Formation, Is the World

The middle-aged man ignored Feng Ya Ya's astonishment and found a rock to sit cross-legged.

"Some of you know me, and some don't. I am Qiu Tong, an formation instructor from Li Nan Courtyard, originally from Huayang Peak."

Besides the Seven Veins, Azure Origin Sect also had departments like the Law Enforcement Hall, Tranquil Peace Hall, and External Affairs Hall. These were not separate branches but departments formed to manage the sect, composed of disciples from the Seven Veins, each with their own responsibilities.

Li Nan Courtyard specifically taught newly initiated disciples, covering everything from literacy to the basics of cultivation. Only after passing the assessment in Li Nan Courtyard would one choose a specific vein to apprentice under based on their talents.

Graduating from Li Nan Courtyard and joining the Seven Veins made one a formal disciple of Azure Origin Sect.

Yu Lin, who had spent two days teaching Su He the basics of talismans, was an instructor from Li Nan Courtyard, hailing from Heavenly Mechanisms Pavilion.

Qiu Tong's introduction was simple. After announcing his name, he gestured for the other junior brothers and sisters to sit down. He surveyed everyone and nodded with satisfaction.

This batch had no troublemakers.

"Originally, Li Nan Courtyard's lessons were supposed to start after the first snow, but this year the climate in Azure Origin Sect's territory is abnormal, and we don't know when the snow will come. To avoid delaying you all, the course has been moved up to Frost Descent. Speaking of which, you can all study for an extra ten days, which is a great opportunity."

After a couple of opening remarks, he directly launched into today's lesson. Clearing his throat, he announced loudly, "Arrays are the world!"

"Everything you can see is an formation. A mountain, a body of water, a blade of grass, a single tree, each forms its own formation. The wind blows and the mountain echoes, water falls and the stone is revealed. This world has Forbidden Grounds and Death Grounds, it has Lands of Dragon's Rise and Blessed Lands, all of which are formations. Mortals, in their ignorance, call it Feng Shui."

Qiu Tong was very good at teaching. The moment he started speaking, Su He was captivated. He spoke eloquently, starting from the infinite starry sky and narrowing down to a blade of grass, a single tree, one person, one beast.

"Flowers, grass, fish, birds, and beasts – each life form is itself a collection of intricate formations. The mouth is the Life Gate; entering can lead to life, not entering leads to death. The kidneys belong to the Rest Gate; when water is abundant, it overflows, when water is scarce, it depletes..."

After a set of theories, it felt as if the world was truly composed of one formation after another. Su He always felt like he was talking nonsense, yet it sounded quite reasonable.

At his feet, Feng Ya Ya's eyes were unfocused. Soon, she was biting her lip, nodding off and snoring. She bumped her head with a thud against Su He's fingernail, waking up abruptly. Looking at Qiu Tong, who was still talking non-stop, she shook her head, forcing herself to stay awake.

I can't waste this good time here. Come on, Big Turtle, let's go to Heavenly Mechanisms Pavilion. Heavenly Mechanisms Pavilion was best at crafting Magic Treasures, so she could get something like a Storage Bag.

She jumped up, openly skipping class, and stumbled out of half the small island, only to run headfirst into Qiu Tong's leg.

Qiu Tong had appeared on her path at some unknown time.

"Hey! What kind of spirit dared to block my path!" Feng Ya Ya clenched her little fists, ready to strike.

Qiu Tong burst out laughing. He had heard that the Sect Leader's Little Princess was incredibly strong and a natural prodigy for Body Tempering. Seeing her today confirmed the rumors; this little girl dared to throw punches at anyone.

"Little girl, Body Tempering isn't everything. Just throwing punches won't solve all problems," Qiu Tong said with a look of earnestness.

Feng Ya Ya tilted her head and met his gaze. "Nonsense! My maternal grandfather said the body is the world, and strength is everything!"

Feng Ya Ya's maternal grandfather was the former Peak Master of Sword Washing Pond. Sword Washing Pond was devoted to the sword, but the old master didn't practice swordsmanship; he spent his days punching people. This little girl had clearly inherited his habits.

Madam Su was truly a Sword Fairy; how could she have given birth to such a Fist Essence?

