Chapter 635: Duan Yao! Form the Array Formation!
When Hao Ren's new condition was announced, the dozens of cultivators lingering at the valley entrance immediately flew to their respective camps.
They had stood at the entrance to receive the instructions from Herb King Master and report back how many sects had got the essence-unlocking notes.
Turning to look at the stone-faced and disheveled Duan Yao, Hao Ren shook his head with a smile.
In the blink of an eye, all the masters who hadn't recovered their realms rushed toward the valley.
Although they didn't know what Herb King Master wanted them to do, and they were reluctant to lose 100-year-worth of cultivation strength, it was hard to find level 6 spiritual herbs.
They'd rather lose their 100-year-worth of cultivation strength to recover the Nascent Soul Realm, so they wouldn't worry about the possible attacks from the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators who had regained their realms!
Xie Yujia came out of her cave after feeling that many cultivators gather at the entrance of Ethereal Summit
"Junior wants to work for Master!"
"Please take me, Master!"
These cultivators who were arrogant and at Nascent Soul Realm squeezed to the entrance, fighting for a spot in the front row in hope that Herb King Master would choose them.
This sight dumbfounded the Core Formation Realm disciples. In front of Herb King Master of Ethereal Summit, these Nascent Soul Realm cultivators had all lost their dignity!
Only the masters of Sky Mountain Sect were relatively cautious, not because they didn't want to recommend themselves, but because they thought Herb King Master wouldn't pick them.
Standing in the spiritual fields in the valley, Duan Yao looked at the crazy scene at the entrance of the valley and then at the cold-faced Hao Ren, surprised that one simple sentence from him had such great power.
These lofty Nascent Soul Realm masters were fighting to work for Ethereal Summit!
"The ones who were at top-tier Nascent Soul Ream stand in the front row, and I'll choose carefully," Hao Ren said.
The 12 masters who had been at top-tier Nascent Soul Realm stood in the front row, including Lieyang Master of New Sun Sect.
Through the red energy sphere, Hao Ren realized that he needed three more. He said, "I need three from Sky Mountain Sect."
The three cultivators of Sky Mountain Sect who were at mid-tier Nascent Soul Realm looked at each other in surprise and immediately walked up.
The other sects were jealous when they saw Sky Mountain Sect taking up three spots.
Sky Mountain Sect had three mid-tier Nascent Soul Realm cultivators and five low-tier Nascent Soul Realm cultivators. The only cultivator who was above mid-tier was Lingwu Master, and he had been struck down to the Foundation Establishment Realm from peak Nascent Soul Realm, and he was still resting in the sect.
The other sects had thought that Sky Mountain Sect wouldn't be picked and had prepared to split up Sky Mountain Sect's resources among them after recovering their realms. However, Herb King Master had picked three cultivators from Sky Mountain Sect in one breath to their surprise.
However, none of them dared to voice their complaints. If Herb King Master didn't give them essence-unlocking notes, they would forever remain at the Core Formation Realm, which meant death both for themselves and their sects.
"Yujia, do you have 15 notes?" Hao Ren looked back and asked Xie Yujia in a gentle voice.
Xie Yujia nodded while standing at the entrance of her cave abode. When she was in the cave abode, she had been drawing notes and had successfully made over 20 notes.
Qingfeng Hermit's Life-Death Notes contained a vast amount of five-elemental nature essence, and they were refined again before making the dharma notes. On the other hand, Xie Yujia had received a full mark on the Engineering Drawing Course in university.
"Be careful," Xie Yujia reminded while she walked down the stairs and handed the 15 notes to Hao Ren.
With a smile, Hao Ren split the notes among Lu Linlin and Lu Lili.
Flicking with their fingers, the Lu sisters shot 15 notes into the foreheads of the masters.
Since the cultivators outside couldn't see the interior of the valley, they were shot before they could dodge.
They were astonished by the skill of shooting notes.
Bang! The 15 Nascent Soul Realm masters recovered their realms instantly!
Not daring to show their delight, they cupped their hands and said, "Thank you for saving us, Master!"
When they fell from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Core Formation Realm, they felt like immortals turning into mortals. After returning to the Nascent Soul Realm, their sense of relief was almost as intense as their elation when they first reached the Nascent Soul Realm.
"It's too early to celebrate. These essence-unlocking notes are only effective for 60 years. However, the remaining energy of the essence-locking note will dissolve if you don't mess with Ethereal Summit in the future," Hao Ren said.
After staring at Hao Ren in surprise for a few seconds, Xie Yujia realized that Hao Ren had made it up to frighten these Nascent Soul Realm cultivators so that they wouldn't make trouble.
She lowered her head with a smile, thinking that Hao Ren could be cunning sometimes.
Sure enough, the cultivators outside the valley looked at each other in alarm, afraid that their realms would be locked up again.
"Besides, I need 150 Core Formation Realm cultivators and 1,500 Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. Sky Mountain Sect must bring them here in half an hour," Hao Ren said.
Hearing the casual words of Hao Ren in the valley, the cultivators outside were stunned again.
"Herb King Master wants a great number of low-leveled cultivators from Sky Mountain Sect to come here. Is he planning to kill the main forces of Sky Mountain Sect through the hands of us, the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators?" they thought.
