The mist in Clear Stream Valley was stirred by an invisible force, slowly rotating to form a miniature vortex, eventually transforming into a fine drizzle that pattered down onto the stone steps before the cave dwelling.

Inside the cave dwelling, Su Ming slowly opened his eyes. A trace of deep blue water light swirled within the depths of his pupils before vanishing.

Qi Refining, seventh layer.

He felt the clearly expanded lake of spiritual energy within his Dantian and the more resilient, smoothly circulating meridians, then gently exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

The breath condensed in the air without dispersing, carrying the unique, gentle moisture of the Like Water Art.

The process had been more difficult than he anticipated.

The three cracks at his Dao foundation had felt like tearing agony during the spiritual energy’s assault on the bottleneck, akin to termite holes at the weakest point of a dam.

If not for Lin Yu stabilizing the most dangerous spread of the cracks with soul power at the critical moment, coupled with the unique flexibility and permeability of the Like Water Art’s spiritual energy allowing him to “circumvent” the most solid obstacles and “infiltrate” through from the sides, this breakthrough attempt would likely have ended in failure.

“Finally succeeded.” Lin Yu’s voice sounded in the Consciousness Sea, carrying a trace of fatigue. “This damage to the Dao foundation is becoming more and more like a sword hanging over your head. We must find a solution.”

Su Ming nodded. Just as he was about to turn his senses inward to consolidate his gains, the restrictions outside his cave dwelling transmitted a familiar fluctuation.

Withdrawing the restrictions, Luo Feng’s handsome face, bearing a hint of urgency, appeared at the entrance.

“Brother Su! You’ve finally emerged from seclusion!” Luo Feng stepped inside in one stride. His gaze swept over Su Ming, and a flash of surprise appeared in his eyes. “Huh? Your aura is rounded, condensed, and full of water essence… You’ve broken through to the late Qi Refining stage? Congratulations!”

“Just a stroke of luck.” Su Ming invited Luo Feng to sit and poured tea. “Brother Luo, your visit today, is there urgent business?”

“Urgent, of course it’s urgent!” Luo Feng took the teacup, not even bothering to drink. “During these days of your seclusion, Elder Qingquan’s side finally has definite news. He has permitted me to bring you to see him. The time is set for three days from now, at the Listening to Waves Pavilion on Formation Peak!”

Su Ming’s heart stirred.

Elder Qingquan, finally meeting him.

“I’ve troubled Brother Luo to go to such efforts on my behalf.” Su Ming cupped his hands in thanks.

“Between you and me, why stand on ceremony.” Luo Feng waved his hand, a sincere smile appearing on his face. “But honestly, Brother Su, Elder Qingquan is a rigorous person, especially regarding the path of formations. His standards are extremely high. For him to proactively propose meeting you indicates that your previous ‘unorthodox’ methods at the Repair Hall have actually piqued his interest. What he values may not be how many profound formations you’ve mastered, but rather your unique way of thinking—’simplifying complexity’ and ‘directly targeting utility’.”

Su Ming pondered and said, “Elder Qingquan is a publicly recognized grandmaster of formations within the sect. To receive his guidance is naturally an opportunity. I just wonder, with the elder’s abilities, what realm has he currently reached in the path of formations?”

Hearing this, Luo Feng’s expression turned serious. He set down his teacup. “Since Brother Su asks, I’ll tell you. In the cultivation world, especially within our Cloud Hidden Sect, the hierarchy of formation masters isn’t entirely equivalent to cultivation level. It depends more on comprehension and attainment in the path of formations.”

He paused, as if organizing his words. “Simply divided into five tiers. The lowest is ‘Formation Apprentice’. One only needs to master basic runes and be able to set up and maintain ordinary formations according to diagrams. Most disciples within and outside the sect who dabble in formations may remain at this level their entire lives.”

Su Ming nodded. This probably corresponded to Qi Refining stage and most Foundation Establishment stage formation cultivators.

“Above that is ‘Formation Master’.” Luo Feng continued, a trace of yearning in his tone. “One must be proficient in a large number of runes, understand the principles of formation operation, be able to independently design and improve conventional formations, and even possess a certain degree of innovation ability. Reaching this realm means one has truly entered the hall of the path of formations.” He pointed at himself, slightly embarrassed yet somewhat proud. “I, with my limited talent, have studied the path of formations for over ten years. Only last year did I earn my Master’s recognition, barely considered to have stepped across the threshold of ‘Formation Master’.”

“Congratulations, Brother Luo.” Su Ming offered sincere congratulations, then asked curiously, “What lies above ‘Formation Master’?”

“Above ‘Formation Master’ is ‘Grandmaster of Formations’.” Luo Feng’s expression became solemn and respectful. “This realm is extraordinary. One must achieve mastery through comprehensive understanding, forming one’s own system of formation principles, capable of creating entirely new formations, repairing and modifying those obscure and difficult-to-understand high-level ancient formations. At this level, cultivation level becomes secondary; it relies entirely on peerless comprehension and profound accumulation in the path of formations.” A light of reverence shone in his eyes. “Elder Qingquan is a publicly recognized ‘Grandmaster of Formations’. Although his cultivation is only at the late Golden Core stage, even some Nascent Soul stage uncles and masters often need to seek Elder Qingquan’s advice when encountering profound formation problems.”

Su Ming was inwardly awed. So Elder Qingquan’s status was so revered, no wonder Luo Feng always spoke of him with such respect.

This wasn’t just about seniority; it was reverence for the “Dao”.

“Above ‘Grandmaster of Formations’, could there be an even higher realm?” Su Ming pressed.

“There is.” Luo Feng nodded, his tone becoming distant, as if narrating a legend. “‘Formation Ancestor’, establishing one’s own school and lineage, whose formation concepts can become a lineage of inheritance with far-reaching influence. The founding patriarch of our Cloud Hidden Sect, Cloud Hidden Master, was such a figure. As for the higher ‘Sage of the Formation Path’… that only exists in ancient, ethereal legends. Entering the Dao through formations, a single formation capable of altering heaven and earth, beyond our ability to fathom.”

After hearing this account, Su Ming gained a clear understanding of the formation system within the Cloud Hidden Sect and even the broader cultivation world. Right now, he probably didn’t even qualify as a “Formation Apprentice”. He merely had some clever ideas and the special “Water Refining Method”, making him somewhat unique in the low-level maintenance field.

“The path of formations is indeed vast as the sea.” Su Ming sighed with emotion. “Runes are the foundation. Since Brother Luo has already reached the level of ‘Formation Master’, I wonder how many basic runes you have mastered now?”

Luo Feng smiled and said, “I sensed spiritual energy at age six, began touching formation lines at eight, and it’s been nearly twenty years now. The total number of basic runes is three thousand six hundred. According to Elder Qingquan, if one can completely master one thousand two hundred of the core runes and flexibly combine and vary them, it counts as laying a solid foundation within the ‘Formation Master’ realm. I currently… have mastered approximately over one thousand five hundred.”

One thousand five hundred!

Su Ming was inwardly astonished.

Relying on the Xuantian ring’s “observation micro state” ability, Lin Yu’s guidance, and relentless day-and-night study, over two years, the number of runes he had completely mastered and understood in more than three variations had barely broken one hundred and fifty.

This speed, compared to a genius like Luo Feng, was as slow as a turtle’s crawl.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep