Chapter 93: The Eight-Rank Formation Inheritance
The atmosphere at the exchange event was heavy.
However, out of respect for the Northern Marquis's Estate, the attendees reluctantly went through the motions of exchanging items before leaving the Eastern Suburb Manor.
Li Changsheng managed to exchange two seventh-rank pills for the map to the Demon Abyss.
Afterward, Li Changsheng and Old Mo headed back to the Herbal Pavilion.
Just as they approached the Herbal Pavilion, a mist suddenly rose around them, enveloping Li Changsheng and Old Mo. One moment they were on the street, and the next, it felt like they had entered a completely different space.
"The Cosmic Microcosm Formation!"
"How intriguing."
Li Changsheng spoke calmly.
The Cosmic Microcosm Formation was an eighth-rank formation. Although he had studied formations for many years in the simulations, he was still only a peak seventh-rank formation master. He had heard of the Cosmic Microcosm Formation but was unable to create it himself.
"Oh?"
A figure emerged from the mist, a look of surprise on his face.
"As expected of the person in charge of the Herbal Pavilion. Such composure is indeed rare. No wonder the Young General asked me to keep an eye on you."
"I've long heard that the Herbal Pavilion has a mysterious Transcendence expert, but I didn't expect it to be you yourself."
"Though I don't know what method you used to conceal your true cultivation level, now that you've encountered me, you'll have to come with me to see the Young General!"
Chen Zhishang shook his head slightly, took a step forward, and reached out to grab Li Changsheng.
He was confident that, even if Li Changsheng had the cultivation of an early-stage Transcendence expert, he, as a late-stage Transcendence expert, could easily subdue Li Changsheng, especially with Bai Qiugui absent. As for the old servant by Li Changsheng's side, since the Young General hadn't ordered him to be brought back, he could simply kill him.
Bang!
Before Chen Zhishang could even understand what was happening.
A blood-red light slammed into his hand, and in an instant, he felt 20% of his essence blood drain away.
"Ugh!"
A mouthful of stagnant blood sprayed out.
Chen Zhishang's face turned pale, and his eyes revealed an uncontrollable sense of panic.
This was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre attack. He hadn't even seen what happened—just a flash of blood-red light, and he was in this state.
"Ke ke."
"The essence blood of a Transcendence expert is indeed more delicious."
Old Mo licked his lips, a wicked smile on his face.
"Y-You… who exactly are you?"
Chen Zhishang felt a pang of regret. He had thought that dealing with the Herbal Pavilion would be a simple task, but he hadn't expected that not only was Li Changsheng an expert, but even this seemingly inconspicuous old servant by his side was also a formidable figure.
Old Mo didn't respond. Instead, he turned to Li Changsheng and asked softly:
"Young Master, shall I finish him off?"
"He came alone. There are no accomplices nearby."
"Kill him," Li Changsheng said indifferently. "As a late-stage Transcendence expert, he should have some spirit stones on him."
"Yes!"
Old Mo took a step forward, his entire body transforming into a streak of blood-red light as he pounced on Chen Zhishang.
In just a few breaths, Chen Zhishang couldn't hold on any longer.
"Spare me, Senior!"
He pleaded for mercy repeatedly.
But Old Mo remained unmoved. He transformed into a massive wave of blood-red light, enveloping Chen Zhishang completely. Moments later, Chen Zhishang was reduced to a pile of dried bones.
The blood-red light reformed into Old Mo's unassuming figure as he returned to Li Changsheng's side, respectfully handing over a storage bag.
"Young Master, this is Chen Zhishang's storage bag."
"Mm."
"Let's go."
Li Changsheng nodded, storing the bag away, and the two of them continued toward the Herbal Pavilion.
Thousands of miles away from Pearl City.
Boom!
A life token in Xiao Zhengyan's hand shattered, startling everyone standing behind him.
That life token belonged to the Transcendence expert Chen Zhishang. Now that it had shattered, it meant that Chen Zhishang was dead!
"It seems my premonition was correct. With my rebirth, this world has also undergone changes."
