The Three Thousand Divine Runes correspond to the Three Thousand Laws. After Li Mu comprehended them, he integrated them into Artifact Refining and Alchemy, achieving excellent results. However, attempting to use them for Formation Arrangement was an unprecedented challenge.
Artifact Runes are tangible, and Pill Runes gather Spiritual Qi, but Formation Runes are intricate and complex like a labyrinth. The operation of Formation power implies the Profound Truth of the sum of space, time, and Karma. Unlike the directness of Artifact Runes and the agility of Pill Runes, Formation Runes are more precise, relating to the changes of the entire Formation arrangement. They require the Arranger to possess extraordinary spatial perception and temporal understanding to outline complex arrays that can both communicate with the Origin Qi of heaven and earth and operate according to specific rules.
Li Mu concentrated his Divine Sense, continuously urging and evolving the miniature Formation in his hand, revealing every detail of the Three Thousand Divine Runes and deducing the points of compatibility between the Three Thousand Divine Runes and the Mixed Origin Reversal Spirit Sealing Array.
However, this process was far more difficult than imagined.
Whenever Li Mu tried to integrate a certain Divine Rune into the miniature Formation, the Formation would become chaotic due to disordered Formation power, intertwined and repelling Origin Qi, forming turbulent vortices that made his Sea of Consciousness tremble, making it difficult to maintain the stability of the miniature Formation.
With a loud 'Boom'!
Li Mu felt a huge backlash force suddenly strike him. He involuntarily retreated several steps, his face instantly turning ashen. The miniature Formation in his hand, after a violent tremor, finally completely collapsed, turning into specks of light that dissipated into the air.
"Failed again!"
Li Mu used his Divine Ability to recover his faintly aching tiger's mouth, his eyes filled with helplessness. This was already his thirty-second attempt to integrate the Three Thousand Divine Runes into the Mixed Origin Reversal Spirit Sealing Array. Each failure made him feel further from success, putting immense pressure on his body and mind. Just then, Xue'er's soft voice sounded in his ear: "Li Dage!"
Seeing Li Mu's tired and dejected expression, Xue'er walked to his side with a pained heart and gently advised, "Li Dage, you have tried many times in a row. If you continue like this, you won't be able to bear it. Why not rest for a while and try again when you are in better condition, or try a different approach from other angles, such as first studying the basic principles of Formations? Perhaps you can find a new Breakthrough point!"
Li Mu looked up at Xue'er and nodded with a wry smile. Xue'er was right; he had indeed been too eager for quick success during this period, overlooking the complexity and profundity of Formations themselves.
"Xue'er, you are right. I should adjust my mindset." Li Mu sighed softly and nodded.
Thus, Li Mu and Xue'er left the secret room together, walked out of the Five Elements Spirit Palace, strolled through the Treasure Mansion Space, and inspected the various Spirit Plants within the Space.
Inside the Treasure Mansion, clouds swirled and Spiritual Qi permeated, like a fairyland. Exotic flowers and plants bloomed competitively, emitting a faint, pleasant fragrance that refreshed the mind. As the two walked through it, Li Mu temporarily forgot the current disturbances.
Just then, several figures arrived one after another, watching from a distance, seemingly wanting to approach but feeling a bit awkward.
Li Mu smiled warmly and called out, "Come over here!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jin immediately flew to Li Mu's front: "Master! You've finally come out of seclusion. Are you alright!"
Xiao Wa followed closely: "Master, Xue'er said you were injured. We were all very worried about you. Are you now?"
The human forms of Azure Moon True Dragon, Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix, and Azure Jade Ginseng King all appeared before Li Mu, looking at him with worried and concerned expressions.
"After taking the Spirit Pill, I'm fine now! Everyone, don't worry." Li Mu smiled and reassured everyone. Feeling the cultivation status of the five spirit beasts at this moment, he was greatly comforted.
Since they came out of the Extreme Realm Secret Realm, their cultivation had all reached the Seven-rank True Spirit. Unfortunately, their Aptitude was limited. Except for the Azure Moon True Dragon, whose Bloodline was slightly better, reaching the Seven-rank True Spirit was already their limit. To advance further and reach the Eighth-rank, they would probably need a great Opportunity and good fortune.
"The Extreme Realm Secret Realm disintegrated due to the collapse of the Three Realms Sealing Grand Array. It will be difficult to find a suitable blessed land for your cultivation and Breakthrough in the Spirit Realm again!" Li Mu looked at the spirit beasts and sighed with some regret.
"Master, you don't have to feel regret for us. Since following you, our cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching an unprecedented height! Although we have not yet stepped into the Eighth-rank, our current cultivation is a Realm many beings dream of. I am already very content!" Xiao Jin quickly spoke out, stating his satisfaction.
