Ye Kong discovered that the juice he’d left on the windowsill to sun-dry all day had actually transformed into a black, paste-like substance. When he sniffed it, the smell was even more concentrated.

“Whoa, looks like opium. Wonder if it’s addictive too.” Ye Kong muttered as he brought the small bowl back inside.

Actually, refining with fire and sun-drying achieved similar results, except that sun-drying wasn’t pure enough and couldn’t extract the impurities.

This concentrated herb juice would absolutely not work for creating talismans. However, for minor repairs, it could barely suffice.

So when Ye Kong once again connected the broken parts of the formation talisman and activated it with spiritual power, the formation talisman actually worked.

“Spir…it…Cul…ti…va…tion…For…ma…tion.”

Four large pale white characters radiating faint light appeared one by one from the formation talisman, then grew larger, suspended in the air, before quickly disappearing without a trace.

After the four characters finished flashing in sequence, Ye Kong felt all the spiritual energy around him become active, like a pot of water about to boil.

Suddenly, from the formation talisman in his hand, a tremendous force burst outward from the center, feeling exactly like an umbrella being forcefully opened, isolating Ye Kong in an independent space.

Ye Kong was getting nervous when he suddenly felt a consciousness transmit, “Set formation range.” He quickly used his thoughts to control the formation to keep expanding. Finally, the formation covered the entire interior of the room, and only then did he confirm it.

Formation talismans were different from setting up formations – once confirmed, they couldn’t be changed. Originally, he wanted to leave a small space by the room’s entrance so that even if his formation noodles was running, people could still push the door open and see him inside the formation.

But just now in his nervousness, he’d actually forgotten and covered the entire room’s door within the formation. This meant that as long as the formation was running, it would be impossible for others to open the door – they couldn’t even touch it.

By the time Ye Kong remembered this issue, it was already too late. He’d already confirmed it. Once the formation’s range was set, that transparent, invisible but tangible barrier also disappeared. At Ye Kong’s feet appeared a square block with grooves. Looking at the formation talisman again, it had already turned into snow-white powder, scattering to the ground like incense ash.

“So this is the control panel?” Ye Kong looked down at the square carved with a circle of runes, then took out a spirit stone from his storage pouch and inserted it into the central groove. Instantly, that circle of runes flashed a dim white light, and the Spiritual Cultivation Formation activated once more.

Remove the spirit stone and the formation stopped; insert it and the formation activated. Very simple.

“Haha! I, Ye Kong, finally have my own dedicated cultivation space!” Opening the formation, Ye Kong shouted loudly inside, not having to worry at all about people hearing.

This Spiritual Cultivation Formation was specifically convenient for cultivators to meditate and train. Vision wasn’t affected, but sound was completely isolated inside and out. The most wonderful design feature was that when spiritual energy from outside entered the formation, it would become active, making it even easier for cultivators to absorb and cultivate. If someone outside wanted to come in and touched the formation’s outer wall, Ye Kong would sense it. He could even know who touched it without opening his eyes, then decide based on the situation whether to let them in.

“The stuff on Cangnan Continent is really amazing. Just this one formation talisman alone – if you took it to Earth, I wonder if it could withstand an atomic bomb explosion?” Having obtained the formation, Ye Kong became even more interested in everything about Cangnan Continent.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and pulled out that small sword artifact from his storage pouch. His heart sighed – Qi Refinement Layer 4, when would he ever reach Qi Refinement Layer 4?

According to Fan Jiushe’s explanation, upon reaching Qi Refinement Layer 4, one could use the Object Control Technique to manipulate this artifact.

Being able to use artifacts would bring a huge increase in power and combat ability. At that point, he’d have the capability to protect himself and could go out traveling the world.

“Cultivate, cultivate hard!”

Although Ye Kong made this firm resolution, he still held onto some wishful thinking. “Maybe I can use artifacts without reaching Layer 4.”

He couldn’t help but eagerly try, placing the small sword at the head of the bed and using the Object Control Technique’s chant to drive it.

No movement!

He cut his finger, dripped a drop of blood on it, and tried again.

Still no movement!

