Chapter 23: Closed Door, Preparing for Battle

The old wooden door of the Wang Family Old Residence is now shut tightly.

It seems to block out the outside noise and ill intentions.

The atmosphere in the courtyard is very oppressive.

Wan Hong's blockade is like a huge net, covering Luo Bay County and tightening around the Wang Family's throat.

Supplies can't be brought in, and no one outside can help.

Wang Shan stands in the courtyard, his aged face showing no panic, only a very calm demeanor.

He knows in his heart that rushing out now would be a death sentence.

That Wan Hong is at the ninth‑level pinnacle of Body Refining, ruthless in his actions and hard to deal with.

Their only reliance now is the 【Misty Spirit Gathering Array】, which he has modified many times and greatly strengthened.

Guarding with the Array and waiting for a chance is the only way.

"Bring all usable Spirit Stones!" Wang Shan's voice was not loud, but carried an undeniable authority.

He himself walked to the center of the Array.

The Spirit Stones that had been placed there were nearly exhausted, and the light dimmed.

The sons, not daring to delay, brought the Spirit Stones they had previously obtained from Heipao Ren, as well as the remaining Lower Grade Spirit Stones from home.

Even the few precious Middle‑Grade Spirit Stones were carefully handed over.

Wang Shan didn't think much, placing those Spirit Stones one by one into the Array Eye according to their positions.

After the last Middle‑Grade Spirit Stone was set, the entire 【Misty Spirit Gathering Array】 buzzed once.

The previously somewhat vague light shield suddenly thickened severalfold.

The radiance flowed brighter, sealing the entire Wang Family Old Residence securely.

The Spiritual Power in the air also gathered into the courtyard more quickly, sustaining the Array.

The people within the Array also felt a slight boost in spirit.

Light alone with the Array is not enough.

"Second son, third son, take people to reinforce the courtyard wall!"

"Move the hardwood and stones from the storehouse out and pile them on the wall top!"

"Also, dig some pits right under the doorway and wall corners; having extra preparations can't hurt!"

Wang Shan arranged everything step by step.

He knows that cultivators are very powerful.

But sometimes, these seemingly useless mortal city‑defense methods might prove helpful at a critical moment.

The sons, hearing this, went to work.

The whole Wang Family residence sprang into action, the clanging of moving things ringing continuously.

The noise drove away some stagnant energy, yet also made the impending battle feel heavier.

After arranging the outer defenses, Wang Shan locked himself inside the house.

What he needs to do is more than just this.

When a thought sparked, his consciousness entered the system interface in his mind.

After the system upgrade, the 【Spirit Plant Mall】 gained 【Alchemical Basics】 and 【Talisman Craft Basics】.

He has always felt this is the path to develop in the future.

He didn't expect to need it so soon.

Though it's only the most basic spell, it's still stronger than having none.

Now surrounded by Wan Hong, the sources of pills and Talismans have been cut off.

If he can refine some himself, even at a low level, they could serve in emergencies.

He steadied his mind and first opened 【Alchemical Basics】.

Some incomprehensible characters and diagrams entered his mind.

Fortunately, he has a modern mind, strong comprehension, and with the system's help, he could barely make sense of them.

The most basic pill is the 【Return Spring Pill】, which can restore Qi and blood and heal minor injuries.

Alchemy mainly uses 【Rejuvenation Grass】, plus a few common low‑grade ingredients.

Wang Shan's thought sparked again, entering the system space.

The previously ripened leftovers, as well as the newly matured 【Rejuvenation Grass】 from the past few days, were still plentiful.

As for other ingredients, the System Mall has them, and they're not expensive.

He also spent some 【Spirit Plant Points】 to exchange for a basic 【Black Iron Alchemy Furnace】 and some tools for handling ingredients.

Everything was ready.

Wang Shan took a deep breath, followed the steps in his mind, and began attempting to process the ingredients.

Purify, separate, combine together…

In the first trial, his movements were not very proficient.

The Spiritual Power control was poor; the fire flared up then dwindled.

"Puff!"

A soft sound, and a wisp of black smoke rose from the furnace, carrying an unpleasant burnt odor.

