Chapter 125 : Breaking the Formation

Chapter 125: Breaking the Formation

Sensing that he had become the center of attention, Chen Beiwu remained calm and said, “Confirmed.”

Hearing this, Zhao Qingxue, the palace-robed female cultivator, shifted her gaze back and forth between Chen Beiwu and Zhou Quan, a strange look flashing in her eyes.

What was going on?

How could Senior Brother Chen’s speed in repairing the broken formation be faster than Senior Brother Zhou’s!

One had to know, Senior Brother Zhou was a Second-Tier Lower-Grade Formation Master.

Could there be foul play involved?

‘This is way too abnormal.’ Zi Ling pursed her lips, finding it hard to accept reality.

Just like Senior Brother Chen, she was also a First-Tier Formation Master and prided herself on her accomplishments in formation arts—otherwise, she would not have thought of joining the Formation Hall.

Yet the assessment had only just begun for half a quarter of an hour.

While she was still immersed in the mysteries of the broken formation’s patterns, Senior Brother Chen had already completed his repair. What kind of godlike speed was that!

The burly man stayed silent, casting his gaze at Hall Master Yun.

It was impossible for a First-Tier Formation Master to repair a broken formation so quickly.

He believed Chen Zi’ang was deliberately putting on a show just to attract Hall Master Yun’s attention.

But because Chen Zi’ang was a direct disciple of the main bloodline, he dared not voice his suspicion for fear of offending him.

Hall Master Yun, however, was different.

As a True Inheritor of the sect, the master of the Formation Hall, Yun Yishu held high authority and tolerated no pretense. Surely, she would reprimand Chen Zi’ang for such posturing.

Zhou Quan took a deep breath, forcing himself to appear calm as he looked toward Hall Master Yun.

His thoughts were more or less the same as the burly man’s.

For a Formation Master, repairing an unknown broken formation was a time-consuming and laborious task that required four steps.

The first step was observing the formation—analyzing the broken formation’s attributes, type, origin, and exact effect, in order to gain a clear picture.

The second step was observing the patterns—using divine sense to probe and identify the existing base patterns of the formation.

The third step was repairing the patterns—based on the principles of the formation and the links between the base patterns, one would replenish and retrace the known patterns.

The fourth step was deduction—this step was the most crucial and most difficult, testing a Formation Master’s ability in divine sense deduction and foundational knowledge of formations.

Some shallowly-learned Formation Masters, even if they managed to find the pattern structure, would be unable to deduce the flow of power through the formation disk, the interactions of the five elements, or the key nodes of the formation hub—let alone restore the formation completely.

Now, less than half a quarter of an hour into the assessment, he himself, a Second-Tier Lower-Grade Formation Master, had only reached the second step of observing the patterns.

To complete the following two steps, he would need at least half a stick of incense.

Chen Zi’ang was merely a First-Tier Formation Master. Even with extraordinary background and profound foundation in formation arts, it was impossible for him to accomplish in such a short time what even Zhou could not.

“Let me see.” Yun Yishu’s eyes gleamed with interest.

At her words, Sun Ying respectfully handed over the formation disk Chen Beiwu had finished repairing.

‘Interesting, a genius in formations!’

After examining the 【Water-Binding Killing Formation】 disk, Yun Yishu’s eyes brightened.

The model answer for this first assessment was simple: inscribe the hub node in the ‘Kan Three, Dui Five’ sectors of the disk and repair the basic formation patterns to pass.

Yet Junior Brother Chen’s submission was entirely different—the hub nodes he restored were a full one more than the standard answer.

If the examiner were a rigid-minded, shallow Second-Tier Formation Master, they would most likely think Junior Brother Chen was needlessly overcomplicating things.

The added hub node made the 【Water-Binding Killing Formation】’s flow of power and pattern structure all the more complex.

But Yun Yishu instantly saw the benefits of such an inscription method.

