Chapter 210: Chapter 2: Elder Shi Ding’s Affirmation
After Tian Zhang had left, Shi Liuli finally returned leisurely, her face full of suspicion as she asked:
“What did that person say to you?”
“He said that although Senior Sister has the grace of an orchid and the heart of a reed, it’s a pity she holds no affection for him, so he has given up hope,” Luo Yan creatively conveyed the message that “the Sect Leader’s son is not interested in you” in a tactful manner.
“Hmph,” Shi Liuli crossed her arms, “at least he has some self-awareness. Why doesn’t the Master of Xuandu?”
Luo Yan broke out in a cold sweat. The other man just wanted to propose marriage, and you’re already badmouthing an elder? I dread to think what you might dare to do next.
One could only say that Tian Zhang’s unwillingness to get involved was indeed well-founded.
“I’ve lost my appetite; this is so disappointing.” With that, Shi Liuli walked away. “Junior Brother, you clean up the stall.”
Miss Shi went straight back, leaving Luo Yan to silently clean up everything before he pulled out the Peach Blossom Sword and fled.
Upon returning to the Heavenly Craft Workshop, it was time for Elder Shi Ding’s assignment review.
This time the task was the “Nine Curves Linked Formation,” which required setting up nine formations at once, all interconnected, touted as the strongest formation within the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Unless the person entering the formation also understood the way of formations, or with overwhelming power disrupted all nine formations simultaneously, if even one formation was broken, the remaining eight would connect energies and slowly restore the broken formation, like a centipede that keeps moving despite being mortally wounded.
After some careful thought, Luo Yan suddenly realized that this “Nine Curves Linked Formation” was actually a simplified version of the “Nine Curves Yellow River Formation” from ancient Intercepting Cult?
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With a slight pause, he directly flung his sleeves and planted the formation flags into the ground.
Elder Shi Ding saw him act so boldly, starting without careful planning, and felt somewhat dissatisfied and disappointed in his heart.
However, by the time Luo Yan laid out the fifteenth formation, Elder Shi Ding suddenly discerned the brilliance in it and couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise and delight.
Excellent, excellent, excellent! Truly worthy to inherit my mantle as a Direct Disciple. His proficiency in the way of formations has actually reached such a profound realm! Most of the formations below the Golden Core level are probably no longer a challenge for him.
After Luo Yan finished setting up the Nine Curves Linked Formation in one go, Elder Shi Ding could hardly hide the joy on his face, and he said with a smile:
“Well done! Luo Yan, with your current mastery of formations, before you reach Core Formation, there’s nothing much I can teach you,” he said.
He took out a Jade Slip from his sleeve and tossed it to Luo Yan, saying:
“Inside are all the formations suitable for the Foundation Establishment Realm. From now on, focus on your Breathing and Qi Refinement. Simply take some free time to learn them all.”
“Thank you, Master,” Luo Yan carefully stowed away the Jade Slip, seeing Elder Shi Ding in such high spirits, he knew this was the best moment to speak, “Master, I had an epiphany a few days ago and have entered the Refining Mansion stage.”
“Oh?” Elder Shi Ding’s eyes lit up, and he reached out to grab Luo Yan’s wrist, probing with his Divine Sense.
Ah Jing activated an Illusion Technique, disguising Luo Yan’s Purple Mansion, which was almost at the level of Jade Mansion, to appear as if he had just entered the Refining Mansion stage not long ago.
With a sweep of his Divine Sense, Elder Shi Ding was immediately overjoyed:
“Truly at the Refining Mansion stage? Wonderful! I originally thought I’d wait another ten years, but it seems unnecessary now.”
Luo Yan heaved a sigh of relief, seeing that his master had no suspicion and even seemed to have had plans in mind, and said with a smile:
“I leave it up to you to arrange, Master.”
Come on, Yuqing View, bring on whatever opportunities, treasures, and secret realms that might accelerate my progression in the Refining Mansion stage. Throw them all at me without holding back!
“There’s no need to rush,” Elder Shi Ding said with a chuckle, “I told you before, to hurry and advance your cultivation level.”
“Mainly because the Sect Leader also has his eyes on Liuli, wanting to join our Heavenly Craft Workshop in marriage… Now that you’ve also entered the Refining Mansion stage, at least you have a fighting chance in terms of status.”
Luo Yan: ???
Hold on, Master, when you said you “intended to wait another ten years for me,” you weren’t preparing to speed up my Refining Mansion stage; instead, you were planning to match me with Miss Shi?
Recalling Elder Shi Ding’s previous words, he couldn’t help but feel troubled.
“However, as much as I favor you, the key still lies with Liuli’s own feelings,” Elder Shi Ding nodded. “At least for now, nobody seems able to compete with you, not even the Sect Leader’s son. Liuli doesn’t have a very good impression of him either.”
Luo Yan quickly pondered for a moment and immediately said:
“Master, I’ve also encountered Brother Tian earlier, and he secretly told me that he doesn’t harbor that kind of feelings for Senior Sister.”
“If that is indeed the case, that would be wonderful!” Elder Shi Ding immediately clapped his hands in approval and smiled benevolently. “Luo Yan, I regard you as my own son.”
“As a student respects his teacher, I too regard Master as my father,” Luo Yan immediately replied smoothly, though he sighed inwardly.
Upon closer consideration, Miss Shi does have many strong points, such as being cute, being cute, and also being cute. Yet, for some reason, there didn’t seem to be many male cultivators who liked her.
The Sect Leader’s son, Brother Tian, didn’t want anything to do with her, and Master Elder Shi Ding was trying every means to push her towards himself as if worried that she would end up undesirable in the future.
Luo Yan’s thoughts shifted slightly, and with his talent for quick understanding, he immediately grasped the essence of the matter.
This world of cultivation was different from the modern Earth he had traversed from; it was, after all, a world resembling ancient cultures.
On modern Earth, a girl generally only needed to be attractive to win over a host of fawning admirers.
But here, the prevailing idea was “marry for virtue rather than beauty.” If a woman had nothing to offer besides her looks, she would be scorned.
So, did Liuli possess other strong points besides her looks?
Well…
Until he left the thoroughly pleased Elder Shi Ding and returned to his room, Luo Yan had still not found the answer.
“Little Junior Brother!” The door was once again rudely pushed open from the outside, and Liuli burst in excitedly, clinging to his arm and cooing, “Quick, help me, help me, help me…”
Well, being willing to provide favors could be considered a strong point.
Luo Yan calmly withdrew his arm and asked:
“Thinking of Marrow Cleansing shortcuts again?”
“That’s right.” Liuli gave him a satisfied look that said “As expected of my Junior Brother,” and sighed. “The Body Refining Secret Technique is too exhausting.”
Luo Yan suppressed the urge to hit her and said with a fake smile:
“Sister, with the Pure Yuan Qi Pill I’ve given you, it’ll only take a few years…”
“I don’t want to wait a few years either.” Liuli sat down on his bed and put forward a very excessive demand with a serious look. “Is there a way to complete Marrow Cleansing today?”
“There isn’t,” Luo Yan feigned helplessness, thinking to himself that there indeed was one, such as the Blood Pool in the Shushan Demon Locking Tower.
But you can’t go there!
He internally scoffed, maintaining a perfectly helpless expression on his face, as though dealing with a daughter who wants the moon from the sky. But unexpectedly, Liuli suddenly stood up and said with renewed vigor:
“You’re lying to your sister again! There must be a way, right?”
“There isn’t, where would I lie?”
“You hesitated when you spoke just now!”
“How could there be any hesitation?” Luo Yan immediately denied, saying, “I answered without a second thought…”
“So you’re not denying the fact that you lied to me, right?” Liuli said sharply.
Luo Yan: ………
The last strong point: She’s brilliantly clever at the worst possible times.