As Song Qianji appeared, the crowd greeted him warmly and presented the formation materials they had brought.
"Our resources as rogue cultivators are meager, Brother Song. Please don't look down on these—see if these two pieces suit your needs," Liu San said.
"This is Formation Master Li, who set up the protective array at the cave entrance earlier. We invited him tonight to see if he could assist you, Brother Song," Old Zheng explained.
"Our Huaxi Sect doesn't study formations. We happened upon these formation materials and have no use for them, so we might as well offer them to Fellow Daoist Song," Hua Zhangmen said.
Song Qianji smiled inwardly, aware that each party was likely holding back their best resources while presenting their contributions as wholehearted and exhaustive efforts.
In truth, it didn't matter whether they were formation masters or what they brought. He could adjust the formation based on the cultivators' cultivation levels and numbers to roughly control the quantity of sprites entering the array.
However, the three female cultivators from the Celestial Sound Sect appeared troubled. Even after presenting their materials, they gazed at him hesitantly without speaking.
Since they remained silent, Song Qianji didn't press them.
That night, despite having more defenders, the battle grew fiercer than the previous night. The sprites, refusing to be outdone, summoned more of their kind and only reluctantly ceased their attacks before dawn.
After a night of grueling combat, the cultivators were exhausted but had sustained only minor injuries. Considering their newfound insights and gains, they remained in high spirits, even bantering lightheartedly.
"See you all tomorrow night—I'll bring wine for everyone!"
"With Brother Song's formation here, perhaps the sprites will disperse by tomorrow night."
After the crowd dispersed, Song Qianji hoisted his Snow Blade over his shoulder and ambled back.
The three Celestial Sound Sect members exchanged glances, as if finally reaching a decision, and intercepted him.
Muxia stepped forward with a bow and whispered, "Might we ask what you discussed with Senior Sister He Yun last night, Fellow Daoist Song?"
"What happened to her?" Song Qianji asked.
"After she returned, she fell silent and motionless, unresponsive to anyone. Her fellow disciples are deeply concerned."
Song Qianji was slightly surprised.
Mengzhi hesitantly added, "Could Fellow Daoist Song come with us to check on her? A few words of guidance from you might help her."
Song Qianji found it strange. "I recall Fairy Miaoyan from your sect is also in the cave."
"Well, Senior Sister Miaoyan is indeed present..."
"Since Fairy Miaoyan is there, she can surely provide guidance. I am neither a Sound Cultivator nor a member of the Celestial Sound Sect—my presence would be of little use," Song Qianji replied.
Given Miaoyan's status in the Celestial Sound Sect, advising a young junior disciple should be effortless—unless He Yun refused to listen to her.
The three women struggled to explain, stammering awkwardly.
The Huaxi Sect female cultivators hadn't gone far. Yin Zhu turned back and laughed, "If you want Fellow Daoist Song to visit your quarters, just say so directly. Why fabricate excuses?"
The crowd erupted in laughter. Qingzhai and Zimo, too embarrassed to join in, flanked Song Qianji and hurried him away.
The Celestial Sound Sect trio's expressions darkened. "Nonsense, you de—" Having fought side-by-side earlier, they couldn't bring themselves to utter "demonic women." Seeing Song Xun whisked away by the Green Cliff members, they left in frustration.
Song Qianji returned to Ziye Wenshu's ice chamber to rest. As he entered, a storage bag was tossed toward him.
Opening it, Song Qianji felt both amused and exasperated. "What's this? A hardship allowance from the Green Cliff Courtyard Overseer?"
"You need formation materials," Ziye Wenshu stated."Do you think just because you gave it to me, I won't need to ask others?" Song Qianji tossed the storage bag up and down. "The flowers I planted myself, nurtured with my own hands, watered and turned the soil daily—if they fall ill and wither, of course I'd feel heartache. But the secret realm is full of wildflowers and weeds, drifting with the wind. I merely sigh over them a few times. Whether it's planting flowers or setting up formations, one must first invest effort before being willing to cherish and maintain them."
