Chapter 768: Carving A Formation Board
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The mountains in the 10,000 Beasts Sect were towering, majestic, and they undulated without an end.
Among the soaring pavilions, a tall and thin figure slowly moved up a mountain path. Many disciples from the Beast King Sect were envious and in admiration when they saw him. In particular, his hollow eyes were similar to a night sky with flickering lights, but they also looked like round holes that kept shrinking and collapsing inward. It seemed like one’s mind would be sucked inside if one took a few more looks at him. Who else could he be if not Ou Yangming?
At the end of the mountain path was one of the 10,000 Beasts Sect’s important places, which was a place for book collections. It was an extremely significant place in the sect.
Apart from people that contributed a lot to the sect and gained special access, very few people were normally allowed to enter the library. Moreover, the place was heavily guarded, which was evident how much the Beast King Sect valued the place. Needless to say, given Ou Yangming’s status at the moment, nobody would be ignorant enough to have the guts to stop him.
It was worth noting that Yuqi the Venerable One had bestowed Ou Yangming with his jade pendant to grant him special access into the library back then, let alone now.
Ou Yangming was a valiant figure that could refine flying carpets and most importantly, he was the Phoenixes’ messenger.
Since ancient times, the number of people that became the Phoenixes’ messenger was definitely less than 5.
Shui Wenliang was reading a book at the moment. Upon seeing Ou Yangming, he immediately welcomed the young fellow and asked with a smile, “Master Ou, long time no see. What books are you looking for in the library this time?” He looked sincere as he admired Ou Yangming from the bottom of his heart. The young fellow was not only outstanding in smithing art, but he could also refine flying carpets, interspatial bags, and so on. What did he not know?
Therefore, Shui Wenliang was very enthusiastic when he saw Ou Yangming.
Ou Yangming waved his hand and answered, “Brother Shui, I’m here to read about formation maps this time.”
He spoke calmly, but those words sounded like sudden claps of thunder to Shui Wenliang, who clearly shuddered a little.
Shui Wenliang was in disbelief, and he thought, ‘How’s this possible? Why did Master Ou dip into formation maps too? How old is he?’
He had a solemn look on his face as he asked softly, “Master Ou, you’ve started studying formation maps?”
Ou Yangming flapped his sleeve and responded, “I’m far from studying them; I’ve only read about them cursorily. Besides, I gained something from my adventure this time.”
Shui Wenliang’s eyes froze, and the fats on his face twitched. He praised the young fellow, “Master Ou, you’re truly talented.” He spoke earnestly and was not forcing it. Ou Yangming had long convinced Shui Wenliang with his smithing art but now that he was getting involved in various other aspects, he had much more potential than Shui Wenliang imagined.
Following that, Shui Wenliang curbed his thought and said, “Master Ou, please come with me.”
With that, they walked one after another deeper inside the library.
Once they arrived at a side hall, Shui Wenliang noted sternly, “Master Ou, the books in this hall are related to formation maps. Should you need anything, call me anytime.” He was incredibly respectful when he left. If other people were to see him at this time, they would probably be tremendously shocked.
After all, Shui Wenliang was an Advanced Spiritualist that guarded the library, hence it was surprising for him to have such a gentle side.
Ou Yangming scanned the hall after Shui Wenliang left.
A neat row of grids was displayed in front of him, each one storing a book about formation maps. There were a total of 400 to 500 grids, which were much lesser than the other books in the library, but the young fellow was surprised yet overjoyed. At the end of the day, they were resources about formation maps!
He shook his head and lamented, “The Beast King Sect has a well-deserved reputation indeed; their foundation is so profound that it’s unimaginable.”
Ou Yangming knew how valuable pieces of information about formation maps were, and yet there were 400 to 500 books about them in this library.
As he looked up at the books in the grids, his eyes were filled with delight.
He scanned the books from top to bottom and picked 3 books after just a brief moment. Subsequently, he placed them on a desk and began reading quietly.
“Illusion Formations?” He chuckled. This time, he must perfect Illusion Formation Maps.
A rattle was heard as a round board released a mini light curtain. It was an Illusion Map that had been shrunken numerous times.
Ou Yangming brushed his fingers gently across the round board. He completely immersed his mind inside the book about Illusion Formations.
He looked like he had come to a sudden realization after half an hour, and he mumbled, “This rune arrangement can be released very quickly, but the true meaning of illusion will be lost, where one won’t be able to create confusion by passing off falsehood as truth.
“This rune arrangement fulfills the true meaning of illusion, but its release speed is limited. If one’s enemy is well-prepared, one won’t be able to succeed easily.”
He sometimes furrowed his eyebrows, sometimes relaxed, and sometimes came to sudden realizations. All in all, he entered a peculiar state.
