Chapter 46: Chapter 46: What’s So Difficult About a Simple Formation?

The Kunlun Taiqing Sect’s Qiu Changtian currently serves as the 280th generation’s Chief Disciple of Kunlun.

He practices the secret Kunlun supreme Qi Refining Technique of the Immortal Sect, the “Nine Heavens Clear Entrance True Mantra.”

The characteristic of this Qi Refining Technique is that it is difficult to learn and understand, but the True Qi and True Yuan it refines are exceptionally pure. This grants precious additional bonuses in the grade rank of the final Core Formation and Nascent Soul Transformation.

In addition, reaching the first layer unlocks a derivative Daoist Magic called the “Universal Pure Tone Minor Illumination Technique,” which can heal injuries, cure sicknesses, dispel evil, and purify the mind… Whenever in doubt, use it directly, and it has various marvelous effects.

Beyond Qi Refining Technique, Qiu Changtian also possesses a Seventh Rank metal system Flying Sword named “Jade Smoke,” and the Thunder Method “Jade Pivot Thunder.”

The Jade Smoke Sword is a flexible standard attack method, while Jade Pivot Thunder is used as a trump card for explosive power.

Overall, Qiu Changtian’s personal combat strength is much stronger than Ling Yunpo’s, and far surpasses Luo Yan, who is as weak as a chicken.

Of course, these three identities are still just virtual, and the body under the illusion is the same. All abilities, in fact, are his own.

Next, there are three things to do:

First, go on daily excursions for training, establish a character setting with sect members, and increase the synchronization value.

As for the prestige of being the Chief Disciple, Qiu Changtian doesn’t actually care about it. In cultivation sects, strength is king; what’s the use of great fame?

Second, continue to study the Five Thunder True Law.

As Jade Pivot Thunder is his trump card, he must master it very proficiently.

As for the Shenxiao Thunder clue that Elder Xu gave last time, since the location is in the distant southeast Yangzhou, Qiu Changtian doesn’t plan to run there from thousands of miles away before he completely masters Jade Pivot Thunder in his hands.

Third, prepare for the Pavilion trials.

Although the specifics of the trial are still unknown, one could guess that the Pavilion, as an Ancient Times Clarify Cult relic, will definitely focus on testing those qualities valued by the Clarify Cult:

That is, the cultivation level, temperament, root bone, combat ability, wisdom, and comprehension that Kunlun, Shushan, and Penglai respectively focus on,

Conveniently, no matter which one of these aspects is tested, Qiu Changtian is not worried at all—so he continues to calmly go on his excursions for training.

This day, while wandering around the administrative hall on Jade Void Peak, he encountered an interesting mission:

Rescue a group of Penglai disciples trapped in the Qinling Mountains.

It is said that these Penglai disciples, following a secret cache clue, found an Ancient Times Clarify Cult hole in the sky in the Qinling Mountains, only to accidentally trigger the formation inside, causing most of them to be trapped.

Luckily, one female disciple was fortunate not to be trapped, and she hurriedly flew to the nearby Kunlun administrative hall to ask for help, just running into Qiu Changtian.

Qiu Changtian followed her, controlling his sword to reach the Qinling hole in the sky, and saw beyond a dense tangle of vines, the panic-stricken cries of the Penglai disciples:

“Bi Lian sister! Is that you coming back?”

The Penglai female disciple known as “Bi Lian” hurriedly shouted through the vines:

“It’s me! I’ve brought Chief Disciple Qiu Changtian from Kunlun to help!”

Hearing this, the Penglai disciples inside began chattering all at once, making it impossible to hear what they were saying clearly.

Qiu Changtian calmly walked forward, sweeping his divine sense over the lush vines that were obviously growing abnormally, and compared them with the formation knowledge in Luo Yan’s mind.

“It should be the Yimu Kunlong Formation,” he said with a frown.

“Yimu Kunlong?” Bi Lian’s face changed drastically upon hearing this, “But isn’t that a mountain-protecting array large enough to encompass a hundred miles?”

“There are also smaller ones, used for guarding mansions,” Qiu Changtian said calmly. “You should have tried all sorts of methods to break the formation, right?”

“Yes,” said Bi Lian, turning somber, “Whether it’s slashing with knives, cutting with swords, burning with fire, or tearing with blunt force, none can do anything to these vines. The more you destroy, the more they grow back.”

