Born with immortal seed

Chapter 137 Formation Study
Bai Zichen held the sword and key in his hand, turning it over and over, examining it for a long time.

It has a bronze texture, is heavy, and doesn't look particularly special.

"This sword key was issued by the Sun-Covering Sword Sect. I heard that this sect set the rules in conjunction with several other sword cultivation sects... With this sword key, one can participate in a secret realm trial related to the inheritance of swordsmanship."

Liang Yu had obviously heard about the origin of the sword and key, and began to explain it to him.

"However, this secret realm is not within the territory of Liang Kingdom. The Hidden Sun Sword Sect is only responsible for distributing and selecting sword geniuses. The founder is someone else, a major sword sect in Bei Yuan Kingdom, which is said to have a Nascent Soul True Monarch in charge."

"Therefore, this sword key is very famous among sword cultivators in the surrounding countries. Sword cultivators who are confident in themselves will try every means to find one and go to try their luck."

"I see."

Bai Zichen carefully put away the sword and key. The Northern Yuan and the Liang Kingdom are neighboring countries with similar territorial sizes.

“Junior brother, your divine sense is strong. The ancestor intends to pass on the art of array formation to you. You must seize this opportunity… Several second-tier array masters in the sect have been taught by the ancestor, but according to the ancestor, none of them are capable of breaking through to the third-tier array master.”

Liang Yu said earnestly, fearing that Bai Zichen was too engrossed in the sword path and would neglect the inheritance of formation techniques.

"The importance of a third-tier array master to the sect is no less than that of a Core Formation cultivator. Whether it is the arrangement and maintenance of the mountain-protecting array or the control role played by a third-tier array master when attacked, it can add several times the power to the third-tier array. If junior brother can inherit the array mantle of the ancestor, his future achievements will far surpass mine."

"I understand. I will study it when I have time and see if I really have a talent for formations."

How could Bai Zichen not understand the importance of a third-tier array master?

Among the various arts of cultivation, alchemists are the most respected, followed by weapon refiners; this is in relation to individual cultivators.

At the level of large-scale forces, the status of array masters rises sharply.

However, the art of formations is vast and profound, and cannot be mastered in a short period of time.

In a world where great power originates from oneself, the choice between elevating one's personal realm and cultivating the myriad arts of immortality is undoubtedly the former.

Bai Zichen was well aware of this and would not reverse the order of importance.

"By the way, once the grand formation is set up, besides the small island in the middle of the lake which is prepared for Ancestor Yang, we can also open up several third-tier cave dwellings. Are you interested?"

Liang Yu perhaps sensed Bai Zichen's insincerity, shook his head and didn't try to persuade him further, instead bringing up another important matter.

“The Moon Locking Pool where you are currently living will be taken back in a few years. The sect doesn’t have any empty Tier 3 spiritual lands right now. Given the size of Jade Moon Lake, I estimate that at least five more Tier 3 spiritual lands can be added.”

"If I could be allocated a third-tier spiritual land in Jade Moon Lake, that would be wonderful... Please keep an eye out for me when the allocation will begin."

Bai Zichen's heart stirred; this matter was indeed very important to him.

Given his three spiritual roots and his efficiency in refining spiritual energy, he definitely wouldn't be able to maintain his previous cultivation speed without the support of a third-tier spiritual land.

Whether he stays in Benshan or Feiyue Lake is not important to him.

"Don't worry, I'll keep an eye out for you. Unlike the newly vacated third-tier spiritual lands in the mountain gate, which require queuing in order, there's no such rule for newly developed spiritual veins like Jade Moon Lake."

As if he had thought of something, Liang Yu's eyes turned cold, and he spoke with a firm and resolute tone.

"Based on Junior Brother Bai's achievements in the pioneering war, it is only reasonable for him to be allocated a third-tier spiritual land. Just hand it over to me."

In the following days, with the withdrawal of a large number of cultivators, Jade Moon Lake became much quieter.

The Array Hall spent another ten days working on the 3,600-ring Water Smoke Array, finally completing the arrangement of all the array flags and array plates, waiting only for the final step of activation.

However, this step requires the intervention of a third-tier array master; otherwise, if the array does not perfectly align with the spiritual vein's direction, the power of the third-tier array will be greatly reduced.

Even when under attack, it exposed some flaws that it shouldn't have had.

"Not bad, you have put in a lot of effort, and there are no problems with the formation."

Old Ancestor Yang descended from the sky and had already inspected the formation. He was clearly very satisfied.

"We also owe a great deal to our ancestor's excellent teachings in the past."

The leading array master quickly bowed and handed the core of the array to Old Ancestor Yang.

Bai Zichen and all the sect elders present stood quietly to the side, waiting for the moment the formation would be activated.

"amnesty!"

With a soft shout, Old Ancestor Yang flicked his ten fingers, sending beams of white light into the array flags, which began to rotate slightly, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

At the same time, a mysterious connection is generated between them, and spiritual energy surges.

Only Old Ancestor Yang, who holds the dual identities of Core Formation True Person and Third-Order Array Master, could single-handedly command and arrange such a third-order grand formation.

Otherwise, even with Ge Cang Zhenren's cultivation level, he wouldn't have been able to do it so effortlessly.

Thick fog rose from the lake, so thick that one could not see their own hand in front of their face.

Moreover, it not only obscures vision, but even when one's spiritual sense leaves the body, it is only effective within a ten-foot radius around oneself. Any further away, once one enters the mist's range, one becomes like a headless fly.

Even though they had been notified in advance, several exclamations of surprise still rang out from the elders.