The “Illusion Formations” explained the true meaning of illusion from a simple level to a complicated level and back. In particular, the elaborate explanations of some special problems even helped Ou Yangming to be enlightened.
He had unknowingly finished the “Illusion Formations”. As for the 2 other books, they were about defensive formation maps. It was his other objective, thus he also put in a lot of effort to study them.
After a long time, Ou Yangming stood up slowly and patted his clothes. He greeted Shui Wenliang outside the library and returned to his courtyard.
As soon as he closed the door to his courtyard, he began to make attempts impatiently.
Woosh, woosh!
With a flash of thought, a fire scorched, causing the temperature around it to rise.
A round board was being enveloped by the fire, where clear veined patterns were carved on it, giving off a queer feeling. One would feel dizzy and dazzled by looking at it.
Nonetheless, Ou Yangming knew this was only a rune that was being carved on a formation map. As compared to a formation, they were a bright moon in the sky and a sprinkle of yellow sand in a desert, where the formation map was the moon while the rune was the yellow sand; there was an impassable natural moat between them.
Even so, the formation map was constructed from the gathering of countless runes. Runes were the foundation of a formation map.
Tadpole-like runes swam in Ou Yangming’s spiritual world. Along with his conception, they became connected and turned into clear veined patterns that were engraved on the formation board.
Once, twice, thrice—the veined patterns on the formation board were densely packed, which were dazzling to look at.
They looked messy, but it also vaguely seemed like there was an inseparable connection between them. All of a sudden, a rune pushed its way through to be imprinted on the formation board. Ou Yangming’s face changed. He instantly controlled his spiritual power, so the rune finally slowed down and was engraved bit by bit.
The look in Ou Yangming’s eyes was ever-changing. He refined meticulously for a long time before the rune’s veined patterns finally connected from end to end, and it looked full and smooth.
As Ou Yangming pushed slightly with his mental power, his surroundings changed swiftly. He was elated, but he also lamented because the Illusion Formation’s formation board was finally perfected.
Learning was similar to sailing against the current, where one must continuously consolidate oneself. It was true because if not, the young fellow could not have perfected an Illusion Formation’s formation board so quickly.
Nevertheless, throughout the learning process, one must sharpen one’s state of mind to benefit the most.
If one was only at the foot of a mountain, one would at most see lush plants, flowing streams, flying birds, and quiet paths. Only by climbing to the peak could one see things in the distance. The taller one stood, the further one could see. In fact, one might even be able to spot shortcuts on the mountain. Similarly, Ou Yangming had only perfected the formation board this time because of accumulated knowledge and all of the experiences that were needed.
After resting for a brief moment, Ou Yangming became immersed in his spiritual world again because his next step was his most important agenda.
He recalled the defensive formation maps that he read about in the library.
Eventually, Ou Yangming entered a strange world, where numerous light spots emitted faint lights around him. The light spots had different colors, and they carried dissimilar auras. Some of them were as violent as volcanos that were about to erupt, some were as steady as the Earth and were somewhat oppressive to look at, while some were seemingly a mixture of true and false, by which their lights flickered as well.
Ou Yangming swayed in the unusual world and spread out his hand.
A light blue light spot landed on his palm. After pondering for some time, he understood that it was an Illusion Formation Rune, which he had mastered. He closed his hand, causing the rune to slowly disperse.
Ou Yangming shut his eyes and kept a straight face; he neither looked happy nor sad. At the spur of the moment, he felt strongly that something was calling out to him. The feeling was mysterious and could not be put into words.
He looked in the direction where the feeling came from, and a semicircle rune appeared in front of him.
The second he saw the rune, he felt oppressed. He quickly remembered the rune and vaguely felt that it was familiar.
After an unknown period, Ou Yangming left the strange state.
He looked exceptionally solemn. With a flash of thought, a fire emerged from his palm, and a small round board changed very quickly in the fire.
Ou Yangming was visualizing the rune that he saw in the strange world earlier. A steady aura was released from his body, and it seemed to be able to crush mountains, to the extent that a 2-inches-wide crack appeared on the bluestone floor.
The young fellow slowly perspired, causing his clothes to be drenched. It was evident that it was not easy for him to carve this rune.
As he drew a semicircle in the air with his right hand, correspondingly, the same mark appeared on the round board.
Ou Yangming was slowly adapting to the rhythm. He moved his finger fast and in a unique rhythm. Consequently, numerous runes were carved on the round board as if it happened naturally. If Shui Wenliang witnessed the process, he would surely be agitated.
Did the young fellow say that he had only read about formation maps cursorily? If that was the case, who would dare to say that they had mastered the art?
Before long, many runes connected, where small spots formed thin lines, then the thin lines overlapped closely. The whole thing became steadier, and Ou Yangming sped up as well, by which only an afterimage of his right hand could be seen.
At last, Ou Yangming opened his eyes with joy. A carved formation board could be seen in front of him.