67: Chapter 67: The New Formation

When Xiao Yuan returned to the imperial capital stronghold, it was almost dawn.

Pushing open the door, he found the inside empty, without even a single figure.

Zhou Yuansheng, who was in charge of this place, and another Qi Condensation sixth layer Disciple had already been killed by him, and the Sect probably did not know yet that this place was now unmanned.

As for whether Luo Ziyan had transmitted the news here back, Xiao Yuan did not know either.

And it was impossible for him to transmit the matters of this place back, adding unnecessary trouble to himself.

He closed the door and entered the room in the backyard.

Sitting on the bed, his eyes flickered slightly.

Aside from matters concerning the earth-grade foundation establishment pill, he was now also very worried about Luo Ziyan's safety.

Zhou Yuansheng said she had fled, but where did she flee to? Return to the Sect? Or hide in some corner of the imperial capital?

Logically speaking, with such a big incident happening and six fellow Disciples dead, she should have reported to the Sect at the first instance.

Yet there was no movement at all from the Sect—either the news had not reached them yet, or...

Xiao Yuan did not dare to think further.

His risky exploration of the Yinsha Cult was not only for that earth-grade foundation establishment pill, but also to see if he could investigate news about Luo Ziyan from the Yinsha Cult.

But now, that lead with the Yinsha Cult was broken.

Now, only this stronghold was left; staying at the stronghold was also to see if he could encounter Luo Ziyan and re-explore the stronghold.

Yet days passed without seeing Luo Ziyan return. He inevitably felt a bit anxious in his heart.

Now, the only method was perhaps to go and investigate Prince Rongs Mansion.

But in a place like Prince Rongs Mansion, even if there were no Golden Core Cultivators, there would definitely be Peak Foundation Establishment ones.

With his bit of strength, charging in head-on was no different from sending himself to death.

"We must think of a foolproof plan..."

He sat up and pulled a pile of junk out from the Creation Cauldron Space.

There were broken Formation Flag fragments, the largest of which only had one-third left, and the smallest being a few charred cloth strips.

There were also three sets of first-rank supreme-grade Formations that had been refined using the creation cauldron at the Scrap Recycling Station previously.

Looking at this pile of junk, a sudden idea struck him:

"How about... throwing this first-rank Formation and the broken second-rank Formation together inside to refine them?"

He had never done this before and wanted to try it out!

Saying and doing it, he started immediately.

Xiao Yuan threw all the fragments of the second-rank Formation, along with the three complete sets of first-rank supreme-grade Formations, entirely into the creation cauldron in one go.

"creation cauldron, get to work!"

With a thought in his mind, the creation cauldron trembled slightly.

Five-colored light lit up, completely wrapping around those pieces of junk and complete Formations.

Xiao Yuan stared at the cauldron mouth, feeling somewhat apprehensive in his heart.

Would this work?

The gap between first-rank and second-rank was not small.

Moreover, those second-rank Formation Flags were already shattered into dregs; it would be good enough just to repair them, yet he still wanted to achieve Fusion and upgrade?

A hundred breaths later.

Hum——

The creation cauldron suddenly trembled, and a five-colored pillar of light soared straight into the sky!

Within the pillar of light, twelve brand-new Formation Flags slowly emerged, every single one gleaming with spiritual light and exuding an aura even stronger and more profound than before!

Xiao Yuan's eyes went straight.

He reached out to catch a set of Formation Flags, and his Divine Sense probed inside!

"Five Elements Inverted Heaven-Bewildering Absolute Killing Formation"! Second-rank High Grade!

Information about the Formation poured into his mind.

During this period of time, he had not cultivated Cultivation Techniques, but instead spent his time on miscellaneous studies, especially the Dao of Formations. Through the energy of the creation cauldron, he assisted himself in cultivation, and his current attainment in Formations had reached at least the second-rank Medium Grade.

It was even close to High Grade; therefore, he was able to instantly understand the power of the Formation.

After being condensed, the power of the Formation had actually increased severalfold. If someone in the Foundation Establishment Stage was trapped within it, it would be very hard to break free. Even for Peak Foundation Establishment, it could trap them for an hour or two.

If he urged the Formation's lethal moves with full force, Early Foundation Establishment could not withstand even half a cup of tea's time!

Middle Stage Foundation Establishment would definitely die within a cup of tea's time!

Late Foundation Establishment Stage also had a seventy percent chance of being beheaded!

Even for Peak Foundation Establishment, as long as it was operated properly, there was a chance to kill them!

Holding this set of Formation Flags, Xiao Yuan's hands were trembling.

"Damn it...!"

He did not expect that condensing the remaining second-rank Medium Grade Formation Flags together with the three sets of first-rank supreme-grade Formation Flags would bring such a pleasant surprise.

