Support me at patreon for 40+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk
**
As time passed, Xiao Lin gradually mastered the subsequent Three-Talent Formation, Four-Image Formation, Five-Element Formation... all the way to the final Nine-Palace Formation!
At the same time, as Xiao Lin mastered each of the Nine Foundation Formations, his figure was transmitted step by step to the very top floor of the nine-story pavilion!
"So these are the Nine Foundation Formations? Truly miraculous."
"They seem simple, yet contain infinite variations. No wonder it is said that all the various formations circulating in the world are extensions of these Nine Foundation Formations. Looking at it now, it is indeed true!"
Feeling that wonderful sensation, the excitement in Xiao Lin's heart was completely evident on his face. Xiao Lin also hadn't expected that this trip to the secret realm would actually bring him such good fortune!
Originally, in Xiao Lin's view, he would have been satisfied just to find some pills or cultivation techniques within the secret realm. He never expected there would actually be an ancient formation inheritance from the Dou Qi Continent here!
This feeling was just like buying a lottery ticket and ending up winning a million-dollar jackpot. Having mastered the Nine Foundation Formations, it could be said that Xiao Lin was now only one opportunity away from becoming a Formation Master!
After the initial excitement passed, Xiao Lin slowly calmed down.
At this moment, he finally had time to observe the ninth floor of this pavilion!
Unlike the previous eight floors, where Xiao Lin would be transmitted to the next level as soon as he mastered a basic formation, this time, even though Xiao Lin had clearly mastered the Nine Palaces Formation of this floor, he remained here.
This was obviously problematic.
Sure enough, just as Xiao Lin's Soul Power swept out toward his surroundings, he actually discovered a place not far ahead that was shielding his soul perception!
This instantly made Xiao Lin realize that there were still unknown secrets existing on this ninth floor!
Just as Xiao Lin went on full alert, the space that had shielded his soul perception suddenly began to twist and distort. This caused Xiao Lin to reveal an expression as if he were facing a great enemy.
"Crap, I was so immersed in studying the Nine Foundation Formations that my vigilance has slipped. Dammit, how could I have become so careless? Also, how long exactly have I stayed in this nine-story pavilion? One year, three years, or more than ten years?"
Annoyed, he slapped his own head. Xiao Lin's expression at this moment became quite ugly. It is said that there is no concept of years in cultivation, and this time, Xiao Lin truly experienced it firsthand.
Only now did Xiao Lin recall that the time he spent immersed in the study of the Nine Foundation Formations might have already been several years. To him, this was definitely not good news.
Xiao Lin had no doubt that the people outside, especially those of the Xiao Clan, were definitely searching for him like crazy.
However, who could he blame?
He could only blame his own joy at finding such a treasure, which led him to neglect the very concept of time.
Yet, just as Xiao Lin was thinking this, an aged voice interrupted his thoughts and simultaneously allowed his originally uneasy heart to settle down completely.
"Little fellow, no need to be nervous. The time you spent studying the Nine Foundation Formations in this 'Formation Pavilion' was only five days in the outside world!"
Accompanying the appearance of this aged voice, a somewhat blurry figure slowly emerged from the space that Xiao Lin could not perceive with his Soul Power.
Subsequently, what entered Xiao Lin's sight was a soul body of an old man who appeared to be at least sixty or seventy years old. He was nearly transparent, but his image could still be vaguely discerned.
"Who are you? Why are you appearing here?"
The moment he saw this soul body, Xiao Lin immediately covered his body in Dou Qi and then, without any hesitation, released his terrifying Heaven Realm Soul Power!
The appearance of this soul body was too eerie, so Xiao Lin had to be on guard.
Although Xiao Lin did not perceive any malice from this soul body, who knew if the other party was hiding it too deeply for him to notice?
After all, the other party was an existence capable of evading his Heaven Realm Soul Power perception!
Even though the other party currently looked like a weak soul body that could dissipate at any moment, Xiao Lin still did not dare to be the slightest bit careless.
Once he discovered something was wrong, Xiao Lin would definitely erupt with full power without hesitation. Although this would lead to his strength being exposed, it was better than dying on the spot, wasn't it?
"Little fellow, you certainly have a heavy sense of vigilance? However, the quality of your question is quite poor!"
"You are the one who suddenly broke into the 'Formation Pavilion' established by this old man, so how can you turn around and ask me who I am? Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?"
Looking at Xiao Lin's posture as if he might strike at any moment, the old man's soul body did not show the slightest tension.
Instead, he was even in the mood to tease Xiao Lin.
The words of this old soul man left Xiao Lin momentarily speechless.
It seemed that was indeed the logic!
At the same time, under the repeated mentions by this old soul man, Xiao Lin finally learned the name of this nine-story pavilion—the Formation Pavilion!
Furthermore, this Formation Pavilion was established by the old soul man in front of him!
Thinking about how he had rashly entered this Formation Pavilion and learned the Nine Foundation Formations inside without the other party's consent, only to turn around and question him.
Even with Xiao Lin's thick skin, his face turned slightly red at this moment.
Subsequently, after discovering that the old soul man indeed harbored no malice toward him, Xiao Lin finally relaxed his tense heartstrings. He dissipated the Dou Qi around his body as well as the Soul Power that had pervaded the air.
"My apologies, Senior. Please forgive my offense. May I ask for Senior's honorable name?"
Since he had obtained substantial benefits from the other party, he should naturally show a bit of respect.
Xiao Lin still possessed the traditional virtue of respecting the elderly.
"Not bad, not bad. You're a polite little fellow."
"It wasn't a waste for this old man to use the last of my strength to give you a hand. As for my name, it has been too long, and I have forgotten it. However, in the past, others used to call me Old Man Zhen!"
After habitually stroking his chest-length grizzled beard, the soul body calling himself Old Man Zhen smiled faintly.
"Junior greets Senior Zhen!"
Although the soul body referred to himself that way, Xiao Lin still addressed him with a respectful title. There was no other reason than the simple fact that he had received the other party's favor.
As for the matter of Old Man Zhen using the last of his strength to help him, Xiao Lin already had a suspicion in his heart at this moment.
That was, while he was learning the Nine Foundation Formations, this Old Man Zhen had used some unknown method to forcibly change the time difference between the inside and outside of the Formation Pavilion.
That was the main reason why Xiao Lin remembered several years passing, yet the other party said only five days had passed in the outside world.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Support me at patreon for 40+ advanced chapters :
patreon.com/YaoIk