Chapter 184: Master Qian
Within the Qian Family's study hall, exquisitely adorned and richly furnished, Qian Hong sat on a carved wooden chair, his brows furrowed in thought. Across from him sat a middle-aged cultivator with streaks of white in his hair and beard. The man's expression was arrogant, though his bearing remained unhurried.
"Master Qian, you have heard about the recent matters, I assume?" Qian Hong asked.
"I have heard a little. The Patriarch need not worry," the man replied calmly.
The so-called "Master Qian" was only at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, yet he could draw First-Grade Nine-Pattern formations. Though he had not yet undergone official evaluation by the Dao Court to be formally recognized as a First-Grade Formation Master, it was merely a matter of time.
Therefore, even without formal recognition, both the Qian Family cultivators and the formation masters of Tōngxiān City who had ties with them respectfully addressed him as "Master Qian."
Having already stepped across the threshold toward becoming a First-Grade Formation Master, Master Qian's position within the family was exceptionally high. Even without Foundation Establishment cultivation, he had already become a family elder, his status second only to the Patriarch.
Qian Hong spoke grimly: "Yu Changlin was able to stand against us in the Great Black Mountain only because he had a formation master's aid. And now, it is because of another formation master's help that he has the confidence to construct such a massive Artifact Refining Workshop."
He had seized a vast tract of land, hired countless artisans, and was building what would be the largest artifact-refining establishment in Tōngxiān City. It was an open challenge to the Qian Family's dominance.
In the Great Black Mountain, they had already snatched a piece of "meat" from the Qian Family's mouth.
Now, having grown fat from that meal, they dared reach again for more. The audacity was intolerable.
Master Qian sneered. "So what if they have a formation master? Does the Qian Family not have one as well?"
Qian Hong's tone turned serious. "That formation master may be a First-Grade Formation Master."
"Impossible!" Master Qian declared flatly.
"The formations he used in the Great Black Mountain were indeed of First-Grade…"
Master Qian shook his head. "Patriarch, you are not a formation master and have not studied formation arts, so you cannot truly comprehend how difficult it is to reach First-Grade."
"Take myself as an example, not to boast, but among all the disciples of our clan, my talent in formation arts is unmatched. I spent decades cultivating to the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, and thereafter devoted myself entirely to formations. The obstacles were innumerable. Just the step from Eight-Pattern to Nine-Pattern formations alone took me ten years of painstaking study."
He sighed. "Though the difference is but a single pattern, it is as vast as the heavens. I could only attempt a Nine-Pattern formation once per day, and always failed. Still, I persisted. For more than ten years, I drew it again and again, until I finally crossed that threshold."
"I poured countless years of my heart's blood into this path to attain the strength of a First-Grade Formation Master. Even so, when I last went to the Heavenly Pivot Pavilion for evaluation, despite all my connections, I still fell short and failed to obtain official certification."
Qian Hong spoke with respect. "Master Qian, your dedication commands admiration."
Master Qian waved a hand. "I do not speak to seek sympathy, nor to boast of my hardships, but to help the Patriarch understand precisely how difficult it is to become a First-Grade Formation Master."
"With all the resources of the family supporting me, it still took every ounce of effort I had to reach this point. How could some other formation master manage it so easily?"
After finishing, Master Qian let out another cold laugh. "Any formation master with even a hint of talent and ambition, upon nearing the threshold of First-Grade, would naturally seek out powerful sects and clans for better inheritance and greater advancement. Why would such a man associate himself with a band of impoverished demon hunters? What could he possibly gain from that?"
"Master Qian speaks reasonably," Qian Hong said with a frown. "Yet, in the Great Black Mountain, the formation used by those demon hunters was indeed of First-Grade power."
"Patriarch, you are certain of this?"
"I experienced the power of that formation personally," Qian Hong admitted, his tone bitter. "It was not weaker than First-Grade."
He recalled the memory with humiliation. He had experienced it firsthand, blasted into a sorry state by the explosion, scorched and disheveled.
In the end, the spirit ore had fallen into another's hands, and he had suffered Yu Changlin's open mockery.
That incident had become the greatest disgrace of his tenure as Patriarch of the Qian Family.
Master Qian pondered for a moment. "Even so, it matters little. Even if he can draw a First-Grade formation, it does not mean he is a First-Grade Formation Master. Moreover, First-Grade formations are hard to learn and even harder to perfect. At most, he might know one or two such arrays, certainly not many."
His tone carried complete certainty.
Qian Hong felt reassured. Master Qian's understanding of formation arts was profound. Since he had spoken so decisively, the demon hunters' formation master was unlikely to pose a major threat.
Still, he could not help feeling some regret. If only Master Qian had been present atop that nameless peak in the Great Black Mountain, they would not have been rendered helpless before the enemy's formation.
Yet formation masters could not risk their lives on the battlefield; such was common sense in the cultivation world.
If Master Qian had truly gone and Yu Changlin, that shameless old dog, had struck him down, the Qian Family's loss would have been catastrophic.
After all, a formation master on the verge of attaining First-Grade was invaluable to the clan.
Master Qian continued, "Their formation master is no cause for concern. However, if Yu Changlin truly completes his Artifact Refining Workshop, it will pose a long-term threat to our family. The Patriarch would be wise to act early."
Qian Hong nodded. "Rest assured, Master Qian. I have already dispatched people to… apply certain methods. Even if we cannot stop the construction, we can at least make them suffer setbacks."
Master Qian nodded approvingly, his expression proud. "In this Tōngxiān City, anyone who dares to challenge the Qian Family must be taught a lesson."
After a moment's thought, Qian Hong added, "There is one more matter, and it will require your assistance."
"Please, Patriarch, speak freely."
Qian Hong explained in detail: "We will first send men to harass and disrupt their work, ideally halting construction altogether. Even if that fails, it will at least delay them.
"At the same time, I plan to forge an additional batch of refining furnaces and order our family's workshops to refine spirit artifacts at full speed. Once Yu Changlin's Artifact Refining Workshop is complete, we will flood the market and drive down prices. With their profits crushed, they will have no way to survive."
Though Master Qian did not fully understand business matters, he asked, "And what role do you require of me?"
Qian Hong replied, "These refining furnaces will be of high cost and quality, capable of stronger furnace flames and faster artifact refinement. However, the formations within them will require your expertise."
Master Qian frowned. "You want First-Grade formations?"
"That would be ideal."
After some thought, Master Qian said, "A First-Grade refining furnace requires the First-Grade Molten Fire Array. I have not studied that array in depth before. I will need some time to research it thoroughly."
"Of course," Qian Hong said at once. "We will handle the matter with the demon hunters. Master Qian need only focus on your studies in peace."
Master Qian nodded. "Very well."
Qian Hong's eyes brightened. He clasped his hands respectfully. "Then I must trouble Master Qian."
Though he was the Patriarch and a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Qian Hong remained deferential toward Master Qian.
In the cultivation world, some matters could be solved through strength, while others could not.
Formations belonged to the latter category.
Cultivation strength determined individual survival, but formations could elevate an entire clan.
Battles were fought with strength, yet the efficiency and prosperity of every craft and trade relied upon formations.
(End of Chapter)