Inside the quiet chamber, Eli Shan settled into a meditative stance, the world around him gradually fading into the background. He closed his eyes, drawing a deep breath, and let his spiritual consciousness unfurl like a vast, invisible wave. The universal law thrummed in his veins, amplifying his awareness to the farthest reaches.

His consciousness expanded beyond the confines of the room, cascading over the mountain range like a mist. Every rock, tree, and blade of grass came into sharp focus as his senses extended outward. Even the tiniest particles of dust, swirling lazily in the air, were not beyond his perception.

As Eli Shan's senses swept over the mountain, he began to notice faint, intangible patterns woven into its very essence. They were intricate and mysterious, like threads of an ancient tapestry hidden from the untrained eye. "Is this a formation?" he whispered to himself, intrigued by the discovery.

He focused his mind, trying to decipher the patterns, but their complexities eluded him. Frustration flickered across his features. "It seems I can't understand it yet... but I can't just give up," he muttered, determination flaring within him.

Time slipped away as he delved deeper into the formation, but no matter how hard he tried, the mysteries remained just out of reach. He sighed heavily, feeling the weight of the challenge. "Perhaps it's time to give up, for now," he thought, a hint of resignation creeping into his voice.

But as he was about to withdraw, a spark of inspiration ignited within him. "Wait... maybe I can try that," Eli Shan mused, his eyes lighting up with renewed hope. A grin spread across his face as he refocused his spiritual senses on the mysterious patterns. This time, he summoned the true strength of the universe, merging it seamlessly with his spiritual consciousness.

The formation patterns slowly began to unravel before his enhanced perception. The intricate design, once incomprehensible, now started to make sense. "Finally... I can understand it," he whispered, a sense of triumph in his voice.

Even though he didn't fully grasp the inner workings, his strengthened consciousness allowed him to perceive the formation's purpose. It was a barrier, a protective veil cast over his mountain peak, shielding it from the prying eyes and spiritual senses of others. A deep satisfaction settled over him as he realized just how great this formation was. "No one can peek inside my mountain peak. It's truly an amazing formation!"

The more he discovered about the formation, the more it piqued Eli Shan's curiosity. "What is the formation? How does it work? I want to learn everything about it!" His desire to uncover the secrets burned brightly.

Determined, he spread his enhanced consciousness across the world, searching for a book. After a time, he located numerous books on formations, their ancient texts tucked away in hidden corners of libraries and temples. Yet, as he scanned their contents with his spiritual consciousness, disappointment settled in. The information they contained was incomplete, mere fragments of the full picture. "These are only scraps," he muttered, a frown forming. "What should I do?"

Unwilling to give up, Eli Shan made a bold decision. "I'll search this entire small universe," he declared, extending his consciousness further, enveloping the vast universe within his reach. His soul universe was an infinite realm, containing countless smaller universes, each a world unto itself. The one he searched for now was just one among many.

Though powerful, Eli Shan knew he couldn't fully harness the might of his soul universe. If he could, he would have found Xie Meng long ago. Even so, his resolve didn't waver as he meticulously combed through the fabric of the universe, determined to uncover what he sought.

Suddenly, a glimpse of something extraordinary caught his attention, a fleeting mystery that made him pause. "The soul universe... it's not as simple as it seem, is it?" he murmured, intrigued. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a dark soul into existence before him.

The dark soul, no larger than the palm of his hand, appeared, its form shifting and flickering with energy. It gazed at Eli Shan with an unmistakable excitement, bouncing around him with childlike exuberance.

Eli Shan watched it curiously, a mix of wonder and realization dawning on him. "So, you are the universal law?" he asked.

The dark soul gazed at Eli Shan with a look of pure confusion, its small, flickering form hovering in the air. Eli Shan couldn't help but find it adorable. He extended his hand slowly, inviting the dark soul closer.

With a curious tilt of its ethereal head, the dark soul fluttered in the air like a wisp of smoke before gently settling onto Eli Shan's open palm. Its form pulsed faintly, a shadowy presence that defied all natural order, as though it existed beyond the realm of life and death. Eli Shan's consciousness wrapped around the soul like a tendril of thought, probing its essence with a careful, deliberate touch.

