บท 124: Chapter 124: Small Full

The three wild chickens, intimidated by Xiao Luan's authority, had no choice but to pick up the hard fragments from the ground, even though they had no interest in them. Xiao Luan urged them to swallow the pieces.

Though their small beaks couldn't break down the hard fragments, the pieces were small enough for the three wild chickens to tilt their heads back and swallow them whole.

Initially, they didn't feel any different after swallowing the fragments. They continued to cluck and strut around the grass shelter. However, gradually, their steps slowed, and their clucking quieted.

Suddenly, one of them collapsed with a thud.

Soon after, the second and third followed suit.

Xiao Luan was stunned.

What was going on?

Normally, they would sleep huddled together, sitting upright. Why were they lying down like humans today?

Xiao Luan walked over and lightly kicked each of them with its small claw. When there was no response, it didn't pay much attention and, feeling a bit drowsy itself, yawned and nestled into its own grass bed to sleep.

Meanwhile, back at the Array Hall, after Lin Xiao practiced the Small Area Cooling Array with Mo Yuanjiao and Mo Que a second time, he headed down the mountain for dinner.

By now, night had fallen, but Mo Yuanjiao was still in the Array Hall, engrossed in the Basic Array Engraving Compendium that Lin Xiao had left with him.

Mo Que lit a candle from their luggage and placed it on the ground beside him, sitting quietly in meditation.

During his second attempt at engraving, Mo Yuanjiao's technique had improved significantly, and he completed the Small Area Cooling Array much faster. This time, he even had a little bit of spiritual energy left, without depleting himself completely.

Lin Xiao had checked his work and confirmed that the array could be directly transferred and used without any reduction in effectiveness.

Encouraged by this, Mo Yuanjiao developed a strong interest in array engraving, completely forgetting about the seedlings he had been carefully tending in the field.

Seeing Mo Yuanjiao's talent and enthusiasm, Lin Xiao decided to leave the Basic Array Engraving Compendium with him, reminding him to take good care of it before he left.

Mo Yuanjiao remained in the Array Hall, absorbed in the book under the dim candlelight, turning page after page with deep concentration.

It wasn't until his stomach growled that he snapped out of his trance and looked outside.

The night sky beyond the Array Hall was pitch black, with a bright full moon hanging high above.

The next morning, Lin Xiao woke up to a humid atmosphere. Looking outside, he saw that although it was already morning, the sky was dark and overcast with thick clouds.

It seemed like it was going to rain.

And judging by the thickness of the clouds, it was going to be a heavy downpour.

Today was Grain Buds, the time when crops begin to fill with grain. Some rain would be just right, saving the villagers from the trouble of watering the fields.

Lin Dayou was in high spirits when he saw the clouds overhead.

After breakfast, the Lin family—father and sons—left the house together. Along the way, villagers who knew Lin Dayou greeted him warmly.

An elderly man carrying a hoe noticed the three of them heading lightly toward the northern mountain instead of the fields. Frowning disapprovingly, he called out to Lin Dayou:

"Dayou, you shouldn't spoil your kids like this. It's one thing not to have them help in the fields, but why do you keep taking them up the mountain lately? I've noticed you haven't been as diligent in the fields as you used to be."

Hearing this, Lin Dayou smiled and waved, replying, "Good morning, Uncle Qin. Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. It won't interfere with our work."

The old man, known as Uncle Qin, only said this in passing. Seeing Lin Dayou's nonchalant attitude, he didn't press the issue.

After all, Lin's father was still around to keep an eye on things. Lin's father was a reasonable man, and if he saw his son's family starting to slack off, he would surely straighten them out.

So Uncle Qin shook his head and led his sons and grandsons to the fields.

As they continued their journey, the villagers they passed were all smiles, hoping the impending rain would help their crops thrive, potentially leading to a bountiful harvest this year.

Meanwhile, the Lin family—father and sons—maintained their routine of climbing the mountain to cultivate.

However, by noon, when the disciples of Lingxian Sect finished their cultivation and began their free activities, the rain was still holding back, with not a drop falling from the sky.

As usual, Lin Dayou, Lin Yun, and Lin Lei descended the mountain to tend to their fields.

Yang Jinshu, who had stayed up late copying the cultivation technique booklets, handed them over to Lin Xiao, who placed them on a small bookshelf behind the Cultivation Chamber.

Feeling a bit restless after so much writing, she asked Lin Xiao if there was anything else that needed copying.

Lin Xiao retrieved the Basic Alchemy Recipes Compendium, Basic Talisman Crafting Compendium, and Basic Refining Techniques Compendium from his private storage and handed them to her to transcribe.

Meanwhile, Tietou took the two young girls of Lingxian Sect out to dig up flowers again. Every day, they would bring back various flowers and plants and replant them around the sect.

Xiao Luan and its three disciples, however, were nowhere to be seen.

Lin Xiao guessed that Xiao Luan had probably taken them out to forage again. Of course, they might also be napping in the grass hut.

Only Liu Yunang, Jiang Youfu, Mo Yuanjiao, and Mo Que remained by Lin Xiao's side.

Lin Xiao asked Liu Yunang and Jiang Youfu, "Do you two want to learn array engraving with us?"

How could they refuse Lin Xiao's suggestion? They immediately nodded enthusiastically.

Thus, the Array Hall study group gained two new members.

Perhaps due to their higher cultivation levels, both of them picked up the basics of array engraving fairly quickly, managing to engrave decent arrays after just two or three attempts.

However, when Lin Xiao started teaching them the Insect Repelling Array, they struggled.

The Insect Repelling Array was slightly more complex than the basic arrays they had learned earlier, with more intricate designs and additional spiritual energy nodes.

Both Jiang Youfu and Liu Yunang found themselves unable to successfully engrave a usable array, despite multiple attempts.

Lin Xiao had considered letting Mo Yuanjiao try it, but with his current cultivation level at Qi Refining Stage 1, he could only barely manage the most basic arrays. Engraving something more advanced like the Insect Repelling Array would be beyond his capabilities.

Still, Lin Xiao wasn't too disappointed. Having one person with talent for array engraving—Mo Yuanjiao—was already a great blessing.

Oh, and there was himself, of course.

While Liu Yunang and Jiang Youfu didn't seem to have a natural aptitude for array engraving, Lin Xiao believed they would excel in other areas that were better suited to their abilities.