However, finding the right spot was no easy task. A novice Feng Shui master might be able to trace a dragon vein with their limited knowledge. But when it came time to pinpoint the actual spots, they would be at a loss. Luckily, Chen Xiao had a solid foundation. Not only had he seen many real-world examples with his master, but he had also personally discovered several such spots after he began working professionally. Among them were both residential and burial sites, and according to his knowledge, all of them had proven effective.
Walking along the edge of the ridge, Chen Xiao quickly made a discovery. His steps were light and quick, moving with such speed that it was clear he wasn't someone without cultivation. He moved so fast that both Du Rong and Tong Nuonuo had to pick up the pace to keep up with him.
Once Chen Xiao entered his working state, he was completely absorbed, his mind lost in his own world. All that remained in his vision were the natural landscapes and the energy field created by the active flow of the earth's Qi. He became so engrossed in this that it seemed as though he were possessed. Tong Nuonuo, watching from behind, couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He asked Du Rong quietly, "What's wrong with him? It's like he's been possessed."
Du Rong glanced at him and replied, "The master has entered a state of complete focus, where he loses himself in the task. You were the same when you were studying mechanisms, didn't you get a bit like this too?"
Tong Nuonuo opened his mouth but couldn't find words. Had he really acted like that? Du Rong nodded confidently. Realizing this, Tong Nuonuo stopped worrying but was left with a new question. Why was Chen Xiao like this now? Was he focusing so intensely on something, too?
Having spent more time with Chen Xiao, Du Rong knew that whenever the master dealt with matters related to residential Feng Shui, he would become highly focused, almost to the point of obsession. However, he usually kept his composure outdoors. Although he had been searching for something before, it wasn't as intense as it was now. This must be especially important.
Following Chen Xiao, they climbed the mountain. Since they were still near the village and hadn't reached the nearby peaks, the mountain path was easy to navigate and often used by others, so Du Rong didn't need to be as cautious as he would have been in the wilderness.
Finally, Chen Xiao arrived at an open area. He looked around, satisfied with the terrain. The open hall was spacious, drawing in the wind and gathering the Qi. Below, a stream wound around like a jade belt, gentle and nurturing, an ideal spot to place a Feng Shui seal.
Completely oblivious to the two trailing behind him, Chen Xiao focused entirely on the landscape. His gaze sharpened as he summoned a compass from his mind and extended his right hand to hold it in front of him. He began measuring the flow of the dragon vein and the direction of the water.
This place, he thought, was a Dragon's Embrace, a site of pure, noble Qi. It was ideal for creating a prosperous lineage, where talented individuals would emerge generation after generation, with young ones passing the imperial exams and becoming scholars. It was a site for both officialdom and immortality. Chen Xiao couldn't help but sigh in satisfaction. The village was truly a match for this fate. The children and youth here were all talented, their path to immortality endless. If only they had better luck, they could soon rise with the help of Immortal Master Xi.
This spot wasn't just favorable for prosperity. It would also bring good fortune from the stream, ensuring many children and grandchildren, the family line never cutting off.
"This is an ideal site, but it needs to be elevated," Chen Xiao said, moving forward to a more central position. He shuffled around, pacing back and forth, his focus narrowing. Tong Nuonuo had been intrigued at first, following him closely. But after a while, seeing Chen Xiao walking in a small circle within a five-meter radius, he lost interest and walked over to Du Rong. The two of them stood for a while, then squatted down, and eventually just sat on the ground.
Bored from the long wait, Tong Nuonuo yawned. Du Rong, infected by his boredom, rubbed his eyes and asked, "Tong Master, do you have that game set with you?"
They decided to spread the game out on the ground and play, while they completely missed the fact that Chen Xiao's area of movement was gradually shrinking, from five meters, to three, and finally, he stood still within a meter, completely focused.
Without warning, he suddenly shouted, "Bring me the steel!" His sudden outburst startled both Du Rong and Tong Nuonuo, who had been deep in their game.
Du Rong dropped the game pieces, while Tong Nuonuo quickly packed everything up. They both rushed toward him.
Chen Xiao remained absorbed in his world, arms crossed, one hand resting on his chin. His eyes were fixed on the ground, motionless. Du Rong called out to him uncertainly, "Master?"
But Chen Xiao didn't respond. Instead, he continued to walk in a small circle. This time, they noticed that the path he was walking was forming a perfect circle.
Chen Xiao seemed unaware of the two following him, completely immersed in his task. He impatiently shouted again, "Steel! Hurry up and bring the steel!"
Tong Nuonuo stepped closer cautiously and asked, "What's the steel? We don't have it."
