Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Setting the Formation

[Technique: Five Elements Sword Technique]

[Tier: Supreme Qi Refinement]

[Description: Created by a certain Nascent Soul expert. After cultivating it, one can harness the power of the five elements and select attack methods corresponding to the enemy’s spiritual energy attributes…]

A Supreme Sword Technique!

Zhou Luo exclaimed in shock.

This turned out to be a top-tier cultivation technique within Qi Refinement.

Techniques not only differ by realm but also classify into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and supreme tiers.

The higher the tier, the more terrifying the power unleashed by the technique.

If he could truly master this supreme technique, transcending layers in combat might not be an issue.

It was perfect timing since he needed to search for both the dual cultivation technique and Dragon Blood Grass.

With this sword technique to rely on, Zhou Luo felt a surge of confidence.

He chose to use it without hesitation.

Instantly, all the information related to the technique flooded into his mind like a tide.

Zhou Luo gained an entirely new understanding of this high-grade sword technique.

As a technique created by a Nascent Soul expert, the Five Elements Sword Technique’s defining feature was that its attack methods and effects closely followed the principles of mutual generation and restriction among the five elements.

Ordinary cultivators possessed spiritual energy without attributes; only after practicing a cultivation technique would their spiritual energy gain attributes.

For example, Lin Qing Han practiced a low-grade technique called Deep Water Sword Technique, so her spiritual energy held the water attribute.

One cultivated the attribute of whichever technique they practiced.

However, the Five Elements Sword Technique enabled its cultivator to possess spiritual energy of all five attributes simultaneously.

This way, he could counter enemies based on the different attributes of their spiritual energy, achieving maximum damage effectiveness.

It truly deserved its title as a supreme sword technique.

While receiving the technique’s information, Zhou Luo also completely mastered the Five Elements Sword Technique.

This surprised him considerably.

He had initially thought that mastering this sword technique would require diligent practice like the Body Refinement Technique…

Now, it seemed he had worried unnecessarily.

If no time investment was needed for cultivation, then drawing a technique wasn’t a bad thing, but rather an incredibly fortunate event.

That trace of disappointment in Zhou Luo’s heart vanished completely, replaced by boundless joy.

The only drawback was.

Currently, he was only at the fourth layer of Qi Refinement, unable to even activate the technique’s most fundamental skill.

This Five Elements Sword Technique possessed five skills, corresponding respectively to the fifth layer to the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.

The five skills were:

"Golden Rainbow Piercing the Sun"

"Green Vine Entanglement"

"Water Curtain Sky Blossom"

"Blazing Flames Burning the Sky"

"Earth Shattering Collapse".

It seems I need to quickly improve my state and break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refinement.

Zhou Luo had made up his mind in his heart.

…

The next day, Zhou Luo introduced Xu Changsheng to all his wives and concubines. Meanwhile, Xu Changsheng moved his own wife and children into Zhou Garden.

After all, the place was vast with many rooms to spare.

The little ones, led by little Chang’an, were quite happy to welcome new playmates.

At the same time, people sent by the Tenth Elder arrived at Zhou Garden to prepare for the upcoming wedding ceremony in four days.

During such a bustling time, Xu Changsheng—who served as the steward—found himself pulled aside by Zhou Luo into an empty room.

"You intend to set up a Gathering Spirit Array?"

Xu Changsheng stared wide-eyed, his mouth falling open in disbelief.

"Just a small Gathering Spirit Array," Zhou Luo stated.

These arrays varied in scale; the larger ones demanded greater strength from their creators.

The Gathering Spirit Array at the spiritual vein of their clan, for instance, had been established by a top-level First Level formation master.

As for the arrays among the Immortal Sects, Zhou Luo estimated they required at least a Second Level array maker.

Though merely small in scope, this still left Xu Changsheng utterly stunned.

Establishing a Gathering Spirit Array was far from simple. It required meticulous arrangement of formation plates, precise calculation of nodal placements, and deeply tested an array maker’s ability.

Moreover, this was clearly a formation of middle-grade quality at minimum.

