Chapter 6 Inviting the Enemy into the Trap

After Chen Li finished refining the grain dispelling pill, he paused his Alchemy work because he was startled awake by a dream he had while resting.

In the dream, after Zhang An was trapped, when he was attacked by five people, he was actually wearing a Third-grade yellow iron armor!

Although the group shattered the yellow iron armor, Zhang An was injured but did not die; most of the damage was absorbed by the yellow iron armor. In the end, he broke the Formation and fell into a bitter fight. Four Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators ultimately could not defeat a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Everyone lost their lives except Chen Li, who managed to escape successfully by relying on the Formation.

This dream felt too real; upon waking, he still felt like he was running, and he even touched his neck to check if it was still there.

Regardless of how real this dream was, it was unreliable without damage comparable to a Foundation Establishment level attack.

Thus, he had no choice but to take out his Master's books on Fourth Grade Formation Arrays: "Summary of Mid-stage Formation Pattern Engraving," "Optimal Selection of Mid-stage Formation Array Chess Pieces and Rods," and "Optimal Method for Arranging Mid-stage Formations."

These Formations were passed down from his Master's Master. These Mid-stage Formations included the majority of Fourth Grade Formations and a small number of Fifth-grade Formations.

As an outstanding Formation graduate from the Sect, he had stored a large number of First and Second-grade Formations when he left the Sect. He had one set of Spirit Trapping Formation, one set of Third-grade Defensive Formation Array, and one set of Third-grade Earth Attribute Attack Formation.

There was also the Third-grade Wood Attribute Attack Array he made himself after leaving. As for the Fourth and Fifth-grade Formations, his Master had sold them all to buy vitality replenishing pill, leaving him only a small amount of Spirit Stones and a crate full of Formation books.

Generally speaking, for a Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator to be able to engrave Third-grade Formation Patterns was already considered a once-in-a-century Genius.

The profoundness of Formation Patterns lies in communicating with the rules of heaven and earth during engraving, allowing the pattern links to connect with the rules of the Formation of heaven and earth.

Therefore, it was a bit too strenuous for a Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator to attempt engraving Fourth-grade Formation Patterns. When one's cultivation is insufficient, communicating with the rules of heaven and earth is difficult, often leading to the feeling of spiritual power being completely depleted.

So, he wanted to wait until the Late Stage Qi Refining to attempt engraving, but he couldn't wait now. People are forced into action; in a word, damn it!

Ten days later, inside the Immortal Cave, a pile of blueprints was scattered on the floor; they were all draft manuscripts of Fourth-grade Formation Pattern engravings.

Chen Li was disheveled and looked utterly defeated. Comprehending these Fourth-grade Formation Patterns and engraving samples in such a short time was like solving the final calculus problem of the college entrance exam in ten minutes.

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't know anything, but the key was that he knew a little and had some direction. That feeling of being just a little short of proving it kept dangling him. Now, after ten days of non-stop work, he finally drew out the complete sample of the Fourth-grade Attack Formation Pattern.

He finally understood why his Master could go into seclusion for five or six years without concerning himself with the outside world just to engrave a Fifth-grade Formation Pattern—that moment of comprehension was too intoxicating.

Chen Li shouted, releasing the pent-up frustration in his heart, "Hahaha, this Old Ancestor is simply the Genius among Formation geniuses! Comprehending Fourth-grade Formation Patterns in ten days, who else can compare?"

However, the hardest part was still engraving it onto the Formation rod and communicating with heaven and earth so that the Formation pattern could operate within this world.

But he didn't have the Formation rods and chess pieces that could withstand the Law communication of Fourth-grade Formation Patterns with heaven and earth! Moreover, he couldn't afford them right now.

And time was short; he couldn't buy them in a short period. So, he changed his approach. He took out the Third-grade Wood Attribute Attack Array and upgraded it to above 3.5 Grade. As long as it could unleash the full power of an Early Foundation Establishment Stage strike, it would be considered perfect.

Generally, if a true Fourth-grade Attack Formation struck a Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator squarely, they would still be injured. An Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator would not dare to take the hit and could only dodge.

For a Fifth-grade Formation, even a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator would be severely wounded, if not killed, after taking one hit.

Half a month later, a loud bang erupted from Black Magpie Mountain. He had finally refined this Third-grade Wood Attribute Attack Array to its extreme, naming it: "3.8th Grade Wood Attribute Attack Array." If he tried to refine it further, the Formation rod and chess pieces could not bear it.

The test result showed it possessed the full power of an Early Foundation Establishment Stage strike!

Refining the 3.8th Grade Wood Attribute Attack Array required incorporating key lines of Fourth-grade Formation Patterns on top of the original foundation. During engraving, his spirit had to remain highly focused.

Therefore, refining it with his Mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation often caused his spiritual power to deplete. In just half a month, he had to replenish six hundred Spirit Stones and a bottle of vitality replenishing pill, torturing him to the point of near-death. His cultivation was still too low.

