Chapter 779: Undercurrents (I)

At the Directorate of Celestial Observation, in the Formation Hall.

There was only one currency used for transactions here: contribution points. Even if one possessed plenty of spirit stones, they first had to exchange them for contribution points before they could obtain cultivation resources, dharma treasures, techniques, and other items from the Formation Hall. There were two ways to make exchanges. One was through the official exchange, while the other was through trades with fellow cultivators.

There were also two ways to obtain contribution points. The first was a basic monthly allowance determined by a combined assessment of one's natural talent rating and Formation Dao proficiency rating. The second was earning additional contribution points by completing other assignments in addition to one's routine duties.

After completing Lin Zheyu's registration, Yunfei said respectfully, "... Based on your rating, you will receive ten contribution points each month. Cultivators in the Formation Hall can only accept other assignments on their own and earn contribution points once their Formation Dao proficiency reaches the third-tier level. For now, you can only carry out routine duties according to the Formation Hall's arrangements and earn rating points."

The registration process was very simple. All he had to do was imprint his soul mark onto the diamond-shaped identity token Xu Yiru had given him, then take the token through the necessary procedures. It was quite convenient. Once the formalities were complete, Yunfei brought Lin Zheyu to the courtyard assigned to him within the Formation Hall.

Different ratings came with different courtyards. The higher the rating, the denser the spiritual qi within the courtyard and the more powerful the formations installed to assist cultivation. Lin Zheyu did not care much about such things. What interested him more were the various resources and techniques that could be exchanged for in the Formation Hall, as well as access to the Path to Heaven!

"By the way, can the formation proficiency assessment be taken at any time?" Lin Zheyu asked.

Ten contribution points a month would hardly be enough. If possible, he planned to raise his formation proficiency to the third-tier level as soon as he could. Cultivators with third-tier Formation Dao proficiency had very few routine duties, leaving them plenty of time for secluded cultivation and taking on other assignments.

"The Formation Dao proficiency assessment is held once a month, during the first five days of each month. If you miss it, you can only wait until the following month," Yunfei replied respectfully.

"I've only completed the registration for now. I don't officially join the Formation Hall until after the Ascension Assembly ends, correct?" Lin Zheyu asked.

"Yes, Senior. After the Ascension Assembly concludes, you only need to report to the Formation Hall headquarters at Forbidden Mountain in the Black Tortoise Realm within six months," Yunfei replied.

"In that case, there's nothing else I need for now. Go take care of your own matters. Thank you for the trouble, fellow friend," Lin Zheyu said with a smile.

"You are too kind, Senior. This is my contact on the Spirit Resonance Sphere. If you need anything, please feel free to contact me. I will take my leave now."

Yunfei respectfully took out a Spirit Resonance Sphere and handed it over before bidding farewell and leaving.

The Spirit Resonance Sphere was the most popular communication dharma artifact in Great Wei. Most non-confidential information was exchanged through Spirit Resonance Spheres. The cultivators of the Formation Hall were no exception. Only important messages were transmitted through their identity tokens.

I'll go take a look at the resource exchange, Lin Zheyu thought after surveying the courtyard.

For now, he had merely completed his registration with the Formation Hall. He would not actually begin his duties until after the Ascension Assembly. Although he did not have any Formation Hall contribution points yet, there was nothing stopping him from visiting the resource exchange first to see what it had to offer.

***

In Black Tortoise City, on the second floor of Tranquil Waters Restaurant, Ning Ji'an, Ning Yuanjie, Kong Qiuping, Woo Yilin, and several other cultivators were gathered together, drinking fine wine and chatting merrily.

Mutual interests bound together the three ancient martial esteemed families, so their ties were quite close, and the younger generation were on fairly good terms with one another in private.

Just as their conversation was growing lively, Ning Ji'an's expression shifted slightly, and an urgent transmission jade talisman appeared in his hand. After reading the message within, his brows furrowed faintly before relaxing again. The others immediately fell silent.

"What's wrong?" Woo Yilin, who was sitting beside Ning Ji'an, asked.

"Xiao Yu passed the Path to Heaven trial and joined the Formation Hall of the Directorate of Celestial Observation," Ning Ji'an said.

