"The Dao of Formations truly is complex beyond words it's by far the most intricate among all the cultivation arts I've encountered!"
Removing the jade slip from his forehead, Li Ye couldn't hide the exhaustion on his face as he sighed in awe.
Even with his current mental strength enhanced by his cultivation of the Thousand Thoughts Spirit Refinement Technique, allowing him to multitask with ease he still found it quite strenuous when trying to simulate the most basic formation foundations from the inheritance.
"Though once I advance further in Thousand Thoughts Spirit Refinement, my efficiency in comprehension will improve, it's still just too slow right now…"
With that thought, Li Ye opened his status panel.
[Name: Li Ye]
[Spiritual Root: Low-Grade Earth-Wood Dual Root]
[Remaining Lifespan: 72 Years (3 Years Lost Due to Vitality Overdraft)]
[Skills:]
Planting: Tier 2 - Low Grade (57/7000)
Alchemy: Tier 1 - High Grade (587/8000)
Artifact Crafting: Not Yet Initiated (12/2000)
Talismans: Tier 2 - Low Grade (81/8000)
Gu Techniques: Tier 1 - Mid Grade (76/4000)
Formations: Not Yet Initiated (2/3000)
[Herbal Essence:]
Emerald Bud Essence ×88
Blood Grain Rice Essence ×1400
Sunfire Essence ×5
[Essence Traits:]
Vitality – Level 1
Absorption – Level 1
[Experience: 8170]
Sure enough, Formation was now listed!
However, the sheer amount of experience required far surpassing any of his previously learned crafts made Li Ye suck in a sharp breath.
"No wonder it's a skill that allows cultivators to exert power beyond their level… there's no cutting corners with this one."
With a faint smile, he directly funneled experience points into the Formation skill!
Spiritual light surged in his mind as the countless cryptic concepts rapidly unraveled, becoming clear and understandable under his will.
When he came back to his senses, he glanced again at the panel.
[Formations: Tier 1 - Low Grade (0/5000)]
Coincidentally, he had exactly five thousand experience points left!
Without hesitation, Li Ye invested all remaining experience into the skill, fully immersing himself in the exhilarating sense of mastery as the convoluted theories became his own.
"With this perspective, the formation shielding this residence is downright primitive… just the most basic combo, barely offering any isolation or protection. It might stop a gentleman, but not a thief…"
Li Ye's gaze sharpened. What he previously could only operate using a token, he now saw clearly as a network of interconnected formation nodes.
He even felt slightly disdainful.
"If I make slight adjustments here… then connect it over there…"
He quickly channeled his spiritual power, pinpointed the formation nodes scattered across the house, and began modifying them based on the original framework.
"In this way, it becomes a simple Three Talents Formation. Its function is the same, but the effect is now vastly improved!"
Standing up, he looked at the courtyard around him as the altered formation settled and stabilized. He nodded in satisfaction.
Now, from his perspective, the place was finally secure and reliable.
"The Dao of Formations is truly profound… such a minor tweak can result in such a dramatic change in effect…"
"I've already reached Tier One – Mid Grade. Advancing further now would require eight thousand experience points still a long way off. But being able to leap over the hard entry stage and the nearly useless low-grade tier all at once… it's made things much easier."
"Now, I can directly begin studying the various basic formations recorded in this inheritance…"
"It shouldn't take long before I fully comprehend and master the Green Vine Verdant Wood Array mentioned in it…"
A look of anticipation glimmered in Li Ye's eyes.
.......
After the auction concluded, the large crowd of cultivators gradually dispersed, and the once lively marketplace began to settle into a rare moment of calm.
Although Li Ye had successfully acquired the Longevity Pill formula at the auction and had openly revealed his identity to spread the news, several days passed with little substantial follow-up. While he continued to receive a steady stream of alchemy commission requests, inquiries about the Longevity Pill remained at the level of casual interest.
Not a single person had yet brought him the required spirit herbs to request the pill's refinement.
