Translator: AnubisTL
Cao Xiu, who sought Chicken Heart Grass to refine the Bone Tempering Pill, ultimately chose to venture into Chicken Crest Mountain himself.
Thanks to Li Qing's clever arrangements, Cao Xiu immediately discovered the hidden mechanism behind a waterfall!
Behind the cascading curtain of water lay a natural cave abode.
Cao Xiu didn't rush inside. Instead, he used various methods to probe the cave, but found nothing unusual.
Finally, he decided to enter personally and uncover its secrets.
After a moment's hesitation, Cao Xiu plunged through the rushing water and into the cave abode.
The next instant, the cave's interior transformed abruptly, spiritual light from activation arrays surging around him.
He's taken the bait!
Li Qing, who had been hiding in the shadows, emerged with a satisfied expression.
"This kid is really reckless, rushing into any cave he stumbles upon."
"Still, it's for the best. Let's hope he can pass this trial."
This cave abode was jointly established by Li Qing and Dao Lord Bai Ling, containing the Array Dao and talismanship inheritances left behind by the latter.
In addition, Dao Lord Bai Ling had set up a small entrapment formation. Anyone who trespassed would be trapped within the cave, making it nearly impossible to escape through brute force alone.
To break free from this entrapment formation, Cao Xiu, with his foundation establishment realm cultivation, would have to rely on his understanding of array formations.
Thus, the inheritances within the cave were of paramount importance to him, serving as his lifeline.
Moreover, if Cao Xiu successfully dismantled the second-tier entrapment formation, he would obtain a map.
Guided by this map, Cao Xiu could locate the hidden location of Dao Lord Bai Ling's final inheritance.
Of course, this inheritance site had also been jointly established by Li Qing and Dao Lord Bai Ling.
"Speaking of which, Senior Bai Ling, how long should it take Cao Xiu to break through the entrapment formation to be considered qualified?"
Dao Lord Bai Ling replied leisurely, "Considering the boy may have never encountered array formations before, if he can grasp their intricacies within two months, that would demonstrate exceptional talent."
Upon hearing this, Li Qing's eyebrows twitched slightly. "Two months? Senior's standards are truly demanding."
With that, he patiently waited in place, prepared for any emergencies that might arise.
Meanwhile, inside the cave abode behind the waterfall, Cao Xiu was utterly dumbfounded.
"Where am I?"
The surroundings were brightly lit, completely unlike the interior of a typical cave.
He turned back to find that the misty entrance had vanished, replaced by a wall of dense fog that obscured all visibility.
Cao Xiu's expression darkened slightly, realizing he had likely stumbled into a formation barrier.
Such tales were common in the immortal realm, often accompanied by both opportunities and potential dangers.
He tested the barrier, discovering that his current mana reserves were utterly insufficient to break through it by force. Unless he reached the core formation realm, even exhausting his mana would likely fail to budge the formation.
Confirming this grim reality, Cao Xiu's heart sank further, his mood plummeting to rock bottom.
By now, Cao Xiu deeply regretted giving in to his curiosity. Trapped in this place, his chances of survival seemed slim at best.
A moment later, a bone-crushing sound echoed beneath his feet.
Crack!
Beneath his boot, a stark white bone snapped, its fragments scattering across the ground.
His face grim, Cao Xiu followed the trail of bones forward until he spotted a stone table resembling an altar.
Two jade slips lay casually arranged on its surface, their ancient appearance suggesting they had been there for centuries.
After a moment's hesitation, he picked up the jade slips and used his divine sense to read their contents.
Detailed Explanation of the Bai Ling Talisman Dao, Complete Record of Low-Grade Talismans, Essentials of the Bai Ling Array Dao, Array Flags and Array Pattern Nodes, Overview of Low-Grade Array Formations
Cao Xiu's face lit up with joy as he read the contents of the jade slips.
This was a second-tier inheritance of both talismanship and the Array Dao! According to the brief descriptions, these teachings had been left by a powerful cultivator from the Ancient Era. The formation barrier now trapping him was likely a casual creation of this senior's hand.
"It's astonishing that this formation still works after all these years!" Cao Xiu murmured to himself, then focused his attention on the jade slip containing the formation inheritance.
He narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered:
"My trip to Chicken Crest Mountain was reported to the sect—it's no secret. I'm not alone anymore. If I'm missing for too long, the sect will definitely send someone to look for me."
"When the supreme elder arrives, he should be able to detect the anomaly here, and I'll be rescued."
"But I can't rely entirely on external help. Since it's a formation barrier, there must be a way to break it. The key might lie within this formation inheritance!"
Having made his decision, Cao Xiu steeled his resolve.
Time flowed leisurely by, and before he knew it, a month and a half had passed!
During this time, Li Qing remained near the waterfall, guarding the cave abode hidden behind the water curtain.
Cao Xiu's hopes for sect reinforcements never materialized, leaving him to rely solely on himself.
Li Qing, however, remained unfazed. Until the Yin-Yang Spirit Mushroom arrived, he had little else to occupy his time.
During this period, he frequently played with the Golden War Boat, a gift from the Zhong Clan as compensation.
