Even Zhen Jingkong within his sea of consciousness acknowledged what Li Manlou had said. It was easy to imagine just how terrifying and monstrous the talent of someone with a Purple Qi Spiritual Root must be—truly unsurpassed and world-shaking!
But on further thought, it made sense. Possessing a Purple Qi Spiritual Root was akin to having completely opened the great door to the path of a Primordial Core True Lord. As long as such an individual did not meet an untimely demise, their future was sealed; they would absolutely become a legendary Primordial Core True Lord Realm Expert! They would be qualified to reign supreme even in the Qiannan Ancient Kingdom.
And wasn't that enough to say it all? Wasn't it terrifying and astonishing!? In the past, people had even used such words to describe the Purple Qi Spiritual Root: peerless through the ages, its brilliance shaking the past and present. Anyone possessing such talent would be enough to shock the world.
At least, that was certainly the case within the Qiannan Ancient Kingdom. Such talent, once set upon the path of cultivation, was destined for a brilliant future.
Hearing this, Chen Fei smacked his lips and sighed in admiration. Such talent guaranteed a one-hundred-percent chance of reaching the legendary Path of the Primordial Core True Lord Realm, and that was merely the *minimum* achievement. It was impossible not to feel envious and jealous. To call it a profound blessing from the heavens would be no exaggeration.
"Senior, is the Spirit Measuring Pillar located within this Immortal Ascension Valley?" Chen Fei asked. It was clear that he now felt a burgeoning interest in the pillar and wanted to see what level his own talent was.
This kid can't really test out as having a Purple Qi Spiritual Root, can he? Even Zhen Jingkong found himself muttering with a mix of complex emotions and anticipation in the sea of consciousness. He recalled the drop of terrifying Golden Blood…
Li Manlou nodded. "The Spirit Measuring Pillar is indeed within Immortal Ascension Valley. Let's head over."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked toward the depths of the valley. Experts like Taoist Qingyue of the Floating Cloud Sect and Xu Tianying of the Xu Family from Chengxia Peak exchanged glances and followed without hesitation.
Although Chen Fei had not chosen them, they were extremely curious about the astonishing Combat Power he had displayed earlier.
Could it be that he's another possessor of a Blue Qi Spiritual Root!? If not, how could he have cultivated so quickly? To have reached his current level at the age of twenty-seven or twenty-eight?
"Hey, look! The seniors are heading toward the Spirit Measuring Pillar!"
"It seems so. Looks like they want to test and see what level of cultivation talent that Chen Fei has."
"What level will it be? Sunx Tianzheng has a Blue Qi Spiritual Root, and he's not that much stronger or more outstanding than us! But this Chen Fei..."
"I heard the most formidable cultivation talent is the Purple Qi Spiritual Root. Do you think Chen Fei might have it?"
"Impossible, right? Isn't the Purple Qi Spiritual Root supposed to be exceedingly rare?"
"If not that, what level could it be? The same Blue Qi Spiritual Root as Sunx Tianzheng? That doesn't seem impossible."
"Why don't we just follow them and see?"
Whispers rose from the nearby crowd, and they too began to follow.
Under Li Manlou's lead, Chen Fei saw it in just ten minutes. At the end of his line of sight, a towering stone pillar gradually came into view.
The pillar was at least ten meters tall and looked dilapidated. Half of the column had even collapsed slightly, and it was covered in deep green moss and rust-like stains. Even so, from a distance, the stone pillar still looked like a terrifying divine weapon thrust into the earth, exuding an indescribable, oppressive aura.
As they drew closer, Chen Fei discovered a faint, pale-white light completely enveloping the tall, 'dilapidated' pillar. This light shield emanated astonishing and terrifying fluctuations of Spiritual Energy.
Is this... a Formation? Chen Fei's heart jolted as he gazed at the pale-white light. With his meager, half-baked knowledge of Formations, he could only make a wild guess.
However, if this really was a Formation, its level was likely not to be considered low, even when compared to Formations below the rank of a Great Formation Master.
"It is a Formation, but it seems a bit lacking," Zhen Jingkong replied from within the sea of consciousness, giving Chen Fei his answer. It was indeed a Formation, though it seemed somewhat deficient in his eyes. Nonetheless, to receive such a verdict from an expert who had once been on the verge of becoming a Great Formation Master was already quite astonishing.
At the very least, the one who set up this Formation possessed the Combat Power of a Foundation Establishment True Person Realm Expert. For someone from Earth, that was an existence they could only gaze up at in awe! The disparity was immense.
"This is the Spirit Measuring Pillar. The Formation on it was laid out by the Hanging Elder, the one most accomplished in the art of Formations within Eagle Gorge," Li Manlou explained slowly, pointing at the pillar. "Heh, though the Hanging Elder is a loner in Eagle Gorge, he is a genuine Foundation Establishment True Person Realm Expert. His cultivation of Formations is terrifying. It's even said that he once studied under a Great Formation Master for a time."
"HISS! A Great Formation Master?"
