[Formation Art]

The night sky over Ten Thousand Caves Mountain was different from usual due to the gathering of cultivators from the four sects.

Various colored lights occasionally streaked across the sky like shooting stars, illuminating the strange landscape below, with its thousands of peaks vying for prominence and caves scattered throughout.

The peace talks that would determine the future of Northwest China during the day have temporarily come to an end.

However, the specific details still need to be negotiated over time, so the four groups took the opportunity to temporarily settle down in this ancient ruin.

Fortunately, the Ten Thousand Caves Mountain has countless caves, deep and vast, which can easily accommodate tens of thousands of people, let alone a mere few thousand cultivators. Each of them found a suitable cave abode to stay in, so they did not disturb each other.

Qi Yun was placed in a rather secluded cave. The interior was spacious with smooth stone walls, clearly indicating that it had been carefully repaired by previous generations.

He sat cross-legged on the stone couch, contemplating the lessons learned from the daytime battle.

He silently sensed the subtle resonance between the newly acquired [Clarity and Turbidity] wonders and the Dao Foundation within his body.

Suddenly, he sensed something, opened his eyes, and saw a faint light flash in the cave, and the figure of True Person Southern Dipper appeared silently in front of him.

"Senior Uncle." Qi Yun stood up and greeted him with proper etiquette.

He wasn't particularly surprised by True Person Southern Dipper's nighttime visit; he simply waited for him to speak.

True Person Southern Dipper nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over Qi Yun, and slowly said, "You did very well today. You not only enhanced the prestige of my Holy Sect, but also allowed those old friends to truly witness what it means to be a supreme being."

The True Lord was very pleased and instructed me to tell you that he would bestow further favors upon you upon your return to the sect.

"Senior Uncle, you flatter me. I only did my best," Qi Yun said.

If it weren't for the True Lord's telepathic message during the day, he really wouldn't have wanted to make such a big splash.

Fortunately Desolate Halberd True Lord was indeed generous.

He immediately produced a rare item like [Clarity and Turbidity].

True Person Southern Dipper strolled to one side of the cave, gazing at the naturally formed, star-map-like mottled marks on the wall. After a moment of silence, he got to the point. "The general direction of the four sects' peace talks has been set, but the details will not be negotiated in a day."

In the coming period, all factions will be making deployments regarding the "Four Imperials Heaven."

He turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Qi Yun: "The sect has an important mission, and after much consideration, we believe you are the most suitable person to lead it."

Qi Yun's expression shifted, and he pretended to listen.

True Person Southern Dipper's strategy and the current situation, he will likely be invited to join the four sects' joint delegation to travel south and investigate the true nature of the "Four Imperials Heaven".

However, what True Person Southern Dipper said next surprised him slightly.

"I wish to have you stay and oversee the construction of the Northern Defense Grand Formation." The voice of the True Person Southern Dipper was not loud, but every word was clear.

"The Northern Defense Grand Formation?" Qi Yun frowned slightly. "But I don't have much understanding of formations."

"No problem," True Person Southern Dipper explained. "With your talent, it's not too late to start learning from scratch."

This is one of the core priorities agreed upon in this peace talk.

By combining the power of the four sects, a super defensive array was constructed that spans east to west and covers the northwest region.

"For the sake of our Northwest cultivation community, let us guard this northern gateway!"

He paused, noticing the thoughtful look in Qi Yun's eyes, and continued, "This formation is vast in scale, involving formation principles, earth veins, the operation of spiritual energy, and even the allocation of resources among the four sects; it's incredibly complex."

The person in charge needs sufficient cultivation to control the situation, a meticulous mind to oversee the overall picture, and, most importantly—

It is necessary to gain the trust of the four sects, at least publicly.

"Your battle today has established your reputation."

"It is most appropriate for you to coordinate the resources of the four sects and supervise the construction of the great formation." True Person Southern Dipper's words revealed profound consideration.

"This is not about leaving you idle, but about entrusting the cornerstone of the Northwest's lifeline to your hands."

If this formation succeeds, its merit will last for generations, and it will also be an excellent opportunity for you to establish prestige and build your foundation among the four sects.

Qi Yun remained silent, understanding the profound meaning behind True Person Southern Dipper's words.

While exploring southwards is important, the risks are unpredictable, and the mission is primarily that of an executor.

Meanwhile, the person in charge of constructing the "Northern Defense Grand Formation" appeared to be staying in the relatively safe rear.

In reality, being at the center of a vortex of intertwined interests requires extremely high skill and wisdom.

Once successful, the gains will be more than just credit; they will bring tangible influence and a voice in shaping the future of Northwest China.

This is a weighty trust, and also a tremendous challenge.

After taking on the important task of overseeing the construction of the "Northern Defense Grand Formation," Qi Yun did not rush into action.

Instead, he first calmed himself down, locked himself in that secluded cave, and began to cultivate in Formation Art the art of formations.

Inside the cave, the once empty stone chamber is now filled with piles of Jade Slip, silk scrolls, bone fragments, and even animal skin scrolls exuding an ancient aura.

These are all Formation Art texts that True Person Southern Dipper obtained by using his authority as acting sect leader, through exchanges and borrowing from the other three sects via the Holy Sect's secret treasury and other clandestine channels.

Among them are some rare, long-lost books, and secret techniques kept by certain sects.

At this moment, they were all being delivered to Qi Yun in a continuous stream, just like ordinary scrolls.

