He could only gape in shocked silence as he tried to form words. The monstrously strong cultivator on the water's edge stared him down with a piercing gaze, that had him feeling pretty vulnerable.

As he stood there, Jiang Tao couldn't help but think. Don't tell me this is how my second death goes.

“P-peace. Please forgive this juniors impertinence senior,” He apologized hastily bowing respectfully despite his current state of undress.

The elder's expression softened slightly at Jiang Tao's response, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

"Impertinence, indeed," he mused.

Gathering his wits, Jiang Tao exited from the water and bowed respectfully, despite his lack of clothing. “Senior, this one is Jiang Tao of Persimmon Peak, inner sect disciple of the celestial illumination sect. I apologize for intruding, Senior. I only sought to cleanse myself after a breakthrough."

"You are a disciple of the Imperial sect," the elder stated, his voice carrying a hint of recognition. It was more of a statement than a question. “so… It's that time again?”

"Yes, senior," Jiang Tao replied, keeping his gaze respectfully lowered.

"How fortuitous…” the man muttered cryptically.

It seemed like the elder was considering something as he scrutinized Jiang Tao with piercing eyes. After a moment of silence, he nodded to himself, as if coming to a decision

Better be nothing salacious, old man. I dont swing that way… He thought wryly.

“Dress, follow,” He commanded.

Jiang Tao quickly complied, nodding in acknowledgment of the elder's command, there was nothing he could do but obey.

Hastily retrieving his robes from his storage, he dressed quickly, mindful of maintaining a respectful demeanor despite his unease.

Once properly attired, he followed the elder, stepping carefully to match the elder's measured pace.

As they walked, Jiang Tao stole glances at the elder, trying to glean any information he could from the man's demeanor. The elder's expression remained inscrutable, placid as a pond.

After what seemed like an eternity of silence, they reached a small clearing deep within the valley.

There, nestled among ancient trees and flowering bushes, was a simple stone pavilion. Its weathered columns and intricate carvings hinted at a long-forgotten era, where cultivation was revered above all else. Four formation flags surrounded it, one at each corner.

The elder gestured for Jiang Tao to enter the pavilion, his voice low but commanding. "Sit."

He entered the pavilion, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Inside the pavilion, Jiang Tao found himself in a space that seemed untouched by time. The qi felt potent and refined, he was almost tempted to start cultivating at that very moment.

He took a seat as instructed, cross-legged on the cool, polished floor. The man followed him and settled on the fade mat directly across from him.

"Senior," Jiang Tao began tentatively, breaking the silence that had settled between them like a heavy fog. "May I know your esteemed name?"

“My name was lost to the wind long ago…But you call me Yao Xiang” he said.

"Yao Xiang," Jiang Tao repeated respectfully, committing the elder's name to memory.

The elder, Yao Xiang, observed Jiang Tao in silence for a long moment, his gaze probing yet strangely calm.

“Your potential is vast,” Yao Xiang remarked with a nod of his head.

“Senior Yao is too kind,” Jiang Tao replied humbly, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment of Yao Xiang's words.

"Senior, if may... what is this place?" Jiang Tao ventured, his voice respectful yet tinged with curiosity.

“My prison,” Yao Xiang answered succinctly.

"Your prison, senior?" Jiang Tao repeated, unsure if he had heard correctly. His gaze flickered to the formation flags encircling the pavilion, thoughts starting to race.

Yao Xiang nodded solemnly, his expression unreadable yet tinged with a hint of resignation. "Yes. This is where fate has bound me for countless years, where I exist in solitude, contemplating the errors of my past."

"Forgive my impertinence, senior, but what transgression could confine someone of your attainment to such a place?" He asked, the curiosity burning too bright to contain.

“I am a pale shadow of my former power. I threw my lot in with the losing side and was bound here,” Yao Xiang's voice carried the weight of centuries-old regret.

"I served the Thundercloud Sect in its twilight days," Yao Xiang continued, his eyes distant as if peering into the depths of memory. "A leading formation master in the dominion I was chosen to be an elder for the Imperial sect. During the chaos of succession, I supported the fourth prince’s claim,"

He paused, his gaze piercing Jiang Tao's as if to ensure the young disciple understood the magnitude of his words.

"When our fortunes turned, I chose to stand by him even when it meant defiance against the newly crowned Emperor," Yao Xiang's voice grew quieter, laden with regret. "In the aftermath, our faction and my sect were slaughtered. My cultivation dispersed to the wind and I was sealed here,”

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“These formations are the only thing that sustains me but I am fading,"

Oh my god… This succession war is more serious than I thought. He thought grimly. And I'm right in the thick of it.

His resolve to advance hardened even more. He would see to it Zhang Yuhan was the victor, no matter the cost.

