Concealment Formation

Zhang Tie slowly got to his feet, his mind now clear on his next step: to seek out his Fourth Senior Brother for details on concealment formations. After all, having resolved to attempt a breakthrough in the Secret Realm, a concealment formation was undoubtedly an essential key.

One had to remember that all cultivators entering the Secret Realm were at the ninth layer of Qi Refining and lacked divine sense. Theoretically, a concealment formation capable of evading Qi Refining stage detection should be sufficient.

However, to ensure absolute certainty, Zhang Tie hoped to obtain a formation that could conceal him from Foundation Establishment stage detection. After all, one could never predict if disciples from major prestigious sects might possess some mysterious treasure for detection.

"I'm not very proficient with formations. Why don't you go ask Second Senior Brother? His family is a prominent one in the field of formations," Lei Hu said after a moment of deep thought, his brow furrowed.

"Thank you, Fourth Senior Brother," Zhang Tie said, cupping his fist in thanks. He turned to leave.

"Wait, Junior Disciple Brother. I see your vitality is growing ever stronger. Your cultivation must have advanced. How about we spar a bit?" Lei Hu said, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tie stomped his foot and instantly vanished from the cave dwelling like a bolt of lightning. After a few more leaps, his figure completely disappeared into the distance.

Lei Hu watched the disappearing back with a helpless shake of his head and a sigh.

Not long after, Zhang Tie arrived at Second Senior Brother's cave dwelling. Just as he was about to send a sound transmission talisman, the cave dwelling's door slowly opened. "Junior Disciple Brother, come in and have a seat?" Senior Brother Duan's gentle voice drifted from within.

Zhang Tie didn't hesitate to step inside. He saw Second Senior Brother leisurely sitting at a stone table, carefully brewing spirit tea. Seeing Zhang Tie enter, Second Senior Brother smiled and gestured for him to sit.

"Are you here about the concealment formation, Junior Disciple Brother?" Senior Brother Duan asked after taking a sip of spirit tea.

"How did Senior Brother know?" Zhang Tie asked, slightly stunned and full of confusion.

"It's nothing. The Secret Realm Grand Competition for the major sects is in three months. I was present when Master summoned us last time. It wasn't difficult to guess," Senior Brother Duan explained patiently with a slight smile.

"Senior Brother is truly insightful. Do you happen to know about concealment formations? To be frank, I desperately need a reliable concealment formation," Zhang Tie said directly, his gaze urgent.

"I do have concealment formations here, and some are considered top-notch. I just brought these from my family recently, and they were originally intended for you," Senior Brother Duan said, tossing a storage bag lightly.

Zhang Tie was slightly taken aback, then quickly reached out and caught the storage bag. With anticipation, he opened it to find a fist-sized formation disk and eighteen blue formation flags lying quietly within. Just by looking at the formation disk, Zhang Tie knew this formation was no ordinary item; it was definitely of superior quality.

"This is a third-tier low-grade concealment formation. Ordinary cultivators in the early Golden Core stage absolutely cannot detect it. This formation would cost no less than a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones in any market," Senior Brother Duan said again, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.

"A hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, that's quite a sum," Zhang Tie marveled inwardly. "I don't accept favors without reason. What price do I need to pay to exchange for this set of formations?" Zhang Tie asked cautiously, his brow furrowed.

"You don't need to be so nervous, Junior Disciple Brother. Although a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones is a considerable amount, it's not a world-shattering matter for my Duan family. We just want to make a mutually beneficial transaction," Senior Brother Duan replied with a smile, trying to ease Zhang Tie's tension.

"What transaction?" Zhang Tie pressed, his eyes filled with curiosity and wariness.

"The Secret Realm is filled with countless heavenly materials and earthly treasures, especially spirit medicines of considerable age. This is a guide on how to appraise the age of spirit medicines. We hope that when you obtain thousand-year-old spirit medicine in the Secret Realm, you will prioritize trading it with our Duan family at a fair market price," Senior Brother Duan said earnestly.

"No problem," Zhang Tie replied readily after a brief moment of thought and weighing the pros and cons.

"Then thank you, Junior Disciple Brother," Senior Brother Duan continued. "These are jade boxes for storing spirit medicines. You might find them useful in the Secret Realm." With that, he handed another storage bag to Zhang Tie.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Duan." Zhang Tie accepted the storage bag with both hands, cupped his fist in thanks, and then added, "If Senior Brother Duan has no other urgent matters, I will return to my cave dwelling to prepare."

"Take care, Junior Disciple Brother," Senior Brother Duan said.

Zhang Tie turned and left the cave dwelling. With a few leaps, his figure disappeared.

Not long after Zhang Tie left, Duan Feng left the main hall and went to the cultivation room. He skillfully activated the isolation formation, then carefully took out a snow-white jade mirror, allowing it to float slowly in front of him.

Next, he quickly cast several complex magic incantations with his hands, pouring spiritual power into it continuously. Soon, a middle-aged man's figure appeared clearly in the jade mirror. His features bore some resemblance to Duan Feng, exuding an air of authority and depth.

"Elder, I have given the concealment formation to Zhang Tie as you requested, and the transaction has been successfully completed," Duan Feng said respectfully.

"Well done," the middle-aged man replied with a satisfied smile.

"However, I still have some doubts and don't quite understand why we went to such lengths. If it was just about good relations, a concealment formation that could only deal with the Foundation Establishment stage should have been sufficient," Duan Feng asked, his brow slightly furrowed in confusion.

"You, you still think too simply. Every time we participate in the Grand Competition, the thousand-year-old spirit medicines brought out are almost always quickly claimed by the various sects. It's only to appease the dissatisfaction and resentment of our immortal cultivation families and rogue cultivators that the sects will put a few thousand-year-old spirit herbs up for auction, and each time they fetch astonishingly high prices," the middle-aged man explained with a heavy tone.

"But there was no need to specifically find this kid Zhang Tie. There are twenty people participating this time," Duan Feng continued to press, his doubts still not fully resolved.

"We had no choice. Although there are twenty participants, aren't they all backed by powerful family backgrounds? Only this Zhang Tie is alone, with no one to rely on. Do you know why your Master took him as a personal disciple without hesitation the moment he saw him?" the middle-aged man asked, his gaze deep.

"Isn't it because he has Profound tier body cultivation aptitude?" Duan Feng replied, his eyes still showing a hint of confusion.

"Of course not. It's because Zhang Tie is certain to enter the Secret Realm, and with his body cultivation reaching the Meridian Casting Realm, he has a high probability of surviving and coming out. As Zhang Tie's Master, besides receiving generous rewards from the sect, he will also receive one-third of the spirit medicines Zhang Tie brings out. The sect will also take one-third of Zhang Tie's share, leaving Zhang Tie with at most one-third. This is our rare opportunity," the middle-aged man explained in detail, his eyes flashing with shrewdness.

"Young Master understands now," Duan Feng said, suddenly enlightened.

"Contact me if you need anything else," the man said, and his figure instantly vanished from the mirror. Duan Feng carefully put away the mirror, removed the restriction, and slowly walked out of the cultivation room.

Meanwhile, Zhang Tie was in the Pill Repository, engrossed in searching for books on spirit herbs and medicines to borrow, completely unaware of the conversation that had just taken place in Duan Feng's cave dwelling.