Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 257: Chapter 176: Refining Treasures_1

Translator: 549690339

Seven days later, outside the mountain gate of Tianshu Sect.

A thunder cloud rolled in, and in an instant, the heavens and earth surged darkly.

Inside Tianshu Sect, Sprit Light emerged, revealing a grand Formation, the very Big Dipper Pivot.

The Big Dipper Formation, with Tianshu at its forefront, held extraordinary power even without the other six stars.

The Tianshu Formation was centered around the Tianshu Star alone, while the other six stars were feigned adjuncts, forming “Little Big Dipper” array configurations.

Such a Little Big Dipper Formation, compared to the true Big Dipper Formation, had its advantages and disadvantages, its strengths and weaknesses.

Its shortcomings need not much discussion; the overall effects and Formation strength were certainly far inferior to the true Big Dipper Star Formation.

But the advantages were also quite clear: it cost less to use, the deployment consumed fewer resources, and could be entrusted to lower-tier Cultivators.

The true Big Dipper Formation was a Seventh Rank Immortal Spirit Array, not to be rashly intruded upon by even Integration Great Powers or Mahayana True Immortals. Within the Northern Region Cultivation World, only the Big Dipper Immortal Sect had the ability to maintain one; how could others even dare to wish for it?

At most, there were arrays like that of Tianshu Sect, focusing on one star while simulating six to build a Little Big Dipper Formation.

Even a Little Big Dipper was an incredibly terrifying existence for lower-tier Cultivators.

The present array was no exception; it was an undeniable fourth-tier Termination Array. Below Divinity Transformation, among Nascent Souls, those who dared to enter faced a ninety percent chance of death!

Among Formations of the same tier, there were also varying degrees of danger, with the Termination Array being the deadliest—utterly lethal and perilous; without extraordinary means, entering the Formation meant certain death, no life spared!

Although not as deadly as the Termination Array, the menacing Formation also offered only a slim chance of survival.

No life spared versus a ninety percent chance of death!

How great was the difference between a slim chance and none at all?

As the Tianshu star arose, the Big Dipper Formation was complete.

Above and below the mountain gate, they guarded resolutely, leaving no gaps.

And in the heart of the great Formation…

“Has the time finally come?”

Jing Yue’s expression was solemn, a hint of tension barely concealed, as the shadow of the sword that day seemed to linger in his heart, refusing to fade.

Yunji was by his side, silent, solemnly presiding over the Formation.

He was a Nascent Soul Cultivator, a Great Cultivator with a Perfect Nascent Soul, and he was well-versed in both Array Path and the Skill of Heavenly Mechanism, just one step away from reaching the fourth tier and becoming one of the rare Array Grandmasters in the Northern Domain.

With his realm of cultivation and proficiency in formations, virtually no one below Divinity Transformation could break the Tianshu Great Array he oversaw.

But it was only virtually unbreakable, not an absolute certainty.

There were always stronger experts out there, another mountain higher than the last!

Having already suffered at their enemy’s hands, he naturally did not regard the situation as ordinary or customary.

For all he knew, the enemy might possess fearsome methods capable of overcoming his Little Big Dipper Tianshu with just Golden Core strength.

One could not afford to be careless!

The serious demeanor of the two of them caused an old man nearby to feel somewhat anxious and worried as well.

The elderly man had white hair and a robust figure. Despite his age, there was no sign of frailty; instead, he exuded a powerful and forceful aura. Observing his level of cultivation, it was clear he had entered the Nascent Soul Realm.

Another Nascent Soul.

He was indeed that Nascent Soul Old Demon from the Hundred Thousand Mountains who had long since pledged allegiance to the Tianshu Sect.

Well before the battle began, Jing Yue had called him back to the sect’s mountain gate for fear that someone might launch a surprise attack while their forces were elsewhere. Therefore, the Old Demon had not been taken to the battle at Purple Cloud Mountain but was kept to guard the gate.

Now, he could be considered a significant force in the battle or, to put it another way, high-grade cannon fodder.

He was well aware that if the Tianshu Great Array could not withstand the enemy’s offensive, he would undoubtedly be thrown out to fight desperately and buy time for the rest.

This was clearly not a good situation to be in.

But as a Spirit Beast, with his life and death in Jing Yue’s hands, he had no choice but to hope the Tianshu Great Array would be of some use and not just for show.

“It took him seven days to reach this place, and he has done quite a few things in that time.”

“First, he went to Medicine King Valley and swept through all the Medicine King Valley disciples who had not yet been evacuated, along with Medicine King Valley’s foundations, then set up a Formation that sealed the Spirit Land of Medicine King Valley, forbidding entry or exit.”

“Afterward, he made his way to several places in Liang Country, wiping out all of the Three Sects’ foundations, each of their markets, Spirit Veins, and various strongholds. Many of them were hidden branches and informants, not openly revealing their identities or making contact, but still, they could not escape his clutches.”

“Lastly, he went to the Hundred Thousand Mountains and raided numerous Demon Beast lairs…”

Jing Yue reported all the enemy’s movements over the past few days.

Upon hearing this, Yunji was not surprised: “This person must have practiced the Skill of Heavenly Mechanism. Nothing in the Void Spirit Realm is a secret to him, so it’s only logical that our hidden agents were unearthed.”

“Furthermore, although we do not know who he truly is, even a skilled wife cannot make a meal without rice. Not even Integration Powers or Mahayana True Immortals can create something out of nothing.”

“Cultivation requires resources, as does setting up Formations!”

“His spree of looting clearly indicates that he does not have an overabundance of materials or resources on hand.”

“Not only does he lack resources, but he also cannot, like us, communicate with the outside world for backup.”

“Therefore, I am confident that, for the time being, he cannot pose a threat to the Tianshu Great Array.”

True to the standard of a Great Nascent Soul Cultivator and master of the Skill of Heavenly Mechanism, he grasped the essence of the situation at a glance, quickly clarifying the state of affairs between the enemy and us.

Upon hearing this, Jing Yue nodded but still expressed some concern: “However, if we let him wreak havoc and plunder the resources of the Void Spirit Realm, it could pose a significant threat to us.”

“Indeed!”

Yunji agreed but was somewhat helpless: “Yet there’s nothing we can do at this point. If we leave the Formation to confront him now, we would fall into his trap, playing right into his hands. We absolutely must not. We will steadfastly maintain our position and see whether his actions or our reinforcements will come first.”

“Well… alright.”

Seeing that Yunji had chosen such a passive strategy, Jing Yue was worried but also helpless.