The 'Golden Phoenix Facing the Sun' formation is extremely rare. Normally, to achieve such a geomantic arrangement, one must artificially alter the terrain.
However, formations created through artificial modifications are less than half as effective as naturally formed ones. Furthermore, such large-scale alterations are time-consuming and labor-intensive, making them seldomly implemented.
Phoenix formations are numerous, and 'Golden Phoenix Facing the Sun' is the most wealth-gathering among them. However, wealth belongs to metal. If the metal energy is too potent, the descendants of the tomb owner will be impacted by a large influx of this energy.
If the descendants possess sufficient virtue, this surge of metal energy can be beneficial, bringing them abundant and continuous wealth.
Conversely, if their virtue does not match their status, the descendants will suffer from the troubles brought by wealth.
According to Luan Jiping's introduction and the elder's earlier narration, the Huo family are known for their benevolence. They treat their servants and company employees well, and frequently engage in charity work, making them renowned benefactors in Port City.
Even if there were a mismatch between virtue and status, it's unlikely that such a massive influx of metal energy would cause his body to burst.
The two men drank and chatted until midnight. Long Xiao put down his wine cup and said, "I should go and inspect the tomb."
The elder insisted on accompanying him, and Long Xiao did not object. The two entered the cemetery one after another. The cemetery at night was entirely different from during the day.
A gentle breeze rustled the vegetation, creating flickering shadows that resembled many people whispering, or soldiers gathering to march to the front lines.
Long Xiao extended his vital energy throughout his body, and in an instant, he saw countless streams of metal energy swirling and dissipating above the tomb. Around the surrounding mountains, energies of various colors and attributes intertwined, clashed, and vanished.
Suddenly, a silver-white energy shot skyward, heading directly towards the Huo family villa.
"Something's happening."
Long Xiao shouted and charged towards the source of the anomalous golden energy. After only a few steps, he saw a dark shadow darting into a pitch-black mountain hollow.
Long Xiao employed the 'Chi Mei Xiao Yao Bu' (Specter Wandering Steps) to pursue, simultaneously spreading his five-elemental energy, ready to attack upon closing the distance.
Long Xiao was faster than his quarry. The distance between them quickly narrowed, and Long Xiao saw that the figure ahead was a silver-white creature, about the size of a pug.
When the creature was still fifty to sixty meters from the hillside, Long Xiao was less than thirty meters away. At this point, Long Xiao sensed an immensely powerful golden energy emanating from the creature, causing him physical pain.
"Stop right there!" Long Xiao roared, and numerous pebbles lifted from the ground.
Before the attack could commence, Long Xiao suddenly heard a whistling sound. A rock the size of a fist shot towards him, faster than a bullet.
With no other option, Long Xiao waved his hand, sending all the pebbles to collide with the rock. With a deafening boom, the pebbles and the rock exploded into dust. When he looked for the creature again, it had already vanished into the bushes on the slope.
The bushes emanated wood energy, while the creature possessed strong metal energy. Therefore, Long Xiao could easily pinpoint the creature's location.
Long Xiao quickened his pace again, preparing to pursue. Suddenly, with a whistling sound, dozens of fist-sized rocks rained down upon him.
These rocks were fast and their trajectories were treacherous. Long Xiao had no time to intercept them and could only increase his speed to dodge.
Dozens of rocks impacted the ground, making explosive sounds like artillery fire.
After dodging all the rocks, Long Xiao heard laughter coming from the hillside.
He looked up towards the slope and vaguely saw a person in a long robe standing within the bushes.
The distance between them was fifty to sixty meters, which was beyond the controllable range of Long Xiao's five-elemental energy.
"Who are you, and why are you targeting the Huo family?"
"None of your business. Meddling where you shouldn't."
"This is my business, and I will catch you sooner or later."
"Hahaha, with your meager skills, you think you can catch me? Go back and study with your master's wife for a few more years."
After speaking, the figure vanished. Long Xiao did not pursue further. The opponent was fast, and at this distance, they would have long escaped by the time he caught up.
