Chapter 608: 530
The standard of formations at Formation Mysterious Sect was rising by the day.
However, the Five Elements Sect was in decline, generation after generation... Neglecting formations, building the sect on mere earth and wood, its prosperity waning, it would sooner or later fade away.
At the same time, he felt somewhat relieved.
A Qi-refining cultivator, an intricate formation very close to an Ultimate Formation, a first-grade formation with nine peaks of patterns, and the limit of Divine Sense for someone at the realm of Qi Refinement... The odds of winning this competition were very high.
The inheritance of the Five Elements Sect might be preserved after all.
The three Golden Core Elders sitting at the top all had their own thoughts.
Mr. Zhuang's attitude was calm, without the slightest ripple.
In the center of the grand hall, Mo Hua and another person were each painting their formations.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, both finished their formation paintings almost simultaneously, sealed them, and handed them in.
The Chief Elder first looked at the "Dry Wood Reviving Spring Formation" drawn by Chu Xuan, his expression one of sentiment and amazement.
This was a "Pseudo-Ultimate Formation".
An intricate formation almost at the level of an Ultimate Formation.
It was a ladder for a Qi-refining cultivator to touch upon the echelons beyond grade, reaching for the Ultimate Formation.
Naturally, the cultivator who drew this formation was extraordinarily talented.
But to be able to simplify this formation for use was the true reflection of a sect's foundational strength in formations.
However, these had nothing to do with the current Five Elements Sect anymore...
The Chief Elder sighed, then immediately flipped to the formation drawn by Mo Hua. After one glance, his hands involuntarily trembled...
Sect Leader Chu and the Old Ancestor of the Shen Family noticed the Chief Elder's unusual behavior and also looked over, their gazes moving from his astonished expression to the formation in his hands, causing both their hearts to shake and their brows to furiously twitch.
Ten patterns!
An Ultimate Formation?
Could this young lad truly draw an Ultimate Formation?!
And it was not a simplified Ultimate Formation.
It was the real deal, not a single line amiss, an Ultimate Formation containing ten Formation Patterns!
All three of their expressions grew solemn.
"Is this... an Ultimate Formation?"
"First-grade with ten patterns, undoubtedly an Ultimate Formation."
"What kind of Ultimate Formation?"
Sect Leader Chu frowned, "Our Formation Mysterious Sect doesn't have this kind of inheritance; I can't recognize it..."
The Chief Elder and Old Ancestor of the Shen Family were also puzzled.
The Old Ancestor of the Shen Family transmitted with Divine Sense, his voice trembling:
"To be able to draw a first-grade formation with ten patterns, doesn't that mean that this youngster, despite having only Qi-refining cultivation, possesses Foundation Establishment Divine Sense?"
Sect Leader Chu was extremely startled.
There are great limits in the cultivation path.
A Qi-refining cultivator refines Qi for Spiritual Power, solidifies Qi for Divine Sense; these are the shackles of the Heavenly Dao.
In his whole life, he had never seen a Qi-refining cultivator possess Divine Sense at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
At most, he had only heard of it.
And it was the kind of hearsay that bordered on legend.
After a moment of contemplation, the Chief Elder shook his head, "Not necessarily..."
"How so?" Sect Leader Chu asked.
The Chief Elder frowned and pondered, "The realm of Qi Refinement, Divine Sense of Foundation Establishment, how could that be so easily achieved? Even Mr. Zhuang of years past, with his exceptional talent, never broke through in Divine Sense..."
"I guess, this young cultivator can draw a first-grade formation with ten patterns because, like Mr. Zhuang, he has learned that inheritance!"
The Old Ancestor of the Shen Family couldn't help but ask, "What inheritance?"
The Chief Elder's gaze turned serious, "The supreme inheritance of the Innate Formations that can integrate all the origins of formations, to understand one is to understand them all!"
Both Sect Leader Chu and the Old Ancestor of the Shen Family gasped.
The Chief Elder's heart also sank.
He had misjudged!
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He had previously thought this Junior Formation Master was merely someone Mr. Zhuang had used to set the stage, and even as a first-grade Formation Master, his strength was just somewhat strong and might not even be highly regarded by Mr. Zhuang.
Now it seemed, he was greatly mistaken!
This Junior Formation Master had a profound mastery of formations, an immense strength in formation arts!
Even, he might have been taught that orthodox and supreme inheritance of Innate Formations by Mr. Zhuang!
It showed that this Junior Formation Master was highly favored by Mr. Zhuang.
And this Junior Formation Master was merely the junior-most disciple; above him, there was a pair of senior brother and sister.
If he could draw a first-grade formation with ten patterns, what about his senior brother and sister?
Could they draw eleven patterns, or even... twelve patterns?
The Chief Elder broke into a cold sweat.
No wonder that Mr. Zhuang was so arrogant!
He truly had the capital to be arrogant.
Sitting down below, Mo Hua, seeing their hesitance, then inquired, "How is it?"
The Chief Elder's mouth twitched slightly, a bitter tone in his voice:
"Chu Xuan's drawn formation, the Dry Wood Reviving Spring Formation, a peak of a first-grade with nine patterns..."
"Mo Hua's drawn formation, a first-grade with ten patterns..."
"Mo Hua... wins."
First-grade with ten patterns?!
Chu Xuan, who had thought the victory was in his grasp, immediately stood up, looking at Mo Hua in disbelief.
The other disciples were also abuzz with discussion:
"Isn't a first-grade just nine patterns, how can there be a formation with ten?"
"You don't even know this?"
"You must be from the Five Elements Sect..."
"Forget learning formations..."
"A first-grade with ten patterns is an Ultimate Formation, an extraordinary formation that is generally unattainable."
"But isn't he just Qi-refined, how can he learn a ten-pattern formation?"
"How would I know?"
"Why don't you go ask?"
A disciple whispered, "Didn't you see the Chief Elder's face? It looked like a pig's kidney, he's obviously not happy. Who would dare ask at this time and risk stirring him up?"
"You're dead meat now, the Chief Elder is a Golden Core, he must have heard what you said..."
The disciple's face turned white, covering his face with a sleeve, hoping the Chief Elder wouldn't see him.
...
Chu Xuan was overwhelmed with emotions, his face showing defeat and reluctance, but at last, he let out a sigh, shed off the pride he had on his face, and respectfully gave Mo Hua a bow.
Mo Hua returned the gesture, nodding silently in his heart.
This Chu Xuan, he had a good temperament, indeed had the potential to be crafted.
Amidst some noise in the Formation Pavilion, and after a while when things settled down a bit, Mo Hua began to soul-searchingly inquire:
"What's next?"