Chapter 296: 12-Turn Spirit Gathering Array

The flat area on the mountainside was vast. To the northwest was the summit, shrouded in swirling clouds and mist, hidden in a hazy blur. To the southeast lay the foot of the mountain; standing at the cliff's edge, one could see Bailong Village below.

Chen Erbao was preparing to set up the Twelve-Turn Spirit Gathering Array. It required placing twelve Spirit-Containing Objects in different positions to encircle the herb garden, and the distance between each one had to be exact, without the slightest deviation.

For an ordinary person, the precision required for the spacing alone would be an insurmountable task. However, for Chen Erbao, this was not difficult.

He walked a circle around the herb garden, carefully observing the positions. A three-dimensional model of the garden materialized in his mind.

As all twelve Spirit-Containing Objects were buried, the entire mountainside suddenly fell silent. The Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi howled and spun, and a fierce wind kicked up.

"Er Bao, what's wrong? Why did the wind suddenly start blowing?"

Chen Dabao, who had been tidying up in the house, heard the wind and rushed out.

"It's nothing, Brother Da Bao. You can go back to what you were doing."

Hearing this, Chen Dabao scratched his head and went back into the small room to continue tidying up.

Chen Erbao took a deep breath, held it, and focused his mind as the Spiritual Power within his body began to circulate.

The Spirit Gathering Array was an Array that seized the fortune of the heavens and earth to contain their Spiritual Qi. Under Chen Erbao's control, the twelve Spirit-Containing Objects linked with one another along the earth's veins, forming profound patterns that gradually enclosed the entire herb garden at their center.

"Spirit Gathering Array, rise!"

Following Chen Erbao's silent, internal roar, he formed a hand seal. The air above the herb garden buzzed, and an invisible barrier began to rise.

It was like a large, inverted bowl, covering the entire mountainside.

The massive Array activated in an instant, draining all the Spiritual Power from Chen Erbao's body.

His face pale, Chen Erbao collapsed onto the ground.

'Holy shit, this Array is powerful. Twelve Spirit-Containing Objects were enough to drain my Spiritual Power. If this were a thirty-six-turn Spirit Gathering Array, I'd probably be sucked dry!'

Chen Dabao pushed the door open and was shocked to see Chen Erbao lying weakly on the ground. "Er Bao, what happened!"

He quickly ran over and hurriedly helped Chen Erbao up.

"I'm fine... I just need to go back and rest for a bit."

Although Chen Dabao didn't know what had happened, he could sense the change in the air. Suppressing his confusion, he helped Chen Erbao down the mountain.

Back home, Chen Erbao fell onto his bed and was instantly asleep.

When he woke up, it was already evening.

The setting sun painted the horizon with a ribbon of orange-red silk.

Chen Erbao washed up and felt some of his Spiritual Power return. 'I'll have to find someone to dual cultivate with tonight,' he thought. 'Otherwise, recovering on my own will be a bit slow.'

"Er Bao, you're awake!"

Fang Yun, wearing a short, floral-print skirt, pushed open Chen Erbao's door.

"Sister-in-law, is dinner ready?"

Chen Erbao planned to go find Zhao Ruoying after dinner—just to see how her cultivation was going, of course.

"It's been ready for a while. I saw you were sleeping, so I didn't disturb you. Your Brother Da Bao said you weren't looking too good today. Have you been tiring yourself out these past few days?"

Fang Yun suspected Chen Erbao had overindulged in debauchery and was having health problems.

"I'm fine, Sister-in-law. I just need some rest."

Chen Erbao got dressed, followed Fang Yun to the front courtyard, and started eating.

Fang Yun had stewed a chicken soup to help Chen Erbao replenish his body. To Chen Erbao's exasperation, she ladled a large bowl of it and handed it to him.

Chen Erbao looked at the goji berries floating in the soup and sighed.

'When did I get so weak that I need goji berries to recover?'

