A small boat crossed the forest sea, a tall figure stood between heaven and earth.
Wen Ling'er piloted a brown wooden boat over three yards long, carrying Li Ping'an toward a Spirit Mine several hundred miles away.
At this moment, Wen Ling'er was naturally miserable beyond words.
A registered disciple like her was really just a servant who did errands and labor. Her master had no fewer than several hundred such disciples, perhaps even thousands. It was clear she would fail this assignment, and she had no idea how her master would punish her afterward.
Was my disguise really that awful?
Wen Ling'er suddenly felt like crying.
She had spent so many years in that mixed-bag Market Town, yet when facing an inner sect disciple who had cultivated for only a few years, she had not even lasted two exchanges...
She was probably hopeless.
Wen Ling'er carefully recalled the details of her two encounters with Li Ping'an. Very quickly, she let out a dejected sigh inwardly.
Her cultivation was simply insufficient.
This fellow had been toying with her from the very beginning.
In that case, no matter what punishment her master gave her later, she had nothing to complain about. She would simply accept it.
Wen Ling'er cautiously turned to glance at Li Ping'an standing at the stern. When she saw his gaze sweep over, she hurriedly turned back, formed a sword-finger gesture, and made a hand seal to make the wooden boat travel more steadily.
Li Ping'an looked rather relaxed on the surface, but his spiritual sense remained spread throughout his surroundings.
Every strand of Wen Ling'er's windblown hair was under his watch.
There was no special reason for it. He valued his life.
He was also quietly thinking about how he should "invite" Manager Xiao to show herself later.
Xiao Yue was a member of the small faction within the sect led by Vice Sect Master Mo Yi. Vice Sect Master Mo Yi had once been a candidate for Sect Leader and was in direct competition with Li Ping'an's father.
Vice Sect Master Mo Yi was extremely shrewd and never displayed any dissatisfaction within the sect. Yet over the past two years, several Heavenly Immortal Elders who frequently associated with Mo Yi had repeatedly voiced many criticisms of Da Zhi.
Although Xiao Yue was merely a True Immortal within the sect, she was highly capable and managed the Immortal Sect's industries in impeccable order. Her master was also one of the three Golden Immortal Ancestors.
If he could use this opportunity to make contact with Xiao Yue, then even if he could not win her over to his father's side, merely establishing goodwill would greatly help his father's future path to becoming Sect Leader.
Now, Li Ping'an had to figure out the simplest way to draw out Manager Xiao, and how to make her think more favorably of his father...
This truly was not easy to arrange.
Li Ping'an sighed inwardly.
Everyone knew that even if his Outer Sect Trial failed, the sect would still allow him to remain in the mountain gate and cultivate, treating him as little more than an idle dependent.
But if his trial implicated Daoist Priest Chen and even endangered Daoist Priest Chen's life, he would never let the matter rest.
An hour later, the wooden boat had traveled roughly three hundred miles. At the edge of Li Ping'an's spiritual sense, he discovered the Spirit Mine surrounded by clouds and mist.
Glancing at the Glazed Mirror in his palm, Li Ping'an chuckled.
"The clouds that ignored the wind direction have changed from two into one."
Wen Ling'er did not understand what he meant and obediently lowered her head to steer the boat.
She looked aggrieved, but did not dare show it.
Above the clouds over Li Ping'an's head.
Three immortals of the Myriad Cloud Sect had gathered there, yet there was no awkwardness between them.
Elder Yan Sheng sat on a cloud stool in the center, puffing away at his Dry Tobacco Pipe. The smoke drifting from its bowl slightly increased the thickness of the white cloud.
Wei Yanzi smiled as he set out a square table and placed several jars of fine immortal wine upon it. Then he hid beside Elder Yan Sheng, not daring to strike up a conversation with the beautiful chief manager before him.
It was not because Wei Yanzi thought the gap between his cultivation and Xiao Yue's was too great. Rather, he knew full well how formidable Manager Xiao was.
