The next day, preparations for the new array began.
Zhang Yong, accompanied by Gu Zixian, headed to the main sect treasury, where the highest-grade spiritual materials and the sect's wealth were stored.
The guards at the treasury bowed respectfully upon seeing Elder Gu. Elder Gu then raised a token in his hand.
"The vault is protected by a barrier. If you do not possess this token, you will be cut to pieces."
"So this kind of protection exists, but I have a question—exactly how long ago were these formations set up?" Zhang Yong couldn't help but ask.
"Since the time of the founding patriarch. So, yes, most of the arrays in this place are rather high-level, making them difficult to maintain. Outsiders cannot be brought in to attempt such work. Not to mention that, due to the events of the past thousand years, formation masters can be counted on one's fingers. There might not even be a single one of the eighth rank," Elder Gu explained calmly.
"Hah, a thousand years. I'm sure the continent was at its peak during that period. Come to think of it, there are no ninth-rank beasts, or at least none that I've heard of," Zhang Yong said, looking puzzled for a moment as he pondered.
"That is self-evident. The only beasts known to be of the ninth rank were the seven progenitor beasts of humanity. It is said that drinking their blood grants a great increase to humans and even changes their bloodline," Gu Zixian stated clearly. "However, their bodies were never found. After all, that was tens of thousands of years ago."
The two entered the main treasury, where shelves filled with rare materials stretched endlessly. Glowing energy crystals, centuries-old herbs, and rare celestial metals… everything was meticulously organized.
"We will need Quintessence Soul Crystals, Sky Iron Metal, and the core of a Deep-Sea Turtle Beast," Zhang Yong said, recalling the components.
"These are Pure Soul Crystals, which are even better than the quintessence type. They come from the depths of the Western Mountains." Elder Gu opened a box of blue jade, revealing crystals radiating a velvety blue energy. "Each one of these is enough to power a small city for a year."
Zhang Yong extended his hand cautiously, feeling a tingling sensation at the touch. "We will need forty-eight crystals for the core control units."
Elder Gu nodded and began gathering the materials swiftly. "Take these, and these… and oh my, this Stabilizing Glass, we will need this too."
Zhang Yong couldn't help but secretly smirk at Elder Gu's behavior; he seemed delighted at the sight of the treasures.
Zhang Yong looked around at the treasures. There were indeed many remarkable ones, but nothing was truly useful to him.
After hours of meticulous collection, they had everything they needed.
They carried the materials to a secret underground hall, where they would begin constructing the Armored Turtle Formation.
The secret hall was illuminated by blue spiritual lamps, and the air was saturated with spiritual energy.
Zhang Yong and Elder Gu stood at the center, surrounded by the materials they had gathered.
"Let us begin," Elder Gu said, drawing the first symbol on the ground, made from jade powder and gold, fixed in place through mental energy.
Logically, each formation had a specific method for activation, so every formation was different.
Zhang Yong, in turn, began drawing concentric circles, each representing a layer of protection. His hand movements were precise and swift.
"You are better at this than I expected," Elder Gu observed with surprise, "even though, to my knowledge, this is your first time working on a seventh-rank formation."
Zhang Yong did not lift his eyes from his work as he replied, "I have studied formation theory. Naturally, I would expect to fail if I worked alone, but because you are here, Master."
After twelve continuous hours of work, the exhaustion showed on their faces. Sweat poured from Zhang Yong's forehead, while Elder Gu breathed heavily.
The first layer was complete. The symbols on the floor glowed with a faint golden light, then vanished beneath the surface.
"Now, the second layer," Elder Gu said, rubbing his tired forehead. "This will be more difficult. If the second layer does not balance with the first, it will explode and we will die. Hehe."
Zhang Yong paused for a moment, then nodded. "It should be simple enough. All we must do is be cautious."
The two began work on the second layer—a complex network of spiritual lines that had to align perfectly with the first. Zhang Yong's fingers moved with lightning speed, while Elder Gu watched every motion with extreme care.
The mental pressure was intense. Although Elder Gu's body had regressed in time and his cultivation level had dropped, his mental energy remained at the same level, and therefore was higher than Zhang Yong's.
After eight more grueling hours, the second layer was successfully completed. The intertwined golden and blue symbols glowed in perfect harmony before disappearing beneath the earth.
But the cost was evident on both of them. Zhang Yong's eyes were bloodshot from the intense focus, while Elder Gu's hands trembled slightly.
"We cannot continue at this pace," Elder Gu said, breathing deeply. "Even with my mental strength, this work is draining us. We will take a two-hour break. Try to clear your mind."
Zhang Yong nodded, sat down on the ground in the lotus position, and activated the Eternal Truth technique.
Two hours later.
Zhang Yong suddenly opened his eyes. "Let us continue," he said with a firm tone.
Elder Gu nodded, and the two began working on the third layer—the most complex so far.
This layer required merging the will of the Deep-Sea Turtle with it and linking it using Abyss Blood.
Blood began to flow across the ground in intricate patterns, forming intersecting circles with the existing symbols. Each movement demanded immense concentration, because any imbalance would cause the blood to erupt with tremendous energy.
After three hours of meticulous work, the third layer was nearly complete, but—
A hum!
Suddenly, the formation convulsed, and the bloodlines began to glow with a sinister red light. Zhang Yong channeled his mental energy toward it.
