Volume One, Chapter Sixteen: The Formation

After a brief chat with Mingyue, Mingxi found that the dishes were already served. Looking at the table filled with beautifully presented and aromatic dishes, Mingxi felt her appetite surge; she was truly looking forward to this meal.

The spiritual food on the table did not disappoint her expectations. After picking up a bite and tasting it, she instantly felt a wave of satisfaction on her palate.

Fresh!
Fragrant!
Delightfully lingering in the mouth!

Seeing Mingyue’s equally stunned expression, Mingxi realized these dishes were far more delicious than they had anticipated. The two exchanged a glance and quickly picked up their chopsticks, speeding up their eating.

By the end, every dish they ordered was completely finished. They leaned back in their chairs, holding their stomachs as they began absorbing the spiritual energy from the meal.

For cultivators like Mingxi and Mingyue, this amount of food was not much, but because each dish was infused with abundant spiritual energy, they both felt overly full—essentially a result of an excess of spiritual power building up within their bodies.

Only after fully absorbing the stored energy did they leave the Pavilion of Spiritual Meals.

On the way back to the Gu family estate, Mingyue sighed regretfully, “This spiritual food is so delicious, truly exquisite. It’s a pity our cultivation levels are too low to enjoy it regularly.”

Mingxi smiled with a hint of longing. “It really is good. Once we reach Foundation Establishment stage, we should be able to come and enjoy it more often.”

Mingyue nodded with determination. “Even if it’s just to eat more of this delicious spiritual food, I will work hard to raise my cultivation.”

Mingxi teased, “You’re cultivating just to eat, huh? Well, that’s a pretty good goal for yourself.”

Mingyue chuckled with a slight embarrassment. “Well, cultivation is cultivation. Improving our levels comfortably is a good way to do it, isn’t it?”

Mingxi nodded approvingly. “Exactly. All our efforts to cultivate are ultimately about living happier and smoother lives. There’s nothing wrong with that!”

Mingxi sighed again, realizing how important it was to have a companion who shared her interests on this long path of cultivation.

How wonderful it was that Mingyue would accompany her all the way.

After savoring the delicious meal, Mingyue returned to her studies.

Once Mingxi woke from another session of cultivation and tidied herself up, she headed to the Formation Courtyard to begin her journey in array formations.

Upon entering, Mingxi soon realized she was lost. Then it dawned on her: she could never get lost in the Gu family estate itself, so this had to be a test set by the elders of the Formation Courtyard. They must have placed a maze formation to challenge her—to either escape or break it to pass their trial.

Though Mingxi had never formally studied formations, she understood basic principles, and this maze was a minor obstacle before her.

She didn’t rush to break the array but wandered around, confirming it was an extremely simple maze. The elders probably just grabbed whatever materials were handy to set it up, offering no real difficulty. So Mingxi found its weak points and exited naturally without resorting to any special techniques.

Unbeknownst to her, every move she made was closely watched by the elders gathered around a water mirror, scrutinizing all the disciples who came to the Formation Courtyard.

When Mingxi appeared, the elders whispered excitedly. Their expectations were not because she was the family head’s daughter, but because the elders from the Talismans Pavilion had reported her exceptional talent in talisman crafting. Since formations and talismans often go hand in hand, her remarkable gift in talisman arts suggested she would be equally gifted in formations. Naturally, the elders had high hopes for her.

Back to Mingxi—just after stepping out of the maze, she found herself entering yet another formation. Before she could identify it, the surroundings changed completely.

Before she could think it through, Mingxi fell into a deep sleep. She awoke only to the shrill sound of an alarm clock.

Mingxi reached out from under the covers to silence the irritating noise, muffled her head, then after a moment, got up to wash and dress. Upon leaving her room, she discovered her mother had already prepared breakfast and set it on the table.

Happily sitting down, Mingxi asked her mother, “Mom, what did you make for me this morning?”

Her mother smiled indulgently. “Of course, your favorite—steamed soup dumplings and shrimp congee!”

Mingxi giggled, “Thank you, Mom!”

Her father emerged from the kitchen, pretending to be a bit annoyed. “You only thank your mother? Poor dad got up early to buy fresh shrimp for my precious daughter, worried the shrimp congee wouldn’t meet her taste.”

Mingxi took her father’s arm and coquettishly said, “How could I forget my hardworking dad? Thank you, Dad!”

Hearing his daughter’s sweet tone, the father’s feigned irritation vanished. He smiled, gently ruffling Mingxi’s hair. “Go ahead and eat. Since it’s your first day at work, do you need me to drive you?”

Mingxi shook her head, eating as she replied, “No, thanks, Dad. I can manage on my own.”

On her first day at the company, Mingxi’s colleagues were very kind and her supervisors attentive, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. At day’s end, she left work on time and returned home, greeted by her parents and a delicious meal.

Sitting together, they laughed and ate, with Mingxi sharing stories about her first day at work.

Late into the evening, when her mother urged her to rest, Mingxi paused at her bedroom doorway, then turned back to smile at her parents seated in the living room.

“Mom, Dad, I’m happy to see you again, but I think this will be the last time we meet. Goodbye, Mom and Dad.”

Her voice trembled with tears as she spoke. After her words, her parents’ faces turned blank and expressionless, losing all their previous vitality.