But no matter how deeply he delved, the dark soul remained an enigma—a void of secrets that refused to reveal itself. It wasn't just its impenetrable nature that intrigued him; it was its stillness, a kind of existence that seemed untouched by the world’s demands. No hunger. No thirst. No ambition. It simply was—a pure embodiment of being, floating in the silence of its own existence.

The more Eli Shan explored its essence, the more he felt an inexplicable bond form between them, like an unspoken connection that transcended words or logic. There was a flicker of recognition in the soul, a distant echo of something familiar. It was as if the soul saw him not just as its master but as something far more intimate—a creator, perhaps even a father. Yet, beyond that faint acknowledgment, the soul did nothing. It lingered in his palm, a silent puzzle that only deepened the mystery.

Eli Shan’s brow furrowed in thought. What are you? He stared at the soul, his gaze filled with wonder and uncertainty.

"Hey," he murmured softly, as though afraid to break the delicate moment. "Can you understand me?"

The soul’s form shifted ever so slightly, a subtle response that hinted at understanding—but offered no answers.

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"Can you understand me? Who are you? Are you the will of this universe? The will of the universal law?" His questions tumbled out, driven by his desire to uncover the truth. But the dark soul merely looked at him with the same confused expression.

Eli Shan sighed, feeling a twinge of disappointment. "So you can't even speak. Can you understand me? If you do, can you find me the best formation book in this world?" he asked, half-joking, half-hopeful. The dark soul continued to float in the air, its tiny face lighting up with a cute, innocent smile.

"Haah, I guess you can't really understand me," Eli Shan muttered, resigning himself to the idea that this interaction was fruitless. Just as he was about to redirect his consciousness to search for a formation book, the dark soul suddenly darted toward him, hugging his cheek with surprising warmth. "Nu nu nu," it chirped, the sound soft and childlike.

Eli Shan blinked in surprise. "Oh, you can talk? But... what do you mean?" he asked, perplexed by the soul's cryptic sounds.

"Nu?" the dark soul responded, tilting its head as if equally confused by Eli Shan's confusion. The bizarre conversation left Eli Shan feeling like he was chasing shadows, yet there was something undeniably charming about it.

Just as he was about to give up and use his consciousness to search for a formation book, a sudden flash of light materialized in front of him. A book appeared, suspended in midair, its ancient cover radiating with power.

Eli Shan stared at the dark soul, who was now hovering excitedly. "Huh? Did you do this, little soul?" he asked, a mix of disbelief and amazement in his voice.

The dark soul bounced excitedly, chirping, "Nu nu nu!" as if it had just performed the greatest trick in the world.

Eli Shan couldn't help but laugh, a silly grin spreading across his face. "Haha, I can't understand you, but I'm sure this is your doing." He looked at the eager little soul and felt a warmth in his heart. "I should give you a name, shouldn't I? Hmm... you're dark, and you're strong too... how about Shadow?"

The dark soul—now Shadow—began to jump around even more energetically, clearly thrilled by the name. "Nu nu nu!" it chanted, nodding its tiny head in agreement.

Eli Shan smiled warmly. "So, you like the name, huh?"

Shadow nodded again, its tiny form practically vibrating with joy. "Nu nu," it affirmed, making Eli Shan chuckle softly.

Eli Shan chuckled, his voice warm. "Haha, you're good, Shadow, but remember, never show yourself in front of others, understood?"

Shadow nodded eagerly, rubbing its small, dark form affectionately against Eli Shan's cheek. The gesture brought a smile to his face, a fleeting moment of tenderness before he shifted his attention back to the mysterious book floating before him.

Carefully, Eli Shan moved Shadow aside and reached for the book. As soon as he opened it, a torrent of knowledge surged into his mind, overwhelming in its intensity. It was as if an entire ocean of understanding was pouring into him, threatening to drown his consciousness.

Without hesitation, he sat cross-legged, allowing the vast sea of information to wash over him, absorbing every detail, every nuance.

Eli Shan wasn't just any cultivator. He was a prodigy, a rare genius who could grasp the depths of techniques with a mere glance. Complex methods that would take others years to comprehend were like second nature to him. And here, within the boundless expanse of his soul universe, everything felt even more intuitive. Concepts that once seemed distant and abstract now flowed into him with startling ease. His very essence seemed attuned to this place, making learning not only effortless but almost instinctual.

