I Am Direction! I Am Fortune and Misfortune!
[Automatic Law Technique updates complete. This is a minor version update; Law Technique effects have been adjusted as follows.]
[Formation Art 3.0: Removed restrictions on formation eyes; formation eyes can be set freely].
A line of ancient characters slowly appeared on the Law Technique Panel in the corner of the field of vision, and then disappeared.
Qi Yun, who was seated cross-legged amidst multiple restrictions and seals, slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes gleamed, reflecting an increasingly profound halo.
But what he saw more clearly was a hint of surprise.
"How come it hasn't been updated to Divine Ability Art?"
He muttered to himself, a hint of surprise in his voice.
The last time I refined True Person Xuanping's [Supreme Mystery Hunt Art Dao Foundation], it directly transformed the [Foundation Establishment Realm Talisman Art] into the Divine Ability Art [Supreme Mystery Register], resulting in a qualitative change in its power and potential.
The [Thousand Spirits Hidden Subjugation Dao Foundation] that was refined by True Person Moshou this time was also a complete Dao Foundation of Foundation Establishment True Person, yet it only resulted in a "minor version update" of the [Formation Art].
Qi Yun's mind raced as he quickly reviewed and compared the differences between the two refining processes.
"Is it because of the Dao Foundation itself?" His eyes flickered slightly, as if deep in thought.
Nine Kings Mountain is one of the leading talisman schools of the Southern Yin Righteous Path, with profound foundations and True Lord presiding over it, second only to giants like the Hao Ran Holy Land and the Sword Pavilion.
Its inherited Dao Foundation, [Supreme Mystery Hunt Art Dao Foundation], is one of the best among Higher Vehicle Dao Foundation, with enormous potential.
The Earth Spirit Sect, though considered a force to be reckoned with, is ultimately only a second-rate sect. Its strongest members are only a few Foundation Establishment True Person, whose Dao Foundation [Thousand Spirits Hidden Subjugation Dao Foundation], while skilled Middle Vehicle Formation Art defense, is only of average quality.
However, in terms of the breadth and subtlety of the Great Dao, it is clearly incomparable to the True Disciple of Nine Kings Mountain.
"Perhaps it is also related to the 'size' and 'depth' of the Law Technique itself."
Qi Yun further refined the plan.
"Formation Art art of formations encompasses everything, involving the positioning of heaven and earth, the flow of spiritual energy, the connection of Principle, and the changes of mutual generation and restraint—it is itself a complex manifestation of the Great Dao, with an extremely vast foundation."
While Talisman Art are also mysterious, they are much simpler in comparison.
"I want to transform [Formation Art] into Divine Ability Art in one fell swoop."
"I'm afraid it would require a higher quality, more profound foundation in Formation Art Dao Foundation, or a much larger accumulation of Dao intent."
Although he was slightly disappointed that he couldn't transform the Formation Art into Divine Ability Art, Qi Yun quickly suppressed this emotion and focused his attention on the effects of this update.
"Remove the restrictions on the array's cores, and you can set the cores at will—" He murmured this description, a strange light gradually appearing in his eyes.
The array eye is the true core and hub of an Formation Art, the key to communicating with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, controlling the changes in array patterns, and gathering the power of the Formation Art.
The difficulty of Formation Deployment lies in two parts: the precise drawing of the array patterns and runes, and the selection and placement of the array's core.
The key point of the formation must be aligned with the direction of the earth's veins and the timing of the heavens. Only by finding a "key point" where "the timing is right, the location is right, and the people are right" can the power of the Formation Art be maximized.
If the key point of the formation is misplaced, the formation 'Formation Art power will be greatly reduced, and its operation will become sluggish.
In severe cases, the spiritual energy will backfire, and the Formation Art will collapse on its own.
Because the key point of the formation is so important and demanding, it also becomes one of the biggest limitations of the Formation Art.
Once settled, it is difficult to move; one can only passively wait for the enemy to enter or rely on the terrain to hold one's ground.
Unless it's a special Law Treasure like the [Human Emperor Banner], where the array's core is fixed within the banner and carried on one's person, it's impossible to deploy it at any time and use it as easily as one's own arm.
However, this also places extremely high demands on the vessel of the Law Treasure and the Formation Art formation skills of the craftsman.
