Chapter 80: The First-Grade Spiritual Vein

At present, Sun Yigao had already reached the seventh level of Qi Refinement, making him more than capable of teaching Lin Dayou and Lin Lei the basics. The reason for starting them off with the "Peach Blossom Void Technique" was mainly because it had a simplified version, making it easier for those who were illiterate to get started quickly. Once they had a solid foundation and improved their literacy, they could then choose a more advanced technique.

As cultivation levels increased, so did learning capabilities, which was why the disciples of Lingxian Sect—who a month ago couldn't even read—had progressed so quickly. Now, they could cultivate on their own, only occasionally seeking Sun Yigao's guidance when they encountered difficulties.

Lin Xiao suddenly realized that compared to other sects, his Lingxian Sect had an extremely low entry threshold. If everyone, regardless of talent, could cultivate, wouldn't it eventually lead to universal cultivation? If the sect continued to grow stronger, would that mean that people from all over the world would flock to join, including those with evil intentions?

Honestly, Lin Xiao wasn't keen on that idea. While he couldn't control other sects, he didn't want the one he had built with his own hands to be infiltrated by such people. After some thought, he decided that in the future, the sect would need some form of screening or requirements for new members.

With that settled in his mind, Lin Xiao felt more at ease and headed to the dormitory area to find Liao Pantu.

When he reached the hillside where the dorms were located, he felt like something was missing. After a moment of thought, he brought over a large stone from a distance, then used his spiritual energy to carve the words "Guiyuan Shanju" (Returning Garden Abode) into it.

Admiring the strong, bold characters he had inscribed, Lin Xiao nodded in satisfaction. His calligraphy practice hadn't gone to waste—his handwriting was still impressive.

This hillside, next to the only water source in the area, a clear mountain spring, naturally formed a beautiful scene. Lin Xiao made his way to one of the houses in the center of the hill, the one Liao Pantu had chosen to stay in the day before.

Liao Pantu had chosen to cultivate alone in his house rather than joining the others in the cultivation room. After all, his "Soul Refining Technique" focused on refining the soul, so the concentration of spiritual energy in the environment didn't matter much. More importantly, he didn't want to cultivate alongside a group of Qi Refinement youngsters.

When Lin Xiao entered, Liao Pantu didn't bother asking what he wanted and instead addressed the growing concern directly. "This evil aura is getting thicker by the day. There's definitely something strange going on. Do you have a plan?"

Lin Xiao sat down across from him and replied, "I've made some preparations, but I'm not sure if they'll be enough. I'll do my best."

Liao Pantu, half of his body still hidden within the Soul Nourishing Wood, simply shook his head. "In my current state, just a Qi Refinement soul, I don't have any treasures to offer. I'm powerless to help."

Clearly, Liao Pantu assumed Lin Xiao had come to discuss ways to deal with the evil aura. But Lin Xiao instead asked, "Can you tell me about the other sects? Specifically, how they are typically structured and laid out?"

Liao Pantu was slightly puzzled by the change in topic, but he didn't show it on his face. He explained, "Generally, a sect is located in a place with favorable geomantic features, ideally on a spiritual vein with abundant energy. A proper sect will have several key areas..."

Just as Liao Pantu was about to elaborate, Lin Xiao interrupted, "Where in the sect do they typically place the spiritual vein?"

A bit thrown off by the interruption, Liao Pantu answered, "Spiritual veins cover a large area, but if a sect is lucky enough to possess its source, they treat it as the lifeblood of the sect, carefully placing it in the deepest part of their territory. They usually surround the source with constructions that align with the elements, ensuring that the vein remains vibrant and doesn't wither."

Lin Xiao quickly understood. The spiritual vein needed to be in a place with strong geomantic features, aligned with the elements to maintain its vitality. This meant that spiritual veins could indeed be exhausted over time.

A specific location came to Lin Xiao's mind.

He immediately stood up. "Senior Liao, wait here for a moment. I'll be right back!"

With that, he rushed to the small mountain spring beside the dormitory area. He felt that this spot was ideal—perhaps not perfectly aligned with the elements yet, but that could be adjusted over time.

Deciding on the location, Lin Xiao took out the first-grade spiritual vein from his inventory and placed it beneath the spring.

In the next instant, a rich wave of spiritual energy surged from the spring, quickly spreading in all directions. Within moments, the energy had enveloped the entire Lingxian Sect, the nearby Xiushui Village, and almost the entire Beishan Mountain Range.

For a brief moment, Lin Xiao felt that the world itself had brightened.

To think that just a first-grade spiritual vein could so dramatically increase the concentration of spiritual energy in this previously barren corner of the mortal world! Lin Xiao was extremely pleased with the result.

His urgency in placing the spiritual vein stemmed from a desire to accelerate his cultivation further. Though he had the Two Elements Life and Death Formation, strengthening his own abilities remained his top priority.

After securing the spiritual vein, Lin Xiao returned to Liao Pantu's house, still eager to learn more.

Liao Pantu, who had felt the sudden surge of spiritual energy, looked at Lin Xiao with a complex expression. This young Qi Refinement disciple possessed a spiritual vein! Even though it was only a first-grade vein, in the cultivation world, it was something that many small sects would fight tooth and nail for.

And the fact that Lin Xiao had a portable spiritual vein source that could be placed anywhere? That was a rare treasure indeed!

Sitting back down in front of Liao Pantu, Lin Xiao grinned. "Alright, Senior, let's continue our discussion."

Lin Xiao wasn't concerned about Liao Pantu developing any ulterior motives over the spiritual vein. Not only was the cultivation world far from here, but Liao Pantu was just a soul bound to the Soul Nourishing Wood—hardly a threat. Besides, the spiritual vein was already in place, and the sect had its defensive measures. If anyone wanted to take it, they'd have to get through those first.

Liao Pantu had no such intentions. In fact, he found himself growing more optimistic about the future of the Lingxian Sect.

"You've got some impressive resources, kid," Liao Pantu remarked with a chuckle.

Lin Xiao simply smiled modestly. "What can I say? Building a sect requires a few good tools."