Ten Steps to Break the Formation

A small boat crosses the sea of trees, a tall figure stands between heaven and earth.

Wen Ling'er steered a ten-foot-long brown wooden boat, carrying Li Ping'an towards the spirit mine hundreds of miles away.

At this moment, Wen Ling'er was suffering immensely.

Someone like her, a registered disciple, was essentially a servant meant for running errands. Her master had hundreds, if not thousands, of disciples. This task was clearly going to be impossible to complete, and she had no idea how her master would punish her afterward.

Is my disguise really that bad?

Wen Ling'er suddenly felt like crying.

She had managed to get by in this chaotic market town for so many years, yet she couldn't even last two rounds against an inner disciple who had only been cultivating for a few years…

She was probably finished.

Wen Ling'er carefully recalled the details of her two encounters with Li Ping'an and soon let out a dejected sigh in her heart.

It was simply that her cultivation level wasn't high enough.

This guy had been toying with her from the very beginning.

In that case, no matter what punishment her master handed down later, she wouldn't have any complaints. She would accept it.

Wen Ling'er cautiously glanced back at Li Ping'an standing at the stern of the boat. Seeing his gaze sweep over, she quickly turned her head away, formed a sword finger, and chanted a magic incantation, making the wooden boat move more steadily.

Li Ping'an appeared relaxed on the surface, but in reality, he had been constantly spreading his spiritual sense around him.

Every strand of Wen Ling'er's hair, fluttering in the wind, was under his surveillance.

It was nothing more than self-preservation.

He was also quietly contemplating how to 'invite' Manager Xiao to appear later.

[Xiao Yue, a member of the inner circle led by Vice Sect Master Mo Yi. Vice Sect Master Mo Yi was originally a candidate for Sect Master and a direct competitor to my old man.

Vice Sect Master Mo Yi is extremely cunning and never expresses any dissatisfaction within the sect. However, the Heavenly Immortals who frequently interact with Mo Yi have repeatedly voiced their criticisms of 'Da Zhi' over the past two years.

Although Xiao Yue is only a True Immortal within the sect, her abilities are quite outstanding. She manages the Immortal Sect's industries impeccably, and her master is one of the three Golden Immortal ancestors.]

If he could get in touch with Xiao Yue during this opportunity, even if he couldn't win her over to his father's side, just forming a good relationship would be extremely beneficial for his father's future path to becoming Sect Master.

Now, Li Ping'an had to figure out the simplest way to make Manager Xiao appear and how to make her impression of his father improve…

This was truly a difficult task.

Li Ping'an sighed inwardly.

Everyone knew that even if his outer disciple trial failed, the sect would still let him cultivate within the mountain gates, treating him as a mere idler.

However, if his trial involved Daoist Priest Chen, or even threatened Daoist Priest Chen's safety, he would not let it go.

An hour later, the wooden boat had traveled about three hundred miles. Li Ping'an's spiritual sense had detected the spirit mine surrounded by clouds and mist at its edge.

He glanced at the glass mirror in his palm and chuckled:

"The clouds, disregarding the wind, have gone from two to one."

Wen Ling'er didn't understand and obediently lowered her head to steer the boat.

She felt wronged but dared not express it.

Above Li Ping'an's head, in the clouds.

Three Immortals from the Myriad Cloud Sect gathered, but there was no awkwardness.

Elder Yan Sheng sat on a cloud stool in the center, puffing on his pipe. The smoke rising from his tobacco pouch slightly increased the thickness of the white cloud.

Wei Yanzi smiled and set up a small square table, placing immortal wine and fine brews on it. He then hid beside Elder Yan Sheng, not daring to speak to the beautiful manager standing before him.

It wasn't because Wei Yanzi felt their cultivation levels were too different, but rather because Wei Yanzi knew how formidable Manager Xiao was.

Xiao Yue appeared at ease.

She sat behind the square table, spreading the layers of her gauze skirt on the cloud, looking as if she were sitting within a blooming peony. In her hand, she held a jade slip containing account records, examining it closely. Her phoenix eyes occasionally glanced at Elder Yan Sheng.

The only thing that mattered to Xiao Yue was the attitude of this elder from the outer sect.

Wei Yanzi suddenly said, "The wooden boat is only twenty miles from the spirit mine."

Xiao Yue nodded gently, remaining silent.

Elder Yan Sheng tapped his pipe and offered a gentle smile: "Elder Xiao."

Xiao Yue's lips curved into a charming smile: "Elder Yan, please enlighten me."

"Enlighten you? I wouldn't dare. We are both fellow disciples cultivating. I am merely older."

Elder Yan Sheng sighed:

"Do you think young friend Ping'an can be considered a talent worth nurturing?"

Xiao Yue nodded gently. Her fair, crystal-clear skin reflected the sunlight, and her white chest seemed on the verge of bursting. Her slender waist, bound by a soft cloth belt, was almost too delicate to grasp.

This Xiao Yue, full of mature charm, was actually without a Dao companion. Several True Immortals in the sect had tried to become her Dao companion, but they were all humiliated and mocked by her, losing all face.

