"Next, I will share some of my humble experience accumulated over the years..."
After obtaining the results he desired, Qiu Yuanfeng began to distribute favors.
The experience of an eighth-level formation master was not something easily acquired, especially for rogue cultivators without any sect affiliation. Their cultivation relied entirely on self-enlightenment. Now, having the opportunity to listen to the teachings of an eighth-level formation master, they all straightened their backs, spirits high.
Many alert individuals had already taken out jade slips, preparing to record every word Qiu Yuanfeng spoke for later study.
Even Xu Yi focused her attention, waiting with interest for Qiu Yuanfeng's sharing.
"What is a formation? It is an arrangement and deduction using items that can cause cause and effect. Many fellow Daoists believe that only inanimate objects can be used to set up formations, but this is not so..."
Qiu Yuanfeng was extremely skilled at capturing the attention of others. Coupled with his easy-to-understand explanations, the audience below listened with rapt attention.
Only a small portion of people appeared focused but were, in reality, disdainful. Among these, of course, was Xu Yi.
It wasn't that Xu Yi harbored animosity towards Qiu Yuanfeng, leading her to dismiss his sharing.
The truth was that while Qiu Yuanfeng's explanations seemed plausible, they were mostly empty words.
Take, for example, his sharing about using living beings to set up formations.
This method was extremely prevalent over a thousand years ago. The living beings used in formations were mostly demonic beasts, and at that time, humans and demonic beasts were in constant conflict. Demonic beast tracks were everywhere, so it was naturally possible to use them for formations.
However, today, most demonic beasts have hidden themselves in remote and uninhabited areas, rarely showing themselves, and are extremely fierce.
Using demonic beasts for formations not only consumes far more energy than ordinary formation techniques but also easily leads to injury and backlash, making it a losing proposition.
Qiu Yuanfeng only spoke of the benefits of using living beings to set up formations, completely omitting the potential dangers. Xu Yi truly could not agree.
What made Xu Yi feel even more disgusted was that Qiu Yuanfeng also mentioned the three basic handbooks.
He claimed these three handbooks were the product of his and several alliance masters of the Formation Heaven Alliance's painstaking efforts, aimed at benefiting all formation cultivators on the Nine Provinces Continent.
He also stated that he would continue to work hard and release an advanced version of the handbooks.
Xu Yi: ...
So, he intended to embezzle other people's hard work to make money again?
One wave wasn't enough, and he wanted to profit again?
Xu Yi truly couldn't understand. Qiu Yuanfeng was, after all, an eighth-level formation master. If he wanted to earn spirit stones, there were many ways. Why choose the one that most damaged his reputation?
Xu Yi's confusion was soon cleared up by Zhang Tao.
After listening to Qiu Yuanfeng's words, Zhang Tao's eyes turned bloodshot with excitement. He turned to Xu Yi and roared, "Senior Su, if it's possible, please help me pass a message to Alliance Master Qiu."
Before Xu Yi could respond, he continued, "Release the advanced handbooks quickly! I want to buy ten sets!"
Xu Yi: ...
It seemed she had overthought things.
Rogue cultivators like Zhang Tao, who rarely had the opportunity to learn the insights of other formation masters, only knew that Qiu Yuanfeng had released three handbooks that were very beneficial to them. They had no idea that Qiu Yuanfeng had stolen other people's achievements.
On the contrary, they would think Qiu Yuanfeng was broad-minded and cared for the world.
Xu Yi suddenly understood that Qiu Yuanfeng wasn't ruining his future. He had planned all along to use the three basic handbooks as a stepping stone, thus reducing opposition voices with minimal cost.
Undoubtedly, he had succeeded.
As Qiu Yuanfeng descended from the high platform, the crowd below began to call out his name loudly.
"Alliance Master Qiu!"
"Alliance Master Qiu!"
"Alliance Master Qiu!"
The overwhelming shouts lingered for a long time.
Xu Yi was shocked by the scene, becoming even more silent.
Before she made a move, she decided she must first expose Qiu Yuanfeng's true face. Otherwise, before she could even approach Qiu Yuanfeng, she would be dealt with by his followers.
After Qiu Yuanfeng's speech came the segment Xu Yi had been most looking forward to: the Dao Discussion.
This exchange conference gathered over seventy percent of the high-level formation masters on the Nine Provinces Continent, making it a true grand event for formation cultivators.
Although all were formation cultivators, they each had their own philosophies and insights.
Therefore, almost immediately after the announcement of the second segment, a seventh-level formation master stepped forward and presented his views.
After his speech, another seventh-level formation master came forward to present a contrary opinion and refute it.
The clash of ideas was particularly intense and more prone to emotional engagement.
Thus, the atmosphere of the entire venue quickly shifted to a more active one.
Everyone seemed to have forgotten that they had just been cheering for Qiu Yuanfeng. They now had only one thought: how to persuade the other side and prove their own point.
Although only formation masters of level six and above could speak, it didn't stop others from feeling stirred, their minds swaying.
They found representatives who aligned with their ideas among those high-level formation masters, automatically siding with them. All formation cultivators were naturally divided into several small groups.
Xu Yi was not a professional formation cultivator by nature. She excelled at drawing from various sources. Regardless of the school of thought, she could find viewpoints that interested her and deepen her learning.
Especially when someone proposed a novel idea, her eyes would light up, and she would record it, intending to send it to Teacher Yuwen of Kunlun Academy and True Master Jiugong of the Xuanji Sect for mutual discussion later.
Ten days passed, and almost all high-level formation masters had expressed their views. One person left the deepest impression on Xu Yi.
She was a woman dressed in white, Bai Xinlian, the vice alliance master of the Formation Heaven Alliance and an eighth-level formation master.
Many of her viewpoints were refreshing and thought-provoking for Xu Yi.
Despite her prejudice against the Formation Heaven Alliance, Xu Yi could not deny that Bai Xinlian's attainments in the Dao of Formations were very high.
If Bai Xinlian were not part of the Formation Heaven Alliance, Xu Yi would have shamelessly sought her out for guidance.
Tan Long, after Bai Xinlian stood up again, glanced casually at the opposite side.
As expected, Qiu Yuanfeng's gaze had undergone a subtle change.
He inwardly sighed that Bai Xinlian was too hasty.
The most crucial moment was approaching, yet she lost her composure and exposed herself prematurely, attracting Qiu Yuanfeng's attention. He wondered if this would lead to other unforeseen changes.
Tan Long lowered his eyelids, concealing the worry in his eyes.
How could Bai Xinlian not know that she had already alerted the enemy?
However, she simply could no longer maintain a calm state of mind.
She knew that what she was about to do was dangerous. In a few days, her name, Bai Xinlian, might disappear from the Nine Provinces Continent. If she didn't speak her mind now, she might never have the chance again.
Her throat had been choked for too long. The pain of being unable to speak made her doubt the meaning of her cultivation every moment.
Until now, she decided to stop suppressing herself. She wanted to fully convey her Dao, her insights, and her experiences to all the formation cultivators at the exchange conference.
As long as one person was enlightened by her words, her speaking would have meaning.
As for Qiu Yuanfeng disliking her, it wasn't a recent development. Soon, there would be a final resolution between her and Qiu Yuanfeng.
She had waited for this day for far too long.