One of my fairy-like friends

For example, the book that Mingyan found in the tomb left by that cultivator who had reached the Transcendent Realm contained a wondrous array that could prolong the lifespan of flowers and plants.

Formations are not only a means of gaining an advantage in battle, but they can also bring many benefits in daily life.

However, there are not many people who practice formations, because formations often need to be inscribed in advance, but battles between cultivators are often triggered on the spot, and it is not uncommon for them to fight at the slightest disagreement.

Moreover, the consumption of spiritual energy is also a problem. Many large formations require a large amount of spiritual energy to be activated, and a continuous supply of spiritual energy is needed to maintain the operation of the formation.

Among formations, defensive formations are probably the most frequently used. Formations like the Mountain Protection Formation and the Clan Protection Formation are essential for almost every holy land, aristocratic family, and blessed land. Only such places have the resources to play with formations.

After all, if a large amount of spiritual energy is needed, either high-level cultivators need to continuously input spiritual energy, or they can only rely on the spiritual crystals used by cultivators to operate it, which is equivalent to burning money to run the formation. Ordinary rogue cultivators simply cannot afford to play with formations. Therefore, only places like holy lands and aristocratic families can study formations. Even blessed lands and grotto heavens do not study formations in depth, mainly because they cannot afford to study them.

In other words, Mingyan was in the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Holy Land and was a direct disciple of the Holy Lord, so he didn't have to worry about resources at all, which is why he could afford to use formations...

Furthermore, mastering array formations requires talent; rote memorization alone is insufficient. Drawing and deciphering arrays without critical thinking easily leads to errors. The flow of an array's diagram is like a maze, extremely intricate; if not drawn correctly, it might become an array with entirely different effects...

Moreover, in this world, there is a saying about the ultimate state of Tao.

This means that cultivators often only need to specialize in one path and master it to a degree that others cannot reach, thereby proving their Dao and achieving the throne. Therefore, some top geniuses do not want their learning to become mixed and prefer to concentrate on studying their own Dao.

But Mingyan was different. He felt that since he was destined to become the King of Men from birth, and he did feel quite abundant in his cultivation, he could learn more things. It's never a bad thing to have more skills, and these things would often play a role in unexpected places and bring him more benefits.

There are many types of formations: those primarily for offense, defense, buffs, and sustainability. The variety is astounding. Even with his master Yue Wuxia directly instilling these formations into his mind, Ming Yan still felt somewhat dizzy as he reviewed them. There were simply too many...

Mingyan selected one or two from them, choosing a simple one to practice on.

Before this, Mingyan asked his senior sister Yue Qingying for some spirit crystals to draw an array for him.

The formation Mingyan chose was a Spirit Gathering Formation, which was quite similar to the Spirit Gathering Wood that Yue Qingying had used before. Both of them could gather the surrounding spiritual energy. However, Spirit Gathering Formations come in different sizes, and the one Mingyan drew was the smallest.

What's peculiar about arrays is that neither drawing nor activating them requires consuming spiritual energy. Therefore, even ordinary people can use arrays as long as they know how to draw them and possess spirit crystals.

However, mortals cannot obtain spirit crystals at all, and even if they do, they are extremely rare and insufficient to activate and maintain them.

The Spirit Gathering Array is considered a relatively ineffective array because it requires spiritual energy to activate. If it needs to operate long-term, it can only be used with spirit crystals. The amount of spiritual energy gathered by the Spirit Gathering Array depends on the density of spiritual energy in the surrounding environment. In ordinary places, the amount of spiritual energy gathered will naturally be limited. In some places with scarce spiritual energy, the amount of spiritual energy gathered may be less than the amount of spiritual crystals consumed. Spirit crystals contain ancient spiritual energy... This is putting the cart before the horse.

However, in a place like the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Holy Land, which is also the place where the Holy Lord resides, the spiritual energy is abundant, so the spiritual energy that the Spirit Gathering Array can gather is naturally very considerable.

However, it's not as good as the Spirit Gathering Wood. The Spirit Gathering Wood can gather the surrounding spiritual energy without consuming anything... If this Spirit Gathering Array didn't consume so few spirit crystals, Ming Yan wouldn't even want to test it. It's really useless.

Unless there is another way to activate it, this spirit-gathering array should be one of the lowest-level arrays.

However, Mingyan discovered that among the knowledge his master Yue Wuxia had passed on to him, there were also some records stating that the different patterns drawn on the array would affect the speed at which the array operated and how quickly it consumed spiritual energy.

