Chapter 0384: The Enigmatic Flag Formation

Chapter 0384: The Enigmatic Flag Formation

While crafting the sword, Qin Yun opted for a cautious approach to ensure a smooth passage through the assessment, steering clear of any bold refining methods.

This approach ensured the consistent creation of a top-tier spiritual weapon, but such a sword was bound to be unremarkable and rather plain.

To forge a potent and unique spiritual weapon, one must utilize various radical techniques or adopt a more aggressive approach during the crafting process.

Only then can a more powerful spiritual weapon be crafted.

However, crafting such a weapon is also risky and prone to failure.

Only a Runes Master, struck by sudden inspiration, would persist through numerous attempts until the weapon is successfully crafted.

The sword Qin Yun is currently crafting is a ghost-head blade, weighing over a thousand pounds, with a thick spine, a silvery-white finish, and a blade that gleams coldly.

The runes etched on the sword are top-tier fire and thunder runes, which are perfectly suited for Qin Yun's current needs.

"An excellent top-tier spiritual weapon!" Mu Fengxiao, holding the sword, smiled and said, "It took just over twenty hours to craft, which is remarkably quick!"

Hong Mengshu, who had been observing from the sidelines, was even more impressed by the Runes Master.

Though she found it somewhat monotonous to watch, yet the Runes Master crafting the spiritual weapon could endure such tedious work for so long.

Qin Yun successfully passed the intermediate Runes Master assessment!

He was set to continue with further evaluations, but before that, he took a half-day rest.

"Next up is the assessment for creating and setting up formations! You simply need to craft a top-tier spiritual formation. I recommend you create a top-tier Qi Gathering Formation!" Mu Fengxiao said.

Qin Yun nodded and then produced a large piece of animal hide.

The hide needed to be treated before runes could be inscribed on it. This ensured better compatibility between the hide and the runes, facilitating smoother energy absorption.

Crafting a spiritual formation is the toughest part of the Runes Master assessment!

But for Qin Yun, the challenge is on par with crafting weapons and talismans. The only difference is that it requires a longer time.

Qin Yun spent nearly three days making the animal hide formation, finally completing the top-tier Qi Gathering Formation!

Mu Fengxiao placed a Power Gathering Pearl in the center of the formation, then activated the Qi Gathering Formation.

"If the Power Gathering Pearl can be filled within half an hour, the top-tier Qi Gathering Formation you made is qualified!" Mu Fengxiao said.

Before half an hour had passed, the Power Gathering Pearl was already full!

Hong Mengshu, who had been watching the assessment for several days, suddenly jumped up!

"Brother Yun, congratulations on becoming a senior Runes Master!" Hong Mengshu said with a laugh.

"I didn't expect you to really become a senior Runes Master!" Mu Fengxiao also congratulated Qin Yun, then proceeded to make a badge for him.

The badge of a Runes Master is platinum, while the badge of a senior Runes Master has three stars formed by runes.

If it's a junior Runes Master, there is only one star on it.

Mu Fengxiao was also astonished by the runes Qin Yun had carved!

He really couldn't understand how Qin Yun, being so young, could master the runes so well. The precision of the runes he carved was extremely high!

It is important to know that a Runes Master's precision can reach level six, which is achieved only after hundreds or even thousands of years of practice and comprehension.

Qin Yun, who is not even twenty years old, even if he started learning runes from the womb, has not spent as much time as many other Runes Masters. Yet, he has achieved such a high level of precision.

Mu Fengxiao could only attribute this to Qin Yun's innate talent!

Qin Yun received the badge and was secretly thrilled.

He had been away from the Nine Extremes Profound Gate for a few days, and now not only had he found the Purple Frost Xuan Grass, but he had also completed the advanced Runes Master assessment, which was a huge accomplishment for him.

Additionally, he had made friends with Hong Mengshu and Mu Fengxiao.

In the evening, Mu Fengxiao took Qin Yun and Hong Mengshu out for a meal.

"I will return to the Nine Extremes Profound Gate tonight!" Qin Yun said after finishing his meal, wiping his mouth and smiling. "The sect leader is waiting for my medicinal herbs, so I must hurry back!"

"We’ll escort you out of the city! That’ll be safer!" Mu Fengxiao said.

Qin Yun nodded.

At night, Mu Fengxiao and Hong Mengshu saw Qin Yun off from Yuxuan City.

They did not just escort him out of the city; they went quite a distance and ensured no one was following before bidding farewell to Qin Yun.

Qin Yun used his Shadow Power to blend into the darkness and made his way to the Nine Extremes Profound Gate.

...

On the way back, unlike the journey out, there was no teleportation array, so he had to enter the desert.

He made his way cautiously alone and took more than ten days to return to the Nine Extremes Profound Gate.

"Xiao Yun, you’re back already!" The one who came out to greet Qin Yun was Elder Two, who moved quickly despite his chubby build. Sensing the message from Qin Yun’s jade token, he hurried out.

Qin Yun had been away for over a month, and most of the time was wasted on the road.

"Elder Two, how is the sect leader’s condition now?" Qin Yun asked anxiously, worried that Wei Zhongzheng might not recover well.

