Find.

Fang Yuan stepped out of the cavern, the cool air of the ravine brushing against his sleeves like the breath of a long-sleeping beast.

As the formation shimmered closed behind him, sealing the Spirit Pond away once more, the two stationed guards straightened and saluted.

"Family Head."

He nodded in return, his tone firm but quiet.

"From now on, no one is to enter this place without my personal stamp of approval. Not even the elders."

The guards exchanged a brief glance and gave a synchronized bow. "Understood."

Fang Yuan lingered for a breath, gaze drifting once more toward the stone corridor that led back into the depths.

Then, with a final glance, he turned and left.

The path from the Eastern Ravine to the central estate was quiet, lined with peach blossom trees whose petals danced faintly in the breeze.

By the time he reached the main gate, a few servants and patrolling guards greeted him with bows, but none dared interrupt his stride.

Fang Yuan made his way back to his office, the heavy oak doors swinging open with a whisper of qi.

He stepped inside, the scent of ink, tea, and old paper welcoming him like an old friend.

The mountain of unfinished scrolls still sat on his desk, as if mocking his earlier break.

Fang Yuan sighed softly, rolled his shoulders, and muttered, "Alright. It's time I stop delaying the quest. I won't be able to sleep if I failed."

Then, he sat down and picked up his brush once more.

Soon, a few hours passed.

Fang Yuan leaned over the final scroll, his brush gliding across the parchment in one last elegant stroke.

He let the ink settle, pressed his stamp against the lower seal, and exhaled deeply.

"Done," he whispered, a small, triumphant smile tugging at his lips.

He leaned back in his chair and stretched, joints popping in relief.

His arms reached high over his head as he closed his eyes and tilted his chin upward, basking in the rare satisfaction of a fully cleared desk.

And then—

Ding.

A clear chime echoed within his mind like the sound of a bell struck underwater.

A glowing panel bloomed into view before him, elegant and ethereal.

[ QUEST COMPLETED:

Complete the pile of pending administrative tasks on your desk.

Reward: Spirit Gathering Formation (High-Grade Black Rank)

Status: ✅ Completed ]

[Initiating transfer of knowledge on how to set up the formation… ]

"What the—?"

Before he could even stand, a strange warmth surged through his temples.

His eyes widened. He clutched the arms of his chair.

A flood of information poured directly into his mind—not words on a scroll, not verbal instruction, but a living memory: diagrams, measurements, formation runes glowing in sequence, qi flow patterns, anchor points, balancing arrays, and material compatibility.

Every detail came with absolute clarity, as if he had personally spent a hundred years researching the formation.

When it ended, he sat still for a long moment.

Then—

He looked at his hands, as if they had changed.

"That… was insane."

The Spirit Gathering Formation now lived in his memory like a second language. And it wasn't just theory. He could build it. Right now, if he wanted.

He blinked once, then let out a slow whistle.

"System," he murmured, smiling faintly, "This is what I expected when you arrived, I love you!"

"Hmm… I wonder if I can build it now," he muttered, rising from his chair with a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

Fang Yuan walked slowly to the shelves by the side of his office, where thick ledgers and treasury scrolls were stacked in meticulous order.

He pulled out a dusty red ledger with golden thread binding, the one detailing the family's core resources; spirit ores, refined metals, spiritual anchors, array stones, and more.

With a flick of his hand, the pages turned rapidly, stopping at the inventory list for formation components.

He began cross-referencing everything the system had just burned into his mind:

— Spirit Engraved Core Stones: minimum six, grade-three or higher.

— Anchor Flags of the Eight Winds: one set.

— Mithril-threaded Conduits: ten lengths, silver-essence grade.

— Qi Conduction Plates: black steel, preferably tempered.

— Lotus Dust: refined from spirit lotus petals, at least fifty grams.

— Jade Stabilizers: minor. Optional but recommended.

His eyes scanned the entries. Line by line, resource by resource.

And then he blinked.

"…We actually have all of this?"

He double-checked. Then triple-checked.

The treasury held ten spirit engraved core stones, eight more than he needed.

The Eight Winds flags had been stored since the days of his grandfather's failed Heaven-Earth Array experiment.

Mithril conduits? Sitting in a crate next to the west vault.

Qi plates? Plenty, polished and unused.

Lotus dust? Rare, yes, but he himself had commissioned its refining two years ago when trying to make a pill that exploded on contact (a side project, best left unspoken).

And jade stabilizers—well, those were practically decorations at this point.

He slowly closed the ledger.

And then grinned.

"So… I could build it now."

He tapped the ledger against his palm, his expression thoughtful and pleased.

"…Guess the higher ups in the heavens finally decided to stop playing jokes on me." He paused. "Unless this is also part of the joke. That won't be funny."

He set the ledger down with a soft thud, his gaze drifting toward the open window where the afternoon sun was beginning to mellow into evening gold.

"All right," he said under his breath, a faint smile forming. "Let's build a formation."

He scribbled down the required materials onto a sheet of paper, his brush swift and precise.

Once finished, he stamped it with his personal seal, the crimson mark still fresh as he called out toward the door.

"Felicia."

The maid entered promptly. "Family Head?"

Fang Yuan handed her the list without looking up. "Send this to the treasury. Have them prepare everything and tell them it's urgent."

Felicia accepted it with a small bow. "At once," she replied, before quietly turning and leaving the room.