Chapter 40

There was no denying it—the second volume of the Nine Scrolls of Formation took far more time to comprehend than the first. It took Han Luo ten full days just to finish his first pass through it. Afterward, he borrowed the second volume of the Nine Li True Art from Jiu Li'er and began studying that as well.

Ten more days passed.

With both scrolls now thoroughly digested, Han Luo didn’t rush back home. Instead, he stayed in the Scripture Pavilion for another full month, using the time to consolidate his understanding and stabilize his mastery over both formation arts.

Only once everything was firmly rooted did he leave the Pavilion—not to return to Luoxian Mountain just yet, but to the marketplace, where he sought out Senior Sister Xiao Lou.

“Junior Brother Han, it’s been a while,” she greeted him.

She looked radiant—short hair, clear eyes, clean and sharp in her work uniform. She had the unmistakable aura of a capable woman.

“Senior Sister Xiao Lou, long time no see,” Han Luo smiled back.

His sharp eyes immediately noticed the change in the insignia on her uniform. “Congratulations on your promotion to team leader!”

“Hehe, it’s nothing really,” she replied modestly. “It’s all thanks to you. What you said to me that day opened my eyes. That insight changed everything for me. I didn’t know where you lived, or I’d have thanked you long ago.”

After hearing Han Luo’s advice a year ago, Xiao Lou had reflected all night and returned to work with renewed dedication. Half a year later, Elder Tie promoted her to team leader.

Now, she earned more spirit stones, had wider connections, and felt hopeful about the future. She understood not everyone could become an immortal, and the key was to find one’s own path. She was lucky—meeting Han Luo helped her find hers.

Han Luo hadn’t expected his words back then to change her life. Thankfully, it was for the better. If it had gone wrong, he’d have felt terrible. Mental note: don’t toss around motivational speeches lightly. Chicken soup for the soul can be risky when overdone.

After a few moments of warm chatting, Han Luo explained his reason for visiting: he needed materials to upgrade the Immortal Trapping Array to a second-rank formation.

Like last time, he had exacting standards—but thanks to Xiao Lou’s help, things went much more smoothly.

“Junior Brother, if you ever need materials, just come find me. Even if you need stars from the sky, I’ll find a way,” she said confidently, expressing her gratitude.

“I’ll be counting on you then,” Han Luo replied with a smile. After chatting a bit more, he left.

Back at Luoxian Mountain, he immediately set to work upgrading the Immortal Trapping Array.

Three months later, it was complete.

The upgrade went smoothly, without any unexpected issues. The array was now officially a second-rank formation.

To a cultivator, three months was the blink of an eye, but a few noteworthy things still occurred during that time.

Shen Xian’er reached the seventh level of the Qi Refining stage. With permission from her master, Wudao, she was now allowed to freely enter and exit Luoxian Sect. Of course, before that, Han Luo made her swear—over a delicious barbecue dinner—not to reveal any information about him or Luoxian Mountain. Xiaobai also made the same oath.

Speaking of Xiaobai, her cultivation had soared from the third to the fifth level of Qi Refining—quite a leap.

And then there was Chi Xiao, who had spent over half a year relentlessly attacking the defensive formation outside Luoxian Mountain. In a miraculous turn, her strength had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining, surpassing Li Jun to become the top among Luoxian Sect’s younger generation. Because of this breakthrough, Martial Aunt Hongniang came to retrieve her, planning to personally guide her through the vital Refining Soul and Foundation Establishment stages. She wasn’t about to let her run wild anymore.

With Shen Xian’er, Xiaobai, and Chi Xiao all gone, one might expect Han Luo to feel lonely. But in truth, life had never been more fulfilling.

He poured his entire focus into formation mastery. With his talent and constant exchanges with Jiu Li'er, he fully mastered the third volumes of both the Nine Scrolls of Formation and the Nine Li True Art. With that foundation, it took him only a few more months to upgrade the Immortal Trapping Array to third-rank strength.

A third-rank formation corresponded to the Sea of Qi stage in cultivation.

