Chapter 288: Splash
Hearing this, Xingnong clicked her tongue in amazement. The two elders had actually attempted this formation so many times. If they tried it once a day, that would mean theyโd been trying for several years!
Then she couldn’t help but carefully recall the details of every place she had passed, worried that she had missed something special that she had overlooked.
However, she possessed the ability to remember everything she saw. After carefully thinking it over, she found that she hadn’t missed anything, so she didn’t bother with it and continued forward.
Xingnong explored the entire first formation in just half an hour. Then she knew where the exit was and went straight out!
Everyone behind her: “. . .”
This could be considered clearing the formation in one go!
She actually succeeded in clearing it on her first try?!
And it only took half an hour?
Half an hour! The first time they attempted the formation, they hadn’t even figured out anything in the first stage!
The ten formation master judges suddenly felt like they had wasted decades studying formations in vain. They were actually less skilled than someone who had been learning for less than a year!
After everyone walked out, Old Master Tang, seeing that Xingnong had been observing attentively along the way, couldn’t help but ask Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo, “Do you two have any thoughts?”
Xingnong: “It’s a bit different from what I imagined.”
Chu Tiankuo just smiled faintly upon hearing this and didn’t speak.
He wasn’t going to dampen everyone’s spirits!
Everyone: “. . .”
Old Master Guo wanted to ask what the difference was, but when he thought about how she cleared the formation in half an hour, a formation that took him several years, he pursed his lips and didn’t utter a single word!
Everyone else also thought of this at this moment!
Heh heh, what difference?
Naturally, the difference in difficulty!
A formation that could be cleared in half an hour, if it were a formation they themselves could clear in half an hour, then in their eyes, this formation would be considered one without any difficulty!
Comparing people really makes one die of anger!
Heavens must have bestowed all the formation talent onto her alone!
Otherwise, why was the gap so huge?
~
The second formation was a bit more difficult than the first, and it took Xingnong an additional quarter of an hour.
The people following behind her were no longer surprised.
When it came to the third formation, everyone perked up.
It was already dusk, and in another hour, it would be dark.
The several princes were walking at the back.
The Second Prince couldn’t help but ask Shen Hanyu, who had the most interaction with Xingnong, “Third Brother, do you think Imperial Sister can clear the remaining two formations before dark?”
During the previous Youth Formation Master Competition, he already felt Imperial Sister was very capable, but he didn’t expect her to be this amazing!
Two major ancient formations, cleared just like that!
It was said that these formations, even for formation masters in ancient times, couldn’t be cleared in half an hour!
Shen Hanyu shook his head. “I don’t know, maybe almost?”
Shen Hanyu wasn’t interested in formations, so he didn’t know much about them. Therefore, he felt that the formation Xingnong had set up in Chu State, capable of growing fruits and vegetables year-round, was indeed impressive, but he didn’t place Xingnong’s formation mastery above the level of Old Master Guo and the others.
Now he felt that he had truly underestimated his Imperial Sister!
The Fourth Prince: “I think she definitely can! Imperial Sister has hidden depths! I wonder how far her strength goes. These two formations don’t seem to pose any difficulty to her at all. The reason she’s walking slowly is that she wants to observe carefully and see if there’s anything worth learning.”
The Fifth Prince couldn’t help but say sourly, “Father Emperor is quite biased, giving birth to me so dull-witted while giving all the talent to Imperial Sister!”
The Fifth Prince also enjoyed studying formations, but his talent was truly lacking. After several years of learning, he couldn’t even clear a simple formation.
The brothers laughed.
Crown Prince Shen Hancheng smiled. “This probably can’t be blamed on Father Emperor. Father Emperor doesn’t know anything about formations! How could he pass it on to you? However, the Founding Empress of Jin was a renowned formation master. Imperial Sister likely inherited her genes!”
The Fifth Prince grumbled, “Can’t this thing be passed down from father to son? It’s not fair to favor women over men like this!”
The brothers laughed again.
Shen Hancheng’s thoughts took a turn. “There’s no helping it. You know our family’s customs, it’s always been favoring women over men! Maybe after you get married and have a daughter, she can also inherit the Founding Empress’s genes.”
โฟโฟโฟ
All you Imperial Brothers, hurry up and get married and have children!
After you have children, in a decade or so, I’ll be free!
The Fifth Prince’s eyes lit up. “Imperial Brother speaks the truth!”
It didn’t matter if his own formation skills were lacking, as long as his future child’s formation skills were good!
The brothers’ chatter was too loud. Old Master Guo couldn’t help but turn around and say, “Shh! Be quiet!”
The princes immediately shut their mouths.
They naturally had to give Old Master Guo face.
At this time, Xingnong had already entered the third ancient formation. Ever since the founding of Jin, no formation master had been able to clear this ancient formation.
Heavens knew, Old Master Guo had attempted it for several years and only reached halfway. He had thought he wouldn’t be able to clear this formation in his lifetime. Now that there was hope of clearing it, he naturally wouldn’t tolerate anyone chattering.
Old Master Xu had only cleared less than a third.
Everyone else had also been stuck at the third stage for many years.
Old Master Tang had attempted it a few times back then and was also stopped at the third stage.
Therefore, now that Xingnong had entered, everyone was exceptionally attentive, even lightening their footsteps, afraid of disturbing her.
The surroundings were so quiet that the only sound was the rustling of clothes as the group walked.
As soon as one stepped into this formation, there was water underfoot. Everyone’s shoes and socks instantly became wet, but no one cared.
All around, one could only see a vast expanse of deep blue water, bottomless and endless, making people hesitant to move.
Stone slabs floated on the water’s surface, stepping on them could take you across the ocean.
However, everyone knew in their hearts that not every stone slab could be stepped on.
Some stone slabs could lead you to the other side of the ocean, while others could make you plunge into an abyss.
Of course, those who had attempted this formation knew that even if you fell into the water, there wouldn’t be any real danger. You would just be sent out of the formation and have a few mouthfuls of water.
As Xingnong and Chu Tiankuo held hands and steadily stepped onto the first stone slab together, Old Master Guo remembered something and couldn’t help but turn to ask Old Master Xu, “Old Xu, if I remember correctly, you’ve fallen into the water here one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine times? If you fall in again this time, it’ll be exactly one thousand six hundred, easy to remember!”
Old Master Xu: “. . .”
He had never seen such a petty person!
“Of course, I’m not as skilled as Old Master Guo. Old Master Guo has only fallen in about one thousand three hundred times, rounding up!”
Old Master Guo glared. “Nonsense, it was clearly one thousand two hundred and fifty times!”
Old Master Xu: “I said rounding up, what’s Old Master Guo getting so worked up about! Isn’t it about the same?”
Old Master Guo’s face darkened with anger. Having fifty more falls added on for no reason was simply ruining his reputation!
Old Master Tang stroked his precious beard and said with a smile, “Heh heh, I’ve only fallen into the water nine times here! It seems I can make history today, clearing this formation within ten falls!”
Old Master Xu and Old Master Guo both struck out at the same time upon hearing this.
“Splash!”
Old Master Tang fell into the water!
