Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Winning People Over

In the empty room, everything remained unchanged.

That Gathering Spirit Array had been concealed in an undetectable location.

If others wanted to find it, they would need to calculate and simulate based on the array to locate the array base.

Only by destroying the array base could the entire formation be dismantled.

Of course, with sufficient strength, one could break into or out of the array, but the consumption of spiritual energy would be immense.

“Go ahead and try it.”

Zhou Luo looked towards Xu Changsheng, who was still stunned.

“Oh, alright.”

Xu Changsheng snapped back to reality and quickly moved to the central spot, sitting cross-legged and activating the technique.

The cultivation method he practiced was still the one provided by his family, the most basic kind.

As he circulated the method, his body emitted a faint glow, and the surrounding spiritual energy began to gather.

At the same time, ripples appeared in the air, a mysterious power reverberated within, starting to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy wildly.

Outside the house, the spiritual energy concentrated in the world began to flow continuously towards it, with immense power pouring into the room.

Xu Changsheng was amazed to find that the surrounding spiritual energy was now more than double what it had been before.

This was the effect of the Gathering Spirit Array.

And this was only a very small Gathering Spirit Array.

If it were a large array like that, the absorption speed of spiritual energy would be even faster.

This was also why loose cultivators rarely advanced in their entire lifetimes.

Because the spiritual energy in the external environment was sparse, with most of it being gathered together by great powers using arrays.

Unless they had extraordinary blessings or incredible luck, a loose cultivator could never achieve prominence in this life.

“Brother Zhou, the training speed has doubled.”

Xu Changsheng opened his eyes, speaking with a pleased expression.

By rights, as the steward of Zhou Garden, he should have addressed him as master.

But Zhou Luo indicated that such formality wasn’t necessary, so he still used the previous form of address.

“Hmm, arrange to partition this empty room into several independent areas,” Zhou Luo instructed.

“Alright, I will arrange it immediately,” Xu Changsheng said as he swiftly departed.

Soon after, Zhou Luo gathered his wives and concubines to this room.

Except for Lin Lan, all the others knew cultivation.

With this place available, their training speed would be greatly enhanced in the future.

Unfortunately, to hide strength, he could only set up such a small Gathering Spirit Array, which couldn’t yet compare to a spiritual vein for now.

When the time was ripe, he intended to create a larger one.

Zhou Luo’s wives and concubines learned he had Xu Changsheng set up a spiritual array, and were very happy, each giving it a try.

Discovering they truly absorbed far richer spiritual energy here than usual excited them immensely.

Having completed these arrangements, Zhou Luo left Zhou Garden and headed to the department store.

On the department store’s second floor, Zhou Luo walked straight into a shop selling formation tools.

Since he intended to practice formations, he couldn’t keep relying solely on Xu Changsheng’s tools; he planned to purchase his own.

The moment he entered the shop, a shopkeeper recognized him. Startled, the man stepped forward immediately.

"Grandmaster Zhou, what can I help you find today?"

The shop owner was a middle-aged man dressed in opulent robes.

He approached with utmost deference, posture humble, bowing respectfully.

Zhou Luo was currently the rising star of the clan; everyone practically discussed this young top-level Pill Master daily, full of envy.

Moreover, a top-level Pill Master held extremely prestigious status within the clan, explaining the owner’s reverence.

"I need to buy a set of formation tools for my household steward." Zhou Luo once again used Xu Changsheng as an excuse.

"Grandmaster Zhou, you truly embody kindness and generosity. How fortunate that steward is to serve you." remarked the owner, unable to conceal his admiration.

With that, he went back into the shop interior and produced a set of formation tools.

"Grandmaster Zhou, this set costs twenty spiritual stones and permits approximately forty uses."

"This array disk is forged from volcano profound iron."

"This spiritual brush is crafted from century-old spiritual wood."

"And this spiritual pestle, when channelled, releases significant energy."

…

The owner meticulously detailed each piece of the formation tool set for Zhou Luo.

Truth be told, practicing formations incurred far higher costs than pill refining.

Even the combined materials for a top-level first-level potion generally cost only around ten-plus spiritual stones.

Not only did this formation tool set cost a steep twenty spiritual stones, it was also a consumable item.

"Do you have anything better?"

Zhou Luo felt a mere forty-plus uses were far too few.

If he was buying, he intended to get the absolute best.

These words caused the owner to pause briefly.

He thought Grandmaster Zhou was being incredibly generous.

Originally, considering it was a purchase for his steward, he’d brought out a moderately priced, adequate set.

He hadn’t anticipated it would simply couldn’t match the Grandmaster’s preferences.

He hurried back inside and retrieved another set of formation tools.

"Master Zhou, this set of formation tools is worth fifty spiritual stones and can be used about a hundred times," the shopkeeper said.

Zhou Luo still wasn’t satisfied. "Bring out the best you have in your shop."

"Then this set, worth one hundred spiritual stones, can be used about two hundred times."

Finally, the shopkeeper brought out the most expensive formation tools in the store.

Zhou Luo looked over: the formation disk was crafted of white jade, imprinted with a Bagua formation pattern and various exquisite engravings. The spiritual brush was a crystal-clear crystal brush, and the formation chisels, formation flags, and formation stones were visibly superior to the previous two sets.

You get what you pay for.

Finally satisfied, Zhou Luo took out one hundred spiritual stones and handed them to the shopkeeper.

After receiving this set of formation tools, he also purchased the set worth fifty spiritual stones.

Earlier, he’d noticed Xu Changsheng’s tools were becoming worn and damaged. Since he would inevitably need Xu Changsheng to personally set up some formations later, he might as well get him a new set too.

Having finished with that, he headed towards other shops.

Of course, not to buy things, but to sell them.

During his year in the Immortal Sect, besides gathering a vast amount of medicinal herbs, he’d also received the monthly cultivation reward for first place.

These rewards were varied and numerous, far too many for him to use up himself.

After giving some to his wives and concubines, he planned to sell the rest.

After a flurry of activity, he spent one hundred and fifty spiritual stones but earned two hundred and ten in return.

Once his shopping was complete, he returned to Zhou Garden.

By the time he got back, Xu Changsheng was already directing the servants in renovating the training room.

"This is for you."

Zhou Luo took out the set of formation tools worth fifty spiritual stones and handed them to Xu Changsheng.

Xu Changsheng looked startled, gazing at him in surprise.

"Your old set is inferior. Use this one from now on," Zhou Luo stated matter-of-factly.

"This… Brother Zhou… I cannot accept this."

As a formation master, he could sense the exceptional quality of these tools; they were vastly superior to his old set.

"You serve me now. Take it when it’s given to you."

"Hurry this work along."

Zhou Luo offered no further explanation. After dropping those few words, he turned and walked away, disregarding whatever expression Xu Changsheng might have had.

Though he had ensured Xu Changsheng’s loyalty with poison, he preferred genuine devotion over fear-induced compliance.

Thus, a balance of favor and authority was best.

Behind him, Xu Changsheng’s eyes welled up with tears, filled with profound gratitude.

Over the next few days, Zhou Luo spent his time immersed in studying formations and spiritual symbols, interspersed with playing with the children.

With the wedding approaching, he found himself unable to settle into cultivation.

Once this event was over, he planned to enter the core area of the spiritual vein for a period of Closed-Door Training.

Now that the family had granted him access to the core, he could enter anytime.

A few days later, his wedding with Lin Xi was finally about to begin.