Listening Wind Cliff.  

This location sits atop the main peak of Spirit Mountain, with treacherous terrain. One side is a sheer precipice thousands of feet high, shrouded in mist and clouds. Mountain winds howl upward from below the cliff, whistling through pine forests and producing sounds resembling dragon roars and tiger growls. The other side backs against a tranquil primeval forest with towering ancient trees, rarely visited by humans.  

What's even more remarkable is that the clifftop forms a flat, open area about half an acre in size, with a naturally formed shallow depression at its center - seemingly tailor-made for meditation practice.  

"An excellent spot!"  

Li Pingcan, in his Nightingale form, circled once before landing contentedly on an ancient pine tree.  

Tiger Elder and the others hadn't deceived him - the spiritual energy here was so abundant it had nearly condensed into physical form. Just taking a deep breath made his magic power circulate noticeably faster.  

Even more precious was the first purple qi of dawn sunlight - an invaluable treasure for any cultivator.  

"Today, I shall establish my first cave abode on this immortal cultivation path!" Li Pingcan's heart swelled with emotion.  

Rather than starting immediately, he first resumed human form and carefully walked a full circuit around Listening Wind Cliff.  

He bent down to scoop up a handful of soil, feeling its weight. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on listening to the wind's flow, then pressed his palm against the rock to sense the faint pulse of the earth veins.  

The art of formation-setting followed three principles: "Heaven's timing, Earth's advantage, and Human harmony."  

He already had Heaven's timing - this moment when his dao heart was stable and spirit vigorous. As for Human harmony - he himself was the greatest "harmony." The remaining task was perfectly integrating the formation with the local earth veins - achieving Earth's advantage.  

It took him a full hour to mentally outline a perfect Spirit Gathering Formation in his mind.  

Why not use a Spirit Gathering Formation to make the spiritual energy even more concentrated?  

After all, deep in Spirit Mountain where humans rarely ventured, with the Five Spirit Beasts' cave abodes in the periphery, even if discovered by human cultivators, he'd have ample reaction time.  

No sooner said than done!  

First using [Spore Growth] and [Spore Sense] to plant countless tiny mushrooms as sentries, he took out the materials gifted by the Mu family.  

Starting with the formation bones - several hundred-year-old Old Yang Wood logs - he pointed two fingers like a sword, magical power swirling at his fingertips as he began carving runes into the wood.  

Each stroke's depth, each turn's angle required exquisitely precise control of magical power. The slightest instability in power output would reduce the log to powder; the slightest deviation in rune connections would prevent the formation from channeling heaven and earth's power.  

Li Pingcan focused completely, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead while his eyes shone startlingly bright. He seemed to enter a mystical state transcending self and object, where the power at his fingertips resonated strangely with the earth beneath his feet and the mountain winds around him.  

An hour later, the formation bones were complete.  

The formerly unremarkable Old Yang Wood now bore profound patterns seemingly containing the universe's truths, with faint light flowing across its surface.  

Next came the formation foundation.  

Following the five elemental directions, he buried five materials of different attributes underground - including the recently obtained Black Armored Earth Dragon's earth-attribute horn.  

Each material's position, angle and depth were calculated precisely without the slightest error.  

Finally, taking a deep breath, he retrieved the most meticulously crafted and perfect Spirit Gathering Formation diagram he'd made. Carefully burying it beneath the formation bones in the soil, making it the formation's "soul."  

All preparations complete.  

Standing with feet shoulder-width apart, he formed an ancient hand seal and shouted: "Seven elements align, spiritual energy gather, formation rise!"  

A strand of purest magical power shot from his fingertip, precisely striking the buried formation diagram.  

"Hummm!"  

An ancient-sounding hum resonated, making the entire Listening Wind Cliff tremble slightly. Centered on the formation bones, a visible light curtain erupted upward, instantly enveloping the entire clifftop.  

