Four Poles Origin-Stabilizing Formation

A few days later.

The cultivator from the prefectural city arrived. Accompanying him were Qingshui County Magistrate Zhu Zhen and a host of yamen runners.

Zhou Ping had not expected the imperial court to move so swiftly. No matter how diligently he cultivated, in just a few short days he had only managed to refine a meager amount of Mountain Clear Qi. He could not help but feel somewhat uneasy.

After all, he had yet to condense his Qi Essence; he could not even be considered a true first-level Qi Condensation cultivator.

However, in just these few days, he had already sensed the vast gulf between the Spirit Awakening Realm and the Qi Condensation Realm.

Abundant Spiritual Qi surged through his meridians. Nourished by this energy, his physique grew steadily stronger, his flesh and blood becoming incredibly dense, and his skin and tendons remarkably tough. Though Spiritual Qi also flowed through the body in the Spirit Awakening Realm, it had been far too scarce back then, rendering the physical effects negligible.

It was like a dry riverbed accustomed to a mere trickle suddenly being flooded by a raging torrent. Naturally, the transformation was profound.

While his body was not as terrifying as a Demon Beast's, Zhou Ping had tested it-even with a sharp worldly blade, one would need to exert considerable force just to pierce his flesh.

The most dramatic change lay in his offensive means. When casting the unranked Golden Light Technique, Zhou Minghu could only manifest a blade of light a few cun long, reaching no further than a few chi. But with the abundant Spiritual Qi now filling his body, Zhou Ping could unleash a golden light several chi long. Like a sudden flash of gold, it could instantly cleave a solid tree trunk as thick as a man's waist.

This power was almost identical to when he drove his small sword. If he were to wield a Magical Artifact now, Zhou Ping was confident he could effortlessly slaughter over a hundred mortals surrounding him.

The Zhou Family Estate.

Outside, the compound was heavily cordoned off by numerous yamen runners and officials. In the main hall, a middle-aged man with an imposing air and dressed in a blue-green official robe sat in the seat of honor. He was none other than Qingshui County Magistrate Zhu Zhen. Seated to his left was an old Daoist bearing the ethereal demeanor of an immortal.

At this moment, Zhu Zhen was in exceptionally high spirits. For a county magistrate, maintaining a stable region was a political merit, but the emergence of a new cultivation family within his jurisdiction was an enormous achievement. If he could gather a few more such merits, a promotion would surely be on the horizon.

After all, to the imperial court, the addition of an immortal clan meant another crop to be continually harvested. Naturally, the court would generously reward the officials managing the territory.

Therefore, the moment he learned someone had broken through to become a Qi Condensation cultivator, he had immediately reported it to the Immortals' Directorate in Zhaoping Prefecture. That was why they had arrived at Baixi Village in just a few days.

Zhu Zhen looked at Zhou Ping and smiled. "I have long heard of Immortal Zhou's reputation. Seeing you today, you truly possess the bearing of a cultivator. So young and promising-it seems the Great Dao is within your reach."

"Your Honor is too polite," Zhou Ping replied, cupping his hands.

Zhu Zhen chuckled and gestured to his side. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Immortal Zhang from the Immortals' Directorate. He has come today specifically to enter your esteemed family into the Immortal Registry."

The old Daoist first bowed slightly to Zhu Zhen out of respect, then turned to Zhou Ping. "This old Daoist is Zhang Ting. Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

Zhou Ping returned the cupped-fist salute. "Zhou Ping of the Zhou Clan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhang."

The reason both cultivators showed such respect to a mortal like Zhu Zhen was because he represented the imperial court. And behind the imperial court stood the royal family of the Zhao Kingdom and the three great clans. Even a Sect like the Azure Cloud Sect would not dare defy them openly.

"Hahaha, I wouldn't understand the matters of immortals even if I listened," Zhu Zhen laughed. "Why don't you two Fellow Daoists converse in detail? I will find a quiet place to rest."

"In this blistering heat, it truly gets a bit unbearably stifling."

Zhou Ping immediately grasped his meaning and called out toward the rear courtyard. "Changhe, lead His Honor to a place to rest. Do not let him suffer the heat."

Zhou Changhe hurried over with deep respect. "Your Honor, please follow this humble commoner."

Zhu Zhen cheerfully followed Zhou Changhe out of the main hall toward a side courtyard. A stage had already been set up there, accompanied by fresh fruits just pulled from the icy depths of the well, chilling to the bone.

As soon as Zhu Zhen took his seat, the opera troupe began their performance.

Zhu Zhen snacked on the chilled fruits, chuckling happily. "Not bad, not bad at all."

Watching Zhu Zhen's delighted expression, Zhou Changhe breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, someone had sent a message the day before, allowing him to hire an opera troupe tailored to Zhu Zhen's tastes.

"Zhou Shi, go and slip some silver to the yamen runners outside. Have the kitchen brew some heat-relieving tea and send it out to them as well."

"This lowly one understands."

Zhou Shi acknowledged the order and trotted off, leaving only Zhou Changhe and a few others to accompany Zhu Zhen as he watched the play.

Meanwhile, back in the hall, Zhang Ting and Zhou Ping were deep in conversation.

Zhang Ting spoke slowly, "Since Fellow Daoist submitted a petition to the imperial court, you naturally understand the significance of the Immortal Registry. Nevertheless, I must still explain the finer details of entering the registry to you."

"There are three major benefits to entering the Immortal Registry."

"First, Fellow Daoist may select a mountain peak within Qingshui County to serve as your clan's cultivation grounds and ancestral land; everything upon that mountain shall belong to you. Second, all taxes on your clan's mortal farmlands will be entirely forgiven. Third, you may petition the Immortals' Directorate for a Formation, which can be acquired on credit and paid off slowly over time."

