I Built A Family Of Immortal Cultivators

Chapter 17: Expanding Qingmuji

The three-linked water formation that was created is still suitable for Qi Refining early to mid-stage. However, compared to the two-linked water formation, this formation can support up to three cultivators, and there have been changes in the materials used, making it a first-grade intermediate formation.

Back then, it was Lin Qing's extravagant hope to create the Xuanmu formation, but now he has actually created a three-linked water formation himself. Lin Qing can't help but feel a great sense of improvement.

Lin Qing called Li Qingyu over and experimented with the formation together.

With the foundation of the previous two-linked water formation, Li Qingyu quickly mastered the use of the three-linked water formation. What surprised Lin Qing was that this formation was not just slightly stronger than the two-linked water formation. If he and Li Qingyu cooperated, they estimated that they could even fight against a Qi Refining seventh-layer cultivator. And this is only because Li Qingyu is at the third layer of Qi Refining. If Li Qingyu also advances to the mid-stage of Qi Refining, the two of them could even defeat a Qi Refining seventh-layer cultivator.

At the same time, the difficulty of creating this formation surpasses that of the Xuanmu formation, which is also a first-grade intermediate formation. It can be considered a top-notch formation of the first-grade intermediate level, on par with the Falling Stone formation.

"Qingyu, how much longer do you think it will take for you to break through?" After testing the formation, Lin Qing asked.

"I estimate it will take another year," Li Qingyu said somewhat embarrassedly. Lin Qing nodded, which was similar to his own estimate.

Thinking about the increasing number of cultivators in Qingmuji and the successful creation of the three-linked water formation, Lin Qing breathed a sigh of relief. In the coming period of time, he would devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation. Not only did Li Qingyu need to break through, but he also needed to break through.

During this time, Li Qingyu continued to open the shop on the first and fifteenth of each month, while it remained closed for the rest of the time.

Lin Qing also rarely went out, immersing himself daily in cultivation and the warmth of his wives and concubines. Lin Xuen, in particular, was spoiled by Lin Qing to an unreasonable extent. Even Chao Yun couldn't help but feel a bit displeased, but Chao Yun was truly difficult to understand the joy of having a child at Lin Qing's age.

Although the current situation was different from the hopeless situation before his breakthrough, Lin Qing, at the fifth layer of Qi Refining, no longer needed to worry about his lifespan. But to him, the child was not just his own child, but also a legacy and guarantee.

Lin Qing wanted to continue cultivating like this until he broke through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining. However, the rapid development of events outside caught him off guard.

First, after three months of closed-door cultivation, a mid-stage first-grade demonic beast actually took the initiative to attack Qingmuji. Although the beast was eventually killed by several cultivators working together, this was the first time such a thing had happened in the several decades since Qingmuji was established.

If the attack by this demonic beast was unintentional, then in the following three months, three more attacks by demonic beasts occurred consecutively.

Among them, one of the attacks was carried out by a mid-stage second-grade demonic beast, equivalent to the early stage of Foundation Building. Although Qingmuji was unharmed under the protection of the formation and managed to repel the beast, more than ten Qi Refining cultivators unfortunately lost their lives outside Qingmuji. As for the mortals living outside, there were countless deaths and injuries. For three consecutive days, the air was filled with the smell of blood.

The consecutive attacks by demonic beasts made the cultivators in Qingmuji feel afraid.

Previously, the increase in demonic beasts had promoted the prosperity of Qingmuji, but now many cultivators realized that this prosperity was fragile and concealed great danger.

This time it's only a low-level second stage, barely resisting with the formation, but what about next time? What do we do when facing a mid-level second stage demonic beast?

The cultivators of Qingmuji felt afraid. As the managers, the cultivators sent by Xuan Yu Fang were even more afraid. After all, this was originally an easy job with little profit but a lot of leisure. Since the increase in demonic beasts, the profits have also increased. It was supposed to be a more perfect situation, but now there are attacks from Foundation Building stage demonic beasts. This is a deadly task.

For a while, the flow of people in Qingmuji significantly decreased.

In this fearful atmosphere, Xuan Yu Fang, as the superior of Qingmuji, made a decision that surprised the cultivators in the market. They did not send more powerful cultivators to guard, nor did they reduce the size of Qingmuji to resist the demonic beasts. Instead, they decided to do the opposite and expand the size of Qingmuji.

The news first leaked from the mouths of several shop owners who had a good relationship with the management cultivators, and later the management cultivators themselves admitted it.

The reason is simple. Although there are demonic beast attacks, Xuan Yu Fang also sees business opportunities in the increasing flow of people in Qingmuji over the past year. Expanding the size means more income for them. This crisis is seen as a rare opportunity by Xuan Yu Fang. As for the second stage demonic beasts, Xuan Yu Fang considers it an accident. Second stage demonic beasts are not as common as cabbages, let alone the fact that they will reinforce the formation to resist mid-level second stage demonic beasts. So, there shouldn't be any major problems.

Qingmuji was originally a market with a length and width of one hundred meters, surrounded by earthen walls. But now it's different. Not only does it need to expand to a size of two hundred meters in length and width, but brick walls also need to be built around it to enhance defense.

If the expansion is successful, the area will be four times larger than before, and there can be up to three hundred resident cultivators in the market.

After learning all this, the original shop owners in Qingmuji had mixed feelings. Strengthening defense is naturally a good thing for them, as no one wants to face the threat of demonic beasts every day. But if the size is expanded, no one will be happy.

Now many cultivators from other places want to open shops in Qingmuji, but there are no available positions. If the size is expanded, everyone will be able to come, and with more shops, competition will increase. The current good business is unlikely to continue.

Although the shop owners have many complaints, the management cultivators of Qingmuji don't care about their thoughts. They have already received the formal order from Xuan Yu Fang to immediately expand the size. The sooner the expansion, the sooner the income.

As for the cost of expanding the size, in the eyes of the management cultivators of Qingmuji, the good business over the past year has made the shop owners earn a lot. Now they have to contribute a little.

"One shop owner, five spirit stones. It's almost like robbery," said a Qi Refining sixth level shop owner to the Qingmuji cultivator who came to collect the spirit stones.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist, you can't say that. Collecting spirit stones is all for the expansion of the market. With the expansion, there will be more cultivators coming, and your business will be better, right? Moreover, you've earned a lot over the past year. What are five spirit stones? Besides, by paying these five spirit stones, it means you have made a contribution to the expansion of Qingmuji. In the future, no one will touch your shop after the expansion. You can rest assured and focus on your business. In a way, you've gained," the Qingmuji cultivator collecting the spirit stones said with a smile. Obviously, this explanation had been prepared in advance.

"But five spirit stones is too much," the shop owner said, feeling powerless to argue after hearing this explanation.

"It's not much. In Qingmuji..." The Qingmuji cultivator continued to speak.

...

While collecting the spirit stones, the shop owners were discussing among themselves. But after a few words from the Qingmuji cultivators, they obediently handed over the spirit stones. Some Qi Refining low-level cultivators didn't even dare to say a word and just handed over the spirit stones.

(End of this chapter)