Su Xiaomo’s rapid advancement from entry-level to outer sect disciple in such a short time wasn’t due to his own formidable aptitude, but rather his smooth social skills and ability to navigate all sides.
He was absolutely natural material for undercover work.
If it had been Ye Xingchen instead, he would probably have already offended all the Taixuan Holy Sect disciples by now.
“Sect Master.”
Li Luoqiu entered the great hall, reporting: “Just received word from Xiaomo—he’s been promoted to outer sect disciple.”
“Excellent.”
Jun Changxiao smiled.
He had already anticipated this result. After all, under his modifications, Su Xiaomo had aptitude no less than top-tier geniuses, and was also very clever. If he couldn’t succeed at Taixuan Holy Sect, he wouldn’t be worthy of being a Wangu Sect disciple.
“Tell him.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Don’t always stay undercover at Taixuan Holy Sect. Find time to return to the sect for cultivation.”
“Mm.”
“Also, gather as much intelligence as possible about the Ten Directions Certain Death Tower, as quickly as possible.”
This forbidden zone that had existed for millennia made Jun Changxiao quite interested. He decided to find time to lead disciples to explore it. If they could repair the damaged formations and obtain the various inheritances inside, that would be ideal.
The system said: “The host thinks too simply.”
“Understood.”
Li Luoqiu withdrew.
As soon as she left, Zhen Dejun walked in with a collapsed expression, saying: “Sect Master, are we really going to the Ten Directions Certain Death Tower?”
“Correct.” Jun Changxiao said.
Zhen Dejun said: “The formations inside were created by a Formation Emperor. With my current cultivation, trying to repair them is truly as difficult as ascending to heaven.”
Yesterday was just casual boasting. He actually understood his own capabilities quite well.
Moreover.
The Ten Directions Certain Death Tower had existed for millennia. It wasn’t that top formation grandmasters hadn’t entered trying to repair it, yet to this day it remained damaged.
Jun Changxiao said: “Don’t underestimate yourself. What if you can do it?”
Zhen Dejun understood the sect master was determined to go, so he said seriously: “I will focus more intently on researching the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations.”
With his current cultivation, to repair formations left by a Formation Emperor, he could only rely on this formation manual.
Jun Changxiao said: “Xinyao’s formation attainments are quite good. You can have her study the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations together. Perhaps she’ll provide some insights and ideas.”
Thinking of that girl who asked questions until the bottom fell out of the pot, Zhen Dejun’s scalp tingled.
However, he agreed with the sect master’s words. This girl’s imagination and thinking were very active—truly excellent at comprehending formations!
Don’t look at how Shangguan Xinyao loved asking questions, but her angles were extremely tricky. Although the various elders were questioned until their heads swelled, upon calm reflection afterward, they all marveled: “How did I not think of such simple questions?”
…
“Girl.”
Inside the Formation Hall, Zhen Dejun said seriously: “This is the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations, our Wangu Sect’s strongest formation manual. With your current understanding of formations, you can begin studying it.”
The sect’s strongest formation manual?
Hearing this, Shangguan Xinyao’s eyes immediately lit up.
“Wow!”
After studying it briefly, she exclaimed: “Old Zhen, the formations laid out here are simpler than what you taught, yet more miraculous!”
This comment made Zhen Dejun’s expression quite colorful.
“Sorry, sorry.”
Shangguan Xinyao also realized her error and hastily said: “This disciple isn’t questioning Old Zhen’s formations, just feels the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations are much stronger than what Old Zhen taught.”
“…”
Zhen Dejun said despairingly: “I’m leaving now. You comprehend on your own.”
Encountering such a straightforward girl, his heart was now filled with drifting snowflakes and howling north winds.
…
The next day.
Zhen Dejun came to the Formation Hall again.
As soon as he sat down, Shangguan Xinyao walked in holding the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations, her bright eyes flashing with doubt and confusion.
Finished!
This girl is about to start again!
Sure enough, Shangguan Xinyao placed the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations on the table, taking out bookmarks stuck inside, saying: “Old Zhen, this disciple studied most of the night and has many unclear points. I hope you can clarify them.”