"Randomly set the key point of the formation----" Qi Yun repeatedly pondered these five words, and flashes of inspiration appeared in his mind one after another.
What does this mean?
This means that when he Formation Deployment, he no longer needs to painstakingly search for that elusive natural "acupoint" or be constrained by fixed terrain!
The Formation Art will transform from a "fortress" reliant on terrain into a "domain" that can be changed at will!
Thinking of this, Qi Yun slowly lowered his head, his gaze falling on his own seated body.
A bold idea, like a tender sprout breaking through the soil, grew uncontrollably and wildly in his heart.
Since the key point of the formation can be determined "at will"—then, is it possible to—
He couldn't help but let a slight upward curve appear at the corners of his mouth.
Could we—take ourselves as the focal point of the formation?
I am the direction, I am fortune and misfortune!
If he succeeds, wherever he goes will be covered by the Formation Art!
Offense, defense, advance, and retreat—all depend on one's own will!
With his body becoming the great formation, and his thoughts flowing freely with the Dharma, an indescribable fervor and anticipation rose from the depths of Qi Yun's heart.
The update effect of this [Formation Art 3.0] may seem to be just the removal of a restriction, but the potential it contains, especially in the hands of a cultivator like him who possesses multiple top-tier inheritances, is simply immeasurable!
Give it a try!
Once the idea was formed, there was no more hesitation.
Qi Yun suddenly opened his eyes, and the inquiry in his eyes suddenly turned into a raging fire.
Since this [Formation Art 3.0] makes such wild ideas possible, what are we waiting for?
If you don't want to play, then don't play.
If you're going to play, play something truly epic!
He took a deep breath, a breath that seemed to drain all the wandering spiritual energy and dust within a ten-foot radius around him.
The next instant, Qi Yun's eyes no longer held the nine-colored divine light of [Wield Myriad Laws], nor the clear light of flowing talismans, but suddenly a layer of deep, heavy, and boundless light appeared.
"The battle begins."
Two words, as light as a feather, yet as heavy as the last sign before a mountain collapses.
Silently and without fanfare, they focused on Qi Yun himself as the core.
In the the Unseen, an immense and vast structure suddenly unfolded and expanded rapidly in all directions at an astonishing speed!
Boom-!!!
It wasn't a roaring sound.
Rather, it is the tremor of the rules, the muffled sound of existence's foundation being shaken!
Beneath Qi Yun's feet, the void that was isolated by multiple restrictions and should have been empty suddenly sprouted countless extremely fine and complex array patterns!
These array patterns were not engraved on the ground, but rather "permeated" directly from the void.
The array patterns spread at an unbelievable speed, instantly exceeding the range of the triple sealing array set up by True Person Zecheng, and rapidly expanding in all directions within sight.
In the blink of an eye, an invisible "structure," vast and unimaginably large, appeared, though invisible to the naked eye but clearly perceptible to the Divine Sense.
With Qi Yun at its center, it suddenly enveloped an area of unknown radius!
This layout is heavy, ancient, and majestic, carrying a terrifying connotation of suppressing the eight extremes, regulating the earth's veins, controlling spiritual energy, and giving birth to all things!
Within the structure, faintly visible dark golden ley lines of light flow like giant dragons, drifting and rising in the void. Countless miniature yet immensely heavy mountain phantoms rise and fall uncertainly, and specks of starlight are like the most ancient restrictive runes embedded at key nodes.
It was the combined power of the Four Northwestern Sects, led by the four Great True Person of Southern Dipper, Sansi, Jiuli, Lunzhuan.
The unparalleled [Northern Defense Grand Formation] is based on the lost ancient array [Nine Heavens Suppressing Mountains and Subduing Demons Heavenly Wall Diagram]!
At this moment, Qi Yun used himself to set the center of the formation.
It was about to directly evolve into this super array that was originally used to protect a region!
"Buzz--!!!"
An indescribable, immense pressure suddenly descended as this invisible framework unfolded!
Click, click----
The rock walls of the Lifeless Valley, enveloped within, suddenly became covered with fine cracks on their deathly white, bone-like surfaces, as if they could not withstand the sudden "weight."
The gray-white, lifeless mist that Central Plains, eroding life, was suppressed by this heavy structure, churning and dissipating violently like snow being poured on boiling water, revealing patches of "clean" yet even more oppressive void.