Then, heaven and earth's spiritual energy from all directions seemed pulled by invisible force, transforming into multicolored streams that surged madly into the light curtain like rivers returning to the sea.  

The spiritual mist atop the cliff visibly thickened. Several ordinary pine trees, nourished by such dense energy, even had their needles glow faintly with treasure light.  

Li Pingcan had never experienced such overwhelming spiritual energy - like a small-town boy's first airplane ride, feeling catapulted into the clouds, floating in ecstasy!  

"This is freaking amazing!"  

Breathing this spiritual energy was almost like getting "drunk on oxygen!"  

Stepping into the formation, the dense spiritual energy washed over him, making every pore on his body relax in comfort.  

Cultivating in this environment would increase speed at least tenfold!  

The problem of sparse spiritual energy that had troubled him was now completely solved!  

Sitting cross-legged at the cliff's center, he tried circulating the "Earth God Refining Qi Technique." The speed of spiritual energy entering his body was like floodgates opening, bringing unprecedented exhilaration.  

"Hahaha! This is intoxicating!"  

Li Pingcan was ecstatic, half-laughing half-mad like Fan Jin passing the imperial exams!  

............  

With his cave abode established, Li Pingcan was in excellent spirits and began organizing his Spirit Mountain gains.  

First were several mortal martial arts manuals left with the Five Spirit Beasts.  

Most eye-catching was an ancient-looking saber manual - "Wind-Splitting Saber Manual."  

Flipping through a few pages, he felt a sharp, domineering saber intent leap out. This saber style used heavy blades with wide, sweeping moves emphasizing overwhelming force to crush all obstacles in the most direct way.  

"This saber technique is both fierce and exquisite."  

Normally, weapons surpassed barehanded techniques, hence why Jiang Family Sword Schools were more popular than martial arts schools.  

But weapon forging and maintenance weren't cheap - especially heavy sabers. A ten-catty saber could cost dozens of silver taels, beyond most commoners' means, making fist techniques still mainstream.  

Li Pingcan pondered, "I practice Five Spirit Play emphasizing transformation and essence. This technique isn't very useful for me. But it could help elder brother win people's hearts as the Li Escort Agency is just starting."  

He stored the manual to give Li Pingfu later.  

Next, he took out the "Immortal's Notes" obtained from the Five Spirit Beasts. The cover was made of some unknown beast hide, warm to touch yet showing no decay despite its age.  

Eagerly opening to the first page:  

"Spring of Gengchen Year: At Soul-Severing Cliff, slew three-headed demonic python for its core. Sword intent improved slightly. Then met Allure Sect demoness - nearly destabilized my dao heart. Women only slow my sword."  

"Summer of Xinsi Year: Explored Ten Thousand Ghost Cave. Fought millennium corpse king for three days, severed its arm, obtained Soul-Nourishing Wood. Corpse king terrifyingly strong - could withstand my flying sword. Without newly comprehended 'Armor-Piercing' sword intent, would have perished."  

"Autumn of Renwu Year: Entered East Sea. Saw ancient dragon palace ruins in the abyss. Pity its formations were broken, spiritual energy depleted, leaving only dragon majesty. Found one incomplete sword technique called 'Dragon-Slaying' - its intent vast and boundless, impossible to fully comprehend below Golden Core..."  

Initially thrilled and excited, Li Pingcan gradually found something off. The note's owner was a sword cultivator whose days alternated between life-and-death battles and encounters with demonesses, enchantresses and fairies at places like Soul-Severing Cliff, Ten Thousand Ghost Cave, East Sea Abyss...  

With such frequent dangerous battles, ten lives wouldn't be enough!  

"What boastful nonsense..."  

Though mentally scoffing, his hand kept turning pages until he'd unconsciously finished the entire book.  

"Actually quite an entertaining story - quite satisfying."  

It followed the classic formula - never missing benefits, slaughtering all troubles, with all beauties becoming confidantes - similar to some fast-paced wish-fulfillment stories from his past life.  

