The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

The night breeze wafted through the corridor and around the pillars, and raindrops lingered on the banana leaves in the courtyard, making a soft pattering sound as they slid down.

Xu Changqing suppressed the spiritual pressure that had unconsciously emanated from his body, brushed away the moisture that clung to the hem of his robe, and walked lightly along the corridor into the depths of the inner courtyard.

Passing through the moon gate, a faint light shone through the paper window of the main bedroom.

A warm fragrance filled the room, and behind the screen, on the canopy bed, the brocade quilt was slightly raised.

Perhaps his movements brought a touch of coolness from the night breeze, or perhaps the person on the bed was a very light sleeper, for a very soft moan came from under the brocade quilt.

"My husband...?"

Jiang Rou called out in a daze, her voice carrying a hint of languor from just waking up and lingering fear.

For the past two weeks, there has been a lot of tension outside. Although Jiang Rou is a mortal woman who has not yet entered the path of cultivation, she is very perceptive.

How could they not know the dangers Xu Changqing had been facing these past few days, leaving early and returning late?

In addition, pregnancy already causes a lot of worry and anxiety, and I couldn't sleep well every night.

Xu Changqing closed the wooden door, completely shutting out the spring chill outside, and quietly walked around the screen.

Under the dim candlelight, Jiang Rou had already propped herself up and sat up, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders like a waterfall.

A blush graced her clean and gentle face.

Before Jiang Rou could even put on her shoes, she hurriedly moved to the edge of the bed, her delicate hands reaching out from under the brocade quilt to tightly embrace Xu Changqing.

In those clear eyes, the mist transformed into a reassuring, gentle light.

"You're back..."

Xu Changqing sat down on the edge of the couch and gently enveloped her trembling hands in his broad palms.

Despite the warmth of the room, my fingertips still felt a little cool.

"I'm back. Did I startle you?"

Xu Changqing's voice is mellow and gentle.

Jiang Rou shook her head and pressed her cheek against Xu Changqing's palm.

"I know you're doing something extremely dangerous, and I can't help you. I can only wait at home... As long as you return safely, I'll be happy even if it keeps me up day and night."

She tilted her head slightly, her gaze carefully tracing Xu Changqing's face. Seeing that although he looked tired, there was not a single scratch on his face, her heart, which had been hanging in her throat, finally settled back into her stomach.

Xu Changqing lowered his eyes, looking at his wife's delicate features, which appeared even more fragile due to pregnancy, and gently stroked her still-not-so-obvious belly with his other hand.

The wisp of green wood spiritual energy within her dantian transformed into a gentle stream, flowing slowly into her body through her palm, soothing her slightly disordered qi and blood caused by excessive thinking.

"Don't worry, everything is taken care of."

Xu Changqing gently stroked her silky hair with his fingertips, his gaze passing over the half-open curtain and landing on the burning candle wick, his tone revealing a calm and composed demeanor as if everything had been settled.

Jiang Rou felt the warm sensation coming from her lower abdomen, and the tension in her heart that had been building up for days finally relaxed completely.

"I trust my husband's actions."

She responded softly, her eyes slightly closed, and her breathing became long and even.

Xu Changqing sat quietly for a while, and only after she fell asleep did he gently withdraw his hand and tuck her in with the quilt.

He stood up, brushed away the barely perceptible wrinkles on his sleeves, extinguished the half-burnt candle wick on the table, and quietly left the main room.

……

At the beginning of the Si hour (9-11 AM), the clouds dispersed and the fog dissipated.

The ferry crossing on Cangwu Island is shrouded in mist.

Xu Dayou, along with Xu Daniu and several other strong clansmen, had already dug up several sections of the old formation and cleared out flat rammed earth.

Da Niu, shirtless and steaming with heat, had his pickaxe planted in the mud, peering intently at the surface of the swamp.

"They're here!"

A spirit boat bearing the words "Hundred Treasures" broke through the misty water and smoothly docked at the bluestone pier.

Xu Changqing stepped out from behind the crowd and stood at the head of the pier.

