Chapter 1035: Zhang Xuan Breaks the Seal (Part 1)

As long as a formation is active, its flaws can be found, much more accurately than with a compass or similar tools. Others couldn't pinpoint the precise location or determine how much power to exert, but for him, it was the simplest task.

"Try it?"

Master Wu shook his head. "I know Dean Zhang has considerable expertise in formations, but this involves too much; we must succeed and cannot afford to fail. We absolutely cannot experiment haphazardly..." Failure would result in an explosion, killing everyone. This is no game; it's not something to be trifled with.

"I know..." Zhang Xuan nodded, just about to speak, when a voice from the sky boomed, "Try it? If something goes wrong, can you bear the responsibility? So young, yet so glib. Where are your manners?"

*Boom!*

An elder flew down before them. It was Han Xu, the peak seven-star formation master who had been overseeing the reinforcement of the seal from the air. Though his face was etched with fatigue, he looked at Zhang Xuan with coldness and displeasure.

"President Han... allow me to introduce you!" Master Wu quickly interjected to ease the tension. "This is Zhang Xuan, the new Dean of Hongyuan Master Teacher Academy, and that is Master Luo! As for myself, Master Wu, there's no need for introductions; we're old friends. Dean Zhang, Master Luo, this is Han Xu, President of the Qingyuan Empire Formation Master Guild!"

"You are Zhang Xuan?" After the introduction, Han Xu looked at him. "I've heard of you. You've achieved quite a bit in formations, and at such a young age, to grasp the essence of a Level 6 formation is truly rare talent. However... as a Master Teacher, you must be careful with your words, speak cautiously, and think twice before acting. Everyone knows that prevention is better than suppression, but do you understand the consequences of failure? Not only will we all die, but an area within a thousand kilometers will suffer immense destruction, with countless lives perishing... Can you bear such a responsibility?"

"President Han, you've misunderstood," Zhang Xuan explained with a smile, not angered as he recognized the president's words stemmed from a sense of responsibility rather than ill will. "When I said 'try,' I naturally meant I would only do so with confidence. With so many lives at stake, I wouldn't dare act recklessly!"

"What arrogance!" another middle-aged man approached, a look of sarcasm on his face. "This seal before us could be an eight-star formation, or even higher. My teacher and I calculated for two days and two nights and still couldn't find a node that would allow us to release power without harming anyone. You've just arrived, haven't even looked at the formation, and you immediately declare you're confident... As a distinguished Master Teacher Academy Dean, isn't that a bit too reckless?"

This middle-aged man possessed immense power, exuding a spiritual pressure from afar. He was at Saint 3-dan, Embryonic Soul realm! The Embryonic Soul realm, also known as the Nascent Soul realm, is where the primordial embryo transforms into a human form, marking a significant step towards the Primordial Spirit realm. Individuals at this stage possess incredibly powerful souls, capable of easily overwhelming anyone whose cultivation hasn't reached this level.

"Ahem, Master Zhang, this is... Liu Mo, President Han's student and a Grandmaster of seven-star formations!" Master Wu was utterly embarrassed, surprised that a single sentence from Master Zhang had created such tension. For the past two days, President Han and his student had poured countless efforts into finding a node to release power, not closing their eyes for two full days and nights, yet still couldn't pinpoint it. Hearing this fellow, who had just arrived, shamelessly declare he'd "try"... instantly infuriated them all.

"Liu Mo?" Zhang Xuan shook his head. "Apologies, I haven't heard of him..." He had never even been to the Qingyuan Empire, so he hadn't heard of any formation masters or presidents there. Normally, even if he didn't know, he wouldn't say it, but given the other party's attitude, he couldn't be bothered to pretend to be polite anymore.

"You..." Liu Mo was taken aback by Zhang Xuan's instant retort. Though angry, he flicked his sleeve and said, "It doesn't matter whether you've heard of me or not. I'm just an unknown nobody at the Qingyuan Empire Formation Guild."

"You've misunderstood. I wasn't saying I haven't heard your name!" Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan looked at him sincerely. "It's that I haven't even heard of President Han!"

"You..." Liu Mo was nearly incandescent with rage, his face beet red. President Han almost coughed up blood from sheer fury. Although Han Xu wasn't famous throughout the entire Qingyuan Empire, he had been renowned for hundreds of years. Every year, countless Master Teachers who specialized in formations hoped to become his disciples. Yet this fellow had the audacity to say he hadn't heard of his student, and then casually included him as well... He couldn't even openly get angry, feeling utterly frustrated to the point of exasperation.

Luo Ruoxi, standing nearby, chuckled softly at their exchange. Trying to out-argue this guy... you'll never win! This fellow naturally disregards rules and enjoys causing mischief. He even dared to argue with Confucius... who do you think you are!