It seemed the word hadn't registered with Chen Xiao, who lifted his head, a look of annoyance flashing across his face. "What? No steel?" He glanced around, seeing Tong Nuonuo's face. In that instant, it was as though he had woken from a dream. His eyes scanned the green mountains and peaceful village, finally taking in Du Rong and Tong Nuonuo.
His expression immediately changed, and he awkwardly apologized, "Sorry, Nuonuo. I didn't mean to shout at you."
Tong Nuonuo waved it off. "It's not your fault. You probably didn't even notice the outside world, right? I was the same when I was researching mechanisms. I even got mad at my master when he accidentally bumped into me. Though, I ended up getting a good spanking... haha."
At this point, Du Rong finally asked, "Master, what is this steel?"
Chen Xiao said, "It's a thin metal rod, about the thickness of a finger."
The steel rod was used to anchor the acupoint during the Feng Shui ritual. In the final years of his past life, Chen Xiao's body had already started to deteriorate. Whenever he traveled to conduct Feng Shui, he always had at least one disciple by his side, along with an assistant carrying the necessary tools. Once he pinpointed the acupoint, his disciple would personally hand him the steel rod.
At that time, his state was much like it was now, fully focused on the acupoint in front of him. This time, when they ascended the mountain, Chen Xiao had initially planned to find a tree branch and sharpen it into a rod for the ritual. But just moments ago, he had confused this life with his past, thinking that his disciple and assistant were present, with all the tools ready at hand.
After listening to Chen Xiao, Tong Nuonu opened the box on his back. "There's no steel rod, but I have an iron rod."
Chen Xiao was about to ask Uncle Rong to make a wooden rod for him when, to his surprise, Tong Nuonu quickly provided an iron one. He hurriedly said, "This will do!"
Tong Nuonu pulled out a smooth, polished iron rod from the box. Chen Xiao examined it in his hand. The rod was glossy and black, likely used for some mechanism, with a layer of protective oil on its surface.
"Thank you. I'll figure out a way to return you an identical one later," Chen Xiao said.
Tong Nuonu smiled. "No need. This is just a regular iron rod, a common part for mechanisms. I have more, so let me know if you need another."
Du Rong couldn't resist asking, "Immortal Master Tong, I've been wanting to ask for a while now. Is that box of yours some kind of magic artifact? It always seems like you never run out of things to pull from it. The space seems small, but you always manage to cram things into it."
Tong Nuonu's cheeks reddened slightly. "I only use it to pack things when I'm in a hurry. This box was given to me by my master for this trip as a special tool, a rare artifact passed down from my sect. It's a mechanism box. It contains compressed space runes, so its actual size is much larger than it looks."
Du Rong looked at the mechanism box with wide eyes. "So this is a storage artifact with space runes."
Tong Nuonu shook his head. "The one passed down in my sect is mainly for storing mechanisms and parts. Some mechanisms and parts are so large that they're not easy to carry. That's why our ancestors spent precious materials to create this unique space-compression mechanism box. It's not a typical storage artifact."
Du Rong nodded. "I see." At this point, Chen Xiao unconsciously licked his lips. Du Rong noticed that his lips were dry and slightly cracked. He looked up at the sky. It was noon, and the sun was high, making the temperature rise, causing sweat to pour out quickly. There weren't many trees around, so Chen Xiao was standing in the open, exposed to the sun.
He immediately stopped Chen Xiao. Since it was noon, he pulled out a water pouch and some crispbread and pickles that he'd brought along for a picnic. He insisted that Chen Xiao use them.
Chen Xiao hadn't noticed his thirst and hunger earlier, but after Du Rong's reminder, he felt both. Obediently, he sat with the others, drank some water, and ate the food. His physical exhaustion was soon alleviated.
Holding the iron rod, Chen Xiao said excitedly, "I've already found the acupoint for this location. The energy here is converging, and when we insert the rod, we see a strange phenomenon." He chuckled. "You all are cultivators, and Nuonuo is in the Foundation Establishment stage, so you've likely seen many unusual sights. Still, this should be worth witnessing."
His words piqued both Du Rong's and Tong Nuonu's curiosity. Du Rong followed Chen Xiao to the spot he had selected. He asked, "Is it really right here? If we stick the rod in, we'll see something strange?"
Du Rong's skepticism didn't upset Chen Xiao. With a smile, he handed over the iron rod. "That's right, right here. Don't believe me? You can try it yourself."
Du Rong scratched his head awkwardly. "Master, it's not that I doubt you, but this is just flat ground, with no unusual plants or features. It doesn't seem like there's anything special about it."
Chen Xiao said, "It's fine. Try it, and you'll see."
Du Rong saw that his employer was serious, so he took the rod and thrust it into the ground.
Unexpectedly, a tremendous recoil shot through the iron rod. Du Rong shouted in surprise as the force pushed him back several steps. Had his stance not been steady, he would have fallen to the ground!