Immortal Demonic Path

Chapter 19 Learning Formations

Li Changsheng focused on learning about formations, while Lu Changshou's longsword was finally found.

But apart from the longsword, there were no other items.

Lu Changshou disappeared without a trace, and Lingjian Peak also sent people to investigate.

Naturally, someone sought out Li Changsheng, but Li Changsheng had Nie Qiu as a witness and had been in seclusion cultivating.

"At that time, I activated the formation without informing Changsheng how to activate it, so he was essentially trapped."

Nie Qiu explained.

These words immediately resolved all the doubts surrounding Li Changsheng, leaving the disciples who had been investigating with no choice but to leave.

Li Changsheng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

At that time, Nie Qiu taught him how to freely enter and exit the formation and control the array.

By saying this now, Nie Qiu is effectively removing him from the picture, making it irrelevant to the matter.

After his disciple had walked away, Nie Qiu said, "Lu Changshou, you didn't really kill him, did you?"

"How is that possible?" Li Changsheng said with a wry smile, "Lu Changshou is at the seventh level of Qi Refining, how could I possibly be his match?"

"That's true." Nie Qiu nodded, no longer thinking about it: "It's good that Lu Changshou is gone. No one will bother you anymore. Just focus on learning weapon crafting from me."

"Sigh." Li Changsheng sighed, said no more, and focused on studying the formation.

In the end, Lu Changshou's matter could only be left unresolved.

Aside from a sword, there were no other clues. The remaining clothes were still hidden underground.

Even if they find the clothes, it would only confirm Lu Changshou's death; it would be impossible to find out who he was.

With this matter settled, Li Changsheng was completely at ease and began studying the formation.

Nie Qiu also carefully explained the art of weapon crafting to him: "Weapon crafting may seem simple, but it is fraught with difficulties and requires exquisite craftsmanship."

"There are countless arrays, all contained within artifacts. You asked before about refining them from living spirit trees."

"The refining of materials with true fire has already killed the spirit tree. What we need is a magical artifact that can bear our power."

  

"Whether it's plants, minerals, or the bones of demon cultivators, they all hinder the flow of our spiritual energy."

"Obstacles?" Li Changsheng raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, after all, it's not our own body. The so-called weapon crafting is to eliminate this obstacle and transform it into a magical artifact that can operate smoothly, thereby amplifying our spiritual power."

Nie Qiu said, "Therefore, it's impossible for a spiritual object to survive. We use true fire to remove impurities from the object, and then burn and temper it to reconstruct it. How could it possibly survive?"

"I see."

Li Changsheng suddenly realized, but then he wondered, if that's the case, what about refining himself?

When you move your own body and utilize your own power, it will be completely unobstructed and smooth.

If there's no need for real fire, then there's no need to die.

Wait, tempering in real fire to remove impurities...

If that's the case, can I also temper my body with true fire?

But thinking about it, he realized that he needed to establish a foundation to unleash the true fire, so he had to give up for the time being.

Should we ask Nie Qiu to help with the tempering?

We can't take that risk. If something is discovered along the way, it won't be tempering anymore; it will be making an elixir of immortality.

Nie Qiu continued, "We will use our true essence, that is, spiritual power, to inscribe formations on magical artifacts..."

Only after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, where spiritual energy transforms into True Essence Golden Liquid, can one progress to the later Golden Liquid Rejuvenation Pill.

Spiritual energy is used to inscribe formations, drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to nurture magical artifacts and maintain their spiritual power.

It is also because of the spiritual energy drawn by the array that the magical artifact is strong enough to amplify the user.

The most basic formation for every magical artifact is a small-scale spirit-gathering array.

Only a spirit-gathering array can imbue a magical artifact with spiritual power, constantly nurturing the artifact itself.

Another method is to have a custom-made magical artifact tailored to one's destiny.

This kind of natal magic weapon is entirely crafted by a weapon refiner according to the cultivator's cultivation method.

Under normal circumstances, unless one has absolutely no knowledge of weapon crafting, one would not ask a weapon crafter for help.

Because a weapon refiner needs to understand the other party's cultivation method and personally forges their natal weapon, they are likely to know the other party's weaknesses.

