Chapter 316: Imparting Knowledge and Passing on the Torch |
Bing-7 Defense Zone, a temporarily erected lecture shed.
The north wind, carrying flecks of snow, battered against the thick cowhide tent like a crazed beast, producing dull *thump-thump* sounds.
Inside the shed, several large red clay charcoal braziers burned fiercely, occasionally popping with a spark or two, the only warm colors in this severe winter.
Over twenty young cultivators, dressed in various colored cultivation robes, sat in rows on meditation cushions.
Most were at the fifth or sixth layer of Qi Refining, coming from various defense zones of Iron Wall Pass, all of them formation apprentices. At this moment, all their gazes were focused on the area behind the simple wooden desk at the front.
Su Ming stood before the desk, wearing that faded cyan formation master robe, his expression as calm as still water.
Behind him, hung a beastskin diagram nearly half the wall in size. Complex node distributions were outlined on it with cinnabar and ink lines—it was a simplified version of the complete "Spirit Response Spider Web" diagram.
The tent flap was lifted, a gust of icy wind pouring in, causing the flames in the braziers to leap violently.
Elder Mo walked in.
This was the momentum of a Golden Core cultivator.
Elder Mo swept his gaze around the room, his turbid old eyes carrying a heart-palpitating sharpness.
He did not walk to the main position, merely stood at the entrance and gave Su Ming a nod.
"This person, Su Ming, is the original creator of the 'Joint Defense Early Warning Method'," Elder Mo's voice was not loud, yet it felt like a bronze bell had been struck right beside each person's ear. "For the next month, he will teach you the key techniques for deploying, maintaining, and performing emergency troubleshooting. This is a military order, and also adds a layer of protection for the lives of your comrades in your respective defense zones. Study diligently. Anyone who slacks off will be treated as a deserter in the face of battle."
Having said that, Elder Mo gave Su Ming a deep look, then turned and left.
The flap fell, cutting off the wind and snow, and leaving behind a room filled with heavy pressure.
Su Ming watched Elder Mo leave, then turned around, his gaze calmly sweeping over the students below.
He could see the curiosity, scrutiny, and even a bit of dismissive arrogance in these people's eyes.
After all, the path of formations had always emphasized master-disciple lineage and seniority. For a junior like him at the Qi Refining stage, even with Elder Mo's endorsement, gaining their respect wouldn't be easy.
"I know what you all are thinking," Su Ming spoke, his voice steady, without a trace of stage fright. "You are here to learn formations, thinking perhaps you can learn some profound rune structures or secret methods of spiritual energy calculation from me."
Several formation apprentices below who looked quite self-assured nodded slightly, clearly thinking exactly that.
The corner of Su Ming's mouth lifted into an extremely faint arc. He picked up a wooden stick from the desk and rapped it heavily on the beastskin diagram behind him.
"If you hold that kind of mindset, leave now."
These words caused a stir of surprise throughout the seated audience.
Ignoring everyone's reaction, Su Ming casually picked up a wooden box from the desk and opened it with a *clang*.
"Everyone knows formations are profound, as vast as the sea. Teaching you the true way within a month is a fool's dream. What I impart today is not to make you Formation Masters who comprehend the principles of Yin and Yang, but to make you qualified 'Web Guardians' for this 'web'."
He took out from the box a black iron formation stake pre-carved with runes, a roll of spirit cable marked with scales, and a palm-sized compass inlaid with three crystal stones.
"These will be your companions for the next month."
Su Ming raised that compass, a slight surge of spiritual energy from his fingertip causing the crystal stones on the compass to instantly glow with a faint green light.
"You only need to remember three points."
He extended three fingers, speaking not quickly, yet each word was forceful and clear.
"First, where to bury the stake. You don't need to observe feng shui or measure earth veins. I have 'position diagrams'. Measure according to the dimensions on the diagram. One part off is not acceptable, one part extra is also not acceptable."
"Second, how to connect. You don't need to understand the mutual generation and restraint of the Five Elements in spiritual energy circuits. I have 'sequence mnemonics'. Red wire connects to Li Position, blue wire connects to Kan Position. Wrong? It explodes. Right? It lights up."
"Third, how to read the compass. Green light on? Sleep. Yellow light on? Check the lines. Red light on? That means demon beasts are coming. Grab your weapons or run for it, your choice."
The students below looked at each other. This unprecedented "Fool-Proof" teaching method completely overturned their perception of formations as profound and unfathomable.
"As for why it must be buried there? Why the red wire connects to Li Position? What are the formation principles?"
Su Ming slapped the compass heavily onto the desk. "That's my business, not today's task. The operation of formations has its own logic. You only need to know how to use them. Just like the swords and blades in your hands, you only need to know how to use them to chop off a demon beast's head. That is enough. As for how this steel edge was forged, that's the blacksmith's business."
"Preposterous!"
A cold snort abruptly rang out.
A young man sitting in the front row, wearing a moon-white robe, stood up. He had a fair, clean face and a haughty expression. A jade plaque engraved with the characters "Yi-3" hung at his waist, clearly indicating he was a high-level formation apprentice from the Yi-character camp.
"Instructor Su, the path of formations is a learning that connects to the heavens, emphasizing adaptation to local conditions and acting according to the momentum. Your method of rote memorization without understanding the underlying principles—isn't that treating us as mere craftsmen who only copy the superficial? If we encounter earth vein shifts, or demonic aura erosion causing spiritual pressure disturbances, how can such a rigid method adapt?"
The young man held his head high, his eyes full of challenge. "I am Lu Jun, disciple of the Chief Formation Master of the Yi-3 Defense Zone. Forgive my bluntness, but I disdain such a method of learning that seeks no deep understanding."
Low murmurs of discussion arose around them. Many looked at Lu Jun with a hint of admiration; clearly, his words resonated with some.
Su Ming was not angered. He didn't even frown.
He simply looked at Lu Jun calmly, as if looking at a child who hadn't grown up yet.
"Fellow Daoist Lu makes a reasonable point," Su Ming nodded. "Since Fellow Daoist Lu believes there will be time for you to slowly deduce and calculate during actual combat, why don't we go to the field and test it?"
A quarter of an hour later.
The outer perimeter of the Bing-7 Defense Zone, beside a newly deployed "Spirit Response Spider Web" node.
The icy wind was like a knife, scraping painfully against their faces.
Su Ming led the group of students standing in the snow, pointing at a seemingly flat stretch of snowy plain ahead.
"I have secretly set up a compound interference at this node," Su Ming looked at Lu Jun. "Fellow Daoist Lu, assume it is midnight. The Beast Tide is thirty breaths away from this location. The main control compass shows abnormal spiritual pressure at this node, causing the early warning to fail. You have thirty breaths to troubleshoot the fault."
Lu Jun sneered, strode forward, holding a delicate spirit detection disk in his hand. Spiritual energy surged around him, clearly indicating he had genuine skill.
"A mere interference. Watch me break it."