Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation, Activated

Three days later, Changyun City lay beneath an ink-black night, at the heart of the inner city.

Within a lavish residence.

On a stone platform stood an old man dressed in dark robes, black dragon patterns embroidered along his collar and cuffs—the signature design of the Dragon Transformation Sect.

Behind the stone platform stood a massive three-headed Buddha statue.

The old man's beard and hair were white, yet his complexion was rosy. His eyes were like deep pools, gleaming with sharp light.

He slowly raised his right hand and pressed his palm against the center of the black stone platform. The essence within his body flowed into the platform like a trickling stream.

As his force poured in, faint silver radiance gradually seeped from the cracks across the black stone platform. The glow grew brighter and brighter, finally forming an invisible pillar of light that shot straight into the night sky.

The next moment, faint glimmers rose simultaneously from all across Changyun City. They surged forth from the places where Wang Clan disciples had buried stone slabs, gathering in the air like fireflies before flying toward the black stone platform in the inner city.

In the old man's eyes, those lights were brilliant and dazzling. Each one represented a wisp of the city's essence. They intertwined in the night sky into an enormous net of light, shrouding the entire Changyun City. As the net circulated, more essence was drawn out from every corner of the city and merged into it.

Yet in the eyes of Changyun City's common folk, the night sky remained pitch-black.

They saw nothing. They had long since fallen asleep, utterly unaware of the strange phenomenon unfolding beneath the veil of night.

"Weiwu." The old man withdrew his hand. His low voice rang like clashing metal and stone, echoing through the silent courtyard.

A black shadow emerged from the residence's darkness. It was Xu Weiwu.

He lowered his head, walked behind the old man, and bowed. "Martial Uncle."

The old man did not turn around. His gaze remained fixed on the net of light in the sky as he said evenly, "The formation has been activated."

Xu Weiwu fell silent for a moment. In the end, he could not suppress the doubts in his heart. He raised his head and asked hesitantly, "Martial Uncle, will this Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation truly not draw the essence from living people, as the rumors say? When this disciple was in the Wang Clan, Wang Hezheng mentioned the old events of the Zhao Kingdom. This disciple has remained uneasy ever since."

At those words, the old man turned around. His sharp gaze fell upon Xu Weiwu like a blade, carrying a trace of displeasure. "How many times have I said it? This formation was improved by the sect elders. It has long differed from the evil formation used in the Zhao Kingdom back then. It will only gather the essence scattered throughout the city; it will not harm the foundations of living people."

He paused, and his tone softened somewhat. "You are still too young, your heart too soft. What our Dragon Transformation Sect is doing is born of necessity."

Xu Weiwu lowered his head and said nothing more, but the doubts in his heart did not entirely fade. He trusted his Martial Uncle, yet he could not completely disregard the Zhao Kingdom's lesson written in blood.

Seeing him like this, the old man sighed helplessly. "The matter here has already been settled. In a few days, return to the sect as well. Do not waste your time here."

"Return to the sect?" Xu Weiwu froze briefly, then understood. He bowed and replied, "Yes, this disciple obeys."

The old man waved a hand, signaling for him to withdraw.

Xu Weiwu bowed once more, turned, and left the residence, melting into the night.

The old man turned his gaze back toward the net of light in the sky, a complicated expression flashing through his eyes. The formation indeed would not actively draw the essence from living people, but that did not mean no one could tamper with it. It was a double-edged sword. Used well, the Dragon Transformation Sect would flourish greatly; one misstep, and the name of a demonic sect might be stamped upon the Dragon Transformation Sect in an instant.

"Those sects that turn a blind eye to foreign enemies wield thunderous methods within."

"Troubled times are approaching. A few risks are unavoidable." The old man murmured softly, slowly closing his eyes as he began guiding the essence within the net of light toward the black stone platform.

After gathering there, it seemed to be tugged by an invisible thread, flying toward the Spirit Seeking Prefecture.

Roughly another tenth surged toward a place within the inner city.

The Wang Clan's rear courtyard training ground lay steeped in night.

Bare-chested, Wang Yue repeatedly practiced the Harmonious Flow Fist in the center of the grounds. His fists split the air, their howls especially distinct in the still night.

He had been practicing when an inexplicable sensation suddenly welled up in his heart, as though countless tiny currents were drifting around him.

They slipped into his body with his breath, then quickly dissipated, causing his Blood Qi to stir faintly.

"Something's wrong." Wang Yue stopped, frowning. This sensation was anything but ordinary. It did not resemble the cool night breeze either. Instead, it carried a quality similar to "essence," though thinner and more mixed than his own Blood Qi.

He instinctively pushed open his door and stepped into the courtyard. The instant he raised his head toward the night sky, his pupils suddenly contracted. Countless fine silver threads floated in the pitch-black heavens, weaving together like a spiderweb into a vast oval net of light.

It enveloped all of Changyun City. Silver radiance flowed slowly along the threads, carrying an aura of mystery and majesty.

