Translator: Sparrow Translations
Editor: Sparrow Translations
Ding Runfang looked at Li Yuanfang and ignored him. He did not respond to Li Yuanfang's words but instead, completely ignored his existence.
He dared to challenge a Nascent Soul stage cultivator as an Aurous Core stage cultivator as he was from the Great Void Sect and borne as a pure Yang being. His innate potential was astounding and he managed to cultivate the Pure Yang Righteous Heart Mantra, the top mantra for people of his build.
Li Yuanfang was the Foundation Establishment stage and Ding Runfeng was able to gauge that with a gaze. He did not care to argue.
A lion will respond to aggressive actions made by tigers, leopards, and wolves. If a bunny comes along, then it would kill it with a slash of its claws. However, if an ant comes crawling, the lion won't even respond to it.
Everyone on-site felt that Li Yuanfang was behaving impulsively.
If he was an immediate disciple of Lin Feng, then everyone would have hope that he could challenge the Aurous Core stage Ding Runfeng with his Foundation Establishment level mastery.
Particularly since the opponent was no ordinary Aurous Core stage cultivator. He was from the sect universally recognized as the top in the Divine Lands and he himself was imbued with both talent and skills.
Spell formations were not his strong suit, but he could effectively challenge the Path of Hell Nascent Soul stage Grandmaster who specialized in spell formations. If the grandmaster did not use his mana to suppress him, Ding Runfeng was able to effectively stand up to him. What challenge could a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator pose to him?
Furthermore, Li Yuanfang wasn't even Lin Feng's disciple. In other words, he wasn't a disciple of the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
Li Yuanfang's expression was calm as he did not feel angst before Ding Runfeng's snub. Instead, he looked quietly at the battle between Ding Runfeng and the Nascent Soul stage Grandmaster, where formations from both sides changed rapidly.
"The Seventh Formation, the Yin advances and the Yang retreats, Bingchen moves into Jiahai while Gengwu retreats Xinniu (Translator's Note: Bingchen, Jiahai, Gengwu and Xinniu are all parts of the Chinese sexagenary cycle which was used to keep time in Ancient China)," said Li Yuanfang suddenly.
Many cultivators on-site did not understand what did he say. However, the three Path of Hell cultivators were collectively shocked. They looked carefully at the changing formations and took in a deep breath. Then, they turned their heads to look at the calm Li Yuanfang.
At the same time, a strange look entered the black-robed cultivator's, who was battling Ding Runfeng, eyes. The spell formation did not change according to what Li Yuanfang had said.
Those on-site with a higher level of mastery in terms of cultivation could see that what Li Yuanfang just said was a way to defeat Ding Runfeng.
The black-robed middle-aged man did not do as told not because Li Yuanfang was wrong. In fact, just as Li Yuanfang opened his mouth, he thought of this change. However, because Li Yuanfang opened his mouth, he was unsure what to do next.
However, the black-robed middle-aged man was shocked. He was able to see the gaps in Li Yuanfang's spell formation. That was not surprising, considering that he had spent almost a thousand years specializing in spell formations, which were the specialty of the Samsara Sect.
However, Li Yuanfang, as a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, was able to recognize half a second before him. That was truly shocking.
Bai Xiqian's eyes flashed as she looked at Li Yuanfang curiously.
"In the 28th Formation Pattern, 46 has changed to 71."
"In the 9th Formation Pattern, Yin advances while Yang retreats. Yisi enters Bingwu while Jiazi retreats from Bingshen."
"In the 135th Formation Pattern, the old Yin turns into the young Yang."
"In the 87th Formation Pattern, the Yin has increased by 30% to curb the opponent's pure Yang from advancing."
The black-robed middle-aged man ignored him. Li Yuanfang did not object. However, he continued spouting sentence after sentence. Finally, he began to speak faster and faster and his sentences became simpler. The formation changed quicker as well.
"19, the Yin Yishen retreats from Renhai, the Yang Dingzi enters the Bingyin."
"141, the Kui Water's aura doubles."
"14, the six Gang turns into the shape of an ao (Translator's Note: Legendary Chinese sea monster that looks like a turtle), lock."
Everyone on-site kept quiet as they looked at Li Yuanfang in amazement. Those who understood the changes of spell formations had heavy expressions on their face. Those who were making fun of Li Yuanfang earlier on for his supposed impudence were not looking at him very seriously. Those who laughed too were gradually zipping their mouths shut.
In particular, Ding Runfeng's fellow disciple Bai Xiqian continued to look at Li Yuanfang with a soft gaze. However, her gaze hardened and everyone's hearts pounded as they thought, "Could it be that he's actually onto something?"
"But... how is it possible?"
Li Yuanfang, who was now the center of everyone's attention, ignored all these as he pointed and calculated with his right finger. His mouth continued to utter ways to break Ding Runfeng's spell formation.
No one knew whether Li Yuanfang was right or wrong. However, Ding Runfeng, as a participant in the battle, was clear.
In reality, if not for the black-robed middle-aged man's pride, many of Li Yuanfang's suggestions would have defeated Ding Runfeng easily. Fortunately for him, it was not convenient for his opponent to execute these moves.
The black-robed middle-aged man was a specialist of spell formations. He could calculate many of the changes, but he was always slower than Li Yuanfang by half a second. However, it was in this half a second where the battle situation matters the most.
At that time, Ding Runfeng and the middle-aged black-robed man were unable to continue their battle. Ding Runfeng too was unable to ignore Li Yuanfang.
The two of them tacitly withdrew their spell formations and turned their gaze onto Li Yuanfang.
The black-robed middle-aged man's gaze was dark. While Li Yuanfang was explicitly targetting Ding Runfeng, his action caused him to lose face too.
However, Li Yuanfang's talents in spell formations shocked him.
