177: Reach the summit

Formation techniques all share the same underlying logic.

Chu Yuan believed that they were nothing more than constraints on energy and the utilization of Law... essentially, a tool?

They allowed beings who had not reached a certain level or mastered certain means to unleash unique power.

The biggest difference between Martial Dao Formations and Immortal Dao Formations was the difference in levels.

It was like the difference between the world's first, most ancient, massive computer and a later personal handheld computer.

But the principles were no different.

Comparing the Spirit Gathering Array to the Energy Gathering Array, both still gathered energy, just with a more comprehensive range of energy types.

Comparing the Blood Sea Soul Locking Formation to the Blood Sacrifice Grand Array, both still involved the Blood Sacrifice of living beings, just with higher efficiency and greater purity in refining.

Master Lu's insights on Formations were similarly organized in a very orderly, structured manner.

They progressed from simple to profound, layer by layer, using many basic Formations as examples to break down the principles within them.

Compared to Elder Zhao Zheng's notes, which were written wherever his thoughts wandered, this could practically be used as a textbook.

Furthermore, there were not so many conjectures; it was straightforward and direct.

Chu Yuan felt that if someone could fully grasp it, even without great Comprehension Ability, they could become a qualified Formation Master.

But what surprised him even more was that Master Lu's insights on Formations could actually trigger a reaction from the System?

[ ... Converted: 《Detailed Explanation of Basic Formation Dao》! ]

After the surprise came confusion.

Since both were Cultivation insights, why could Master Lu's Formation insights be converted by the System, while Elder Zhao Zheng's insights on the use of Mental Energy could not?

Was the System discriminating?

The latter's level was theoretically higher than the former.

Or was it because Master Lu's Formation insights were organized more rigorously, and thus classified by the System under the category of Cultivation Technique?

Chu Yuan thought about it for a long time and finally concluded that this was the reason.

He didn't dwell on it any further; it was an unexpected bonus anyway.

"Chu Yuan, I have heard of you."

On the spacious arena, the young man in tight-fitting martial attire had a complex expression, appearing somewhat embarrassed and annoyed: "The strength of your batch of students is indeed good, but aren't you too impatient?"

"Having just passed the Puppet trial, you come to challenge me?"

Shendu Martial Academy had a deep foundation; the first and eighth places on the ranking list were both fourth-year students at Shendu Martial Academy.

And this person was exactly Ren Yuan, ranked eighth.

He felt he was being treated like a soft persimmon.

Even though the freshmen of this year had participated in that Jianmu Project, he had also encountered constant opportunities during his years at Shendu Martial Academy.

Was this junior so impatient to step on him to rise up?

At the very least, he had been Cultivating for three years longer than Chu Yuan.

Chu Yuan did not know Ren Yuan had so much inner drama, and of course, even if he did, he wouldn't care.

He explained: "I originally wanted to challenge Gu Yu, but it just so happened that he was in seclusion..."

Ren Yuan was stunned for a moment, having trouble wrapping his head around it.

What did that mean? He wasn't good enough for him?

Because the first-place student was in seclusion, he had to choose him, the eighth-place student?

"Before, I only knew that among you freshmen, there was someone named Pang Long who was very arrogant; I didn't expect there to be someone even more arrogant... You are much crazier than him!" Ren Yuan's face sank: "Don't say this senior didn't take care of you, you go first."

He had already decided to teach this ignorant freshman a lesson.

One could not inflict fatal blows in the ranking battles, but one could use heavy force, precisely to prevent people from treating strong experts as sparring partners if the cost was too low, challenging them time and time again.

It was the first time Chu Yuan had heard someone make such a request, and for a moment, he was not used to it.

Before, he was either attacked first or fought as soon as he saw someone... when had he ever been treated so politely?

"Then... I won't stand on ceremony?" Chu Yuan gripped ink shadow...

Ren Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly. Although he had given Chu Yuan the chance to go first to show the demeanor of a senior, he did not intend to be careless.

However, his attention was entirely focused on Chu Yuan, so he did not notice the slight commotion among the onlookers outside the arena...

"Walk, walk, let's disperse."

"Sigh, can't he just go all out from the start? What's with 'you go first'... what is he posturing for?"

"I thought I could see Chu Yuan get humbled today... tsk."

"This guy named Ren Yuan is so majestic; only at the Fifth Realm and he's already this arrogant, daring to let Chu Yuan go first. If he becomes the number one in the ranking battle, would he dare to let Chu Yuan have three moves?"

A fourth-year female student curiously grabbed a male student who was about to leave.

"Hey classmate, is that Chu Yuan really that strong? Being so highly praised by you guys?"

The male student was initially impatient, but when he turned to see the senior sister's appearance, he immediately regained his patience.

He said mysteriously: "Senior sister, I haven't fought him myself... but this guy, in a Secret Realm before, relied on a large Formation and a boiling source pill, and was able to fight a Sixth Realm Martial Artist head-on!"

"The Sixth Realm!?" The girl was shocked, then noticed the keyword: "A boiling source pill!? He looks like this... he doesn't look like he took a boiling source pill?"

The boy curled his lips: "He has good talent and made a great contribution... so some big shot treated him, that's all."

"... Even so, that was relying on external force, right? Now he doesn't have a large Formation to use..."

"Then let me tell you one more thing, he accumulated over forty thousand military merit in one month on the Outer Heaven Battlefield!"

"This..." The girl wanted to find words to refute.

She was a classmate of Ren Yuan, so naturally, she hoped Ren Yuan would win.

Moreover, she was also a fourth-year student, and she didn't want the fourth years to be stepped on by the first years... that would be too topsy-turvy.

"Look, wasn't he defeated in seconds?" The boy looked back, interrupting all the girl's thoughts.

She looked in the direction of the boy's gaze. Ren Yuan was already sitting on the ground in a sorry state, spitting blood continuously, with a dent in his chest, seemingly caused by the hilt of a sword...

"Many thanks... for showing mercy..."

Not knowing if it was because of the injury or shame and anger, Ren Yuan's face flushed red.

After dropping these words, he stumbled to his feet and squeezed through the crowd to leave...

"See, senior sister, you can't treat this guy Chu Yuan like a normal person." The boy sighed: "If senior sister is interested in him, why don't we have a meal together... I'll tell you about it in detail?"

Chu Yuan's mood didn't fluctuate either, only feeling that he was one step closer to the myriad law source liquid.

This kind of duel was actually meaningless, especially when the gap in strength between the two sides was too large.

Three days after challenging Ren Yuan, Gu Yu finished his Cultivation and sent someone to notify Chu Yuan.

He seemed to have known his ending long ago. After all, his competition with Ren Yuan hadn't been just for a day or two. Although there was a gap between them, it wasn't that big.

If Ren Yuan was defeated in seconds... could he gain any benefit?

People without self-awareness usually die the fastest...

Chu Yuan was a little surprised: "I didn't expect you to come out of seclusion so quickly..."

Gu Yu smiled: "I hate those fools who are incapable but still block the path; naturally, I won't become such a person."

Then he drew his blade, was defeated, and left nonchalantly.

Almost simultaneously, the ranking list updated, and Chu Yuan reached the summit.

[ PS: The cold is finally almost over, it was killing me; everyone must take care of their health, prevent the flu, and definitely don't catch a cold. ]