Translator: AnubisTL
The Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation was a genuine Fourth-Tier Grand Formation.
Since its deployment, the entire Lingyun Sect had been enveloped in an inexplicable sense of security.
A sect-protecting Grand Formation was the cornerstone of any cultivation sect.
With this formation in place, even cultivators in the nascent soul realm would hesitate to attack Lingyun Sect's mountain gate.
After all, even a nascent soul realm cultivator couldn't easily breach a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation controlled by a cultivator!
A Fourth-Tier Grand Formation could harness the power of heaven and earth, making any attempt to breach it akin to battling the very fabric of existence.
"It's a pity we lacked a few spirit materials and had to substitute them with lower-grade alternatives. Coupled with the crude refining of the formation flags, this Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation could only be restored to this extent."
"Still, it should be more than sufficient to handle mid-nascent soul realm cultivators."
"Of course, I must remind you that nascent soul realm cultivators aren't fools. They won't stand idly by and let you attack them with the formation."
After completing the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation, Dao Lord Bai Ling imparted final instructions on the formation's characteristics to Li Qing before entering a deep slumber within the Immortal Spirit Green Gold.
Though he had relied on Li Qing's magical power to deploy the formation, the lingering obsession had still suffered significant depletion.
After all, it was merely a lingering obsession. Even if it had belonged to a cultivator in the divine transformation stage during their lifetime, it still had its limits and could only exert a fraction of its former power.
Achieving this much was already an extraordinary feat.
Li Qing silently transmitted a word of gratitude to Senior Bai Ling before eagerly descending into one of the Formation Cores of the Fourth-Tier Grand Formation.
Boom!
The Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation possessed five Formation Cores. To control the entire Grand Formation through a Formation Core, one needed to be at least a core formation realm cultivator.
If a cultivator below the core formation realm attempted to enter the Grand Formation, their entire spiritual energy would be instantly drained, leading to their demise.
Arriving at the central Formation Core, Li Qing observed for a moment before extending his divine sense to begin taking control of the formation.
Soon, his consciousness merged with the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation.
In that instant, he felt as if he held the entire heaven and earth in his grasp, becoming the sole sovereign beneath the celestial dome.
What immense power!
Li Qing was deeply shaken. He felt an overwhelming sense of power, as if he could effortlessly control the life and death of others. Any creature trapped within this Grand Formation would be no match for him.
This sensation was intoxicating, so much so that Li Qing's mind began to lose itself within it.
If not for the rapidly depleting mana within his body, he might never have wanted to awaken from this state.
"No wonder they say a formation master who has made thorough preparations is virtually invincible at their level. Manipulating the power of heaven and earth through formations is truly terrifying!" Li Qing exclaimed.
He then decided to test the Grand Formation's capabilities.
The Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation covered an immense area, encompassing not only the entire mountain gate but also a significant portion of the sea beyond.
In the future, anyone attempting to bypass the mountain gate by sea would face simultaneous retaliation from both the Mountain-Bearing Turtle and the Grand Formation!
Boom!
With a mere thought, the formation's spiritual light flickered, then coalesced into a dazzling spear of spiritual energy, guided by Li Qing's will.
"Spirit-Slaying!" Li Qing murmured, and the radiant spiritual energy spear that had materialized above the formation shot forth, piercing directly into the sea below.
Boom!
A blindingly brilliant light erupted from the sea's surface, instantly vaporizing vast swathes of seawater and creating a massive vacuum at the epicenter.
It took a long time for the surrounding waters to rush in and fill the void.
Near the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate, the Mountain-Bearing Turtle surfaced in terror, its head rising from the waves.
The strike had triggered an overwhelming sense of danger within it—a power capable of obliterating it with ease.
"Terrifying... This is the power of a transformation stage demon king! How could this Grand Formation be so formidable?" the turtle muttered to itself, both awestruck and terrified.
Having unleashed the strike, Li Qing withdrew from his control over the Grand Formation.
Dao Lord Bai Ling's earlier refinement of the formation, which had fused it with the heaven and earth using Li Qing's spiritual energy, had already depleted much of his true essence. He couldn't maintain control for long without risking his mana being completely drained.
"There are five Formation Cores in total. We'll need to refine five Heavenly Origin Formation Tokens later. Only those who possess these tokens can control the Grand Formation. Otherwise, if someone were to infiltrate one of the Formation Cores, it would cause serious trouble."
With these words, Li Qing's figure vanished into the sky, returning to his cave abode.