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but to start shedding tears.

It’s well known that the incident arose because of her. If it wasn’t for her accidentally finding the clue to this relic and rashly coming to explore, she would not have caused her fellow disciples to be trapped.

If her master learns about this, who knows what punishment she would face!

“The Yimu Kunlong Formation is indeed beyond your current ability to solve,” Qiu Changtian comforted her, “The handiwork of the formation setter seems to be that of a Cultivator at the Refining Mansion Rank.”

Bi Lian, relieved that it wasn’t the work of a Golden Core True Person, began to feel troubled again.

Formations were inherently designed to overcome the strong by the weak; forcefully breaking a formation set by a Refining Mansion Rank Cultivator would basically require the intervention of a Golden Core True Person.

However, as a mere Marrow Cleansing Rank Cultivator, where could she possibly find a Golden Core Cultivator to assist her? Even in Kunlun, it was unlikely she knew any True Persons.

It seemed she had no choice but to rush back to Penglai to apologize to her master and ask him to pull some strings, to request the assistance of a few skilled in formations from her Sect…

Bi Lian bit her lower lip and her tears began to fall once again as she felt a bitter ache in her heart. She only heard Qiu Changtian’s leisurely voice saying:

“However, the level of this formation is really quite poor; the spiritual power infused into it has, at most, been utilized to sixty percent of its potential, so it’s not difficult to break.”

Bi Lian:

At this moment, she couldn’t care less about how he seemed to be holding back in his speech; she hastily asked with urgency, as if clutching at a lifeline:

“Senior Brother Qiu, do you have a solution to break it?”

“If my observations are correct, this formation is established by the method of the Three Talents,” Qiu Changtian said with his hands behind his back and a supremely confident smile, “This vine is just one of the formation gates; the real Yimu Kunlong Formation is actually much larger, composed of three small formations nested within each other, mutually supportive.”

He flew up along the nearby stream with Bi Lian, and they soon found a pond at the mountaintop.

“This is the Gui Water Nourishing Formation, responsible for transforming the external spiritual energy to provide for the operation of the Yimu Kunlong Formation.”

As he said this, Qiu Changtian issued a bolt of thunder light with his finger.

The Jade Pivot Divine Thunder fell into the pond, instantly blasting the water apart.

The pond water splashed in all directions, only to disappear suddenly, leaving behind a slightly damp depression.

Bi Lian was stupefied by the sight, then heard Qiu Changtian continue:

“This formation is now broken; come with me.”

Qiu Changtian once again led Bi Lian down the mountain, pausing here and there before finally alighting in front of a rock. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the Jade Smoke Sword and smiled:

“This is the Ji Earth Bearing Formation, the foundation of the Yimu Kunlong Formation, yet deliberately disguised to look like an ordinary rock, even the fluctuations of spiritual power were concealed.”

“If it weren’t for my deductions based on the formation’s pathways, pinpointing that it should be right here, we wouldn’t be able to recognize it even if it was right in front of us.”

He controlled the Jade Smoke Sword to strike down upon it, splitting the rock in two, revealing a small cauldron half-buried beneath.

After meticulously collecting the cauldron and seeing that Bi Lian had no objections, Qiu Changtian once again led her back to the entrance of the cave dwelling.

The vines blocking the path had withered and wilted but were still tough and difficult to tear.

“Look around,” Qiu Changtian yelled inward, “Is there a big tree nearby?”

After a moment, a Penglai disciple replied from inside:

“There’s no large tree, but there’s a potted iron tree!”

“Yimu must cling to Jiamu to thrive,” Qiu Changtian laughed, “All that’s left is to chop down the iron tree, and the formation will dissolve itself!”

Then, the sounds of chopping wood came from inside; after a few strokes, sure enough, the obstructive vines fell rustling down, turning into dead twigs and leaves.

The Yimu Kunlong Formation that had trapped the Penglai disciples was thus easily unraveled by Qiu Changtian!

Bi Lian, who had followed along and witnessed the entire process, was both overjoyed and excited.

After all the vines had fallen, she finally breathed a deep sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

In her eyes, as she gazed at Qiu Changtian, there was now an additional hint of admiration and longing.

[Invincible Character Setting, Synchronization Value +1.]

So said the Kunlun Mirror as a reminder.