After his Master's Disclaimer/Warning Fang Hao was mentally dazed for awhile. While partially revealing his secret to his master was risky, he had a couple of new unexpected tit-bits of information to work with. He spent almost a month searching the literature/documents he had access to him within the sect. The information was mostly in the form of jade-slips. His spiritual sense could scan a regular jade-slips within a few breaths of time, so he had read quite a bit of history/stories/legends.

However, despite his seemingly thorough investigation; the fatty was unable to find any reference to “Heart of Slaughter” or “The Watchers”. While his master wasn't usually serious and was fond of playing cheap practical jokes; he doubted that his master would joke about these two terms. Specially since, the Ancient Restriction – Vow of Silence completely hindered any of his attempts to speak / write or communicate the two terms even in private.

'Well a pretty dope restriction, if I say so myself. Although I expected that I cannot speak about the matters related to the Heart of Slaughter, I can't practically communicate about it in any form. Restrictions seem like quite solid support skill to learn. After the Inter-sect bloodbath, I should pester master about it. I wonder what exactly is the difference between Formations and Restrictions though.' ruminated Fang Hao.

Little did he know that the level of restrictions he considered “dope” was the thing his master had devoted most of his life and cultivation to. His master's reputation in the outside world was feared, hated and respected precisely because of the level of mastery of restrictions. Furthermore, Master Zhu's persona as a vain, petty and shameless cultivator who kept his temper in check but plotted revenge for even the slightest grievance had most cultivators on their tip-toes.

Since the fatty didn't find even a scrap of information about “Heart of Slaughter” and “The Watchers” in his month long research, he shifted his focus to general knowledge about formations and restrictions. His research on this was far more fruitful.

Formations were setups locked to a core and/or a geographic location with a variety of uses. They could be Illusory, Trapping, Defensive, Killing etc. or a formation with a compounded nature with multiple goals. Formations could be broadly divided into Permanent Formations and Mobile Formations.

Mobile Formations used a variety of tools like Formation Discs, Flags and Magic Treasures to quickly set up the relevant Formation. In contrast, setting up permanent formations was a much more arduous job requiring the support and knowledge of auxiliary fields like geomancy and divination.

Formations used to defend locations like sects or organization headquarters tend to be permanent formations as they required massive investment but were also much more powerful. Mobile Formations are generally used in the zone of planned small scale conflicts. For example a cultivator baiting a stronger opponent into a previously prepared mobile formation.

Furthermore, both Permanent Formations and Mobile Formations could have two main modes of operation. One was Active and the other was Passive. Active Operation meant that the formation was controlled by a formation master or even a golem of some sort. Actively operated formations were more dynamic, had better power and harder to break in general.

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Passive Formations followed a set of automated rules. The formation master didn't have to fully invest his concentration in controlling the formation, and hence could focus on something else. Running away after trapping an opponent was a practical example of the utility of passively operated formations.

Restrictions on the other hand, were more similar to spells. While most formations required a variety of materials, some of which could be extremely rare; restrictions largely depended on condensed spiritual sense, also known as mental energy, and skill of the caster. While formations without materials and restrictions requiring materials weren't impossible, they weren't common either.

On the flip-side, restrictions were generally much less powerful than formations but could be quickly set up. While a formations master might not have much additional advantage against restrictions; a restriction master had plenty of additional tools to deconstruct and counter formations. Although a similarly skilled formation master was generally better at countering formations, a restriction master was generally more versatile.

Due to the nature of formations and restrictions, a Formations Master would generally minor in restrictions and vice versa. This was due to the overlap and synergy in studying both these fields. Furthermore, both restrictions and formations could have significant utility in production-related tasks like alchemy, spirit smiting, spirit enchanting etc. So generally Alchemists, Spirit Smiths and the like dabbled in restrictions or formations to better support their craft.

'Looks like restrictions is more versatile and more suitable for me. Who wants to find bazillion rare materials and then spend a gazillion amount of time to set up formation when I can just use condensed spiritual sense (mental energy) and a few flashy hand gestures for neat effects.' thought Fang Hao.

Fang Hao had decided to focus more on restrictions as it seemed more convenient and versatile overall. Of course, the impressive ancient restriction placed on him by his master was a huge factor responsible in swaying him. Naturally, restrictions were far more involved than using condensed spiritual sense (mental energy) and making a few hand gestures like Fang Hao fantasized it to be.

Of course it was a matter of priorities. Most Cultivators wouldn't have any significant accomplishments if they wanted to master Formations, Restrictions, Alchemy and Spirit Smiting etc. and become a auxiliary production powerhouse forging their own treasures, concocting their own pills and setting up their own formations. They would most probably die due to their life-span being exhausted even before they approached a reasonable degree of proficiency in any single field. They wouldn't find much time to cultivate so their lifespan wouldn't be too long either.

Generally it was accepted that other than majoring in a cultivation path, it was best to focus on a single other field and minor on a second field if really desired. So for example; formation masters would major on Qi Cultivation, focus on formations and perhaps minor on restrictions. A Body Refiner would major on body refining, and have a secondary focus on qi cultivation and rarely try to tackle any other field as body refining was very time consuming and resource intensive as it is.

'So my plan of majoring on both Body Refining and Qi Cultivation equally while having a secondary focus on restrictions wouldn't be feasible for most. Good thing I can just kill and farm xp for both my Qi Cultivation and Body Refining. But like Master said, I should have excuses to go on a genocidal rampage.'

'If I look at it another way, this intersect competition is an opportunity to farm xp. I should be able to pushy both Qi Cultivation and Body Refining to the peak of Foundation Establishment if I can find sufficient opponents. Of course, I will slaughter purely for the benefit of the sect and not for my own advancement.' Fang Hao rationalized internally as he started viewing the upcoming intersect competition in a different light.