"Senior Yao," Jiang Tao began cautiously, choosing his words with care, "your expertise in formations must be profound indeed, to sustain you for so long. Is there no way to break free from this imprisonment?"

He couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the old man, trapped in this secluded valley for what seemed like an eternity.

Yao Xiang shook his head slightly, a wistful smile flickering across his face. "The seals are bound by the very essence of my being now. To undo them would be to risk unraveling what little remains of my existence."

Silence settled between them once more, thick with unspoken thoughts and the weight of Yao Xiang's confinement. Jiang Tao struggled to find words that could offer comfort or solace in such a dire situation.

"Senior Yao, if there is anything I can do..." Jiang Tao began, his tone earnest.

"I am willing to help in any way possible. Perhaps there is a path to redemption or a chance to set things right."

The emperor can't be that mad right, it's been what? 9 millennia? He mused.

"You are young and full of potential, Jiang Tao," Yao Xiang finally spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of hope. "You stand before me a disciple of imperial sect, after so many millennia,"

“Nothing would please me more than to impart my legacy,” he continued.

Jiang Tao promptly kowtowed. "Disciple greets master,"

Yao Xiang's gaze softened at Jiang Tao's display of respect. It had been many millennia since anyone had shown him such deference, and the gesture touched a chord deep within him.

"Rise, young disciple," he said gently, his voice carrying a weight of authority softened by years of solitude. "There is much to learn and so little time."

Jiang Tao lifted his head, his expression a blend of reverence and determination. "Master Yao, I am honored to receive your teachings," he said earnestly.

“Very well, I shall impart my knowledge to you Jiang Tao of Persimmon Peak”

"Thank you, Master Yao," he murmured gratefully. "Your guidance is invaluable to this junior."

----------------------------------------

The old man had him cultivate in the pavilion, telling him they would begin once he had all twelve ordinary meridians open. It was a bit of a bummer but he didn't mind much. The qi within the formations around the pavilion was thick and potent.

He’d reach it before he knew it.

Master Yao tended to just wander around the clearing, doing god knows what. He couldn't blame the poor guy though, he'd been alone in the valley for an unfathomable amount of years, Jiang Tao was sure he'd go stir-crazy too if he was in the same circumstances.

It looked like he had to put a pin on the search for the others. While he was concerned, he could only hope they were doing ok. After all most of them had prior training compared to him.

What mattered most right now was his progress and as such he wouldn't throw away the momentous opportunity that had landed in his lap.

Days blurred into weeks as he immersed himself in cultivating under the pavilion, Master Yao proved to be an invaluable teacher regarding his cultivation. As an Elder of the Thundercloud sect, he was intimately familiar with lightning-based paths.

As such his pointers proved very useful for his Storm path.

It took about three weeks for him to clear his eleventh meridian. Master Yao approached him the day after.

"Disciple," Yao Xiang said, his voice cutting through the quiet concentration of the pavilion. Jiang Tao looked up from his meditation.

"Master Yao," Jiang Tao responded respectfully, rising from his meditative position and facing the elder.

“It's time we prepare for your first lessons on the arts of formations and Arrays,” his master remarked.

“You will need materials,”

"Of course, Master Yao, this disciple understands," Jiang Tao replied, his heart quickening with anticipation

.

“We will start the basics, a brush and a medium,”

Jiang Tao nodded cluelessly. A brush? Where in the world am I supposed to find a brush? He thought his forehead scrunching in concentration.

Yao Xiang chuckled softly at his perplexed expression.

“Fret not, the materials you need are not far beyond your reach,” he reassured.

“Where do I find such materials, Master?” Jiang Tao asked.

“West of here, a group of spirit beasts make their den. Their fur should make for a passable brush tip for your needs,” Yao Xiang explained with a thoughtful hum.

"Thank you, Master Yao," Jiang Tao responded gratefully. "I will head west immediately."

As he left the pavilion he couldn't help the apprehension he felt. Foundation-level beasts? While he was only qi awakening? Sure he was on the precipice of reaching peak qi awakening but it still felt daunting.

He needed a plan, so it wouldn't turn out to be a suicide mission. With resigned determination, he trekked westward, out of the clearing and back into the thick of the forest.

He couldn't help but chuckle at the irony of his situation, he threw himself into cultivation to escape the crushing circumstances of his second life but here he was roughing it up in the forest.

Can't complain too much though, I can do magic now. He thought wryly.

The forest was the same as it had been weeks back, with tall towering trees and dense scrub. He would probably have to camp out here. Who knows how far out this den of spirit beast was especially with such imprecise instructions like 'go west.'

“Cultivators really can't help being cryptic,” He sighed.

Master Yao even more so with his vague mention of ‘spirit beasts. They could be anything from wolves, tigers, or bears. Each one of those required a different way to engage.

It looks like he was just going to have to find out. At least the payoff would be so worth it.

"Alright," he whispered, "let's do this."