Translator: AnubisTL
The second-tier formation masters summoned by Li Qing were filled with doubt.
As far as they knew, Ancestor Limitless was an artifact refiner with unparalleled mastery in his craft. In terms of artifact refinement among cultivation arts, no one in the entire Lingyun Sect, or even the Azure Ridge Domain, could rival him.
Yet, as the saying goes, "Every profession is like a mountain to the next." No matter how exquisite his artifact refinement skills, they were utterly useless when it came to deploying formations.
However, Li Qing was the sect's founding ancestor and its most powerful supreme elder. With Ancestor Limitless himself giving the order, they had no choice but to grit their teeth and proceed according to the plan.
Thus, Li Qing led the sect's formation masters into the treasure vault. Following Dao Lord Bai Ling's instructions, they began selecting the spirit materials needed for the upcoming formation deployment.
Dao Lord Bai Ling didn't manifest physically, but through the faint perception granted by his lingering obsession, he chose the spirit materials stockpiled within the vault.
"Heh, though your sect's strength is mediocre, the treasure vault is surprisingly well-stocked!"
Hearing this, Li Qing replied with a hint of awkwardness, "Regardless, the Lingyun Sect is a dominant force across this entire great domain. We certainly have some foundational resources."
The vast majority of the spirit materials in the treasure vault had been inherited from the Shangqing Sect, with only a small portion gathered from various regions of the Azure Ridge Domain in recent years.
"Hmm, in that case, I know exactly what kind of formation to set up next," Dao Lord Bai Ling's voice echoed in Li Qing's mind. He then began listing the materials needed:
"Take a handful of Black Blood Earth, retrieve twenty Primal Crystals, and thirty Starfall Stones..."
Dao Lord Bai Ling continued to name a long list of spirit materials, many of which Li Qing didn't recognize.
Li Qing immediately instructed the formation hall elder who had accompanied him into the treasure vault to gather all the materials Dao Lord Bai Ling had requested.
The Grand Elder of the formation hall was over a hundred years old, yet his spirit remained vigorous. He had joined the Lingyun Sect in its earliest days, making him a true veteran of the sect.
Unfortunately, due to his innate talent and cultivation foundation, Elder Ma's cultivation realm had stagnated for many years, remaining stuck in the late foundation establishment realm, unable to even reach the Pseudo-Core stage.
Not everyone could have the same fortuitous encounters as Li Qing. For most cultivators, innate talent and cultivation foundation were critical factors determining the upper limit of their lifelong cultivation.
Under Li Qing's instructions, Elder Ma had already gathered a substantial amount of high-grade spirit materials from the sect treasury, all intended for formation deployment.
A growing unease settled in his heart as he wondered what Li Qing was truly planning.
Initially, he had dismissed Li Qing's actions as a temporary whim, assuming he would give up after a few failed attempts and wasted spirit materials.
But judging by the current momentum, Li Qing seemed determined to see this through!
After a considerable time, over sixty percent of the high-grade spirit materials for formation deployment had been depleted from the Lingyun Sect's treasure vault.
Though Elder Ma was only a second-tier high-grade formation master, he still possessed considerable knowledge.
The spirit materials Li Qing had instructed him to gather far exceeded what was needed for a standard third-tier formation. This looked more like they were preparing to deploy a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation!
Finally, Elder Ma, his forehead drenched in sweat, couldn't bear the pressure any longer. He hesitantly asked, "Ancestor Limitless, what kind of Grand Formation are we actually deploying? Why do we need so many precious spirit materials?"
Elder Ma was truly pained. Some of the spirit materials he had collected were exceptionally rare, capable of causing a sensation if they were revealed to the outside world.
Li Qing, however, remained completely unconcerned.
In his view, these formation materials were just gathering dust in the treasure vault. It would be far better to use them to deploy a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation, transforming them into the sect's true foundation and strength.
He had absolute faith in Dao Lord Bai Ling, believing that deploying a sect-protecting formation would be no great challenge for someone of his caliber.
"You need not concern yourself with such matters," Li Qing replied. "From now on, you and the other formation elders will simply follow my instructions."
After collecting the spirit materials for the formation deployment, Li Qing led Elder Ma and the group out of the sect treasury and headed toward the formation hall.
He hadn't answered Elder Ma's question because Dao Lord Bai Ling hadn't yet revealed the name of the formation they were about to deploy.
