Entering the teleportation array and opening her eyes again, the scene before her had changed dramatically.
"Your formation master inscription plates?"
As soon as they exited the teleportation array, someone checked their formation master inscription plates again.
Zhang Tao obsequiously handed over his and Xu Yi's plates. The person glanced at them, pointed outside, and said, "Ten miles from here, you'll see the conference venue. You can only sit in the brown area; don't wander around."
"Yes, yes."
Zhang Tao put away the plates and walked back to Xu Yi's side, keeping a foot behind her.
As soon as Xu Yi stepped out of the teleportation array's range, she immediately smelled the faint salty scent of the sea in the air.
It seemed the rumors were true; the exchange venue was indeed on a small island.
"Senior!"
"Senior ahead!"
Xu Yi didn't realize the voices behind her were calling her until a blushing young man blocked her path.
"You're calling me?"
"Senior, thank you for paying the membership fee for me earlier. This is all the spirit stones I have. I will definitely return the rest to you in the future."
The young man held out over a dozen mid-grade spirit stones, looking at Xu Yi with sincerity.
Xu Yi said, "No need. I just learned that you and my friend had some conflict earlier. What happened just now should be considered an apology from me on his behalf."
The young man glanced at Zhang Tao, who looked somewhat embarrassed, and then firmly shook his head.
"There's no conflict between me and him. In fact, I didn't lose out."
Zhang Tao wasn't short of money. Although he had snatched the young man's room, he had also compensated the young man with double the spirit stones.
So, in the thrifty young man's opinion, he had actually made a small profit.
In the end, Xu Yi still accepted the young man's spirit stones and learned of his identity and origin.
He was Wang Yang, a disciple of the Fire Talisman Sect, attending the Formation Master Exchange Conference on behalf of his master.
The Fire Talisman Sect had developed well in its early years, with many disciples. However, as time passed, it gradually declined.
Although Wang Yang was a highly regarded disciple in the sect, he lived quite frugly, otherwise, he wouldn't even be unable to afford the membership fee.
Wang Yang originally wanted to ask for Xu Yi's name, but Xu Yi brushed him off with a few words.
Xu Yi couldn't predict what might happen later. She worried that close association with Wang Yang might bring him disaster, so she didn't want to become too friendly with him.
Wang Yang left, looking back at her repeatedly.
Zhang Tao secretly rejoiced.
He had been worried that this young lad would steal his thunder. Fortunately, Senior Su wasn't swayed by him.
The exchange venue was located in the center of the island.
Xu Yi walked for less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before seeing the magnificent circular plaza ahead.
In the center of the plaza was a vast high platform, surrounded by tiered seating.
The first three rows had the best view and were the most exquisitely arranged, with black tables laden with a dazzling array of rare fruits and delicacies.
Following these were seats arranged in purple, red, and brown order. The brown seats were the most densely packed, with simple straw cushions.
Xu Yi was accustomed to the ways of the Formation Heaven Alliance and was not surprised. She found a seat at the edge and sat down with Zhang Tao, quietly waiting for the conference to begin.
While waiting, Xu Yi idly looked around, her relaxed brows subtly furrowing.
The circular ground, the four-colored backdrop, and the strange statues appearing in various directions—the more she looked, the more she felt something was amiss.
She ignored the noisy environment, closed her eyes, and mentally mapped the surrounding terrain.
An hour later, Xu Yi suddenly opened her eyes, a look of deep shock in them.
Was Qiu Yuanfeng insane?
He had actually set up a Soul Capturing and Spirit Locking Formation here, a forbidden formation on the Jiuzhou Continent.
Xu Yi had learned about this formation inadvertently from Teacher Yuwen.
It was said that the Soul Capturing and Spirit Locking Formation was initially used against demons and ferocious beasts. However, after the two races were sealed in their respective territories, the formation had no purpose and began to be used in conflicts among human cultivators.
As the name suggested, the Soul Capturing and Spirit Locking Formation captured souls. Cultivators trapped within the formation would eventually suffer torment, their souls scattered, and they would be forever unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation.
Because it was extremely vicious, it later became a forbidden formation on the Jiuzhou Continent, vanishing from practice for nearly a thousand years.
Qiu Yuanfeng actually set up a Soul Capturing and Spirit Locking Formation in such a place. What did he intend to do?
Melt all the reputable formation masters of the Jiuzhou Continent together in one fell swoop?
No, Qiu Yuanfeng wouldn't be so foolish.
If he dared to do so, he would undoubtedly become a public enemy of all cultivators on the Jiuzhou Continent afterward.
Moreover, with so many powerful formation masters present, they would never let him succeed.
Then there was another possibility: this formation was his contingency, or perhaps a threat.
Qiu Yuanfeng, to prevent any accidents during this exchange conference, had set up the formation in advance to create a silent deterrence, making those who intended to cause trouble hesitate.
If the troublemaker couldn't understand the formation, he could be caught off guard.
After figuring it out, Xu Yi felt like applauding Qiu Yuanfeng.
This person had ambition and means; no wonder he could lead the Formation Heaven Alliance to grow larger and larger.
Xu Yi sneered and lightly turned the storage ring on her hand.
If she hadn't had these items given to her by Teacher Yuwen, she would have abandoned her plan this time and reassessed.
But now, she had enough confidence to contend with Qiu Yuanfeng.
Last time, at the Myriad Buddha Sect, to avoid implicating the Xuanji Sect, she chose to retreat.
This time, she would see who was more skilled between her and Qiu Yuanfeng.
Xu Yi squinted at the increasingly crowded plaza, her anticipation boiling like water about to reach a high temperature.
Not far from the circular plaza stood a tall building where Qiu Yuanfeng and his son were, looking down.
"Father, so many people have come today. The rise of the Formation Heaven Alliance is unstoppable."
Qiu Tianying, dressed in resplendent attire, was excited and spoke with fervor.
After today, the Formation Heaven Alliance would surely be able to stand on par with the Five Great Sects.
"Have you forgotten everything I taught you? Don't let your guard down until the final outcome is decided."
Qiu Yuanfeng was far less optimistic than Qiu Tianying.
As the time for the exchange conference approached, his sense of crisis not only did not lessen but grew even more intense.
Just like now, standing on the tall building, he constantly felt a sense of impending doom.
Although he had made preparations in advance, he couldn't guarantee a foolproof outcome.
The Soul Capturing and Spirit Locking Formation possessed immense power and was a formation that formation masters on the Jiuzhou Continent greatly detested.
If he were forced to use this formation in a critical moment, regardless of the outcome, his reputation would be greatly affected, and the prestige of the Formation Heaven Alliance would waver.
He hoped he was overthinking things...
His fingers tapped lightly on the railing, his gaze deep, his aura imposing.
Qiu Tianying was pushed back by the malevolent aura emanating from Qiu Yuanfeng, his expression becoming more respectful, but a hint of disdain flashed in his eyes.
He felt his father was truly getting old and thought too much.
They had already made thorough preparations with the various vice-leaders, yet he was still suspicious.
Qiu Tianying couldn't help but recall what a vice-leader had told him previously.
He had said, "Tianying, your father is getting old. The Formation Heaven Alliance will be led by you young people in the future."
Qiu Tianying lowered his head to hide the ambition in his eyes.