Chapter 71: The Formation Daoist
The arrival of the Frost Splendor Sect disciples was conducted with minimal fanfare. Wang Jie stood silently behind Jun Hua and Yu Dong, accompanied only by Ming Xu as a guard. The security presence was sparse, emphasizing the low-key nature of the occasion.
It wasn’t long before a futuristic aircraft glided into view, seamlessly blending technology with elegance. It hovered briefly outside the Imperial Palace before landing with precision. From its doors emerged two women, their attire no different from the stylish and refined fashion of Silver Radiance Imperial Capital. They were both strikingly beautiful.
“Yu Dong-jie! Jun Hua-jie!” One of the women called out excitedly, waving energetically.
Jun Hua and Yu Dong exchanged surprised glances. “Man Man?”
Before they could process the moment, Man Man had already rushed forward and embraced them tightly.
The other woman approached at a more measured pace, a composed smile gracing her lips.
Jun Hua held onto Man Man, still in disbelief. “Why is it you?”
Man Man grinned mischievously. “Didn’t see that coming, did you? I kept it a secret on purpose.”
Yu Dong flicked a finger against Man Man’s forehead. “You little troublemaker. We’ve spent days wondering what business Frost Splendor Domain had here.”
Man Man stuck out her tongue playfully before turning to her companion. “Do you recognize this senior sister?”
Jun Hua and Yu Dong turned their gazes to the other woman, but neither recognized her.
The Frost Splendor Sect was vast, comprising Three Peaks and Four Domains, with disciples as numerous as the stars. Even among the Inner Sect, where only a few hundred were accepted, it was impossible to know everyone.
Yu Dong narrowed her eyes, sensing something unusual. She couldn’t discern the woman’s cultivation, which meant only one thing—this woman was among the elite of the Inner Sect.
Without hesitation, she exchanged a glance with Jun Hua, then they both performed a respectful bow before Man Man could even introduce the stranger. “Yu Dong and Jun Hua pay respects to Senior Sister.”
Man Man blinked in confusion. “Yu Dong-jie, you don’t even know her. How do you know she’s your senior and not your junior?”
Jun Hua shot Man Man a warning look. “Don’t speak carelessly.”
Man Man merely giggled and took the woman’s hand. “Senior Sister Jin Chu is really kind, no need to be so formal.”
Both Jun Hua and Yu Dong’s expressions shifted drastically. “Jin Chu Senior Sister?”
“This is Senior Sister Jin Chu?”
Jin Chu met their gazes with a knowing smile. “It has been a long time, junior sisters.”
Jun Hua and Yu Dong immediately bowed again, their respect deepening. “We pay our respects to Senior Sister Jin Chu.”
Jin Chu gently lifted them up. “We are all from the same sect. No need for such formalities.”
She then turned her eyes toward Jun Hua. “Jun Hua, your Silver Radiance Empire is quite remarkable. The scenery is pleasant, and your Imperial Palace has a grandeur to it. How about giving me a tour?”
Jun Hua nodded quickly. “Of course. It is an honor for the Empire to host you, Senior Sister. Please, come inside.”
Jin Chu nodded and began walking, her presence commanding yet effortless.
Despite being the Emperor, Jun Hua naturally fell a step behind Jin Chu. That single step did not go unnoticed by Wang Jie. It revealed a deeper truth about the power dynamics of this universe.
The Silver Radiance Empire, home to billions, controlled vast territories. Blue Star was but a tiny, insignificant corner of its dominion. Yet even such a grand empire treated an Inner Sect Disciple from the Frost Splendor Sect with the utmost reverence. One could only imagine the magnitude of power wielded by the sect.
And yet, compared to the Armor One Sect, Frost Splendor Sect was but a distant outlier on the cosmic stage.
Following behind, Wang Jie listened to the women converse, their words detailing the sect’s daily life and experiences. But something felt off.
The more they spoke, the quieter their voices became. Though they were close, certain words became utterly inaudible, slipping beyond his perception.
He turned to Ming Xu, confused.
Ming Xu gave him a subtle smile and shook his head, eyes fixed forward in silent understanding.
Left with no choice, Wang Jie merely followed, unable to grasp the full exchange.
