Myriad Star Peak, front mountain, Formation Hall.
Unlike the secluded rear mountain.
Formations were a method the Myriad Star Lineage excelled at and was renowned for, so the Formation Hall had many disciples.
The three lineages of the Star River Sect all inherited the path of the stars.
But because the cultivation techniques they practiced differed, the methods they excelled in were also different.
Blazing Sun Peak excelled in the path of fire, and its Artifact Refining Hall was particularly strong.
Bright Moon Peak excelled in healing and soul-related methods.
As for Myriad Star Peak, it was famed for the way of formations.
The Heavenly Star Array Formation, which had evolved and developed based on the stars of the heavens, was not only renowned within the Star River Sect.
Even beyond the sect, its reputation was immense.
In the many conflicts between the Crimson Spirit Sect and the Star River Sect, the Heavenly Star Array Formation had given them terrible headaches.
"Who is that guy? He seems to have been waiting here for quite a while. I've never seen him before."
"You don't even know him? He's the new Personal Disciple taken in by Elder Zhao, who has lived in seclusion for decades."
"Ah, is he the one Elder Zhao accepted as a disciple the moment he entered the sect? His name seems to be Fang Hong, right?"
"That's right, Fang Hong. I just wonder what he suddenly came to our Formation Hall for?"
"Could it be that he wants to learn the way of formations?"
"Who knows? He's not like us, anyway."
Fang Hong waited outside the Formation Hall, while the disciples coming and going both inside and outside the hall all looked at him curiously.
Although he had only been in the sect for a few days, Fang Hong's name had already spread throughout the Star River Sect.
Whether inner or outer sect disciples, most of them already knew of him.
Especially in the outer sect, more and more people were talking about him.
There was no helping it. Their eyes were red with envy.
Everyone else was still toiling away like oxen and horses in the outer sect, working themselves to the bone on missions to save up merit points.
Yet Fang Hong had been accepted as a disciple by an elder who had lived in seclusion for years the instant he entered the sect.
How could that not make people burn with envy, jealousy, and resentment?
Though it felt somewhat strange to be watched by so many people passing by.
Fang Hong paid absolutely no heed to their discussions.
As long as you don't provoke me, say whatever you like.
It was not that Fang Hong was arrogant or looked down on others. He simply knew very well that he would basically have no dealings with these people.
Thus, paying them any attention would serve no purpose beyond wasting his own time.
Under everyone's gaze, after waiting a little longer.
A disciple in a silver-gray robe soon emerged from the Formation Hall.
"May I ask if you are Junior Brother Fang?"
The man had resolute features and approached Fang Hong with a very amiable attitude.
"That's right, it's me. And you are, Senior Brother?"
Fang Hong nodded and looked at him curiously.
At close range, he could roughly sense the other man's level of blood and qi.
At the same time, he could sense whether the aura emanating from the other man was dangerous.
Mm, little threat.
He had likely already broken through to the Earth Realm, but posed no real threat to him. He could easily kill him.
"Haha, my name is Su Yuquan. Master was handling a small matter just now. Sorry to have kept you waiting, Junior Brother Fang."
"Come in with me now. Master is waiting for you."
Unaware that Fang Hong was thinking he could easily kill him, Su Yuquan answered with a friendly smile.
"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Brother Su."
Since the other man was so friendly, Fang Hong was naturally polite as well.
Fang Hong then followed Su Yuquan into the Formation Hall.
Before long, the two arrived in a courtyard.
An old man with white hair and beard, two long white eyebrows hanging down, stood at the center of the courtyard.
"Fang Hong greets Elder Chang."
Arriving before the old man, Fang Hong raised his brows and cupped his hands in greeting, somewhat surprised.
This old man should be the formations teacher his master had found for him.
But the man was the master of the Formation Hall, and his relationship with Fang Hong's master seemed quite good.
He was likely another old monster of the Heaven Realm.
Yet what surprised Fang Hong was that Chang Chunbo felt completely different from the other Heaven Realm powerhouses.
Though he had only been in the sect for a short time, Fang Hong had already met quite a few Heaven Realm powerhouses.
But all those other Heaven Realm powerhouses gave him a faint, invisible, yet extremely terrifying sense of oppression.
They also made Fang Hong feel as though his very level of life was being suppressed, an almost tangible sense of danger.
Even when facing his own master, Zhao Tianchen, whose attitude toward him had grown increasingly close, it was the same.
No matter how warm Zhao Tianchen's attitude was toward him, Fang Hong could always sense an intensely powerful danger.
It was like a mouse seeing a cat, or living beside a ferocious beast.
Even if the other party had no intention of attacking him, he would still feel a strong sense of danger.
This was suppression at the level of life itself, the most fundamental sensation born from a creature's instincts.
Yet what astonished Fang Hong was that he did not feel this from Chang Chunbo.
Or rather, it had either been deliberately concealed, or controlled so thoroughly that even his instincts as a living being directly ignored it.
"Your master has caused quite a commotion for your sake."
Chang Chunbo looked at Fang Hong and spoke softly. His gaze was incomparably tranquil, like a pool of spring water, like a bubbling spring.
"Since he asked me to teach you the way of the Heavenly Star Array Formation, I imagine he intends for you to begin cultivating that Starry Sky Treasure Art?"
Fang Hong nodded. "Elder, your insight is clear. This disciple has indeed already begun cultivating the Starry Sky Treasure Art."
Chang Chunbo stroked his white beard that hung to his chest and looked Fang Hong up and down.
"Your blood and qi are extraordinarily dense, to an astonishing degree. You are indeed qualified to cultivate that treasure art."
"I just wonder what talent you have for cultivating formations?"
At this point, Chang Chunbo flicked his long sleeve. "Come. Close your eyes, sense carefully, and tell me what you feel from the surrounding environment."
Hearing this, Fang Hong did not quite understand, but he still closed his eyes as instructed and sensed carefully.
The scene immediately fell silent.
The three stood quietly in the courtyard, while the surrounding pavilions, rockeries, and waterside gazebos remained unchanged.
Chang Chunbo's gaze remained tranquil, while Su Yuquan watched Fang Hong with a trace of curiosity.
After a long while, Fang Hong opened his eyes with a slight frown.
"My apologies, this disciple did not sense anything."
Fang Hong shook his head and looked at Chang Chunbo in confusion. He did not know what the other man wanted him to sense, but he honestly stated the truth.
Fang Hong truly had not sensed anything unusual, much less any insight.
Upon hearing this, Chang Chunbo's expression changed for the first time.
His eyes flashed with deep regret.
"Before you arrived, I had already laid down a formation in the surrounding area, and it was not difficult to detect."
"Yet you did not sense anything unusual. It seems you are not suited to learning formations."
"And the way of formations is exceptionally important to cultivating that Starry Sky Treasure Art."
"Though your blood and qi are remarkably dense, it is a pity you have no talent for learning formations."
"I imagine you will not be able to cultivate that treasure art either."
Chang Chunbo sighed with great regret.
Hearing this, Fang Hong immediately frowned.
Don't mess with me here.
Everything has already been prepared. Even the arrangements to rig the Sect Grand Competition afterward have been made.
And now you're telling me I can't learn formations, and can't cultivate that Starry Sky Treasure Art either?
Before you continue