Three weeks had passed since Zhang Liwei left his seclusion site, immersing himself in the rigorous practice of formation techniques. The toll of living in the wild was evident in his haggard appearance. His robe was caked with dirt and mud, and his face and hair were similarly covered with grime and plant debris. Yet, the spark of determination in his eyes remained undiminished. With limited time and the burden of ensuring his friends' safety, Liwei pushed himself to the brink, relying on perseverance and dedication to make up for his lack of innate talent. His sharp intelligence and keen observation skills became his greatest assets in mastering the basic formations.
Liwei ventured deep into the mountains, far from where any sect disciples would dare to go. The dense vegetation suggested that few, if any, had set foot in this remote region. His journey had no clear direction; he followed his instincts, seeking out potential Qi sources and practicing formations wherever he found them.
During these three weeks, Liwei managed to practice most of the basic formations described in the 'Art of Myriad Changes.' However, certain formations, such as the Pure Yin Reflection Array, required special Qi sources that he had yet to find. He knew that sources of extreme Yin or Yang Qi were rare in these mountains, typically found in frozen lands, deserts, or volcanic regions.
His progress was marked by a process of trial and error. Repeatedly, he set up formations, tweaking and adjusting them each time they failed to yield the desired outcome. Consistency remained elusive, but each failure taught him valuable lessons, bringing him closer to mastery.
One afternoon, as he was navigating a particularly dense part of the forest, Liwei sensed a peculiar yet familiar Qi in the distance. It was Earth Qi, the very essence he was born with an affinity for. Earth Qi always felt like an embrace from his mother, offering warmth and comfort. The grueling weeks of intensive practice had worn him down, and the call of the Earth Qi provided much-needed solace.
Driven by this comforting energy, Liwei decided to track its source. He moved cautiously through the forest, feeling the Qi's presence grow stronger. The Earth Qi emanated across a wide region, making it difficult to pinpoint its exact origin. Closing his eyes, Liwei focused on the sensation, trying to track the Qi's flow. He moved from spot to spot, noting where the Qi felt potent and where it faded.
Using inference and his heightened sensitivity, he deduced that the source was coming from underground. Determined to find it, Liwei continued his search, each step guided by the pulse of Earth Qi. He eventually reached a small clearing, where the Qi felt particularly strong. Kneeling on the ground, he placed his palms on the soil, allowing his Qi to resonate with the Earth Qi beneath.
The strong flow of Qi emanating from the earth likely indicated the presence of an Earth Vein, or perhaps even a Dragon Vein. Zhang Liwei's study of the 'Art of Myriad Changes' had taught him the distinction between these two powerful conduits of natural energy. While both Earth Veins and Dragon Veins influenced the flow of Qi in their environments, Dragon Veins were far more potent, carrying auspicious energy capable of shaping the destiny and fortune of entire regions. Sects and empires sought Dragon Veins to ensure their prosperity.
Realizing he might be near a powerful Qi source, Liwei's interest was piqued. He set his bag down and used his Earth Submersion Art to burrow into the ground, guided by his Qi sense. The journey through the earth was silent, the cool soil parting effortlessly before him. Despite his efforts, he couldn't pinpoint the exact source of the potent Qi. Frustrated, he resurfaced and considered his next steps. He thought about learning and using his Earth Resonance Probe Technique, which would allow him to detect underground minerals or energy sources. However, he decided against it, reminding himself that this was not the time to learn and practice a new technique—his focus should remain on mastering formations.
Liwei moved to the general location where the Qi felt strongest. He considered the formations that required Earth Qi, settling on one that would serve both as practice and as a test of his skills. He felt a robust stream of Earth Qi radiating from deep underground. Using his Luopan Compass to identify the appropriate locations, he laid out his formation flags. The compass guided him, ensuring each flag was placed precisely where it could best channel the Qi.
The flags fluttered as they absorbed and channeled the Earth Qi. Liwei put the Luopan Compass back in his bag and observed as the earth began to rise, forming a wide earthen wall about five yards in width. This was the Eternal Earthguard Array, designed to deter enemy advancements or serve as a shield against attacks. Its name, 'Eternal,' stemmed from its ability to stand indefinitely as long as Qi was supplied and the flags remained undisturbed.
The wall rose slowly, gaining height as more Qi was drawn into the formation. However, when it reached waist height, it crumbled, scattering the flags across the ground. Liwei sighed deeply. Another failure. He gathered the flags and tried again, making slight adjustments to their placement. Each time, the earthen wall rose only to collapse again.
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Frustration etched itself into his features. Despite using the compass and following the instructions from his book, he couldn't maintain the structure. He mentally recalculated the distribution of Earth Qi, verifying that his placements were correct. Yet, the wall continued to crumble.
Casting the flags aside in frustration, Zhang Liwei took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the tranquil surroundings. He knew that continuing with a hot head wouldn't lead to success. He needed to regain his calm and focus. The dense Earth Qi in the area provided a perfect opportunity to cultivate and center himself.
