A Thousand Years Studying the Formation, Duobao Lost

"Fine, fine! You rebellious disciple, you've even learned to talk back!

Everything I did was to temper you, yet you've learned to turn around and blame your master instead!

Look at Guang Chengzi. He was only in the sect for ten thousand years before he could forge an Acquired Spirit Treasure.

Now look at you. You can't even refine an Acquired Forbidden Formation with a mere forty-nine restrictions. How did I end up taking such a lazy lout as my disciple?!"

Upon hearing this, Duobao immediately widened his eyes and craned his neck as he grumbled, "Master, how can that be the same? He was born from innate purple qi, blessed with profound fortune. He only needs to stroll outside once to pick up whatever heavenly materials and earthly treasures he wants.

I don't have such deep fortune. If I want materials, I have to dig for them through bitter toil."

"Hmph. I won't listen to those excuses. You're clearly just lazy and inattentive, yet you always complain that your elders won't give you this or that.

Why don't you just have your master chew up your food and feed it into your mouth?!"

"Eugh, Master, that's way too disgusting." Duobao said with a face full of revulsion. Then, he suddenly realized something. How did Master know so many details?

In an instant, he understood everything. His eyes flew wide open as he shouted, "Master, you have no respect for your age! You actually eavesdropped on your disciple!"

Venerable Lingbao's breathing stalled. His old face flushed crimson as he grabbed his whip and said, "You still dare to talk back? Rebellious disciple, take this whip!"

Elsewhere.

"Good disciple, how has your master treated you?"

"Master saved me from fire and water in my hour of peril, brought me back to the mountain, and imparted the Dao and taught me my trade. You are both master and father to me.

For such grace, this disciple has no way to repay you."

"Mm. Since that is so, do you think there is anything improper about your master's method of expounding the Dao?"

"Uh... this..." Guang Chengzi instantly realized that Master had overheard his conversation with Duobao. He hurriedly knelt and said, "Master, this disciple should not have discussed an elder behind his back. I beg Master to punish me."

"Forget it. It is only a trivial matter, so there is no need for punishment. In the future, you might as well act a little more boldly."

Venerable Yuanshi waved his hand with the ease of drifting clouds and gentle winds, wholly unconcerned by the matter.

Guang Chengzi, however, was somewhat stunned.

"B-Boldly?"

"Master, forgive this disciple's dullness. Please enlighten me."

Venerable Yuanshi shook his head helplessly and said, "You, you are simply too cautious and rigid. Before Senior Brother Taiqing takes on a disciple, you are the eldest among the younger generation. It would not hurt to be suitably unrestrained and arrogant."

Hearing Venerable Yuanshi's words, Guang Chengzi's mind became a tangled mess for a moment. He could only agree first, saying, "This... this disciple will remember it and reflect upon it properly in the future."

Venerable Yuanshi nodded. As they parted, he instructed, "Mm. You can learn a thing or two from your martial uncle's disciple in this regard."

"Uh, this disciple understands."

A secluded thousand years passed as heaven and earth turned in their cycles.

Ever since Bai Ze had been reborn as an innate sacred being, his sense of time had grown increasingly vague.

A thousand years of time was no more than a turn of the head and a glance for him, as though it had been only yesterday.

"No wonder the records of later generations describe those mythical figures as devoid of emotion and desire, indifferent to all others.

The unintentional erosion of passing years alone is enough to grind away every feeling and desire."

Bai Ze sighed softly and slowly rose to his feet, looking at the three-hundred-zhang forbidden formation he had already mastered.

With a sudden point of his finger!

In the next moment, countless splendid patterns lit up within a three-hundred-zhang radius.

Then, he stepped forward, every step landing precisely upon a core node of the forbidden formation.

As he crossed thirty-six core nodes, the Dao essence upon each node immediately lit up.

Gradually, a vortex-like gateway interwoven with brilliant patterns formed in the void.

He stood before the gateway, gazing at the hollow expanse beyond it. His brows furrowed as he pondered, unable to make up his mind.

Though he had mastered the three-hundred-zhang forbidden formation, he had no certainty where the gateway would lead.

Moreover, even if it led to the Three Pure Ones' Courtyard, he could not bear to put aside his comprehension of the remaining formations.

He feared that once he entered, he would no longer be able to comprehend them. He was also uneasy about soon meeting the Three Pure Ones.

Even more so, he was worried about where this gateway led.

He stood before the gateway for a moment, then tapped lightly beneath his feet. The formation patterns in the void swiftly dimmed and vanished from sight.

He then resumed comprehending the remaining nodes of the forbidden formation.

Over these thousand years, aside from the treasure's forbidden formation, all he did was cultivate.

A thousand years of cultivation had given him the feeling that he could break through minor completion and enter True Form Completion at any moment.

However, he did not want to break through so quickly. Instead, he wanted to be steadier, slower.

He wanted to thoroughly temper this stage to perfection, preferably without leaving behind even the slightest hidden danger.

After all, even if he broke through in his current circumstances, it would not bring a qualitative leap. He might as well slow down and solidify his foundation!

At the same time, within the Three Pure Ones' Courtyard.

Duobao's handsome face had been beaten into a pig's head, his nose bruised and his face swollen, with purple-black circles around his eyes.

He covered his left cheek with one hand while staring at Bai Ze before the gateway. Clenching his fist, he growled indistinctly, "Go in!"

"Little brother, just go in already!"

Beside him, Guang Chengzi watched the anxious Duobao Daoist and smiled calmly. "Junior Brother, it seems this round was won by your senior brother."

Once Bai Ze completely closed the gateway, Duobao's flushed face deflated like a punctured balloon as he tilted his head back in utter despair.

He did his best not to let the tears glimmering at the corners of his eyes fall.

"Huff—"

"J-just two Acquired Spirit Treasures. I'm not heartbroken!"

Duobao gritted his teeth, turned his head aside, and spoke with the faintest sob in his voice.

Guang Chengzi could neither laugh nor cry at the sight. He knew Duobao was obsessed with treasures, but he had never expected him to be obsessed to such an extent.

"Junior Brother, don't cry. They are only two Acquired Spirit Treasures; I will give them to you.

As for this wager, let us call it off."

Guang Chengzi tugged twice at the spirit treasures tightly clenched in Duobao's hand but could not pull them free. Shaking his head with a laugh, he spoke.

Yet Duobao was unwilling to accept that. He abruptly turned around, stuffed the treasures into Guang Chengzi's arms, and stubbornly said, "Who's crying? Master beat me up. I'm absolutely not crying because I lost."

Seeing Duobao refuse to admit it even unto death, Guang Chengzi found it amusing. "Then shall we continue with the third round?"

"Continue! Why wouldn't we?" Duobao said decisively. His gaze fell upon the two Acquired Spirit Treasures in Guang Chengzi's hands, and his eyes rolled before he gave a sly chuckle. "But, Senior Brother, we need to add another condition to the third round!"

"Oh? Add what?"

"Besides betting on how long Bai Ze will take to completely master the Mountain-Guarding Forbidden Formation,

let's also bet on whether Bai Ze can break through to True Form Completion this time!"

Duobao declared smugly.

Guang Chengzi glanced at Bai Ze within the formation, whose aura was gradually showing signs of a breakthrough, then looked at Duobao, who forgot the pain as soon as the wound healed.

The corner of his lips lifted slightly. "Fine. I bet he can break through before entering the sect!"

Upon hearing this, Duobao's eyes instantly widened. He raised a trembling finger at Guang Chengzi and shouted, "Senior Brother, you... you're cheating!

Anyone with eyes can see Bai Ze's current state!"