Zhang Liwei returned to his seclusion site, the sun already well past its zenith, casting mottled shadows across the secluded clearing. The light filtered through the thick canopy above, dappling the ground with patterns that shifted gently in the breeze. As he walked, Liwei's thoughts turned to Zhou Yu. Her hut was just ahead, likely silent as she immersed herself in meditation. Zhou Yu had only just begun her cultivation journey, her strength and capabilities still nascent. The weight of responsibility settled on his shoulders as he resolved to ensure her safety from the sect's undercurrents of extortion and danger. He knew that after their first mission, it was imperative for her to strengthen her martial prowess.

His steps took him past Zhou Yu's hut to Feng Hao's, nestled nearby. Standing outside, he called out, "Feng Hao, are you inside?"

Moments later, Feng Hao emerged, surprise evident on his face. "Liwei, back so soon? What's happened?"

Liwei gestured towards the path leading away from the huts. "Can we walk?"

Sensing the tension in his friend's voice, Feng Hao nodded without hesitation. Together, they moved away from the seclusion site, their footsteps crunching softly on the path. They arrived at Liwei's Qi Cultivation site, a rocky outcrop that offered a panoramic view of the Wuyi Mountains, peaks rising majestically against the horizon.

Liwei began to recount the events that had transpired in Feng Hao's absence—his encounter with one of the Five Malevolent Tigers, the defense of Wang Lei, and the corrupt underbelly of the cadre that had been revealed. Feng Hao listened in silence, his expression growing graver with each passing moment.

When Liwei finished, silence hung between them, the gravity of the situation settling like a shroud. Feng Hao turned to Liwei, his face serious. "If I were in your place, I would have done the same."

Liwei met his gaze, the unspoken burden of their shared struggle heavy in the air. Feng Hao continued, his voice steady. "If you fail to achieve your goals of gaining recognition and protection from the elders, I will leave with you. We'll travel the world as rogue cultivators once more."

Liwei shook his head, startled by his friend's declaration. "That's not wise, Feng Hao. You don't need to give up this opportunity. The sect offers us growth and protection."

A smile tugged at Feng Hao's lips, though his eyes remained serious. "It's what my Dao Heart tells me to do. If I were to let you leave, having fought for justice, my Dao Heart would falter. Without it, I can't progress. Better to seek our fortunes together than to stay and fail."

Liwei felt a rush of emotions, his gratitude overwhelming. First Wang Lei, now Feng Hao—both willing to abandon the prestigious Eternal Daoist Sect for his sake. The enormity of their loyalty humbled him.

He looked at Feng Hao, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know how to thank you. This is a rare opportunity, and yet you're willing to throw it away for me."

Feng Hao placed a hand on Liwei's shoulder, his grip firm. "You're my brother, Liwei. Together, we're stronger. And I believe in your fate. The Five Malevolent Tigers and others like them cannot deter you."

Taking a deep breath, Liwei nodded. "I accept this challenge. I'll prove my worth to the elders, no matter the risk."

Feng Hao's smile widened, his confidence infectious. "I have no doubt. You have a destiny that's beyond their grasp."

As they turned back towards their huts, walking shoulder-to-shoulder, Liwei's resolve hardened. The path ahead was fraught with peril, but with brothers like Feng Hao and Wang Lei by his side, he knew he could face whatever challenges the sect life threw at him.

Back in his hut, Zhang Liwei calmed his mind. The silence of his retreat enveloped him, a stark contrast to the turmoil within. The immense pressure to succeed weighed heavily on his shoulders, but so did the motivation to strive for excellence. Failure wasn't an option; if he faltered, he would drag Wang Lei and Feng Hao out of the sect with him. The prospect of their sacrifice was a burden he refused to bear.

He had five months until the examination by an elder regarding his attainment in the Dao of Formations. Additionally, he needed to memorize two more books before returning them to the library. His plan crystallized: memorize the books' contents first, then dedicate the remaining time to studying and practicing formations, and finally, focus on his martial techniques to prepare for the upcoming tournament. A straightforward yet sound strategy that relied on maximizing both his opportunities.

