Chapter 34: Gathering.
Under the soft lantern light of his courtyard, Fang Yuan retrieved a lacquered wooden case from beneath the inner drawer of his desk.
He slid it across the table to his uncle with quiet ease.
"Here," Fang Yuan said, opening the lid to reveal seven formation flags, that shimmered faintly under moonlight. "Top-grade black, just as I said."
Fang Chen leaned forward slightly, inspecting one of the flags with narrowed eyes. He didn’t touch it, just studied it for a moment, then nodded once, his expression unreadable.
Fang Yuan then pulled out a scroll from his inner sleeve and unrolled it flat on the table.
A hand-drawn diagram of the eastern ravine’s Spirit Mine filled its surface—precise lines marking the natural leylines, spirit veins, and the concealed Spirit Pond at its heart.
He tapped several points marked in red.
"These are the placements. Follow the compass points—north, northeast, east, and so on.
Anchor the seventh one in the pond’s center stone. Once the formation completes, it should double the spiritual density of that cavern."
Fang Chen absorbed the instructions in a single glance. "Understood."
He took both the case and the scroll and rose from his seat. There was no ceremony, no excess words between them; only familiarity, trust, and clarity of purpose.