To be honest, this was Xiao Lin's first time operating an array formation on himself.

But if you really think about it, there's nothing particularly special about it. It's quite similar to using a magical artifact—infuse it with spiritual energy, and then you can establish a mysterious connection.

However, when the array was fully activated and began channeling spiritual energy into the mark, the sensation changed—Xiao Lin no longer felt that mysterious connection. Instead, he felt... the mark heating up.

Could it be...

Xiao Lin was delighted and immediately raised his right hand to the sky. If it weren't for Ning Yunmiao being there, he might have shouted "Special Beam Cannon"—if Ning Yunmiao knew this move, his identity would be exposed.

"Oh oh oh, it's coming, it's coming!"

Ning Yunmiao, with a mouthful of crane meat yet to be swallowed, widened her eyes in joy.

[Finally, my taste buds are saved!]

And then...

Nothing happened.

"?" *3

"What's going on? I definitely felt a reaction..."

Xiao Lin brought his right hand in front of his eyes, muttering in confusion.

[Senior Brother, if there's a delay in the mark, you might get hit in the head by its attack!]

"!"

Hearing Ning Yunmiao's inner voice, Xiao Lin became alert and quickly adjusted his wrist, aiming his palm at the sky.

"Where did it go wrong? Let me see." Yu Qiaoxi stepped forward a few steps, ready to strip Xiao Lin's clothes without a second thought.

"Hey, hey, hey, Fifth Junior Sister, calm down, Fourth Junior Sister is still here!" Xiao Lin quickly raised his hand to stop her.

"Tsk, elbow, come inside with me!"

Eager to figure out the cause, Yu Qiaoxi didn't insist but instead pulled Xiao Lin towards his room.

Oh no, my taste buds are in danger again...

Leaving Ning Yunmiao sadly eating the roasted Rainbow Immortal Crane.

...

...

Green Lotus Peak, back mountain.

Lu Xingqiu was thrown from the second floor of the bamboo house with a "thud" onto the ground—normally, as a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Realm, falling from such a height posed no danger at all. Even without any special techniques, a cultivator's physique could easily land safely. But... if the Dantian and Qi Palace, along with all the meridians and acupoints, were sealed, one would end up like Lu Xingqiu.

"Master is really ruthless..."

Rubbing his sore backside, Lu Xingqiu couldn't help but sigh.

Yes, he had just been sealed by Leng Youxue, his Dantian and Qi Palace, along with all his meridians and acupoints, and then thrown from the second floor.

As for the reason...

"You said you sensed a terrifying aura over there? Hmm... I'll go check."

"Who are you trying to fool? It's calm and peaceful, I can't sense any aura at all. Lu Xingqiu, are you messing with me? Off you go!"

Even though he was prepared, Lu Xingqiu was still caught off guard when he was thrown down after using "I sensed a terrifying aura over there" as an excuse to get Leng Youxue to pay more attention to the place where the fiend beast was sealed.

Mainly because it happened so fast...

"But seeing Master like that, she should be aware of the seal's existence... Indeed, with Master's strength, how could she not sense it? In hindsight, I was overthinking..."

Lu Xingqiu dusted himself off, pondered for a moment, and then thought to himself, "Still, I should find an opportunity to inform Senior Brother and the others."

Having made up his mind, Lu Xingqiu couldn't help but glance back at the bamboo house.

On Green Lotus Peak, Master and Senior Brother have changed the least. Master especially hasn't changed much—still loves reading novels, still doesn't like going out, still doesn't like seeing people... Oh, no, Master does see us, especially Senior Brother...

Come to think of it, Master favored Senior Brother in the past life too. Is it because Senior Brother was Master's first disciple?

...

...

"How did it go?"

Holding Xiaobai, Ning Yunmiao, who had been waiting on the stone bench for a while, quickly put down Xiaobai and got up to greet them when she saw Yu Qiaoxi and Xiao Lin coming out of the room.

"The problem now is..." Xiao Lin glanced at Yu Qiaoxi, who was writing and drawing in a small notebook with a special brush, "we don't know what the problem is."

[Senior Brother, what are you doing here?]

Ning Yunmiao pouted.

But we really don't know where the problem lies...

Xiao Lin thought to himself, shaking his head lightly, "When I activated the array, I definitely felt a reaction from the mark, which means Fifth Junior Sister's idea isn't wrong."

"Yes, if that's the case, then indeed..." Ning Yunmiao nodded, frowning, "So where did it go wrong?"

"I told you, the problem is we don't know where the problem is." Xiao Lin shrugged.

"Uh..."

Ning Yunmiao immediately showed a sad expression.

[Oh no, my taste buds...]

"It shouldn't be like this..."

Yu Qiaoxi finally stopped writing and looked at the small notebook in confusion, "My theory was clearly correct, and there was an effect. We successfully channeled spiritual energy into the mark, so why is there no reaction?"

"I don't know..." Xiao Lin sighed deeply, feeling at a loss.

The hope that had just appeared was dashed again... Although I'm not particularly anxious, Fourth Junior Sister is...

While pondering, Xiao Lin suddenly noticed that Ning Yunmiao seemed to have thought of something. She raised a slender finger and said, "Do you think it's possible that the mark received the spiritual energy, but it's not the energy it needs? Maybe it requires a different kind of energy, like... like... um..."

"Five-Element Spiritual Qi?" Yu Qiaoxi looked up, her eyes sparkling.

Cultivators, through various unique spiritual energy circulation methods, can use spiritual energy to perform Five-Element spells. The spiritual energy that supports these spells is called Five-Element Spiritual Qi—after the cultivator's intervention, it is no longer simple, completely transforming into the form of the Five Elements.

[That's right, magic marks also require corresponding elemental force to activate. How did I forget this?]

"If it's Five-Element Spiritual Qi, I think we should try thunder first." Xiao Lin nodded.

"Makes sense." Yu Qiaoxi nodded, starting to write and draw in her small notebook again.

"Huh? So my guess was correct?" Ning Yunmiao was still somewhat out of the loop, "Also, I understand trying thunder first, but is thunder part of the Five Elements?"

"Thunder belongs to wood, so it's naturally part of the Five Elements. Otherwise, how does Fourth Junior Sister think the Thunder Sect's spells are formed?" Xiao Lin shook his head, "Fourth Junior Sister, you should know these basics."

"Oh, I see, hehe..." Ning Yunmiao scratched her head, clearly a bit embarrassed.

"But Fourth Junior Sister, your guess was very insightful. It's impressive to think of that." Xiao Lin sincerely praised.

"Hehe, it's not that impressive..." Ning Yunmiao's face lit up, her big eyes curving into crescents.

"Yes, yes, that's it."

Yu Qiaoxi stopped her actions, looking excitedly at Xiao Lin, "But to convert spiritual energy into Five-Element Spiritual Qi, we'll need to add some things. Senior Brother, I'll need some time."

"No problem, no rush."

"...Actually, I'm a bit anxious."

"Hmm? Fourth Senior Sister, why are you anxious?"

"Uh... well... I'm anxious for Senior Brother."