Xiao Yue appeared utterly at ease.
She sat behind the square table, spreading the layered hem of her gauze skirt across the cloud as though she sat amidst a blooming peony. Holding a Jade Talisman containing account records, she studied it closely, while the corner of her phoenix eyes occasionally glanced toward Elder Yan Sheng.
The only thing Xiao Yue cared about was the attitude of this senior Outer Sect elder.
Wei Yanzi suddenly said, "The wooden boat is less than twenty miles from the Spirit Mine."
Xiao Yue nodded lightly without speaking.
Elder Yan Sheng tapped his tobacco pipe and forced a gentle smile. "Elder Xiao."
A sweet smile appeared on Xiao Yue's lips. "Elder Yan, please instruct me."
"I would not dare claim to instruct you. We are fellow sect members cultivating together; I merely have a few more years on me."
Elder Yan Sheng sighed.
"Do you think young friend Ping'an can be called a promising talent?"
Xiao Yue nodded slightly. Her fair, crystalline skin reflected the sunlight; her snow-white neckline seemed ready to burst free, while her slender waist, bound by a soft sash, looked as though it could be held in one hand.
This Xiao Yue, brimming with mature charm, did not actually have a Dao companion. Several True Immortals within the sect had once attempted to become Dao companions with her, but all had been humiliated and ridiculed by her until they lost all face.
Then Xiao Yue said with a smile.
"This little fellow is rather interesting. Before this, I thought he was merely a rigid and foolish disciple, hiding in Flowing Cloud Temple to cultivate all day. The sect asked him to go to the Main Peak, but he refused, claiming he wished to avoid suspicion. It was truly laughable.
"After meeting him this time, I discovered that he does have some depth. He is far better than his father, who only knows how to drink and fool around with others.
"Unfortunately, his aptitude is still a little lacking. It is hard to say whether he can reach the Realm of Immortals."
Elder Yan Sheng nodded with a smile, then said, "The Outer Sect elders temporarily changing an Outer Sect Disciple's trial is not inappropriate. However, young friend Ping'an's father privately asked me to ensure his safety along the way. Could Elder Xiao spare him the suffering of this maze formation for my sake?"
Xiao Yue covered her mouth and laughed softly. "You make it sound so solemn. Since you have instructed me, how could Yue'er refuse? But I have already set up this maze formation. I cannot simply remove it outright."
Wei Yanzi frowned. "What does Elder Xiao mean?"
"Let him enter the formation."
Xiao Yue raised a luminous cup and took a sip of the immortal wine within. Her long, jade-like fingers lightly tapped the cup in her hand.
"He toyed with my registered disciple twice, which counts as making me lose face. If I do not make him suffer a little, I fear it will be difficult for me to maintain my footing in the sect from now on.
"This is only a maze formation. There are no killing restrictions whatsoever.
"If he can pass through the maze formation, I will not make things difficult for him afterward. I will even return to the sect and put in a good word for him.
"If he cannot pass through it, we will fish him out after he has stayed inside for three to five days. What do you two think?"
Wei Yanzi frowned. "This maze formation can trap immortals. He is only a minor Light Condensation cultivator. If he can walk out of it, I would be shocked!"
Elder Yan Sheng glanced at this newly ascended immortal of the sect. Wei Yanzi shook his head and said no more.
"Since Elder Xiao wishes to temper young friend Ping'an, it is naturally a fortunate opportunity for him."
Elder Yan Sheng smiled.
"Still, please prepare a reward, Elder Xiao. If he manages to leave the maze formation, how about giving him something?"
"Oh?"
Xiao Yue understood Elder Yan Sheng's temperament. Hearing the old immortal speak this way, curiosity appeared in her eyes.
"Could it be that he possesses some attainment in the Dao of Formations?"
Elder Yan Sheng took a puff from his Dry Tobacco Pipe and merely said, "Everyone knows Elder Xiao possesses many treasures. Do not let young friend Ping'an feel that a senior expert is stingy."
