After some effort, Qi Ping soon obtained several formation technique manuals from Meng Yan.
These included “Fundamentals of First-Order Formations,” “Notes on a Formation Master’s Cultivation Experience,” “Compendium of First-Order Formations,” “Spirit Gathering Technique,” and “Spirit Gathering Formations: Primary to Advanced.”
In addition, there were quite a few books on formation theory, practical examples, and biographies of famous formation masters, provided for Qi Ping’s reference in cultivating as a formation master.
The completeness and comprehensiveness of this knowledge completely exceeded Qi Ping’s expectations.
“Brother Meng really went all out this time!”
In return, Qi Ping offered five thousand spirit stones.
Meng Yan initially said it wasn’t necessary, as Qi Ping’s previous help in slaying enemy talents from the three opposing sects was contribution enough to exchange for these items.
However, Qi Ping insisted. After all, regardless of Meng Yan’s personal circumstances—that was his own affair. He enjoyed the benefits that came with his status, but he also bore the numerous dangers and pressures associated with it.
Qi Ping simply believed that obtaining something required paying a price, especially now when he had the means to pay with spirit stones. This was already far better than buying them elsewhere. These were truly the essence that Meng Yan had managed to acquire, particularly the formation experience left by senior formation masters—things many people couldn’t buy even if they wanted to.
After bringing these formation manuals back, Qi Ping began studying them with great curiosity and interest.
Among the four major arts of cultivation—Alchemy, Artifact Refining, Talismans, and Formations—the one he was most fond of and curious about was the path of formations.
Alchemy was the most profitable of the four arts, but Qi Ping wasn’t drawn to it. Especially after his bees could act as low-tier alchemists, generating income and producing honey for him, he lost any further desire to study it. The little knowledge of pill-making he had learned was only to help his bees produce more potent honey, which was still far from truly mastering the art of alchemy.
As for artifact refining, Qi Ping was even less interested. The thought of forging and hammering metal seemed far too dull to him. If he had any other choice, he felt he couldn’t persevere with it.
Talismans weren’t bad. They could generate income, and one could prepare many for combat, scattering them liberally during fights. Compared to alchemy and artifact refining, Qi Ping did prefer talismans a bit more.
However, when pitting talismans against formations, talismans ranked much lower in Qi Ping’s estimation.
In Qi Ping’s view, formations were forever supreme.
After all, while Qi Ping didn’t mind killing, he had no interest in wading through constant bloodshed. He’d much rather tend his fields and raise his bees peacefully on his own territory. Thus, the usefulness of talismans for him was also limited.
But formations were entirely different!
You could use formations to protect your territory!
You could use formations to conceal your territory!
You could use formations to gather spiritual energy!
You could use formations to fight and kill enemies!
You could even use formations to escape! Like teleportation arrays or concealment arrays!
In short, formations were almost too useful for Qi Ping, and they could directly maximize his sense of security!
For someone focused on cultivating the land, was there any path more fitting than formations? No!
Once he successfully cultivated the path of formations, Qi Ping could confidently find a remote location to establish his own spirit field territory.
Then, whether growing spiritual herbs or raising animal companions within, he wouldn’t need to be as cautious and fearful as he is now.
Furthermore, the path of formations was also the most suitable for a Druid.
Because the essence of formation techniques is borrowing the power of heaven and earth.
And Druids inherently follow a path of affinity with nature and the world, giving them a natural advantage in learning formations.
Coupled with the Heavenly Blessing talent Qi Ping obtained from slaying the Demon Insect King:
[Heavenly Blessing: For defending the balance of a region and exterminating a creature of heterodox paths, you have received a blessing from heaven and earth. Your probability of attaining sudden enlightenment increases, and your affinity with the natural laws of heaven and earth increases…]
Under these circumstances, choosing to study the path of formations was not only the most practical choice but also the one for which Qi Ping had the greatest innate talent.
Moreover, setting up formations requires a relatively high level of spiritual power; it consumes a significant amount. This also aligns with Qi Ping’s current spiritual talent, [Enchanting Immortal Divine Seal].
Therefore, considering all these conditions, the path of formations was Qi Ping’s optimal choice, even a mandatory one!
On Peak No. 29 of the Misty Cloud Mountains.
A black crow basked in the sun atop an ancient cedar tree, dense solar essence swirling around it.
Beneath that ancient cedar tree, a serene and handsome young man, holding a soundly sleeping little white fox in his arms, was reading a book made of parchment-like material with complete focus.
On the book’s cover page were four large characters: The Path of Formation Cultivation.
[The path of formations commands the power of heaven and earth, containing the flow of all things within the cosmos in the palm of one’s hand.]
[Leveraging celestial timing, occupying geographical advantages, controlling or disrupting the power of laws…]
[The study of formations is based on the comprehension of the natural laws of heaven and earth. The Five Elements, the Eight Trigrams, the laws of heaven and earth—all can form arrays!]
[To deploy a formation, one must activate it using formation bases. Spiritual energy, spirit stones, magical artifacts, corpses… all things under heaven can serve as formation bases… Through these bases, one manipulates the natural laws and energies of heaven and earth.]
[Given advantageous terrain, within the same realm, formation cultivators are invincible!]
[The path of formations places extremely high demands on spiritual power. Setting up formations consumes vast amounts of spiritual power. Those with insufficient spiritual power should not cultivate it! Those lacking in comprehension should not cultivate it!]
“So this is the path of formations…”
After studying for several hours, Qi Ping slowly put down the book in his hands. His mind still lingered on the contents of the manual, and the light in his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Formations! Formation Cultivators!
So this is the path of formations!
The more Qi Ping studied, the more his joy grew.
Firstly, he found that the more he understood formations, the more he liked them. In the study of any craft, besides talent, interest plays a very significant role. Because only by being deeply devoted to the path can one truly comprehend its essence and reach its peak!
Secondly, he was also astonished by the power of formations.
Given advantageous celestial timing and geographical conditions, formation masters can be described in eight words: Within the same realm, formation cultivators are invincible!
As long as one comprehends formations to the limit of their own realm, they can basically guarantee an undefeatable position among peers.
However, the reason formation cultivators can be so powerful is also because their cultivation difficulty is exceptionally high, imposing stringent requirements on both spiritual power and comprehension. Those with such comprehension are essentially cultivation geniuses.
Thus, truly powerful formation masters are far rarer than cultivation geniuses.
“Moreover, the distinctions among formation masters are exceptionally clear.”
“The prerequisite for borrowing the power of heaven and earth is a certain level of comprehension of that power. Therefore, besides universal formations, one generally only specializes in a few types of formations…”
“If that’s the case, to build a hidden territory solely for myself, the formations I must cultivate include illusion arrays, arrays for concealing aura…”