It failed.

Wang Shan frowned but did not lose heart.

He carefully considered each step just now, searching for the cause of failure.

Was the timing off? Or was the moment of adding Spiritual Power incorrect?

He cleaned the alchemy furnace, put in the herbs again, and began the second attempt.

"Bang!"

This time was worse; the furnace shook, the lid almost flew off, and inside only a puddle of blackish dregs remained.

Third time… fourth time…

After several consecutive failures, sweat beaded on Wang Shan's forehead.

Refining pills was far harder than he had imagined.

It wasn't just following steps; he also had to gauge Spiritual Power, timing, and heat with extreme precision.

He didn't believe in superstition, calmed his mind, and thought of nothing else, focusing all his thoughts on alchemy.

He began, regardless of how many Spirit Plant Points he spent, to swap herbs and try again and again.

Failure, analyze the cause, try again.

Modern analytical ability, plus occasional vague hints from the system (maybe his proficiency rose?), gradually let him discover some methods.

His control over Spiritual Power became increasingly precise.

His sense of timing also slowly improved.

After an unknown amount of time, another batch of herbs slowly turned and merged in the furnace, emitting a faint medicinal fragrance.

At this moment Wang Shan was very focused.

He carefully added the last bit of Spiritual Power.

"Condense!"

He let out a low shout, and the furnace emitted a gentle humming.

Done?

Wang Shan nervously opened the furnace lid.

He saw three thumb‑sized pills lying calmly at the bottom of the furnace.

Their color was a bit dark, and the surface was not smooth.

Though they looked unsightly and couldn't compare to the cheapest ones sold outside.

Yet the pure Rejuvenation Grass medicinal power was genuine.

Return Spring Pill, Lower Grade.

An indescribable joy surged in Wang Shan's heart.

He hadn't just refined a few pills.

This was more like a progress from nothing to something.

It showed that the Wang Family now possessed the rudimentary "self‑sustaining" ability.

In terms of pills, the Wang Family no longer had to be passively beaten or rely entirely on the system.

Wang Shan rested briefly, then went to read Intro to Talisman Crafting.

Talisman crafting is somewhat like alchemy; it also requires precise control of Spiritual Power and deep understanding of talisman scripts.

He chose the most basic First Order Defensive Talisman – the Vajra Talisman – to draw.

The required materials are Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink.

These can be exchanged for Spirit Plant Points in the Mall.

In his first trial, he held a talisman brush, soaked it with Talisman Ink, held his breath, and concentrated on the Talisman Paper.

The structure of the script wasn't difficult.

But when he started, he had to transmit Spiritual Power evenly to the tip of the brush, following the script.

He had only drawn halfway when the Spiritual Power output trembled slightly.

"Sizzle!"

The Talisman Paper ignited by itself, turning to ash.

Failure.

Again!

The second time, the script was barely completed.

Yet in the final step "dotting the eyes", when he injected Spiritual Power to activate the talisman, he used too much power.

"Snap!"

The talisman flashed a burst of Spiritual Light and shattered outright.

Another failure.

Wang Shan felt that talisman crafting seemed even more mentally draining than alchemy.

Yet he didn't stop, like a student who never knows fatigue, trying again and again.

Failure, failure, still failure…

Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink were used up quickly, and Spirit Plant Points kept dwindling.

Yet each failure deepened his understanding of the scripts and his control of Spiritual Power a little more.

Finally, on a pale‑yellow Talisman Paper, he finished the last stroke, and Spiritual Power flowed steadily in.

Buzz!

On the paper, a simple script drawn in vermilion lines glowed with a faint yellow light.

A solid, heavy feeling radiated outward.

Vajra Talisman, Lower Grade.

Success!

Although it's only the lowest‑grade talisman, after activation it can probably block a strike from a low‑level Body Refining cultivator.

But its significance is as important as refining the 【Return Spring Pill】!

In the time that followed, Wang Shan seemed possessed.

He kept switching back and forth between refining pills and crafting talismans.

The number of failures was still many.

But relying on sheer stubbornness, and the constantly spent Spirit Plant Points and spirit medicines, he stubbornly refined another dozen‑plus Return Spring Pills and seven or eight Vajra Talismans.