"Listen to you. If young friend Ping'an can leave this formation, he will naturally be a rare genius in the Dao of Formations. The sect will have gained another remarkable talent. I would be delighted beyond measure... Hm?"
As Xiao Yue spoke, the bracelet on her wrist suddenly trembled slightly. The jade pieces on it emitted faint ripples.
This bracelet was a rather precious sound-transmission artifact that could transmit messages over ten thousand miles. It had many restrictions on its use and could not be used except in emergencies.
Wei Yanzi asked curiously, "Is there some urgent matter within the sect?"
"A message has come from the Market Town. Ancient Ruins have emerged on the coast of the Eastern Sea."
Xiao Yue smiled.
"It is not too far from where our Myriad Cloud Sect is stationed in the Market Town. Several fellow sect members closest to that place have already rushed over. Who knows whether they can gain some fortune from it?"
Elder Yan Sheng sighed. "When Ancient Ruins emerge, they often bring killing calamities. It is difficult to call them opportunities."
Xiao Yue said seriously, "It is not too far from us either. If they require additional support later, we will have to go there as well."
"Of course," Wei Yanzi said with a smile. "This is an important sect matter. If necessary, we can let young friend Ping'an hide here for a few days, then return to escort him back."
"Look," Elder Yan Sheng said. "He has entered the formation."
Xiao Yue and Wei Yanzi looked down. Sure enough, they saw Li Ping'an drift into the white mist shrouding the area around the Spirit Mine, while the young woman who had brought him here stood quietly at the bow.
Xiao Yue's lips moved, but she was transmitting her voice to Wen Ling'er.
"Follow him into the formation. Record everything he does."
Wen Ling'er froze for a moment, then hurriedly jumped into the maze formation, still calling out "Brother Ping'an" as she did so.
Xiao Yue brushed her delicate hand over the table before her. A wisp of cloud drifted past, and an image that gradually sharpened from a blur appeared upon the tabletop.
She used a cloud mirror technique to fully display the scene within the formation.
Li Ping'an stood with his hands behind his back, motionless, as though sensing something.
Wen Ling'er stood at his side, cautiously observing the thick mist in every direction.
Wei Yanzi wondered aloud, "Can Ping'an really break formations? Elder, I may not watch him every day, but I still know roughly what techniques he has learned. I know Ping'an excels at alchemy, and that he even has his own original alchemy techniques... But formations? I have truly never seen him use one."
"He should not be skilled at setting formations, but he is skilled at breaking them, particularly maze formations like this that confuse the six senses."
Elder Yan Sheng smiled.
"It is normal that you do not know about this.
"About a year ago, Martial Aunt Dazhi invited me for drinks and got me thoroughly drunk. Then she took away the Formation Detailed Explanation Atlas, the work I was most proud of in my life.
"I had promised her while drunk, so I could not ask for the atlas back. I could only accept my loss... But it was still the work of half my life, so I naturally had to see what Martial Aunt Dazhi intended to do with it.
"Who would have thought that Martial Aunt Dazhi did not wish to study it herself, but took it to young friend Ping'an?
"Since then, I have paid close attention to young friend Ping'an's study of formations."
Xiao Yue asked curiously, "Is he truly a genius in the Dao of Formations? He is only in the Condensing Light Realm now, yet he can understand the changes in such Profound and Mysterious grand formations?"
"Well..." Elder Yan Sheng pondered for a moment. "He does not understand the many changes of formations... nor does he need to. He is studying another path."
More confusion filled Xiao Yue's phoenix eyes.
Elder Yan Sheng sighed.
"Ping'an said that formations should be divided into three parts.
"The first part is the outward appearance, the part through which a formation performs its function. A killing formation has its various killing moves, while a maze formation has its various illusions. The parts that someone entering the formation can come into contact with are called its outward appearance.
"The second part is the formation itself, made from various formation disks paired with different formation foundations.