Soon after, they were dismissed, their presence no longer required.
For the next several days, Wang Jie received no further summons. He had returned from Slaughter Stone Planet believing he would meet disciples of the Frost Splendor Sect and broaden his knowledge, yet now they were nowhere to be seen.
Five days later, a summons finally came. He was called to the Imperial Palace, where Jun Hua awaited him alone.
The two female disciples from before were absent.
“Wang Jie, do you know of the Formation Dao?” Jun Hua asked.
Wang Jie shook his head.
Jun Hua smiled. “No matter. You don’t need prior knowledge. I have a task for you. If you complete it, you will be well rewarded—not just from the Silver Radiance Empire, but also from Frost Splendor Sect.”
Wang Jie had no idea what was being asked of him, but refusal was not an option. Since Jun Hua had spoken, he had no right to decline. “Your Majesty, please instruct me. I will do my utmost to complete the task.”
Jun Hua was pleased with his answer. Whatever connections Wang Jie might have had to the Armor One Sect were irrelevant. She had given him an opportunity, and now it was time for him to repay that kindness.
“In a few days, a Formation Daoist will arrive to construct a formation. Your job is to assist him, handling whatever menial tasks he assigns.”
“During this period, you are not to leave. You will remain in the Imperial Palace until I say otherwise.”
“Is that clear?”
A Formation Daoist?
Wang Jie nodded. “I understand.”
Returning to Accompanying Lake Residence, Wang Jie immediately began researching the Formation Dao.
It did not take long to uncover its mysteries. The Formation Dao was the art of weaving different cultivation forces together to amplify their power.
Some believed that all energy in the universe was derived from the same primordial source. If that were true, then all forms of power, regardless of strength, shared a fundamental connection. The role of a Formation Daoist was to uncover and harness these links.
They were scholars of cultivation, masters of arrangement and synergy.
Their status was exceptionally high. Many feats impossible to ordinary cultivators were trivial matters to a Formation Daoist.
The more Wang Jie read, the more astonished he became.
A new world had opened before him. The universe was not just about cultivators and technological civilizations—there existed entire disciplines dedicated to mastery beyond combat, such as Formation Dao, Alchemy Dao, and Forging Dao.
These were the professions of true cultivators.
“My lord, here is the new batch of sword tassels.” Cheng Qian entered, his voice calm and respectful.
Wang Jie did not turn his head. “Cheng Qian, are you familiar with the Formation Dao?”
Cheng Qian replied, “I have heard of it. Not only that, but I have seen it in action. Does my lord wish to know about the incident from two hundred years ago?”
Wang Jie frowned. “What incident?”
Cheng Qian hesitated before speaking. “Forgive me, my lord. I may have misunderstood.”
“Does it involve a Formation Daoist?”
Cheng Qian bowed. “Two hundred years ago, a cultivator who once suffered misfortune within the Silver Radiance Empire inadvertently became a Formation Daoist. Though his cultivation was merely at the Ten Seal level, he used the power of formations to bury two Star-Breaking Realm experts of the empire. Though he perished in the end, his actions drastically weakened the empire’s ranks. If not for the return of the Emperor, the empire would have been left with only Xuan as its lone powerhouse above the Star-Breaking Realm.”
Wang Jie was astonished. “Such a thing happened?”
“Yes, my lord. The Old General was away on his travels at the time and only returned in recent decades.”
Wang Jie ordered Cheng Qian to find records of the event, but the matter had been sealed by the Silver Radiance Empire. Even with the authority of the Accompanying Lake Residence, it remained inaccessible.
Even without seeing the details, just imagining a Ten Seal cultivator burying two Star-Breaking Realm experts was mind-boggling. Though the Silver Radiance Empire’s Star-Breaking experts might have been the weakest of their kind, they were still beyond the reach of an ordinary Ten Seal cultivator.
Wang Jie had never fought against a Star-Breaking Realm expert before, but he estimated that he could contend with one if he went all out—killing two, however, was another matter entirely.
After all, he had defeated Shu Mu Night, a prodigy renowned across the universe, while he was only at the Eight Seal level. A mere Ten Seal cultivator should not be capable of battling someone at the Star-Breaking Realm.
Was this the power of the Formation Dao?