In the distance, some righteous Devil Cultivator who were fighting or hiding, regardless of their cultivation level, all felt a sudden sinking feeling in their hearts at this moment, as if they were being pressed down by an invisible giant mountain.
His Law Power sluggish, his Divine Soul trembled with fear, and he stared in horror toward the direction from which the pressure was coming, only to find a desolate and lifeless void.
Only that heavy Daoist aura, which made one's Divine Soul tremble, seeped into everything like mercury spilling onto the ground!
Qi Yun sat upright at the very center of this invisible yet magnificent formation, his deep blue Daoist robe fluttering wildly without wind, making a rustling sound.
His face was slightly pale, and there were beads of sweat on his forehead, clearly indicating that forcibly performing this formation had put a great strain on him.
But the light in his eyes was extremely intense, as if countless array patterns were being created and deduced within them.
In the next instant, he clearly felt as if he had become the heart of this "structure".
With each breath, the invisible ley lines of the earth pulsed in response;
Every wisp of Divine Sense directs the rise and fall of those mountains and stars.
Attack, defense, trapping, illusion, suppression, and control—all sorts of Formation Art changes seem to be within his control.
The body itself is the great formation, and the magic moves with the thought!
Although this is only a brief and incomplete evolution, it cannot last.
But at this moment, he truly experienced the pinnacle of having the power of a vast Formation Art within himself and controlling it at will!
"It's truly a captivating feeling!"
Qi Yun felt the immense, invisible power surrounding him, as heavy as the collapse of heaven and earth yet as responsive as his own limbs. The smile on his lips could no longer be suppressed.
"But it's still... a bit too much."
Feeling the extreme burden of his mind being crushed under a millstone, almost shattering, and the emptiness of his internal Law Power gushing out like a flood, Qi Yun gently shook his head.
Forcibly evolving the complete [Northern Defense Grand Formation], even just the basic array pattern, is still too strenuous.
This super array, which combines the power of four sects, is based on an ancient formation, and aims to protect the northwest region, is so vast and heavy that it far exceeds the limits that an individual can bear.
The sudden unfolding of the situation, seemingly imposing, had actually drained almost all of his mental and computational power.
If we continue to forcefully maintain this posture, we risk collapsing before we can even harm the enemy.
You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time.
This approach of using one's body as a powerful formation is correct.
However, the scale and depth of the Formation Art must be commensurate with one's own cultivation level.
When thoughts are clear, the mind follows those thoughts.
Qi Yun's mind stirred slightly, and he stopped trying to maintain that enormous, astonishingly large-scale structure.
The next moment, the heavy "structure" centered on him, which had invisibly enveloped countless worlds, suddenly trembled!
Countless invisible yet real array patterns surged back from all directions in a frenzy!
The entire process was as fast as lightning; in just a split second, the previously overwhelming and oppressive invisible Northern Defense Formation vanished.
It has already shrunk and condensed to about one-tenth of its original size.
However, the density of the array patterns, the refinement of the Daoist rhyme, and the suppressing, organizing, and guarding intent within it were more than a thousand times stronger and purer than the previous superficial and massive structure.
Dark gold veins coil like dragons, the Nine Peaks Mountain Seal guards the eight directions, the Star Dao Diagram is imprinted on the back, and the four colors of Daoist rhyme entwine the body.
Qi Yun sat upright within, as if he were sitting atop a vast, mysterious sky, overlooking all living beings—the [Northern Defense Celestial Enclosure]!
The surging supreme aura swept in, shaking all directions and making the great formation even heavier and more domineering.
The artistic conception of this grand formation coincides perfectly with that of the Supreme Dao Foundation!
The pressure suddenly decreased, and my mind returned to normal.
The overwhelming feeling of pressure, as if it were about to tear the Purple Mansion apart, quickly subsided, replaced by a sense of complete and effortless control.
Although the range has been reduced, its power is certainly less than one ten-thousandth of that of a complete grand formation.
But at this moment, Qi Yun was able to control the [Northern Defense Grand Formation] with ease.
"Call----"
Qi Yun let out a long breath, his complexion regained its rosy hue, and his eyes shone brightly.
"This size is just right."