This vessel was a masterpiece of artifact refinement and array formation, its design ingenious and its craftsmanship flawless.
Though merely a magic artifact, its perfect integration with array formations left even Li Qing in awe.
Dao Lord Bai Ling, bored and restless, noticed the Golden War Boat and grew curious.
"Inscribing an array formation within a spirit boat—such a novel concept! Is this a product of the modern era?"
"In the Ancient Era, some attempted similar feats. Some envisioned talismans carrying array formations, which would activate into Grand Formations upon deployment."
"Others tried replacing a magic artifact's dao patterns with array formations, but all attempts failed."
"Neither talismans nor magic artifacts prove suitable vessels for array formations. The complexities involved are simply beyond human comprehension."
Upon hearing Dao Lord Bai Ling's words, Li Qing explained the origins of the Golden War Boat.
In the former Liang Country, there lived twin brothers, both immortal cultivators, who shared a telepathic connection. One specialized in array formations, while the other focused on artifact refinement. Leveraging their psychic link, they refined this Golden War Boat, a fusion of artifact refinement and array formations.
After hearing Li Qing's explanation, Dao Lord Bai Ling nodded thoughtfully. "In that case, it's not entirely impossible."
The two then delved deeper into the topic, exchanging experiences and discussing the possibilities.
Li Qing believed that combining the power of array formations with magical artifacts could yield unexpected results.
However, Dao Lord Bai Ling remained skeptical. He argued that array formations functioned best when anchored to celestial phenomena and terrain, as only such foundations could truly unleash their full potential.
Yet, nothing in the world is absolute. The Golden War Boat before them served as a rare exception.
Thus, the two engaged in a profound yet accessible exchange, sharing their insights and perspectives on the art of artifact refinement.
It must be said, Li Qing possessed extraordinary talent in artifact refinement. Though his skills still fell short of Dao Lord Bai Ling's, his mastery was far from simple.
Through their extended exchange, Li Qing's thinking broadened considerably, and he made significant progress in certain aspects of artifact refinement.
"Even so," Dao Lord Bai Ling countered, "how can a magical artifact without dao patterns bear the Great Dao of heaven and earth? Would it even qualify as a magical artifact? After all, it's not like this Golden War Boat before us. Without dao patterns, it would violate fundamental principles."
"Moreover, for a formation to unleash its full power, it requires a cultivator to actively maintain it!"
Dao Lord Bai Ling shook his head, repeatedly rejecting Li Qing's ideas.
But Li Qing refused to give up. He sensed that there might still be a possibility, that he simply hadn't considered all the angles.
Formations require active maintenance, and magical artifacts ultimately need dao patterns to manifest their true power.
Could these two critical problems truly be insurmountable?
Li Qing racked his brains, convinced he was on the verge of a breakthrough, yet unable to pierce through that final layer of understanding.
Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light sparked in Li Qing's mind.
He remembered his Wind, Forest, Fire, and Mountain Spear!
This combined magic artifact, now that he had reached the core formation realm, had become largely ineffective for him. The spirit spear, formed from several high-grade magical artifacts, no longer served its purpose.
"Perhaps we can use an Artifact Spirit to control the formation!" he mused. "We can use the Artifact Spirit to manipulate the formation directly!"
"If a single magic treasure can't serve as both the formation's carrier and the vessel for dao patterns, then I'll refine two! We can achieve this possibility with a combined magic artifact!"
"One treasure will fuse with the Artifact Spirit and be inscribed with the formation, while the other will complement it to unleash its full power!"
Dao Lord Bai Ling paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face.
"Using an Artifact Spirit and a combined magic artifact to realize this concept... This approach never occurred to me. It's truly a flight of fancy!"
Even the seasoned Dao Lord Bai Ling couldn't help but regard Li Qing with newfound respect.
He wondered what kind of thoughts filled this young man's mind, allowing him to propose such a daring idea.
This idea was far beyond what an ordinary cultivator would conceive! Even seasoned artifact refiners wouldn't consider such a thing.
As for Li Qing, the more he pondered, the more feasible his concept seemed. He began to believe that his vision might actually be realized.
His conversation with Dao Lord Bai Ling today had indeed been immensely beneficial.
The Dao Lord's mastery of artifact refinement and array formations had provided invaluable insights. After all, Li Qing himself couldn't have pinpointed the crucial roles of the array's conductor and its carrier with such precision.
"Judging by your expression, you seem to have developed some concrete ideas?" Dao Lord Bai Ling asked with a smile, his interest piqued. "So, what kind of magical artifact are you planning to refine to realize your vision?"
Since reaching the divine transformation stage, Dao Lord Bai Ling couldn't recall the last time he had felt such genuine curiosity. Yet this young man before him repeatedly stirred such novel emotions within him.
Indeed, Li Qing had conceived a promising concept, drawing inspiration from mythological tales from his past life.
"I plan to refine a formation diagram. Using this as the carrier, I will then refine several exceptionally powerful killing swords!"
"The killing swords can serve as key formation flags, and they can also channel the power of the formation diagram. Combining these two might yield unexpected results."