Without another word, Chen Erbao picked up a piece of chicken and began to eat.

After dinner, Chen Dabao went out for his usual card game, while Chen Erbao headed down a dark path toward Zhao Ruoying's house.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF!"

Passing by a rural path, some unknown dog wouldn't stop barking. With a jolt, Chen Erbao released his spiritual pressure, and the surroundings instantly fell silent.

He soon arrived at Zhao Ruoying's home, skillfully hopped the wall, and headed for the living room.

The living room light was on. Zhao Ruoying was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, her eyes tightly shut and her hands resting on her lap. Her breathing was long and steady; she seemed to be in the middle of cultivation.

"Who's there!"

The moment Chen Erbao stepped into the room, Zhao Ruoying sensed someone approaching and snapped her eyes open.

"Could you knock next time…"

Zhao Ruoying glared at him.

Chen Erbao chuckled. "But knocking would attract unwanted attention!"

Zhao Ruoying was speechless.

'It's not like we're having an affair,' she thought. 'What's wrong with attracting a little attention?'

Chen Erbao closed the living room door behind him and sat down next to Zhao Ruoying. He swept his Divine Sense over her and frowned slightly. "What Realm have you cultivated to now?"

Zhao Ruoying continued to meditate, not changing her posture in the slightest. "Early stage of Qi Refining Second Layer. I seem to be stuck here…"

"Qi Refining Second Layer???"

Chen Erbao looked completely astonished, as if he'd seen a ghost.

"How have you been cultivating?"

Startled by his reaction, Zhao Ruoying looked at him in confusion. "With the Pure Maiden Divine Skill you taught me… I just cultivated normally according to the instructions, and then I broke through…"

"?!"

Chen Erbao's eyes went wide, his face a mask of disbelief. "How is that possible?"

When he had first started, he had barely managed to reach the Peak of Qi Refining First Layer. How could Zhao Ruoying have broken through to the Qi Refining Second Layer on her first try?

He grabbed Zhao Ruoying's wrist and scanned her with his Divine Sense.

"Hiss… You really are at the Qi Refining Second Layer!"

He was completely stunned.

"Is that strange?"

Zhao Ruoying looked innocent.

"Holy shit… a Yin Spirit Body!"

Scanning her continuously with his Divine Sense, Chen Erbao finally discovered what was unusual about Zhao Ruoying.

Within Zhao Ruoying's Dantian, a pure Ice Cold Qi swirled—an energy so strong that not even Chen Erbao could control it!

He searched through the Joyful Technique for a long time before finding a corresponding explanation.

It turned out that Zhao Ruoying's constitution was a uniquely blessed one for cultivation, with a natural affinity for Ice Cold Power. Her usual icy personality was also related to this constitution.

With such a constitution, not only was cultivation easier, but she could also master Ice Cold Power even in the Qi Refining Stage. Whether used against enemies or on herself, it would have remarkably significant effects!

Chen Erbao's mouth opened and closed, but in the end, he couldn't say a word. His heart filled with a sense of defeat.

'All my years of hard work can't even compare to one afternoon of hers!'

Seeing Chen Erbao's crestfallen expression, Zhao Ruoying grew a little flustered. "What's wrong… Did I do something wrong?"

"…You did great. So, let's dual cultivate now!"

Chen Erbao pushed Zhao Ruoying down onto the sofa, his hands grabbing those two full, round "white rabbits."

Zhao Ruoying's face flushed slightly, but a flash of spiritual light flickered around her body, and her icy expression returned.

"I still need to cultivate. Don't bother me!"

"Hehe, your cultivation is too slow on your own. I'm helping you!"

Chen Erbao grabbed the collar of Zhao Ruoying's pajamas and yanked hard. The white fabric ripped down the middle, buttons popping off and flying away to reveal the expanse of pale skin beneath.

"You… slow down!"

Zhao Ruoying's cheeks flushed red again as she glared at Chen Erbao.