A ghostly light shone from the pearls embedded in the stone wall, illuminating Qi Yun's focused profile.

He sat cross-legged amidst the mountain of books, his eyes gleaming with a clear, sharp light, as if swiftly scanning the runes on each Jade Slip slip and digesting the obscure illustrations and annotations on the silk scrolls.

His Divine Sense, like an invisible tentacle, simultaneously probed into several carriers, and a massive amount of information flooded into his Sea of Consciousness like a torrent.

However, if a cultivator skilled in Formation Art were here, they would be surprised to discover...

Among these mountains of ancient texts, there wasn't a single complete and detailed diagram of Formation Art formation.

All the content revolves around the "principles of formations".

From the most basic concepts of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and the Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces, to the profound theories of celestial influence and the connection of earth veins...

The wonders of the flow of inspiration extend to the forbidden principles of spatial folding and causal connections—encompassing everything, yet devoid of any concrete "Formation Art."

The art of Formation Art is indeed as vast as the sea and as complex as the stars— Qi Yun thought to himself, closing his eyes slightly.

The typical path for a formation cultivator is to first learn the basic principles of formations, and then begin by imitating and setting up the simplest "Spirit Gathering Formation" and "Mist Formation," gradually becoming more proficient.

Then gradually learn more complex and powerful Formation Art, verifying and deepening your understanding of formation principles through practice.

This is a gradual process, progressing from technique to understanding the essence.

But I am different.

A glint of surprise flashed in Qi Yun's eyes.

With my Law Technique Panel at my fingertips, learning any single, specific Formation Art would be putting the cart before the horse and limiting my own perspective.

What I need is not to imitate the fish left by my predecessors, but to master the net that can be used for fishing and hunting, and the way that can generate an endless number of fish!

As long as I continuously update the principles of Formation Art, I can firmly grasp this major branch of Formation Art, just like the previous Talisman Art!

At that time, you will be able to control all kinds of great formations at will.

With his mind made up, Qi Yun no longer hesitated and completely immersed himself in the frantic absorption and digestion of the vast array principles.

Inside the cave, time seemed to lose its meaning.

Qi Yun was seen frowning and deep in thought, his fingertips unconsciously tracing patterns in the air, causing slight disturbances in the surrounding spiritual energy, which evolved into various strange light spots and force fields;

At times, he would suddenly gain clarity, his eyes would flash with brilliance, and the several Jade Slip slips floating in front of him, which explained different array principles, would hum simultaneously. The runes on them seemed to come alive, intertwining and colliding, giving rise to entirely new understandings.

Having grasped the essence, he inexplicably activated the power of the [Great Luo Heaven], throwing the digested fragments of the array principles into it.

That world, containing the rudiments of all laws, began to spontaneously deduce and combine, forming countless arrays representing different principles and concepts.

The learning and improvement of Formation Art, in turn, catalyzed the growth of [Great Luo Heaven]!

At this point, Qi Yun's learning method completely abandoned the step-by-step approach.

Instead, it attacked the core barrier of the Great Dao of Formation Art from all angles and levels simultaneously, with an almost predatory attitude.

His Divine Sense was being consumed at an alarming rate. If it weren't for his profound foundation and the support of the [Great Luo Heaven], he would probably have already exhausted his spiritual energy.

The mountains of ancient books were being devoured and digested at a visible speed, while new books kept arriving.

Through this continuous absorption and deduction, Qi Yun's understanding of the Way of Formation Art spread deeper and deeper at an incredible speed.

He wasn't learning how to Formation Deployment, but rather trying to understand and master the "Formation Art" itself.

Outside the cave, Ten Thousand Caves Mountain remained bustling, with cultivators from the four sects still striving for their own interests.

Inside the cave, Qi Yun's understanding of Formation Art was accumulating at an astonishing rate, like a snowball rolling downhill.

I don't know how many.

"All methods return to their origin, and the principles of formations are no exception— Yin and Yang are the foundation, the Five Elements are the framework, and spiritual energy is the lifeblood—all changes originate from this and return to this—"

The low murmurs echoed in the silent cave, carrying a profound and insightful understanding.

Deep within Qi Yun's Sea of Consciousness, the [Great Luo Heaven] that had been silently deducing suddenly emitted a grand roar that only he could hear!

Qi Yun suddenly opened his eyes, which had been tightly closed for a long time, his eyes shining brightly. His long, black beard, which had reached his chest, moved without wind. A relieved and joyful smile slowly appeared on his face.

"It's done!"

With a thought, the Law Technique Panel that he hadn't paid attention to for a long time naturally appeared before his eyes.

The interface remained simple, but beneath the original numerous items, a completely new line of text gradually solidified from its illusory form, radiating a luster unlike anything before:

[Formation Art: Automatically updating (current progress 1%)]

Looking at these words, Qi Yun let out a long sigh of relief.

Compared to the natural progression of mastering Talisman Art, the introduction and foundation-laying of Formation Art are countless times more difficult and obscure.

The scope of Formation Art is too broad, and their connection with all things in heaven and earth is too deep, far surpassing the relatively independent path of talismans.

If it weren't for the blessing of [Great Luo Heaven] on his comprehension, and his ability to conceive and deduce from nothing, he would have been different.

It may take decades to truly grasp its core.

However, well... it's done!

He slowly rose to his feet, his bones cracking with a series of crisp pops, and the accumulated dust fell in a flurry.

The first step was finally taken steadily.