“Damn it to hell, does it really have to be Qi Refinement Layer 4?” Ye Kong looked the small sword over from all angles, then thought of another method he could try – activating it with spiritual power. Sending in a thread of spiritual energy, Ye Kong seemed to sense something. “Hey, hehe, there’s hope!”

Keep up the good work. Ye Kong activated the spiritual energy within his body again, transmitting it in through the sword’s handle. However, the spiritual energy that followed was like a clay ox entering the sea – there was no reaction at all.

“Did I sense it wrong?” Ye Kong was somewhat doubtful, but if he stopped now, the spiritual energy he’d just sent in would be wasted.

“Maybe if I send in a little more, this sword will work.” Holding onto this wishful thinking, Ye Kong continuously sent the spiritual energy from his body into the small sword.

But gradually, Ye Kong felt terrified. This thing was a complete bottomless pit! What if it sucked all his spiritual energy dry and still had no reaction? Then he’d really be screwed.

At this moment, nearly a third of the spiritual energy in ​unauthorized copy​Ye Kong’s Qi Sea had been consumed. Without spirit pills or medicinal materials, this spiritual energy would require at least a month of cultivation to replenish. But Ye Kong couldn’t care about that anymore.

In stock trading terms, this would be called “cut your losses.” To avoid greater losses, what’s already lost is lost.

But just as Ye Kong was about to cut off the spiritual energy transmission channel and stop sending spiritual energy into the small sword, something strange happened.

Suddenly, an incomparably powerful suction force appeared, just like a water pump, accelerating the extraction of spiritual energy from inside Ye Kong’s body…

“Not good!” Ye Kong roared out in terror, because he discovered he could no longer control it. He wanted to cut it off but couldn’t. The suction inside the small sword was extraordinarily powerful, like a black hole. The spiritual energy in his Qi Sea surged toward that direction like a tide. Years of cultivation were about to be completely lost before his eyes.

Ye Kong had already panicked. He didn’t know what was inside the small sword, nor did he want to know what it was. He just wanted to break the connection. No matter how much loss, he’d accept it.

But the small sword clearly didn’t want to let him go. The suction grew stronger and stronger, drawing out more and more spiritual energy, just like lake water – getting lower and lower, gradually drying up. Before long, it hit bottom.

Watching two years of cultivation get sucked into a blank slate, Ye Kong was on the verge of tears, so depressed he wanted to vomit blood.

But even like this, the small sword artifact didn’t intend to let him go.

The spiritual energy depletion made Ye Kong feel dizzy and disoriented. But just at this moment, a consciousness transmitted from his Spirit Platform: “Intruder detected!”

Ye Kong quickly sent his consciousness into his Spirit Platform.

Good heavens, a baby with a big beard was charging over aggressively.

Ye Kong cried out in misery. Truly, you reap what you sow. Why did I have to mess around with nothing better to do and provoke this monster? His divine sense had already materialized into form – probably some kind of Nascent Soul stage. I’m still just a ball of light. Which is stronger and which is weaker is obvious at a glance.

And now he’d sucked away all my spiritual energy. No matter how you looked at it, I’m no match for him!

“Haha, a hundred thousand years, a hundred thousand years! I, Old Ancestor Yellow Springs, have finally awakened!” Whether or not all old demon heads acted this way when they woke up, this guy called Old Ancestor Yellow Springs also had that kind of unrestrained arrogance of someone who’d escaped confinement.

“Respected Old Ancestor sir, congratulations on waking up. This humble one is Ye Kong. I wonder what instructions you have? If there’s anything you need help with, please don’t be polite, hehe, just speak up directly.” Ye Kong forced himself to smile ingratiatingly.

“Ye Kong, is it? Haha, you’re very good!” Old Ancestor Yellow Springs laughed, not knowing what he was plotting, slowly approaching. He said, “Never thought your aptitude would be so poor. These spiritual roots are quite mixed.”

“Yes, yes indeed.” Ye Kong quietly retreated while humbly saying, “With my spiritual roots, people wouldn’t even want them for soul seizure. Five Spiritual Roots – terrible to the extreme. I’m too embarrassed to tell people when I go out. So shameful!”