In other words, formations can be drawn efficiently and energy-savingly, but how to draw them requires exploration.

When Mingyan first attempted to draw arrays, he naturally did not seek his own simple method, but rather replicated the basic drawing method recorded in the book.

These formations are no longer what they were when they were first created; they have all been optimized... But thinking about it this way, wouldn't the spirit-gathering formation have been even less useful in the first place?

The method of drawing the Spirit Gathering Array is very simple. First, draw a circle, and then draw an arc from the ship to the array eye in the center of the circle. Draw a total of four such arcs inside the circle. The entire array is like the eye of a hurricane. Then, you only need to inject spiritual energy into the center to activate it.

It's indeed very simple. Enhancing the spirit-gathering effect of this formation is also easy; just draw a few more arcs. However, doing so will consume even more spiritual energy...

Mingyan tried channeling his spiritual energy into the spirit-gathering array and found that the array he had drawn began to slowly operate and rotate. The surrounding spiritual energy began to gather, and the spirit-gathering effect was quite good. If Mingyan had spent ten points of spiritual energy, then the gathered spiritual energy would be around fifty, a five-fold increase...

However, this spirit-gathering array can only "gather" spiritual energy; it cannot directly generate it. This means the surrounding environment's spiritual energy directly affects the array's effectiveness. In the former Yutai Blessed Land, it would likely only have twice the effect...

In most places, it's probably only possible to get one person for every one exchanged... calling it a useless service isn't an exaggeration at all...

Mingyan searched his mind for formations that could directly generate spiritual energy, and quickly found one. He looked at it closely, and his head suddenly felt overwhelmed... This was far too complicated...

Ming Yan frowned. This spirit-gathering array only required a few lines, but the lines of this "spirit array" that created spiritual energy were as intricate and complex as a maze, densely packed, with no discernible origin or destination...

Creating spiritual energy and gathering spiritual energy are indeed not even in the same league...

Mingyan took a look and found that the "spirit array" required two springs. He wondered about its efficiency and energy consumption. If the consumption was high, it would be better to directly absorb the spiritual energy from the spirit crystals to recover...

However, formations that generate spiritual energy can create a place with abundant spiritual energy in a short period of time, even in areas with scarce spiritual energy.

Mingyan carefully observed the "spirit array" and discovered some rules.

There are two people in total. The "spirit array" is divided into two main parts, like the yin and yang fish rotating in a tai ji diagram, except that it is more detailed.

Upon closer inspection, Mingyan was able to identify certain rules. After careful observation, he began to replicate the formation.

It took Mingyan almost half a day to finally finish drawing it... Since it was his first time drawing arrays, he was not very skilled and needed to take it one stroke at a time, so the drawing process was very slow. If he had become more skilled, it shouldn't have taken this long.

Mingyan began to continuously inject spiritual energy, and the array flickered with black and white light, slowly starting to operate. It was clear that two different streams of spiritual energy were wrapped and rotated around it, one yin and one yang, which was very mysterious. The laws around the array were constantly flashing and vibrating, making it look very extraordinary. The spiritual energy in Mingyan's body was quickly drawn out, and the array soon showed its effects.

Mingyan did not sense any spiritual energy flowing around him, but he could feel that the spiritual energy within the formation was much denser. In a short time, his vast sea of ​​spiritual energy had already decreased slightly. Mingyan was somewhat surprised. He had used the combat techniques recorded in the Wind Spirit Scripture before, and the spiritual energy had not decreased at all. How long had it been? His vast sea of ​​spiritual energy had decreased so much.

Ming Yan withdrew his hand and sensed the surrounding spiritual energy... He had spent approximately one thousand points of spiritual energy, creating about one thousand and twenty units of spiritual energy in total...

Ming Yan's heart stirred slightly. This formation wasn't affected by the spiritual energy concentration of the area where it was drawn; it created spiritual energy out of thin air... Although the efficiency wasn't high, it was still creating spiritual energy...

Unfortunately, most formations cannot be drawn on the body. The "Spirit Formation" is one such formation; otherwise, it could be used to generate spiritual energy in place of the Yin and Yang Mausoleums before their construction is complete...

I wonder if this formation is similar to Yinling and Yangling? Mingyan pondered. He had only learned the form, not the meaning, and he didn't really understand formations. He needed to study them carefully.

