Three Layers of Formations

Climbing the steps, Ling Yun once again arrived outside the tomb of the first Spirit King.

The place was as it had always been: trees flourished, a grove of slender bamboo stood among several pavilion roofs, and a clear spring burbled.

Only now, mysterious formation patterns would occasionally appear in the surrounding space, radiating a powerful formation presence.

Ling Yun naturally would not have understood these patterns before, but after studying the Dao of Formations for some time, his horizons had broadened enormously.

Not only that, but he also possessed countless methods for identifying formations. With the Formation Emperor's inheritance, Ling Yun had become a living encyclopedia.

"Three layers of formations!"

Ling Yun narrowed his eyes, a faint light appearing over them as though he could see through the layers of formation patterns to the formations hidden within the void.

"The first layer is a mid-grade sixth-tier defensive formation called the Thousand Shield True Li Formation. It draws on the power of the earth veins and possesses tremendous defensive strength. Even a Dao Palace Realm expert couldn't break it by brute force in a short time."

As Ling Yun assessed the precise level of the formation before him, his understanding of the manor's foundation deepened once more.

If the manor were to face a disaster, this formation alone could hold out for ten days to half a month against a Dao Palace Realm expert's relentless assault. The best thing about the Thousand Shield True Li Formation is that it relies entirely on the power of the earth veins, consuming no spirit stones at all!

Ling Yun nodded inwardly.

The Thousand Shield True Li Formation was also the only layer of the Royal Mausoleum's formations currently active. The other two hidden formations astonished Ling Yun even more.

The second formation should be the famous peak-grade sixth-tier killing formation-the Seven Killings Forbidden Formation!

Ling Yun was somewhat dumbfounded when he saw the formation clearly.

For no other reason than that it was too powerful. It was no ordinary killing formation!

Formations named "forbidden formations" were, without exception, among the very best of their tier. The Seven Killings Forbidden Formation was no different.

Once the Seven Killings Forbidden Formation was activated, it could be said that without power surpassing the very peak of the Dao Palace Realm, there was no surviving its onslaught.

The Seven Killings Forbidden Formation must be one of the manor's secrets. With this thing here, King Chen's hopes of stealing the Forbidden Heart are nothing but wishful thinking!

A sudden realization dawned on Ling Yun.

No wonder the manor had previously known full well that the Forbidden Heart was hidden in the Royal Mausoleum and was very likely to be coveted, yet had made no effort to guard the manor. It had known that there was simply no answer to the Seven Killings Forbidden Formation!

It's just that the Seven Killings Forbidden Formation can only be used once, and every time it's used, activating it costs an astronomical number of spirit stones.

Mind you, that was just to activate it!

Fortunately, the Seven Killings Forbidden Formation drew on Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to attack. Otherwise, no number of spirit stones would be enough to fuel it.

If it catches them by surprise, this Seven Killings Forbidden Formation can kill at least one Dao Palace Realm mighty figure.

A light flashed in Ling Yun's eyes as he looked toward the layer of formation hidden deepest in the shadows.

In his eyes, beneath the void, endless formation patterns formed a vast design. Like the firmament, it was filled with a sense of lofty remoteness that inspired indescribable awe.

What... tier of formation is this?

Ling Yun furrowed his brow, uncertain and alarmed. The sensation was so extraordinary and unprecedented that it made him feel as though he were facing some supreme existence.

By rights, with my current understanding of the Dao of Formations, I should be able to identify even a seventh-tier formation. But leaving aside whether the Spirit King's Manor could even possess a seventh-tier Grotto-Heaven Realm formation, why can't I recognize its tier even if it does...

Ling Yun could not make sense of it at all.

After all, a thousand years ago, the first Spirit King had only reached Dao Palace Realm Perfection, corresponding to the peak of the sixth tier. How could he possibly have left the Spirit King's Manor with a seventh-tier formation?

Could this formation be even older than the first Spirit King? Was it not laid down by him?

Ling Yun could not help speculating.

Unfortunately, though the Ling Kingdom had a thousand years of history, there were no records of anything before its founding. Everything began a thousand years ago with the seven Dao Palace Realm progenitors who had opened heaven and earth.

In other words, he had no way of knowing the formation's true origins.

Could this third layer be at a level far beyond my current understanding, reaching the eighth-tier Creation Realm or even higher?

The idea struck Ling Yun as absurd, yet he had no choice but to believe that the third layer of the formation had an extraordinary origin, far beyond the Ling Kingdom and even the present-day Eastern Desolation.

Could this land really be so mysterious? I merely studied the Dao of Formations, and I've stumbled upon such a great secret?

Ling Yun could not help letting out a bitter laugh.

As for whether there were Grotto-Heaven Realm beings in the Eastern Desolation, the legendary, mysterious Divine Desolation Sect might have some, though it was unlikely.

But something at the Creation Realm level...

Ling Yun simply could not believe that an existence of that level could be found in the Eastern Desolation.

This world was weak and diminished. It was difficult enough for it to accommodate the Grotto-Heaven Realm, let alone anything above it.

Forget it, forget it. I'll just assume there's something special about the third layer. Besides, it seems to be incomplete.

Sitting down in a nearby stone pavilion, Ling Yun shook his head and convinced himself.

He found the Ling Kingdom and the manor increasingly difficult to understand.

He could not even understand why the evil cultivators had emerged.

Why had this fearsome group from legend set its sights on the Ling Kingdom and refused to let go? Could this have some connection to the kingdom as well?

Ling Yun did not know.

What he felt now was that the higher his cultivation rose, the more he realized how many secrets had once blinded him. Only after enduring countless hardships might he have a chance to learn these secrets and gain the ability to pursue the real truth.

And then there's the Forbidden Heart. What kind of wondrous thing is it, that perhaps only Primordial Spirit Realm experts like the few kings of the Ling Clan are qualified to know about it?

Ling Yun pondered in silence.

The Spirit King might know a great deal about these things. But Ling Yun had no chance to learn about them from him.

He had only managed to learn a little about many matters because he had been forced to become involved in them.

Perhaps, if so many things hadn't happened, my father would have told me about them himself once I reached a certain level. But I can't show myself now, so I'd better keep playing dead.

Having worked that out, Ling Yun no longer dwelled on it.

For now, his task was still to keep growing stronger. If he reached the Primordial Spirit Realm or even the Dao Palace Realm, wouldn't he then be qualified to learn the things he had not been qualified to know before?

Besides, from King Chen's memories, I learned that those evil cultivators are about to emerge again. There must be terrifying Dao Palace Realm fiends among them. If I don't break through to the Dao Palace Realm, I'll most likely have no choice but to hide in the Royal Mausoleum and eke out a living.

A faint light flashed in Ling Yun's eyes, and he muttered to himself, "I'm not the sort to sit around waiting for death. So before you emerge, I'll become stronger than you!"

He stood up and took several breaths of the fresh air.

Looking at the formation patterns in the void, Ling Yun suddenly felt an impulse for some reason and instinctively extended his spiritual sense toward the patterns of the third layer.

In an instant, heaven and earth spun, yin and yang reversed, and Ling Yun's senses plunged into absolute darkness.