Formation Tablet (Part 2)
The formation tablet was still intact, while Ji Wenkai was on the ground and struggling to get air in. Greater Heaven Stage Caster Li verified the stone tablet was unfazed, and then he transferred spiritual energy from his hand to Ji Wenkai via the latter’s back.
“I apologise for letting you down, Greater Heaven Stage Caster.”
“You were very close. Why did you suddenly fail?”
“I almost had it, but I got stuck at the last step, unfortunately.”
“Don’t worry about it. Do you know what the reason for your struggle was?”
“I do. I will be able to break it after a few days of rest.”
“Good on you. That’s what I wanted to hear. If you need anything over the next few days, drop by my place, and I’ll help you out. If you need anything else, sound out. You can have anything you want as long as you succeed.”
“Thank you, Greater Heaven Stage Caster!”
Greater Heaven Stage Caster Lu rose to his feet and said to the others, “Take a page out of Ji Wenkai’s book. He was knocking on the door today and will soon succeed. Study diligently and administer your ‘aid’ to Talisman Sect in the tournament half a year from now!”
“Yes, Greater Heaven Stage Caster!” The disciples saluted Greater Heaven Stage Caster Lu.
Greater Heaven Stage Caster Lu was approachable, but he was also demanding for the disciples’ good. Pleased, he questioned, “Is there anyone else who wants to continue the exam today?”
Since the disciples just regarded each other with eye contact, Greater Heaven Stage Caster Lu announced, “The tournament is drawing closer and closer. I will leave the three formation tablets here. Try it if you desire. It’s all right if you fail. Just learn from your failures as Ji Wenkai did, and you will eventually succeed.”
Lu Deyi gave Luo Feilong and Ji Wenkai a smile and departed.
Ji Wenkai fixed his clothing and stood up. He gave Luo Feilong a palm and fist salute. “Senior Brother Luo, I almost had it and will consult Greater Heaven Stage Caster Lu tomorrow. I wish you all the best.”
Luo Feilong awkwardly pulled the corner of his lips up. “Congratulations, Junior Brother, but there are two more formation tablets after that one waiting for you.”
Stroking his chin, Mu Yu mumbled, “Hmm, formation tablets?”
“Are you going to give it a go?” the dragon vine asked.
Xiaoshuai: “Any food if you succeed?”
“We’ll see.” Mu Yu approached a different formation tablet to Luo Feilong and Ji Wenkai. “What’s so hard about it? Wait a tick… If my memory isn’t playing tricks on me, I’ve seen these patterns somewhere before… Oh, I remember now! These are the same patterns as the one on the mountain the white ape fiend king was sealed on!”
“Oh yeah! Do they have something do with him?” remarked Xiaoshuai.
“Rather, the human who sealed him is likely affiliated with Formation Sect in some capacity.”
Mu Yu touched the formation tablet. Suddenly, a white light sucked him his mind in!
“Where in the world am I?”
There were stubby shrubs, towering trees and dangerous hostiles hiding in the woods.
“Roar!”
In an instant, fiend beasts on ground and in the sky had Mu Yu surrounded. The horde ranged from level one up to level five. For some reason, they were all white. He looked up to the octopus gyrating its tentacles in the sky and questioned, “Octopuses live underwater, don’t they? Am I in a different era? Are you telling me the test topic is defeating this horde?”
As footsteps encroached, the horde made way. The individual who emerged from behind the horde was Tian Ran! Cautiously, Mu Yu inquired, “Who are you?”
“I’m the tablet’s spirit. Since you have entered the formation tablet, you must undertake the test.”
“Why are you assuming Tian Ran’s appearance of all people?”
“I don’t have a form. Therefore, I assume the appearance of your favourite person during our communication so that it’s not too surprising.”
“Haha, yeah, not surprising,” Mu Yu sarcastically said to himself. “So, what’s the test?”
“In this section, you are being tested on your ability to strategize in battle. Choose a hundred fiend beasts from the horde, and I will lead you to fight another group of fiend beasts.”
“Can I see who the opponent is first?” Mu Yu determined the strongest fiend beasts present were closely matched with him.
“Yes. Come with me.” With a faint smile, Tian Ran flew up with Mu Yu, crossing over a large tree.
Great, another one of those situations where I start with the short end of the stick, Mu Yu groaned in his mind upon seeing the enemy team, which consisted solely of black fiend beasts.
“They are all level six fiend beasts. They will choose a level six fiend beast to contest yours. What you need to do is lead yours to victory as its commander. On that note, your fiend beast will carry out your commands and can understand you. It’s the only advantage you’re given as the weaker side.”
Aware of Mu Yu’s true cultivation level, the spirit tablet gave him level six fiend beasts.
“My strongest is a level five. That’s asking for the impossible. A level six fiend beast could roast a level five fiend beast with its spit.”
“That’s a problem for you to solve. As a Greater Heaven Stage disciple, you must learn how to make the most of your limited resources when you have the bare minimum. This test requires you to overcome the odds. The most important quality for Greater Heaven Sage disciples’ isn’t cultivation but prudence and the ability to set formations. A true Greater Heaven Stage disciple can cast formations out of anything. They must learn to leverage their strengths while masking their weaknesses. As long as you set and apply formations correctly, you can easily defeat opponents stronger than you.
“The flow of time in here differs to the outside world. One day here equates to fifteen minutes outside. This isn’t an ideal place to cultivate as it’s not a physical world. The enemies will assail you in two days’ time whether or not you are ready, so be careful. Your cultivation isn’t suppressed here. The only ways to leave are to defeat the enemy or be defeated.”
Ku Mu’s Hundred Beast Formation, the one that allowed him to tame the beasts at Ku Mu Valley, jumped into Mu Yu’s mind. “Guess it’s time I enlist my soldiers.”
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