Zhou Ping nodded. "I understand all that Fellow Daoist has said. May I look at the map to make proper plans?"

Zhang Ting let out a wry chuckle. "Look at my poor memory. I was so caught up in talking that I forgot to show you."

Saying so, he withdrew a scroll of silk brocade from his sleeve. Unfurled, it revealed a map of Qingshui County, detailing the mountains, rivers, and various towns and villages.

The entirety of Qingshui County spanned one hundred and thirty li from east to west, and over eighty li from north to south. At the easternmost edge, a mountain peak was drawn with the words 'Pingyun Huang Clan' written beside it. The rest of the map was barren of any marked factions.

Zhou Ping scanned it several times, his brow furrowing slightly.

The terrain of Qingshui County was entirely too flat. The peaks within its borders were mostly rolling hills and small mounds; none caught his eye.

Finally, he let out a soft sigh. It seemed he had no choice but to settle for one of the small hills surrounding Baixi Village.

Still unwilling to give up, he asked, "Fellow Daoist, is there a restriction on the size of the mountain peak?"

Zhang Ting paused, then recalled how upon his arrival, he had seen the village ringed by mountains. Yet each peak was only a hundred zhang tall, their spiritual energy terribly thin. He naturally understood Zhou Ping's concern.

"I have over a dozen grand Formations here. Fellow Daoist can select one with a broader reach and establish it among the hills east of the village. That way, it can encompass multiple peaks."

"But aren't we only permitted to claim one peak?" Zhou Ping asked.

Zhang Ting laughed. "Not at all. Those two eastern hills share the same roots; they were originally one body. The water merely eroded a gap between them to form two summits."

Zhou Ping was momentarily stunned, only to hear Zhang Ting continue.

"As Fellow Daoists, we both understand the hardships of this path. My Zhang Clan is located in the southern reaches of Fuyang County. I hope our two families can visit each other often in the future."

Zhou Ping finally understood. Zhang Ting was using his public office to grant personal favors. Defining the boundaries of a mountain peak was a trivial matter within his authority, but he could use it to sell a grand favor. Truly killing two birds with one stone.

"Fellow Daoist's words ring very true."

The two men exchanged a look and burst into laughter.

Naturally, Zhang Ting had his eyes on the Zhou Clan's potential. After all, Zhou Ping was a Qi Condensation cultivator, and his eldest son also possessed cultivation aptitude. It proved their bloodline was not ordinary. If they could form a marriage alliance in the future, it would pave an extra path for his own clan.

At this thought, Zhang Ting couldn't help but sigh inwardly. His own clan had only been established for a short time, spanning four generations and just over a hundred members. Yet to this day, only two descendants had shown any aptitude. This Zhou family was truly blessed by fortune; their very second generation already boasted a cultivator.

A moment later, Zhang Ting produced a jade slip from his sleeve. "Fellow Daoist, please refine this."

Zhou Ping accepted it, realizing immediately that the slip was a Magical Artifact.

Zhang Ting's expression turned solemn. "This is a subordinate item born of a supreme Dharma Treasure housed within our Immortals' Directorate. Once you refine it, you will officially enter the Immortal Registry. It signifies that your family will become an immortal clan, recorded in the imperial court's annals. From this day forth, you must shoulder the corresponding duties."

"Fellow Daoist, have you considered this carefully?"

"I understand," Zhou Ping said, cupping his hands.

Though he knew becoming an immortal clan meant surrendering his complete freedom and taking up the duty of protecting the region, he also knew the alternative. Without joining, his family had no inherited cultivation techniques and no resources. Rising to power would be harder than scaling the heavens. They wouldn't even be able to find a Formation to guard their estate.

Without hesitation, Zhou Ping forced up a drop of heart's blood and let it fall onto the jade slip. The artifact instantly flared with radiant light.

In a flash, a vast, sea-like expanse of knowledge flooded his mind, leaving his head swimming.

Sweeping through it rapidly with his Divine Sense, he grasped the general contents.

It was the imperial court's method of controlling immortal clans. By entering them into the Immortal Registry, the court enticed them with meritorious deeds. This system encouraged the clans to voluntarily hand over their painstakingly cultivated Spirit Rice and Spirit Fruits, or to slay demonic beasts and demonic cultivators, all to earn merit.

These meritorious deeds could then be exchanged at the Immortals' Directorate for rare treasures, secret cultivation techniques, Pills, and Magical Artifacts.

In this manner, both sides reaped the benefits.

The imperial court acquired cultivation resources, and the regions gained immortal clans to ensure their safety. In return, the immortal clans secured treasures and techniques from the state.

Zhou Ping only took a brief glance before sighing in awe.

One hundred jin of Spirit Rice could only be exchanged for a single Spirit Stone, and one Spirit Stone equated to one point of merit. The most basic Qi Condensation manual in the records cost over a dozen merit points. The prices for Pills and Magical Artifacts were even more terrifying.

"Fellow Daoist may select an item from the section on Formations. You can slowly repay the debt in the future," Zhang Ting prompted gently from the side, afraid that Zhou Ping would be blinded by the dazzling array of goods and lose track of time.

Only then did Zhou Ping bypass the myriad records and focus his attention on the array section, where he saw over a dozen Formations available for exchange.

"Ghost Shadow Maze Formation."

"Three Elements Stabilizing Formation."

...

Each Formation featured a detailed description highlighting its specific strengths. Reading through them left Zhou Ping's mouth dry and his eyes practically glowing. He wished he could claim them all. But he knew well enough that if the imperial court did not permit a single line of credit, he wouldn't even have the luxury of choosing.

Finally, he made his choice. He selected a formation named the Four Poles Origin-Stabilizing Formation.

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