Xiao Zhengyan tossed the broken token to the ground, furrowing his brow slightly.
Chen Zhishang was the first Transcendence expert he had recruited since his rebirth two years ago, and he had believed that Chen Zhishang would use his judgment and avoid a life-and-death struggle with the Northern Marquis's Estate.
Yet now, Chen Zhishang was dead!
"Don't act rashly for now."
Xiao Zhengyan instructed in a low voice. "First, send people to infiltrate Pearl City and investigate the Herbal Pavilion's background. Do not expose yourselves."
"Yes!"
The cultivators standing behind Xiao Zhengyan quickly responded.
Xiao Zhengyan gazed in the direction of the Demon Abyss, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
He wasn't particularly concerned about Chen Zhishang's death.
In a year and a half, the Primordial Fruit would ripen. In his past life, the Primordial Fruit had been obtained and consumed by Li Chunyang, the Chosen One of the Pure Yang Sect. During the demon invasion, Li Chunyang had shined brightly, killing countless demons. In the thirty-fourth year of the demon invasion, Li Chunyang, at the peak of the Earth Immortal Realm, had challenged the Demonic Prince. Although he was ultimately killed, that battle had left the Demonic Prince injured.
But now that he had been reborn, the Primordial Fruit was his for the taking.
Li Changsheng returned to the Herbal Pavilion and immediately headed to his cave.
He handed over some of the materials he had obtained today to Old Mo, instructing him to sell them at the shop.
Sitting cross-legged in the cave, Li Changsheng murmured softly:
"Recharge."
[Recharge successful. Current balance: 4.743 billion gold coins.]
[Would you like to use the Cultivation Simulator? Each use costs 100 million gold coins.]
He still had 31 simulation opportunities left from the Eastern Suburb Manor. Now, with the 2 billion spirit stones obtained from Chen Zhishang's storage bag, he had fully recharged the system.
"To advance my formation mastery to the eighth rank, the White Cloud Sect should be able to help."
Li Changsheng muttered to himself.
In previous simulations, he had cultivated at the White Cloud Sect. After arriving in Ming Province, he had heard of the White Cloud Sect's reputation. Though the sect didn't have any Transcendence experts, it possessed eighth-rank formation inheritances, and its mountain-protecting formations were all eighth-rank. In Ming Province, most forces wouldn't dare provoke the White Cloud Sect.
"Let's start with the White Cloud Sect!"
Li Changsheng said in a low voice.
[Simulation begins.]
[At 32 years old, after completing the order for the Northern Marquis's Estate, you leave Pearl City and join the White Cloud Sect as a guest elder.]
[At 37 years old, you finally find the location where the White Cloud Sect stores its formation inheritances.]
[Three months later, you sneak into the inheritance site. With your peak seventh-rank formation mastery, you successfully break through the seven protective formations. Just as you're about to obtain the formation inheritance, you trigger the final formation and are discovered by the White Cloud Sect.]
[You unleash your peak Transcendence-level cultivation and forcefully seize the formation inheritance.]
[You injure seven White Cloud Sect elders and successfully obtain the eighth-rank formation inheritance.]
[You leave the White Cloud Sect and return to Pearl City.]
[You diligently study the formation arts in Pearl City.]
[At 103 years old, Xiao Zhengyan, now at the peak of the Transcendence Realm, challenges you outside Pearl City. You refuse.]
[Three months later, Xiao Zhengyan storms into the Herbal Pavilion. Old Mo confronts him, and the two battle for half an hour without a victor.]
[At 430 years old, the Grand General's Estate launches a full-scale assault on the Northern Marquis's Estate. You're targeted by Xiao Zhengyan and five Transcendence experts. With a single move, you suppress two Transcendence experts, shocking everyone.]
[You activate the formations pre-set in the Herbal Pavilion, teleporting yourself and Old Mo tens of thousands of miles away.]
[You disband the Herbal Pavilion and retreat into the mountains with Old Mo to focus on studying formation arts.]
[At 540 years old, the demon invasion begins. You're discovered by powerful demons. You and Old Mo are no match for them and are killed.]