“How many is ‘many’?”
“Uh… probably over a hundred questions.”
Zhen Dejun directly slumped in his chair.
“Old Zhen, the Spirit Gathering Formation’s layout seems flawless, but why do these two formation lines have to pass through these two formation nodes?”
“Old Zhen, the Isolation Formation has so few formation nodes yet can support the entire formation’s operation—what’s the principle?”
“Old Zhen…”
At noon, Shangguan Xinyao left the Formation Hall smiling.
Sitting inside, Zhen Dejun rested the back of his head against the chair, staring blankly at the ceiling beams above with a lifeless expression.
…
Over the following days, Jiang Xie and the Ning brothers had quite comfortable lives, because Shangguan Xinyao had been constantly researching formations and hadn’t come to lecture hall at all—their ears were wonderfully quiet!
“Old Zhen.”
One day, Jun Changxiao sat before Zhen Dejun with his meal, saying: “How’s the formation research coming along…”
He stopped speaking there, because Zhen Dejun stared vacantly ahead, opening his mouth, then mechanically stuffing rice in, propping up his chin with his hand and chewing robotically.
In just a few days under Shangguan Xinyao’s relentless question bombardment, this formation expert seemed to have developed senile dementia.
“Sigh.”
Jun Changxiao shook his head, saying: “You’ve worked hard.”
“Old Zhen!”
Just then, Shangguan Xinyao walked into the dining hall from outside, saying: “I’ve thought of many more…”
“Ahhh—”
Zhen Dejun stood up and ran out screaming.
He’d gone crazy—questioned into insanity.
…
Although Shangguan Xinyao was terrifying, the questions she raised during this period provided Zhen Dejun with many insights. During quiet nights, he would carefully ponder them.
“I understand.”
“I understand now!”
One day.
Zhen Dejun entered the Spirit Gathering Formation disciples used for cultivation, then began modifying formation lines and node arrangements based on yesterday’s enlightenment.
“Buzz—”
Once everything was complete, the Spirit Gathering Formation trembled slightly, then gathered heaven and earth attributes even more concentrated than before.
“Hahaha!”
Zhen Dejun laughed loudly: “Just by making slight adjustments, I can enhance spiritual energy gathering intensity. Such a simple thing—I never thought of it!”
He hadn’t thought of it, but Shangguan Xinyao had. So this originally mid-grade Spirit Gathering Formation, after modification, had an even higher spiritual energy gathering rate than before.
Of course.
The improvement was limited.
However, Zhen Dejun’s ability to comprehend from Shangguan Xinyao’s questions and successfully implement improvements demonstrated a new understanding of formations.
“Girl!”
“Whatever questions you have, ask them all!”
Zhen Dejun sat energetically in the Formation Hall. At this moment, he had realized that Shangguan Xinyao, this supreme brain, could help him achieve more comprehensive understanding of formations.
Some things seemed simple, but one might not necessarily think of them.
Although Shangguan Xinyao was weaker than Zhen Dejun in formation layout, her thinking was extremely active. She often could ask questions he hadn’t considered, thus gaining tremendous benefit from subtle details.
…
Half a month later.
“Buzz!”
Behind the mountain, flowing light flashed as a high-grade Spirit Gathering Formation from the Thirty-Two Wondrous Formations took shape.
Jun Changxiao exclaimed admiringly: “Old Zhen’s current understanding of formations has probably reached Huang-level, right?”
“Correct.”
Zhen Dejun smiled: “I’m now a Formation Emperor!”
Formation cultivation advancement had no flashy aura eruptions—only from laying out high-level formations could one tell. The high-grade Spirit Gathering Formation he laid corresponded to Xingyun Continent’s grade system—only Huang-level formation grandmasters could accomplish this.
“Excellent, excellent.” Jun Changxiao smiled.
With Zhen Dejun achieving Formation Emperor status and laying out a high-grade Spirit Gathering Formation, disciples would undoubtedly benefit even more in their cultivation.
“Sect Master, when do we depart for the Ten Directions Certain Death Tower?”
“Next month.”
“I think if we’re going, it’s best to bring that girl Xinyao along. She might provide help.”
“Fine.”
—