Setting Up the Formation (Please Follow and Bookmark)

Besides requiring one Heavenly Material or Earthly Treasure for each of its two Array Eyes, the Yin-Yang Body Tempering Grand Formation also required nine hundred and ninety-nine spiritual objects with yin attributes and nine hundred and ninety-nine with yang attributes.

The yin-attributed spiritual objects were Water Milk over ten years old, provided by Daoist Gu Heng. Sanhe Temple had a natural cavern where Water Milk was the most abundant. The yang-attributed spiritual objects were Flame Earth, spiritual soil nourished for over a hundred years by fire-attributed spiritual energy near volcanoes.

Before placing them, the floor, ceiling, and walls all had to be inscribed with formation runes beforehand. Only Wang Ping could do this step. The material used to draw the runes was the commonly used cinnabar, which could transmit spiritual energy to the greatest extent and also resisted corrosion.

This step lasted half a month. While Wang Ping drew the formation runes, the two elders watched nearby and pointed out any obvious issues. That was followed by another half month spent filling in the gaps and fixing omissions.

The second step was to place the yin-yang spiritual objects atop the formation runes. Gu Heng first took out a Feng Shui Compass to make calculations, then flicked his Sleeve Robe, dividing the interior of the hall into two alternating bright and dark spaces. Next, he placed the two sets of nine hundred and ninety-nine spiritual objects where they belonged.

The yin and yang spiritual objects had to be placed in an alternating pattern, which meant running back and forth, and every spiritual object had a corresponding formation rune.

When half the spiritual objects had been placed, two streams of energy could clearly be felt gathering in the center of the pavilion. Yet without the Array Eyes, the gathered energy quickly dissipated, then gathered again, only to vanish once more, repeating over and over.

"It is the fusion of the energies of Great Yin Nether and the True Yang Fire Spirit..."

Gu Heng reached out and grasped the energy gathering in the center of the room in his hand. "I never expected the Heaven Sect's Jiutian Spell and the Mystic Sect's Five Elements Orthodox Law to converge."

"Heaven and Earth, the cosmos, and all things were originally one whole. What is so strange about that?"

Like Gu Heng, Daoist Yucheng gathered the converging energy in his hand and examined it. "It is not a Fire Spirit, but a False Spirit of the Sun Sect. No, it should be a False Spirit of the First Day... The Sun Sect's spiritual power is full of oppression. Only the First Day's spiritual power would be this bewitching."

"Aren't they all the same? It is all the True Sun Sect's handiwork... What a pity. Such pure Secret Method Energy was turned into an Evil Technique by those Madmen." Gu Heng sighed. "What a waste!"

While Yucheng and Gu Heng studied the formation, Wang Ping's hands never stopped moving. Twelve hours passed before he knew it. When the final spiritual object was placed, the energy gathered in the center of the room became something even Mortals could see.

Wang Ping summoned the Light Screen Panel. The Yin-Yang Attribute progress of the Body Tempering Array flickered continuously, showing (0/100) one moment and (72/100) the next. This was probably because the Array Eyes had not been placed.

"Master, predecessor, the Array Eyes can be placed now..."

"Get on with it. Do you need help?" Daoist Gu Heng asked.

"No!"

Wang Ping walked to the center, took out the 'Bone Stone' with his Left Hand and the 'Fire Crystal' with his right, then flicked them simultaneously toward their corresponding Array Eyes.

"Hum."

After a soft sound, the energy gathered in the center suddenly vanished.

The next moment, Wang Ping, standing in the middle of the formation, felt a stream of energy descend from above his head and rise from beneath his feet at the same time. His entire body prickled as though pierced by needles. It was only a faint pain, but it reminded him of certain unpleasant memories from when he had improved his Spiritual Root in Hushan Kingdom.

"It worked!" Wang Ping said in delight as he stepped out of the center of the formation.

"How marvelous..."