Xiao Yue then said with a laugh:

"This little fellow is quite interesting. I used to think he was just a pedantic and foolish disciple, hiding in the Flowing Cloud Temple to cultivate all day. He even refused to go to the main peak when the sect asked him to, claiming he needed to avoid suspicion. It was truly laughable.

"After interacting with him this time, I realized he actually has some depth. He's much better than his father, who only knows how to drink and fool around with people.

"It's just a pity his aptitude is ultimately a bit lacking. I wonder if he can reach the realm of Immortals."

Elder Yan Sheng nodded with a smile and added, "It's perfectly fine for an outer sect elder to adjust the trial for outer disciples. However, Ping'an's father privately asked me to ensure his safety on this journey. Elder Xiao, would you please spare him the ordeal of this illusion array out of respect for me? What do you say?"

Xiao Yue chuckled, covering her mouth. "You say it so seriously. If you have instructions, how could I not listen? However, I've already set up this illusion array. I can't just dismantle it like this."

Wei Yanzi frowned. "What does Elder Xiao mean?"

"Just let him enter the array."

Xiao Yue picked up her night-glowing cup and took a sip of the immortal wine within. Her slender fingers, like jade, tapped lightly on the cup.

"He's played tricks on my registered disciples twice, which is quite an embarrassment for me. If I don't make him suffer a bit, it will be difficult for me to maintain my standing within the sect.

"This is merely an illusion array; there are no killing restrictions whatsoever.

"If he can pass this illusion array, I won't make things difficult for him afterward. I'll even put in a good word for him with the sect.

"If he can't pass it, we'll pull him out after he's been in there for three to five days. What do you two think?"

Wei Yanzi frowned. "This illusion array can trap even Immortals! He's just a cultivator in the Condensing Light Realm. It would be a miracle if he could get out!"

Elder Yan Sheng glanced at this new Immortal in the sect. Wei Yanzi shook his head and said no more.

"Since Elder Xiao wishes to temper young friend Ping'an, it is naturally his opportunity."

Elder Yan Sheng smiled.

"But please, Elder Xiao, prepare some rewards. If he manages to walk out of the illusion array, will you give him a reward?"

"Oh?"

Xiao Yue knew Elder Yan Sheng's temperament. Hearing the old Immortal speak like this, her eyes showed a hint of curiosity.

"Could it be that he has some skill in formations?"

Elder Yan Sheng took a puff of his pipe and simply said, "Everyone knows Elder Xiao has many treasures. Don't let young friend Ping'an think that a senior expert is stingy."

"You say that. If young friend Ping'an can get out of this formation, he would naturally be a rare genius in formations. The sect would have another remarkable person, and I'd be happy. ... Hmm?"

As Xiao Yue was speaking, the bracelet on her wrist suddenly vibrated gently, and the jade pieces on it emitted faint ripples.

This bracelet was a precious sound transmission magic treasure, capable of transmitting sound over vast distances. It had many usage restrictions and was only to be used in emergencies.

Wei Yanzi asked curiously, "Is there an urgent matter within the sect?"

"It's a message from the market town. An ancient ruin has appeared on the coast of the Eastern Sea."

Xiao Yue smiled.

"It's not too far from where our Myriad Cloud Sect has a market town outpost. The closest fellow disciples have already rushed over. I wonder if they can gain some opportunities."

Elder Yan Sheng sighed. "Ancient ruins appearing often bring calamities, not opportunities."

Xiao Yue said seriously, "It's not too far from us either. If we need to provide support later, we'll have to go as well."

"Of course," Wei Yanzi smiled. "This is a major sect matter. If necessary, we can let young friend Ping'an hide here for a few days while we come back to escort him."

"Look," Elder Yan Sheng said, "he's entered the array."

Xiao Yue and Wei Yanzi looked down and indeed saw Li Ping'an's figure float into the white mist shrouding the spirit mine. The young girl who brought him here stood quietly at the bow of the boat.

Xiao Yue's lips moved, and she transmitted a message to Wen Ling'er:

"Follow him into the array. Record everything he does."

Wen Ling'er was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly jumped into the illusion array, still calling out "Brother Ping'an's" name.

Xiao Yue brushed her fair hand across the table in front of her, and a wisp of cloud mist drifted over, revealing a picture on the tabletop that gradually became clearer.

She used the cloud mirror technique to fully display the scene within the array.

Li Ping'an stood with his hands behind his back, motionless, as if sensing something.

Wen Ling'er stood beside him, cautiously observing the dense fog all around.

Wei Yanzi wondered, "Can Ping'an really break formations? Elder, I wouldn't say I watch him every day, but I have a general idea of the techniques he knows. I know Ping'an is skilled in pill refining, and he even has his own unique pill refining techniques... but formations, I've never seen him use them."

"He may not be skilled in setting up formations, but he is skilled in breaking them, especially illusion arrays that confuse the senses."

Elder Yan Sheng smiled.

"It's normal that you don't know about this.

