I'm standing before the book that came as part of the reward "Great Formation of the Talisman." Though it appears simple, this book is actually the essential key to constructing the special formation. This item holds the foundation of everything and will allow me to initiate the formation. Each mark, each symbol inscribed on its pages and cover, is a necessary guide to complete the Great Formation of the Talisman.
According to the memories I received, the book is the core of the formation. Each inscription engraved within it acts as an anchor point, a thread forming the complex weave of this technique. The formation requires the energy of heaven and earth as its basic fuel; nothing can be created from nothing, even within the spiritual ocean.
This detail presents a challenge. Although I possess theoretical knowledge, the only way to absorb the energy of heaven and earth is through the formation itself. It's a peculiar paradox: I need the formation to absorb the energy, but I need the energy to complete the formation. In cultivation worlds, the ability to absorb the energy of heaven and earth is a fundamental skill that anyone can possess, but since I reincarnated into this world, I haven't felt anything like it.
The only energy I recognize is the positive energy from the "Good Deed" reward and an occasional sensation of weakness when using my analysis skill, which I suspect is a form of mana. I'm in a different world, and since I'm still just a baby, obtaining information is limited and time-consuming.
Still, I'm not willing to give up on the formation. Taking advantage of this early stage, while I'm still a baby, is crucial. Every second counts in creating any advantage that might ease my future journey. If I truly need energy to activate the formation, positive energy might serve as a substitute for the energy of heaven and earth. I'm not sure, but I have nothing to lose by trying.
Seven days later...
After a week of Good Deeds, I've managed to gather a single unit of positive energy, about the size of a baby's fingernail, enough to test my hypothesis. I can form 1 unit of this size every 10 days and use this amount of positive energy as a base, as this is when positive energy is stable enough to be shaped and controlled. In the spiritual ocean, the book is positioned beneath the 100x100 spiritual ground, as the formation needs to be placed in an open, empty space.
The book displays mysterious marks and symbols, but thanks to the knowledge I've received, I can now identify them. In the center of the book is a small hole where the knowledge orb was absorbed. I guide the unit of positive energy toward the center of the book, using "High-Level Control" to steer it gently. Upon contact, the book emits a brief golden glow before returning to its normal state.
I notice a change: the book's markings expand slightly, with some lines extending beyond its pages. A genuine sense of satisfaction fills me. "It seems positive energy can indeed replace the energy of heaven and earth," I say with a slight smile. However, there's a subtle difference. The formation should have been blue, but now it's emitting a golden tone. Perhaps this is due to the effect of positive energy.
During these seven days, in addition to accumulating energy, I've studied the memories of the Great Formation of the Talisman intensively. The book's markings are actually composed of five main runes, each made up of hundreds of secondary runes. These runes form the structure of the formation: "Automation," "Absorption," "Storage," "Refinement," and "Purification." Each has a vital purpose and is essential for the formation's full operation.
Absorption: Allows the formation to capture the energy of heaven and earth.
Storage: Holds the captured energy, preventing it from dissipating, essential for the formation's continuous functioning.
Refinement: Converts basic energy into a preliminary form of Xiantian energy.
Purification: Elevates the refined energy into the final form of Xiantian spiritual energy.
Automation: Controls the entire process automatically, eliminating the need for a cultivator to operate it manually.
Once completed, the formation will store Xiantian energy at the book's center, ready for use. The process is complex and, honestly, seems far beyond my current abilities. Creating these runes on my own would take years, and without the book acting as the core, it would be impossible.
I quickly estimate that one unit of positive energy activates a fraction of the formation. At least 125 units would be needed to fully complete it. At the current rate, it would take more than one thousand, two hundred and fifty days – about three years and four months – to gather the necessary amount of positive energy.
This timeline is unacceptable. Losing so much of my childhood just to complete this formation would limit my opportunities for development. During that time, I could be accumulating positive energy for other purposes, like creating spiritual talismans, which would help me immediately.
Then an alternative occurs to me: what if, for now, I focused only on the "Absorption" rune? This specific component would allow me to capture the energy of heaven and earth, which, in turn, would speed up the construction of the complete formation. By doing this, I could reduce the amount of positive energy required to about 25 units, equivalent to approximately 250 days or eight months. It's still a considerable amount of time, but a significant improvement.
Moreover, according to the memories, one unit of heaven and earth energy can be absorbed in a single day, much faster than positive energy, which takes ten days. With it, I'll be able to practice creating talismans and formations more rapidly.
A wave of determination fills my body. "If this works, I'll be able to accelerate everything in an incredible way. With even a bit of heaven and earth energy, my advancement speed will increase. And in the meantime, I can continue to deepen my knowledge of talismans, familiarize myself with this world's language, and perform more Good Deeds to accumulate positive energy."
I give my cheek a light tap to energize myself, glancing at the book and murmuring, "For now... let's keep doing 'Good Deeds.' Without those 25 units, I won't be able to proceed."