Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Setting Up Feng Youming

Feng Youming’s eyebrows shot up.

The Spirit Detecting Pearl the Clan Leader had given him was no ordinary item. It was said to be a top-tier Spiritual Artifact passed down from previous Clan Leaders. Ordinary Spiritual Energy couldn’t activate it; it required at least a low-grade Spirit Vein to react.

In fact, it was this very pearl that had led the Clan Leader to discover the Dragon Vein.

Now that one side of the pearl was glowing again, it meant there was a Spirit Vein in that direction!

A glint flashed in Feng Youming’s eyes as the corners of his mouth curved into a wide grin.

’Such a great opportunity to make a quick profit. I can’t possibly pass this up.’

Following the Spirit Detecting Pearl’s guidance, he sped northward.

Meanwhile, Song Wanning received a report that Feng Youming had left the city and headed north.

She immediately thought of the Spirit Vein.

’If he could find the dormant Dragon Vein, he can certainly find the Spirit Vein’s location.’ Sensing trouble, she immediately sent a Communication Talisman to Mu Yuan.

After a moment’s thought, Song Wanning sent another message to Song Qingyun, telling him to bring the Song Family’s ancestor and use the Transmission Array to get to the Spirit Vein and wait for Feng Youming to show up.

Feng Youming’s movements were too mysterious for her to be complacent. Besides, she had a very important plan in motion and needed to succeed on the first try.

Once that was done, Song Wanning immediately contacted Yu Cheng.

"Song Dao You—no, Senior Song, is there something urgent?"

Yu Cheng had just finished comprehending a grand array and was pleasantly surprised to receive Song Wanning’s message.

She hadn’t contacted him once since they had last parted ways.

"I need your help with something. I need a grand array that can trap a Divinity Transformation cultivator—one that not only contains him physically but also neutralizes all of his techniques."

’I can’t let *those people* find out about this.’

There was a long silence from the other end before a reply came. "It can be done, but setting up the Array requires extremely precious materials and a number of top-grade spiritual stones."

"No problem. I’ll prepare them. Just get to this location immediately."

Song Wanning gave him the address: a location very close to the forbidden zone, which also happened to be on the only path to the Spirit Vein.

After they finalized their plan, she went to prepare the materials needed for the Array.

Fortunately, the Spirit Vein was far from the city, and since Feng Youming didn’t have permission to use the Transmission Array, it would take him some time to travel there.

But a chosen prodigy like Yu Cheng could use the Transmission Arrays to transfer between locations, saving a great deal of time and allowing him to arrive long before Feng Youming.

Things went just as Song Wanning had predicted. Yu Cheng arrived within two days and immediately began the preliminary work for setting up the Array.

He didn’t care who Song Wanning was targeting; his only thought was that he finally had a chance to repay his debt of gratitude.

When Song Wanning arrived and handed him the materials, Yu Cheng put all his energy into his work, moving with incredible speed.

"Senior Song, this Array is actually from the legacy you helped me obtain. It was the very first Array I mastered after receiving it!"

"Rest assured, there won’t be the slightest mistake!"

Yu Cheng then tried to explain the Array, but Song Wanning quickly stopped him.

An Array that profound was beyond her comprehension.

After confirming the approximate time needed, Song Wanning returned to the forbidden zone.

There, she met the Song Family’s ancestor, Song Huai, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

Song Huai had the appearance of a refined scholar. His every move exuded the reserved and noble air of a young lord. Despite his advanced age, his charisma remained undiminished.

But now, his expression was grave. "Wan Ning, tell me exactly what is happening."

Song Qingyun had only told him that the Spirit Vein was in danger, so he had rushed over immediately, not even hesitating to leave his post overseeing the family.

The family’s future depended on this Spirit Vein; no mistakes could be tolerated.

Song Wanning held nothing back, telling him everything about the Dragon Vein and Feng Youming.

Song Huai was a man of great experience. His face grew heavy as he listened, the implications immediately dawning on him. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The allure of a Dragon Vein was too powerful. The faction behind Feng Youming would undoubtedly stop at nothing to obtain it.

And now, they had set their sights on the Spirit Vein.

"So, when will this Feng Youming arrive?"

Song Huai asked, his voice calm and composed.

"It should be within ten days."

Upon hearing the timeframe, Song Huai’s brows furrowed. A wave of killing intent shattered his scholarly demeanor.

"Since he dares to come, we’ll make sure he never leaves!"

The four of them then began to plan their strategy.

Since Feng Youming’s origins were a mystery and they knew nothing about him, they had to prepare for multiple contingencies.

Song Wanning’s plan was to capture Feng Youming alive, which made the task even more difficult.

Killing him, by contrast, would be far simpler.

...

Feng Youming traveled at full speed, completely unaware that an ambush lay in wait for him.

Thinking back on his efforts over the past few days, he snorted. ’The Clan Leader worries too much.’

’The members of the Human Clan out here are mediocre at best. They don’t seem particularly bright, either—nothing compared to the Feng Family.’

’I’ve been out here for so long without any chance to explore, just stuck dealing with the Song Family. It’s so tedious.’

’Once I’ve plundered the Spirit Stones, I’ll have some fun out here before I head back...’

With a plan already forming in his mind, Feng Youming urged the Flying Magical Treasure beneath him to go even faster.

’That woman, Song Wanning, is probably still running around in circles, trying to find some flaw I’ve left behind.’

’What a fool!’

The journey passed quickly. 「Seven days later」, Feng Youming finally arrived at a location near the forbidden zone.

He took out the Spirit Detecting Stone and saw its glow intensify, becoming dazzlingly bright.

A glimmer of light appeared in Feng Youming’s eyes. ’It must be close.’

He put away his Magical Treasure and descended from the sky. He couldn’t risk alerting anyone. He would first sneak closer to observe the situation.

As he walked, he discovered a valley ahead. It was flanked by towering mountains, making the valley the only path forward.

To be cautious, he swept the area with his Divine Sense but found no trace of anyone.

Only then did he relax and stride toward the valley.

He let out a sneer as he walked. ’Why am I being so cautious?’

The moment he stepped into the valley, Feng Youming’s expression changed. He suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

Without a second thought, he tried to fly back, but it was too late.

A barrier of light suddenly erupted around him, cutting off his escape.

Feng Youming’s body was thrown back by the shimmering Array Patterns.

His expression soured. He immediately drew a long spear and unleashed an attack on the Array.

The fierce, wind-aspected attack slammed into the Array. For an instant, space twisted and Spiritual Energy raged. Countless vortexes converged, threatening to tear everything apart.

However, after a violent tremor, the Array Patterns quickly stabilized.

Feng Youming’s expression changed once more. ’What kind of Array is this? It actually withstood one of my attacks?’

Feng Youming was completely clueless when it came to Arrays; he had only been able to descend to the Dragon Vein by using a talisman from his Clan Leader. Faced with this situation, he couldn’t help but grow anxious.

Just as he was about to raise his long spear again, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Friend Feng, long time no see."

Feng Youming froze. He turned to see a familiar face, fixed in a mocking smile.