Just then, lines of golden text suddenly appeared on the panel in his mind, clearly imprinted upon his consciousness:

Detected Fifth Tier formation: Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation

Formation effect: Draws in wandering human essence from between heaven and earth. Once gathered, it may be transformed into pure energy. This formation's design is exquisitely ingenious and possesses no fixed alignment. Used by the righteous path, it may nourish martial artists and consolidate their foundations; used by the wicked path, it may forcibly draw the essence from living people and become an evil formation.

Additional notice: Refining the essence gathered by the formation can significantly accelerate a martial artist's cultivation speed. However, this essence contains human stray thoughts, which can easily shake one's will during refinement. Use with caution.

Wang Yue stood rooted to the spot, his face filled with shock. The stone slabs buried underground by Wang Clan disciples were actually part of this Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation!

The clan head had ordered every disciple of the clan to bury stone slabs. It had never been some simple "clan assignment"; they had been cooperating with the Dragon Transformation Sect to lay down this grand formation covering all of Changyun City!

He steadied himself and looked toward the night sky again, carefully following the flow of the silver net. At its center, the light net converged into two pillars of essence. One was thick and condensed, flying intermittently beyond the city toward the Spirit Seeking Prefecture's capital.

The other was thin and weak, like a drifting thread, yet it descended toward the Wang Clan's rear courtyard!

"What? The pillar of essence is falling on the Wang Clan?" Wang Yue was greatly startled. His feet moved, Blood Qi silently circulating within him, and he leaped onto the roof as lightly as a civet cat. His steps made no sound as he raced across the connected rooftops, his gaze fixed tightly on that slender pillar of essence. Before long, he reached its destination—it was the private residence of Clan Head Wang Hezheng!

The clan head knew about this long ago? And the Wang Clan can even receive a share of the formation's essence? Wang Yue stood atop a distant roof, his thoughts tangled like hemp as countless questions flooded his mind.

He did not dare look any longer, fearing discovery. He turned and silently retreated to the Martial Academy, then hurried to the water vat in the courtyard. Picking up a bucket, he dumped its ice-cold well water over himself in one go.

The bone-piercing chill instantly cleared his mind. Wang Yue took a deep breath and forced himself to think calmly. The Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation can both absorb wandering essence and draw essence from living people. The panel currently shows that only the wandering-essence gathering mode has been activated, meaning it will not harm the common people for now.

To confirm it, he walked to a patch of ground in the Martial Academy where a stone slab had once been buried. Standing atop it, he focused and sensed his own spirit and Blood Qi. A moment later, he let out a fierce breath of relief. Not a trace of essence had leaked from within him, and his Blood Qi remained steady. It seemed the formation was indeed only absorbing wandering essence for the moment and had not affected living people.

Even so, Wang Yue had lost all desire to rest. He returned to the training ground and assumed the opening stance of the Harmonious Flow Fist. His fist wind was sharper than before, every punch carrying his complicated and heavy state of mind, as though he wished to vent all his doubts and unease through the movements.

"Huh." Light footsteps came from the side. Wang Yue stopped and turned, only to see Wang Shuo standing at the edge of the training ground in a gray jacket, watching him with a complicated expression.

"How much do you know?" Wang Shuo asked softly. His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority.

Wang Yue's heart jolted. He had not noticed Wang Shuo behind him at all. He must have been too focused on the great formation; concern had thrown him into disorder, making him overlook the movements around him.

He withdrew his fist stance and walked before Wang Shuo. Just as he was about to explain, Wang Shuo's gaze suddenly fell upon his eyes. Then his pupils constricted sharply, and he asked in shock, "In your eyes... what is in the sky?"

Wang Yue was stunned as well. He asked instinctively, "Master, can't you see the silver threads and pillars of essence in the sky?"

Wang Shuo followed his gaze and looked up at the black night sky. His brows knitted tightly, and he shook his head. "Other than a night sky dotted with stars, there is nothing."

Wang Yue's heart skipped a beat, and a cold sweat seeped out. It seemed only he could see these strange phenomena. It was most likely the panel's doing! If others learned that he possessed such an ability, who knew how much trouble it would bring him?

Seeing the change in his expression, Wang Shuo did not press him about why he could see them. He merely said solemnly, "Do not speak recklessly of this before outsiders, especially about your ability to see these phenomena. If word gets out, it will bring you a calamity that claims your life."

He paused. Only after seeing Wang Yue nod did he continue, "Since you can see it, I will not hide it from you. Those stone slabs are the foundation stones of the Refining Essence into Qi Great Formation. The Dragon Transformation Sect laid this formation to gather Changyun City's essence, and as collaborators, our Wang Clan can receive a share of that essence to cultivate the clan's disciples."

"Then... will this great formation harm the common people?" Wang Yue could not help asking.

"Not at present." Wang Shuo shook his head, his tone carrying a measure of certainty. "The formation only absorbs wandering essence. This essence naturally escapes during human activity; it will not damage one's foundations."

He patted Wang Yue's shoulder, his gaze reassuring. "Go back and rest. Even if the sky falls, the elders of our Wang Clan's Fifth Branch will hold it up. Besides, in Changyun City, our Wang Clan is the sky. There is no need to worry over things that have yet to happen."

Seeing the steadfast look in Wang Shuo's eyes, the unease in Wang Yue's heart eased slightly. He nodded, asked no further questions, and turned toward his room.