The quality was only 【Lower Grade】, but at least there was some quantity.

He stepped out of the room and handed these freshly made pills and 【Talisman】s to everyone.

"This is a 【Return Spring Pill】; keep it on you, and if you get injured, it can provide emergency aid."

"This is a Vajra Talisman; once activated it can block an attack. Zhize, you and the second and third brothers, with higher cultivation, take them for self‑defense."

Wang Zhize and the others took these items emitting faint 【Spiritual Light】 and medicinal fragrance, their faces both shocked and delighted.

Could their father really also refine pills and craft talismans?

Although these things look low in grade, in the current total lockdown they are truly a lifeline!

This greatly boosted everyone's confidence.

The father always has trump cards they couldn't anticipate!

After distributing the pills and 【Talisman】s, Wang Shan returned to his room.

The fatigue on his face grew heavier, yet his eyes shone especially bright.

Producing his own pills and 【Talisman】s, after all, is only a small means that cannot resolve the current deadlock.

The real threat is Wan Hong, who has reached the ninth‑layer pinnacle of 【Body Refining】!

He must find an even more powerful trump card.

Wang Shan once again projected his consciousness into the system 【Mall】.

【Thunder Talisman】 is powerful, but its price is steep—exactly 2,500 【Spirit Plant Points】.

Moreover, using it against Wan Hong at the ninth‑layer pinnacle, the opponent will surely have defenses; its effectiveness is uncertain and not cost‑effective.

He needs a steadier method that can truly decide victory.

His gaze swept quickly over the myriad goods.

Pills? 【Talisman】s? 【Magic Artifact】s? cultivation techniques?

Finally, his sight settled on the category related to 【Array】.

Suddenly, the name of an item caught his attention.

【Array Core Enhancement Module (single‑use consumable)】: can be added to an existing Array Core, briefly and dramatically boosting the Array's power, defense, and spirit‑gathering effect. The exact increase depends on the original Array's level and the user's control ability. Note: the module breaks after use.

Price: 5,000 【Spirit Plant Points】!

Sss!

Wang Shan inhaled a breath of cold air.

Five thousand Spirit Plant Points! That's almost several times all the Spirit Plant Points he currently has!

But he immediately realized that this thing might be the key to breaking the stalemate!

【Misty Spirit Gathering Array】 is his greatest reliance right now.

If he could briefly amplify the Array's power, perhaps he could withstand Wan Hong's attacks and even… trap him?

This is definitely an investment worth the risk!

He glanced again quickly, and his gaze was drawn to a certain pill.

【Obstacle-Breaking Pill】: contains pure energy that can aid late‑stage 【Body Refining】 cultivators (seventh to ninth layers) in striking the realm's bottleneck, with a certain chance to increase breakthrough success.

Price: 3,500 【Spirit Plant Points】!

This price isn't cheap either.

Wang Shan is currently at the early stage of the seventh layer of 【Body Refining】, still some way from the mid‑stage of the seventh layer, let alone striking the eighth‑layer bottleneck.

But this pill gave him another possibility.

If…

If he could breakthrough again before Wan Hong's full‑scale attack, reaching the eighth layer of 【Body Refining】, or even higher?

Combined with the enhanced Array and an unexpected trump card, perhaps he would truly have the power to fight!

Staring at these two high‑priced yet extremely tempting key items, Wang Shan felt a pressure he had never known before.

【Spirit Plant Points】!

He is now severely lacking 【Spirit Plant Points】!

Whether it's the Array‑enhancing module or the realm‑striking pill, a huge amount of 【Spirit Plant Points】 is required for exchange!

Time is tight; Wan Hong could launch a total assault at any moment, leaving him no time to slowly accumulate.

It must be done quickly!

He must obtain enough 【Spirit Plant Points】 in the shortest possible time!

Wang Shan's gaze involuntarily drifted to the system space, to the spirit field that could continuously spawn Spirit Plants over ten mu!

It seems the new round of frantic "farming" scheme is about to commence!

This time, it is to survive, for the fate of the entire clan!