Southern Star Taoist Temple
Five days later, Ma Mingxun, a Body Severing Realm Heaven Stage formation caster around forty years old, was assigned the captain post in Mu Yu’s group heading out on their job. Mu Yu was troubled due to Luo Feilong and Ji Wenkai sending a Body Severing Realm Third Layer formation caster. Up until then, he thought the duo were the most advanced cultivation-wise.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Feng Mu,” Ma Mingxun expressed with a humble nod.
“The pleasure is mine, Senior Brother Ma.” Mu Yu reciprocated the greeting in kind.
“Our assignment is to help cast a mountain protection formation at Southern Star Taoist Temple. You three will be casting it, and I will be guiding you,” Ma Mingxun explained to the other two Heaven Stage disciples.
“Understood.”
The two Heaven Stage disciples joining them were Gu Fei and Jing Yucheng, fifteen year olds who were Golden Core Realm Ninth Layer disciples. Mu Yu couldn’t trust either of them since Ji Wenkai and Luo Feilong formed the team.
Southern Star Taoist Temple was a small sect that numbered just over a hundred members. Daoist Nan Xing, a Primordial Infant Realm Ninth Layer cultivator in his seventies, was their patriarch. As such, certainly didn’t expect for a Body Severing Realm disciple to be sent to perform a job for him. When he first hired Formation Sect during his sect’s establishment, they only sent him a Lesser Heaven Stage formation master. He bowed as soon as he saw Ma Mingxun. “Thank you for coming. Please forgive me for not welcoming you earlier, Heaven Caster.”
Despite his superior cultivation, it would’ve been uncouth if Ma Mingxun disrespected a patriarch. Hence, he replied, “Please do not mind it, Patriarch.”
There were arguably thousands of small sects across the continent, most of which weren’t accomplished. Most of them occupied a spot on a mountain to claim theirs and trained in seclusion. Similarly, Daoist Nan Xing retired to the mountain thirty years ago after living as a rover in his younger days. His disciples were those who were too poor to join big sects but wanted to pursue cultivation.
Formation Sect had been sending out Heaven Stage formation casters for jobs normally for Lesser Heaven Stage formation casters in recent months to show their clients extra respect.
“Please come inside, Heaven Caster.”
The temple wasn’t particularly large, but it was located in a nice place for a reclusive lifestyle. Unfortunately, many of their buildings and structures were severely damaged. The majority of the disciples were Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators; the Golden Core Realm disciples were very old by the average standard. Thus, they showed respect to their guests whom even their patriarch bowed his head to.
“Patriarch, according to the information you provided us, you hired us to cast a protection formation eight years ago. It is supposed to be sturdy enough to guard against Primordial Infant Realm attacks, so why is your place damaged so badly if you do not mind me asking. Do you have a feud with someone?” Ma Mingxun inquired.
Daoist Nan Xing exhaled despondently. “Cloudriver Sect and we have always had an unresolved dispute. While I was out on business not long ago, I had a fight with their patriarch, He Tianqiang, and barely won. Three days ago, he suddenly came knocking. We are evenly matched as cultivators, but he had a rank five one yuan qi collection pill. After attaining Body Severing Realm power, he went on a rampage here.
“All he did was vandalise your place?” Mu Yu couldn’t help questioning.
Daoist Nan Xing’s attitude changed drastically upon realising Mu Yu was only a Golden Core Realm disciple. “The effects of the pill only last for fifteen minutes and leave after effects. I am thoroughly impressed Formation Sect’s formations withstood his assault for fifteen minutes. Otherwise, I would have died at his hands.
“I am worried he will be back. That is why I asked you to cast the formation for us again. I have been on edge for the last three days. If he has another one yuan qi collection pill, he will annihilate our sect within fifteen minutes.”
To place a job with Formation Sect, one had to place it with Formation Sect’s store and settle on the price quote for formation casters to be sent out. Needless to say, different coverage levels meant different prices. Last time, Southern Star Taoist Temple paid ten thousand spirit stones, albeit with their teeth gritted. They, consequently, couldn’t possibly afford to pay a higher price.
All of the formation foundations were found to have been disabled. Mu Yu noticed they employed Heaven Stage formation foundations in conjunction with spirit stones to cast the formation, which was a silly idea. The combination would barely have held up against a Primordial Infant Realm cultivator’s attack, yet a Body Severing Realm cultivator couldn’t bring it down in fifteen minutes?
Wait a second… Three days ago, he said? I decided to accept a job five days ago, yet jobs are completed daily. Did he have to wait five days for us to complete this job? I can only imagine someone deliberately created a job to ensure they had the entire plot develop as they intend. Aw, you crafty bunch, Mu Yu mused, snickering under his breath. He stared at downhearted Daoist Nan Xing and contemplated, “Would it really make sense for He Tianqiang to give Southern Star Taoist Temple time to rebuild when he wants to exterminate them? So, are you an innocent victim or an imposter from Talisman Sect?”
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