**Chapter 82: The Five Elements Formation **  

That one time, he had gone to replenish the spirit stones for the five formations at his spirit fields. 

Apart from that, He Song had stayed within the market, never stepping outside. 

He had devoted himself entirely to studying the Five Elements Formation. 

Fortunately, two years had passed in the blink of an eye, and He Song had finally mastered the Five Elements Formation, allowing him to set it up. 

In the quiet room, He Song stored the formation bases in his storage bag, a smile spreading across his face. 

Two years had passed. 

Finally! 

He had completed the final formation base for the Five Elements Formation. 

Now, whenever He Song wished, he could set up an offensive and defensive Five Elements Formation anywhere. 

If a cultivator unfamiliar with formations entered the array, they would face relentless attacks from the formation. 

Although the attacks were only at the mid-stage Qi Refining level, the Five Elements Formation, with sufficient spiritual energy, could overwhelm even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator with its endless assaults over time. 

If combined with the Misty Traversal Formation's ability to confuse the mind, even attempting to escape would be futile, as the cultivator would be unable to discern direction and would eventually be trapped and defeated. 

Even if someone attacked the formation from the outside, the Five Elements Formation's defensive capabilities would repel most Qi Refining cultivators, buying He Song valuable time to escape. 

"Good, good, good. The final piece of the three beginner formations is complete. Now, it's time to start cultivating the spirit fields." 

Standing up from his meditation mat, He Song's face showed a hint of joy. 

Over the past two years, He Song hadn't just mastered the Five Elements Formation. 

His cultivation had also progressed significantly from the fifth layer of Qi Refining. 

By his estimation, he would break through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining within a year. 

By then, He Song's focus would shift to improving his cultivation and combat strength. 

Once he started selling spirit rice and his wealth began to grow, he would invest in life-saving techniques, various talismans, and mid-grade magical tools—he wanted it all! 

But before that, after some thought, He Song decided to first purchase the beginner's guide to talisman-making and master it as quickly as possible to establish his public identity. 

Two years had passed, and He Song had received his annual stipend twice. 

Now, his savings had reached over two hundred spirit stones. 

With over two hundred spirit stones, he should have enough to make some purchases. 

With this in mind, He Song left his home and headed straight for the Technique Pavilion. 

However, when he arrived at the Technique Pavilion with his spirit stones, ready to buy the beginner's guide to talisman-making, he noticed that the person assisting him wasn't Ping'er but another receptionist. 

This puzzled him slightly, but he didn't inquire further. After asking a few questions, he learned that Ping'er was no longer at the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market and had apparently gone to an Immortal City. 

Upon hearing this, He Song shook his head. 

Over the past two years, he hadn't visited the Technique Pavilion, received any message-carrying paper cranes from Ping'er, or run into her. 

He had no idea when she had left. 

But he didn't dwell on it. People strive for higher goals, just as water flows to lower ground. If fate allowed, they would meet again. 

After spending a hundred spirit stones, He Song's mind was filled with all the information from the beginner's guide to talisman-making. 

With the guide in hand, He Song then made his way to the trading area outside the Technique Pavilion. 

In the trading area, He Song's gaze swept across the stalls until it landed on one selling talismans. 

This stall had everything: talismans, talisman paper, talisman ink, and talisman brushes. 

He Song bought a talisman brush, a stack of talisman paper, and a small bottle of talisman ink, spending a total of seventy spirit stones. 

A low-grade Shadow Wolf Hair Talisman Brush cost fifty spirit stones. 

Low-grade talisman paper was ten spirit stones per stack, with ten sheets per stack. 

Low-grade talisman ink was ten spirit stones for a small bottle, enough for drawing ten low-grade talismans. 

In total, seventy spirit stones. 

After purchasing these items, He Song, with a pained expression, quickly left the trading area. 

There was no helping it. 

These items were simply too expensive. 

He had saved for two years to accumulate two hundred spirit stones, only to spend one hundred and seventy in such a short time. 

This massive expenditure made He Song immensely grateful that he had chosen formation techniques first, rather than talisman-making. 

With the high costs of talisman-making and his previous annual stipend, he likely wouldn't have been able to sustain it. 

Thankfully, he had made the right choice. 

He had chosen formation techniques. 

Otherwise, where would he be now? Still filling the bottomless pit of talisman-making expenses, perhaps? 

After purchasing the beginner's guide to talisman-making and the necessary materials, He Song returned home. 

During the two years he had spent studying the Five Elements Formation, He Song hadn't been idle. He had been preparing for his spirit fields. 

For example, he had obtained some spirit rice seeds through his position. 

Although not many, they should be enough to plant ten acres of spirit fields. 

Spirit rice seeds were something every spirit farmer knew about. Once you obtained them, you could save seeds from your harvest for future planting. 

In the cultivation world, there was no such thing as seed monopolies. 

If spirit rice seeds could only be planted once and required repurchasing, the next day an Nascent Soul elder would likely come knocking. 

With the spirit rice seeds ready, the Five Elements Formation mastered, and the beginner's guide to talisman-making and related tools purchased, He Song felt fully prepared. 

After setting up a small mechanism in his quiet room to prevent anyone from entering while he was away, He Song activated the Earth Escape Technique and silently left the market. 

Several hours later, He Song's head emerged from the ground in a corner of the valley. 

After scanning the area and confirming no one had been there, and using his Spirit Eye Technique to ensure no one was present, He Song finally relaxed. 

Dispelling the Earth Escape Technique, He Song's figure appeared in the valley. 

Now, the valley was lush and green, with a clear stream flowing nearby—a picturesque scene of mountains and water. 

He Song's gaze swept over his ten acres of spirit fields, a look of satisfaction on his face. 

However, his hands didn't stop moving. 

As spirit stones transformed into streams of light and flew into the formations, the five formations that had been operating continuously were replenished and could now run for another year. 

After replenishing the formations, He Song walked forward and grabbed a handful of soil within the range of the Spirit Gathering Formation. 

Upon careful inspection, he felt faint threads of spiritual energy flowing through the soil. 

Letting it go and grabbing another handful, he confirmed the same result. 

Satisfied, He Song stood up, feeling a sense of relief and joy. 

(End of Chapter) 

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