As he spoke, Li Qing's excitement grew. "Senior Bai Ling," he said, "what do you think about calling this treasure the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram?"
The moment his words left his lips, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the earth and triggering some kind of anomaly.
Boom!
Both turned their gazes toward the waterfall.
It was Cao Xiu. He seemed to have found a way to break the entrapment formation, and the disturbance just now was his doing. He looked like he was about to emerge.
Less than two months had passed. For a cultivator who had never studied formations before, this level of aptitude was truly remarkable.
Dao Lord Bai Ling slowly withdrew his gaze, then gave Li Qing a deep look before speaking.
"Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram, eh? The term 'Immortal Slaying' is rather grandiose. I fear you might not be able to bear its weight."
"Still, your concept might be worth exploring."
After speaking, Dao Lord Bai Ling suddenly realized that having Li Qing inherit his legacy might not be a bad idea after all.
He had gone to great lengths to find a suitable successor, but perhaps all his efforts had been in vain.
Although Li Qing's talent in Pill Refinement and talismanship was abysmal, his boundless imagination surpassed that of most cultivators in the world.
At least, even Dao Lord Bai Ling himself had never conceived of such a thing as the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram.
However, having already chosen Cao Xiu as his successor, Dao Lord Bai Ling had no intention of changing his decision.
Of course, this didn't prevent him from offering Li Qing assistance in certain areas, such as imparting his knowledge of array formations and artifact refinement.
At least Li Qing wouldn't disgrace the inheritance, and Dao Lord Bai Ling was genuinely intrigued by the so-called Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram, eager to lend his support to its creation!
With the matter at Chicken Crest Mountain resolved, Cao Xiu successfully escaped the Mist Entrapment Formation.
Once Li Qing confirmed that Cao Xiu had obtained the final map guidance, he saw no further reason to remain and returned to his sect.
How Cao Xiu would retrieve the inheritance left behind by him and Dao Lord Bai Ling was no longer Li Qing's concern. That was Cao Xiu's own problem to solve, and Li Qing had no intention of wasting his time or energy on it.
Upon returning to the sect, Li Qing immediately resumed his secluded cultivation.
His ambitious plan to refine the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram, while seemingly fantastical, required substantial power to realize.
While his peak core formation realm cultivation might be considered formidable within the Azure Ridge Domain, it was still insufficient when viewed on a global scale.
He believed that refining the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram would require at least the cultivation of the divine transformation stage.
Thus, Li Qing remained secluded in his cave abode, focusing his mind on comprehending the inheritance of the Crimson Radiance Heavenly Monarch he had obtained from Fire Cliff Cave.
Although he couldn't yet advance to the nascent soul realm, the daoist arts and divine abilities recorded within proved invaluable to him.
Throughout this process, Li Qing's mastery over heavenly spirit fire deepened significantly.
Previously, he could only unleash the Shattered Origin Great Fire Seal divine ability by harnessing the heavenly spirit fire. Now, his repertoire of divine abilities had finally expanded.
This meant his combat strategies would become increasingly versatile in the future!
Time slipped by once more, and before he knew it, a year had passed.
Meanwhile, in the southwestern region of the Azure Ridge Domain, near the border with the Great Wilderness Domain, a group of weary cultivators steered their spirit boat into the territory.
"Hiss... The spiritual energy here is astonishingly abundant, nearly rivaling that of the Great Wilderness Domain itself! How could we have been unaware of this vast domain north of the Great Wilderness, with such a favorable environment for cultivation?"
"This domain is called the Azure Ridge Domain. With such abundant spiritual energy, there must be powerful immortal dao factions here."
"Indeed. We must proceed with caution. Before understanding the domain's situation, we cannot act rashly!"
As they spoke, the group's expressions darkened slightly.
One of them couldn't help but sigh. "The demonic sects of the Great Wilderness Domain have grown too powerful. Even after all these years, the moment we reveal our presence, we'll be hunted down by every demonic path cultivator in the entire Great Wilderness Domain."
"Alas, the demonic path's power is overwhelming. We can only avoid their sharp edge. Compared to the other righteous path sects back then, our Free and Unfettered Sect has already achieved the extraordinary feat of preserving our sect's inheritance."
"Enough. Let's first investigate the situation in this domain. If we can establish a foothold, we must immediately inform the ancestor."
"..."
This group turned out to be none other than the righteous path sect that had been driven out of the Great Wilderness Domain long ago—the Free and Unfettered Sect!
If Li Qing had overheard this conversation, he would have immediately recognized their origins.
This sect had fled the Great Wilderness Domain in utter disarray. Due to the Azure Ridge Domain's proximity to the Great Wilderness Domain, they had chosen to escape to other great domains.
After wandering through multiple great domains, their plight had only worsened. Now, they had finally managed to find their way back.
Desperate for a place to settle down and rest, they once again turned their gaze toward the Azure Ridge Domain, hoping to exploit the current chaos in the Great Wilderness Domain. With the demonic sect likely preoccupied, they planned to take advantage of the "darkness under the lamp"—a place so close that it's overlooked.
Thus, the group quietly infiltrated this great domain, where spiritual energy was growing increasingly abundant.
(End of the Chapter)
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