Chapter 56: Water Shadow Cloud-Mist Array

Li Qing followed him to one side.

"Fellow Daoist, please look!"

Ding Yu, the Taoist in green robes, pointed toward a cabinet in front of them.

"The formations in this vicinity can all shield against external detection, while simultaneously preventing the aura within the formation from leaking out..."

"I wonder if you have any specific requirements regarding the grade of the formation?"

"What is the price difference between the grades?" Li Qing asked calmly.

"The formation you seek must be a mid-grade First-Order formation to be effective!"

"The price for a mid-grade First-Order formation ranges between one thousand and two thousand low-grade spirit stones, depending on the differences in their functions."

Li Qing was secretly startled.

This price was enough to purchase an ordinary high-grade magical tool.

"Then a mid-grade First-Order formation will suffice!"

With his current strength, this formation would only serve an auxiliary purpose; he did not wish to invest too many resources into it.

"Fellow Daoist, for mid-grade First-Order formations, we can recommend two types to you."

"The Azure Smoke Cloud-Locking Formation—a mid-grade First-Order formation!"

"Once activated, cyan mist emerges around the cave dwelling. This mist can block divine sense scrutiny and seal off any movement within the formation..."

Ding Yu pointed toward a set of cyan formation flags.

There were four flags in total, embroidered with cyan cloud patterns and interlaced with rows of formation runes.

"The Azure Smoke Cloud-Locking Formation is valued at 1,200 low-grade spirit stones."

"Furthermore, once the formation is fully activated, the cyan mist can transform into four misty chains that can trap anyone who enters the formation..."

"The duration of the entrapment depends on the enemy's strength; even those in the late stages of Qi Refinement can be held for several quarters!"

It had to be said that this formation was quite tempting to Li Qing.

The only pity was that once the formation was activated, the cyan smoke would be too conspicuous, making it difficult for Li Qing to hide the formation.

"I wonder what the situation with the other formation is?" Li Qing continued to ask.

"The second formation—the Water Shadow Cloud-Mist Array."

"A mid-grade First-Order formation!"

"The purpose of this array is also to block external scrutiny, and it can also serve as an alarm..."

"Compared to the former, this formation has no combat utility."

"Its specialty is concealment!"

"The mist formed after the Water Shadow Cloud-Mist Array is activated is not much different from natural mist, and its dispersal range is much larger..."

"Once an enemy enters the range of the mist, an alarm will be triggered immediately."

"The price of the Water Shadow Cloud-Mist Array is 1,100 low-grade spirit stones!"

After finishing, Ding Yu stood quietly to the side, waiting for Li Qing's decision.

Formation masters were one of the hundred arts of cultivation.

They were relatively rare among cultivators; to enter this path required not only excellent comprehension but also a powerful soul, and understanding formations often required painstaking study.

The path of formations could be described as vast and infinite.

Entering this path also required a great deal of mental effort.

Some powerful high-order formation masters were often powerful cultivators themselves.

Li Qing turned his gaze toward a set of sky-blue formation flags.

Without a doubt, the Water Shadow Cloud-Mist Array was more useful to him.

Li Qing placed more value on its concealment.

When he later set up formations on White Jade Island, he could avoid being discovered by the patrolling personnel.

"The Water Shadow Cloud-Mist Array is more suitable..."

Half an hour later.

Li Qing walked out of the Formation Pavilion and headed toward White Jade Island.

Now, besides the spirit stones in his storage bag decreasing by another thousand or so, he only had over six thousand low-grade spirit stones left.

He had prepared everything for this trip.

All that remained was to wait for news regarding the auction from Meng Kan.

Everything was ready; he was just waiting for the right moment.

Upon returning to White Jade Island, he happened to see Meng Kan arranging tasks within the spirit mine tunnels near the entrance.

Seeing Li Qing, Meng Kan came forward to greet him.

"Has your trip been smooth, Fellow Daoist Li?" Meng Kan asked with a smile.

"The trip was smooth, thanks in large part to Fellow Daoist Meng. I have already spoken to Senior Brother Ling Jie regarding my stationing at White Jade Island."

Li Qing was in a fairly pleasant mood after this trip.

"May I ask if there has been any progress regarding the matter I entrusted to you?" Li Qing asked.

The matter of the Golden Scale Fruit allowed for no mistakes, so he was naturally extremely concerned.

"The matter you entrusted to me is naturally being kept in mind," Meng Kan said with a smile. "The clan has already released the news!"

"Due to the previous changes at Yellow Jade Island, the Giant Spirit Pavilion has postponed the auction. It is expected to begin in the middle of next month..."

"As for the identity token, you will need to wait a little longer... the clan will send it in a few days."

Li Qing nodded with a smile.

There was still one month until the auction began.

This was the perfect opportunity to focus on recovering his soul injuries.

"I shall leave the matter of the auction in your capable hands, Fellow Daoist Meng..."

After a few words of pleasantries, Li Qing intended to leave.

At that moment, Meng Kan proactively called out to him.

"Fellow Daoist Li, over the next two years, we shall be in the same boat, supporting one another. You also need to understand a bit about the affairs of the White Jade Island spirit mine..."

As he spoke, Meng Kan intended to lead Li Qing toward the spirit mine tunnels.

"Actually, we don't need to exert too much effort to guard White Jade Island; we only need to conduct inspections at the spirit mine tunnels at fixed times each month!"

"Currently, there are three of us, so we need to take turns on duty..."

After bringing Li Qing into the spirit mine, Meng Kan gave a brief overview of the things that required attention.

In particular, the previous incident with the Jade-Devouring Insects, though it had turned out to be a false alarm, made him unwilling to let his guard down.

Generally speaking, the three of them were currently taking turns on duty, and everyone's time was relatively sufficient.

"Fellow Daoist Li has also experienced the recent events, so I will tell you everything I know..." Meng Kan suddenly said in a low voice.

"Please look, Fellow Daoist!"

Meng Kan simultaneously struck the mine walls on both sides with two bursts of magic power.

*Thud! Thud!*

Two deep pits immediately appeared on the jade walls of the surrounding mine tunnels.

Several pieces of warm jade fell from the pits to the ground.

"Fellow Daoist Li, can you see the difference between the two sides?" Meng Kan asked with a low chuckle.

Li Qing scanned the ground.

On the left side, as many as seven pieces of warm jade had fallen, while on the right, there were only four.

"This is the difference between the various sections of the spirit mine!"

"It is also our extra benefit," Meng Kan said with a smile.

The other party would find out sooner or later, so he was currently trying to close the distance between himself and Li Qing.

Previously, during his shifts, all privately obtained warm jade had been sold to his clan.

Therefore, Meng Kan was actually the greatest beneficiary within the mine tunnels.

"I wonder, what are the profits from the warm jade mine?"

(End of Chapter)