A Promise Is Made

That evening, Uncle Fu took out the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate" in preparation for its use.

As the spirit stone was embedded into the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate," the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate" suddenly lit up, and an invisible gravitational force spread out, stopping at a radius of about five zhang.

Then, wisps of fine air currents began to approach the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate".

These wisps of air are spiritual energy that most cultivators cannot see or touch.

After about fifteen minutes, the spiritual energy drawn by the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate" reached its peak, and the spiritual energy from the outside world no longer converged on the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate".

This was Xu Yunxin's first time using the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate." He tried it out immediately and found that it was easier to absorb spiritual energy during cultivation, but the ease was limited and did not have the effect he had imagined. It was even far slower than cultivating directly with spirit stones.

Uncle Fu watched Xu Yunxin try it with a smile. Seeing his regretful expression, he said with a smile, "Young Master, this 'Spirit Gathering Array Plate' only draws in spiritual energy within a radius of five zhang. The total amount of spiritual energy is not large, and it cannot compare to using spirit stones directly. However, little by little, it adds up and is more cost-effective than using spirit stones directly!"

Xu Yunxin certainly understood the reasoning behind this, but he felt that the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate" was somewhat ineffective.

"Uncle Fu, can this 'Spirit Gathering Array Plate' only draw spiritual energy within a five-zhang radius?"

Uncle Fu shook his head and said, "This is the worst kind of 'Spirit Gathering Array Plate.' The better ones can attract spiritual energy from a much larger area, but it's said that even the best can only reach five hundred feet. Any larger, and the array plate will either collapse or bring disaster!"

"Trouble? Is it because you're afraid others will covet and steal it?"

Uncle Fu shook his head again, lowering his voice to say, "It wasn't man-made, it was a natural disaster!"

"A natural disaster!?"

Xu Yunxin wanted to ask for more specific details, but Uncle Fu said he didn't know either, as he had only heard about it from the master and had never seen it himself.

After chatting for a while, Uncle Fu went to stand guard at the door, while Xu Yunxin placed the box containing the red mushroom spores near the "Spirit Gathering Array Plate," sprinkled some water into the box, and then sat down to rest.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Yue Shaohua, dragging Yue Yinping and accompanied by six black dogs, marched in a grand procession to Xu Yunxin's residence.

When Yue Shaohua saw Uncle Fu in the courtyard, she first gave him a polite curtsy.

Uncle Fu smiled and nodded to Yue Shaohua, saying, "Shaohua, come inside and talk. The young master is waiting for you inside."

Yue Shaohua stared wide-eyed in surprise and asked, "Uncle, how did Young Master Xu know I would come to see him?"

Before Fu Bo could answer, Yue Yinping, who was following behind her, snorted and said, "That kid is clever. He fooled you yesterday, so naturally he knew you would come to see him today."

Yue Shaohua's face flushed crimson, her soft, jade-like ears blushed, and she bit her lip and stamped her foot, saying, "Sister Ping!"

Seeing that Yue Yinping ignored her, Yue Shaohua's eyes darted around, and she said again, "Then tell me, can he guess what we want with him?"

Yue Yinping put her hand to her forehead, suddenly wondering why her clever little sister had become somewhat foolish after meeting Xu Yunxin.

Seeing that Yue Yinping still ignored him, Yue Shaohua continued, "Let's make a bet. I bet Young Master Xu doesn't know! If I win, you...you..."

Yue Shaohua looked around and saw that although the courtyard was large, it was quite dilapidated. She then had an idea: "How about we find Young Master Xu a better place to stay?"

Yue Yinping didn't bother to reply and went into Xu Yunxin's residence first.

Yue Shaohua followed him into the house and immediately saw Xu Yunxin sitting cross-legged with a spirit-gathering array plate in front of him.

"A spirit-gathering array! No wonder it feels so comfortable here."

Xu Yunxin stood up with a smile, then took out two more futons and said, "Miss Shaohua, Sister Ping, please sit down. The house is simple, I hope you won't mind."

Yue Shaohua quickly replied, "No, no, it's not at all. The spiritual energy here is abundant; it's even more comfortable than where I am!"

Xu Yunxin smiled and said, "Since Miss Shaohua likes it, please come and sit here more often. I will certainly welcome you with open arms!"

Before Yue Shaohua could speak, Yue Yinping interrupted her: "Enough nonsense. Yesterday you told Shaohua that you were willing to let your old servant help drive away the 'Yellow Armored Violent Scorpion,' do you still stand by that promise?"

Xu Yunxin's expression turned serious, and he solemnly said, "Although I am not a soldier, as a man, I am a man of my word and would never say anything to deceive Miss Shaohua!"

Hearing Xu Yunxin's resolute words, Yue Yinping finally looked at him properly and said, "Alright, since that's the case, let's discuss a strategy today. After we drive away that 'Yellow-Armored Violent Scorpion,' Qingxi Town will reward us handsomely!"

After Yue Yinping finished speaking, she waited for Xu Yunxin to agree. Yue Shaohua and Uncle Fu, who was standing at the door, were also watching him.

Xu Yunxin gently shook his head.

The light in Yue Shaohua's eyes suddenly dimmed.

Yue Yinping immediately stood up with disdain, pulling Yue Shaohua along, saying, "See? This is what a young master from the city is like. When it comes to real trouble, he'll show his true colors!"

Yue Yinping then turned to Xu Yunxin and said, "Young Master Xu, I told you the other day that you are not welcome here. You must move out by noon tomorrow, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

After saying that, Yue Yinping was about to pull Yue Shaohua away.

But then Xu Yunxin exclaimed, "No! No!"

Yue Yinping glared at Xu Yunxin and said, "What do you mean, right or wrong?!"

Xu Yunxin said, "First, what I promised Miss Shaohua was not to expel the 'Yellow Armored Violent Scorpion'."

Just as Yue Yinping was about to make a sarcastic remark, Xu Yunxin continued, "The 'Yellow Armored Violent Scorpion' has tasted success in Qingxi Town. Driving it away is useless; it will just come back. If we don't want to be on guard against thieves every day, we must destroy it!"

"what?"

Yue Yinping was somewhat surprised. Could it be that Xu Yunxin had a fever? There were only four cultivators and six dogs in the entire Qingxi Town. How could they possibly wipe out a nest of "Yellow Armor Violent Scorpions"?

It's already quite kind of him to let his old servant help him beat the "Yellow Armored Scorpion" and drive it away!

"What a load of nonsense!"

Yue Yinping felt that Xu Yunxin was unreliable and didn't want to listen to his nonsense anymore, so she dragged Yue Shaohua out of the house.

"What if I had a second-tier spell talisman?"

Xu Yunxin's slow voice came from behind, a voice that seemed to freeze Yue Yinping in place, unable to take a single step.

Yue Shaohua, who had been pulled away by Yue Yinping, broke free and jumped into the room, asking in surprise, "Young Master Xu, really?"

Xu Yunxin smiled and said, "Of course it's true, I've never..."

Before Xu Yunxin could finish speaking, Yue Shaohua exclaimed joyfully, "Great! Qingxi Town is saved! Sister Ping, we're saved!"

Yue Yinping turned and went inside, staring intently at Xu Yunxin as she asked, "Are you really willing to help us?"

Xu Yunxin's smile faded, and he asked seriously, "Why not? Don't forget, I'm the town lord of Qingxi Town!"

Yue Yinping was stunned for a while, as if she had made a decision: "Alright, as long as you can destroy the 'Yellow Armored Violent Scorpion' and save everyone's lives, then we will recognize you as the town lord and obey your orders."

"Okay, then it's a deal!"

"It's a deal..."