The Zhentian Alliance
Although Yuan Dahai was known for its greed, he also understood he shouldn’t kick down the ladder.
Moreover, there was a lingering resentment towards Gongyang Hao in his heart.
The man had taken his money without fulfilling his end of the deal regarding the Teleportation Formation, forcing him to spend more to resolve the issue.
He hadn’t even held Gongyang Hao accountable for the losses yet.
However, he had learned his lesson this time and vowed not to take shortcuts or offend Gongyang Hao again.
Despite Gongyang Hao’s higher cultivation, he approached him with courtesy, saying, “Master Gongyang, I has already paid my spiritual stones…”
“What! He actually took your spiritual stones? Those stones belong to me! Demand that she returns them immediately!” Gongyang Hao interrupted, his anger uncontrollable, glaring at Xu Yi.
Xu Yi couldn’t bear it any longer.
“Master Gongyang, isn’t this going too far? Even if you want to take advantage of Yuan Dahai, you shouldn’t do it without restraint,” she said, a hint of mockery in her eyes.
She had already figured out Gongyang Hao’s intentions.
No wonder the Teleportation Formation was in such a state.
It seemed that he hadn’t put much effort into it.
Gongyang Hao felt a sudden unease when faced with Xu Yi’s penetrating gaze, but he quickly suppressed it.
His methods were subtle, undetectable even by ordinary formation cultivators, let alone this seemingly young and spirited girl.
“Young lady, do you understand the rules? I built this Teleportation Formation, and according to the rules, other formation cultivators are not allowed to touch it. I haven’t caused you any trouble. Don’t push your luck,” Gongyang Hao warned.
Xu Yi’s eyes flickered with surprise.
She had no idea about this rule among formation cultivators.
As she had learned from the elders, she was supposed to identify and correct issues in the Teleportation Formations they set up.
She thought it was a reasonable practice to modify formations.
She quicklykept this taboo in her mind, but her expression didn’t reveal any hint of guilt.
“Master Gongyang, may I return your words to you? I’ve already shown you respect,” she said, her words carrying a subtle threat that amplified Gongyang Hao’s unease.
Could it be that she had discovered his manipulations?
When he looked at Yuan Dahai with suspicion, he realized that being too dismissive might raise suspicions.
He found himself in a difficult situation.
Suddenly, he thought of something and questioned, “Since you dare to modify my formation at will, do you possess a Formation Cultivator’s Nameplate? If your rank is higher than mine, I, Gongyang Hao, will admit defeat this time.”
Formation Cultivator’s Nameplate?
Xu Yi was taken aback once again, encountering another term she had never heard before.
Gongyang Hao noticed Xu Yi’s confusion, and a triumphant expression appeared on his face.
“No Formation Cultivator’s Nameplate? It means she isn’t recognized by the Zhentian Alliance! Yuan Dahai, you’ve become audacious, allowing someone like her to repair the formation!”
Yuan Dahai, hearing this, looked at Xu Yi with uncertainty.
His trust in her had crumbled.
The Zhentian Alliance was an organization for formation cultivators on the Nine Provinces.
Any cultivator practicing formations, whether a lone cultivator or a disciple of a sect, could join and obtain a corresponding rank of the Formation Cultivator’s Nameplate through assessments.
Joining the Zhentian Alliance required no cost or restrictions.
On the contrary, members could undertake tasks or receive guidance from senior experts within the organization.
Therefore, almost all formation cultivators on the Nine Provinces had joined the alliance.
After Xu Yi had demonstrated her proficiency in formations, Yuan Dahai had subconsciously assumed she was a member of the alliance.
Due to their previous conflicts, he hadn’t asked her to show her Formation Cultivator’s Nameplate, which indirectly showed his trust in her.
Who would have thought that Xu Yi would not even mention the existence of the Formation Cultivator’s Nameplate, let alone the Zhentian Alliance, which completely contradicts his identity as a Formation Cultivator.
Could it be that he had been deceived by these two individuals?
However, Yuan Dahai recalled Xu Yi’s skilled techniques and couldn’t help but feel that the other party indeed had genuine talent.
His small eyes were filled with questions.
Among the people present, only Lu Zaiye understood the intricacies and walked over to Xu Yi’s side to quietly explain things to her.
At this moment, Xu Yi truly experienced that the Nine Provinces was no longer the one she remembered.
Her originally uplifted eyebrows slightly drooped, and her expression carried a hint of indescribable desolation.
And her change in expression was all seen by Lu Zaiye.
“Hmph, a Formation Cultivator without an nameplate is simply unworthy of being called a Formation Cultivator. You better obediently return the spiritual stones and go home to cultivate for a few more years!” Gongyang Hao looked disdainfully at Xu Yi, feeling even more annoyed at the thought that he had almost been fooled by this little girl with yellow hair.
“I don’t know who taught you, but they clearly didn’t do a good job!” he sneered.
As soon as these words were spoken, he suddenly felt a chill all over his body, as if he was being stared at by a bloodthirsty beast, and the blood flowing within him instantly froze.
He stiffly raised his head and found that the two people across from him were gazing at him with icy eyes.
Xu Yi took a deep breath and took out a dark ruler from her storage ring, looking at Gongyang Hao with a serious expression. “Prepare yourself for a duel.”
He couldn’t curse her, and he definitely couldn’t curse the Xuanji Sect.
Although she couldn’t discern Gongyang Hao’s cultivation level, she could sense his aura through the Xuanji Sect’s secret technique.
She had confidence in surpassing him.
“What… what?” Gongyang Hao was bewildered.
He had no intention of fighting Xu Yi, otherwise he would have attacked when he discovered Xu Yi modifying the Teleportation Formation earlier.
Xu Yi’s guess was correct.
Gongyang Hao’s cultivation level was only at the late Golden Dan stage, and as a Formation Cultivator, his combat power was weaker than cultivators of the same level.
He was acting so domineeringly because he relied on the fact that the two of them couldn’t discern his cultivation level and thought they could intimidate them.
Unexpectedly, these two not only weren’t intimidated, but also clamored to fight him, completely contrary to his expectations.
He couldn’t make a move, or else his true strength would be exposed.
At this moment, he regretted his rude words earlier and blamed Xu Yi for being such an unruly woman, ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
Gongyang Hao hesitated to make a move, and Xu Yi grew impatient.
“Gongyang Master, if you don’t draw your sword, then I will take action,” Xu Yi, as the senior disciple of the Xuanji Sect, had strict self-discipline.
Before making a move, she would first inform the other party to avoid gossip.
Moreover, there was still a disciple standing beside her.
She had to win beautifully.
Seeing Xu Yi’s eagerness, Gongyang Hao became even more timid and could only frantically signal to Yuan Dahai on the side.
Yuan Dahai keenly understood the meaning in Gongyang Hao’s eyes, and any remaining awe he had for him disappeared.
It seemed that this so-called Master Gongyang was nothing special.
Thinking that this matter had arisen because of him, Yuan Dahai also stepped forward and advised, “Senior, perhaps Master Gongyang was too exhausted in the past few days, which led to his disrespectful words. I hope Senior can forgive him. Let’s resolve this peacefully to avoid damaging our relationship.”
Xu Yi slowly rotated the ruler in her hand and said calmly, “I agree to resolving this peacefully. Let him apologize to me and return the money he received. I will not hold it against him.”