"Just wait and see," Bai Ling thought. "Soon you'll understand why others call me Dao Lord Bai Ling!"
Upon arriving at the formation hall, Li Qing followed Dao Lord Bai Ling's instructions, distributing some of the spirit materials to the formation masters present and instructing them to collaborate on refining the formation flags.
"Deploying a formation hinges on two critical factors," Li Qing explained. "First, selecting a terrain with optimal geomantic properties. Second, refining the formation flags to channel the power of heaven and earth."
"Refining formation flags is the most fundamental skill for any aspiring formation master. The process itself isn't particularly difficult, but the few flags that will be placed at the Formation Core require exceptional precision. I will personally oversee the refinement of these crucial flags."
Inside the Lingyun Sect's formation hall, the formation masters sprang into action, diligently refining the formation flags according to Li Qing's specifications.
"You know what? Ancestor Limitless wasn't joking about this."
"Indeed. These are formation flags that connect the nodes of the formation veins. Refining them is complex, but not particularly difficult."
"But refining the flags alone is useless. The art of formations is about controlling the grand forces of heaven and earth, not just randomly planting a few flags."
"True enough. But Ancestor Limitless has given the order, so we have no choice but to comply."
"..."
Without further questions, the elders and disciples of the formation hall buried themselves in their work.
After about four days of relentless effort from all the formation hall elders, the batch of formation flags Li Qing had requested was finally completed.
"Senior, what do you think of these flags?" Li Qing asked.
Dao Lord Bai Ling replied languidly, "They're nothing special. The formation masters in your sect are rather mediocre."
"Back when I had barely reached the foundation establishment realm, the formation flags I could refine far surpassed these inferior goods!"
"Hmm, the quality is a bit lacking, but they'll do for now."
His tone was picky, but Li Qing breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the words "do for now."
To be honest, he had been under considerable pressure.
If the formation hall elders had to refine a new batch, it would likely cause even more dissatisfaction.
Though the elders wouldn't voice their complaints openly, it would inevitably erode his authority within the sect.
"Senior, what should we do next?" Li Qing asked inwardly.
Dao Lord Bai Ling chuckled softly. "Find a high vantage point so I can clearly observe your sect's terrain. After that, follow my instructions to the letter."
Upon hearing this, Li Qing immediately soared into the sky, ascending above Lingyun Sect to allow Dao Lord Bai Ling to thoroughly examine the sect's terrain.
All the formation masters turned their gazes toward Ancestor Limitless hovering in the sky, fully aware that he was surveying the sect's terrain.
Watching Li Qing's practiced demeanor, they began whispering among themselves.
"He actually looks like he knows what he's doing. Could Ancestor Limitless have also studied formation arts?"
"I've never heard of that. Isn't Martial Uncle Limitless only skilled in artifact refinement?"
"Perhaps he's been hiding it? But if so, why didn't he set up a Grand Formation when the sect was first established?"
As they murmured, Li Qing finally spoke from the sky:
"Elder Ma, bury half of the Black Blood Earth at the Qian South Position and the Dui West Position!"
"Elder Xu, take a Starfall Stone and a formation flag to the sect's main gate. Plant the flag using the Starfall Stone as a foundation!"
"Elder Ningling, take two Primal Crystals..."
Li Qing's voice echoed from the heavens, reaching the ears of every elder below.
Of course, these instructions came from Dao Lord Bai Ling. Without his guidance, Li Qing's limited knowledge of formations would never have allowed him to grasp such profound array techniques.
The Lingyun Sect's formation masters hesitated briefly before springing into action.
Li Qing continued issuing commands, the precious spirit materials from the treasure vault dwindling rapidly as they were swiftly buried into the earth under his direction.
Some attentive formation masters meticulously recorded every instruction Li Qing gave.
Visualizing the sect's terrain in their minds, they mentally cross-referenced the newly buried spirit material locations.
They soon realized that Li Qing's designated nodes corresponded to critical terrain features, some of which they hadn't even noticed before.
In addition to these locations, some nodes were buried within spirit materials, hidden beneath the structures of several sects in remarkably concealed positions.
As the final Starfall Stone and Primal Crystal were buried into the earth, Dao Lord Bai Ling spoke:
"Move the formation flags at Kun Southwest and Gen Northeast three zhang northward!"
Li Qing immediately relayed the command. From his vantage point high above, he watched the formation flags being driven into the ground across the sect, a sense of anticipation rising within him.