"Yes, Master! You not only constantly care about our growth and seek various rare resources for us, but under your careful care, we are able to achieve what we have today. Our hearts are full of gratitude, how dare we ask for more?" Xiao Wa nodded repeatedly, speaking solemnly.
"Master, the kindness you have shown us, we will engrave in our hearts. The path of cultivation is inherently difficult, and to have a Master like you to guide us is our greatest fortune!" Azure Moon True Dragon readily agreed.
"Master, you have done enough for us! If not for your rescue and grace, we would not know what kind of fate we would have fallen into!" Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix exclaimed.
"That's right! Master, you don't need to worry about our cultivation. Being able to stay by your side is enough for us!" Azure Jade Ginseng King said with a satisfied expression, genuinely comforting Li Mu.
As soon as Azure Jade Ginseng King finished speaking, Xiao Jin and Xiao Wa nodded repeatedly.
Although the Extreme Realm was a very suitable place for their cultivation, compared to staying by Li Mu's side, the sense of security and happiness far surpassed those vanished Secret Realms. In this world where the strong are revered, having a powerful and benevolent Master is extremely rare and precious.
Moreover, their Master, Li Mu, was a person extremely skilled at creating miracles. His cultivation progress was simply astonishing.
They had personally witnessed how Li Mu, from a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, made leaps and bounds in his advancement, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Void Refining, easily passing through unimaginable cultivation barriers. His cultivation was like a bamboo breaking, advancing a thousand li a day, as if no Bottleneck could stop his progress.
One must know that when Li Mu first subdued them, his purpose was for them to protect his Dao for a thousand years. Now, in less than a thousand years, he had surpassed their cultivation and become an existence they needed to look up to.
What's more astonishing is that their Master, Li Mu, not only possessed astonishing talent in cultivation but also had extraordinary attainments in various crafts. In Artifact Refining, he could refine seven-rank Dao Artifacts containing the Laws of heaven and earth, proficient in everything, sought after by countless high-rank Cultivators. In Alchemy, he could refine Dao Pills, whether it was a healing panacea or a Dao Pill to enhance cultivation, he could produce them with ease.
At the same time, Talismans and Formation Arrangement, and even Puppet Art, were also his specialties. The seven-rank Puppets he refined had battle power even stronger than their Peak Seven-rank True Spirit spirit beasts. Thinking of this, the spirit beasts' admiration for Li Mu deepened even further.
Facing the worshipful, grateful, and eager gazes of the spirit beasts, Li Mu chuckled and nodded, "That's good. Currently, the outside world is in constant turmoil due to the reopening of the Three Realms Passage and the invasion of forces from the Demon Abyss and Immortal Spirit Realm. You all should stay in the Treasure Mansion and cultivate diligently. If you need anything, just tell me."
"Master, we are willing to cultivate diligently in the Treasure Mansion, but we also hope to share some of your burden!" Azure Moon True Dragon looked at Li Mu and sincerely promised.
"That's right! Master, if there's ever a need for us! We will definitely go all out and never retreat!" Xiao Jin's emerald eyes gleamed with determination as he took a step forward, as if already ready to face any challenge.
Xiao Wa also immediately expressed his stance, saying in a muffled voice, "Master, although our strength is limited, we are willing to give our all and contribute a part of our strength for you."
As he spoke, Xiao Wa displayed his strength. The abundant earth-elemental Spiritual Qi of a Seven-rank True Spirit surged out from his body, transforming into layers of indestructible earth shields, surrounding him and showcasing his powerful cultivation. He was only a sliver away from breaking through to the next Realm, the Eighth-rank.
"Not bad, Xiao Wa, it seems you have obtained the true Legacy of Chi Hong Daojun!" Li Mu nodded approvingly, a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Master, you flatter me. Chi Hong Daojun's Legacy is indeed extraordinary and has benefited me greatly." Xiao Wa straightened his back, chuckled honestly, and his face beamed with pride.
Seeing this, the spirit beasts all displayed their cultivation aura. Azure Jade Ginseng King smiled slightly, releasing a circle of vibrant green demonic power, like flourishing spring light, gentle yet powerful.
Xiao Jin, unwilling to be outdone, glowed with golden light, sharp and incomparable. His powerful cultivation fluctuations had already reached the Peak of the Seven-rank True Spirit, only one step away from advancing to the Eighth-rank.
Azure Moon True Dragon was surrounded by a faint pressure, and his Azure Water Domain spread out. He was also at the Seven-rank Peak, ready to cross that threshold and step into the ranks of the Eighth-rank Mahayana at any time. His pair of emerald vertical pupils were like deep pools, gleaming with a proud look, revealing a transcendent temperament.
"Seeing you all grow like this, I am very pleased." Li Mu's gaze swept over the five spirit beasts, and he nodded with joy.
The five spirit beasts vied to display the aura of their true body cultivation. Their spiritual energy fluctuations intertwined, forming a formidable and undeniable power that made the entire Treasure Mansion Space tremble.
