Translator: CinderTL
Soul-Gathering Brilliance-Preserving Grand Formation...
The formation was undoubtedly a valuable asset. Crafted jointly by four immortals, its power was immeasurable.
Yet even the most precious treasures carried hidden risks. Xu Sanyan pondered for a long moment before asking, "How would this collaboration work? What would you require of me?"
"Simply lend me your secret realm."
"Pah!"
Without another word, Xu Sanyan spat a mouthful of phlegm at her face. Zuoqiu Zhen swiftly dodged, her eyes flashing with anger as she glared at him. "What do you think you're doing?!"
She hadn't expected Xu Sanyan, a great cultivator of the Soul Refining Realm, to resort to such childish tactics.
"Use my secret realm? How dare you even suggest it!"
Xu Sanyan sneered, a murderous glint in his eyes. He had abandoned his position as the holy son of the demonic sect for this very thing. He would never allow anyone else to lay claim to it!
Zuoqiu Zhen recognized Xu Sanyan's fierce protectiveness over the secret realm fruit and waved her hands frantically in explanation. "It's not what you think! This is Secret Realm B-7, which, if I recall correctly, should be a spiritless land."
"How do you know that?" Xu Sanyan demanded, his voice sharp with suspicion.
A spiritless land meant there was no spiritual energy, and the secret realm was indeed such a place.
Zuoqiu Zhen gently reassured him, "Of course I know. I even participated in the construction of the Peach Blossom Secret Realm. While I can't claim to be intimately familiar with all two hundred-plus secret realms, I do know a thing or two about them."
Xu Sanyan nodded slowly, then added, "The secret realm will never be lent to you. Give up on that idea."
"I can help you explore the secret realm faster," Zuoqiu Zhen countered. "I've noticed your body refinement path has improved. You must have gained some benefits from it. I can help you obtain even more."
"Absolutely not!" Xu Sanyan refused flatly.
After all this roundabout talk, she was just waiting for me to get here, he thought.
Zuoqiu Zhen sighed helplessly, pouting slightly. "Ah... you really don't need to be so wary of me. This secret realm is of no use to me whatsoever. I only need to borrow it as a formation core."
"Heh." Xu Sanyan's smile was mocking. Say what you want, I'll never lend it to you.
Seeing Xu Sanyan's unwavering resolve, Zuoqiu Zhen reluctantly retreated to a compromise. "Alright, keep the item. Just place it in a specific location once I'm ready. Would that work?"
"What are you planning?" Xu Sanyan probed.
Zuoqiu Zhen pondered for a moment, then retrieved a large banner from her storage pouch—the very Soul-Suppressing Banner she had planted in the main hall of the Hundred Saints Secret Realm.
"We'll modify the formation to steal the Wang Family's soul essence. This situation is partly your fault. If you hadn't destroyed my original formation, we wouldn't be in such a rush now."
Xu Sanyan remained expressionless, feeling no remorse whatsoever.
Zuoqiu Zhen had no intention of guilt-tripping him, knowing he lacked any moral compass. She pointed to the secret realm fruit and said, "This spirit-nullifying fruit is perfect as a formation core for modifying the Great Formation."
Xu Sanyan frowned. "If you alter the formation, won't the Wang Family notice?"
"Hah, notice?" Zuoqiu Zhen exuded overwhelming confidence, a hint of disdain curling her lips. "The Wang Family are nothing but mediocre fools. They've only grasped the surface of formation techniques and dare to flaunt their ignorance. They've turned the Soul-Gathering Brilliance-Preserving Grand Formation into a child's scribbles, and haven't maintained it properly for ages, leaving countless vulnerabilities."
"If I hadn't recently optimized it for them, the formation would have collapsed long ago. The Wang Clan Ancestor should be thanking me for this undeserved benefit."
It was clear she held the Wang Family in utter contempt, especially their shoddy formation.
Xu Sanyan tilted his head. "Optimized?"
"Yes, the Wang Clan Ancestor could only barely cling to life before, but now he has the strength to move around," Xu Sanyan said hesitantly. "This Great Formation draws upon the divine souls and soul essence of the Wang Family descendants to sustain the Wang Clan Ancestor. If you optimize it, then..."
Zuoqiu Zhen nodded. "Naturally, it will draw even more."
"Tsk..." Xu Sanyan silently mourned for the Wang Family descendants.
"Have you considered my proposal?" Zuoqiu Zhen asked.
Xu Sanyan lowered his gaze, pondering for a long moment. He still wanted to refuse, but as he shook his head, Zuoqiu Zhen immediately interrupted, "I'll add ten more soul crystals."
"Huh? You have soul crystals?" Xu Sanyan's face lit up with surprise; he desperately needed soul crystals at this moment.
Zuoqiu Zhen glanced outside as if it were obvious. "The Wang Family has them."
"Hmm?"
"I have my own methods. Don't worry, I have no designs on your secret realm. I only need one day to complete the setup, after which you can reclaim it."
Xu Sanyan considered. "Allow me to think it over."
"Very well. I'll return in three days," Zuoqiu Zhen said, not pressing for an immediate decision.
At that moment, footsteps approached outside the door. Both of them turned to look.
Zuoqiu Zhen glanced at him, pushed open the window, and leaped out. As she turned to leave, she tossed a booklet back over her shoulder. "This is a detailed explanation of the Great Formation, written by my own hand. You can take a look."
With that, she vanished in a single bound.
Creak—
The wooden door swung open, and Wang Zixuan greeted him with a radiant smile. "Brother Lin, you're back! Where have you been these past few days? I've missed you so much!"
Xu Sanyan froze, abruptly turning to face her. He sensed the Demonic Seed within her had weakened significantly, and Wang Zixuan was regaining her self-awareness.
It must be because of that painting, he thought.
This won't do. With a mental command, Xu Sanyan conjured another rune from the void and slowly guided it deep into the space between her eyebrows.
After a moment's contemplation, Xu Sanyan instructed, "Go fetch Wang Ruixin and Wang Qingyu."
"Yes," Wang Zixuan replied, her expression slightly vacant. Without another word, she turned and left.
Moments later, the three women stood in a line before him. Xu Sanyan sensed that the Demonic Seeds within Wang Ruixin and Wang Qingyu had also weakened, though not as severely as Wang Zixuan's. After reinforcing their seals, he dismissed them.
"Wait!" Xu Sanyan suddenly called out, stopping them. "Take off your clothes."
The three women exchanged glances before obediently complying.
That evening, Xu Sanyan sat in the courtyard, poring over Zuoqiu Zhen's detailed explanation of the formation. The document described over a hundred variations of the Great Formation.
The more Xu Sanyan studied it, the more profound its intricacies became. No wonder it was created by four immortals working together—its complexity was boundless. The Wang Family's variation was merely one of its countless forms, and even the least significant among them.
The art of formations was vast and intricate, composed of elements like formation bases, patterns, and cores. Its complexity resembled that of a precision machine; even a slight alteration could produce entirely different effects.
Xu Sanyan rubbed his aching head and slammed the book onto the stone table with a sigh. "Ugh..."
He had always been a poor student, and even after transmigrating, his academic ineptitude remained unchanged. The sheer vastness of this formation overwhelmed him, causing his head to throb just from looking at it.
"There's no other way..."
He had to resort to that method!
Xu Sanyan's current achievements were entirely due to his unwavering persistence and diligent effort!
"Enhance me!"
Xu Sanyan roared inwardly, and a panel materialized before his eyes.
(End of the Chapter)
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