And apart from boasting, this sword cultivator did have real skills. Amidst the bragging were many sword techniques and combat insights, most notably about borrowing momentum - terrain momentum, heart momentum, heaven's momentum, weapon momentum...  

As he pondered this, Tiger Elder's respectful voice came from outside the formation.  

"Venerable Nightingale, is the cave abode to your liking? We've been entrusted by Old Mulberry to invite you to tonight's 'Moonlit Treasure Exchange.' Would you honor us with your presence?"  

"Treasure Exchange?"  

Li Pingcan perked up - essentially a spirit beast version of a small auction!  

Perfect timing, as he had unused materials and urgent needs - like receiving a pillow when sleepy.  

Smiling, he replied, "How could I miss such a gathering? Fellow daoists please wait, I'll come immediately."  

Transforming into Nightingale, he flew from Listening Wind Cliff following Tiger Elder.  

.........  

Night fell atop Spirit Mountain.  

Beneath the thousand-year-old mulberry tree, it was already bustling.  

Soft moonlight filtered through lush leaves, casting dappled shadows. The Five Spirit Beasts waited there along with three new faces Li Pingcan hadn't met - clearly important Spirit Mountain figures.  

Li Pingcan quietly observed.  

A plump golden-backed badger lay atop a pile of glittering ores, beady eyes gleaming warily as if saying "don't touch my treasures."  

On a branch above perched a raven completely black except for jade-white beak and claws, preening glossy feathers with clever eyes, occasionally whispering gossip with other beasts like a know-it-all "Omniscient Raven."  

An elegant snow-white fox with a crescent-shaped red mark on its forehead lounged gracefully on a bluestone, nine fluffy tails swaying gently behind it, charming eyes glancing about.  

Seeing Li Pingcan arrive, the spirit beasts all bowed, addressing him as "Venerable Nightingale."  

Li Pingcan politely returned greetings, inwardly marveling at Spirit Mountain's biodiversity exceeding his expectations.  

The golden-backed badger suddenly asked, "Why isn't Blissful Bird here?"  

The Omniscient Raven cackled strangely, "Someone plucked its feathers bald! The tailless coward won't show! Caw caw! Always flaunting those colorful plumes!"  

"Who would be so brutal?"  

The beasts whispered - some concerned, some curious, few as mocking as the raven who'd long envied those feathers.  

Li Pingcan remained expressionless, as if this matter concerned him not at all.  

The Treasure Exchange had little ceremony. As host, Tiger Elder gave brief opening remarks before announcing the start.  

The golden-backed badger spoke first in a muffled voice: "Offering one unrefined century-old cold iron dug from the royal mines - extremely hard. Want medicinal herb to relax muscles and bones. Getting old - always sore."  

Li Pingcan's interest stirred - cold iron was excellent for making formation banners and weapons.  

After consideration, he said, "Fellow badger, I have uniquely refined Seven-Leaf Purple-Gold Treasure Herb that may help, increasing digging speed by 30%. Would you trade?"  

Human alchemy surpassed beast methods. While consuming heavenly spirit fruits directly provided pure energy, refining them into pills with supplementary ingredients yielded far greater effects without waste.  

If only Li Pingcan knew pill-making, perhaps combining the Demon-Slaying Mushroom, demon crab meat and Mulberry Spirit Fruit could have already advanced him to Qi Refining's second layer.  

"Deal!" The badger immediately pushed the cold iron over. Good health outweighed a lump of metal.  

Subsequent trades followed similarly.  

With spirit beasts, exchanges mostly involved herbs, materials, even spirit stones.  

The treasure-seeking bees' poisonous "Nine-Tailed Venomous Grass" was traded to the nine-tailed fox for a "Concealment Pearl" that briefly hid one's aura - perfect as a Concealment Formation's core.  

When Tiger Elder's turn came, it said, "Offering one 'Protector Talisman' blocking full-power strikes from mid-Qi Refining cultivators, plus three 'Divine Movement Talismans' for instant hundred-zhang teleportation."  

