"Not bad, not bad, young friend, you're the first to pass again." Li Yang said to Lin An with a smile.
"It was also good luck; they made the right bet."
Lin An humbly replied, "Senior, if I hadn't taken the gamble, how would I have passed this test?"
"We can pass the level simply by repairing all the flaws in the formation, it just will take more time."
"Those invalid runes weren't hidden very well; they can be found with a little attention."
"But even if ordinary people discover these invalid runes, they wouldn't dare question my formation, simply because I am an Immortal Rank formation master."
"Of course, some people might use these runes again after fixing the flaws in the formation, but they've already missed their chance."
"The more flaws in the formation are repaired, the more robust it becomes; even using these ineffective runes will make it difficult to destroy the formation."
Li Yang smiled and said, "That formation was meant to protect Azure Cloud City, but it also imprisoned you within it."
Lin An suddenly understood, and immediately cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "This junior has learned a great deal."
"Young friend, would you like to proceed to the third test?" Li Yang asked.
"I am ready." Lin An nodded.
Li Yang smiled and waved his hand, and the entire void changed once again.
Buzz...
The next instant, Lin An saw a huge stone platform rise up beneath his feet, surrounded by an endless starry river.
Around the stone platform, nine beams of light descended from above.
"This is the Myriad Phenomena Formation Platform. See those nine pillars of light? They contain the original array patterns of nine ancient great arrays."
"Each formation possesses different attributes. Your task is to merge these formations to create a new, composite, unparalleled formation."
"If you can fuse the three formations, you will pass the test and can proceed directly to the next level. However, if you can fuse all nine formations, you can directly enter the final level."
Li Yang smiled and said, "Young friend, you may begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Yang disappeared.
Lin An also looked at the primordial array patterns sealed within the nine pillars of light.
As he scanned the area with his divine sense, information about the nine formations flooded into his mind.
The Nine Palaces Sword Annihilation Formation is primarily for killing and destruction; the Nine Palaces Suspended Swords can shatter heaven and earth.
The Heavenly Peak Demon Sealing Formation primarily seals, suppresses, and confines power through mountainous suppression.
The Yellow Springs Netherworld Formation, a curse, causes black water to surge and erode the soul.
The Great Void Illusory Annihilation Formation a primary illusion technique, creating a virtual world that reverses the universe.
The Eight Desolations Furnace Formation is primarily for refining, using earth fire and lava to refine the essence.
The Purple Sun Azure Wood Formation governs life; ancient trees reach for the sky, capable of reviving the dead and restoring flesh to bones.
The Chaos Return to Void Formation governs annihilation, devours vortexes, and erases everything.
The Time Tracing to the Source Formation, the master of time and space, with the hourglass upside down, shows how time flies by.
The Myriad Spirits Heavenly Demon Formation controls inner demons; when these inner demons whisper, one's Dao heart crumbles.
"Ancient formations did not have specific ranks; rather, their ranks were determined by the strength of the person who set them up."
Lin An's eyes lit up. These formations could grow. He was Sovereign Rank being, so the formations he set up would also be Sovereign Rank.
If one is at the Immortal Rank, the formation one sets up will also be at the Immortal Rank.
Even if I fail this test, learning these formations will be a huge gain for me.
Lin An understood; this was a test, but also a reward.
"However, these ancient formations are quite difficult to learn. Even Sovereign Rank formation master would need several days to learn just one formation. No wonder the senior said that as long as you successfully fuse the three formations, you've passed the test."
Learning something doesn't mean you've mastered it; it only means you've entered the field.
This level tests one's comprehension more.
Of course, it would take a lot of time for others, but it was different for Lin An.
"System, add points," Lin An thought to himself.
[Does the host wish to consume 2 million attribute points to learn the Nine Palaces Sword Annihilation Formation?]
"Yes."
[The host has consumed 2 million attribute points and successfully learned the Nine Palaces Sword Annihilation Formation, reaching the beginner level of proficiency.]
"That should be enough for the beginner level, at least enough to get through this stage."
"It's better to save some attribute points, just in case we need them later."
Moreover, Lin An was also afraid that if he directly brought the formation to its full potential, it would cause Li Yang to be excessively shocked.
Although the opponent is only a remnant soul, he is still an Immortal Realm expert, so we still need to be wary.
"Continue learning." Lin An then looked at the other formations.
[The host has consumed 2 million attribute points and successfully learned the Heavenly Peak Demon Sealing Formation, reaching the beginner level of proficiency.]
[The host has consumed 2 million attribute points and successfully learned the Yellow Springs Netherworld Formation, reaching the beginner level of proficiency.]
[The host has consumed 2 million attribute points and successfully learned the Great Void Illusory Annihilation Formation, reaching the beginner level of proficiency.]
[...]
With 18 million attribute points invested, all nine ancient formations reached the beginner level.
Lin An also sat down cross-legged, digesting the information from the nine arrays.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"Finally, it's pieced together."
As Xu Ming spoke, array patterns flew about, eventually forming ten arrays.
Following the appearance of the formation, Li Yang's illusory figure also arrived.
"Junior greets senior," Xu Ming said, bowing to Li Yang.
"Hmm, not bad, young friend. You've passed the first test in less than ten days. Your mastery of formations is extraordinary," Li Yang said with a smile.
"Senior, you flatter me. May I ask if I was the first to pass?" Xu Ming asked curiously.
He felt he should be the first, or at the very least the second; perhaps Li Meng from the Li Clan would pass the test before him.
After all, the other party is of the Li Clan bloodline, so it's normal for them to have special privileges.
"Young friend, you are the second person to pass the first test."
"Oh? Was Li Meng the first person to pass the test?"
"It wasn't her, it was someone else."
Li Yang smiled, but didn't intend to continue. "Young friend, are you planning to participate in the second stage of the assessment?"
Xu Ming knew that the other party wouldn't tell him the name of the first person to pass, so he didn't press the matter.
However, he was also quite surprised, not expecting that besides Li Meng, there was someone else who could pass the test before him.
Could it be Tao Yan?
Xu Ming guessed what was going on in his mind, but said outwardly, "Please, senior, begin the second stage of the assessment."
Li Yang nodded, and then Xu Ming was suddenly in Azure Cloud City.
Less than an hour after Xu Ming passed the test, Li Meng also passed the first test.
As a member of the Li Clan, her chances of passing the test were much lower; she only needed to set up five formations to pass.
However, her own cultivation level is not high, and she has only been Sovereign Rank array master for a short time, so her speed is naturally not as fast as Xu Ming and others who have been Sovereign Rank array masters for many years.
When Li Meng learned that she was the third to pass the test, she was not surprised. Among the people who entered the Land of Inheritance this time, there were many whom she had to bow to and address as seniors.
But she never imagined that Lin An would be faster than her.
"Ancestor, your junior wishes to participate in the second stage of the assessment," Li Meng said.
Li Yang nodded, and with a flick of his finger, Li Meng disappeared from her spot and reappeared in a city.
However, it was not Azure Cloud City, but Li Yang City, and her identity was Li Yang's disciple.
It is clear that the Li Clan family has a significant advantage in the Land of Inheritance.