Ziye Wenshu thought for a moment, slightly furrowing his brow, his gaze seeming to reproach: "You're lying again."
Not lacking formation materials, yet demanding contributions from all sides.
"I am lying." Song Qianji threw the storage bag back and laughed. "If you want to learn how to lie, I can teach you for free. Unfortunately, you're not eloquent enough—I'm afraid you won't be able to learn."
Ziye Wenshu stopped speaking, noisily flipping open a notebook and lowering his head to write furiously.
Song Qianji laughed for a long while before suddenly realizing: "Are you writing insults about me in your diary just because you can't win an argument? What kind of hero insults someone on paper?"
...
Outside the ice chamber, the Green Cliff crowd was still waiting for Qingzhai and Zimo to share their experience.
Zimo said, "Once inside the formation, don't panic. Follow Senior Brother Song's instructions in all matters, and you'll surely gain something overnight. After exiting the formation, there's only one thing you must remain vigilant about."
The Green Cliff crowd perked up with full attention, some even pulling out paper and brushes to take notes.
They only heard Qingzhai say: "At critical moments, you must step forward decisively... and help Senior Brother Song ward off peach blossoms."
Thus four days passed, relationships between various parties eased, and the tense atmosphere that could explode at any touch completely dissipated.
They even began bartering and haggling, showing considerable adaptability and contentment, almost forgetting to return home.
"I've accumulated quite a few demon beast pelts—let's go trade with the Celestial Sound Sect for some healing pills."
"Bring our spirit herbs and exchange them with the Green Cliff scholars for some talismans."
"Drinking and eating meat in the Rogue Cultivators' caves during the day, listening to zither music at the Celestial Sound Sect's entrance to regulate breathing, taking turns guarding the formation at night, and exchanging insights every other day—this misfortune has truly been a blessing in disguise."
The Sound Cultivators of the Celestial Sound Sect spent two hours daily performing celestial sound techniques to help the injured regulate their spirit qi.
Initially, some were reluctant: "Senior Sister Miaoyan, if people from Huaxi Sect come to listen, should we still play for them?"
Miaoyan said, "You've already seen that formation—we rise and fall together. Right now, only by collectively improving our strength can we find a way to break the situation."
"Does Senior Sister want to help them, or..." Liaohua mustered her courage to ask, "Help that Song Xun? Senior Sister has been deliberately approaching him recently—could it be you've taken a liking to him? He's just a Rogue Cultivator with no clan or sect support. Even if he has some real skill, as long as he has no intention of making a name for himself, he doesn't deserve Senior Sister's special attention."
In the hearts of Miaoyan's followers, Miaoyan deserved the strongest—not just in talent or cultivation, but in status and influence.
Miaoyan surveyed everyone's expressions and frowned: "Are you lecturing me?"
"We wouldn't dare contradict Senior Sister." Muxia tried to be as tactful as possible. "But Master Wangshu once said that if Senior Sister finds the composer, it might not be good for you."
Miaoyan said coldly, "Can't I distinguish good from bad myself? Do I need your instruction?"
Her words were severe, already a reprimand.
Everyone fell silent, feeling Miaoyan was far less gentle than before. It seemed since that day she returned, she had never shown her most perfect smile again.Song Qianji was completely unaware of He Yun's deliberate attempts to get close, merely regarding him as a junior who occasionally came for advice.
As the one presiding over the formation, he was frequently approached by various parties who often gifted him wine, meat, magic robes, and peonies.
However, the Green Cliff scholars around him maintained strict vigilance. Often, as soon as He Yun began to greet him, someone would interrupt.
It wasn't until the fifth day after nightfall that all the cultivators finally entered the formation, each taking their positions at the star points.
Suddenly, the ground shook violently as if an earth dragon were turning over, and ice spikes and shards rained down upon them like a fierce storm.
Song Qianji's heart stirred slightly.
After waiting for so long, it had finally arrived.
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