147: Small Big Dipper Array

Although the commotion caused by Lin Feng was far less than the "Stellar Light Like a Waterfall" that Qu Yunshang had once triggered, in the silent dead of night, it was sufficiently eye-catching for high-level Cultivators with keen senses.

Just then, a cyan Escaping Light tore through the air from afar and landed on the edge of the Star Gazing Platform. As the light faded, it revealed the figure of Zhao Gan.

"Junior Sister Qu, are you practicing the 'Star Radiance Body Infusion' technique again tonight? It seems your cultivation has improved once more!" Zhao Gan's tone was filled with admiration.

Just moments ago, while meditating in his Immortal Cave, he had clearly sensed an unusual fluctuation of Star Power coming from the direction of the Star Gazing Platform. That familiar sense of resonance instantly pulled him back to that night five years ago.

He had once witnessed Qu Yunshang draw down stellar light like a waterfall here, merging seamlessly with the earth's veins beneath her feet. The shock brought by that scene was unforgettable even now. Even the Sect Elders had admitted that such affinity with the stars was a unique innate talent that could not be forced. He himself had tried countless times, yet he was never able to reach that Realm.

Upon hearing this, Qu Yunshang's brows furrowed imperceptibly. She naturally understood why Zhao Gan would think this way. She quickly stepped forward half a pace, seemingly unintentionally blocking the space between Lin Feng and Zhao Gan, and said calmly:

"Senior Brother Zhao, you have misunderstood. It is not some Star Radiance Body Infusion; I was merely guiding Junior Brother Lin to sense the basics of Star Power, and the commotion was a bit too large."

Only then did Zhao Gan notice Lin Feng behind Qu Yunshang, as well as the faint Star Power that had not yet completely subsided around him. The admiration on his face instantly turned into astonishment: "Him? An outer Sect Disciple who just arrived and needs to learn even the basics of Formations from scratch?"

He sneered, "Junior Sister Qu, are you being too humble, or... is it that to protect this person, you can even invent such a clumsy excuse?"

He did not believe for a second that Lin Feng had the ability to trigger Star Power. This faint phenomenon must surely be the lingering traces from Qu Yunshang's demonstration to teach Lin Feng, and the kid just happened to benefit from it.

"Senior Brother Zhao," Qu Yunshang hurriedly defended, "Junior Brother Lin indeed has a talent for sensing the stars. Since the Revered Master Sect Head specially approved his visit for exchange, there must be a profound reason. If you have any doubts, Senior Brother, you might as well wait to witness it for yourself in the future."

She invoked the name of the Sect Head, and Zhao Gan's expression stiffened. He could question Lin Feng, but he could not openly question the Sect Head. Although his face remained full of disapproval, it was not appropriate for him to continue pestering her.

He coldly glanced at Lin Feng, then cupped his hands toward Qu Yunshang: "In that case, it was this Senior Brother who was abrupt. Your teaching is arduous, Junior Sister, and I hope... some people can live up to their reputation and not become a laughingstock."

Having said that, he did not stay any longer, turned around, and flicked his sleeves as he left, his robes catching the wind.

After Zhao Gan was far away, Qu Yunshang turned to look at Lin Feng: "Do not pay him any mind. Senior Brother Zhao has a hasty temperament and speaks directly, but no one in the Sect disagrees with his focus and attainments in the way of Formations; he is a true fanatic. Since you have this talent, you should focus on your cultivation even more. In the future, speaking with your strength is stronger than any defense."

Lin Feng took a deep breath, suppressed the ripples in his heart caused by the slight, and nodded.

Unknowingly, the first light of dawn began to peek through. Just as Lin Feng and Qu Yunshang were preparing to leave the Star Gazing Platform, waves of spiritual power fluctuations and shouting sounds came from the mountain path below.

The two stopped at the edge of the platform and cast their gazes toward a cloud-shrouded platform below. Nearly a hundred Disciples in green robes sat in a Formation, with an uncarved Star Meteorite embryo floating in front of each person.