The other elders and disciples of the Lingyun Sect gazed at the Grand Formation beneath their feet with intense joy, feeling a profound sense of security welling up from within.
As for the formation masters Li Qing had gathered earlier, their fervor reached its peak.
They huddled together, meticulously calculating the key nodes of the formation and delving into the mysteries of the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation.
"Unbelievable! This Grand Formation is utterly profound. Some of these formation veins truly capture the good fortune of heaven and earth!"
"Incomprehensible! Completely incomprehensible!"
"The Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation—such a powerful Fourth-Tier Grand Formation—why have I never heard of it before?"
"It must be some ancient, secretly transmitted formation. Look at the style of these formation veins—they exude an ancient aura."
"Perhaps Ancestor Limitless truly obtained some extraordinary inheritance during his voyage!"
"Speak cautiously!"
"..."
As for Li Qing, he had long since returned to his cave abode, where he sat in meditative stillness, rapidly replenishing his depleted mana.
Now at the late-stage core formation realm, each recovery required him to absorb vast quantities of heaven and earth spiritual energy.
Fortunately, the spiritual energy in the Azure Ridge Domain was gradually becoming denser, especially in high-grade spiritual vein lands. This palpable shift reflected the profound changes occurring throughout heaven and earth.
With such abundant spiritual energy, his internal spiritual energy rapidly replenished, quickly restoring his reserves.
Over the next ten days, the Lingyun Sect gradually returned to calm, the novelty of the formation slowly fading.
With his spiritual energy fully restored, Li Qing began contemplating his next course of action.
"I mustn't forget Senior Bai Ling's matter. I need to arrange it as soon as possible!"
Since he might need to rely on Dao Lord Bai Ling's assistance in future matters, Li Qing dared not neglect this task.
He planned to personally oversee the selection process, carefully choosing one or two disciples or elders within the sect who would be suitable to inherit the senior's legacy.
However, a spirit letter arrived, disrupting his plans.
"Ah, I almost forgot! An important figure from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild is coming to visit!"
Li Qing, who had just opened the spirit letter, suddenly remembered his promise to the guild from a few days prior.
The Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild was no ordinary organization. With its formidable background, vast influence, and immense power, it demanded respect and could not be taken lightly.
Given the guild's ability to establish Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilions across numerous great domains, Li Qing suspected that it might even harbor divine transformation stage experts within its ranks.
After a moment's contemplation, Li Qing tapped his knee lightly with his fingers, then activated his divine sense.
"Xiao Huan, come to my cave abode at once!"
His divine sense message swiftly reached a cave abode nestled lower on the spirit peak.
Upon hearing Li Qing's summons, Li Yuhuan immediately flew out of her cave abode, moving with lightning speed, her body flickering with faint arcs of lightning.
"Disciple Li Yuhuan greets Master!"
Outside Li Qing's cave abode, the petite and charming Li Yuhuan bowed deeply.
"Enter," Li Qing's voice echoed. "I have something to instruct you about."
As his voice faded, the restriction guarding the cave abode automatically dissolved.
Li Yuhuan stepped inside with a cheerful gait. Despite having achieved foundation establishment and becoming a foundation establishment elder of the sect, her spirited nature remained unchanged, bearing a striking resemblance to Chu Lingyi's lively temperament.
"Master, is there something you need me to do?"
Li Qing, seated cross-legged on a cushion, retrieved a slightly rusted fragment of bronze from his robes—the very Immortal Spirit Green Gold that Dao Lord Bai Ling had possessed.
"Take this fragment of spirit gold and deliver my orders: every member of the sect, from the elders down to the outer sect disciples, must come into contact with it at least once!"
"If anyone glows after touching the fragment, report it to me immediately."
With these words, Li Qing entrusted the Immortal Spirit Green Gold to his beloved disciple.
"Understood, Master. Leave it to me!"
Li Yuhuan, ever sensible, didn't even ask why. She accepted the spirit gold fragment and promptly left Li Qing's cave abode.
Meanwhile, outside the mountain gate of the Lingyun Sect, a slightly plump figure gazed up at the sect shrouded in ethereal spiritual energy.
"What an extraordinary sight!"
The man sported a pair of neatly trimmed, upturned mustaches, his eyes narrowed into slits beneath deep wrinkles on his forehead.
"This Lingyun Sect... last time I came, there were no protective formations at all. Now suddenly there's a Fourth-Tier Grand Formation! Unbelievable!"
"A Fourth-Tier Grand Formation... not just anyone can create one of those."
"Which Grand Array Master could have created this? True Monarch Jialuo? Old Lord Tianxing of the Flame Domain? Neither seems likely."
