Plant a flag in the centre.

Seven steps northeast for the second flag.

Three steps east and four steps southeast for the third flag.

Seven steps east for the fourth flag.

Three steps south and four steps southeast for the fifth flag.

Seven steps northeast for the sixth flag.

Six steps north and one step west for the seventh flag.

Fengyu followed the simple description for the deployment of the array, having already completed several things, now arriving at the point of planting the seven flags.

Each flag held a significant function for they had absorbed the star power of a star, allowing them to strike. Without them, the formation would be practically useless for Fengyu currently.

After planting the flags, he had to perform a small ritual in front of each of them - call forth the names of the stars of the Northern Dipper and ask for blessings and protection.

Yes, it was prayer. To his surprise, the formation involved this step of prayer. Fengyu could only guess that it was a situation similar to Zimu’s, where a person involved religious acts into their path. Maybe that was why they were able to keep the power of the formation active...

He followed one instruction after another -

The final instruction was the easiest, yet it was also the most important.

"Great Northern Dipper Star Gods, please have mercy on this world and give us the might of the seven stars!" he called out while kneeling on the ground.

Suddenly, he saw seven stars brightly glittering in the sky from the corner of his eye!

Invisible rays seemed to hit his flags -

He remained in position according to the instruction, kneeling for seven days.

Seven days.

Fengyu had thought it was a mistake, but he gradually felt a power grow behind him.

He didn’t need to do anything, only kneel for seven days.

With the attitude of a devout believer, he kept his head down and prayed to the seven stars truly, hoping for their generosity. Maybe if he prayed more devoutly they’d give him an eighth strike?

...

Days passed and outside the restricted corner of Fengyu, Liling and Han had already created their own station. To ensure smooth sailing, they were told to create stations in both the main field and the battlefield.

Liling pulled out three huge items from her spatial ring -

The first was a huge pillar. From the pillar, walls, a ceiling and floor grew, forming a house! It was a rare auxiliary item used by cultivators who travelled out a lot. Although cultivators could sleep under the stars, once you reach a certain point in wealth, why would one sleep under the stars? It would be better to have a safer and more comfortable environment.

The second item was a huge sewing machine, the third being a group of wind chimes, which she planted at the top of the pillar.

Ming and Ling were curious and asked her, upon which she told them that she practiced Fire Sewing and Wind Refining. She mainly used natural materials and rounded, smoothed and engraved them. Her sewing on the other hand was extremely high-efficiency and fast sewing, which was why she usually sewed robes en masse.

The twins could only marvel at the means of a refiner, while also becoming more curious of what they would achieve once they reached such a high stage in their path. Liling didn’t hide it and told them that she was less than five years away from reaching the second stage, though the specific situation was still unknown.

Feeling their own power, they knew they were at least ten, if not twenty years away from that goal.

Meanwhile, when they felt an increasing aura of peace in the field, they understood that Fengyu was also moving along very fast. After all, Zimu was the main contracted companion of Fengyu, so all its achievements would be reflected in Fengyu’s cultivation.

...

On the sixth day of Fengyu’s prayer, three people arrived at the field together.

Shanqing knocked on the field.

"Is this the field of the cultivator you talked about?" one of his companions to the left of him asked, looking at the barren field. There wasn’t even a single plant visible, clearly a sign of extreme poverty.

People might not plant valuable items at their doorsteps, but wouldn’t it be normal to have at least some low-grade plants around, simply to use the space?

"You’re overthinking. Shanqing’s friend will at the very least be talented, but whether they are wealthy is another matter. Anyways, we brought a formation and a giant protective weapon with us, isn’t that enough?" the other friend, to Shanqing’s right, explained. What did it matter if the person was poor? As long as they were talented, being associated was good.

"That’s right, let’s just use this as a hideout and protect it on our own. If he doesn’t have any other means, we’ll still be able to protect him and do him a favour," the left one said again, though he wasn’t really confident. If they were so powerful, why not sit in a corner and protect yourself? Coming together was clearly to huddle together for warmth.

Just as they waited, they saw a duck with large feet arrive in front of them, quite quick on its feet, a trail of wind behind it.

"Hello, I am a friend of Fengyu," Shanqing, who had ignored his two companions, asked the duck in front of him.

Wind Claw looked at the man for a moment before taking a step back. He hurriedly walked along the ground.

"Does this duck even understand us?" the left one asked in doubt, only to be shocked -

Words were engraved on the ground as the duck stepped on it!

Finally, the words formed a slightly incoherent message - 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

< Fengyu unavailable. Wait two days. Leave name, message. >

"Oh, I am Shanqing coming to visit with my two cousins. Just tell him we’ll come back in two days!" Shanqing gave his message as told.

The duck then nodded humanely, quickly moving along the ground to clear the words, then walking back into the field.

"I guess we go back now?" the right one asked, his eyes showing clear interest.