For the next week, Liwei remained confined to his hut, except for his morning routine of cultivating his Dantian. He asked Feng Hao, who was visiting the Resource Exchange Area, to buy Nutrition Pills on his behalf, ensuring he didn't need to leave his seclusion for nourishment. Each morning, he visited his cultivation rock, refined Qi for a few hours, then returned to his hut to continue memorizing the books.

Memorizing the texts wasn't the challenge; it was understanding the profound natural laws within them. Absorbing the essence of the books took more time than simple rote learning. Over the course of a month and a week, he fully committed the contents of 'Art of Myriad Changes,' 'Earth Resonance Probe,' and 'Stone Soaring Step' to memory. Most cultivators of his level would struggle with three such texts, but Liwei's determination and focus enabled him to achieve this feat. Yet, memorization was just the first step. Pondering their deeper meanings and practicing for mastery lay ahead.

With the three techniques firmly memorized, Liwei decided to return to 'Art of Myriad Changes,' focusing on increasing his understanding of the Dao of Formations. He still had a little over four months to deepen his comprehension. Understanding the theory was not enough; mastery required endless practice. He decided to visit the Resource Exchange Area to gather supplies for setting up formations.

At the Resource Exchange Area, fortune favored him. He encountered a fifth-grade senior who was upgrading her tools and selling her old set at a bargain price. Liwei seized the opportunity, purchasing the entire set for a fraction of the cost it would have taken to buy the tools individually. The set, carefully assembled and used by the senior through her first four grades, was perfect for his needs. With the Spirit Stones saved, he bought more Nutrition Pills, enough to last well past the examination in six months.

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Arms laden with tools and pots of Nutrition Pills, Liwei was now left with only two Spirit Stones. Using the remaining Spirit Stones, he bought a large, sturdy bag to carry his items. A storage pouch was beyond his means, so the bag would suffice for now. He had spent his entire wealth today, reflecting his mindset of putting everything on the line.

Zhang Liwei returned to his hut, a sense of determination guiding his every step. He began unloading the items from his bag with meticulous care. First, he removed the pots filled with Nutrition Pills, placing them neatly in one corner of the room. These pills would sustain him during his intensive practice sessions, ensuring that his body remained nourished even as he immersed himself in the rigorous demands of his training.

Next, he took out the items he had bought from the senior disciple. The first item he retrieved was a Luopan Compass, a circular metal plate with many layers of symbols and characters. This tool was essential for accurately detecting the environmental Qi of a place. Although Liwei had a heightened sensitivity to Qi, the compass would allow him to decipher the complex matrix of Qi in his surroundings more effectively and draw more power from it.

Following the compass were numerous formation flags, familiar tools crucial to almost every formation. These flags allowed for easy manipulation of the Qi in the environment, enabling the formation to function correctly. Liwei laid them out carefully, their colored surfaces catching the light as he moved them into place.

Lastly, Liwei took out a Daoist Bell, a tool with a long handle and intricate designs covering its surface. The bell was used to control the activation and manipulation of certain formations, its chimes resonating with the natural laws governing Qi.

Liwei recognized that all these tools were of Daoist origin, typical for a Daoist sect like the Eternal Daoist Sect. Other sects had their own unique formations rooted in their specific beliefs and natural laws. Buddhist sects, for example, would use artifacts of Buddhist origins and require strong faith in the teachings of Buddhism to set up and operate formations. Demonic sects, on the other hand, often employed blood sacrifices and life essence to activate their formations, a practice far removed from Daoist principles.

With the items laid out and organized, Liwei felt a surge of readiness. He reviewed the various formations in his mind, most of which were basic arrays described in 'Art of Myriad Changes.' These formations, while not overly complicated to set up, required quick deployment and precise positioning to be effective. The Dao of Formations emphasized strategy and timing over sheer power, teaching that the best formations were those set up at the right time and place.

Liwei transferred some of the Nutrition Pills into a pouch and packed it along with his tools for geomancy and formations. He also made sure to pack his mysterious staff, which he had carried inside his robe ever since he acquired it. Fully prepared for the journey ahead, he stepped out of his hut, breathing in the crisp, invigorating air of the mountains.