"It refuses to integrate!" Elder Gu shouted, trying to stabilize the golden symbols. "The blood's impurities are too dense."
"If we add more blood to support it, will it work?" Zhang Yong asked, clutching his head in pain.
"That is theoretically possible, but it must be 'wicked' blood to be effective," Gu Zixian said, struggling to hold on. "But even if you ran now…"
Zhang Yong raised his dagger, cut his palm, and let his blood pour onto the lines. "I possess the blood of Ice and Fire Toxin. It should suffice."
Elder Gu stared at the blood flowing from Zhang Yong's hand, then quickly nodded. "Yes, if that is the case, then it is possible."
Zhang Yong added his blood to the patterns on the floor. As soon as the blood mixed, the dark red lines began to glow with a deep purple hue, then suddenly settled in perfect harmony with the golden and blue symbols.
With the third layer stabilized, the two began working on the remaining layers at a faster pace.
Each layer required different techniques.
After a period of working without seeing the sun, the two finished the formation within the proposed timeframe.
...
At the Purple Star Sect.
The Elder of Thunder Peak stood before the Sect Leader's hall, clasped his hands, and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Sect Leader. I have come as summoned."
The Sect Leader sat on his stone chair, his cold eyes weighing heavily on the Elder of Thunder Peak. "I have summoned you because we have a problem."
The Elder of Thunder Peak looked puzzled for a moment, then narrowed his eyes slightly. "Tell me what troubles you, Sect Leader."
The Sect Leader stood and paced in small steps toward the elder. "I have been monitoring the movements of the Spring Sect lately, and it seems there is a spy within our sect."
When the Elder of Thunder Peak heard the word "spy," the corner of his mouth twitched slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "A spy? That is indeed a serious matter."
The Sect Leader stood before the elder. "And I suspect it is Gu Zixian."
A heavy silence fell over the hall following the Sect Leader's words. The Elder of Thunder Peak's eyes widened slightly, then quickly returned to normal. "Gu Zixian? What makes you suspect him?"
The Sect Leader slowly wrapped his fingers around each other, staring at the elder. "Gu Zixian. Ever since that boy Zhang Yong arrived, the sect has not known peace. The Sword Peak Elder was killed and replace- no doubt he was controlling the responsible Disciple with the current matters of the peak , What is more troubling is that Gu Zixian is cooperating closely with Elder Han, so there is a possibility Elder Han is also involved."
The Elder of Thunder Peak nodded slowly, as if pondering the matter. "That… is possible. But do you have conclusive evidence?"
"Not yet," said the Sect Leader, turning toward the window. "The elders know the sect's defenses, and I fear information may have already been leaked. Therefore, I will activate the formation left by the founding patriarch."
A look of faint shock appeared on the Elder of Thunder Peak's face. Could there be a formation he did not know about? "The founding patriarch's formation? Why does no one know of it?"
The Sect Leader turned and looked toward the elder. "Precisely. This formation was left for situations like this. It is only passed down to the sect leaders. The sole reason I am telling you is that this concerns the survival or destruction of our sect, and also because I trust you."
A heavy silence hung between the two men. The Elder of Thunder Peak's eyes flickered rapidly as he tried to process this new information. "When… do you intend to activate this formation?"
"Soon. I anticipate a war in the coming days, but I am not certain," the Sect Leader said, gently stroking his beard. "I said I suspect Gu Zixian, but I am not sure. This formation requires its core to be kept within the formation."
"I told all the elders about it. I gave one to Elder Han and one to Gu Zixian, and told them I suspect the other elders. I told each of them a different lie. I told Gu Zixian that I placed the core on his side, and if it is broken, the formation will fail. I did the same with Elder Han and the Sword Peak Elder. But the truth is, I will place it on your side. If the army appears heading north, which is Gu Zixian's direction, then he is the traitor."
The Elder of Thunder Peak's eyes flickered rapidly as he tried to conceal his inner turmoil. "That… is a wise plan, Sect Leader. But what if the traitor knows of this trick?"
The Sect Leader smiled coldly. "That is why I chose you to protect the core. You are the only one I did not give any false information to. My trust in you is absolute."
At that moment, the Elder of Thunder Peak felt a cold drop of sweat slide down his back. He knew that if he did not inform the Demonic Spring Sect of this new development, their entire plan would fail.
"I will be worthy of your trust." The Elder of Thunder Peak bowed deeply, hiding his tense expression. "When do you want me to move?"
"Tonight," the Sect Leader answered sternly. "You will go to the secret cave beneath the southern peak. The chamber is fortified. Place the core there and seal it well."
The elder looked calmly toward the Sect Leader. "As you wish, Sect Leader."
Then the Elder of Thunder Peak turned and returned to his residence immediately.
Upon entering, he closed the door and let out his inner frustration. "That old man… has he discovered the matter? No, it is still too early to say that. Him placing his trust in me seems suspicious. Is it possible he is testing me? No, if that were truly the case, he would not place the real core with me. And if I try to destroy it and it is real, I will face immense problems. If this is really the situation, then the best option would be to have the men attack from Gu Zixian's side. I've got it. I will do that. Then, when they approach and the Sect Leader has disposed of the useless Gu Zixian, I will break the core and let them in. There will be no time to resist."