Mingyan searched for a while and found the array that could be inscribed on the body... but it was called something else entirely. These were called array patterns... the most common of which were slave patterns...

Is this considered a formation...? Mingyan was a little curious.

Chapter Sixty-One: Master's Gift

The slave runes are inscribed with extreme detail and can only be inscribed on the bodies of highly intelligent beings, otherwise they will not be triggered. Ming Yan cannot find anyone to draw the runes right now. He can't possibly use his senior sister to test them, can he? That won't do.

Mingyan thought for a moment and began to learn from the basics. He believed that since his cultivation level was not as high as others, learning the formation would be of great benefit to him.

three days later.

The Holy Maiden Ning Feixuan of Yaochi and a group of Yaochi fairies are about to leave the Fengling Yueying Holy Land. Ming Yan, Yue Qingying, and other Fengling Yueying elders are seeing them off.

During this time, Mingyan focused on studying formations and consolidating his cultivation, and did not seek out Ning Feixuan, because he felt that only after his cultivation and strength improved could he have a conversation with her on the same level.

After seeing off the Holy Maiden of Yaochi and the others, Mingyan and Yue Qingying returned to the Immortal Island together. On the way, Mingyan asked, "Does Senior Sister know Gu Hanshuang?"

"Gu Hanshuang? The number one genius of the Southern Continent? What happened to her?" Upon hearing this name, Yue Qingying's heart stirred, and she asked.

"Does Senior Sister know anything about Gu Hanshuang?"

"I don't know... Because the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Holy Land is on the edge of the Eastern and Southern Continents, I've seen her a few times. The last time I saw her, I was at the initial stage of the Qi Sea Realm, while she was at the maximum stage. Now I hear she has entered the Divine Palace Realm, surpassing all the other geniuses in the Southern Continent." Yue Qingying said, "But why mention her suddenly? Did you encounter her during your previous trials?"

Mingyan shook his head and recounted the situation he had encountered.

"Someone is planning to ambush and assassinate her?" Yue Qingying frowned slightly. "The Myriad Weapons Holy Land where Gu Hanshuang is located is only relatively close to our Fengling Yueying, and we have no other connection. Besides, why would Gu Hanshuang come to Dongzhou?"

Upon hearing Yue Qingying's words, Ming Yan understood what she meant. His senior sister didn't want him to meddle in other people's business. Ming Yan shook his head. "I don't know either. I've mentioned it to Master before, but Master didn't react in any particular way... Is Master's departure from the Holy Land related to this matter?"

"With the juniors surrounding us, and Master having no connection with the Myriad Weapons Holy Land, he certainly won't personally intervene like Fei Yan did before. Even if he were to help, he would send me with a few young disciples." Yue Qingying shook her head. "Now that you've reached the Zhaohai Realm, I think Master is more likely going to help you find materials for refining weapons."

Upon hearing this, Mingyan realized what was going on. Her master had mentioned before that dragon tendons could be used to make the bowstring, and she was going to help Mingyan find the material to forge the bow back. However, Mingyan did not expect her master to set off so quickly and thought that she was going on a long trip for other reasons.

Mingyan felt a warmth in his heart, "Master is so good to me."

“Master is just not fond of talking, but she still cares about her disciples very much.” Yue Qingying said with a smile, “When I was very young, Master took me in and made me her disciple. I remember once when I went out with her, I showed interest in something, and then that thing appeared in my room... She doesn’t like to say it out loud, but you can definitely feel her attention and care for us.”

Mingyan nodded, "What Senior Sister said is absolutely right. I will definitely take good care of Master in the future."

Yue Qingying smiled and said, "We shouldn't interfere in Gu Hanshuang's affairs. Besides, Gu Hanshuang is only stronger than you think and won't die so easily. Perhaps we don't need to worry about her at all."

Mingyan agreed, "Since Senior Sister said she has little to do with us, then we really shouldn't meddle in other people's business."

After returning to the immortal island, Mingyan began to devote himself to meditation again.

Seven more days passed, and ten days had passed since Yue Wuxia left Fengling Yueying. During this time, some elders from Yueying Cinema came to report on matters, but not from Fengling Academy.

Mingyan could sense that although Fenglingyueying were nominally two academies of the same holy land, there was an underlying sense of discord between them...

On the eighth day, Yue Wuxia returned to the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Holy Land and summoned Ming Yan.