Liwei suddenly remembered the upcoming monthly Dao Conference. If he focused on pursuing the Dao of Formations deep in the mountains, he might miss the conference. After careful consideration, he decided that he would attend the conference, only if the timing coincided, prioritizing the examination above all.

Before leaving the seclusion site, he sought out Feng Hao and Zhou Yu. "I'll be traveling through the Wuyi Mountains to practice my formations," he informed them. "I may be gone for a few days to weeks."

Feng Hao nodded, his eyes reflecting both concern and confidence. "Take care, Liwei. May your training be fruitful."

Zhou Yu offered a supportive smile. "We'll be here when you return. Good luck."

With their well-wishes echoing in his ears, Liwei set off into the wilderness. Leaving his seclusion site behind, Zhang Liwei embarked on a journey guided by instinct and curiosity. His feet carried him through the rugged terrain of the Wuyi Mountains, each step taking him deeper into the wilderness. Along the way, he remained vigilant, attuned to the unique Qi patterns that occasionally surfaced. Whenever he sensed a distinctive flow of Qi, he approached the area, eager to practice his geomancy skills with his Luopan Compass.

In one such location, he noticed the Qi flowing sluggishly, as if obstructed by an unseen barrier. Using the compass, he detected a minor blockage caused by a cluster of rocks and dead trees. He set to work, moving the rocks and clearing away the dead wood. As he did so, he observed the immediate changes in the Qi pattern, though he knew it would take some time for the full effects to manifest. The essence of geomancy lay in promoting harmony and balance within an area, often requiring meticulous landscaping. Liwei understood that while the changes he implemented were subtle, they had the potential to influence the flow of Qi significantly over time.

He also realized that geomancy could be used in reverse to disrupt harmony intentionally, causing an imbalance in the Qi of a region. Such disruptions could harm the occupants, creating negative effects that would unfold slowly. This dual nature of geomancy fascinated him, adding layers to his understanding of how the environment and Qi interacted.

Whenever Liwei encountered areas dense with a specific type of Qi, he practiced setting up formations suited to that Qi source. For instance, near a pond rich with Water Qi, he experimented with water and Yin-based formations. He set up transference nodes to redirect the Qi to a remote location, testing different configurations. His efforts were often trial and error. While attempting the Pure Yin Reflection Array—a formation that created ice mirrors to freeze and disorient targets with myriad reflections—he discovered that the Water Qi wasn't pure or dense enough to sustain it. This reinforced the importance of matching formations to the environmental conditions, a principle repeatedly emphasized in his studies.

Liwei pondered the implications of this lesson. Without the right setup, where Qi was sparse, even potent formations would be severely compromised. This insight illuminated the role of formation experts as strategists. They had to select formations that suited their purpose and find locations where these formations could be effectively deployed. Alternatively, they could identify a location that supported strong Qi and then choose a formation that aligned with their goals, luring adversaries into the trap without them realizing it.

There was also the option of using external Qi sources, such as rare treasures, Beast Cores, or even a cultivator's Dantian, to set up formations. This approach allowed formation experts to operate independently of geographical constraints but was resource-intensive and difficult to maintain over long periods. Liwei understood that this method required a balance of resources and strategic placement to be effective.

As he roamed the mountains, his understanding of the Dao of Formations deepened. He saw how each theory he had memorized came to life through practical application. The interconnectedness of geomancy, formations, and strategy became clearer with each experiment, each success, and each failure. His journey through the mountains was not just a physical trek but an exploration of the profound principles that governed the cultivation world.

In the tranquility of the wilderness, Liwei found clarity. The mountains, with their timeless presence, offered both challenge and wisdom. Every rock, every stream, every gust of wind was a lesson waiting to be learned. His practice sessions became more focused, his movements more precise, as he internalized the teachings of the 'Art of Myriad Changes.'

The mountains, with their endless peaks and hidden valleys, were a reflection of his path as a cultivator—steep, treacherous, yet filled with boundless potential for those who dared to climb. And climb he would, for the sake of his friends, his mentors, and his own unyielding spirit.