"Alright, there's no need to get so agitated about not having heard of someone. As a dignified Master Teacher Academy Dean, I am very busy; I can't possibly know everyone!" Waving his hand, Zhang Xuan placed his hands behind his back and stepped forward, looking at the massive pit before him with a profound gaze. "Master Wu, please prepare a formation flag for me, preferably one that's peak Level 7!"

"This..." Master Wu looked troubled.

"Stop! Do you really want all these people to die with you?" Seeing Zhang Xuan request a peak seven-star formation flag, clearly intending to test a node, Liu Mo's hair stood on end, and he rushed forward. Did this guy even understand the danger? He and his teacher had spent two days and two nights researching, yet dared not confirm or test anything. But this fellow, after just ten minutes of arriving, wanted to rush forward... There were over twenty thousand Master Teachers down there! If he didn't care for his own life, did he not care for anyone else's? They had seen many deans who prioritized their students, but this guy was simply a madman... charging forward without even understanding the situation. How did Hongyuan Academy choose such an idiot?

"Die with me? You're overthinking it... The fact that you couldn't find a node for two days and two nights isn't an achievement, it's a sign of incompetence! I naturally won't be like you!" Shaking his head, Zhang Xuan ignored the other party and walked a few steps to the edge of the pit.

"Dean..." Seeing him approach, the many students guarding the pit all stood up, their faces filled with admiration.

"Hmm, you've all worked hard!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Serving humanity..." Everyone nodded in unison.

"Teacher... we can't let this fellow mess around!" Seeing Zhang Xuan at the seal, Liu Mo looked anxious and couldn't help but glance at his teacher nearby.

"Don't worry, a node isn't that easy to find. We spent so much effort, researching for two days and two nights, and only deduced five suspicious spots. He just arrived; how could he possibly find it?" President Han shook his head, completely disbelieving that Zhang Xuan could find the node. It was understandable. As a peak seven-star formation master, he had spent so long researching how to suppress the sudden violent power from below without success. How could a mere six-star formation master instantly spot the problem?

"But... I'm afraid he knows nothing and will recklessly experiment. If he makes a mistake, it could easily lead to a major disaster..." Liu Mo said quickly.

"No need to rush. Finding a node takes time, and even after finding it, drawing out the violent power also takes time. We can stop him when he's confirmed it and is about to act!" Waving his hand, President Han appeared to be in complete control of the situation.

"Oh... my apologies, I was being rash!" Hearing this, Liu Mo breathed a sigh of relief. He was right. Finding a node takes time, and even if one wants to detonate it after finding it, that also takes time. They were all prominent figures; there was no need to cause a scene now. They could simply stop him once he found the node and was about to activate it.

"Indeed, I've heard many stories about this Dean Zhang. He's very talented in formations, quite a prodigy! However, he's still too young and reckless. But... young people need to face more setbacks to realize the vastness of the world and the profoundness of formations. It's not enough to just know a little and then speak carelessly!" President Han smiled. "Let him try to find it first. Let's see what method he uses. Once he fails to find it, he'll naturally realize his own ignorance..."

"Yes!" Liu Mo looked at his teacher with immense admiration, his eyes filled with reverence. See? This is a true Grandmaster. Despite being insulted, he remained humble and considerate, earning utmost respect.

Ignoring their conversation, Zhang Xuan approached the seal and carefully peered forward. In his dark eyes, patterns writhed, forming a halo of light.

"No, my insight and knowledge are too limited. This formation is too profound; I can't understand it at all..." He shook his head again. For any other formation, even a peak seven-star one, with his Eye of Insight and understanding of formations, he could find its flaws and identify the root cause, given enough time. But for the one before him, he had no clue.

"It seems I can only use it..." He sighed inwardly, then frowned. "However, using the Library requires the formation to be activated and operational! If it's not running, I can't examine its flaws..." He pinched his brow. It wasn't something that could be used casually; it required specific timing. Just like examining a cultivator, where they needed to circulate their *zhenqi* and perform martial arts! Formations were the same; they had to be active. Although this seal covered the entrance to the ruins and was constantly bombarded by strange forces, it wasn't actually operating much. Simply calling out its flaws wouldn't be effective. What should he do? How could he make it operate?

Zhang Xuan fell into deep thought.

"He's not even using a compass? And he's not looking at the terrain or topography... Does this guy even understand formations?" Liu Mo, standing nearby, had wanted to see how this arrogant Dean Zhang would find the node. Instead, he saw him standing before the pit, staring blankly for a moment, then rubbing his brow... He hadn't even taken out a compass, nor had he even glanced at the surrounding terrain... Was this how one studied formations?

"Perhaps it's a unique method..." President Han also found it strange and was utterly bewildered.

"Let's hope so... W-what's he doing?" Liu Mo nodded in response, about to say something, when he saw Dean Zhang's actions and gasped, nearly fainting on the spot. The fellow hesitated for a moment, then picked up a massive stone and hurled it straight into the pit.