The squint-eyed, portly man pondered briefly before circling the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate, yet he couldn't discern the formation's origin or purpose.
"Never mind. I've heard the Lingyun Sect is reasonable and their methods are relatively gentle, unlike the Shangqing Sect, who dared to disregard the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild's reputation!"
"If the Lingyun Sect hadn't annihilated the Shangqing Sect, I'd have settled accounts with them personally, teaching them that there are always greater powers beyond their comprehension!"
With that, he ceased concealing his aura, unleashing its full force.
Boom!
The sky above suddenly darkened as a formidable presence erupted from outside the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate.
In an instant, the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation flickered into existence.
A hearty voice echoed from within the gate:
"Hahahaha! May I inquire if Fellow Daoist from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild has come to pay us a visit?"
"This Li has failed to greet you properly. Please forgive my oversight!"
A tall, imposing figure materialized in the sky above the mountain gate—Li Qing, who had come to welcome the guest.
Li Qing clasped his hands in a respectful greeting toward the slightly plump figure standing outside the formation, his expression solemn.
The aura emanating from the man confirmed his status as a genuine nascent soul realm cultivator!
Even Li Qing felt a faint pressure and a sense of unease from this individual.
Without a doubt, any cultivator capable of evoking such a reaction in him must be a nascent soul realm powerhouse!
"Hahahaha! I am Liu Tianbao of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild. You must be the renowned Limitless True Lord of the Lingyun Sect, correct?"
Liu Tianbao laughed heartily. Having decided to visit the Lingyun Sect, he had thoroughly researched the sect's details.
He had even learned the names of all the core formation realm cultivators within the sect, their daoist names, and their true names.
Li Qing dared not be negligent. Upon confirming the visitor's affiliation with the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, he immediately waved his hand, causing the Heavenly Origin Spirit-Slaying Formation to vanish.
Of course, Wu Chong, Ancestor Ziqing, and the other supreme elders remained stationed near the formation's core nodes, ready to intervene should the nascent soul realm cultivator from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild harbor any ill intentions.
Though the possibility was slim, Li Qing, guided by the principle of "harbor no malice, but maintain vigilance," had his forces take their positions in advance.
Should anything untoward occur, he would have Wu Chong and the others activate the Grand Formation to trap and eliminate the threat.
Liu Tianbao showed no hesitation as the formation opened, striding confidently through the Lingyun Sect's mountain gate.
During his approach, he subtly suppressed his nascent soul realm aura, no longer fully projecting it. After all, this visit was for cooperation, and the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild had always adhered to the principle of "harmony brings prosperity."
As Liu Tianbao entered the gate, Li Qing immediately stepped forward to greet him. His demeanor was neither servile nor arrogant, a stark contrast to his behavior when meeting other nascent soul realm cultivators in the Great Wilderness Domain.
This was the Lingyun Sect, after all, and as its ancestor, Li Qing couldn't afford to appear too humble before outsiders.
Of course, the Grand Formation beneath his feet lent him considerable confidence, allowing him to face a nascent soul realm cultivator directly.
"Hmm, Fellow Daoist Limitless truly possesses extraordinary bearing! Worthy of being the leader of a sect!" Liu Tianbao remarked.
"And this powerful ancient formation beneath our feet... it's truly awe-inspiring! Though your sect was established only a few years ago, its underlying strength is truly formidable!"
"I'm curious to know which Grand Array Master designed this formation!" Liu Tianbao asked Li Qing directly, making no attempt to conceal his interest in the Grand Formation's origins.
A fourth-tier formation master would command immense respect even at the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild's headquarters.
But Li Qing wasn't foolish enough to reveal everything, especially when Dao Lord Bai Ling was involved.
"Heh, True Monarch Tianbao, as a high-ranking member of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, your insight is truly sharp! This formation originates from a mysterious elder I encountered during my travels at sea."
"As for the elder's name and daoist name, he never disclosed them to me."
"Now, True Monarch Tianbao, what brings you to visit my Lingyun Sect?"
Seeing Li Qing's reluctance to discuss the formation's origins further, Liu Tianbao didn't press the matter.
He stroked his mustache thoughtfully before replying, "Indeed, I wish to discuss mutually beneficial collaborations with your Lingyun Sect. Rest assured, my visit will bring advantages to your sect!"
Li Qing inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. He gestured toward the Sect Leader's Hall and said, "This isn't the place for such discussions. Please, this way!"
(End of the Chapter)
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Translator's Corner
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