chu Xingchen sat up and looked at Li Yingling, who was pouting and seemed a bit upset.

Clearing his throat, Chu Xingchen said leisurely, "Do you think your master is slacking off?"

"Isn't that the case?" Li Yingling retorted, "You said you'd help me dig after marking the spots!"

Facing his disciple's accusation, Chu Xingchen decisively changed the topic:

"What are you saying! Complaining about contributing to the sect? Do you understand the effort your master puts in for your future?"

Hearing this, Li Yingling hesitated, realizing she was now on the lower moral ground.

But she still knew how to handle her master's current state.

Li Yingling showed a pitiful expression, her peach blossom eyes seemingly glistening with tears, her beautiful face looking aggrieved:

"Master, if you don't want to dig, then don't. After all, if you assign it, how can I not do it?"

"I wasn't angry earlier; I just didn't expect you to deceive Yingling. I didn't think you saw Yingling that way."

Goodness!

Chu Xingchen was a bit speechless watching his first disciple's dramatic performance.

But then, Chu Xingchen immediately pointed at Li Xingtian, who was meditating and absorbing the Bone Jade:

"I was just worried your junior brother might have issues absorbing the Bone Jade, so I came to check."

"After all, your junior brother has been refining the Bone Jade for so long, and his aptitude is far inferior to yours. It's hard not to worry."

"Unlike you, my first disciple, who is capable and smart, putting my mind at ease."

However, Li Yingling's reaction was different from what he expected.

Her expression instantly turned cold, her tone no longer aggrieved, her voice cool:

"Master, there's no need to say more. Since junior brother has joined our sect and has the lowest cultivation level, it's only right to take extra care of him."

Chu Xingchen didn't even need to think to know that Li Xingtian had woken up behind him, and he said with annoyance:

"…While your master can still accept it, go out and hunt!"

"Understood, Master!" Li Yingling quickly bowed and left the dilapidated temple.

"Sorry, Master… My cultivation and aptitude are lacking, causing you trouble."

Li Xingtian's slightly apologetic voice came from behind.

Chu Xingchen cleared his throat, not turning to look at his disciple:

"As long as you know, you need to put in more effort."