At first, Wang Jie believed he was the only one assigned to the mission. However, over the next few days, he noticed something unusual.
Ming Xu had disappeared. No trace of him could be found.
Then, one by one, Ten Seal cultivators within the Imperial Palace Guard began vanishing as well. Even outside the Imperial Palace, numerous cultivators started to go missing, their whereabouts unknown.
Even with the authority of the Accompanying Lake Residence, Wang Jie could find no answers.
Slowly, a suspicion formed in his mind.
It seemed that he was not chosen for this mission due to his specific usefulness—but rather because there was no one else available. Something significant was brewing within the Silver Radiance Empire.
On the surface, everything appeared normal, but behind the scenes, preparations were underway for something grand.
Wang Jie ceased his investigations. There was nothing more he could uncover. He remained in the Accompanying Lake Residence, avoiding unnecessary movement, and continued refining his qi.
Then, after a dozen days, he received a direct transmission from Jun Hua, containing coordinates and a simple command:
Go there and receive the Formation Daoist.
Wang Jie boarded a private spaceship and set off.
Upon landing on a desolate planet, he spotted an old man with a thin mustache stepping off another ship. Hastily, Wang Jie approached and bowed deeply.
“This junior is Wang Jie, sent by imperial decree to welcome Senior.”
The man appeared to be in his fifties, his demeanor both proud and slightly unscrupulous. His mustache formed an exaggerated eight-shape above his lips, making for an almost comical sight.
“Hmm, a Ten Seal, huh?” the old man muttered.
“Yes, Senior.”
The elder sighed. “A Ten Seal from the Silver Radiance Empire… Well, it can’t be helped.”
He strolled toward Wang Jie’s spaceship, examining it with a scrutinizing gaze. “Your ship is quite decent.”
Wang Jie smiled. “If Senior likes it, please take it as a gift. It would be my honor.”
The old man glanced at Wang Jie and smirked. “Not bad. You have a good attitude, Wang Jie, was it?”
“Yes, Senior.”
“I am Mu Ran.”
Wang Jie praised, “A splendid name. As expected of a Formation Daoist Grandmaster, such a name truly befits your esteemed status.”
On Blue Star, Wang Jie had spent two years as a guide. A guide’s most essential skill was flattery—keeping the client pleased was a requirement, especially since he charged a high fee.
Mu Ran burst into laughter. “Hahaha! Let’s go.”
He boarded the ship as if he were its rightful owner. Wang Jie chuckled; the old man had already assumed command of the vessel.
The spaceship took off swiftly, breaking into the vast cosmos. Their destination remained known only to Mu Ran.
As they traveled, Mu Ran explored the ship, shaking his head. “It looks impressive from the outside, but the interior is quite average. I must have misjudged it. You can keep it.”
Wang Jie smiled. “If Senior requires a better vessel, I will immediately request the Emperor to commission a custom-built spaceship for you.”
Since Mu Ran hailed from the Frost Radiance Sect, Jun Hua would not be stingy in accommodating him.
Mu Ran waved dismissively. “Let’s focus on the task at hand.” He sat down, his eyes carrying a trace of arrogance as he studied Wang Jie. “Do you know what you need to do?”
Wang Jie shook his head. “I await Senior’s instructions.”
“Do you understand the Formation Dao?”
“I do not.”
Mu Ran snorted. “Such ignorance from a backwater place. You mean to say you know nothing at all?”
Wang Jie sighed. “This junior has spent his life in the fringes. If not for this imperial order, I would likely have never had the fortune to meet a Formation Daoist, let alone understand the Formation Dao. I fear I may not be able to follow Senior’s wisdom. Please, guide me.”
Mu Ran waved his hand. “Your attitude is commendable. I will teach you slowly. Just follow my instructions.”
“Many thanks, Senior.”
“Ignorance is acceptable, but pretending to understand when one does not is intolerable. Fortunately, you lack that flaw. Very well, let me give you a brief explanation.”
Mu Ran retrieved two Star-Sealing Stones from his storage ring. The black, glossy stones had irregular shapes, yet each facet, no matter its size, was as smooth as a mirror.
“This is a Star-Sealing Stone. It can store Star Force or other forms of power.”
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation