Two years passed, and Eli Shan secluded himself in his room, immersed in the mysteries of formations. From the moment he received the ancient tome, he was drawn into its depths, relentlessly pursuing knowledge. Day after day, his understanding grew, unraveling secrets that only a few geniuses could comprehend. What began as curiosity evolved into an obsession, each revelation pushing him further into the arcane.

Now, Eli Shan had attained a mastery over formations that even the grandmasters of this small universe could hardly fathom. The realm he had achieved was beyond their wildest dream.

If he wished, Eli Shan could kill a peak Emperor Realm cultivator with ease. Even though crafting such a formation would require time, the mere fact that he could wield such power was an achievement of its own.

But how had Eli Shan achieved such a realm so swiftly? Part of the reason lay in him—he was a once-in-a-lifetime genius, born with unparalleled talent. Yet, the true key to his rapid growth was the book. This ancient tome held formations ranging from the simplest to the most complex, all explained with a clarity that defied comprehension. It was as though the author had intended it for someone exactly like him.

"Who wrote this book?" Eli Shan mused, his mind swirling with curiosity. Despite his achievements, this question nagged at him, echoing through the silence of his chamber.

Just as he drifted into thought, Eli Shan felt a subtle disturbance outside the mountain peak. With a flick of his will, the formation opened up, revealing the presence of a familiar face.

"Senior Brother!" Eli Shan stood up and cupped his fists in respect.

Jian Wu descended gracefully onto the mountain, his white robes billowing like clouds against the emerald peaks. His very presence seemed to brighten the atmosphere, the air around him humming with a serene energy.

With a broad grin that reached his eyes, Jian Wu approached his Junior Brother. "Haha, no need to be so formal, Junior Brother," he said, his voice warm and familiar. He clasped a hand on his Junior Brother's shoulder, a gesture full of brotherly affection.

"It's been ages since I last saw you. The sect has been abuzz with rumors—no one has even caught a glimpse of you. Why have you secluded yourself for so long?" Jian Wu’s tone was light, but beneath it, there was a subtle hint of curiosity, perhaps even concern.

Eli Shan shook his head, offering a simple reply, "Just cultivating."

Jian Wu chuckled. "Cultivating in isolation won't make you strong on its own. Today, we're heading out on an expedition. Care to join us?"

Eli Shan thought for a moment before nodding. "As you wish, Senior Brother."

Jian Wu smiled and gestured. "Then, follow me."

Eli Shan blinked in surprise. "Right now?"

Jian Wu's expression turned serious. "Why wait? If we delay any longer, others will snatch this opportunity. Let's go."

Eli Shan nodded, falling in step behind Jian Wu, his curiosity piqued.

Both of them flew swiftly and landed at the entrance of the mountain.

There, Eli Shan spotted another familiar figure, tapping his foot impatiently.

"Senior Brother Wen Lun," Eli Shan greeted, cupping his fists respectfully.

Wen Lun nodded with a smile. "You're late. Let's not waste any more time."

With a brief exchange of glances, the three of them readied themselves and took to the skies, riding their swords.

Their speed was astonishing—so fast that it felt as though they were teleporting through the air.

But what truly surprised Wen Lun was Eli Shan's effortless pace. When they first set off, Wen Lun had mentally braced himself to slow down for Eli Shan, assuming the young cultivator might struggle to keep up. However, as they soared through the sky, the truth became impossible to ignore—Eli Shan was not merely keeping pace; he was flying with a grace and speed that defied all of his expectations!

The three of them flew at full speed, slicing through the sky like arrows loosed from a bow. The wind howled past them, but Eli Shan remained unfazed, his focus unbroken. After half a day of relentless flight, they finally arrived at their destination—a massive formation encircling the entrance to a dark, foreboding cave.

As they descended and touched down on the ground, the crowd of cultivators gathered around the cave shifted their attention to the newcomers. A wave of recognition swept through the crowd, and the murmur of voices grew into a chorus. "It's Brother Jian Wu and Wen Lun—they're here too!"

Eli Shan noticed the reverence in the eyes of the surrounding cultivators, and it caught him off guard. My senior brothers command such respect?

Of course, he realized, they were Emperor Realm cultivators. It made sense that others would look up to them with such admiration.

The three of them moved forward, cutting through the crowd until they reached the front of the formation, where the cave loomed ominously before them.

Ahead of them, a group of formation masters was busily creating mysterious lines in the air, attempting to unravel the complex formation guarding the cave. The air was thick with tension as they worked, their faces etched with concentration.

Jian Wu stepped forward, extending his hand toward the formation, his eyes narrowing as he silently assessed its strength. The air grew thick with anticipation, and the crowd fell into a hushed silence, too afraid to even breathe loudly. Every eye was on him, waiting for his judgment.

After what felt like an eternity, Jian Wu opened his eyes, his expression grim. "They won't be able to break this formation," he declared, his voice steady as he gestured toward the formation masters.

A wave of shame washed over the formation masters at his words, their faces paling. How could they remain silent after hearing such a statement? One of them, his face flushed with indignation, stepped forward and glared at Jian Wu. "Brother Jian Wu, you may be stronger than us, but that doesn’t give you the right to look down on our abilities," he retorted, his tone sharp and defiant.

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Jian Wu shook his head calmly. "I'm not belittling any of you. But this is an ancient formation, one far beyond the knowledge of anyone here."

The crowd gasped, exchanging looks of awe and concern. An ancient formation? The mere mention of it sent ripples through the gathered cultivators. They knew that such formations were remnants of a bygone era, often requiring the skills of elders or grandmasters to even begin deciphering.

The formation masters exchanged uneasy glances. They were core disciples from one of the top ten sects, yet even they knew their limitations. They were not on par with their elders when it came to formations. And standing before them was Jian Wu, the strongest disciple among all the top ten sects, a prodigy who had reached the Emperor Realm before the age of thirty. If he said they couldn't break the formation, it was likely true.

One of the formation masters sighed and looked at Jian Wu with a resigned expression. "Then what should we do? We can't exactly summon our masters here for this, right?"

Before Jian Wu could respond, Eli Shan stepped forward and placed his hand on the formation. All eyes turned toward him as his fingers lightly brushed against the barrier, as if something was slightly off. After a moment of silent assessment, he turned to the formation masters, his gaze unwavering and resolute. "I'm afraid even your masters wouldn’t be able to break this formation."

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd as everyone's eyes widened in shock.

"Who is this guy?"

"How dare he belittle the elders of the top ten sects?"

"He must have a death wish."

The murmurs spread like wildfire, disbelief etched on every face. It was hard for them to process what they had just heard.

The formation masters turned to Eli Shan, their expressions twisted with rage. One of them, fists clenched, took a menacing step forward. "Hey, brat, what did you just say? It seems you've grown tired of living!"

Another disciple moved closer, his voice dripping with scorn. "Do you even know who you're talking about? The elders of the formation sect are the strongest formation masters in this world! They could shatter a feeble formation like this with ease!"

A third disciple stepped forward, his eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you dare utter another word, we'll end you right here."

In the midst of their threats, Eli Shan remained calm, shaking his head slowly. "Perhaps your sect master could break it, but your masters—no, they cannot."

The formation masters couldn't hold back their fury any longer. Just as they were about to attack, Jian Wu stepped in front of Eli Shan, his gaze hardening as he faced them.

"You are not allowed to touch my junior brother," Jian Wu declared, his tone leaving no room for argument.

These formation masters were some of the most skilled masters in the world aside from their elders. But today, their pride had been wounded, and now, to be challenged further was unbearable. One of them glared at Jian Wu, seething with anger. "Brother Jian Wu, we respect you, but we will not forgive him for insulting our master."

Jian Wu's lips curled into a smirk. "What's the matter? Can't handle hearing the truth?"

"Y-You..."

The atmosphere grew tense, the air thick with unspoken threats. The tension was palpable, a standoff on the brink of violence.

Jian Wu kept his mocking smile, utterly unfazed by their anger. To him, these formation masters were insignificant, their outrage nothing more than empty bluster.

Wen Lun sighed, stepping up beside Jian Wu. Like Jian Wu, Wen Lun was an Emperor Realm cultivator. If not for Jian Wu's extraordinary talent, Wen Lun might have claimed the title of the strongest disciple. Facing both of them together was a daunting prospect for anyone, and the formation masters, despite their rage, hesitated to make the first move.