"Oh? He's planning to give up the Martial Dao and switch to the Immortal Dao?" Woo Yilin asked in surprise.

"You could say he's finally abandoning the wrong path for the right one. The traditional Martial Dao is a dead end with no future. It wouldn't be surprising at all if he chose to switch to the Immortal Dao," Kong Qiuping said with a smile from across the table.

After more than ten thousand years of development, traditional martial cultivation had long been proven to lead nowhere. Countless astonishingly talented cultivators had tried, yet none had ultimately managed to forge a true path forward for martial cultivation.

The ancient martial esteemed families, however, were different. After more than ten thousand years of development, they had continuously refined Bloodline Martial Cultivation. They had already glimpsed the possibility of a perfect advancement into the Deity Transformation realm through martial cultivation. It was a Great Dao with a brilliant future, a path that could reach the heavens, just like the Divine Martial Dao.

Thus, as descendants of the ancient martial esteemed families and inheritors of Bloodline Martial Cultivation, they possessed an innate sense of superiority and looked down somewhat on grassroots martial artists who practiced traditional martial cultivation.

"So what if he joined the Formation Hall? Does he really think that with the Directorate of Celestial Observation backing him, we won't dare make a move against him? If anything, he's walked straight into the tiger's den. Fellow Yilin, don't worry. My Kong Family has several seniors in the Formation Hall as well. When the time comes, all they'll need to do is assign him some task, hehe..." Kong Qiuping said with a cold laugh and eyes full of disdain.

Although the three great families were known as ancient, martial esteemed families, not every one of their descendants followed only the path of martial cultivation. Clan members born with powerful natural talent for the Immortal Dao would be raised according to Immortal Dao methods from birth. Once they were a little older, they would be sent to different sects and factions to cultivate according to the level of their natural talent.

"You're mistaken. According to the information I received, Xiao Yu refused to switch to the Immortal Dao and joined the Formation Hall as a martial artist. Still, it doesn't make much difference. Because he refused to switch to the Immortal Dao, he only received a lower-grade Class B rating. Tch, what a foolish choice. If he had been willing to switch to the Immortal Dao, his rating might well have reached Class A. With natural talent that powerful, even we would have had difficulty making a move against him," Ning Ji'an said with a smile.

The others were briefly stunned by this, then burst into laughter.

"Haha, what a truly foolish fellow. Even with such powerful natural talent for the Formation Dao, combined with his awakened spirit divine ability, he still stubbornly insists on pursuing the Martial Dao, a path with no future. I really don't know whether to call him stubborn and determined, or simply stupid," Woo Yilin said with a loud laugh.

"Still, this saves us quite a bit of trouble. Otherwise, with the Vermilion Bird Sect protecting him, if Xiao Yu simply hid away and never left Great Wei, it would be difficult for us to act. But now, it's merely a small matter of finding an excuse to assign him a special task," Ning Yuanjie said with a smile.

He found it somewhat regrettable. He had originally wanted to test himself against this genius of the Martial Alliance personally, but unfortunately, he probably would not have the chance anymore.

The ancient martial esteemed families were not the only ones to receive news that Lin Zheyu had joined the Formation Hall. Xiao Yiqing had received the news as well. Ever since Lin Zheyu had piqued her curiosity last time, Xiao Yiqing had ordered her people to keep an eye on Xiao Yu's movements.

Inside the hall, Xiao Yiqing took out a transmission talisman and began reading it. The corners of her lips curved slightly upward.

"Interesting... A Shackles-realm martial artist, not even a hundred years old... Profound attainments in spatial laws... A sea of consciousness that even Heart Flame has great difficulty penetrating directly... And now there is one more thing. He has powerful natural talent in the Formation Dao, yet still joined the Formation Hall while remaining a martial artist... Interesting, interesting. This really is far too interesting...

"If he isn't someone who reincarnated to cultivate anew, then all these extraordinary traits are simply too astonishing. But if he is, then the jumble of traces left by all those different techniques on his body is rather strange," Xiao Yiqing murmured with a smile. Her eyes were deep, and the smile on her face widened as a sharp gleam flashed through her gaze.

Should I find another opportunity to test him myself? Xiao Yiqing thought.