Shaking several items from its fur, the talismans faintly glowed - clearly extraordinary.  

"Tiger Elder, must you waste time with those useless talismans every exchange?"  

The nine-tailed fox waved its tails complainingly.  

While excellent items, spirit beasts couldn't use talismans - their cultivation paths differed fundamentally from humans'.  

"Just trying my luck," Tiger Elder chuckled sheepishly, preparing to withdraw them, inwardly frustrated. Useless yet too precious to discard.  

Meanwhile, Li Pingcan's eyes gleamed covetously.  

His previous talismans from Left Protector were low-grade. Tiger Elder's were mid-grade!  

Even against mid-Qi Refining cultivators, the Divine Movement Talismans could enable escapes. The Protector Talisman functioned like a one-tier higher [Enhanced Resistance] - invaluable with limited upgrade points.  

These were lifesaving treasures!  

Keeping his expression neutral, Li Pingcan said, "I collect talismans. Name your price, Tiger Elder."  

Tiger Elder brightened, glancing nervously at Nightingale: "Could Venerable set up a Spirit Gathering Formation in my cave?"  

Seeing no reaction, it hastily added: "I know mere talismans are unworthy. I'll add tiger bone wine - wards off evil, warms body, boosts virility... And I'll provide all formation materials."  

"What? Venerable knows Spirit Gathering Formations?"  

The beasts were stunned. Formations were human secrets - most beasts couldn't even read human script, let alone study formations!  

How extraordinary!  

...  

Li Pingcan was secretly delighted. Spirit Gathering Formations were easy for him, and with materials provided, it was essentially "free" talismans!  

As for tiger bone wine - he didn't need virility boosts, just something warming.  

Truly, formation skills were versatile must-haves for travel and prosperity!  

"In life, mastering one good skill is crucial."  

Nightingale's eyes narrowed as if dozing. After three breaths, under Tiger Elder's anxious gaze, he nodded faintly: "Agreed."  

Tiger Elder exhaled in relief, beaming with pride.  

Afterward, Li Pingcan received two more formation commissions, earning many precious herbs from the beasts' collections.  

With these supplements, they could strengthen his cultivation foundation.  

As the exchange concluded, Li Pingcan paid special attention to Omniscient Raven. This talkative, knowledgeable bird had extensive information channels, recognizing every traded treasure's origins.  

On impulse, Li Pingcan took out rubbings of the strange inscribed stone from the underwater ruins: "Obtained this by chance. Can you decipher it?"  

The raven stopped its antics, its black face somehow conveying "seriousness."  

Just as Li Pingcan was losing hope, it said: "May I study this briefly, Venerable?"  

"Certainly." Li Pingcan handed it over - just rubbings of a small portion anyway.  

Even if truly valuable, no secrets would leak.  

And Nightingale was just one "identity" - any leaks wouldn't endanger his true self.  

With the successful exchange concluded, the beasts dispersed satisfied.  

As Li Pingcan prepared to return to Listening Wind Cliff to plan his new "cave abode" life...  

A gentle, ancient yet slightly weary consciousness brushed his heart like a spring breeze - the thousand-year-old mulberry tree that gifted him Mulberry Spirit Fruit.  

"Old Mulberry summons me - for what matter?"  

Older trees were more precious. Li Pingcan genuinely revered this guardian of Spirit Mountain - especially having accepted its gifts.  

The ancient mulberry's roots shifted like small hills, slowly parting to reveal...  

Countless holes of varying sizes covering its main roots beneath the soil!  

The holes' edges were charred black, emitting faint but intensely unsettling deathly energy - as if some evil force was internally devouring the old tree's vitality!  

"This is..."  

Li Pingcan's pupils contracted. "Insect infestation?"  

And not ordinary insects - but demonic or evil ones that even [Insect Tribe Contract] couldn't control.