401: Chapter 336: Though Defeated, Still Glorious; Daoist Master's True Inheritance Gifts Array Diagram

The final sliver of light from the projection of Jinao Island slowly dissipated within the Void Realm.

Dao Xuanzhen stood amidst the fading light and shadow, his green Daoist robe fluttering in the aftershocks of the battlefield. His face beneath the purple-gold crown was as calm as water, without a hint of a loser's dejection. Behind him, the figures of the Daoist Disciples dissolved into points of light along with Jinao Island, returning to the preparation space of the Honghuang Academy Second Team.

But he himself did not leave immediately.

He simply hovered there in the Void Realm, beneath him the wreckage of the collapsing [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array], and before him the still-circulating five-colored halo of Lin Zhou's [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]. The confrontation between the two great Formations had ended, but the "dialogue" between the two Formation Great Masters seemed to have just begun.

Lin Zhou was in no hurry to retract his Formation either. He signaled the others to remain on guard while he stepped out of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] to meet Dao Xuanzhen alone.

The distance of three hundred kilometers rapidly shortened as the two approached each other simultaneously.

Fifty kilometers... thirty kilometers... ten kilometers...

Finally, the two stood facing each other in the Void Realm, separated by less than a hundred meters.

For True God-level experts, this distance was practically face-to-face. If either side made an unusual move, the other could react in an instant. But at this moment, neither had any intention of fighting.

Dao Xuanzhen spoke first, his voice peaceful and tinged with emotion: "Fellow Daoist Lin Zhou, your [Scroll of Civilization] can fold space; this was indeed beyond my expectations. I set a trapping Formation, thinking I had locked you down completely, but I didn't expect you to instead exploit the 'contraction gap' of the Formation."

Lin Zhou shook his head: "Fellow Daoist, you overpraise me. If you hadn't first used 'admitting defeat' as bait to lure me deep in, I wouldn't have been able to unfold the scroll at such a close distance. In this round, we were both gambling. It's just that I won the bet."

Dao Xuanzhen was slightly stunned, then chuckled: "You're quite humble about your achievements. Clearly your tactics were superior, yet you say you 'won the bet'."

"Tactics are also a gamble," Lin Zhou said frankly. "Gambling that the opponent will act according to one's predictions. You predicted I would let down my guard after you 'admitted defeat', while I predicted you would reveal a flaw when the 'trapping Formation' contracted. We were both predicting each other, mine was just a bit more accurate."

"A bit more accurate?" Dao Xuanzhen smiled bitterly. "It was far more than that. You captured the vibrational gap of the Formation within 0.5 seconds, and within those 0.5 seconds, you completed the space folding, troop deployment, and decapitation strike. I cannot hope to match such timing capability."

He paused, a flicker of seriousness in his eyes: "More importantly, the words you said during our discussion on the Dao—'Innate as the foundation, Acquired as the application, the use of the Formation lies in the person'—truly touched me. I will reflect on them deeply after I return."

Lin Zhou nodded slightly, saying nothing more.

For a moment, both fell silent.

In the void battlefield, only the faint shimmer of the five-colored halo of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] remained, along with the scattered golden specks of the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array] wreckage being cleared by the tournament System in the distance.

"Fellow Daoist Lin Zhou," Dao Xuanzhen suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, "though we are enemies, I have benefited greatly from today's battle. Especially your 'Way of the Acquired', which showed me another possibility for Formations."

He took out a simple, ancient scroll from his sleeve. The scroll was dark gold, its surface flowing with complex Formation runes and Dao seals, with the five large ancient seal script characters for "Nine-Bend Yellow River Array" faintly visible.

"This is the Incomplete Manual of the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array] Formation map." Dao Xuanzhen held the scroll in his palm. "Though it is only an Incomplete Manual, it contains a sliver of the principles of Innate Formations. Today I was defeated by your hand and have no way to repay you. I give this Formation map to you as a... gift for our exchange."

Lin Zhou's brow twitched slightly: "Fellow Daoist, we are neither friends nor kin. If you give me this Formation map, are you not afraid I will use its secrets to deal with Honghuang Academy in the future?"

Dao Xuanzhen smiled indifferently: "If you can use this map to deduce a method to counter Innate Formations, that is your skill. Furthermore..." A deep meaning flashed in his eyes, "if your 'Way of the Acquired' can fuse with a sliver of 'Innate principles', perhaps you can go even further. I give you this map not for you to 'deal with' Honghuang Academy, but for you to 'perfect' your own Dao."

