"Hehe, Young Master Xiao, this Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation is quite suitable for you."
Zhao Qian said with a smile.
Xiao Chen nodded slightly, feeling a mix of emotions.
He didn't need such resources. With the system's help, even without external aid or fortunate encounters, his cultivation would always progress at an astonishing speed.
But the Xiao family was different.
The Xiao family was merely a small clan from Yunhai City, their foundation too weak to support rapid development. If they wished to rise, they would require an immense accumulation of resources.
Because of the Invincible Sleep System, Xiao Chen couldn't provide them with such things. More importantly, even if he could, he wouldn't. The Invincible Sleep System was too terrifying—if its existence were exposed, it would bring disaster upon the Xiao family. That wasn't something he could allow.
Thus, the Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation was the best option for them.
With this formation and the resources promised by the Zhao family, the Xiao family would experience a period of rapid, worry-free growth.
"Then, this formation belongs to me. Any objections?" Xiao Chen asked with a smile.
"None at all."
"Take it."
"Haha, Young Master Xiao, if you don't claim anything, we would feel guilty taking our share of the Sky Thunder Clan's spoils!"
The patriarchs of various families chuckled as they spoke.
The Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation was undoubtedly precious, but no one dared to oppose Xiao Chen's claim. After all, in many ways, it was his rightful trophy.
Seeing their agreement, Xiao Chen didn't say much. After exchanging a few words with the prefecture master, Zhao Qian, and the others, he turned and rode toward the Sky Thunder Clan's headquarters.
The Sky Thunder Clan was located within Tianling Mountain. The journey there was lined with towering, ancient trees, their lush green canopies exuding an aura of history.
As the only third-class sect in the prefecture, the Sky Thunder Clan had once flourished with over ten thousand disciples diligently practicing martial arts.
Now, however, the sect was eerily silent.
With their defeat, the Sky Thunder Clan's disciples had scattered like the wind, abandoning the sect entirely.
Not a single soul remained.
Xiao Chen walked toward the sect's entrance, step by step.
He raised his head, took a deep breath, and then stomped his foot hard against the ground.
Boom!
Terrifying waves of Xuan energy radiated from his body.
With a flick of his wrist, a condensed Xuan energy arrow formed and shot toward the sect's gate.
Just as it was about to strike—
Rumble!
Thunder roared across the sky.
A bolt of silver lightning descended, striking the Xuan energy arrow and obliterating it instantly.
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.
Countless mysterious symbols surfaced above the sect's mountain gate, rotating faintly and crackling with flashes of lightning.
A suffocating pressure emanated from the formation.
"The Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation, huh? Let's see if it's truly as powerful as the legends claim."
Xiao Chen smirked. He clenched his fist and threw another punch.
Crack!
His punch tore through the air with a deafening roar.
The wind howled violently as countless ancient trees surrounding the mountain gate were reduced to dust.
Boom!
Another devastating bolt of lightning materialized and struck down ferociously.
This time, however, it failed.
The sheer force of Xiao Chen's punch dissipated slightly but still surged forward.
Sensing the threat, the formation seemed to grow enraged.
A cacophony of explosions echoed as multiple bolts of lightning erupted simultaneously.
In an instant, Xiao Chen's attack was shattered.
The sky rumbled, and the scattered lightning coalesced into a massive Thunder Dragon. With a furious roar, it lunged at Xiao Chen!
Xiao Chen raised his eyebrows slightly but showed no panic.
Lifting his hand, he caught the Thunder Dragon mid-air. Then, he opened his mouth and swallowed it whole.
Rumble!
The sound of muffled thunder echoed from within his body as streaks of lightning danced across his skin, exuding a terrifying aura of power.
A satisfied smile crept onto his face. "Not bad. I just displayed combat strength equivalent to level five of the Xuanwu Realm, yet this formation not only withstood my attack but even countered."
"An ordinary Xuanwu Realm level-five cultivator would have been either gravely injured or killed outright just now."
"This is a treasure."
His expression turned sharp. "Since that's the case, I'll break it completely."
Xiao Chen's aura erupted like a primordial beast awakening from slumber. A terrifying power surged through his body.
As if sensing the overwhelming threat, the formation's symbols circulated even faster. The mountain trembled, and thunder roared continuously.
Thunder Dragons materialized one after another, unleashing horrifying roars as they lunged at him.
But Xiao Chen merely chuckled.
He took a single step forward and threw out another punch—calm yet brimming with boundless power.
As his fist advanced, streaks of black energy crackled at its edges. The air grew searing hot.
Boom!
The earth beneath his feet collapsed instantly!
Everything within a hundred-meter radius—grass, trees, buildings—was reduced to ashes!
Crack!
A deafening explosion shook the heavens.
This punch could turn mountains and rivers upside down.
Had the prefecture master and others been present, they would have been utterly terrified.
Because this single strike was enough to obliterate a Xuanwu Realm level-six cultivator.
Boom!
Under the devastating force of his attack, the Thunder Dragon let out a final wail before shattering into countless sparks of lightning.
The shockwave continued, crashing into the mountain gate.
Shatter!
The entire gate trembled violently before exploding into fragments.
Countless runic symbols scattered into the air, dissipating like dust.
The formation had been broken!
With nothing obstructing his path, Xiao Chen finally laid eyes upon the scene beyond the gate.
He stepped forward and reached out, grasping a chessboard-like object in his hand.
Intricate carvings and lifelike symbols adorned its surface, radiating a deep, profound energy.
This was the core of the Nine Xuan Spirit Convergence Formation!
A priceless treasure within the prefecture city.
Ordinarily, formations were drawn by borrowing the power of heaven and earth. Such formations were temporary, vanishing once their energy was depleted.
However, when a formation master carved a formation into an object, it became a permanent array. As long as the core remained intact, the formation could be used indefinitely.
Of course, the cost of engraving such a formation was immense—something only the most powerful formation masters could achieve.
Xiao Chen's gaze shifted as he noticed another formation diagram inscribed on the back.
Dense lines and runic symbols were etched into the surface, and at the very top, several powerful words stood out:
A Supreme Yellow-Level Formation—The Tenth Xuan Thunder Diagram!