"Senior brother, have you ever crafted a natal magic weapon for someone?" Li Changsheng asked.

"Never before has anyone received one. Only those at the Foundation Establishment stage are qualified to nurture their natal magic weapon."

Nie Qiu said, "A natal magic weapon needs to be nurtured with true essence and one's own blood and energy; this is something that the Qi Refining Realm cannot do."

"I understand," Li Changsheng nodded.

"Alright, I'll start refining the weapon now. Here are materials for the Qi Refining Realm, as well as crafting methods. You can study them on your own first."

Nie Qiu handed him a storage bag and said, "I have just entered the Foundation Establishment stage and need to practice the Wind and Cloud Extreme Refinement and go into seclusion to forge a magic sword."

"Okay." Li Changsheng took the storage bag, along with the books on array formations, and left the house.

He sat cross-legged in front of the smelting furnace outside, studying the formation.

Various Qi Refining Realm formations, such as the Spirit Gathering Array, Five Elements Bewildering Array, Profound Metal Array, Spirit Wood Array, Illusion Array, and Spirit Void Sword Array.

Li Changsheng was immersed in it. These formations were not particularly complicated, after all, they were only formations at the Qi Refining Realm level.

The best way to learn formations is to draw them.

Draw on the ground, then destroy it.

Although the array drawn on the ground is almost useless, because the soil does not contain spiritual power, it is naturally unable to activate the array.

Li Changsheng inscribed various formations: the Spirit Gathering Formation, the Five Elements Bewildering Formation, the Illusion Formation...

All the above formations were depicted and attempted.

After comparing the two in his mind, he realized that if he were to inscribe these formations on himself, he would probably have to modify his energy circulation route.

I could only suppress my thoughts and wait until later to visit the Artifacts Library to see if I could find a solution.

After learning the formation, the next step was to inscribe it with spiritual power, and a stone was chosen as the test subject.

Alternatively, take a piece of wood and carve on it.

He didn't rush to forge the artifact; he wanted to make thorough preparations before starting to forge it.

After a day, all he had learned was the formation.

Seven days passed, and the formation was fully mastered before they began to carve on the stones and wood.

Stone and wood are too small and too fragile to be easily carved.

Stones shattered and pieces of wood turned to dust, but Li Changsheng was not discouraged and continued to practice.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and he finally succeeded in carving on the stone and wood.

Of course, even if the carving is successful, it is still just ordinary wood and stone, and has no practical effect.

Clang!

A clear sword cry rang out, and Nie Qiu emerged from seclusion.

Nie Qiu's face was flushed, and his aura became stronger. The magic sword in his hand was also filled with spiritual energy fluctuations far exceeding those of the Qi Refining Realm.

"The Foundation Establishment Sword is finally complete. Now I am a true Foundation Establishment Realm weapon refiner," Nie Qiu said with a smile.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on mastering the Wind and Cloud Extreme Refinement," Li Changsheng said.

"How's your learning going?" Nie Qiu asked.

Li Changsheng said, "I have memorized all the formations, but I am still practicing how to inscribe them."

Nie Qiu glanced at it and asked in surprise, "You haven't started refining weapons yet?"

"I'm not ready yet, and I don't feel confident," Li Changsheng said. "The design of the formation is indeed a delicate task; the slightest mistake will destroy the magic artifact."

Nie Qiu sighed, "You are much better than I was back then. I didn't have your temper back then. I was too eager to get started and ruined a lot of materials."

"It's all thanks to my senior brother's excellent teaching; I just feel I'm not good enough," Li Changsheng said with a smile.

"Rest assured, I have mastered the Wind and Cloud Extreme Refining technique. Please bear with me for a moment and become my apprentice. The weapon-making system will provide materials for you to practice with."

Nie Qiudao.

"It is my honor to meet you, Master." Li Changsheng bowed solemnly and said, "Greetings, Master."

"Why call me Master? We should still address each other as fellow disciples. An apprentice doesn't necessarily have to be a disciple." Nie Qiu waved his hand and said, "If it weren't for you, my benefactor, I wouldn't have been able to successfully establish my foundation."

(End of this chapter)