Before Chen Fei could even speak, the expressions of Taoist Qingyue, Xu Tianying, and the others changed drastically. They subconsciously sucked in a breath of cold air, their pupils shrinking as they asked, "The Hanging Elder once studied Formations under a Great Formation Master? Brother Manlou, where did you hear this? Is it true?"
With their backgrounds and perspective, they naturally knew that a Great Formation Master was a fearsome existence who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with a Primordial Core True Lord Realm Expert! Such a figure could obliterate all the powers in Eagle Gorge with a mere flick of a finger.
Therefore, if the Hanging Elder truly had such a history and connection, having studied under a Great Formation Master, it was simply too shocking! How could they not be stunned and amazed?
"It might be true, or it might be false. I just heard it through the grapevine. But matters of that level probably have nothing to do with us," Li Manlou said nonchalantly.
Hearing this, Taoist Qingyue, Xu Tianying, and the others paused for a moment before shaking their heads with a wry smile. They didn't pursue the matter further. Indeed, what did such lofty affairs, no matter how earth-shattering, have to do with small fries like them in the Qi Refining Realm? There was no need for them to trouble themselves with such matters. It would be entirely pointless.
Seeing this, Chen Fei also smiled faintly. He certainly knew what a Great Formation Master represented; he was just a bit surprised that someone from this so-called Eagle Gorge had managed to study under one. That was quite impressive.
"Let's go."
Li Manlou nodded slightly and led Chen Fei slowly toward the dilapidated, towering Spirit Measuring Pillar. He walked directly through the pale-white light shield that emitted an alarming and terrifying aura. As Chen Fei passed through it, he could clearly feel a terrifying power suspended brazenly above his head. If that force were to descend, it would annihilate him in an instant, leaving him dead on the spot with absolutely no way to fight back.
He understood that this Formation must be meant to protect the Spirit Measuring Pillar. If anyone dared to cause trouble here, a destructive attack would surely follow in the next instant.
However, he didn't need to think about that now. It was unnecessary.
He then followed Li Manlou to the base of the towering Spirit Measuring Pillar. There, the ancient, mottled pillar stood silently, emanating an extremely profound fluctuation of Spiritual Energy. At the very top, three dazzling golden characters shone with a striking brilliance that captured the eye.
"Spirit Measuring Pillar!"
Beside the 'Spirit Measuring Pillar' inscription, there was a line of relatively inconspicuous silver characters that nonetheless displayed a shocking dignity.
"Big Dipper Sect, Forged."
The Big Dipper Sect? His eyes flickered as he asked Zhen Jingkong in his sea of consciousness, "Senior, what is this?"
Gazing at the words 'Big Dipper Sect', a faint, complex emotion surfaced in Zhen Jingkong's eyes. After a moment, he slowly began to speak. "Not just anyone can create a Spirit Measuring Pillar. It requires strength no weaker than that of a Primordial Core True Lord Realm Expert, plus some unique techniques. Yet, these items are often needed by the weaker sects and factions, and they aren't cheap! So..."
"So, when major powers are short on Spirit Stones, they sometimes manufacture a batch of Spirit Measuring Pillars to sell. As for the Big Dipper Sect, the name should tell you enough. It is a transcendent major sect from the Inner Region of the Ancient Country with a legacy stretching back a thousand years. It is renowned throughout Qiannan and possesses a terrifying heritage! It's a colossal existence on par with the Ancient Kingdom's royal clan," Zhen Jingkong explained slowly.
A transcendent major sect from the Inner Region with a thousand-year legacy? An existence on par with the Ancient Kingdom's royal clan… Hearing this from Zhen Jingkong, Chen Fei was inwardly shaken.
So, this seemingly dilapidated stone pillar actually had such an astonishing origin? Forged by the Big Dipper Sect!
"I remember your name is Chen Fei, correct? Give it a try. If you can measure a talent of Yellow Qi Spiritual Root or higher on this Spirit Measuring Pillar, our Exquisite Sect will welcome your joining with open arms!" Li Manlou said at that moment.
"Hehe, let's not even talk about a Yellow Qi Spiritual Root. Even with an Orange Spirit Root, as long as you are willing, little friend, I'll stand by my offer! Our Floating Cloud Sect will certainly treat you well," Taoist Qingyue added with a chuckle, still not giving up.
Logically, if it were really a talent at the level of an Orange Spirit Root, their Floating Cloud Sect would definitely not be interested. However, considering Chen Fei's performance thus far, let alone an Orange Spirit Root, it was highly unlikely he even had something as low as a Yellow Qi Spiritual Root! He most certainly possessed one of the top-tier talents, such as a Green Qi Spiritual Root, an Azure Spiritual Root, or even a Blue Qi Spiritual Root.
So, his words were nothing more than pleasant-sounding platitudes. After all, that outcome was simply impossible. Everyone present undoubtedly thought the same.
"Yes, Senior. I'll give it a try now." With that, Chen Fei focused his gaze on the Spirit Measuring Pillar.