Watching this scene, Li Mu suddenly had a flash of inspiration, as if he had thought of something. His eyes lost their anxiousness, as if he had fallen into an Epiphany.
"If I can integrate the Three Thousand Divine Runes into the Artifact Formation, using the Artifact as a medium, I might be able to successfully communicate with the Origin Qi of heaven and earth, while avoiding the various drawbacks of directly arranging the Formation..." Li Mu murmured softly, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
As he spoke, Li Mu waved his hand, and several low-rank crystals of different attributes appeared. His Divine Thought was like a knife, precisely and swiftly carving and meticulously sculpting Formation Runes, turning them into tiny Formation bases.
Chaos Origin Qi surged out, like a babbling brook, dancing at Li Mu's fingertips. In a blink of an eye, seven tiny Formation bases were arranged according to a certain pattern, as if constructing a microscopic world. As the Chaos Law power was injected, the Formation bases began to flicker with faint light. These lights gradually converged, forming complex patterns.
Soon, under the bewildered and puzzled gazes of the spirit beasts, the crystal miniature Formation condensed in Li Mu's hand began to change. The patterns on the Formation bases became clearer and clearer, countless Spirit Runes rapidly integrated, becoming more and more complex. They seemed to have come to life, like elves dancing gracefully. And the light emitted by the Formations condensed from those low-rank crystals also became brighter and brighter, and their power became more and more terrifying.
The dense Spiritual Qi within the Treasure Mansion Space seemed to be attracted by a powerful force, gathering from all directions.
"Condense!"
With a low shout, Li Mu's hands suddenly clasped together. The light on the Formation bases instantly converged, transforming into a miniature Formation, quietly suspended above his palm, operating calmly but containing astonishing power. Amidst the calmness, there was an aura of destruction.
Li Mu's eyes were bright, as if still not satisfied. He re-summoned several higher-rank Spirit Materials of different attributes from his tianxuan ring and began to refine them. A terrifying brown flame emerged from his hand. In just a few moments, the seven Materials gradually melted in the flame, transforming into seven artifact embryos, and began to condense Artifact Runes and engrave Formation Runes.
This flame was clearly Li Mu's Great Dao Divine Ability, "Chaos Fire." Not only was its temperature extremely high, capable of melting all things, but it also contained extremely terrifying Dao Laws, all-encompassing.
"Sizzle sizzle—"
As the high-rank Spirit Materials integrated, more complex patterns began to appear on the surface of the Formation. These patterns were like the Context of heaven and earth, containing endless Profound Truths and power. The light of the Formation also became increasingly intense, as if it wanted to illuminate the entire Treasure Mansion Space.
The spirit beasts watched from the side, dumbfounded. They had never seen such miraculous methods, and their admiration for Li Mu deepened even further.
"Xue'er, what is Master doing! Why is he suddenly refining Spiritual Artifacts?" Xiao Jin looked at Xue'er in confusion, asking with concern.
"That's right! What kind of Spiritual Artifact is Master refining? This Artifact Refining technique is too miraculous, and its power is truly terrifying!" Azure Jade Ginseng King exclaimed with a look of shock.
"It's an Artifact Formation. Master seems to be testing a set of small Artifact Formations. It seems that because high-rank Materials are too precious, complex, and not complete enough, he can only use three-to-four-rank Artifact Refining Spirit Materials as substitutes." Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix replied.
They each learned some skills from Li Mu. Azure Jade Ginseng King learned Alchemy, Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix learned Artifact Refining, Azure Moon True Dragon learned Talisman drawing, Artifact Refining, and so on. Therefore, Crimson Refining Fire Phoenix could tell that Li Mu was engaged in Artifact Refining activities and had a certain understanding of the Artifact Refining process and Materials.
"Yes, Master is using a new refining technique. The Artifact Runes are a bit off, and too many Artifact Runes are condensed! It's truly divine!" Azure Moon True Dragon exclaimed, his emerald eyes sparkling with admiration and reverence.
Azure Moon True Dragon focused more on the technical details: "This Artifact Refining technique seems to integrate multiple Great Dao Laws, not just the single Dao of Artifact Refining, but also the subtlety of Formations, the Profound Truth of Talismans... Master is trying to integrate various powers to create an unprecedented new Artifact."
Upon hearing this, the spirit beasts became even more curious. They stared at Li Mu's ongoing Artifact Refining, while at the same time casting their glances towards Xue'er, eager to obtain some information from her.
Looking at their curious and expectant eyes, Xue'er smiled slightly and gently explained, "Li Dage, earlier, when he sealed the nine-rank divine object, the sun essence gold, it caused a great commotion. Therefore, during this time, he has been in seclusion, trying to find ways to improve the Seal Formation. Now, it seems he has other ideas." (End of Chapter)