Daoist Gu Heng stretched out a hand to sense the changes in the center of the formation. "But someone must guide it. Without guidance, this energy could leave the person inside the formation paralyzed from head to toe. And only those at Qi Refining Completion can use it."

"Neither of those is a problem!" Yucheng shook his head unconcernedly. "You and I have nothing to do lately anyway. Setting aside five or six years to train a few Qi practitioners and clear their meridians would be simple."

Wang Ping glanced at the Yin-Yang Attribute progress bar. It had now stabilized at (75/100). Then he crouched down and looked at the Fire Crystal within the Array Eye. "A Fire Crystal like this can be used continuously for seven or eight years, after which it must be replaced."

"And..."

Wang Ping wiped a hand over the surface of the formation runes. Clear grime came away, especially from the ceiling. In only this short span of time, visible filth had already accumulated there. The impurities in this space had been drawn upward.

"We will also need someone to clean it every day!"

"That is simple too..."

"Have the first batch of six been chosen?" Gu Heng looked toward Daoist Yucheng. Wang Ping had already told the two of them about the process of improving one's Spiritual Root. Each person needed four hours a day, and it would take two years before results could be seen.

"We have chosen four people on our side. Let my four Registered Disciples go first. Only they have achieved success in Qi Refining."

"Good, I will return at once and bring the other two spots over!"

Gu Heng laughed as he walked toward the Main Gate. Daoist Yucheng then instructed Wang Ping, "Call Zhao Qing in and let him try the mysteries of this formation first."

When Zhao Qing entered the pavilion, even his steps were somewhat unsteady. After walking properly to the center of the formation, he first bowed to Daoist Yucheng. "Thank you, Master, for granting me this opportunity!"

Then he gave Wang Ping a deep bow. "Thank you, senior brother, for granting me this opportunity!"

Wang Ping nodded and pointed to the center of the formation. "Go in. Remember, no matter how much it hurts, do not move around. You must endure it for at least four hours, or all your efforts will be for nothing."

Though that was what he said, Zhao Qing still let out a miserable "Ah!" at the very beginning before rolling around on the ground. Wang Ping nearly laughed aloud at the sight, recalling how Daoist Yuanzheng had tricked him back then.

Over those four hours, Zhao Qing only held on through the final Quarter Hour. The rest of the time, he grimaced and bared his teeth in pain.

Yet the instant he stepped out of the center of the formation, Zhao Qing let out a long breath, seeming thoroughly refreshed. He then bowed once more to Daoist Yucheng and Wang Ping.

The second person to enter was Wang Kang. Like Zhao Qing, he first bowed to Master and senior brother, then inevitably let out a scream and began rolling around on the ground.

Unlike Zhao Qing, Wang Kang begged for mercy after Half an Hour. "Master, senior brother, I give up! I do not want to improve my Spiritual Root anymore!"

Daoist Yucheng's brows furrowed slightly. "Are you sure you want to give up?"

"I want to give up. I cannot take it anymore!"

"Alas!"

Wang Ping sighed and pulled Wang Kang out.

Once the pain eased, Wang Kang immediately felt ashamed. Lowering his head, he said softly, "I am sorry..."

"You should not be saying that apology to us..." Daoist Yucheng said coldly. "Call your junior brother Lu Xin in."

"Yes!" Wang Kang answered respectfully, then fled the pavilion as though escaping.

"I told you long ago that he definitely would not pass this trial," Daoist Yucheng said softly after Wang Kang left.

"He still had to try. If he could not get through it himself, then he could not blame anyone else." Wang Ping bowed to Daoist Yucheng as he replied.

"Among the countless living beings of Central Province, why are there only several hundred thousand Qi practitioners? This path is not one that everyone can walk!" Daoist Yucheng sighed as well.

Wang Ping said nothing more. He bowed to Daoist Yucheng again, then left the pavilion and returned to his Mountain Top Courtyard to continue his Foundation Establishment.