After all, the ingredients for this particular pill were incredibly rare. Even if someone did happen to possess Earth Dragon Ginseng, deciding to use it wouldn't be easy.
Li Ye understood this well and wasn't in any rush.
His daily life remained consistent and disciplined tending the spiritual mulberry grove, refining pills, crafting talismans, studying formation arts, and tempering his body through cultivation.
Occasionally, he would also accept invitations from fellow disciples he was on good terms with, spending the evening drinking or enjoying music and performances at the local pavilions.
All in all, his days were full and satisfying.
Until more than ten days later
That day, just as Li Ye was about to head out, he noticed a message talisman intercepted by his residence's protective formation. It carried an unfamiliar aura.
After listening to the message, a faint smile appeared on his face. Instead of leaving, he turned around and went back inside, calmly brewing a pot of tea.
Before long, as foot traffic around the residential area thinned out, a figure wearing a bamboo hat and nondescript robes appeared at the entrance to Li Ye's courtyard.
Before he could even knock, the protective formation deactivated on its own, and the door to the house opened.
The man paused in surprise, hesitated for a moment, then stepped inside, only to find Li Ye seated in the front hall, smiling faintly as he looked over.
"Friend, you're being quite discreet. I wonder what important matter brings you here today?"
Li Ye spoke calmly as he poured a cup of tea from the pot and pushed it toward the visitor.
The man in the bamboo hat sat down across from him. He sniffed the fragrant tea, rich with spiritual energy, and was visibly tempted but ultimately refrained from drinking.
Li Ye didn't seem to mind. He poured himself another cup and slowly took a sip.
Then, the man spoke in a hoarse and indistinct voice:
"Longevity Pill."
And then he stopped, clearly waiting for Li Ye's reaction.
But to his surprise, the young cultivator across from him remained calm and composed, showing not the slightest hint of excitement.
With no choice, the man continued:
"I came across the necessary herbs by chance. I heard that you, Alchemist Li, possess skills nearing Tier Two in alchemy, so I've come to commission you to refine the Longevity Pill… But you must swear an oath never to disclose this matter to anyone."
"Agreed," Li Ye replied without hesitation. "But if the refinement yields more than one pill, I will take one as compensation. Also, you must swear that keeping your identity secret will not bring me harm, and if your identity is exposed due to your carelessness, it has nothing to do with me."
The man's cultivation was already at the late Qi Condensation stage. Though his spiritual aura was restrained, it carried no trace of bloodlust or demonic taint, suggesting he wasn't a demonic cultivator.
He was likely either a lucky rogue cultivator or a member of a family whose patriarch was nearing the end of his lifespan.
Though the situation raised some questions, it was just a matter of refining a special pill. As long as Li Ye exercised some caution, it wouldn't pose a risk to him.
The conditions Li Ye proposed seemed to be within the man's expectations. He nodded without hesitation and placed a storage pouch on the table.
Li Ye, prepared with protective talismans under his robe, was just about to take the pouch when the man suddenly pressed down on it with his hand, his voice firm:
"You must swear the oath first."
Li Ye chuckled. "In that case, why don't we swear together? That way, we can truly trust each other."
The man hesitated briefly, then nodded in agreement.
After both of them made their respective oaths, Li Ye reached out again. This time, the man did not stop him.
As Li Ye picked up the storage pouch, he stayed on high alert. If there was any trickery involved, he would immediately activate the enhanced formations he had recently installed in his home to subdue the intruder.
Fortunately, nothing of the sort happened. When he opened the pouch, he took out a series of jade boxes, each carefully sealed.
His gaze locked onto the one that was sealed with multiple talismans, its spiritual energy fully preserved and contained. He gently opened it.
Inside lay a light yellow spiritual ginseng, thick as half a palm in width, its roots still entwined with spiritual soil and exuding a strong medicinal fragrance.
Li Ye immediately assessed the item.
"As expected Earth Dragon Ginseng. Judging by its size, it must be at least two hundred years old. More than enough to serve as the main ingredient for the Longevity Pill!"
Indeed, it would be equally suitable for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill.
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