Chương 60: The Geng Metal Profound Light Formation

The Geng Metal Profound Light Formation was a Tier 2, Mid Grade array formation! At its core sat a formation disc, forged from metal attributed and light attributed ores. Flanking it were two Tier 2, low grade spirit artifacts, serving as the formation's nucleus. They had been steadily absorbing the formation's power, storing up offensive energy over time. The force this formation could unleash was enough to injure even a mid stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

"The owner of this cave dwelling definitely wasn't some ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator," Zhang Huaijin murmured, his eyes sweeping across the chamber.

"This is an incredible display of wealth." His gaze settled on the center of the stone room, where five stone platforms stood in a neat row, each holding a different item. On the two leftmost platforms lay scrolls that appeared to be cultivation manuals. At the center, a jade box sat quietly, likely containing pills. On the two right platforms were spirit artifacts: a spirit sword and a suit of armor.

Zhang Huaijin couldn't sense their auras from a distance, but judging by their craftsmanship, he was certain they were Tier 2 spirit artifacts. Unfortunately, all of these treasures lay shrouded beneath the Geng Metal Profound Light Formation. To claim them, he would have to break through it first. Zhang Huaijin was no formation master. His understanding of formations was shallow, and the Zhang family had never possessed any real inheritance in that field.

He channeled his spiritual sense outward, probing the formation's surface for any sign of weakness. He studied it carefully. The formation had been laid down decades ago, and in several places, the flow of spiritual energy had grown noticeably sluggish. Formations, after all, required regular maintenance and repair. A quarter of an hour later, Zhang Huaijin identified three weak nodes spaced close together, the most promising opening he could find. Boom!

A green seal materialized in his palm, radiating a vivid jade glow. Carved onto its surface was the image of a green ape, and from it emanated an overwhelming power. This was the Green Ape Seal, a Tier 2, low grade spirit artifact that Zhang Huaijin had personally refined. The Green Ape Seal was no ordinary weapon. It served both offense and defense. When activated, it could unleash devastating force, and at the same time, it would drop a green light barrier to protect its user.

Its only drawback was the enormous consumption of spiritual power. Having made up his mind, Zhang Huaijin hesitated no longer. Boom! The Green Ape Seal erupted with blinding green light as Zhang Huaijin pushed it to its maximum output. The force it released was equivalent to the full power of a third level Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator! The seal slammed into the Geng Metal Profound Light Formation with devastating force. Crack! The impact sent ripples of distortion across the formation's light screen.

A sharp, splintering sound echoed through the chamber. Golden light surged as the formation automatically activated its defenses. Blazing radiance condensed at visible speed, forming eighteen brilliant golden blades. An intangible killing intent locked onto Zhang Huaijin, and the blades shot toward him in an instant. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Zhang Huaijin's expression remained calm.

The Green Ape Seal retreated just as quickly, and a green light barrier descended around him, scattering countless rays of protective light. Boom! All eighteen golden blades struck home, hammering against the green light barrier in rapid succession. Zhang Huaijin's arm trembled slightly as he channeled power into the seal, but the corner of his mouth curled into a faint smile. The green light barrier dimmed noticeably, and several dark cracks webbed across its surface, but it held.

"Decades of neglect," Zhang Huaijin thought to himself.

"Without a formation master to maintain it, the Geng Metal Profound Light Formation's power has already decayed significantly." At this point, the formation could only muster strength comparable to an early stage Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. Cracks had already appeared on its outer screen. In Zhang Huaijin's estimation, three more strikes would shatter it completely.

"Again!" Zhang Huaijin focused his will and activated the Green Ape Seal once more. Boom! The green seal crashed down again, hammering the formation screen with relentless force. Zhang Huaijin poured spiritual power from his body into the seal without pause. The formation retaliated again, condensing several dozen golden blades and launching them in a deadly volley. While maintaining the Green Ape Seal's defense, Zhang Huaijin moved his right hand.

Blood qi surged through his arm, and a dragon's roar echoed through the chamber. The Blood Dragon Sword materialized in his grip, its blade humming with killing intent. Whoosh! A dazzling red sword light howled outward, streaking across the chamber like crimson lightning to strike the formation screen. Zhang Huaijin split his focus masterfully, the Green Ape Seal deflected the incoming golden blades while the Blood Dragon Sword in his other hand fell again. Crack!

The formation barrier of the Geng Metal Profound Light Formation became covered in dense, dark fissures. The two Tier 2 spirit artifacts at the formation's core shuddered violently, their internal structures trembling under the strain. Age had taken its toll. The formation had lost its true power. A fully powered strike from Zhang Huaijin's Blood Dragon Sword could rival a all out blow of a third level Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

Two such strikes, and the formation was already on the verge of collapse. Shielding himself from a hail of golden blades, Zhang Huaijin brought the Blood Dragon Sword down one final time. Boom! The blazing red sword light crashed down like a falling meteor, and with a final, deafening CRACK, the formation's barrier shattered into shards of dissipating light. The two Tier 2, low grade spirit artifacts at the core let out a mournful whine before clattering limply to the stone floor.

The formation disc shuddered violently, a deep crack splitting across its surface. Zhang Huaijin breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling. Activating the Green Ape Seal had been a significant drain of energy. If he didn't possess a Supreme Dao Foundation, his spiritual power would have run dry long ago. He collected the broken formation disc and the two fallen Tier 2 spirit artifacts, tucking them away safely.

Then, ignoring the treasures on the stone platforms for the moment, he spread his spiritual sense outward once more, carefully scanning his surroundings. He raised the Mystic Nether Shield to guard his back out of habit. Finally, he gathered all eighteen formation flags of the Geng Metal Profound Light Formation.

"I've got the formation!" A genuine smile broke across his face.

"It's damaged, but if I pay a Tier 2 formation master to repair it, it'll be more than enough to defend the family's Green Bamboo Mountain. This is a Tier 2, mid grade array formation! Even if mid stage Foundation Establishment Realm spirit beasts came to attack, as long as we have enough spiritual energy to fuel it, they'd never break through." His gaze then fell upon the stone platforms before him. Focusing his will, he condensed a large hand made of spiritual power and reached for the items on the platforms.

The Blood Dragon Sword remained ready to fire at the first sign of trouble. But to Zhang Huaijin's surprise, everything remained calm. No traps. No hidden attacks. He retrieved the items from the platforms with ease.

"Only the Geng Metal Profound Light Formation as a defense," he murmured thoughtfully.

"It seems this cultivator had a bit of a humane side after all." He thought back to the cave dwelling Zhang Chongwen had encountered years ago, that place had been a death trap at every turn. Hundreds had entered, but only a dozen or so had walked back out. That had made Zhang Huaijin suspect that some cultivators would rather let their legacies rot than let anyone claim them. But this time, everything had gone smoothly.

Of course, the most important reason was that Zhang Huaijin was now a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. If a Qi Refining Realm cultivator had walked in here instead, they could only gaze at these treasures from a distance, arriving full of hope and leaving with empty hands.