In the valley, Duan Yao was also looking at Hao Ren in astonishment, wondering what he was up to.
Ignoring her, Hao Ren began to kill time by practicing the fundamental boxing techniques of the East Ocean Dragon Palace.
Watching Hao Ren in bafflement, Duan Yao suddenly felt like he was very mysterious.
She had practiced martial arts from an early age and had solid skills. When she watched his powerful punches and kicks, she knew that Hao Ren's strength wasn't low.
However, she was only slightly surprised.
She returned to her work in the spiritual fields. Sky Mountain Sect was backed into a corner, and its fate was held in the hands of Ethereal Summit. Since it didn't look like she was going to become a cauldron for dual-cultivation, she would bear the humiliation.
Only a moment later, the cultivator troops of Sky Mountain Sect descended onto Fifth Heaven from Sixth Heaven.
The 150 cultivators above mid-tier Core Formation Realm and the 1,500 cultivators at top-tier Foundation Establishment Realm lined up in the high sky above Ethereal Summit with anxious expressions.
Having seen Sky Mountain Sect's group attack at Ethereal Summit, Hao Ren knew these cultivators were familiar with array formations and well disciplined. Like the soldiers of East Ocean under Zhao Kuo's training, these cultivators wouldn't run from powerful enemies in panic.
This was why Hao Ren thought of Sky Mountain Sect first when he considered repairing the array formation since Sky Mountain Sect had a significant number of disciplined cultivators.
"Congming, you are in charge of the outer range," Hao Ren said to Zhen Congming.
"Ok!" With a snap of his fingers, Zhen Congming flew out of the valley on the black disk.
The Nascent Soul Realm masters thought Zhen Congming looked quite familiar since he resembled the legendary child thief who stole their spiritual herbs, but none of them dared to voice their suspicion right now.
Zhen Congming was going to build a powerful array formation named Seven Stars Eight Poles Array Formation. It had fewer variations than the previous Big Dipper Constellation Array Formation, but it was three times more powerful. If it was activated successfully, it could easily block the attacks from Nascent Soul Realm cultivators!
After Big Dipper Constellation Array Formation was destroyed, Zhen Congming was furious and decided to build a super powerful 'turtle shell' this time since he didn't think Hao Ren could control array formations properly.
"You! Come here!"
Zhen Congming who was only at Foundation Establishment Realm ordered the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators to stand in the specific positions in the outer range of the valley.
Advanced array formations could use natural essence in the surroundings, and the Big Dipper Constellation Array Formation was an example of one.
Low leveled array formations needed spirit stones to power them, and an example would be the array formations at the Scroll Pavilion of Sky Mountain Sect.
The most powerful array formation would gather the cultivation strengths of ancient cultivators to keep it functioning for thousands of years. Since Zhen Congming couldn't find a super master like his master Qiu Niu or a Soul Formation Realm cultivator to inject great amounts of cultivation strength, he had to find many lower-realm cultivators to do the same thing.
Releasing 100-year-worth of cultivation strength, the 15 Nascent Soul Realm cultivators would barely activate this ultimate array formation. After absorbing and storing 1,500-year-worth of cultivation strength, the array formation would work for 100 years.
The 150 Core Formation Realm cultivators and the 1,500 Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators worked as the array's foundation, stabilizing the big array formation.
A couple of cultivators couldn't finish such an ultimate array formation. Also, the lack of coordination among the cultivators would leave defects in the array formation as well.
Xie Yujia hid the dozen snow lion cubs in the cave and then opened the energy sphere, letting in the 150 Core Formation Realm cultivators and the 1,500 Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators.
In the middle of the valley, the spiritual herb fields were protected by wood fences so that the cultivators couldn't trample them.
The golden shield flew around the valley and released 1,000 smaller shields which lit up the valley. The Sky Mountain Sect cultivators in the valley didn't dare to make a move.
These low-realm cultivators were led by Ye Yan, the senior disciple of the Sky Mountain Sect Master. Entering the valley for the first time, he was surprised to see that Hao Ren was so young.
With tears on her face, Duan Yao didn't feel any pleasure when she saw the cultivators of Sky Mountain Sect; instead, she stood by Hao Ren's side.
Ye Yan, the future sect master, looked at Hao Ren up and down in secret and sensed no nature essence from Hao Ren.
"He can hide his realm so well! So powerful! He is indeed the direct disciple of Herb King Master!" Ye Yan looked surprised since he never imagined that instead of hiding his realm, Hao Ren had zero nature essence this week.
Seeing his former junior sister Duan Yao standing beside Hao Ren, Ye Yan felt regretful.
He had felt disgusted when he thought that Duan Yao would be taken as a cauldron by Herb King Master, whom he thought was an old man. However, seeing Hao Ren being so young, Ye Yan began to feel jealous since he thought Hao Ren took Duan Yao as a dual-cultivation partner.
"Junior Sister..." He blurted out.
Duan Yao turned her head and ignored him.
Hao Ren turned to look at Duan Yao and said, "It's not easy to build an array formation. Since they are the disciples of your Sky Mountain Sect, you control them while I issue the orders."
While harboring complicated feelings, Duan Yao looked at Hao Ren in surprise when she heard his words.