The arrogance and irritation on Chen Ping’s face had vanished, replaced by a hint of… awkwardness.

“You…”

He opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to ask something, but didn’t know where to start.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, a sigh that seemed to shed all his pride.

“I apologize for my loss of composure today.”

Chen Ping’s voice was somewhat hoarse, but every word was crystal clear.

Su Ming’s heart stirred slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he simply bowed respectfully.

“Senior Brother Chen, you are too serious.”

“As a newcomer, I am already extremely fortunate to receive your guidance.”

His words were delivered with an extremely humble posture, without the slightest hint of taking credit or arrogance.

Chen Ping looked at him, his gaze growing even more complex.

“You don’t need to be like this.”

He smiled a self-deprecating smile.

“Today’s matter was me judging a gentleman’s heart with my own petty measure.”

Chen Ping walked over and sat down on a stone stool, gesturing for Su Ming to sit as well.

“Let me be honest with you.”

“A few days ago, I requested reinforcements from Elder Ma of the External Affairs Hall.”

“I hoped he could assign me a few experienced outer sect disciples who had worked for many years at Formation Peak.”

“As a result, he only sent you, a newcomer from the Accounting Office of the External Affairs Hall.”

Chen Ping’s tone carried a trace of helplessness.

“I truly felt at the time that he was looking down on me, looking down on our entire Maintenance Department.”

Su Ming listened quietly without interrupting.

“But now, I understand.”

Chen Ping raised his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Su Ming.

“That energy circuit redundancy you erased when repairing the seventh Shield Formation…”

“That design was a habitual drafting error by a Formation Peak elder a hundred years ago, passed down to this day. Even many stewards have never noticed it.”

“How did you spot it?”

This question was the key.

Su Ming’s heartbeat skipped a beat.

Inside the Xuantian ring, Lin Yu’s soul sense instantly went on high alert.

“Here it comes! The pressure interview!”

“Don’t panic! Just say you’ve looked at too many ledgers, are particularly sensitive to numbers and lines, and felt that part was ‘incongruous’!”

A perfectly appropriate look of confusion and contemplation appeared on Su Ming’s face.

“Reporting to Senior Brother, this disciple… actually didn’t recognize that as any redundancy.”

“This disciple merely saw over a hundred damage records for the ‘Bedrock Shield Formation’ while organizing the scrap inventory.”

“This disciple noticed that the spiritual energy attenuation of almost all formation plates started from that exact spot.”

“So… this disciple boldly erased it.”

“It was just… a fortunate success.”

This explanation was seamless.

It perfectly attributed Su Ming’s formation talent to his equally recognized talent for calculations.

Fortunate.

Fortunate again.

After listening, Chen Ping fell silent for a long time.

Looking at Su Ming’s sincere face, he could only end up with a long sigh.

“So that’s how it is.”

“It seems Elder Ma’s judgment is indeed sharper than mine.”

He stood up, his tone now completely restored to calm, even carrying a hint of solemnity.

“Su Ming.”

“From today onwards, you are officially a member of my Basic Formation Lines Maintenance Department.”

“I will no longer assign you any fixed tasks.”

“You may freely choose from all the formation vessels awaiting repair here.”

“You may freely take any basic repair materials from the storeroom.”

“Furthermore, if you have any suggestions for optimizing the existing repair procedures, you may propose them directly to me.”

These words were tantamount to granting Su Ming immense freedom and authority.

Su Ming immediately stood up and bowed once more.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Chen!”

“This disciple will definitely spare no effort and live up to the expectations of Senior Brother and Elder Ma!”

…

By the time he returned to Courtyard Ding-Qi, the moon was high in the middle of the night sky.

Su Ming closed the door and immediately activated the room’s composite formation.

“Master!”

His spiritual sense carried a trace of barely suppressed excitement.

“Disciple, you did brilliantly!”

Inside the ring, Lin Yu’s soul sense was already overjoyed.

“Freedom to choose tasks! Materials for free use! Isn’t this just opening an all-you-can-eat buffet with unlimited refills for us!”

“Our ‘safe house’ plan can be upgraded! Soundproofing, aura concealment, early warning, plus we need to add defense and short-range teleportation! Let’s get it all set up!”

Listening to his master’s outlandish plans, Su Ming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“Master, this matter is probably not that simple.”

He analyzed calmly.

“Senior Brother Chen Ping’s change in attitude today is certainly a good thing.”