A second-rank High Grade Formation! It could kill the Late Foundation Establishment Stage! It had a chance to kill Peak Foundation Establishment!

If he had this set of Formation Flags last night, that Middle Stage Foundation Establishment guy, even if he had swallowed his companion's essential blood and greatly increased his strength, would still have had a chance of being killed by him.

There would have been no need to detonate the Formation at all!

However, although the unexpected joy excited him, but...

He lowered his head to look at the creation cauldron.

Inside the cauldron, the originally abundant five-colored energy now only had a thin layer left, almost hitting rock bottom.

Xiao Yuan: "..."

He felt as if his heart was bleeding.

The energy he had saved up for so long... was completely gone...

Those energies were slowly accumulated through his Dual Cultivation with Su Li, "charging up" with Ye Qingcen, and the Five Elements Rotation! He had always been frugal with it, reluctant to even use it when he would Cultivate!

As a result, repairing a Formation wiped it all out!

He sighed and put away the Formation Flags. Thinking to himself, it seemed he had to find an opportunity to replenish his energy.

Nowadays, every time he saw the creation cauldron's energy hitting rock bottom, he would panic a little!

But on second thought, being able to condense such a powerful Formation made him feel it was worth it after all!

...

Prince Rongs Mansion was located in the most bustling area in the east of the imperial capital.

Xiao Yuan squatted at a tea stall across the street, holding a bowl of coarse tea, while his eyes kept glancing over there.

With red walls and green tiles, it was a high-gated and prestigious mansion. Eight saber-wielding guards stood at the entrance, every single one of them exuding a fierce aura.

People entering and exiting all had to verify their tokens, and the inspections were extremely strict.

"Tsk, this defense..." Xiao Yuan took a sip of tea, his brow furrowing, "Charging in forcibly definitely won't work."

Just as he was pondering, a commotion came from the street corner.

"I'm begging you! That is the ration money for my whole family!"

An old man dressed in tattered clothes knelt on the ground, hugging the leg of a person who looked like a manservant, weeping with old tears streaming down his face.

That manservant was in his twenties, with a big, fat head and big ears, wearing a satin outfit and a face full of fierce flesh.

He kicked the old man away, weighed the money pouch in his hand, and sneered,

"Old thing, I've given you face, haven't I? This month's wages will be kept safe by yours truly! If you yell again, I'll break your legs!"

The old man was kicked until he tumbled over, lying on the ground unable to get up, and could only cry wailing.

The surrounding passersby watched from afar, and no one dared to step forward.

Xiao Yuan narrowed his eyes.

That manservant wore the servant attire of Prince Rongs Mansion, and a waist token hung from his waist.

"I was just worrying about having no opportunity..." A cold smile hooked at the corners of his mouth.

Setting down the tea bowl, he silently followed.

After kicking the old man, the manservant hummed a little tune as he walked into the alley, seemingly taking a shortcut.

Just as he turned into the alley, his vision suddenly went black!

"Mm——!"

A hand covered his mouth from behind, clamping him down like iron pliers so that he couldn't move at all.

"Don't make a sound, make a sound and you die." A cold voice sounded beside his ear.

The manservant was so frightened that he was almost pissing himself, nodding frantically.

Xiao Yuan dragged him deep into the alley and threw him on the ground.

"You, who are you?! I am a person from Prince Rongs Mansion! My uncle is the mansion's steward! If you dare to touch me, you're dead!" The manservant blustered and clamored.

Xiao Yuan couldn't be bothered to talk nonsense with him and struck his forehead with a single palm.

Soul Search Technique activated!

The manservant's whole body stiffened, his eyes instantly became vacant, and a "he-he" sound came out of his mouth.

Countless memory fragments poured into Xiao Yuan's mind:

Wang Sanpang, ordinary person, twenty-three years old, garden steward of Prince Rongs Mansion.

Relying on his uncle being the chief steward of the mansion, Wang Gui, he ran amok in the imperial capital, bullying men and women, committing every imaginable crime.

The old man just now was responsible for dumping nightsoil for the mansion; today when wages were settled, he snatched it away on the side, preparing to go to the gambling den to win back his losses.

This guy had at least a dozen human lives in his hands, all of which were commoners who couldn't survive after being bullied by him.

Xiao Yuan withdrew his hand, his eyes as cold as ice.

"Scum like this isn't enough to die a hundred times."

He shattered the opponent's forehead with a single palm, then stripped off Fatty Wang's clothes and put them on his own body.

Then he flicked out a fireball spell, burning the corpse into ashes.

The ashes were blown by the wind, scattering completely clean.

In the alley, only Xiao Yuan was left alone.