A thin, elderly man dressed in a Bagua Taoist robe slowly stepped off the spirit boat.

The old man held a dragon-seeking ruler made of sandalwood, and his spiritual pressure was restrained, revealing him to be a formation master at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Could it be Chief Xu of the Cangwu Island?"

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Xu Changqing.

"It is indeed I. Baibaoge has an excellent reputation, so I am grateful for your personal trip."

Xu Changqing bowed respectfully, his demeanor neither humble nor arrogant.

The old man stroked his beard and chuckled, not presumptuously returning a half-bow: "My surname is Lu. Since Clan Chief Xu purchased the 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Cloud and Smoke Formation' from our pavilion, I will do my best. However, this formation is domineering, so please allow me to first survey the terrain."

"Master Lu, please."

The land formation master, holding a dragon-seeking ruler, walked slowly around the territory of Cangwu Island.

A single turn takes half an hour.

"Clan Chief Xu, the terrain is clear. This formation is divided into eight gates: Rest, Life, Injury, Block, View, Death, Shock, and Open. I intend to place the 'Death Gate' on the east side facing the water, and leave the 'Life Gate' in the ancestral hall in the inner courtyard. What do you think?"

Xu Changqing knew nothing about formations, and simply nodded, saying, "It's all up to you, Master."

Without another word, Lu Zhenshi swept his sleeves, and eight dark gold array flags soared into the sky, hovering in mid-air.

His hands formed mudras like butterflies flitting among flowers, and he chanted mantras, with spiritual power surging forth like a tide.

"Thunder roars, water flows, the eight gates lock the sky, depart!"

With a loud shout, the eight battle flags transformed into eight golden beams of light, striking the eight directions of Cangwu Island with overwhelming force.

"Boom—"

The entire Cangwu Island trembled.

Xu Dayou and the others felt the soil beneath their feet churn, and a chilling surge of spiritual energy erupted from the ground.

Immediately afterwards, thick white clouds of smoke rose without warning around the once clear island, completely obscuring the surrounding reed beds and waters.

Lu Zhenshi's forehead was covered in sweat. He flipped his hand and took out a formation plate covered with intricate formation patterns, then threw it at Xu Changqing.

"Clan Chief Xu, infuse your essence blood to take control of the central nervous system!"

Xu Changqing was prepared and forced out a drop of crimson blood essence, flicking it into the array plate.

The spiritual power of the Azure Wood within his body surged in, connecting with the energy of the island-protecting array, and the entire array's full form was instantly reflected in his mind.

With a mere thought, he could transform the swirling clouds and smoke around him into sharp blades to annihilate cultivators, and he could also reverse their direction at will, plunging people into a state of illusion from which they would die without knowing which way was east or west.

Lu Zhenshi wiped away his sweat, exhaled a long breath, and said with a smug look, "The formation is complete. If ordinary bandits and river pirates were to force their way in, they would be doomed."

"Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Xu Changqing took out a small bag containing fifty spirit stones from his sleeve.

"A small amount for your travel expenses, please have some tea with the master."

Lu Zhenshi squeezed the money pouch, his smile growing even more genuine, and cupped his hands, saying, "Clan Chief Xu, you're too kind. I'll take my leave now."

After seeing off Master Lu, Xu Dayou came closer and looked at the billowing clouds and smoke, marveling at them.

Xu Changqing handed the array plate to Xu Dayou.

"Uncle Dayou, please keep the array plate safe."

Before Xu Dayou could speak, Xu Changqing flicked his long sleeves again.

"Bang!"

A deep, muffled thud resounded, and the rammed earth beneath their feet trembled violently.

A burly warrior clad in dark iron armor crashed to the ground out of thin air.

"What... what is this?"

"This creature is fearless of death and tireless, and its combat power is comparable to that of a Qi Refining Level 4 cultivator."

Xu Changqing spoke calmly, then took out another pitch-black Soul Control Token and handed it over.

"After I go to Black Wind Pass, no matter what happens on the island, the best course of action is to defend it to the death. Do not be reluctant to part with the spirit stones."