Under Yu Fei's guidance, Chen Nan arrived at Cao Rufeng's residence. To his surprise, the foremost formation grandmaster of the Wu Kingdom, the former Imperial Advisor, resided in a remote area of the northern city, a place that could be described as a slum.
In a small courtyard stood a sturdy phoenix tree. It was said to be Cao Rufeng's old home, where he had lived before becoming a formation master. Even after achieving fame, he had returned here.
"Shameless, utterly shameless!"
"You've played chess your whole life, can't you change your habit of taking back moves?"
Just as Yu Fei was about to knock, an enraged voice erupted from the courtyard. Cao Rufeng's voice then followed, "A habit you haven't changed in a lifetime, why do you expect me to change in my old age?"
"Can't you be a little more lenient with an old man?"
"Too cruel!"
"Truly too cruel!"
This was followed by the sound of a table being overturned. Then, an elder in a gray robe with a full head of silver hair stormed out in a fury. He paused upon seeing Chen Nan and Yu Fei, giving them a slight smile as a greeting.
Cao Rufeng's voice then rang out again, "See? You ask me to change my habit of taking back moves, but you can't change your temper of overturning tables!"
The gray-robed elder cursed, "If I ever play chess with you again, I'll be your grandson!"
Cao Rufeng chuckled, "Grandson, walk slowly, and do come again!"
The gray-robed elder left in a huff and went to the large courtyard opposite. Judging by their demeanor, they seemed to be neighbors and old friends.
"Little one at the door, come in!" Cao Rufeng's voice slowly sounded.
Yu Fei gave Chen Nan a look, and the two entered the courtyard. They saw a thin, hunched old man squatting on the ground, picking up chess pieces. He was unkempt, with slightly disheveled hair adorned with a twig.
Yu Fei hurried to say, "Elder Cao, let me help you pick them up!"
"This old man can still move, no need to trouble you with such a small matter!" Cao Rufeng said as he gathered the pieces, "Speak, what brings you here today?"
"Greetings, Elder Cao. I am Chen Nan. I have an idea that could benefit the Wu Kingdom." As Yu Fei had mentioned that Cao Rufeng detested beating around the bush, Chen Nan directly placed his design blueprints on the chessboard under the phoenix tree.
Cao Rufeng glanced at them and understood Chen Nan's idea. A flicker of intelligence flashed in his cloudy eyes. "Your idea is very bold. If it succeeds, it could truly benefit the Wu Kingdom!"
"No, no, no!"
"It shouldn't be limited to the Wu Kingdom!"
"It should benefit the entire Immortal Realm!"
"We can build large-scale communication formations in major forces across the Immortal Realm!"
"Allowing communication without any restrictions!"
"This way, we can earn a lot of money!"
Seeing his interest in communication formations, Chen Nan's heart brightened. "How about we join forces?"
"Nonsense!" The gray-robed elder entered, carrying a watermelon. "This old man's cultivation has greatly declined. He's no longer the so-called formation grandmaster. He can't set up the formations you're talking about!"
"Why are you here again?" Cao Rufeng was very displeased with the elder's appearance!
The gray-robed elder gave a sheepish smile. "You're right, I shouldn't restrict you from taking back moves, just as you don't restrict me from overturning tables! Come, eat some watermelon to calm your temper!"
Saying this, he cut the watermelon and distributed it to the three of them.
Chen Nan said thank you and then looked at Cao Rufeng.
"He's right, my cultivation has greatly declined, and I can't set up the large communication formations you mentioned." Cao Rufeng sighed lightly. "You've come at the wrong time. If you had come a hundred years earlier..."
Chen Nan's heart sank. He had been counting on this to gain the Wu King's approval and then use a teleportation formation to leave.
"Senior, do you know if there's anyone else besides you who can set up such formations?" Chen Nan was unwilling to give up.
There were formations everywhere in the Human Realm, especially between countries. Therefore, leaving via a teleportation formation was the only way. The other option was to tear space and reach other countries through the void river. But he lacked the ability to do that.
Cao Rufeng squatted on the ground, eating watermelon and competing with the gray-robed elder to see who could spit melon seeds farther, a disdainful expression on his face. "In the current Immortal Realm, besides me a hundred years ago, no formation master could set up such a formation!"
The gray-robed elder: "Yes, this old man was incredibly powerful before he went mad! A pity he went mad, hahaha, but it's not bad, at least he can play chess with me!"
Cao Rufeng kicked him several meters away, sending him sprawling. "If you gloat one more time, believe it or not, I'll fall out with you?"
The gray-robed elder, long accustomed to the other's bad temper, wasn't angered. He chuckled, rubbed his backside, squatted beside Cao Rufeng, and continued their melon seed spitting contest.
"Young man, having dreams and ambitions is good!" Cao Rufeng seemed to transform, his face turning serious. "However, the communication formation you mentioned is too troublesome!"
"Don't say I can't set it up!"
"Even if I could... do you think you could control it?"
"Do you know who is selling communication jade talismans now?"
Chen Nan: "Someone from the court?"
Cao Rufeng smiled. "You're not stupid, but not too smart either!"
The gray-robed elder: "Contradiction, contradiction!"
Cao Rufeng continued, "Communication jade talismans are luxury goods. Only officials and nobles have the financial means to purchase them. This alone brings enormous revenue to the court every year!"
"If your communication formation could be developed, wouldn't that cut off the court's revenue?"
Chen Nan: "I had already considered this. If it can be developed, I will definitely handle the matter properly!"
Chen Nan only wanted to leave. Therefore, the communication formation's fate would naturally be to return to the court.
"After all is said and done, I can't set up such a formation, and you can't do anything about it, can you?" Cao Rufeng then began to mock him gloatingly!
"I'm sorry, this old man didn't mean to mock you, I just can't hold it in!"
A sense of despair rose in Chen Nan's heart. "Senior, are there no other ways?"
"Yes!" Cao Rufeng stared at him. "I see your forehead is full and your face is round. You should be a genius in formations. As long as I impart my formation insights to you, in time, you will surely become a formation grandmaster!"
"Then you can set up the formations yourself!"
Chen Nan was momentarily stunned! His understanding of formations was not deep.
Cao Rufeng directly took out a book. "Here, this is my life's formation insights. It records my understanding and perception of formations!"
"I see you have a destiny with it, so I'll sell it to you for ten low-grade spirit stones!"
"Yes!"
"I don't take disciples, I am merely a transmitter of knowledge!"
Chen Nan sighed helplessly. Perhaps, this was also a glimmer of hope.
He then paid Cao Rufeng ten low-grade spirit stones and left Cao Rufeng's home with Yu Fei.
The gray-robed elder couldn't help but ask, "Madman, is that guy truly a genius in the way of formations?"
"Are there so many geniuses in this world?" Cao Rufeng sneered. "I just sent him away to have some peace!"
The gray-robed elder: "But that book really records your insights and understanding of formations!"
A trace of disdain appeared on Cao Rufeng's lips. "Those things were indeed written by me, but some things even I don't understand. Can he, a cultivator in the Mahayana stage, understand them?"
The gray-robed elder looked in the direction Chen Nan had left, a meaningful smile in his eyes. "You might be underestimating this little fellow!"