Mingyan followed Yue Wuxia into her small house. Yue Wuxia sat cross-legged on a futon, her dark blue Taoist robe spotless, and her stunningly beautiful face still held a cool and aloof air. "Has anything happened these past few days?"

Mingyan shook his head. "It's just a few minor matters that don't require Master's decision."

Yue Wuxia nodded, and with a light tap of her jade finger, a dark iron appeared in front of Ming Yan, gleaming with a cold, eerie light, as if it had been taken from an extremely cold place. When it appeared in front of Ming Yan, his skin could keenly feel that the surroundings had become colder.

The black iron was in the shape of a regular column, like the golden cudgel in the mortal book "Journey to the West" that Ming Yan had seen before. However, it was completely black, as if it could swallow up the surrounding light, so black that it was unbelievable.

"This is the Supreme Netherworld Immortal Gold that I went to the Northern Continent to exchange for you. It was taken from a mine near the Central Abyss. It is an Emperor-level Immortal Gold and the best material I could find to refine the bow back for you. The Netherworld Immortal Gold is very heavy. Ordinary people cannot lift it at all. Even if it is refined into a weapon using special methods, cultivators of the same level cannot lift it. But you should be able to use it as a weapon."

Emperor-grade Immortal Gold? Ming Yan opened his mouth, though he didn't know much about weapon materials, the words "Emperor-grade" said it all...

Yue Wuxia had also mentioned "exchange"... This immortal gold was probably obtained by exchanging extremely precious items. Mingyan was so grateful that he was speechless for a moment.

"Emperor-grade Immortal Gold is extremely precious and can only be found through great fortune. Even a Great Emperor might not find it in his entire life. Therefore, I hope you will take good care of it and never lose it. I also hope you will not disappoint my high expectations." Yue Wuxia's expression was calm. Although she said it was extremely precious, she did not show any heartache on her face. Her tone was also very cold and unresponsive.

"I...can I ask Master what you used to exchange for this item?" Mingyan asked, his mouth dry for a while.

“I once discovered another Emperor-grade Immortal Metal in the Imperial Mausoleum. However, that kind of Immortal Metal is suitable for making swords, bells, and tripods, but if you were to use it to make the back of a bow, you probably wouldn’t be able to budge it. It’s too sturdy,” Yue Wuxia said.

"Won't Master leave behind any Emperor-grade Immortal Gold...to make weapons for himself?"

Yue Wuxia frowned slightly. "Why do you ask so many questions? Take it in and nurture it in your Qi Sea. Once it has been nurtured to the point of being imbued with your aura, you can begin refining it. I don't want you to keep talking nonsense and asking endless questions."

Mingyan lowered his head, remained silent for a moment, and then nodded earnestly, "Your disciple will cherish this very much..."

Something that even an emperor might not be able to find in his entire life, his master had a great opportunity to discover, and then, for his own sake, he exchanged it to find a more suitable immortal metal...

Mingyan bowed deeply to Chaoyue Wuxia, feeling that words were too pale to express his respect and filial piety to his master. He would show it through his actions in the future.

"How's your research on formations going?" Yue Wuxia asked when Ming Yan stopped pressing the matter.

“Your disciple is foolish and his research progresses slowly. He has only learned one percent of the formation techniques and has only grasped a certain basics,” Mingyan said.

"Such speed is hardly foolish; you haven't disappointed me." Yue Wuxia's lips curled slightly, in a good mood. "However, remember, formations are merely an aid; don't let your study of formations interfere with your cultivation. Improving your cultivation level is of paramount importance..."

"Disciple understands."

"Go back."

Mingyan nodded, stored the Supreme Immortal Gold in his Qi Sea, then bowed and left Yue Wuxia's room.

Master values ​​him so much that he even gave him such a precious gift... He had even worried about some unfounded things before. Mingyan sighed inwardly, realizing that he had to live up to his master's high regard and cultivation.

He returned to his room, entered his Qi Sea, and carefully observed the Extreme Dao Netherworld Immortal Gold.

The immortal gold was incomparably black, even giving the impression of devouring the surrounding light. Although it existed in a columnar shape, it also gave people a strange feeling of looking into an abyss, unfathomable.

Since it is Emperor-level Immortal Gold, it must have many mysterious aspects.

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Fairies Have Arrived

The Netherworld Immortal Gold, true to its name, seems to lead directly to the netherworld, capable of swallowing even the line of sight, emitting a faint black light...