If he were at Foundation Establishment, he could finish it in one hour! However, because his cultivation was insufficient, activating this Formation each time required an additional three hundred Spirit Stones.

Damn it, next time we team up, I'm definitely not working with these people. They have no money; they are too poor. Only I have the full set of gear.

...

A few more days passed, and autumn arrived. At the small pavilion on Baifeng Mountain, the six people gathered again. The Luo Family's Eighth Level of Qi Refining Old Ancestor was present, and the plan was further perfected.

First, the Luo Family's Eighth Level of Qi Refining Old Ancestor would lure Zhang An to the Thousand Leaf Forest between Yunan Prefecture and Yuanwu Prefecture. Second, after luring him there, the Luo Family Old Ancestor would first use the Third-grade Bewitching Powder, followed immediately by activating the Third-grade Spirit Trapping Formation. Then, the Luo Family Old Ancestor would self-destruct, while the Anyun King, Chen, and the Fourth Families would simultaneously launch their strongest attacks.

After explaining the plan, the Luo Family Head personally taught the Anyun King, Chen, and the Fourth Families the Third-grade Illusionary Form Technique. After teaching the technique, under the atmosphere of the Luo Family Old Ancestor's resolute will to sacrifice himself, everyone treated the matter with extreme seriousness. As they dispersed, they carried an undeniable tension and killing aura.

...

Ten days flew by. They received accurate news that Zhang An had arrived in Yunan Prefecture for a banquet. After the three-day feast concluded, he would return. Chen Li brought his equipment and rushed to Thousand Leaf Forest to assemble.

At Thousand Leaf Forest, the five people had already arrived. Chen Li began setting up the Formation. The fluid and natural operation as Chen Li deployed the 3.8 Grade Wood Attribute Attack Array amazed the other families, who exclaimed how skillful he was.

One end of the Second-grade Teleportation Array was at the small pavilion on Baifeng Mountain, which had been set up a few days prior.

The escape end of the Teleportation Array was set to self-destruct after use. The Luo Family Head was responsible for receiving the other end. If the array did not send someone back after three days, the Luo Family Head would notify the other three families to flee quickly and preserve their lineage to establish an Immortal Clan elsewhere.

Because traveling from Yunan Prefecture to Yuanwu Prefecture required passing through Yuyu Mountain, and Thousand Leaf Forest was only five li away from Yuyu Mountain. This location was a dense forest and fortunately outside the Divine Sense range of an Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator.

"Everyone rest assured, this Luo will burn his vital blood to lure him over." After setting up the specific location for the Spirit Trapping Formation and informing the Luo Family Old Ancestor, the Luo Family Old Ancestor immediately went to Yuyu Mountain to stake out a position.

At this time, only four people remained at Thousand Leaf Forest. Except for Chen Li, the other three were visibly tense around him. The difference between making a plan and actually reaching this stage was clearly significant. The four people didn't even exchange pleasantries; they stood silently waiting.

As the three days approached, the tense atmosphere at Thousand Leaf Forest had solidified. Meanwhile, at Yuyu Mountain, Zhang An was flying slowly on his sword, bringing along a servant at the Qi Refining First Layer behind him.

"Old Ancestor, the Wu Family in Yunan Prefecture has three Foundation Establishment cultivators. Foundation Establishment Immortal Clans from the neighboring five prefectures have come to offer congratulations. This is truly magnificent!"

"Hehe, in another hundred years, the name of the Zhang Family of Yuanwu will also be known. The first step is to return immediately and urge them to offer tribute!"

"The Old Ancestor is wise!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a Flying Sword pierced through the servant at the Qi Refining First Layer. Zhang An only reacted when the servant fell from the sword.

"Who is it? Come out!" Zhang An immediately adopted a combat stance and swept his Divine Sense across the vicinity.

The Luo Family Old Ancestor, who was using the Illusionary Form Technique, revealed himself. Ignoring Zhang An, he spoke to the servant's corpse with an extremely arrogant attitude: "A mere Qi Refining First Layer servant dared to speak disrespectfully to me at the banquet. Aren't you just a dog belonging to some incompetent Foundation Establishment cultivator? I will kill you today."

After saying that, he immediately fled toward Thousand Leaf Forest.

Zhang An swept his Divine Sense over the area within a li and, finding only the presence of the Eighth Level of Qi Refining cultivator, breathed a sigh of relief.

Hearing the Luo Family Old Ancestor's explanation of the "Karma," he lowered his guard. He had considered the possibility of a conspiracy, but he truly could not conceive of any plot.

Thus, he became furious. If news spread that his Zhang Family servant was killed in front of him by an Eighth Level of Qi Refining cultivator, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Zhang Family didn't dare to retaliate, how could he maintain any face in Yuanwu Prefecture? If the Qi Refining Immortal Clans below found out, wouldn't chaos erupt? He immediately gave chase on his sword!

The Luo Family Old Ancestor, who had already fled a li away, saw Zhang An pursuing him and a sinister smile curled on his lips.