“Congratulations on joining the Formation Hall, Junior Brother Chen.” She praised him with approval.

Chen Beiwu smiled modestly, though inwardly unsurprised.

If he could pass the Immortal Alliance’s First-Tier Formation Master certification, naturally, he could also pass the Formation Hall’s assessment.

The remaining four cultivators were all startled in their hearts and hastened their actions.

Two quarters of an hour later, Zhou Quan was the second to finish.

“Acceptable.” Yun Yishu only gave the formation disk a cursory glance.

Zhou Quan’s method of repairing the broken formation was standard and by-the-book, with nothing remarkable about it.

At any other time, she might have given a word of encouragement, hoping for his future improvement.

But comparison was the thief of joy.

With Junior Brother Chen’s brilliance already displayed, she had no interest in offering pointers to a merely competent Second-Tier Formation Master.

Soon, with the passage of time, the third to finish was Zi Ling, followed by Zhao Qingxue.

As for the burly man, even after the incense stick burned out, he failed to complete the repair and became the only cultivator eliminated.

Unbothered by her companion’s failure, Zhao Qingxue could not contain her curiosity and asked, “Hall Master Yun, may I observe Senior Brother Chen’s formation disk?”

At this, the other three also looked toward Yun Yishu.

“Junior Brother Chen, what do you think?” Yun Yishu sought Chen Beiwu’s opinion.

“Of course.” Chen Beiwu nodded.

“You may all observe Junior Brother Chen’s inscription method, but it’s best not to imitate it.”

With that reminder, Yun Yishu handed the disk to Zhao Qingxue.

“Hiss!”

The moment she held it, Zhao Qingxue couldn’t help but draw in a sharp breath.

“What is it?” Zi Ling leaned closer.

“Incredible! Senior Brother Chen repaired not one but two hub nodes, whereas I only managed to find one.” Zhao Qingxue exclaimed in awe.

“May I take a look?”

Hearing the two women’s admiration, Zhou Quan could no longer sit still.

“Of course, Senior Brother Zhou.”

Though somewhat reluctant, Zhao Qingxue didn’t wish to embarrass a Foundation Establishment cultivator in front of everyone.

“Remarkable!”

After examining it, Zhou Quan exhaled heavily, all the more convinced of his suspicion.

Chen Zi’ang’s cultivation was only at Qi Refining. For him to be the first to finish the assessment, it had to be either because someone had leaked the formation beforehand or he had studied this broken formation in advance.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain how he could lose to a First-Tier Formation Master.

As if seeing through Zhou Quan’s thoughts, Yun Yishu smiled faintly.

“Congratulations to all of you for joining the Formation Hall. To determine each person’s annual stipend, the second assessment is breaking formations. Xiaoying, you may set up the array.”

“Yes.” Sun Ying nodded, retrieving a set of Second-Tier formation disks from her storage ring.

“A qualified Formation Master must be able to both repair broken formations and dismantle them.

Next, I will set up a Second-Tier Upper-Grade Maze Formation. Those who break out within one quarter of an hour will receive an annual stipend of one thousand contribution points.”

“For every quarter of an hour beyond that, the stipend decreases by three hundred. Thus, breaking it within four quarters earns one hundred contribution points.”

Here she paused briefly. “If it takes longer than four quarters, the stipend will only be eighty contribution points.”

At this, the cultivators’ expressions all turned solemn, save for Chen Beiwu, who remained at ease.

His goal had already been achieved. If not for the risk of appearing aloof and drawing unwanted attention, he would not even bother with the second assessment.

“Who wishes to enter the formation first?” Sun Ying asked.

“I will.” Zhou Quan stepped forward without hesitation.

Unlike repairing a broken formation, breaking one tested a Formation Master’s comprehensive abilities—keen observation, divine sense deduction, mental composure, and more.

If he wished to win Hall Master Yun’s favor, he could not allow a mere Qi Refining youth to outshine him. He had to make a forceful first impression.