It took Zhang Yu an entire night to barely manage to sort out the vast and boundless heritage in his mind.
Just as he expected.
The Eighty-Nine Mysteries require a foundation of abundant Qi and Blood and qi. Although his Physical Body has been strengthened through Cultivation, it is still far from the level of Physical Body sainthood required for perfection.
If forced to use it, one's Qi and Blood would be depleted and the Physical Body would collapse in a second.
The Nine Bend Yellow River Formation is even more terrifying. All the materials required for setting up the formation are rare treasures of heaven and earth, and it also requires immense Law Power to support the operation of the Formation Eye.
With his Cultivation at the Late Feathered Realm, let alone setting up an array, he couldn't even activate a single Formation Runes.
As for the Exterminating Immortal Sword Fragment —he didn't even dare to touch them.
The three-inch-long dark red fragment floated silently in a corner of the Sea of Consciousness, emanating a ferocious sword Sword Qi that made one's soul tremble. Even a slight approach of one's Divine Sense would cause a stinging pain as if one were being slowly torn apart by a thousand sword blades.
This thing is clearly beyond his current capabilities.
Only the perfect understanding of the True Martial Swordplay, because it is the inheritance of Sword Intent and techniques, does not rely too much on Cultivation, and has been completely absorbed and integrated by him.
At this moment, in terms of swordsmanship and Sword Intent alone, he has already surpassed Zhang Lingyun at this time.
However, limited by his Cultivation, the power he could unleash was less than one-tenth of what it should be.
"But that's enough..."
Zhang Yu muttered to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
With his current Cultivation at the Late Feathered Realm, coupled with the True Martial Sword Intent and powerful Soul Power, he could even fight against First Rank Land Immortal.
If it's a sneak attack, it could even... kill instantly!
At daybreak, Zhang Yu summoned Qing Mu.
Upon entering, the Vengeful Spirit Steward, a Heavenly Human Realm Peak expert, frowned, his eyes flashing with undisguised surprise and doubt.
Late Feathered Realm?!
He clearly sensed that the aura flowing around Zhang Yu had surged from the weak Great Early Grandmaster yesterday to the Late Feathered Realm.
Moreover, its foundation is solid, True Qi is refined, which is by no means a superficial manifestation of initiation!
How is that possible?
Overnight, he broke through several minor realms and directly entered the late stage of Ascension?
Even if it were a reincarnation of High Antiquity Great Being Reincarnation, there would be no cultivation speed of this terrifying speed!
Qing Mu's heart was in turmoil. His gaze toward Zhang Yu had shifted from initial helplessness and indulgence to deep apprehension and... a hint of awe.
The secrets hidden within this "Young Peak Master" are probably far more terrifying than his apparent "greed."
"Here is a list of materials; please purchase them as soon as possible."
Zhang Yu's voice pulled him back from his shock.
Qing Mu composed himself, took the Jade Slip with both hands, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and his expression changed again.
"Young Master, these... are all high-grade Formation materials, some of which are priceless treasures. The total price... is no less than five thousand Spirit Stone."
He looked up, his face showing difficulty:
"Crimson Flame Peak is currently in dire need of reconstruction, and the public account only has the thousand Spirit Stone returned by Zhu Wuwang, which is simply not enough to buy anything..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Zhang Yu with a deep, brooding look, the meaning of which couldn't be clearer—
You've pocketed the rest.
Zhang Yu felt a little awkward under his gaze, coughed lightly, and said:
"I'll lend the Spirit Stone to the public account first."
Remember to pay me back when the public accounts are more readily available.
He took out five thousand High-Grade Spirit Stone and piled them on the table. The spiritual light shone through them, making the whole room shine.
Qing Mu looked at the pile of "stolen money," his lips twitching slightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Embezzling public funds and then "lending" them to public accounts—this is utterly shameless.
But he didn't say anything more, only silently put away the Spirit Stone and the list, and bowed, saying:
"I will take care of it immediately."
To Zhang Yu's surprise, Qing Mu was extremely efficient.
The Soul Refining Sect has a large Marketplaces specifically for its disciples to trade, with a full range of materials available.
In addition, Qing Mu had a long history and extensive connections in the Heavenly Human Realm, and he purchased all the materials on the list in just one morning, without missing a single one.
"Young Master, the materials are all ready."