Every Foundation Establishment cultivator is used to using their divine sense, and it's inevitable that they will feel uncomfortable when it suddenly becomes useless.

The mist started from Jade Moon Lake and slowly spread outwards, encompassing the surrounding crisscrossing waters, shallow and narrow rivers, several scattered spirit fields, and two second-tier spirit vein mountains.

This process lasted a full hour.

Old Ancestor Yang reached out and pressed down, and all the array flags simultaneously released water curtains, overlapping and forming a continuous expanse in the air.

At the same time, thirty-six high-grade spirit stones were driven into the array plate. With a flick of the array control core, the immense spiritual power contained in the thirty-six high-grade spirit stones was absorbed.

The third-tier grand formation connects heaven and earth, linking the earth's veins. It requires high-grade spirit stones to activate it for the first time.

In the future, it will only need to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to operate normally.

Even if a powerful enemy attacks, there is a third-grade high-quality spiritual vein to supply spiritual power.

Unless surrounded by enemies and subjected to attacks year after year, even a third-grade high-quality spiritual vein cannot keep up, in which case high-quality spiritual stones must be used to replenish it.

If exchanging low-grade spirit stones for mid-grade spirit stones only results in a slight premium, then exchanging them for high-grade spirit stones requires a multiple of the original price.

It takes 20,000 low-grade spirit stones to exchange for one high-grade spirit stone.

Activating the 3,600-ring Water Smoke Array required over 700,000 spirit stones, not even counting the cost of crafting the array flags and array plates.

The high cost of a third-order grand formation is evident.

Aside from those at the Core Formation stage, which other organization could afford to set up such a setup?

As the spiritual energy from the thirty-six high-grade spirit stones surged in, the water curtain appeared and disappeared intermittently, and the sky returned to normal.

Even the thick fog had mostly dissipated, leaving only wisps of mist, which had decreased to a level that would not obstruct visibility.

"The grand formation has been activated, and the access tokens have long been prepared. Come to my island to collect them later... I still need to set up a spirit-gathering formation these two days, so please don't bother me unless necessary."

After saying those words, Old Master Yang transformed into a gentle breeze and vanished without a trace.

Bai Zichen gazed at the distant array, his eyes fixed on it for a long time.

Witnessing the entire process of the third-order grand formation being activated up close was truly awe-inspiring.

Cultivators strengthen themselves and enhance their magical power, while the art of formations borrows the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, subtly aligning with the path of the Great Dao.

"Perhaps, I should indeed set aside some time to take a look at those jade slips containing array formations..."

Bai Zichen's long-term goal remains unchanged: he will study the various arts of immortal cultivation after he reaches the Core Formation stage, and just lay a foundation during the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, we can increase the number of items from one (refining weapons) to two, and also add the formation.

“Starting tomorrow, except for the elders and disciples who are temporarily assigned to guard Feiyue Lake, all others will be withdrawn to the sect in an orderly manner... As for the list of those to be stationed long-term, it will be decided at the next elders' meeting.”

With the 3,600-ring Water Smoke Array in place, Jade Moon Lake was as stable as Mount Tai. Even if the dragon were to be resurrected, it would be unable to reclaim its territory.

Wei Dao immediately issued a sect leader's decree and prepared to return to the sect.

The cultivators who remained for the time being were mainly disciples from the Array Formation Hall and the Spirit Plant Hall, totaling no more than a few hundred people.

In fact, the Emerald Moon Lake and the surrounding spiritual lands could easily accommodate thousands or even tens of thousands of cultivators.

With its third-tier superior spiritual vein, Jade Moon Lake is destined to be more than just an ordinary villa. A hundred years from now, it will surely become the secondary center of the Azure Maple Sect, radiating its influence deep into the Black Mountain.

……

"The art of formations is indeed profound. I am now a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and my spiritual sense is approaching the late Foundation Establishment stage. Even so, it takes me more than ten days to learn the basics of this level of formation..."

Bai Zichen put down the jade slip in his hand. In the past half month, he had mainly read through some of Yang Laozu's insights on formations, and at the same time, he had begun to study a beginner formation.

In the various arts of cultivation, besides testing the cultivator's own talent, those with higher cultivation levels have an advantage when they return to learn them.

For example, the same cultivator might need three years to enter the Dao of Talismans during the Qi Refining stage, but after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, with a broader vision and, most importantly, the assistance of divine sense, it would only take a few days at most.

This is also why Bai Zichen is unwilling to invest too much time in the various arts of cultivation. Firstly, he doesn't have that much time, and secondly, after he forms his core, he can use even less time to go back and study.

"This Minor Rejuvenation Array can accelerate the recovery of mana for cultivators within a three-zhang radius... Hmm, it is only effective for cultivators in the early stage of Qi Refining, and can be considered the most basic first-grade low-level array."

Bai Zichen looked at the array emitting green light beneath his feet, nodded in satisfaction, and waved his hand to remove it.

Although it was only a first-tier low-grade formation, it took him a lot of effort to understand it, and he failed more than ten times.

Now that the setup has been successfully completed, I can consider myself a first-tier low-grade array master.

"One thing is certain: I am definitely not the kind of genius who can grasp formations instantly and apply them to other situations... Without investing a lot of time and energy, it is impossible to become a second-tier formation master."

Bai Zichen regretfully put away the jade slip containing the array's inheritance, for today was the day he would return to his sect aboard the Wind Chaser.

When I can return to Jade Moon Lake next depends on when Senior Brother Liang Yu can properly arrange the third-tier spiritual land so that I can return as a resident.

(End of this chapter)