Inside the exquisite and luxurious study of the Qian family,
Qian Hong sat on a chair, his brow furrowed. Opposite him sat a middle-aged cultivator with half-white hair, looking proud and relaxed.
"Master Qian, have you heard about recent events?" Qian Hong asked.
"I've heard a bit. There's no need for the family head to worry," replied the man addressed as "Master Qian" calmly.
Master Qian had cultivated up to the ninth level of Qi Refining and could deploy a Nine Line Formation, although he hadn't yet attained the official rank of a First-Grade Formation Master recognized by the Dao Court. Nevertheless, it was only a matter of time.
Thus, despite lacking the official rank, Master Qian was respected as "Master Qian" by the cultivators of the Qian family and those familiar with formation arts in Tongxian City.
Crossing the threshold to become a First-Grade Formation Master represented the possibility of achieving such a rank. Master Qian held a high position within the family, second only to the family head, despite not having reached the Foundation Establishment stage in cultivation.
Qian Hong said, "Yu Changlin has the support of a Formation Master. Only with this assistance could he compete against us in the Great Black Mountain. Now, with a Formation Master aiding him, he dares to establish such a large refining workshop."
Occupying such a vast area and employing so many craftsmen to build Tongxian City's largest refining workshop was clearly a challenge to the Qian family.
In the Great Black Mountain, they had already seized such a large piece from the Qian family.
Now that they had grown stronger from consuming this piece, their audacity had swelled, and they actually wanted to seize more from the Qian family. It was simply overestimating their own capabilities!
Master Qian sneered, "So what if they have a Formation Master? Does our Qian family lack Formation Masters?"
Qian Hong said, "That Formation Master might be a First-Grade Formation Master!"
Master Qian asserted decisively, "Impossible!"
"The formation he used in the Great Black Mountain does indeed seem to be of the First-Grade..."
Master Qian shook his head. "Family head, you are not a Formation Master, nor do you study formations, so you don't understand how difficult it is to become a First-Grade Formation Master..."
"Let me put it this way. Even if I don't boast, among all the disciples of our family, my talent in formations is already unique. After spending decades to reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, I focused on researching formations. Through numerous hardships, not to mention reaching the threshold from Eight-Stripe to Nine Line formations, I dedicated ten years of painstaking effort..."
Master Qian sighed. "Although it's just one stripe away, it's as difficult as crossing a chasm. Back then, when attempting to create a Nine Line formation, I could only draw it once a day, and still failed. Although I couldn't succeed, I persisted in drawing and drawing, persevering for a decade before finally overcoming this threshold."
"I've devoted so much effort and painstaking dedication over the years to achieve the status of a First-Grade Formation Master. Even so, during the last Dao Court examination, despite smoothing relations, I fell short by just one move, failing to succeed in the ranking."
Qian Hong sighed, "Master Qian, you've been through a lot!"
Master Qian shook his head. "I'm not saying this to complain to the family head or to boast about my years of hardship. It's to make the family head understand how difficult it is to become a First-Grade Formation Master!"
"With the help of the family, I still had to work tirelessly to reach this point. What about other Formation Masters?"
Master Qian continued with a cold smile, "In such circumstances, any Formation Master with talent and ambition, once they touch the threshold of becoming a First-Grade, will only look upwards, seeking to attach themselves to larger families and sects, gaining better inheritance and advancing further in formations! Such a Formation Master, if they don't associate with our Qian family but instead consort with those impoverished Demon Hunters, what do they seek?"
"Master Qian makes a valid point," frowned Qian Hong, "But in the Great Black Mountain, the Formation Masters in the Demon Hunting Camp indeed used a First-Grade formation..."
"Did the family head witness this?"
"I personally experienced the power of that formation, which is no less than a First-Grade," Qian Hong said, feeling a surge of humiliation.
Indeed, he had "personally" tried it out, ending up disheveled and even subject to Yu Changlin's mockery.
This would be his lifelong shame as the head of the Qian family!
Master Qian pondered for a moment. "Even so, it doesn't matter. Even if they can create a First-Grade formation, it doesn't necessarily mean they are a First-Grade Formation Master. Moreover, learning and mastering a First-Grade formation is difficult. They might only be able to create one or two copies, but no more."
Master Qian stated confidently.
Qian Hong felt reassured. Master Qian's mastery in formations was indeed profound. His assertion indicated that the formation masters among the Demon Hunters were not as worrisome as feared.
However, Qian Hong also felt a tinge of regret. If Master Qian had been able to personally visit the unnamed peak in the Great Black Mountain, they wouldn't have been at a loss against the formation used by the Demon Hunters.
Yet, it was common knowledge in the cultivation world that Formation Masters shouldn't risk themselves personally. If Master Qian did go, and if Yu Changlin shamelessly disregarded conventions and killed him outright, the losses to the Qian family would be immense.
Formation Masters capable of advancing to the First-Grade, nurtured by their own family, were crucial assets to the Qian family.
"We needn't worry about their Formation Masters. But if Yu Changlin does manage to establish the refining workshop, it will undoubtedly pose a threat to our family. It's best for the family head to make preparations early," Master Qian added.
Qian Hong nodded. "Master Qian, rest assured. I've already secretly dispatched people to take some measures. Even if we can't prevent the establishment of the refining workshop, we can at least make things difficult for them."
Master Qian nodded arrogantly. "Anyone in Tongxian City who dares challenge our Qian family must taste some bitterness."
Qian Hong thought for a moment before saying, "There's just one more thing that I need to trouble Master Qian with."
"Please, family head, speak freely."
Qian Hong detailed his plan:
"We'll start by sending people to provoke and create disturbances. Ideally, we'll prevent them from establishing the refining workshop altogether. If that fails, it will delay their progress..."
"On another front, I want to manufacture another batch of refining furnaces. Our family's refining workshops will work overtime to produce spiritual tools. Once Yu Changlin's workshop is established, we'll flood the market with spiritual tools at low prices, leaving them no room to survive."
Master Qian wasn't well-versed in the business of refining, so he asked, "May I ask what exactly the family head wants me to do?"
"I want to forge a batch of refining furnaces. These furnaces will be expensive and of superior quality, with stronger fires capable of refining more spiritual tools. I'll need Master Qian's assistance with the formations inside."
Master Qian frowned. "You mean First-Grade formations?"
"That would be ideal."
Master Qian pondered for a moment before replying, "To create First-Grade refining furnaces, we'll need a First-Grade Melting Fire Formation. I haven't researched this formation before, so I'll need some time to study it properly."
"Of course, we'll create trouble for the Demon Hunters. Master Qian, focus on your formation studies without worry."
"Very well."
Qian Hong's eyes brightened, and he clasped his hands together. "Then I entrust this task to you, Master Qian."
Qian Hong's attitude was courteous. Despite being the family head and having attained the Foundation Establishment stage in cultivation, he still showed deference to Master Qian.
In the cultivation world, some matters required cultivation level to resolve, while others could not be solved by cultivation alone. The issue of formations fell into the latter category.
Cultivation level was personal, but formations could benefit and influence many cultivators.
Combat and conflict relied on cultivation level, but improving efficiency and quality in various industries depended heavily on formations.
(End of the Chapter)