I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

"So it was the formation that troubled you, Master."

Wang Miaoxue nodded in realization, a hint of understanding in her expression.

This is indeed a common weakness for newly established Golden Core families.

The accumulation of knowledge and skills is not something that can be achieved overnight, especially in the realm of cultivation arts, which requires a great deal of time and the accumulation of tradition.

Many newly established Golden Core factions often face similar problems of a shortage of high-end talent.

"There's no need for the truly wise to worry too much." She smiled slightly, her tone casual.

"It's quite a coincidence that my father is one of the purple-robed stewards of the Wind Merchant Guild stationed in Burning Bone City. It shouldn't be difficult to just recommend a few reliable array masters who work within the guild."

She spoke these words casually, yet subtly revealed her background—the daughter of the purple-robed butler.

Within the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce, this is equivalent to the core level.

Although Lin Che had some suspicions in the past, he finally received confirmation from the other party in person.

Based on his previous interactions with the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce, Lin Che had gained some understanding of its internal hierarchy:

From bottom to top, they are divided into four ranks: gray robe (ordinary steward), purple robe (regional steward), red robe (regional chief), and gold robe (headquarters core).

Being able to serve as a purple-robed steward in a major border city like Burning Bone City indicates considerable power and connections.

It seems we've made the right choice in going this way.

With a firm resolve, Lin Che's smile became even more sincere: "Then I will trouble Fellow Daoist Wang to make the connection. Without further ado, I will set off for Burning Bone City now."

"You're too kind, sir. It's just a pity that I have duties to perform and cannot accompany you in person." Wang Miaoxue showed just the right amount of regret.

He then deftly took out a token about half the size of his palm, light blue in color, with a graceful "Wind" character embossed on the front and flowing cloud patterns on the back, and handed it over with both hands.

"I will immediately inform my father of the situation. Once you arrive at the Fengxing Merchant Guild in Burning Bone City, you only need to show this token, and someone will receive you and arrange for you to meet a suitable array master."

"Thank you." Lin Che accepted the token. It was warm to the touch and had a subtle breeze flowing through it, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary item.

He stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "In that case, I, Lin, will not trouble Fellow Daoist Wang any further with my official duties."

Wang Miaoxue also quickly got up and personally escorted Lin Che to the entrance of the Spirit Vein Management Office.

After bidding farewell to Wang Miaoxue, Lin Che did not linger any longer.

Since he was traveling alone, there was no need for him to take a slow-moving, fixed-speed airship.

With a slight thought, the Azure Star Sword hovered in front of him.

He touched the blade of the sword.

It's time to replace this old companion that's been with him for over a decade!

Lin Che took a step forward, his sword light slightly increased, and then transformed into a pale blue streak, soaring into the sky and shooting straight towards the direction of Burning Bone Pass.

The fierce high-altitude winds were easily deflected by the protective spiritual light, and the mountains, rivers, and cities below retreated rapidly.

As he rode his sword, Lin Che's thoughts never ceased.

Given her father's position as a purple-robed steward and his connections, Wang Miaoxue's future would obviously be brighter and smoother if she stayed within the Chamber of Commerce system.

Why did you choose to come to such a "bitter and cold" place as Chuyang City to serve as a steward of a spiritual vein management office?

Although it is a lucrative position, it seems incomparable to positions in the core areas of the chamber of commerce in terms of resources and future career advancement.

Was it her personal will, or... what unknown plans and schemes did the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce have in Chuyang City or the surrounding area?

Lin Che sighed softly, a hint of helplessness flashing across his brows.

How come this tiny place, Chuyang City, is teeming with all sorts of strange and monstrous things?

……

Burning Bone Pass is not a single pass, but a massive defensive system built on the natural barrier of "Dragon-Slaying Cliff," consisting of five main fortresses and countless auxiliary fortresses and watchtowers.

The five main passes, from west to east, are named in order as follows: Zhenyue, Suolong, Fengu, Zhanyao, and Tingfeng.

They are not isolated, but connected by suspended walkways carved into sheer cliffs.

They are closely connected to a giant suspension bridge spanning a deep ravine, cast from the finest cold iron, and as thick as a bowl, forming a steel chain that integrates offense and defense, and serves as a mutually reinforcing defensive link.

The walls were mostly built of "black basalt" quarried from the nearby mountains, making them incredibly thick and heavy.

On the surface of the wall, defensive runes and spirit-guiding patterns, reinforced and engraved by generations of array masters, are deeply embedded.

It shimmered with a dark, blood-like sheen in the sunlight.

It blends seamlessly with the bluish-black color of the rock itself, exuding a sense of vicissitude and desolation after countless baptisms of blood and fire.

At this moment, Lin Che landed on his sword at Tingfeng Pass, which is located on the far east side and is also the smallest in scale.

This pass gets its name from the fact that it faces the direction from which the winds blow from the outer edge of the Fulong Mountains.

The pressure from the monsters they face is the lightest among the five passes, and they mainly serve as early warning and flank cover.

Even so, the platform at the entrance to Tingfeng Pass remains heavily guarded.

Several squads of guards, clad in standard spirit armor and exuding a powerful aura, patrolled back and forth, their eyes sharp as eagles.

All those entering the pass must undergo a massive array scan covering the entire pass in a designated area.

This invisible yet real discerning light is the true core of the Burning Bone Pass defense line.

It can not only verify the identity and cultivation level of cultivators, but also has a deeper function: to detect and identify any transformed great demons that attempt to disguise themselves and infiltrate!

As is widely known, once a demon beast advances to the fourth rank, it can shed its beast form and transform into a human.

Moreover, those with exceptional talent or who cultivate special supernatural abilities are so skilled at concealing their aura that even human cultivators of the same level would find it difficult to detect.

Relying solely on manual investigation will leave too many loopholes.

Therefore, the complex array covering the entire Burning Bone Pass system is the real reliance.

This formation is said to be of a fourth rank, and when fully activated, it is powerful enough to withstand the attacks of a Nascent Soul stage demon king.

What's even more astonishing is that the magic arrays of the five main passes are not independent, but are connected as one through underground spiritual veins and special construction techniques.

In the event of an insurmountable crisis, the five formations combined can even temporarily withstand the earth-shattering power of a Nascent Soul stage demon lord!

Lin Che calmly stepped into the testing area, suppressing his breathing.

The array patterns beneath his feet glowed faintly, and a gentle yet pervasive spiritual energy wave swept over his entire body, resonating with his identity token obtained in Chuyang City and his own spiritual power imprint.

A moment later, the light turned into a steady pale green – the test was passed.

He then slowly stepped forward and officially entered Tingfeng Pass.

In his ears were the unique sounds of the pass, a mixture of the clanging of metal, the booming of arrays, and the shouts of cultivators.

My gaze slowly swept over the mottled marks and new repairs on the inside of the gate wall.

A time involuntarily surfaced in Lin Che's mind.

The monsters in the Fulong Mountains seem to follow some kind of pattern.

According to ancient records and nearly a thousand years of observation, roughly every hundred years, sufficient power accumulates deep within the mountains to unleash a large-scale beast tide that impacts the human territory.

It seems that the last recorded and widespread beast tide is not too far away.

If the Lin family wants to truly establish an unshakable foundation in Chuyang City and develop and grow steadily, then...

Then the beast tide that is almost foreseeable in the future, like a landslide and a tsunami, is the truly unavoidable and most severe ultimate test!