Jiang Tang was once celebrated as a genius, but his remarkable abilities eventually turned him into a resource that powerful organizations wanted to control. After escaping that role, he enters a world filled with cultivators, factions, and larger-than-life figures who all seem determined to define him before he can define himself. Some see a future ruler, others a dangerous rival, and still others simply a useful worker. Jiang, however, insists that he wants an ordinary life. The problem is that every new encounter makes that ordinary future harder to reach—and reveals more about why his abilities matter.
Chapter 28: Drawing the Array
Within the Starry Cloud Sea, Cloud and Mist Mountain was as ethereal as a fairyland—serene and peaceful. Yet, on a single, flat peak within the mountain, Hua Mo Leng grabbed Jiang Tang by the shoulders and immediately channeled his cultivation technique. Instantly, the fierce gale sweeping around them sent a chill down Jiang Tang’s spine. However, soon after, enveloped by Hua Mo Leng’s teleportation light, Jiang Tang felt as though he were completely cut off from the outside world. In just ten breaths, Hua Mo Leng carried Jiang Tang through layer upon layer of clouds, emerging at the Fire Snake Formation, Water Snake Formation, Iron Snake Formation, and Earth Snake Formation. Even the second-tier Thunder Python Formation and Blood Python Formation—though they all followed the same basic formation diagram—used entirely different materials for their construction.” Jiang Tang didn’t bother to argue. Although Qiong Sang was correct, there were still over a thousand types of first-tier formation diagrams. It was just that Dongfang had limited exposure to them—he’d only studied a few general compendiums of formations. Those were shoddy, cheap materials; learning them was a complete waste of time, since eighty percent of formations were used solely to guard Cave Abodes and residences against intruders. Back when there were many celestial beasts in the Four Directions, first-tier formations were indeed quite versatile, but nowadays, they’re only really useful in places like the Sand Sea—and even then, that was three years ago. Even after surpassing the hundred mark, Dongfang didn’t stop; he continued to swiftly draw talismans and array diagrams. None of the three of them knew that, at that very moment, things were getting pretty chaotic outside! On the Void Mystic Light Formation Rankings, Jiang Tang’s name was skyrocketing—from appearing in the 500th spot less than an hour ago, it had soared into the top 100, and his ascent showed no signs of slowing down as he kept forcing his way up the list! “Who is this Jiang Tang? The Ten Thousand Formations Pavilion has never heard of him, but if he isn’t a disciple of the Ten Thousand Formations Pavilion, that makes even less sense.” “Hmm, maybe he’s just padding his record with low-tier formations. That doesn’t count as real ability. The final score depends on the overall evaluation—no matter how many formations you set up, if you can’t break them, it’s all for nothing, and your score will still take a hit.” “Huh, another powerhouse has appeared—He Haobo. I’ve heard a little about him. Rumor has it he’s a newly admitted disciple—a prodigy personally accepted by the Master of the Ten Thousand Formations Pavilion, no less. To rise so quickly… his array-drawing speed seems even faster than that Jiang Tang’s…”Before this disciple, who was watching the rankings, could finish his sentence, he watched in utter shock as one name after another popped up, climbing the ranks at a frantic pace. “Could it be… is the Ten Thousand Formations Pavilion about to make its move?”