Time lost all meaning as he delved deeper into the book. Hours blurred into days, and days melded into weeks. The outside world faded into insignificance as Eli Shan immersed himself in the intricate patterns and principles of formation arts. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he opened his eyes, a triumphant smile curling his lips. "This book's explanation is unparalleled. There's no simpler and clearer way to understand formations."

Eager to put his newfound knowledge to the test, Eli Shan extended his hand to the ground, swiftly drawing complex circles and lines with practiced ease. In mere seconds, the formation was complete, and a soft, yellow light began to emanate from the intricate design.

Suddenly, the surrounding qi converged on the formation, drawn in as if by an invisible force. Eli Shan's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. "Success," he whispered, a sense of accomplishment warming his heart. "This is the most basic level of a qi-gathering formation."

His confidence bolstered, Eli Shan moved his hand once more, tracing a larger, more intricate formation on the ground. This time, as the final line connected, a vibrant red light erupted from the design. Eli Shan couldn't contain his excitement, his heart racing with the thrill of achievement. "Red light... that means it's a combat formation! If anyone touches this, they'll be torn apart—at least, if they're only at the Body and Soul Formation realm."

Though it was the lowest level of formation, Eli Shan's success filled him with pride. The book mentioned that mastering even a basic formation could take more than a year, yet he accomplished it within a week.

Fueled by his triumph, Eli Shan continued to practice, perfecting his formations with relentless determination. Hours stretched into days as he honed his skills, the outside world slipping further away. His focus was absolute, his mind wholly absorbed in the intricate dance of lines and circles, of qi and light. For now, nothing else mattered but the pursuit of mastery.

A few days passed, and Eli Shan felt a disturbance outside his mountain peak. Someone had arrived. During this time, he had discovered a token within the mountain, granting him control over the peak's formation. With a thought, he deactivated the barrier, allowing the visitor to land.

The figure that descended was a handsome man, his presence commanding yet calm. He surveyed the area before his gaze settled on Eli Shan. With a respectful gesture, he cupped his fist and bowed slightly. "You must be Junior Brother Eli Shan. My name is Wen Lun, the second disciple of the Sword Sect."

Eli Shan mirrored the gesture, his expression composed. "It's an honor that Senior Brother Wen Lun has come to my mountain peak."

Wen Lun smiled, though his gaze was sharp, analytical, as it swept over Eli Shan from head to toe. His eyes lingered on every detail, as though searching for some hidden quality that set the young man apart. There had to be something—why else would Senior Brother Jian Wu speak so highly of him? But after a thorough look, he found nothing out of the ordinary, except that he couldn't discern Eli Shan's cultivation level. It was as if Eli Shan was shrouded in mystery.

With a thoughtful nod, Wen Lun extended his hand, presenting a golden token to Eli Shan. "Junior Brother, take this. Senior Brother Jian Wu has arranged this for you. You are now an official high-ranking disciple of the Sword Sect, so continue to grow and make the most of it."

Eli Shan accepted the golden token, immediately recognizing its significance. This was no ordinary token—it represented a high status within the sect. But how had Jian Wu managed to arrange this without Eli Shan even showing his face?

Sensing Eli Shan's unspoken question, Wen Lun offered an explanation. "As the eldest disciple of the Sword Sect, Senior Brother Jian Wu has the authority to accept one high-ranking disciple every fifty years. He has chosen you, so do not disappoint him."

Understanding dawned on Eli Shan, and he nodded firmly. "I will do my best to live up to his expectations."

Wen Lun smiled, satisfaction evident in his eyes. "Remember, I am also your Senior Brother. If you ever need assistance, you can reach out to me." He handed Eli Shan a contact tablet, a small device that pulsed with a faint energy. With that, Wen Lun turned and ascended into the sky, swiftly disappearing from sight.

Eli Shan watched him leave, a smile playing on his lips. "These people aren't so bad after all," he murmured, feeling a sense of camaraderie. With the token and tablet in hand, he returned to his study of formations, the drive to improve stronger than ever.