NOVEL NEXT Ch. 52
Chapter 52: Formations and Formation Patterns
"Boom!"
Chen Beiwu circulated Wind Control to dispel the force, landed on a massive boulder, then looked up to see a familiar figure.
This was the fourth time Chen Beiwu had encountered this unfamiliar woman, a coincidence so improbable it even surprised him.
Ming Xue was also slightly stunned.
To meet four times in two days—perhaps this was fate. A brief introduction wouldn’t hurt.
With that in mind, Ming Xue gracefully extended her right hand, breaking the awkwardness: "Hello, my name is Ming Xue. I’m sorry for the earlier misunderstanding."
Seeing the jade-green formation disk scattered on the ground, Chen Beiwu’s expression eased slightly. He extended his right hand for a light handshake and offered a simple self-introduction.
Noticing Chen Beiwu’s gaze, Ming Xue grew interested and took the initiative: "You’re interested in formations?"
"Yes, because formation masters are powerful." Chen Beiwu nodded.
Among the many disciplines of cultivation, formation masters were widely recognized as possessing the strongest combat capabilities.
Formation masters excelled in leveraging external forces. They could draw upon the power of the heavens and earth, the terrain’s veins, celestial movements, and even their Companion Beasts to their advantage.
If a formation master could set up a trap beforehand, they could ensure an undefeatable position. They could also tailor unique formations based on their opponent’s cultivation, attributes, and Companion Beast traits, making escape virtually impossible.
It was no exaggeration to say that a well-prepared Third-Tier formation master could even use a Fourth-Tier Mystic Formation to contend across realms against a Nascent Soul True Person and escape alive.
"You’re a First-Tier formation master?" Chen Beiwu suddenly asked.
"How did you guess that?" Ming Xue was a bit surprised.
"Not a guess. I saw it."
Chen Beiwu pointed to the formation disk. "Our teacher at school taught us the basics of formation arts. If I’m not mistaken, this should be the formation disk of the First-Tier Formation ‘Nourishing Qi and Enriching Earth Formation’."
Ming Xue’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at Chen Beiwu in surprise. "You’re a high school student?"
"Do I not look like one?" Chen Beiwu touched his face.
Did he look that mature?
"You don’t give off that vibe." Ming Xue chuckled.
It was difficult to judge a cultivator’s exact age based on appearance alone. Usually, one relied on spiritual root, bone age, and temperament.
However, Chen Beiwu’s demeanor appeared composed and steady—nothing like a high schooler. He resembled a sect cultivator, leaving a distinct impression.
"But you’re mistaken as well." Ming Xue flicked her index finger, and the jade-green formation disk on the ground instantly sank into the earth. "I’m a teacher at Anyang No. 1 High School in Wuyan Prefecture and also a Formation Scholar at the Wuyan Prefecture Artifacts Pavilion."
"You’re a Second-Tier formation master?" Chen Beiwu’s gaze changed slightly, a trace of respect in his voice.
Truly, one cannot judge by appearances!
Who would have thought that the seemingly ordinary woman he bumped into on the road was actually a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator?
"Can’t tell?" She flashed a bright smile.
"Really couldn’t." Chen Beiwu shook his head, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "I thought you were a peer. If I’ve been disrespectful earlier, I truly apologize."
"Ahem." Ming Xue suppressed the joy in her heart and interrupted, "What senior—calling me that makes me sound old. If you don’t mind, just call me Sister Xue."
Not bad, not bad. This youngster not only looked like her type, but he also had a sweet mouth.
"Sister Xue," Chen Beiwu immediately said.
Having a Second-Tier formation master as an honorary sister wasn’t a loss, even if it was just in name.
"Since you called me sister, I can’t not show some goodwill." Ming Xue smiled faintly. A faint light flashed at her fingertip, and a miniature formation disk set appeared in her palm.
This formation set consisted of one main and two sub disks—a main formation disk accompanied by two subsidiary disks.
