Chapter 386: You Not Convinced?

Almost two and a half years ago, the most efficient formation masters had already completed the construction of the Spirit-Locking Formations in their respective areas.

Some chose to rest, while others, aiming for competition points, went to support areas where formations were still incomplete.

However, young formation masters were not qualified to enter highly confidential locations like the Great Five Elements Grotto-Heaven. Li Fan himself was only fortunate enough to come here thanks to Chief Lu's connections and the spatial anomaly in Tianling Province.

Who would have thought that two years later, the very place Li Fan had painstakingly strived to reach could now be entered simply by applying?

“Isn't this Fellow Daoist Li Fan? I’ve long admired you!” A young formation master named Xiang Liu greeted Li Fan warmly.

“Ever since two years ago, your ranking has soared, consistently placing you among the top three, which caused quite a stir and much discussion,” Xiang Liu said. “Although everyone knows of your deeds, when it comes to sheer effort, many fellow daoists are certainly no less dedicated than you. At that time, everyone speculated that you must be responsible for constructing formations in a highly important grotto-heaven. And indeed it turns out to be true!”

Xiang Liu looked at Li Fan with great emotion, yet without a trace of jealousy in his eyes.

Another formation master, Gu Youguang, could barely conceal the envy in his eyes: “You must have a profound background to have the opportunity to come to such an important place. The points earned in this Five Elements Grotto-Heaven are more than triple what one gets outside!”

Li Fan lightly coughed, feigning extreme weakness: “Haha, Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand. My presence here is merely a lucky coincidence, benefiting from Senior Huangfu Song’s influence. Besides, my time is running out; I will soon return to the heavens. What use are points or rankings to me now? Wherever I am, it makes little difference to me, as long as I am building the Sky Profound Spirit-Locking Formation.”

Hearing this, both Xiang Liu and Gu Youguang dropped their playful expressions and became utterly serious. “Your actions are truly admirable, Fellow Daoist,” Xiang Liu said. “This is also why, despite various speculations about your second-place ranking outside, few people actually harbor discontent.”

Li Fan hadn't expected the point bonus within the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven to be so high. Combined with his tireless, diligent work for over two years, he had actually managed to rank second on the Golden List of the Grand Competition.

“Who’s first?” Li Fan couldn't help but ask, a touch of curiosity in his voice.

“Who else could it be? Isn’t it that bastard Guo?” Gu Youguang said with a hint of disdain and utter contempt.

“Brother Gu, watch your words…” Xiang Liu glanced at Gu Youguang, then explained, “The one currently holding the top spot is Fellow Daoist Guo Yezhong, who was originally at the very bottom of the rankings.” Xiang Liu spoke with a touch of resignation.

“Guo Yezhong…” Li Fan’s eyes flickered slightly. He asked, feigning ignorance, “How did this person manage to climb from last place to first? And judging by Brother Gu’s tone…”

Before Xiang Liu could explain, Gu Youguang interjected, “What talent does he have? He just got lucky. It’s said that after the battle in Tianling Province, he was the first to propose the idea of the Sky Profound Spirit-Locking Formation. So, for every Spirit-Locking Formation built, he gets a share of the credit. This earns him a significant points reward. And as more and more formations are built, naturally, no one can surpass him.”

Gu Youguang said, quite indignantly, “Actually, that’s not the main issue. After all, he did contribute to the creation of the formation. What truly incenses everyone is how he leverages his established advantage to win effortlessly, unwilling to exert even a shred more effort. He treats the efforts of his fellow daoists as mere trifles, trampling upon the meaning of our desperate struggles…”

Seeing Gu Youguang going too far, Xiang Liu quickly interrupted him: “Actually, Fellow Daoist Guo is quite remarkable; one could call him a prodigy. It’s said that he not only proposed the idea of the Spirit-Locking Formation but personally designed and created its prototype. Furthermore, his previous zero-point score was merely due to being delayed by some urgent matters, not because he acted intentionally…”

Gu Youguang snorted coldly: “What 'it’s said'? Who believes that? I also heard all this is because he has a powerful father! When some fellow daoists went to confront him, not only did he show no remorse, he even boldly questioned, ‘What? Are you not convinced?’ It’s truly shameless. The thought of having once studied alongside such a person makes me sick!”

Seeing Gu Youguang’s indignant expression, Xiang Liu could only smile bitterly, shaking his head repeatedly, and no longer tried to persuade him.

“Guo Yezhong.” Li Fan recalled his encounter with this person at the Grand Universe Pavilion. “I really misjudged him…”

During the subsequent reminiscence, this person was no longer mentioned. Instead, they reminisced about their shared years of study, and Li Fan inquired about their experiences in the outside world.

After some casual conversation, seeing that it was almost time, the two then joined in the construction of the formation in the Water Grotto-Heaven.

Xiang Liu and Gu Youguang's formation skills were no less than Li Fan’s. With their assistance, the progress significantly accelerated. Moreover, numerous cultivators from the Garrison Academy had also arrived to assist them.

They all carried a glazed bottle-shaped artifact that could emit 'Two-Part Glazed Light' from within. This mysterious light possessed the purifying ability to 'clear origins and restore essence,' and it had remarkable efficacy against the fused monsters within the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven.

With no external threats, the overall construction progress of the Sky Profound Spirit-Locking Formation grew day by day. In just four months, it reached 99% completion.

At the same time, the process of the Five Elements merging into one was nearing its final stage. The gigantic inverted tree in the sky had already plunged countless branches deep into the vast blue waters.

Strangely, when water and wood initially made light contact, mutated monsters would continuously emerge. Yet now, as the true fusion of wood and water attributes approached, those bizarre creations had ceased to appear.

However, as Li Fan looked at the green branches stained by the blue water, those incomplete human figures suddenly reappeared in his mind's eye.

“Fellow Daoist Li Fan, it’s time to withdraw.” Xiang Liu, seeing Li Fan lost in thought, spoke up to remind him.

Li Fan nodded slightly, unfurled his Sky Escape Shuttle, and headed towards the colossal Dust-Crossing Boat that had reappeared in the sky.

The subsequent work would no longer require the formation masters. As countless cultivators returned to the Dust-Crossing Boat, numerous shadowy figures flew against the flow of people, heading towards the various formation nodes that had been previously constructed.

They would use Eternal Calamity Fine Gold to protect the critical structures of the Spirit-Locking Formation. Once everything was ready and the Sky Profound Mirror Surface was put in place, the Spirit-Locking Formation enveloping the Great Five Elements Grotto-Heaven would be considered fully completed.

“I hope there are no more mishaps,” Li Fan thought to himself as he returned to the Dust-Crossing Boat.

“Master, what do you think this grotto-heaven will look like after the Five Elements merge into one?” A curious voice of a young child sounded in his ear.