"What are you doing? I've seen you hanging around here for quite a while!" Xue Qianwei asked Chu Yang, hands on her hips.
Chu Yang pondered for a moment and replied, "Why do you care so much?"
"How dare you! Can't you speak to your boss with a better attitude!"
Chu Yang didn't answer. He took out a spirit stone vein.
Xue Qianwei knew what this was and asked in surprise, "Isn't the spiritual energy concentration here enough?"
Chu Yang sighed, broke off a top-grade spirit stone, and threw it to Xue Qianwei. "Take it and play with it on the side!"
Xue Qianwei fumbled to catch the top-grade spirit stone, her face flushing. "Who do you look down on? What have I not seen before? You want to use a spirit stone to..."
Chu Yang threw another one to her.
Xue Qianwei: "..."
"It's not that I'm obeying because of these two spirit stones, it's mainly because there are too many people over there and it's easy for problems to arise. I'll go help manage the order! You work hard here!"
Then, Boss Xue, with a silly grin, ambled off towards the plaza.
After sending away the somewhat bothersome Boss Xue, Chu Yang buried the spirit stone vein he was holding into the ground.
Generally, a spirit gathering formation wouldn't require such a large spirit stone vein to activate. In the world of immortal cultivation, even a small spiritual vein underground or a place with high spiritual energy concentration could achieve the effect of gathering spirits.
However, the spiritual energy concentration in this world was thin, so to construct a spirit gathering formation, one could only rely on spirit stone veins.
After Chu Yang buried the spirit stone vein underground, it didn't form a massive spirit stone mine like the previous one. Instead, it condensed into a circular area with a diameter of only five hundred meters.
Then, Chu Yang extended his finger and sketched a complex and profound formation in the air. Various patterns crisscrossed within the formation, yet they exuded a unique aesthetic beauty.
Once the formation was complete, Chu Yang gradually pressed his hand downwards.
Instantly, the spiritual energy in heaven and earth seemed to be summoned, surging towards the formation Chu Yang had constructed like a tidal wave.
Those at the plaza who were obtaining cultivation techniques or watching the trial live broadcasts noticed the abnormality. They all poked their heads out, wanting to see what was causing such a commotion.
"Oh, it's Brother Immortal. That's fine then."
"Brother Immortal's stunts are always great!"
"Even if you fawn like that, he won't hear you!"
"Nonsense! Is this fawning? This is genuine admiration from the bottom of my heart!"
"..."
Ever since Chu Yang appeared in the public eye, everything he did was actually advancing humanity's immortal cultivation progress.
Some bloggers speculated and analyzed Chu Yang's actions, reaching a conclusion that was generally accepted by the public: Brother Immortal was trying to turn this society into an era of universal immortal cultivation, aiming to strengthen humanity's power, perhaps in preparation for some disaster.
After all, as long as one could cultivate immortality, even if it was slow, their strength would eventually increase. Why else would people be sent into such mystical realms to fight demonic beasts?
It had to be said that netizens had incredibly wild imaginations, and often they even guessed his thoughts correctly.
However, it wasn't the right time to announce the alien invasion three years later. He'd wait a bit longer, until the cultivation techniques were popularized among more people.
At that time, people would have more confidence and wouldn't cause social disorder out of fear.
Chu Yang extended his hand and pressed the "Spirit Gathering Formation" downwards, creating a resonance with the spirit stone vein underground.
The spiritual energy leaking from underground was also completely covered by the formation at this moment, locked within this small circle.
"Spirit Gathering Formation, complete!"
He had created another new phenomenon for everyone. Once those who entered the trial emerged alive, they could be arranged to cultivate further in the Spirit Gathering Formation.
This spirit stone vein should be able to sustain this formation for one to two years, provided that the cultivators entering it were all below the Golden Core stage.
Otherwise, if cultivators above the Golden Core stage, hundreds of them, entered and absorbed wildly every day, this formation would be completely depleted within a month!
Seeing Chu Yang return, Xue Qianwei curiously asked, "What did you create over there? Did you bury another spirit stone vein?"
Chu Yang smiled and said, "A Spirit Gathering Formation. The spiritual energy concentration inside is tens of times higher than outside. The plan is to use it as a reward for those who participate in the trial."
Xue Qianwei looked surprised. "This thing requires a spirit stone vein?"
Chu Yang nodded. "The spiritual energy in this world is thin. Gathering the spiritual energy of heaven and earth cannot achieve the effect of gathering spirits."
Chu Yang noticed that everyone present was staring at him strangely, their admiration even stronger than before.
"What's wrong? Why are they looking at me like that?"
Xue Qianwei leaned in and whispered to Chu Yang, "It's all because of what you did last night. That video of yours was released! You fought against three hundred fighter jets alone, and even they carrying nuclear bombs couldn't do anything to you. You're incredibly popular now, the foreign internet has exploded!"
"Exploded?"
Chu Yang suddenly realized. No wonder he received so much cultivation today. If this continued to ferment, he'd be able to harvest a billion in cultivation soon and break through to the Nascent Soul stage.
"Also, the Xia official government said they want to receive foreign guests to acquire cultivation techniques here."
"It's fine. I requested this. Although they started only about a month later, it's now impossible for them to surpass Xia. Plus, I'm from Xia, so what's there to fear? Every bit of strength adds one more possibility in three years."
Xue Qianwei suddenly remembered the scene of the alien race humans that Chu Yang had shown her last time, and a chill of disgust and nausea ran through her.
The reason she fainted that day wasn't just seeing monsters with bared teeth and claws. There were many bloody scenes of human bodies being torn apart, with internal organs and blood flying everywhere. It was the kind of sight that would give you nightmares for days!
Seeing Xue Qianwei's uncomfortable expression, Chu Yang felt a little awkward and quickly changed the subject. "Ahem! Boss Xue, let's see if these trial-goers have grown compared to yesterday. Look at that old Daoist, he's clashing with that pack of monkeys again!"
Boss Xue was indeed not suited for focused cultivation, and Chu Yang's words successfully diverted her thoughts.
...
As for Bai Nianchen, after provoking the Ghost-faced Fire Monkey tribe yesterday, he was chased by the monkey leader for a long time.
Last night, the somewhat tattered Master Bai looked at the moonlight wistfully for a whole night. He felt indignant when he endured and like he was losing out when he backed down.
He realized that his experiences of the day were truly humiliating.
"My Qingyun schoolmates must have already entered the depths, right? Young friend Wang Teng must have also obtained many demon cores... Boundless Heavenly Lord! This poor Daoist can't take it anymore; I must fight my way back!"