Obviously, if Li Yuanfang and he were to each cast a spell formation, his spell formation would trump Li Yuanfang's one by a wide margin. Even if Li Yuanfang cast 100 spell formations, they would not be as strong as one of his.
However, that was because of the chasm between their mastery and mana. If they were to discuss solely formation changes, then the tall, skinny, dark boy before him was superior to him by a small margin.
"You said that you aren't a disciple of the Celestial Sect of Wonders," asked the black-robed middle-aged man seriously.
Li Yuanfang nodded his head and said seriously, "I have only received a few tips from the Master of the Celestial Sect. I was not able to join the Celestial Sect and hence, it will be wrong for me to masquerade as one of its disciples."
The black-robed middle-aged man sneered coldly, "Hmph, the Master of the Celestial Sect is indeed extraordinary. A few simple tips from him beat a thousand of years of cultivation by me."
Li Yuanfang nodded his head and said, "Master Lin's knowledge is as vast as the sky. I was able to receive some tips from him and learned a bit on spell formations. I mainly understand the changes of Yin and Yang from him. As for other aspects, I am not too sure."
These were all true. Lin Feng selectively picked parts from the Two Elements of Creation Formation for him to practice with. His understanding mainly came from the changes of Yin and Yang from the Six Forms of Creation and Destruction.
Li Yuanfang was extremely serious as a person and hardworking. His understanding of spell formations was extraordinary and the time he spent on the mountain allowed him to understand the essence of the changes of Yin and Yang.
Hence, in terms of the changes of Yin and Yang on spell formations, his understanding trumped that of the black-robed middle-aged man.
In terms of other spell formations, he could not compare against the Nascent Soul stage Path of Hell Grandmaster.
In this aspect, Ding Runfeng was unlucky. Every single spell formation he knew was derived from the Pure Yang Righteous Heart Mantra, which was premier pure Yang spell formation changes. While his understanding of the changes of the Yang spirit was at its maximum, it still fell within Li Yuanfang's specialization.
Li Yuanfang's flat response drew some laughs from the crowd. However, after the laughter subsided, they were all deeply awed.
He was not an immediate disciple of Lin Feng. He did not even join the Celestial Sect of Wonders formally. However, with just a few tips from Lin Feng, he was able to have such deep understanding of spell formations. This was truly terrifying.
"What's more terrifying is the Master of the Celestial Sect...," mumbled some people.
The black-robed middle-aged man said nothing but thought to himself, "I have long heard that the master of the Celestial Sect possessed a supreme spell formation that is extremely powerful. It is equivalent to the formations protecting the Three Great Holy Lands. It appears that the rumors are true. The Master of the Celestial Sect is well-versed in spell formations too."
Ding Runfeng looked at Li Yuanfang with a calm expression on his face. However, his gaze bore into him as he slowly nodded his head, "Very good, just like the Path of Hell Senior just now, I will not use my mana to suppress you. Let us challenge each other using the changes in spell formations."
While the weaknesses of his spell formation were constantly exposed by Li Yuanfang, Ding Runfeng's confidence remained. Indeed, there were differences between theory and practice and in a real battle, many factors may affect the results.
Li Yuanfang too understood this very well. However, he did not object but instead said, "Senior, please advise."
Bai Xiqian looked at the battle that was going to take place and asked suddenly, "Taoist Li, may I ask if your master is the River Map Grandmaster of the North Polar Sea?"
Li Yuanfang was shocked and Bai Xiqian smiled slightly as she said, "Xiqian observed that while you managed to derive many deep and powerful changes in the spell formations, they were all derived from the River Map Grandmaster's teachings. Is that correct?"
"Correct," Li Yuanfang nodded his head.
Bai Xiqian then said softly, "The River Map Grandmaster's death due to the Kun Peng Secret Treasure was indeed a tragedy. Please accept my condolences."
Sadness crept over Li Yuanfang's face but then he heard Bai Xiqian said, "In this case, the fates of Taoist Li and the Great Void Sect are slightly intertwined. Earlier on, the River Map Grandmaster had visited my master, who told us later that the spell formations of the River Map Grandmaster are the best there is for those under the Immortal Soul stage level."
Li Yuanfang lifted his head to look at her. He arched his eyebrows and said nothing.
Bai Xiqian smiled slightly and said, "Have you ever seen your master's Rising Sky Mystic Cloud Formation Map?"
Li Yuanfang fell silent for a while and then nodded his head. He knew that the Rising Sky Mystic Cloud Formation Map which Bai Xiqian spoke of was something that her master had advised the River Map Grandmaster on.
Bai Xiqian and Ding Runfeng both smiled upon seeing the situation before them.
Who knew that in the next instant, Li Yuanfang suddenly opened his mouth and said, "If that's the case, then such chances are hard to come by. Could my two fellow Taoists advise me on the Rising Sky Mystic Cloud Formation?"
Everyone was shocked, including Bai Xiqian and Ding Runfeng.
Li Yuanfang's gaze turned from Ding Runfeng to Bai Xiqian. It was not that he had forgotten about the River Map Grandmaster's instructions and teachings. In another time, in another place and in another situation, he would sure both Bai Xiqian and the Great Void Sect utmost respect.
However, under this situation, his opponent was holding him emotional hostage through his master's former debt. That was not right.
Li Yuanfang was a simple and persistent person. In these situations, he would not give way but persist. He was in Lin Feng's debt too and he could not tolerate any insult to the Celestial Sect of Wonders.
Bai Xiqian sighed and Ding Runfeng said, "My words may be harsh but it should be answered by an official disciple of the Celestial Sect of Wonders. Aren't you acting out of your current capacity?"
"If you aren't a disciple of the Celestial Sect, why do you step up?"
Hearing this words, Li Yuanfang's brows tightened.