The main disk was crafted from Deep-Sea Steel, dark brown in color, engraved with nine formation patterns derived from Hetu numerology, constantly evolving.
The sub disks were made from Suspended Sea Iron, each engraved with nine formation patterns embodying unity between qi and the Dao.
Chen Beiwu’s eyes brightened slightly. "Is this an Earth Formation?"
Formations under the Immortal Alliance were broadly categorized into Heaven, Earth, and Human types.
Among them, formations that drew upon the Twenty-Eight Constellations and celestial power were Heaven Formations.
Those that mobilized spiritual energy from the environment and harnessed terrain and veins were Earth Formations.
And those that utilized the power of cultivators and drew from the bloodlines of Companion Beasts were Human Formations.
All three types had boundless applications, but in the Immortal Alliance era, Heaven and Human Formations remained the mainstream.
This was because Earth Formations consumed immense geological force each time they were activated and couldn’t sustainably utilize spiritual energy, making them unpopular with the Immortal Alliance upper echelons.
Another crucial reason was the Immortal Alliance’s ultimate formation, the ‘Nine Heavens Star-Sealing Realm Suppressing Immortal Formation’, which enveloped the Sky Abyss Star, locking away the planet’s geological veins.
Under the suppression of the Realm Suppressing Immortal Formation, the power of all Earth Formations was drastically reduced, far from their unparalleled might of ancient times.
In such circumstances, most formation masters focused on the more powerful and compatible Heaven and Human Formations.
"Good eye. Try guessing what formation this is?" A hint of approval flashed in Ming Xue’s eyes.
To instantly recognize a declining and overlooked Earth Formation within the Immortal Alliance showed that Chen Beiwu had thoroughly grasped foundational formation knowledge—a promising seedling for formation arts.
With that thought, Ming Xue’s gaze swept across Chen Beiwu’s face, a fondness for talent rising in her heart.
Hearing this, Chen Beiwu looked at the formation patterns on the main disk, a trace of hesitation in his eyes.
What were formation patterns?
In ancient times, a formation dao grandmaster used the principles of Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Taiji, and Eight Trigrams as the core, deducing infinite Hetu numerology. From there, they created the concept of borrowing the power of creation through formation patterns, thus forming the formation dao, one of the hundred disciplines of cultivation.
As the core of formation dao, the number of formation patterns on a disk could represent its tier.
"Yin-Yang in conflict, the formation manifests. Qi and Dao unite, pattern aligns with principle. Nine patterns for exotic, seventy-nine for spiritual, ninety-nine for treasure." This was the mnemonic Chen Beiwu learned in his first high school formation class.
The meaning was simple: a First-Tier exotic formation could have up to nine patterns; a Second-Tier spiritual formation up to sixty-three; a Third-Tier treasure formation up to eighty-one diagrams (composite patterns).
The main formation disk Ming Xue presented had nine formation patterns, with flowing lines resembling the properties of water, indicating a top-grade First-Tier water-type formation.
After a moment’s thought, Chen Beiwu softly said, "Is this the Triple Water-Locking Formation? But it also seems a bit off."
Upon hearing this, Ming Xue’s eyes brightened.
"I got it right?" Chen Beiwu was rather surprised.
"Correct. This is my modified Quintuple Water-Locking Formation. When a First-Tier formation master sets it up in an area abundant with water-type spiritual energy, they can single-handedly suppress and kill several peak-stage Qi Refining cultivators."
Here, Ming Xue’s tone paused slightly. "However, due to the Sky Abyss Star being under the Immortal Formation’s coverage, the power of the Quintuple Water-Locking Formation is greatly reduced. At most, a First-Tier formation master can use it to handle mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators."
"Therefore, rather than combat, its greater value lies in learning.
It’s like a living textbook, helping formation masters study and comprehend the mysteries of formations, gradually mastering the essence of First-Tier formations through practice."