Now fully activated, the array could trap any cultivator below the Core Formation stage. Even Core Formation cultivators wouldn’t escape easily unless they forcibly broke the array with overwhelming power—something Han Luo was confident he could stall with misdirection.

Of course, this level of power was only possible thanks to the terrain of Luoxian Mountain. In a less suitable location, he wouldn’t have been able to set up such a powerful formation at his current cultivation level.

In fact, his rapid progress wasn’t just from reading—he’d gained immense hands-on experience in the field.

That "fieldwork" was his joint effort with Jiu Li'er to probe for weaknesses in the grand protective formations of the five peaks—specifically Xianding Peak and Luoxian Peak.

It all started after the two of them failed to understand the fourth formation in the Pavilion—it was far too advanced, like trying to read a divine scripture. So Han Luo suggested they instead study the peaks’ defensive arrays.

These formations were fourth-rank but had aged poorly, developing numerous vulnerabilities. With relentless effort, the two managed to identify and document them. The high-tier arrays provided a massive boost to their understanding of formation theory.

“Hahaha! Senior Brother, I heard Han Luo cracked your protective array—how embarrassing!” Yun Qianli couldn’t hide his glee.

A Core Formation cultivator’s array, broken by a Qi Refining junior? And that junior just so happened to be his longtime rival’s disciple? This was too good.

Yun Ding’s face darkened. He cursed Han Luo inwardly. Was the Scripture Pavilion’s mountain of books not enough? Why did the brat have to poke at his Xianding Peak? Rebuilding that array cost him a fortune in rare materials!

But he had to admit—Han Luo’s talent was terrifying.

“Don’t be too smug,” Yun Ding retorted. “I heard Han Luo and his little girlfriend were spotted heading toward your Qianren Peak. Who knows—your array might be next.”

“Bah! Let him try,” Yun Qianli scoffed. “I’ve made preparations. It’ll take him years to find a flaw.”

“Ahem...” Lei Xing coughed and looked at Yun Qianli. “Junior Brother, I just received word that the array on Qianren Peak has started fluctuating violently. I believe it’s already been breached.”

“What!?” Yun Qianli jumped up. “I personally checked it before I left! There wasn’t a single flaw!”

It was hard to accept. None of them were experts in formations. Only their senior brother Yun Wanli truly understood the Dao of Arrays, but he was absent. So even though their formations were high-rank, they were essentially strong on the outside but hollow within—just waiting to be cracked.

“Hahaha!” Yun Ding burst into laughter, his earlier frustration swept away.

“I’d better go check mine too,” Hongniang said calmly.

“Han Luo’s cultivation talent is already unmatched, and now his mastery of formations is proving just as monstrous,” Lei Xing muttered. “We must keep him in Luoxian Sect no matter what. And if we can’t…”

A flicker of helplessness crossed his eyes. As head of the intelligence division, he knew more about Han Luo than anyone else.

What truly set Han Luo apart wasn’t just intelligence—it was caution. Extreme, relentless caution.

Luoxian Mountain now housed a third-rank Immortal Trapping Array. But around it, he’d also placed at least ninety maze formations, seventy killing formations, fifty-five alert formations, and who knows what else.

That wasn’t even the scariest part.

According to incomplete statistics, the mountain contained over 100,000 explosive talismans, 100,000 alarm talismans, 50,000 swamp talismans... and more.

And that was just what they knew. Who could say what else might be buried?

The whole place felt like a miniature death trap. One wrong step and you’d fall into a chain of traps—each one triggering the next like a domino run.

His scouts couldn’t even get close. Several had gotten themselves trapped just approaching the area. He’d had to beg Han Luo to release them.

Thankfully, his martial nephew was a reasonable man—or his reputation would’ve been left in tatters.

While the elders bantered, Sect Master Yun Yangzi flew in from outside the hall, his face solemn.

At the sight of his expression, the joking stopped immediately.

If even Yun Yangzi was this serious, something major had just happened.