"About a year ago, Uncle-Master Da Zhi invited me for a drink and got me completely drunk. He then swiped my most prized possession, the 'Detailed Illustrated Record of Formations.'

"Although I promised it to him while drunk, I couldn't get the record back, so I had to accept it... However, this was the culmination of my half-life's work, so I still wanted to see what Uncle-Master Da Zhi would do with it.

"Unexpectedly, Uncle-Master Da Zhi wasn't studying it himself but took it to young friend Ping'an.

"From then on, I've paid attention to young friend Ping'an's research into formations."

Xiao Yue asked curiously, "Is he truly a formation genius? He's only in the Condensing Light Realm now, yet he can understand such profound and complex array changes?"

"This," Elder Yan Sheng pondered for a moment, "he doesn't understand the many changes of the formation... nor does he need to. He is exploring another Dao."

Xiao Yue's phoenix eyes held more confusion.

Elder Yan Sheng sighed, "Ping'an said that formations should be divided into three parts.

"The first part is the appearance, which is the part where the formation executes its function. Killing formations have various killing moves, illusion formations have various illusions. The part that the entrant can perceive is called the appearance.

"The second part is the formation itself, composed of various formation disks paired with different formation bases.

"The third part is the formation's disks and bases. The disks and bases are the foundation of the formation. The formation operates on top of the disks and bases, so the disks and bases are the foundation of everything. He called it... hardware.

"These three parts, from the outside to the inside, are connected by spiritual energy and magic power."

Xiao Yue chuckled, "This doesn't sound particularly profound."

"I originally thought the same, but when I heard young friend Ping'an continue, I felt as if scales had fallen from my eyes.

"This division is merely the foundation of his path to breaking formations."

Elder Yan Sheng shook his head and gave a wry smile.

"He said... the most troublesome formations are killing formations, which concentrate the power of the entire formation to strike the entrant. One can only dodge or endure it directly.

"Illusion formations and confinement formations, however, are somewhat lackluster.

"Every formation must have formation bases. Formation bases are the nodes where spiritual power converges within the formation. As long as one can figure out the underlying flow of spiritual power, they can find where the formation bases are hidden.

"Moreover, in a formation, each formation base has a different function and belongs to different Five Elements. Identifying the formation base allows one to know their position within the formation... This doesn't require touching the formation base, only judging its inherent characteristics is enough.

"He memorized most of my life's experience with formations just to study formation bases and record the characteristics of various types of formation bases.

"Furthermore, young friend Ping'an also summarized thirty-six rules and over three hundred minor variations for the refinement of formation bases, and reclassified the formation bases of various formations based on their own characteristics..."

Wei Yanzi suddenly said, "He's starting to move!"

Elders Yan Sheng and Xiao Yue looked down at the cloud mirror on the table. They saw Li Ping'an take out a brocade box from his robes and retrieve a compass-like magic artifact from within.

Following that, Li Ping'an began to walk forward, strolling casually.

One step, two steps.

Xiao Yue saw him walking towards the depths of the illusion formation, a hint of disdain flashing across her lips.

Three steps, four steps.

Li Ping'an suddenly stopped walking and looked down at the grass in front of him.

Wen Ling'er almost bumped into his back, but a surge of magic power stopped her three feet away.

Li Ping'an smiled faintly and waved a palm forward. The mist rippled slightly, and the compass in his hand began to hum.

He turned and took a fifth step back the way he came, then closed his eyes, shifted sideways two steps, and then moved forward again.

Blood-red light began to flicker in the thick fog ahead.

Xiao Yue, watching from above the clouds, was slightly stunned.

Inside the formation, Li Ping'an glanced at Wen Ling'er beside him and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, please go ahead."

Wen Ling'er's face fell, and she lowered her head, walking into the thick fog.

Li Ping'an carefully sensed his surroundings and followed, when suddenly the sound of tinkling hammers echoed in his ears.

The moment his right foot landed, the dense fog in front of him vanished. What met his eyes was a mine located deep within the dense forest.

Calling it a mine was an understatement; it was essentially a large, orderly pit. Hundreds of sturdy mortal men in short shirts were carefully excavating ore at the bottom of the pit, searching for precious materials within the rock layers.

Mining for the Immortal Sect was an important duty for these mortal dynasties.

Li Ping'an and Wen Ling'er stood at the edge of the mine. Their arrival clearly alerted the few Qi cultivators from the Myriad Cloud Sect who were guarding the area.

Above the clouds, Elder Yan Sheng's face was full of smiles, while Xiao Yue's slender eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

Wei Yanzi said with a grin, "We can't just put the young disciples through trials without giving them some benefits, can we?"

Xiao Yue said softly, "That is only natural. Today has certainly opened my eyes. This young friend Ping'an is indeed quite extraordinary."

A slight commotion arose on the ground.

The few Qi cultivators who had been hiding in the mine, waiting for the so-called 'evil cultivators,' poked their heads out. A middle-aged male cultivator couldn't help but call out, "Ping'an! Ping'an?"

Li Ping'an smiled casually.

It was Daoist Priest Chen.