Eli Shan, standing behind Jian Wu and Wen Lun, closed his eyes and remained indifferent to the escalating situation. If he wished, he could easily annihilate these formation masters, along with the formation itself, using his mastery of universal laws. But he chose not to. Such a display of power would be unnecessary, and Eli Shan had no desire to waste his energy on those who couldn't comprehend the true depth of their abilities. Instead, Eli Shan decided to focus on the formation itself, covering it with his consciousness as he began to study its intricacies.

Jian Wu noticed the shift and glanced at Eli Shan curiously. Could his junior brother also understand formations?

Soon, Eli Shan opened his eyes and stepped forward, facing the formation. All eyes turned to him, filled with a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

One of the formation masters sneered, "If brute force could break this formation, then Jian Wu wouldn't be standing still. As we thought, you're just a kid."

Eli Shan ignored the taunts. With a calm, measured motion, he extended his hand, his fist initially closed tight. Slowly, he opened his fingers, revealing his index finger. With a single, deliberate flick, he pressed it against the formation.

"Shhh..."

Like a fragile water bubble, the once-mysterious and impenetrable formation dissolved instantly, vanishing as if it had never been there.

For a moment, everyone stared at Eli Shan, their mocking smiles still lingering on their faces. Then, as if time itself had slowed, their expressions shifted dramatically. First, there was a flicker of shock, eyes widening and mouths falling open. This was swiftly followed by a deep, confounded silence. What had just transpired? The ancient formation, once considered an impenetrable enigma, had been dismantled with nothing more than a casual flick of a finger?

The formation masters, who had been ridiculing Eli Shan just moments before, now stood in stunned silence, their eyes locked on the spot where the formation had been.

Even Jian Wu, usually composed, was taken aback. He had no idea his junior brother was so skilled in formations. Wen Lun, too, looked at Eli Shan with newfound respect and surprise.

Eli Shan smiled at their astonished faces. "Upon closer inspection, the formation wasn't so difficult to break after all."

The formation masters were left speechless, their pride thoroughly crushed.

Eli Shan turned to Jian Wu and Wen Lun. "Let's go, brothers."

They nodded, their minds still grappling with what they had just witnessed. In a daze, the three of them walked into the cave, the entrance looming before them as they moved inside.

In the next moment, the rest of the crowd snapped out of their daze and rushed inside, eager to seize whatever opportunities the cave might hold.

As they ventured deeper into the cave, Eli Shan's curiosity got the better of him. "Brother, what exactly are we looking for here?" he asked, glancing at Jian Wu.

Jian Wu sighed, eyeing his enigmatic junior brother with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Right now, I have a lot of questions for you, but I suppose we don't have the time to go into that."

Eli Shan nodded, understanding. "I'll explain everything later."

Jian Wu nodded in return, his expression growing serious. "The opportunity we're seeking here is something that could incite war between the sects. That's why they sent their disciples in first, hoping to claim it before conflict erupted. Be on your guard—there are many powerful disciples from the top ten sects in here, and they won't hesitate to kill anyone for the opportunity."

Eli Shan nodded, though his initial question remained unanswered. As they continued walking, the atmosphere grew heavier, and soon, they saw a large, glowing red object in the distance.

Eli Shan felt an odd sensation just by looking at it. "What is that thing?" he asked, feeling a strange energy emanating from it.

Wen Lun smiled, his gaze locked on the object. "Eli Shan, that is the Dragon Heart."

Eli Shan's eyes widened in shock. "What? A Dragon Heart? Is that true?"

Wen Lun nodded, his gaze fixed on the pulsating, crimson heart. "Yes, it’s a Dragon Heart."

Eli Shan's curiosity deepened. "But what exactly does a Dragon Heart do?"

Wen Lun turned to him, his expression one of surprise. "You don’t know what a Dragon Heart does?"

Eli Shan shook his head sheepishly, an embarrassed smile touching his lips. "I’ve only heard of it in passing. I’m not exactly sure of its benefits."

Nodding, Wen Lun’s expression turned serious as he explained, "The Dragon Heart allows one to store an extraordinary amount of extra qi within their body. It's like having an additional dantian. A person with a Dragon Heart can't be easily judged by their apparent cultivation level—they can harbor far more power than anyone might expect."

Eli Shan absorbed the explanation, his eyes fixed on the Dragon Heart. The power it promised was immense, and he could feel its pull even from a distance. He nodded, understanding the significance of what lay before them, and looked forward with renewed determination.