Qing Mu placed a high-grade Storage Bag, overflowing with contents, in front of Zhang Yu. His tone was calm, but the look of inquiry in his eyes deepened.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Zhang Yu took the Storage Bag, scanned it with his Divine Sense, and felt reassured.
The materials for setting up the formation are all ready.
Zhang Yu dismissed Qing Mu without immediately setting up the formation.
He sat cross-legged in the quiet room, closing his eyes and concentrating.
The surge of Soul Power slowly spread out, like an invisible tide, quietly flowing into the depths of Crimson Flame Peak and spreading towards the Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation that enveloped the entire mountain.
The Formation of Crimson Flame Peak is not particularly strong; it is only of average quality among the 108 Peaks of the Soul Refining Sect, barely able to withstand the strong attacks of fourth or Fifth Rank Land Immortal.
But for Zhang Yu at this moment, this was an excellent practice target.
His current Divine Soul strength is no weaker than that of an ordinary Land Immortal, and he also has the foundation of God-level Formation knowledge imparted by the system.
At this moment, with a thought, his Divine Soul, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox, precisely cut into the Formation Runes nodes on the outer edge of the Grand Formation, advancing straight in with almost no obstruction.
"Buzz..."
The Formation seemed to sense something and instinctively emitted a faint light, attempting to resist the intrusion of the foreign Divine Soul.
However, Zhang Yu's Soul Power was extremely refined, and his understanding of the Formation structure far surpassed that of the person who set it up. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he had already broken through layers of protection and reached the Formation Eye of the Formation.
And at that moment--
Deep within Crimson Flame Peak, in a secluded meditation chamber.
Zhang Lingyun suddenly opened her eyes, a flash of Blood Light appearing in them.
She is the peak master of Crimson Serpent Peak. After returning last night, she has already re-refined the peak master token and connected it with the mountain-protecting array.
She sensed the intrusion into the Formation immediately.
But that invading fluctuation of the Divine Soul... it felt so familiar.
"Zhang Yu?"
She frowned slightly, her Divine Sense traveling in the opposite direction along the Formation's pathways, clearly "seeing" the Soul Power cautiously probing towards the Formation Eye.
Solid, vast, and imbued with a pure Pure Yang aura like that of the righteous path, it was completely different from the weak Great Grandmaster's Divine Soul of yesterday!
What happened?
Zhang Lingyun was deeply shaken.
"His Soul Power... is already no weaker than that of First-Rank Land Immortal."
Moreover, his Cultivation...
She sensed it carefully, her surprise deepening:
"Late Feathered Realm?"
"Overnight, he broke through from the Great Early Grandmaster to this level?"
Even though she had already concluded that Zhang Yu was a "Great Being Reincarnation" with a shocking secret, the speed of his breakthrough still seemed unbelievable to her.
Even the High Antiquity legends that claimed to grant immortality in a single day were not exaggerated to this extent!
"His invasion of the Grand Formation at this moment is intended to... take control of Crimson Flame Peak?"
Zhang Lingyun's mind raced, a hint of understanding flashing in her eyes, yet also tinged with a touch of complexity.
That's enough.
She gently shook her head, and with a flick of her Soul Power, the last layer of protection enveloping the core of the Formation —the unique restriction belonging to the Peak Master —quietly dissipated.
The Crimson Flame Peak Grand Formation was completely opened to Zhang Yu.
"Um?"
In the quiet room, Zhang Yu suddenly paused, startled.
He was carefully using his Soul Power to break the last barrier, but the barrier vanished without warning, as if it had never existed.
The core of the Formation, like an undefended treasure trove, lay exposed before his "eyes."
"This is..."
He thought for a moment and immediately understood—
Zhang Lingyun discovered it.
Moreover, she voluntarily relinquished the permissions.
"Oh..."
Zhang Yu's lips curled up slightly, a warmth rising in his heart, but he did not stop.
Since she has tacitly agreed, there's no need to be polite.
His Divine Soul swept straight in, like a king surveying his territory, swiftly scanning every Formation Runes and every node at the core of the Formation, imprinting its structure, operational rules, and energy pathways into his mind.
"Refine!"
With a thought, the immense Soul Power transformed into countless fine threads, merging into the core of the Formation, and began to be refined and controlled in reverse.
He wants to build upon the "back door" opened by Zhang Lingyun and leave his own, deeper mark.
This is only the first step in "controlling formations with formations".
First control one peak, then plan for the entire clan!