"The third part is the formation disks and formation foundations. They are the foundation of a formation, and the formation operates upon them. Thus, the formation disks and formation foundations are the foundation of everything. He calls them... hardware.
"These three parts are linked from the outside inward through spiritual qi and spiritual power."
Xiao Yue smiled. "That does not sound particularly remarkable."
"I initially thought the same, but when young friend Ping'an continued explaining, I felt as though enlightenment had struck me.
"This division is merely the foundation of his path to breaking formations."
Elder Yan Sheng shook his head with a bitter smile.
"He said... the most troublesome formations are killing formations. They gather the power of the grand formation to strike those within, leaving one with no choice but to evade or withstand them.
"Maze formations and trapping formations, however, are somewhat useless.
"Any formation must have formation foundations. Formation foundations are nodes where spiritual power converges within a formation. One need only find a way to sort out the underlying routes of spiritual power to locate where the formation foundations are buried.
"Moreover, every formation foundation has a different function and a different Five Elements affinity. By identifying the formation foundations, one can know one's position in the formation's heaven and earth... There is no need to touch the formation foundations. It is enough to judge their inherent characteristics.
"He memorized my lifetime of formation insights precisely to study formation foundations and record the characteristics of every kind.
"Furthermore, young friend Ping'an has summarized thirty-six rules for refining formation foundations and more than three hundred minor variations. Based on their inherent characteristics, he has classified the formation foundations of all types of formations anew..."
Wei Yanzi suddenly said, "He has started moving!"
Elder Yan Sheng and Xiao Yue looked down at the cloud mirror on the table. They saw Li Ping'an take an ornate box from his robes and remove a compass-shaped artifact from within.
Then Li Ping'an began walking forward, moving as leisurely as though strolling through a garden.
One step, two steps.
Seeing him head deeper into the maze formation, Xiao Yue's lips curved in a faintly disdainful smile.
Three steps, four steps.
Li Ping'an suddenly stopped and lowered his head to gaze at the grass before him.
Wen Ling'er nearly crashed into his back, but a burst of Dharmic power stopped her three feet away.
Li Ping'an smiled faintly and struck forward with his palm. The clouds and mist stirred slightly, while the compass in his hand began to hum.
He turned and took a fifth step back toward the way he had come. Then he closed his eyes, moved sideways two steps, and proceeded forward again.
Specks of blood-red light appeared in the dense mist ahead.
Xiao Yue, above the clouds, was slightly stunned.
Within the formation, Li Ping'an turned to glance at Wen Ling'er beside him and smiled. "Fellow cultivator, please go ahead."
Wen Ling'er wore a mournful expression as she lowered her head and walked into the thick mist.
Li Ping'an sensed carefully, then followed after her. Suddenly, a series of clanging sounds rang beside his ears.
The moment his right foot touched the ground, the dense mist before him abruptly vanished. What entered his sight was a mine deep within the forest.
Calling it a mine was generous. It was really just a regular, enormous pit. Several hundred sturdy mortal men in short shirts carefully excavated ore at its bottom, searching for precious materials hidden within the rock layers.
Mining for the Immortal Sect was an important duty of these mortal Immortal Dynasties.
Li Ping'an and Wen Ling'er stood at the edge of the mine. The two of them had clearly alarmed the few Myriad Cloud Sect Qi cultivators guarding the place.
Above the clouds, Elder Yan Sheng was all smiles, while Xiao Yue's delicate willow brows were tightly furrowed.
Wei Yanzi said with a grin, "We cannot just temper a junior disciple without giving him some benefit, can we?"
Xiao Yue said softly, "Naturally. Today has truly opened my eyes. This young friend Ping'an really is quite extraordinary."
A small disturbance arose on the ground.
Several Qi cultivators hiding within the mine tunnel and waiting for the so-called Evil Cultivators poked their heads out. A middle-aged male cultivator could not help shouting.
"Ping'an! Ping'an?"
Li Ping'an smiled freely.
It was Daoist Priest Chen.
Before you continue