The illusory forest was vast, with towering trees casting long shadows over the uneven terrain. The air hummed with tension as the constructs created by the formation moved with eerie precision, blocking the path of Li Wei's team. These weren't simple illusions but highly sophisticated creations formed by the intricate Qi flows that made up the formation. The constructs took on the shapes of fierce beasts, their eyes gleaming with malevolent intelligence.
From the outside, elders and high-ranking members of the Li clan observed the test with keen interest. Among them were groups leaders, elders, and the patriarch himself, watching intently as the trial unfolded. They were the judges, their sharp eyes measuring the performance of each team to determine who would represent the Li clan in the upcoming Rite of Ascendancy.
Li Wei's teammates were already struggling. Zhou Wei had barely dodged a swipe from a massive stone bear, its form lumbering as it crashed through the underbrush. Mei Chen was holding her own but barely, her movements hurried as she defended herself against a fast-moving wolf-like construct. Jin Rui, who had initially charged forward with his usual confidence, found himself cornered by a snake-like construct that twisted around him, its venomous fangs gleaming. His frustration was palpable as his Qi-infused fists barely made a dent in the creature's hardened exterior.
"These beasts aren't real, but they might as well be," Zhou Wei muttered, panting heavily as he narrowly avoided another swipe. "Their strength is terrifying!"
"They're not real, but they're more than just illusions," Mei Chen added breathlessly, her sword parrying a lethal strike. "It's as if they're reading our moves!"
Li Jun, though still shaken by the encounter with Jin Rui earlier, was now faring better under Li Wei's guidance. But even he was being pushed back, his strikes barely affecting the relentless advance of his opponent—a fierce tiger construct.
The team was on the verge of breaking. The pressure was mounting, and the constructs weren't giving them any room to breathe. From above, the elders exchanged glances, clearly intrigued by the struggle below. This test wasn't just about strength; it was about how well a team could handle pressure and work together against overwhelming odds.
Meanwhile, Li Wei, standing at the back, was watching everything unfold with calm, calculating eyes. His teammates were in dire straits, but he remained composed. After all, he wasn't just looking at the surface. His experience as a high-level formation master from his past life allowed him to see what others couldn't.
The formation that created this illusory forest was intricate, but to Li Wei, it was full of flaws. His years of studying and mastering formations in his fourth life as a formation master gave him insight into the weaknesses within the design. He could see the slight distortions in the Qi that powered the constructs, the gaps in the flow where control wavered. It was a low-level formation by his standards, though for most, it would be considered an impressive feat.
"Foolish," he muttered under his breath, a small smirk forming on his lips. He saw the way the Qi pulsed through the air, the way it wrapped around the constructs and fueled their power. "This formation is like a tangled web, easy to exploit once you know where the strings are pulled."
Li Wei raised his hand, extending his senses into the very fabric of the formation. Using his own Qi, he tapped into the flow of energy that powered the illusion. It wasn't easy to hijack a formation like this, but with his precise understanding of Qi manipulation, it was child's play. The key was to avoid detection. If he manipulated the formation too forcefully, the elders would sense it, and the entire structure could collapse. But with a subtle hand, he could bend the formation to his will.
His teammates continued to struggle as the constructs pressed them harder, unaware that Li Wei was already taking control. A pulse of Qi surged from his core, invisible to the naked eye, and flowed into the formation's veins. He began to tweak the flow of Qi around them, altering the paths the constructs followed, guiding them away from his teammates.
On the outside, the elders watched closely. One of the older men, Elder Xuan, stroked his beard in contemplation. "The boy's team is struggling. It seems they might not—"
"Wait," interrupted another elder, narrowing his eyes. "Look at the constructs. Their movements... something's changing."
Indeed, the constructs seemed less coordinated. Their attacks were suddenly less precise, their movements slightly sluggish. To the untrained eye, it seemed as though Li Wei's team was suddenly holding their ground better, but to the elders, it was clear that something had shifted.
Inside the illusion, Li Wei's smirk deepened. He had successfully hijacked the formation. Now, instead of being a threat, the constructs became tools under his control. With a flick of his wrist, the snake that had cornered Jin Rui suddenly recoiled, its body slithering away as if confused. The bear that had been bearing down on Zhou Wei stumbled, its movements disoriented as if it had lost its sense of direction.
"What's happening?" Zhou Wei asked, stunned. "Why are they backing off?"
Mei Chen, panting and tired, glanced at Li Wei with suspicion. "Li Wei... did you do this?"
Li Wei gave a nonchalant shrug. "Just a little trick I picked up. Stay focused."
As the team regained their footing, Li Wei turned his attention to the heart of the formation. He could sense the elder controlling the illusion from outside, his Qi linked directly to the formation. With a bold move, Li Wei sent a surge of his own Qi into the formation's core, disrupting the elder's control.
The elder outside, who had been carefully observing, suddenly stiffened. His eyes widened in shock as he felt a foreign Qi infiltrating his control over the illusion. "Impossible..." he muttered. "Someone is tampering with the formation from the inside."
The other elders turned to him in surprise. "What do you mean?" one asked.
"The formation... it's being hijacked."
Inside the illusion, Li Wei made his final move. The constructs froze in place, no longer a threat to his team. With a surge of Qi, Li Wei fully severed the elder's control, rendering the formation inert. The illusionary forest flickered and then dissolved, revealing the small arena where the trial had begun.
As the illusion faded, the elders stood up, their expressions a mix of shock and admiration. The elder who had controlled the formation was speechless, his face pale as he tried to comprehend what had just happened.
Li Wei stood tall, his eyes cool and confident. His team looked around, confused but relieved that the trial was over.
The elder controlling the formation strode forward, his eyes locked on Li Wei. "You..." he said, his voice filled with astonishment. "You hijacked my formation."
Li Wei gave a respectful bow but didn't deny it. "It was full of flaws," he said simply. "I just exploited them."
The elder, who looked no older than forty but was known to be over 150 years old, stared at Li Wei with a mixture of disbelief and admiration. Formation masters were rare in the Qianyuan Kingdom, highly sought after by powerful families and clans. To see someone so young not only see through a formation but take control of it was unheard of.
"You... have an incredible gift," the elder said, his voice full of respect. "I have never encountered someone with such a deep understanding of formations at such a young age. I would be honored if you would take me as your master."
Li Wei's eyes widened slightly, surprised by the elder's words. The other elders murmured among themselves, clearly impressed by the situation.
Li Wei smiled faintly, his expression as composed as ever. "I appreciate the offer, but I have my own path to follow."
The elder nodded, still in awe. "Very well, but know this: your skill is extraordinary. You are destined for greatness."
As the trial came to an end, the elders gathered to discuss the results. But it was clear that Li Wei had already left an indelible mark on the minds of all who witnessed the event.