Qiu Tong chuckled. "In that case, you break the formation and come out!" Qiu Tong took a step back, flicked his hand, and threw out a few small swords, setting up an formation that trapped Feng Ya Ya inside.

Since you think your fists are more useful than formations, I'll trap you with an formation. If you're so capable, get out! This was an Illusion Formation! Su He inexplicably recognized it. His eyes, after the last slumber and evolution, seemed to have gained some special ability.

Inside the Illusion Formation was a mortal street, filled with all sorts of delicacies: steamed lamb, steamed bear paw, steamed deer tail, roasted duck, roast suckling pig...

The mingled aromas assailed their nostrils.

Feng Ya Ya was enthralled.

Qiu Tong looked at the students, raising his chin.

What do you think? Just a small Illusion Formation set up with a few small swords, and the Sect Leader's Daughter is trapped inside.

Feng Ya Ya ate her way from one end of the street to the other. Patting her round belly, she shouted outside, "I'm full! Thank you for the feast, I'm coming out now!"

?

She wasn't fooled by the Illusion Formation? She had been eating in there for half the morning? Feng Ya Ya looked around the street, unsure where to start.

Qiu Tong shook his head and said to the other students, "This is the marvel of formations. Even if you know you are in an formation, you simply cannot break it and get out..."

Before he could finish, he saw Feng Ya Ya inside the Illusion Formation blow on her little fist and smash it into the ground.

With a "Boom!" a deafening sound, half the small island collapsed.

The Illusion Formation shattered upon impact.

Feng Ya Ya emerged, facing the stunned expressions of her disoriented fellow disciples.

Qiu Tong was utterly bewildered.

Feng Ya Ya lifted her little face. "I'm out!"

See? Aren't fists omnipotent?

Qiu Tong was momentarily dazed. "No, wait. This is an exception! There are countless formations in this world that you can't break with one punch. What will you do then?"

Feng Ya Ya tilted her head and thought for a moment. "Two punches?"

"Bah!" Who said anything about a few punches? "If you encounter an formation that cannot be broken with fists, what will you do? Like this one, for example."

He pointed a finger, and the small swords on the ground flew out, quickly forming an formation that surrounded Su He.

A ball of white mist rose, obscuring everything from the outside.

"This time, it's not just an Illusion Formation. There's a killing intent within the formation. If you can't break it within half an hour, your Big Turtle will be damaged. What will you do then?"

Use fists again? If you keep punching the formation, it might not break, but you might end up killing the Big Turtle.

Qiu Tong stood with his arms crossed, smiling.

So refreshing, so exhilarating! He smiled and saw Feng Ya Ya clench her fists, her eyes narrowed as she stared at him with ill intent.

If I can't break the formation, then I'll kill the person who set it up! It's all the same.

Qiu Tong: ...

He drew two spirit talismans in the air and tossed them into the formation, linking himself to it. "See, now I am the formation. Attacking me is like attacking the formation. The turtle inside will likely be killed by your punch..."

Before he could finish speaking the word "killed," he saw the dense fog churn, and a giant turtle emerged from it, unfazed.

???

Qiu Tong's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

What is going on with you two?! I could understand Feng Ya Ya breaking the island with a punch to break the formation, but how can you, an old turtle, just walk out so casually?!

The disciples behind him looked at him strangely. Were these guys doubting his abilities as a formation master?

Su He blinked, feeling wronged.

This time it was an illusion formation, and an illusion formation couldn't block his gaze! This evolution was clearly no longer focused on strengthening the body; it had begun to develop in a "supernatural" direction.

Looking at the illusion formation through the turtle's eyes was like seeing double images.

Or rather, it was like looking at the world through patterned glass. Although he could see the patterns on the glass, he knew that the real world behind the glass, obscured by the patterns and not clearly visible, was the true one.

The harder he tried to see, the clearer the real world became.

If he could see clearly, wasn't it natural for him to walk out? As for the patrolling flying swords, he just dodged them.

Or maybe your formation is too weak. Look at the formation Su Hua Nian set up around the water pool; Su He couldn't see through it. The Dao Path is long, and he dared not slacken in the slightest.

Qiu Tong panted heavily, and after a long while, he gritted out a few words through his teeth: "Class dismissed!"