Previously, he’d thought Zhou Luo was a novice in formations. Now, it seemed the man had long been immersed in this art, with an ability rated middle-tier or even higher.

A middle-tier formation master at the very least, plus a top-level Pill Master…

Xu Changsheng froze where he stood, rendered speechless for a long while.

The impact was simply overwhelming.

Truly, a genius remained a genius—while he was merely an ordinary man who’d gotten somewhat lucky.

A wave of bitterness washed over Xu Changsheng’s heart.

"What should I do?" he asked.

"You need do nothing, except claim credit for establishing this array should anyone inquire," Zhou Luo instructed.

"But…this is a middle-grade formation," Xu Changsheng replied, awkwardness written across his face. He was only a novice formation master; how could he possibly assemble such an array?

"From today onward, you are a middle-tier formation master. I’ll personally guide your rapid advancement," Zhou Luo declared.

Given Zhou Luo had studied formations for a year or two now, the family wouldn’t question him declaring such a rank.

These words made Xu Changsheng’s eyes light up.

Receiving instruction from a middle-tier Pill Master—or perhaps even higher—was indeed a rare opportunity.

"Understood," Xu Changsheng responded with a solemn nod.

"Where are your array disk and tools?" Zhou Luo turned back to look at him.

Xu Changsheng immediately pulled out a stack of tools from his storage bag.

Among these, the array disk was the most crucial tool for setting up formations.

To establish a complete array, one first needed to simulate and arrange the pattern on the disk according to the environment before proceeding.

Due to his status, Xu Changsheng’s array disk was a simple square box with smooth edges, featuring only black and white colors.

Zhou Luo channeled spiritual energy into the disk.

The dull black-and-white hues suddenly came alive, erupting into two stark pillars of light.

The pillars intertwined mid-air before exploding with a thunderous boom, scattering into countless specks that rained down around them.

Under the guidance of Zhou Luo’s mental strength, the specks coalesced again, forming a monochrome curtain of light.

Upon this curtain, the entire room’s outline took shape.

Zhou Luo extended his mental strength, settling it upon the spiritual brush, using his will to sketch the array onto the luminous surface.

Behind him, Xu Changsheng held his breath, transfixed as he stared unblinkingly at the shifting curtain of light.

Zhou Luo drafted the array charts at astonishing speed; within mere breaths, a third was already complete.

Alarm surged through Xu Changsheng.

That was far too fast.

Moreover, Zhou Luo appeared utterly composed, as if the task demanded no concentration whatsoever.

Drafting such charts consumed tremendous mental stamina – everyone knew that.

Could his mental strength truly be this formidable?

Xu Changsheng felt the crushing weight of their disparity.

Fifty breaths later, the Gathering Spirit Array chart was fully rendered.

Zhou Luo produced the necessary materials and placed them onto the array disk.

Boom—

A muffled resonance thrummed from within the disk, causing the projected black curtain to shudder violently.

Pouring in even more mental strength, he harnessed the disk’s power to begin fusing the materials’ energies.

"How terrifyingly potent is his mental strength?"

Xu Changsheng marveled silently.

To refine materials purely through one’s own power… even his own master required tools!

His estimation of Zhou Luo ascended further.

Within a quarter-hour, the full energies of the materials had been channeled into the disk.

The lines etched upon the monochrome light curtain burned with intensifying clarity.

Seizing the moment, Zhou Luo took out pre-prepared spiritual stones to serve as foundation anchors, casting them onto the luminous veil.

The faintly glowing stones erupted in brilliant radiance the moment they touched the light, making the entire curtain tremble anew.

Zhou Luo steadied his focus, maintaining the structure’s stability.

After the stones were wholly absorbed, a complete Gathering Spirit Array took form upon the curtain.

Now remained the most critical step: transferring this formation into the empty room.

He took a deep breath, painstakingly peeling the array structure free, his mental strength draining rapidly in the process.

As crucial as pill forming itself.

This stage demanded the utmost precision and immense mental fortitude.

Fortunately, Zhou Luo’s mind had been tempered; the strain posed little challenge to him.

Boom—

Finally, the array settled, enveloping the entire room.

The array was complete!