"The injuries are stable. If you can find the Purple Frost Xuan Grass, with the sect leader’s strength, he will recover quickly!" Elder Two sighed. "The Purple Frost Xuan Grass is not easy to obtain. Don’t get discouraged; come back and rest first, then go out again to search!"

Qin Yun smiled and said, "Elder Two, I found it!"

He took out a jade box and handed it to Elder Two.

Elder Two opened it, his face lighting up with joy.

"I’ll go find Yanying. Please take the Purple Frost Xuan Grass to the sect leader!" Qin Yun said with a smile.

"Good, good! That girl’s been worried sick about you these days!" Elder Two chuckled and hurried off to Wei Zhongzheng’s residence.

Qin Yun then headed to the medicinal field.

Yuan Yanying was controlling the water-gathering array, gathering the spiritual liquid formed from Nine Sun energy and collecting it into large barrels.

Because she often had to work, she dressed very casually, with a simple braid hanging in front of her chest and wearing a plain green dress. At that moment, she was holding a ladle, scooping water to sprinkle on the vibrant green herbs.

"Yanying!" Qin Yun shouted from afar when he saw Yuan Yanying.

"Brother Yun!" Yuan Yanying set the ladle down quickly and darted toward Qin Yun, like a cheerful little bird.

As soon as Yuan Yanying approached, she quickly asked, "You were gone for so long—were you hurt? Did anyone from Sword Xuan Mountain come after you?"

Qin Yun gently tapped her beautiful nose and smiled, "I’m fine, and I even scored some Purple Frost Xuan Grass!"

"Really? That’s great! The sect leader will recover soon, and then our Nine Extremes Profound Sect won’t have to be on edge anymore!" Yuan Yanying was very happy.

"Yanying, let me help you with the herbs!" Qin Yun said playfully.

"You just got back—you must be exhausted. Go rest, I’ve got this!" Yuan Yanying pushed Qin Yun into the ancient bronze building.

Qin Yun was indeed a bit tired from the journey. When he entered his room, he found it cleaned up by Yuan Yanying, knowing she came in every day to dust and tidy up.

It warmed his heart, making him feel at home.

...

When Qin Yun woke up, it was already the next day. Yuan Yanying showed him around the Nine Extremes Profound Sect to meet the other disciples.

Over the past few days, many disciples had heard about Qin Yun and were impressed and thrilled to have such a talented member in the sect.

Jiang Zhihu's injuries had also healed long ago. Since he was helpful and easygoing, he’d made a lot of friends here.

After getting to know the disciples, Qin Yun noticed they were straightforward and genuine. Clearly, Wei Zhongzheng and the others had chosen them carefully.

They were all good-hearted disciples!

Around Qin Yun, Yuan Yanying seemed softer, like the girl next door.

But with the other disciples, she was the boss—a real big sister figure.

Qin Yun was thrilled to meet the sect’s disciples—such harmony was rare.

At night, Yuan Yanying and Qin Yun returned to the herb fields.

Yuan Yanying still had to water the herb fields—morning, noon, and night.

The herbs needed plenty of spiritual liquid to grow fast.

But at night, the water-gathering formation produced lower-quality spiritual liquid, and it was slower.

"Brother, go rest! This is my job—don’t butt in!" Yuan Yanying said with a light laugh, knowing that Qin Yun could easily help.

She wanted to be independent and didn’t want Qin Yun’s help.

"Fine, I won’t interfere, but can I just watch?" Qin Yun smiled, then took out a Nine Sun Spirit Gathering Formation and handed it to Yuan Yanying: "Yanying, lay out this beast skin, then put the water-gathering formation on it—the water will collect faster!"

Yuan Yanying pouted, "You’re still meddling!"

Although she said this, her heart felt warm.

"Your way of watering the fields is slow and inefficient—it’s a waste of time!" Qin Yun laughed.

"Before I got here, it was always done this way. Even other sects do it the same!" Yuan Yanying sighed lightly: "It’s a bit tedious, but I love it—especially watching the herbs grow. It makes me happy!"

Qin Yun said, "I can refine a set of banner formations that’ll absorb Nine Sun energy, turn it into water, and make it rain down!"

"Really? That’s incredible!" Yuan Yanying was very surprised and somewhat skeptical.

"Just wait—you’ll see when it’s done!" Qin Yun smiled: "I’ll get started right away!"

A Runes Master in a sect is also responsible for creating formations that aid in the sect's growth.

However, creating these formations is no simple task. On one hand, it requires profound expertise in formations, and on the other, it demands mastery of spirit runes with high precision in their application.

Qin Yun had long wanted to refine a banner formation, and now he finally got the chance.

He estimated the size of the entire medicine garden, calculated the approximate number of banner flags needed, and began crafting.

The banner formation he refined could not only gather Nine Sun spirit liquid but also autonomously collect and store energy to sustain the formation's operation!

In this way, only a small amount of purple spirit coins would be needed to maintain the operation of the grand formation.

The banner formation he envisioned was the stuff of dreams for many sect Runes Masters!