No matter how much Ye Kong degraded himself, Old Ancestor Yellow Springs still kept approaching with a smile. “Your aptitude is indeed a bit poor, but what I didn’t expect is that your Qi Refinement Layer 2 spiritual energy is so pure and abundant. You must have found a suitable cultivation method, right?”

The old guy’s eyes were sharp enough! Ye Kong could only plead, “Old Ancestor, if you’ve taken a liking to this humble one’s cultivation method, I’ll present it with both hands immediately… It’s just, could we change locations? Somewhere with fine wine and beautiful women. My Spirit Platform really isn’t a place for conversation.”

“Haha.” Old Ancestor Yellow Springs laughed loudly, then suddenly stopped, glaring. “This old ancestor swore he’d never go back into that broken sword! Since I’m here, I’m staying for good!”

“My aptitude is poor…”

“Later when I encounter someone better, I’ll just switch! Soul seizure visit our site is nothing for someone at the Nascent Soul stage! Just lose a bit of cultivation power.”

“I’m very stupid…”

“No problem. Once this old ancestor occupies your body, you’ll be smart immediately.”

“My family is poor, I have bad relationships with people, I have illnesses, my dick is tiny, I… don’t grab me…” Ye Kong turned and ran.

“Haha, it’s all fine. This old ancestor doesn’t mind.” Old Ancestor Yellow Springs, transformed into a little person, chased after the ball of light.

How big could the Spirit Platform be? Ye Kong could only run circles around the golden pillar of light beneath the Complete Collection of Talismans. Since begging was hopeless, Ye Kong simply cursed in resistance. “Old ghost, fuck you! I kindly brought you out, and you repay kindness with enmity! Damn it, didn’t your mother teach you to be grateful? Didn’t your mom study civic virtue and moral education…”

“What the hell are those? I really never studied them. Haha, plenty of people have cursed me out. The more they curse, the longer I live. Hand over your body!” Old Ancestor Yellow Springs roared wildly and sped up his pursuit.

A white ball of light desperately fleeing in front, a golden little person crazily chasing behind – for a moment, neither could gain the upper hand.

“You bastard, I’ll fuck your mother, fuck your whole family, fuck your mom till she’s laughing…” Ye Kong got his fill of cursing. If he couldn’t beat him, he’d at least out-curse him!

Old Ancestor Yellow Springs acted indifferent on the surface, but inside he was furious. Damn it, what this old ancestor hates most is people sending regards to my mom. Watch me swallow you immediately!

After chasing for a bit, Old Ancestor Yellow Springs suddenly stopped, depressed. “Damn it, being with this idiot is making me stupid too. This yellow light isn’t a solid entity – I can just pass through and grab you, right?”

After Old Ancestor Yellow Springs finished speaking, his small figure flickered, drilling into the golden pillar of light beneath the Complete stolen contentCollection of Talismans and lunging forward.

Ye Kong didn’t have time to escape. Just as Old Ancestor Yellow Springs was about to grab him –

“Clang!” Suddenly a loud collision sound rang out. Old Ancestor Yellow Springs’ arm was actually blocked by the golden light.

“Not good!” Old Ancestor Yellow Springs cried out, sensing something was wrong, but it was already too late. The golden light shooting from beneath the Complete Collection of Talismans actually formed a transparent light barrier, firmly sealing Old Ancestor Yellow Springs’ Nascent Soul inside.

“You moron! What is this thing? How can a person’s brain contain a magical treasure?” Old Ancestor Yellow Springs asked while pounding on the golden, glittering walls.

Ye Kong’s soul settled back down. Looking at the Complete Collection of Talismans, his heart was moved. Never thought this book had such miraculous effects. Looks like I should thank that handsome guy who used the book to block that attack for me.

What made Ye Kong even more delighted was that once Old Ancestor Yellow Springs’ Nascent Soul was trapped, the spiritual energy that the small sword had absorbed quickly flowed back. Ye Kong’s Qi Sea filled up again all at once.

Old Ancestor Yellow Springs was really panicking now. “Stop absorbing! Stop absorbing! If you keep absorbing, you’ll start absorbing MY spiritual energy!”