Returning to the cemetery entrance, the elder guarding the cemetery asked, "Young Master Long, was the opponent very powerful?"
Long Xiao nodded and said, "Their strength surpassed mine. I couldn't catch them."
"Is this fellow responsible for what happened to the Huo family?"
"Yes, it's him. If we can't catch him, we'll find other ways."
Back at the small courtyard, Long Xiao sat for a while, observing the flow of energy in the mountains, before retiring to his room.
The next day, Long Xiao returned to the Huo family villa. Luo Tianshu informed him that someone had secretly infiltrated the villa last night. The intruder was too fast, and they couldn't apprehend him.
"Did you see what that person did?"
"They placed a bronze mirror in the western part of the villa. We discovered them, but they grabbed the mirror and fled."
Long Xiao now fully understood that the golden energy appearing in Huo Zhen was the result of these two individuals working in concert. The Huo family's feng shui was completely normal. The two fake masters had merely come to ascertain the feng shui of the Huo family's yang residence.
Although the situation was clear, the two individuals targeting the Huo family possessed high strength and speed, making them impossible to catch.
After much deliberation, Long Xiao decided to address the immediate problem first.
To resolve the Huo family's issue, one aspect was to cut off the source of the golden energy, and the other was to remove the golden energy that had entered Huo Zhen's body.
As noon approached, Long Xiao, Luan Jiping, and Huo Tianyi arrived at the hospital again.
Long Xiao sat by Huo Zhen's bedside and took his hand to examine him. Golden energy was surging within him, seeking an outlet.
Long Xiao intended to help him clear the golden energy from his body. However, after a thorough examination of Huo Zhen's body, he discovered that his meridians were relatively clear and his dantian had begun to form.
Long Xiao wrote out a prescription, instructed Huo Tianyi to procure the medicine, and then explained the situation to Huo Zhen, urging him to be discharged from the hospital as soon as possible.
Everyone returned to the Huo residence in the afternoon. After a hasty meal, Long Xiao had a bathtub filled with water and the medicine added, then began heating it.
Once the medicine was brewed and mixed with cool water to the appropriate temperature, Long Xiao had Huo Zhen lie down in the bathtub.
Although Huo Zhen did not understand why he was being asked to do this, he followed Long Xiao's instructions.
Long Xiao sat cross-legged by the bathtub and began using his five-elemental energy to help Huo Zhen forge a dantian.
As this was his first time performing such a task, and his previous knowledge was theoretical, the practical execution was slower than anticipated.
After the dantian was formed and all the golden energy within Huo Zhen's body was channeled into it, Huo Zhen felt as if he had become twenty years younger and possessed inexhaustible strength.
"Divine Doctor Long, how is this possible? I feel like I have inexhaustible strength," Huo Zhen said in surprise.
"Don't rush. Listen to me."
Long Xiao chuckled and explained Huo Zhen's entire situation to him.
Upon hearing this, Huo Zhen was utterly shocked. He had unintentionally turned a life-threatening golden energy into a beneficial vital energy.
Having helped him form a dantian and condense his vital energy, it would be a waste not to teach him a cultivation method. Thus, Long Xiao decided to teach him the 'Long Yuan' (Dragon Abyss) cultivation technique.
After finishing the instruction, Long Xiao said, "Mr. Huo, I cannot tell you the name of this technique, and you must never reveal to anyone that I taught you this method."
Huo Zhen climbed out of the bathtub and knelt on the ground, saying, "Master, I pay my respects."
Long Xiao did not stop him. Huo Zhen kowtowed three times, directly acknowledging Long Xiao as his master.
Long Xiao helped Huo Zhen up and said, "Master is just a title. Don't dwell on it. In the future, I will not acknowledge being your master, nor will I teach you anything further."
"I will never forget my master's life-saving grace. I will not address you as master in front of others, but may I call you master when we are alone?"
Seeing Huo Zhen's hopeful expression, Long Xiao reluctantly nodded and said, "Alright."