"The struggle of the Way of Formations is not a struggle of life and death. Innate and Acquired are not irreconcilable. If they can learn from and fuse with each other, perhaps a brand new path can be forged."

Lin Zhou was silent for a moment before reaching out to take the scroll.

The moment the scroll entered his hand, the Temple of Civilization vibrated slightly, sending out a joyful resonance. He could feel that the "Innate formation principles" contained in this map had a strong complementarity with his "Acquired Way of the Hundred Schools."

[Obtained: Nine-Bend Yellow River Array Formation Map Incomplete Manual (Epic Grade/Legacy Item)]

- Content: Records partial Formation maps, Formation principles, and a sliver of the Innate Formation Origin of the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array].

- Effects:

1. Allows learning basic Formation principles of the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array], increasing Formation attainment.

2. Allows analyzing "Innate formation principles" to fuse with the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], increasing Formation quality.

3. Can be decomposed into "Innate Formation Rune Shards" to strengthen existing Formation-type cards.

- Current Status: 38% Completeness (Incomplete Manual, requires further collection of other shards to restore the full Formation).

- Special Note: This Formation map contains a sliver of the Heavenly Dao Mark; meditating on it provides a weak "Heavenly Dao Resonance" effect (Comprehension Ability +10%, lasts until the end of meditation).

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist." Lin Zhou solemnly placed the scroll into his Divine Kingdom's core, to be kept by the Temple of Civilization.

Dao Xuanzhen waved his hand: "No need for thanks. By evolving the Vạn Tượng Formation through Way of Civilization, you have already grasped the true meaning of Formations. This scroll is more valuable in your hands than in mine."

He looked up at the slowly closing battlefield space and said softly: "It's about time. Fellow Daoist Lin Zhou, until we meet again."

"Until we meet again," Lin Zhou cupped his hands.

Dao Xuanzhen took one last look at the circulating five-colored halo of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], a hint of lingering attachment flashing in his eyes, before his body turned into a streak of green light and vanished into the void.

[Honghuang Academy Second Team Captain Dao Xuanzhen — Withdrawn.]

[Battlefield space will close in thirty seconds, please Xinghai University team prepare for withdrawal.]

Lin Zhou returned to the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array], and the others immediately surrounded him.

"Captain, what did that kid give you?" Wang Meng leaned in curiously, his eyes fixed on the Formation map Incomplete Manual in Lin Zhou's hand.

"The Incomplete Manual of the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array] Formation map." Lin Zhou showed the scroll briefly before putting it away. "It contains a sliver of Innate formation principles; it's worth a fortune."

"He actually gave his own family's Formation map to you?" Zhao Hao looked incredulous. "Isn't that aiding the enemy?"

"He said it's to make my 'Dao' more perfect," Lin Zhou said calmly. "Innate and Acquired are not naturally irreconcilable. If they can fuse, perhaps a new path can be forged."

Qin Qing said thoughtfully: "This Daoist True Disciple is quite an open-minded person. He wasn't angry after losing, but instead gave a gift. He has quite the breadth of mind."

"Indeed." Lin Zhou nodded. "Though he lost, he didn't lose in strength, but in his 'heart'. His Dao Heart was shaken by my discussion on the Dao. If he can use this opportunity to re-stabilize it, his future achievements will be limitless."

Su Yueyao's moonlight projection stood quietly to the side and asked softly: "Do you really intend to use that Formation map?"

"Of course." A sharp light flashed in Lin Zhou's eyes. "But not by copying it blindly. I will use The Way of the Hundred Schools to analyze the Innate principles within and then fuse them into the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]. Acquired as the primary, Innate as the secondary, taking the best of both."

He looked at everyone: "Though we won this battle, it also exposed many problems. The logic for changing the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array] isn't smooth enough, and there's room for optimization in energy distribution. Next, we must use this Formation map to further perfect our Formation."

"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.

[Battlefield space closure countdown: ten, nine, eight...]

Lin Zhou took one last look in the direction Dao Xuanzhen had disappeared and thought silently: 'Fellow Daoist, thank you for letting me win today. If there is a chance in the future, I would like to discuss the Way of Formations with you again.'

With a flash of white light, all members of the Xinghai University team were teleported back to the preparation space.

[Xinghai University Team — Successfully advanced to the Top 25!]