“But it also means that from now on, this disciple is completely exposed within the sight of Formation Peak.”

“The slightest misstep could attract unnecessary attention.”

Lin Yu’s soul sense immediately calmed down.

“Hmm, what you say is very true, disciple.”

He immediately switched to his master’s lofty tone.

“Your master was just now testing your character. Good, not arrogant or impatient, you truly grasp the essence of my ‘Way of Survival’.”

“This matter is indeed a double-edged sword. It is both an excellent opportunity to integrate into Formation Peak and obtain resources, and also the eye of the storm where the slightest mistake could lead to disaster.”

“Therefore, our next strategy must also be adjusted.”

“On the surface, you must still maintain the persona of a ‘calculation genius, formation rookie’. Every repair you make must be reasonable and justifiable, explainable from the perspective of ‘data analysis’.”

“In secret, you must use this convenience to voraciously absorb formation knowledge, but only learn, never create. All high-level, attention-grabbing formations exist only in our minds, never revealed in the slightest.”

“What we must become is the most excellent ‘repairman’, not the most talented ‘designer’.”

Su Ming nodded heavily.

“This disciple understands.”

…

At the same time.

Chen Ping flew on his sword, passing through layers of cloud seas, and finally landed outside the familiar meditation room of the External Affairs Hall.

He straightened his robes, his expression solemn, and respectfully knocked on the stone door.

“Disciple Chen Ping requests an audience with Elder Ma.”

“Enter.”

Inside the meditation room, Elder Ma’s voice was as calm as ever.

Chen Ping pushed the door open and gave a deep bow to the slender back.

“Disciple… apologizes to the Elder for today’s events.”

Without the slightest hesitation, he directly admitted his mistake.

“This disciple was blind, nearly missed a talented individual, and moreover misunderstood the Elder’s profound intentions. I ask the Elder to punish me.”

Elder Ma slowly turned around, his cloudy eyes quietly looking at him.

“Oh?”

“It seems that boy did not disappoint you.”

A bitter smile appeared on Chen Ping’s face.

“Far from disappointing.”

He reported everything that happened today in detail, including how Su Ming repaired the seven Shield Formations, how he discovered and erased that century-old design redundancy, leaving nothing out.

His tone was extremely complex.

There was shock, admiration, and a trace of… lingering fear.

“That boy’s talent and character regarding basic formation lines are truly rare.”

“This disciple… is far inferior.”

After listening, Elder Ma showed no surprise whatsoever.

He merely picked up his teacup, gently stroked his beard, and smiled faintly.

That smile was profound and inscrutable.

“That boy’s path to immortality is severed, yet the meticulousness of his thoughts and the excellence of his comprehension are the best I have seen in my entire life.”

Chen Ping’s heart tightened. He knew Elder Ma was about to get to the main point.

“I sent him there not expecting him to do the work of five men.”

Elder Ma put down his teacup, his voice unhurried.

“But for him to see, to learn, to understand what our Formation Peak truly needs, and what it lacks.”

Chen Ping’s breathing unconsciously grew lighter.

He listened as Elder Ma slowly said.

“I intend to establish a ‘Formation Lines Repair Hall’ under the External Affairs Hall.”

“It will be dedicated to the maintenance, optimization, and establishment of standardized procedures for all low-level formations within the sect.”

“He will lead it, and we will train a group of specialists like him from among the menial disciples.”

“Do you think he is capable of taking on this responsibility?”

Formation Lines Repair Hall!

Led by a menial disciple!

This…

This was no longer a promotion; this was building a whole new stove for him!

Elder Ma’s plan was actually this far-reaching!

A tidal wave surged in Chen Ping’s heart.

He finally understood the gap between himself and this Elder.

What he saw was the mess before his eyes, a troublesome problem.

What Elder Ma saw was the flaws in the entire sect’s operational system, and an opportunity capable of changing the future!

He opened his mouth, his throat dry. It took a long moment for him to find his voice again from the immense shock.

“Elder… this move… is unprecedented.”

“This disciple… does not know how to judge it.”

Looking into Elder Ma’s eyes that seemed capable of seeing through everything, he ultimately spoke his most genuine thoughts.

“But in terms of meticulous thinking, understanding and optimization of basic formation lines…”

“This disciple believes that within the sect, among the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment realms… probably no one can surpass him. Of course, excluding those few monstrous talents among the inner sect disciples; the sect wouldn’t let those few do this kind of work anyway.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep