Chapter 223: Cloud Empire (43)

The thirteen finalists immediately sat down on the ground of the main disc, each within their space delimited by the invisible lines of containment.

There was no hesitation, no conversation. Only the soft sound of bodies settling onto the polished black stone and the faint clinking of spirit stones being positioned.

Some began working at the very same instant.

Wei Chang, the disciple of the Cloud Academy, picked up the first reinforced iron plate and began carving runes with the spiritual ink, fast and precise strokes, as if he had already decided what to do hours earlier.

His fingers moved with the cadence of someone who had memorized every detail of the ancient plate.

Lan Xue, on the other hand, remained with her eyes closed for nearly five minutes, breathing slowly, as if mentally reorganizing the entire flow of information she had absorbed.

Other finalists followed similar paths, some carving furiously, others meditating in absolute silence, letting Qi circulate freely before touching any plate.

Old Ming was one of those who followed the second path.

He took a deep breath for a full minute, long inhale, slow exhale, as if aligning every piece of information learned with the rhythm of the ancient plate he had just studied. When he opened his eyes, there was absolute clarity in them. Without hurry, he stood up.

The ten reinforced iron plates flew upward in a synchronized movement, slowly rotating around him like planets in orbit.

From his spatial ring emerged a thin and straight blade, not a combat weapon, but an ancient inscription tool, its edge gleaming in cold silver. Ming dipped the blade into the vial of spiritual ink, the black liquid absorbed the light for a moment before adhering to the metal. Then, he began.

The blade danced in the air. Each stroke was precise, carved with concentrated Qi. Fine and complex lines appeared on the plates, not exact copies of the ancient formation, but his own interpretation.

A hybrid matrix of Qi concentration and acceleration. The ten plates rotated faster and faster, connecting into a three-dimensional pattern that made the air around him ripple.

Meanwhile, the others worked at their own rhythms.

Lan Xue opened her eyes. Her fingers traced runes in the air without touching the plates, first one, then another, then a third. The ten iron plates rose on their own, floating in a circular formation around her. She did not use ink. She used only pure Qi and intention. Gradually, an immense formation began to take shape.

A dense, illusory mist spread through her space, causing everything within the circle to disappear completely, not only visually but also at the level of Qi perception. Anyone looking at Lan Xue’s space would see only emptiness.

Wei Chang opted for a more technical approach. He positioned the ten plates in a perfect octagon on the ground, sat at the center, and began engraving with the spiritual ink and his index finger at the same time. His final formation was a complex offensive barrier.

A dome of energy that not only defended but also launched condensed Qi needles in rotating patterns, capable of piercing the defenses of a cultivator in the Core Formation realm. The stability was impeccable, not a single rune trembled.

Another finalist, a scarred man named Chin, created a defensive earth and metal formation. A reinforced dome that rose like a miniature mountain, with retractable spiritual iron spikes that emerged from the ground at the slightest sign of hostility. He finished in one hour and forty minutes, sweating but satisfied.

The short-haired young woman, Su Ling, assembled a multiple support formation. Qi concentration for allies, passive regeneration, and poison purification. It was less flashy but extremely balanced and practical, the type of formation that could turn a group battle.

An independent cultivator named Zhong created a combined containment and illusion formation. Invisible threads that restrained the target while simultaneously generating illusory clones to confuse. He finished in one hour and fifty minutes, exhausted but proud.

The two hours passed quickly.

The spiritual bell rang for the last time, grave and definitive, closing the tournament.

Qing Lanyue descended from the highest pillar in a silent leap, landing at the center of the disc. The thirteen formations still active shone around the finalists, each different from the other, yet all filled with intention and Qi.

She raised her hand.

All formations were sealed simultaneously. The plates stopped glowing. Silence returned, absolute.

Qing Lanyue walked slowly across the disc, analyzing each formation plate one by one. Her cold eyes passed over every detail. Stability of the runes, purity of the flow, complexity of the layers, creativity in the adaptation of the ancient plate.

In the end, she stopped at the center.

“All thirteen completed the task. But only four achieved Peak Rank 4 formations.”

A murmur of admiration rose from the stands.

She pointed to the first.

“Master Ming. Hybrid concentration and acceleration formation. Peak Rank 4. Perfect stability, creativity in the fusion of two principles from the ancient plate. First place.”

The crowd applauded strongly. Ming inclined his head in silence, showing no surprise.

“Lan Xue. Total illusion matrix of Peak Rank 4. Extreme complexity, almost impenetrable even to experienced eyes. Second place.”

More applause. Lan Xue smiled faintly, as if she had already expected it.

“Wei Chang. Offensive barrier of Peak Rank 4. Impeccable balance between defense and counterattack. Third place.”

Wei Chang nodded respectfully.

“Last of Peak Rank 4. Chin. Reinforced defensive dome with retractable spikes. Peak Rank 4. Exceptional resistance. Fourth place.”

The other nine finalists were briefly praised, all had created Peak Rank 3 or Rank 4 formations, but they did not reach the same level of depth as the top four.

Qing Lanyue raised her voice one last time.

“The winner of the Jade Palace Formation Tournament is Master Ming.”

The crowd exploded into deafening applause.

Master Ming rose slowly. He inclined his head to Qing Lanyue, then to the other finalists. There was no arrogance on his face, only the calm of someone who knew he had comprehended something profound by participating in the tournament.

Qing Lanyue raised her hand.

“Prizes will be delivered shortly. The Jade Palace Formation Tournament is concluded.”

She disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only the echo of her presence.

The tournament had ended.

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