Ordinary Talent, Extraordinary Effort

Morning.

Chu Xingchen carefully compared the system blueprint, surveyed the area, and then inserted a small branch as a marker.

Although he couldn’t conjure things out of thin air, the blueprint had its advantages—it could be reused.

After all, he still had to build everything himself, and if the blueprint were a one-time-use item, it would be far too frustrating.

This meant that perhaps he could start by setting up a Spirit Gathering Array at Shili Slope.

After all, Shili Slope wasn’t a place where spiritual energy naturally converged, nor did it have any spiritual veins running through it. While there was some spiritual energy, it naturally couldn’t compare to places where spiritual veins gathered.

In simpler terms, it wasn’t an ideal place for cultivation.

Under the same cultivation conditions, areas with converging spiritual veins would naturally yield better results.

That’s why most respectable immortal sects would choose to establish their sects on mountains where spiritual veins were present.

Back when Li Yingling was cultivating, Chu Xingchen would roughly set up an array using spirit stones to aid her cultivation.

It was manageable for one person, but now that Li Xingtian had joined, such extravagant practices had to stop.

Just supporting Li Yingling’s cultivation had nearly drained his spirit stone reserves. With Li Xingtian added to the mix, continuing like this would clearly deplete their resources.

A sustainable approach was the way forward.

Building a Spirit Gathering Array was essential, and it would also make things easier when taking in disciples in the future.

Although the materials at hand weren’t enough to complete the Spirit Gathering Array, some preliminary work could still be done.

Chu Xingchen found the right spot and inserted another branch.

Boom!!

A gust of wind surged from afar, followed by dirt flying in all directions.

Chu Xingchen waved his hand in annoyance to disperse the wind and quickly took a few steps forward.

His gaze fell on Li Yingling, who was diligently hacking at the ground with a wooden sword.

Li Yingling had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so her spiritual energy protected her from getting her clothes dirty.

At that moment, she held the wooden sword with a serious expression, continuously using her divine abilities to strike the ground.

Another fierce sword energy slammed into the ground, accompanied by a loud noise and intense vibrations.

Chu Xingchen quickly raised his hand to stop her. “Wait!”

Hearing her master’s call, Li Yingling stopped and looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Master, what’s wrong?”

“Isn’t there a better way to dig a hole than this?”

Li Yingling was confused. “How else am I supposed to dig?”

Chu Xingchen said irritably, “Later, we’ll need to fill the hole back in after setting up the array foundation. If you scatter the dirt everywhere, what are we going to use to fill it? Your little head?”

Hearing her master’s words, Li Yingling silently glanced at the dirt scattered around.

But she still pouted slightly and said, “But if I don’t do it this way, it’ll take forever.”

Chu Xingchen reassured her, “I’m not asking you to finish it in one day. Just dig a little whenever you have time after your cultivation. Once your junior brother finishes refining that broken stone, you can bring him along to help.”

“Don’t rush. I’ll make you something delicious later.”

Li Yingling raised her eyes to look at Chu Xingchen, who spoke gently, and nodded lightly. “I understand.”

With that, Li Yingling began digging with her wooden sword again, this time piling the excavated dirt to one side.

To be fair, Li Yingling was quite obedient when it mattered.

After watching for a while and confirming there were no issues, Chu Xingchen left to mark the other array points.

Setting up the array points according to the blueprint was a quick task.

Soon, all the points were marked.

Then, Chu Xingchen slipped back to the dilapidated temple.

At that moment, Li Xingtian was sitting cross-legged, with the Millennium Bone Jade floating above his head.

The Millennium Bone Jade continuously poured energy into him, cleansing his bones and meridians.

After observing for a moment and confirming that his second disciple wasn’t having any issues, Chu Xingchen slowly sat back down on his wooden plank.

As for the materials missing for the Spirit Gathering Array, they weren’t particularly rare.

With enough spirit stones, they could be purchased.

Although he was poor, Chu Xingchen had some ideas.

And those ideas revolved around the second disciple currently refining the bone jade.

As a reincarnator, Li Xingtian surely knew some ways to make money or perhaps the location of an unexplored tomb of a powerful cultivator.

Grave-robbing might be unethical, but it was a quick way to earn money. Any small item left behind by a powerful cultivator would likely be enough to fund the construction of the array.

Moreover, in the cultivation world, such tombs were uniformly referred to as “secret realms.”

Usually, sects would send elders with a group of disciples to excavate these tombs together.

Thinking about it this way, his moral standards were still in line with those of the cultivation world.

After all, the Dao Alliance’s dream was to become a righteous sect!

Chu Xingchen leisurely lay back on his wooden plank.

Now, he just had to wait for Li Xingtian to finish refining the bone jade and ask him if he knew any good opportunities.

Noon.

Li Xingtian was still refining the bone jade.

Li Yingling was the first to return, panting heavily, her spiritual energy nearly depleted.

She glanced at the two people in the temple, especially noticing her master lounging leisurely on the wooden plank.

Li Yingling asked in confusion, “Master! Why am I the only one digging? Aren’t you going to help?”

Chu Xingchen sat up and looked at Li Yingling, who was puffing out her cheeks, seemingly a little upset.

He cleared his throat and said leisurely, “Do you think your master is slacking off?”

“Aren’t you?” Li Yingling retorted. “Master, you said yourself that after marking the points, you’d help me dig!”

Faced with his disciple’s accusation, Chu Xingchen swiftly changed the subject:

“What nonsense! Complaining about contributing to the sect? Do you understand how much effort your master has put into paving the way for your future?”

Hearing this, Li Yingling opened her mouth but then closed it, realizing she was now on the lower end of the moral high ground.

But she knew how to handle her master in this state.

Li Yingling’s face turned pitiful, her peach-blossom eyes glistening with tears, her delicate features filled with sorrow as she said:

“Master, it’s fine if you don’t want to dig. After all, if you’ve assigned it to me, how could I refuse?”

“I wasn’t angry earlier. I just didn’t expect Master to lie to me. I didn’t think Master would see me that way.”

What a performance!

Chu Xingchen was slightly speechless as he watched his eldest disciple’s dramatic act.

But then, he immediately pointed at Li Xingtian, who was meditating and absorbing the bone jade:

“I was just worried that your junior brother might run into trouble while refining the bone jade, so I came to check on him.”

“After all, it’s taking him so long to refine the bone jade, and his aptitude is far inferior to yours. It’s hard not to worry.”

“Unlike you, my eldest disciple, who’s capable and intelligent, and whom I can trust completely.”

However, Li Yingling’s reaction wasn’t what he expected.

Her expression instantly turned cold, and her tone lost its earlier pitifulness as she spoke in a clear voice:

“Master, there’s no need to explain. Since junior brother has joined our sect and his cultivation is the lowest, it’s only right to take extra care of him.”

Chu Xingchen knew without turning around that Li Xingtian had woken up. He said irritably:

“…As long as your master can still tolerate it, go out and hunt something for us!”

“As you command!” Li Yingling quickly clasped her hands in acknowledgment and then hurried out of the temple.

“Master… I apologize for my lack of talent and cultivation. I’ve troubled you.”

Li Xingtian’s apologetic voice came from behind.

Chu Xingchen cleared his throat and didn’t turn to look at his disciple:

“You… you understand the situation. Just work harder from now on.”