[The next round of drawing will take place in twenty-four hours, please all teams prepare.]

Upon returning to the preparation space, Lin Zhou immediately handed the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array Formation Map Incomplete Manual] to Li Mo for preliminary analysis.

Li Mo's projection took the scroll, excitement flashing in his eyes: "Captain, this is good stuff! Even though it's only 38% complete, the 'Innate formation runes' and 'Heavenly Dao Mark' within are of immense reference value for our [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]."

"How long until preliminary analysis is complete?" Lin Zhou asked.

"Give me twelve hours," Li Mo said confidently. "In twelve hours, I can extract the Innate formation runes from the map and convert them into a data model we can use."

"Good." Lin Zhou nodded. "In twelve hours, we begin the Fusion and optimization."

He turned to look at Qin Qing: "Qin Qing, you are responsible for optimizing the Legalist formation eye. Dao Xuanzhen's [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array] was far superior to ours in terms of 'trapping' and 'suppression'. You need to research how to combine the Legalist 'Net of Law' with the 'suppression' effects of Innate Formations."

Qin Qing nodded: "That was my intention. Although we broke Dao Xuanzhen's Formation, its 'One Qi Suppression' effect was indeed exquisite. If it can be fused with the Legalist 'definition of order', perhaps we can form an even stronger rule-based suppression."

"Wang Meng, Zhao Hao," Lin Zhou looked at the two, "your task is to coordinate with Li Mo for combat simulations. After the Formation is optimized, it will need practical testing. You will be responsible for playing the 'enemy forces' to test the trapping and suppression effects of the Formation."

"No problem!" Wang Meng patted his chest. "I'm best at being the 'enemy'."

Zhao Hao also nodded: "My Dragon Legion can simulate aerial raids to test the Formation's air defense capabilities."

"Yue Yao," Lin Zhou turned to Su Yueyao's moonlight projection, "your moonlight can assist us in perceiving the energy flow of the Formation. During the optimization process, I need you to help monitor the balance of energy distribution."

Su Yueyao nodded slightly: "Leave it to me."

Having assigned the tasks, Lin Zhou walked alone to a corner of the preparation space and sat cross-legged.

He closed his eyes, his mind sinking into the core of his Divine Kingdom.

Inside the Temple of Civilization, the [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array Formation Map Incomplete Manual] was hovering in the center of the sanctuary, being slowly scorched and analyzed by the Fire of Civilization. Within the flames, golden Formation runes were being stripped and purified, turning into pure data streams that merged into the sanctuary's database.

[Temple of Civilization · Analyzing...]

- Target: [Nine-Bend Yellow River Array Formation Map Incomplete Manual]

- Analysis Progress: 3%... 7%... 12%...

- Estimated Completion Time: 11 hours 47 minutes.

- Extractable Data:

1. Innate Formation Rune x12 (Can be used to strengthen existing Formation-type cards).

2. Heavenly Dao Mark x1 (Can temporarily increase Comprehension Ability for meditating on the Way of Formations).

3. Formation Core Logic (Can optimize the transformation logic of the [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array]).

Lin Zhou quietly felt the analysis process, but in his mind, he thought of the last sentence Dao Xuanzhen had said—"By evolving the Vạn Tượng Formation through civilization, you have already grasped the true meaning of Formations."

"The true meaning of Formations..." he murmured, "What is the true meaning of the Way of Formations?"

Is it trapping enemies? Killing enemies? Support? Or...

He suddenly remembered that during the discussion on the Dao, he had said: "Innate as the foundation, Acquired as the application, the use of the Formation lies in the person."

The true meaning of Formations perhaps lies not in the Formation itself, but in the "person using the Formation."

No matter how strong a Formation is, it is set up by a person. If the heart is righteous, the Formation is righteous; if the heart is evil, the Formation is evil. The reason Dao Xuanzhen's Formation was shaken by him was not because his Formation wasn't strong, but because his "heart" was shaken.

"So, the true meaning of Formations is the 'heart'." A flash of realization appeared in Lin Zhou's eyes. "If the heart is righteous, the Formation is righteous; if the heart is firm, the Formation is solid."

He opened his eyes and looked at the busy crowd, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

In the next round, no matter who the opponent was, he would face them with an even more perfect [Hundred Schools Myriad Phenomena Array].

Acquired as the primary, Innate as the secondary.

Governing the Formation with the heart, defending the Dao with the Formation.

Way of Civilization is unstoppable.