Formation Path Inheritance
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Western Desert.
Fang Yuan opened his eyes, gazing at a jade-green forest in the distance. A shimmering blue lake, like a sapphire set in a vast sea of yellow sand, enhanced the serene beauty of the scene.
This was a small oasis, home to a natural spirit spring.
Oases like these were often the lifeblood of mortal clans. A Gu Master who resided here, nurturing the spirit spring, could gradually grow the oasis into a mid-sized, or even a large-sized, oasis over time. It was a delicate balance between survival and nature—humans found environments that supported life and, in turn, molded these environments to suit their needs.
This coexistence defined life in the Western Desert.
But this oasis was not Fang Yuan's destination. Without lingering, he continued onward.
After some time, he finally reached his destination, the Tremor Desert.
This desert was unlike the others in the Western Desert—it experienced intense tremors at irregular intervals. However, it was what lay beneath the shifting sands that truly mattered.
"Hmm, there should be a cave that leads down below," Fang Yuan muttered, as he began searching the desert.
He scoured the area for some time, but found no trace of the cave. "Even though I know there's a way down here somewhere, it's no wonder no one has discovered the formation path inheritance left by Zhen Yuan Zi."
Zhen Yuan Zi was a long-deceased formation path Gu Immortal of the Western Desert and a former member of Che Clan.
His inheritance was hidden here, not in the possession of his clan because Che Clan's Gu Immortals had pushed him out, which led Zhen Yuan Zi to conceal his legacy beneath the Tremor Desert, keeping it away from those who betrayed him.
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Fang Yuan paused as the ground rumbled beneath his feet. He was about to use a simple sound-based killer move to locate the hidden cave, but he waited for the tremors to subside first.
Once the tremors stilled, Fang Yuan unleashed his killer move. A low, resonating sound wave spread across the desert, bouncing back to him with information.
"Success," he whispered, sensing the cave's location. With a sharp glance toward the revealed spot, Fang Yuan swiftly made his way down into the hidden entrance, ready to face whatever tests awaited him.
After some time, Fang Yuan arrived at a bronze hall.
At the center, a metallic lamp hung from a long, curved crane neck. The flame on its beak was the size of a peach, flickering faintly, casting a weak glow across the vast hall. Despite the flame, the far corners of the bronze room remained shrouded in darkness.
Fang Yuan stood on a massive stone tile, surrounded by towering red pillars, each thick enough that three grown men would need to stretch their arms out to encircle one. The hall exuded an ancient and solemn atmosphere.
"This senior Zhen Yuan Zi was truly a righteous path Gu Immortal," Fang Yuan mused. "Though there were dangers in this inheritance test, they were easy for any Gu Immortal." He was genuinely surprised by how smoothly things were going.
It was well known that righteous path inheritances were often straightforward, lacking the vicious traps and deadly setups typically seen in demonic path inheritances.
"Now, for the final step to claim the inheritance," Fang Yuan thought. He took a step back, appearing as if he were retreating.
But as soon as he did, his vision blurred, and the hall shifted around him.
Fang Yuan noticed that the red pillar was now far behind him, and he had advanced by more than ten steps toward the metallic crane neck lamp. It was strange—he hadn't moved forward at all.
He took another step back.
Swoosh.
Again, his surroundings changed, this time even more dramatically. He had advanced dozens of steps and was now much closer to the metallic lamp.
Fang Yuan repeated the process, stepping back several more times, and with each 'retreat,' he advanced further and further, until he stood directly before the crane neck lamp.
"This is the easiest immortal inheritance I'll ever encounter," Fang Yuan smiled, reaching out to touch the lamp.
The next moment a will awakened inside the lamp. An old voice, groggy and slow as if rousing from a deep sleep, echoed throughout the hall: "Not bad, not bad. Fated one, you've passed the formation and arrived before me. This proves that you are qualified to inherit the true inheritance."
Fang Yuan's eyes lit up. "A formation spirit, huh?"
Formation spirits, similar to land or heavenly spirits that guarded blessed lands or grotto-heavens, were rare. Unlike land or heavenly spirits, formation spirits were created through the one-time use of a Formation Spirit Immortal Gu.
Zhen Yuan Zi had devised this Gu, keeping its existence a secret. The formation spirit's loyalty was bound to its master until the master's death, after which a new inheritor could claim it.
The formation spirit's voice sharpened with surprise. "You know about formation spirits? How is that possible? Senior Zhen Yuan Zi created me, and no one else should have known of my existence."
Fang Yuan, unfazed, simply responded, "I'm your master now, aren't I?"
The formation spirit hesitated briefly before nodding. "Zhen Yuan Zi's test was simple. When the metallic crane neck lamp appears extremely close, the correct move is to retreat. Only a Gu Immortal with immense wisdom and deep formation path attainment could discern this truth. Thus, you are indeed my master."
The spirit paused before continuing. "Master, there is a Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion here. It will awaken soon, and you must subdue it."
Fang Yuan remained composed. "I know," he said confidently. "Let's accept the inheritance first." Without hesitation, he began refining the Formation Spirit that was created by Formation Spirit Immortal Gu.
The formation spirit offered no resistance, and the process went smoothly. Fang Yuan's immortal essence easily refined the spirit, binding it to his will. As the core of the entire formation, the formation spirit could now manipulate the vast setup in Fang Yuan's stead, provided there was enough immortal essence to fuel it.
With the refinement complete, Fang Yuan received several Immortal Gu, a significant number of mortal Gu, and most importantly, Zhen Yuan Zi's complete formation path true inheritance, transferred directly from the formation spirit.
Next he began activating the formation with the help of its spirit.
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The Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion woke from its deep slumber, but it posed no threat. Fang Yuan had already anticipated its awakening and used his immortal essence to activate the formation. With the beast still weakened by its prolonged sleep and already suppressed by the formation, subduing it was straightforward.
Sitting calmly in the bronze hall, Fang Yuan observed the massive creature. The immemorial desolate beast, the Green Claw Ghost Winged Lion, had the potential to fight against Rank 8 Immortal Gu Masters once it returned to full strength. Its nature as a soul path beast made it a fearsome counter to any soul path Gu Immortals, as it thrived by consuming souls.
"Who can think I have obtained such a formidable beast," Fang Yuan mused, excitement gleaming in his eyes. He could already envision the advantages it would provide in future battles.
Turning his attention to his other gains, Fang Yuan cataloged them carefully. Six Immortal Gu lay before him—five of them were formation path Gu, three at Rank 6 and two at Rank 7. Additionally, the formation spirit counted as half an Immortal Gu, given its unique nature and abilities. There were also countless mortal Gu worms and valuable resources left behind, alongside a detailed Rank 7 formation path true inheritance.
"Hahaha! From now, I no longer need to fear any Rank 7 Immortal Gu Master," Fang Yuan laughed, the weight of his newfound power invigorating him.
Satisfied with his haul, he decided to stay in the bronze hall for the time being. "I'll remain here for now," Fang Yuan said, glancing around the ancient hall. "I need to absorb and fully comprehend the killer moves and formations contained in this inheritance. Besides, I still have time before heading to Lang Ya."
The hall's formation provided security, its hidden nature protecting him from any outside threats. Here, Fang Yuan could focus on mastering the wealth of knowledge he had just acquired.
"A.I. Chip, begin analyzing the information you have received," Fang Yuan commanded, as the process of studying and integrating the inheritance into his arsenal began.
This marked the first step on Fang Yuan's journey into the depths of formation path mastery.
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