"Boy, have everyone refine the formation flags. Then channel your mana and lend it to me!"
Without hesitation, Li Qing followed Dao Lord Bai Ling's instructions.
Boom!
After issuing the orders, Li Qing actively channeled his true essence, transferring it to Dao Lord Bai Ling's lingering obsession.
In the next moment, the formation flags across the ground trembled simultaneously, as if resonating in unison.
Above, where Li Qing stood, pure, dense true essence poured forth like liquid mercury.
Spiritual light began to emanate from the formation flags, drawn together as if guided by Li Qing's will.
"Is this a formation refinement ritual? Could Ancestor Limitless be setting up a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation?"
"Impossible! A fourth-rank formation master? It's been centuries since the Azure Ridge Domain last saw such a master!"
"Look! The formation flags are sinking into the earth!"
"The spirituality of all the spirit materials has been mobilized by the formation flags, merging with the terrain to generate the formation veins!"
High above, Li Qing felt his true essence draining away at an alarming rate. Even at the late-stage core formation realm, he felt a pang of fear.
The consumption was far greater than he had anticipated. Despite his exceptionally abundant true essence, it was being depleted at an unsustainable pace!
"Heh, this is nothing," Dao Lord Bai Ling chuckled. "Refining formation flags traditionally requires your mana alone, without mixing in any external forces. Otherwise, the formation's formation would be compromised."
"However, with my mastery of formations, I can easily control even with the presence of foreign spiritual energy."
With that, Dao Lord Bai Ling drew more spiritual energy from Li Qing's body, channeling it into the formation flags embedded in the earth below.
As the formation veins materialized, deep spiritual light surged from the earth, connecting the formation flags like glowing arteries.
Each flag marked a crucial node in the formation's structure.
Finally, just as Li Qing felt his dantian growing empty, all the formation flags were linked by the spiritual light!
Boom!
The earth trembled faintly. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth, as if drawn by an irresistible force, poured into the ground with frenzied intensity.
A terrifying aura emanated from below, a force of heaven and earth capable of annihilating all living beings with ease.
The moment this aura surged forth, every cultivator within the Lingyun Sect felt its unmistakable presence.
From the spirit peak cave abodes where the sect's supreme elders resided, figures emerged one after another, their gazes fixed on the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate with profound shock.
Interconnected spiritual lights radiated an astonishing energy, sending a primal tremor through their very souls.
True Lord Fu Xuan, who rarely left his cave abode, stared in astonishment, his face etched with disbelief.
"This... a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation?"
"Where did they find such a formation master? Do such masters still exist in the immortal realm?"
Having hailed from the Great Wilderness Domain, he deeply understood the significance of a fourth-rank formation master.
Such a master would be a revered guest in any sect, even those of the demonic path known for their bloodthirsty nature would treat them with the utmost respect.
The path of formation mastery grew exponentially more challenging with each advancement, delving into the fundamental principles of heaven and earth. Each step forward demanded immense mental and temporal investment.
True Lord Fu Xuan murmured to himself, "A Fourth-Tier Grand Formation... truly extraordinary. Perhaps I gained the greater advantage when I agreed to join the Lingyun Sect after all."
Wu Chong scratched his head in astonishment, muttering to himself, "What exactly did Li Qing encounter during his sea voyage? How did he manage to deploy a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation?!"
"Could he have been possessed by the remnant soul of an ancient formation master?"
In truth, Li Qing's own heart was far from calm. Staring at the completed formation, he found himself at a loss for words.
The formation masters on the ground shared his sentiment. Even Elder Ma, the most skilled among them, felt utterly insignificant before the completed Grand Formation, like an ant facing a colossal dragon.
In that moment, their hearts were entirely consumed by awe.
Though they had witnessed fourth-tier formations throughout their lives, they were certain that the Grand Formation beneath their feet was the real deal—a genuine Fourth-Tier Grand Formation!
From this day forward, the Lingyun Sect would be protected by this formidable formation!
"Ancestor Limitless, what is the name of this Grand Formation?" someone called out, their eyes burning with fervor as they gazed at Li Qing's figure in the sky.
Li Qing chuckled softly, for Dao Lord Bai Ling had already revealed the formation's name to him just moments ago.
"This formation is called the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation!"
Instantly, every member of the Lingyun Sect etched this name into their hearts.
Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation!
This was their sect's own Fourth-Tier Grand Formation, which would safeguard their future!
(End of the Chapter)
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