When Wang Hong found Cai Xuanzhi and told her that he had completed studying all the materials she had provided, Cai Xuanzhi didn't say much. Instead, she handed him a large bundle of Jade Scrolls and instructed him to study on his own.
Cai Xuanzhi believed that Wang Hong had only skimmed through the Jade Scrolls, learning only the basics without delving deeper. She recalled that it had taken her over a year to master these materials when she learned them, earning her praise from the elders in her family for her talent in formations.
She had wanted to advise Wang Hong to be diligent and patient in his studies, emphasizing the importance of not just scratching the surface of knowledge.
After some contemplation, she decided to hold back her words but couldn't help but look down on Wang Hong a bit.
The materials Cai Xuanzhi had given Wang Hong this time included the fundamentals of Rune combinations, arrangements, and connections. Most of these were entirely new to Wang Hong, so it took him a bit longer this time, approximately a month. However, he had experienced over a decade in the Space, which helped him master these materials thoroughly.
Wang Hong once again sought out Cai Xuanzhi, informing her that he had completed the contents of the Jade Scrolls and wanted to move on to the next stage of his studies.
Cai Xuanzhi's belief in her initial assessment of Wang Hong's character only grew stronger. She gave him another stack of Jade Scrolls and told him to continue studying on his own, showing little interest in his progress. After all, their relationship was merely a business transaction; she had done her part, and whether Wang Hong made the most of it was his own concern.
They continued this way for a year, with Wang Hong occasionally returning to Qingxu Sect to complete some Alchemy tasks and earn contribution points. He used these points to exchange for more formation-related Jade Scrolls at the Scripture Tower.
During his time studying under Cai Xuanzhi's guidance, he comprehended all the formation Jade Scrolls obtained from the Sect. In this year, Wang Hong's proficiency in the art of formations advanced rapidly, and he had already completely grasped first-tier formations.
As for second-tier formations, he had only acquired basic knowledge and could create simple formations when referencing diagrams.
One day, he approached Cai Xuanzhi once more, informing her that he had completed the content she had provided and had accumulated some questions he wanted to discuss.
Over the past year, Wang Hong had also gifted Cai Xuanzhi with some Hanyu Pills, and her injuries had fully healed.
After hearing Wang Hong's request, Cai Xuanzhi responded, "I have already imparted all the teachings I can provide for you. From now on, you'll need to explore and comprehend on your own. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."
After this year, she had little hope that Wang Hong could excel in formations. She had decided to end her guidance here, especially since she had already taught him second-tier formations, and teaching further would seem pointless.
She didn't expect Wang Hong to have any substantial questions either, considering his superficial approach to learning. Why would someone who had never taken their studies seriously suddenly have profound questions?
"I've been pondering the transitions between the Five Elements Formation and the Yin and Yang Array, how to maintain balance among the Five Elements, and the interactions within the Eight Trigrams," Wang Hong explained, listing the questions that had been weighing on his mind.
At this moment, Cai Xuanzhi, who had always been composed, revealed a surprised expression on her face. She was well aware of these questions, and some of them had troubled her deeply.
However, these were typically questions encountered by second-tier formation masters. "Are these your own questions, or did you learn them elsewhere?" Cai Xuanzhi asked, still somewhat skeptical about Wang Hong's sudden depth of inquiry.
"Indeed, these are questions I've been pondering for a long time without finding a solution, which is why I specifically sought advice from Fellow Daoist Cai," Wang Hong replied confidently. His usual approach to problems was to attempt to solve them himself, using various methods. If he couldn't find a solution right away, he would set the problem aside and revisit it once he had grown in strength, hoping to find answers more easily.
Upon hearing Wang Hong's assured response, Cai Xuanzhi's surprise deepened. In her impression, Wang Hong had never diligently studied formation knowledge, only skimming through the Jade Scrolls. She had even doubted if he had thoroughly reviewed all of them because it had been such a short time—just one year—for him to transition from a formation novice to a second-tier formation master.
Cai Xuanzhi had been considered a formation genius throughout her life, yet it had taken her several decades to become a second-tier formation master. What kind of monstrous talent, possessed with extraordinary comprehension abilities, could achieve such a feat in just a year?
Though surprised, Cai Xuanzhi quickly provided detailed answers to Wang Hong's various questions. She felt a sense of satisfaction that Wang Hong had made such progress, even if he wasn't her disciple. She had played a role in his education, which brought her some sense of accomplishment.
"Now that you have become a second-tier formation master, I have a few more Jade Scrolls here that you can study. Feel free to come to me if you have any further questions," she said, her impression of Wang Hong changing significantly along with her attitude.
Originally, she hadn't intended to give Wang Hong these additional Jade Scrolls for study, as she had initially considered it an insult to the value of the scrolls. Now, she believed that withholding these scrolls from him would be a waste.
After having his long-standing questions resolved, Wang Hong left with a clear mind, holding several precious Jade Scrolls. While it had been a business transaction, he still felt gratitude toward Cai Xuanzhi.
Before departing, he gifted Cai Xuanzhi with some Spirit Bee Royal Jelly and Spirit Honey, knowing that these items were appreciated by female cultivators.
Armed with the Jade Scrolls, Wang Hong returned to the Mountain Valley base. The space there was large enough for him to practice setting up various formations.
Twenty individuals were stationed at Mountain Valley year-round to ensure its safety and take care of the spirit fields. Luo Zhongjie had already returned to Azure Void City, leaving a newly promoted Foundation Building cultivator in charge.
In the past year, Wang Hong had only managed to cultivate one Foundation Building cultivator. Unless unexpected circumstances arose, he would continue at this pace to eventually cultivate all his subordinates into Foundation Building cultivators.
While this speed was quite rapid, the prospect of cultivating an entire group of cultivators into Foundation Building stage was still astonishing. However, he couldn't afford to slow down if he wanted to survive and expand. Without sufficient power, his wealth could easily attract adversaries who would spare no expense to obtain it.
Wang Hong began setting up various formations in Mountain Valley, starting with the simplest first-tier formations and gradually progressing to more complex ones. He had already purchased the materials required for these formations in advance.
In this year of rapid progress, he had also spent a considerable amount of resources on formation materials. He had nearly emptied the profits earned by the Immortal Way Trading Company for the year.
For formation masters in the early stages of learning tiers, apart from innate talent, they also needed to consume significant resources. Without a solid foundation, they wouldn't be able to bear the costs.
[Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]