Finding a flat surface, Liwei sat down, crossing his legs and placing his hands lightly over his Dantian. He closed his eyes, attuning himself to the Earth's rhythm. The Great Earth Breathing Cycle commenced as he harmonized with the surrounding Qi. With each breath, dense streams of Qi flowed from the underground veins, entering his Baihui point, circulating through his meridians, and leaving through his nostrils. The cycle continued, deepening his connection with the Earth Qi.
As he refined the Qi, he realized the profound suitability of the site for cultivation. The Qi seemed to embrace him, entering his body even without conscious effort. It was as if the Earth itself was aiding him, harmonizing his being with its essence. In this moment, Liwei felt an unprecedented unity with the earth, a sense of harmony that transcended his usual practice. The looming deadline, his fears of implicating Feng Hao and Wang Lei, even his homesickness—all these concerns faded away. He felt at one with nature.
After a long while, Liwei let out a deep breath, signaling the end of his cultivation session. His Dantian was now pulsing with strong Qi, brimming with energy. Any further intake could risk a dangerous backlash. Greed, he reminded himself, could undo years of hard work. Opening his eyes, a new idea dawned on him. Since the beginning, he had approached formations with a forceful execution—extracting Qi from a source, channeling it towards the flags, and merging them to activate the formation.
He recalled a passage from the 'Art of Myriad Changes,' which described formation experts as those who align themselves with nature, choosing formations that resonate with the Dao of their surroundings. He had always interpreted this to mean selecting the right formations based on geographical and Qi factors. But now, he saw it differently. True formation experts become a part of nature, merely helping it express the natural laws contained within an area, aiding in its manifestation.
With his Qi sense heightened from recent cultivation, Liwei attuned himself more deeply to the Earth Qi around him. He noticed how the Qi flowed spontaneously from the denser spots, resembling a fountain spreading outward in gentle streams. These streams expanded in a whirlwind pattern, moving outward from the central source.
Observing the prior placement of his flags, Liwei realized some were incorrectly positioned. Although not too far off, a few were haphazardly placed between these natural streams of Qi, disrupting their flow, while others were in spots where the Qi changed direction.
Zhang Liwei had an epiphany. Until now, he had been trying to impose his will upon the world, forcefully redirecting the flow of Qi in ways that created chaos and conflict. It was like trying to block a powerful gust of wind head-on, an effort that often required greater force and led to failure. A simple redirection of the flow, however, required far less effort and achieved the same goal. He realized he had been forcing Qi to take form, which was why he repeatedly failed. His cultivation, expertise in formations, nor the instruments he used were sufficient to impose his will upon nature, especially when dealing with dense sources of Qi. What he needed was to become part of the harmony, gently shifting and redirecting the flow to manifest the Dao.
Liwei finally understood that formations were not static constructs but dynamic expressions of the Dao. With this newfound insight, he focused on the flow and patterns of Qi, using his heightened Qi sense. He placed the flags again, ensuring minimal disruption to the natural flow, allowing the Earth Qi to pool around the flags while maintaining harmony.
Slowly, the earthen wall began to rise again. It grew to twice Liwei's height, forming a formidable obstacle. He observed for a while, noting that the wall had reached the maximum allowable height given the Qi density. Walking around the wall, he took note of its thickness, which was about two feet. The wall, made of ordinary earth, was covered with a thin layer of Earth Qi exuding from its surface.
Liwei approached the wall, stopping just a step away. Straightening his back, he bent his knee slightly and launched a Cliff Crumble Fist into the wall. With a loud bang, the wall shook, chips of earth flying into the air as a depression formed where his fist struck. Returning to a neutral standing position, he examined the extent of the damage. Despite exerting a significant amount of Qi into the punch, his fist had not punctured the entire thickness. The wall caved in about a foot, leaving it half-penetrated.
Exhilaration surged through Liwei. He had finally taken the first step to becoming a formation expert. From this moment onward, he could, at least for basic formations and in the right environment, set up formations correctly and appropriately without requiring multiple attempts. A satisfied smile spread across his face as he continued setting up other formations utilizing Earth Qi to confirm his understanding. Each formation he set up now responded as it should, reinforcing that his newfound approach was correct.
With each successful formation, Liwei's confidence grew. He realized that the essence of formations was in aligning with nature, allowing the natural laws of the environment to express themselves through his arrangements. This revelation marked a significant milestone in his cultivation journey. He felt a profound connection with the nature and the Dao of Formations, a bond that would guide him in future challenges.
As night fell, he remained in the clearing, basking in the tranquility of his surroundings. The stars above twinkled like distant lanterns, and the soft hum of the Earth Qi lulled him into a state of peace. For the first time in a long while, he felt truly at ease, ready to face whatever came next with the wisdom he had gained.