They all had solemn expressions, their hands forming incantations, their spiritual power surging violently as they fully exerted their Cultivation Technique, attempting to press their own spiritual power into the hard stone embryo bit by bit. Sweat soaked many of their backs, but the changes in the stone embryos were minimal.

"They are refining Star Meteorite embryos; this is one of the basic lessons of the Sect." Qu Yunshang watched the scene below, and after a moment, naturally turned to Lin Feng, "Junior Brother Lin, since you first sensed Star Power last night, how do you think that stellar radiance power differs from the spiritual power used by the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters below?"

Lin Feng was slightly startled, subconsciously recalling the power of the stars from last night, and then comparing it to the spiritual power fluctuations felt below; a clear sense of difference welled up within him.

Before he could answer, Qu Yunshang continued calmly: "Let's go, the hour is late, it is time to head to the training grounds."

Several young people dressed in the attire of Qingyun Sect Inner Sect Disciples were walking up the stairs, chatting and laughing. But as soon as they looked up and saw Qu Yunshang, their laughter came to an abrupt halt.

The group immediately stepped aside to the road, lowered their eyes, and respectfully cupped their hands in a salute: "Senior Sister Qu." Their gazes lingered on Qu Yunshang for a moment before quickly looking down, not daring to be in the slightest bit offensive.

However, when these gazes inadvertently swept over Lin Feng behind Qu Yunshang, that respect turned into irrepressible curiosity. They secretly raised their eyes to size him up, exchanging glances with each other, seemingly asking in silence about the origin of this strange youth.

Qu Yunshang seemed accustomed to this, simply nodding slightly without stopping her pace. Lin Feng followed half a step behind her, clearly feeling those curious gazes following their backs until they disappeared around a bend in the mountain path. The status of this Senior Sister within the Sect was clearly far beyond what could be summarized by a mere "Sect Head's Disciple."

When the two arrived at the training ground next to the Formation Pavilion, the morning sun had fully risen. Qu Yunshang took out a set of black Formation Flags, the Big Dipper patterns on the flag faces shimmering with dark colors in the sunlight.

"The Lesser Big Dipper Formation, although the most basic of Formations, is the embryonic Foundation of the Great Array of Stellar Evolution Circulating Heaven." She flicked her wrist lightly, and the seven Formation Flags flew out in succession, precisely inserting into the ground. When the last Formation Flag settled into place, seven points of silver light lit up from the tips of the flags, connecting with each other to form a slowly rotating star pattern.

One could see sparse stellar radiance being drawn down even in broad daylight, forming a faint stream of light above the Formation. Even more peculiar was that the ground began to ripple, and the earth's vein spiritual power intersected with the stellar radiance, forming a unique balanced force field within the range of the Formation.

"The key to this Formation lies in 'Fixing the Pivot'." Qu Yunshang lightly tapped the edge of the Formation with her fingertip, and the force field fluctuated accordingly, "All subsequent complex Formations must use this as a Foundation; one must first stabilize the energy circulation around the Formation eye before construction can begin."

She explained in detail the star position corresponding to each Formation Flag, the depth of insertion into the earth's vein nodes, and how to adapt to the fluctuations of the earth's veins in different environments by fine-tuning the angles of the seven flags. "You must let the power of heaven and earth voluntarily be used by you, just as the stars each rest in their proper places."

Lin Feng observed intently, discovering that the principle of "Fixing the Pivot" was vaguely connected to the difficult problem of harmonizing Sword Essence of different attributes in his Nine Profound Sword Heart Art; both sought a stable balance.

After the demonstration, Qu Yunshang waved her hand to withdraw the Formation's spiritual power, leaving only the seven Formation Flags inserted in specific positions in the field. She turned to Lin Feng: "Junior Brother Lin, you try, find where the Formation eye of this Formation is." This was both a test and a guide; she did not expect the boy who only slightly understood Formations to answer correctly immediately, she just wanted to see how he thought.

Ordinary Disciples attempting this for the first time would mostly circle the Formation Flags repeatedly, observing, comparing the runes on the flag faces, or sensing the strength of the residual spiritual power. However, Lin Feng did not rush forward; instead, he closed his eyes.

Qu Yunshang raised her brows slightly, watching to see what would happen.