Speaking, he proudly stroked his messy beard and said, "As the saying goes, a beardless man cannot handle affairs. You, Guest Official Ling, must admit this. I, Li Huzhi, am not without talent and know a bit about formations. If I were to lead, I wouldn't say everyone would survive, but at least this group wouldn't collapse at the first charge and would have a better chance of survival."
"Oh? I didn't realize you had such talent."
Ling Fan smiled faintly.
"Naturally! I, Li Huzhi, am not famous for nothing. Guest Official Ling, you can just inquire. If our Island Master valued preparedness, I wouldn't have been unrecognized for so many years, wasting my youth."
Saying this, Li Huzhi struck a pose like a young woman admiring herself in a mirror.
The onlookers felt their stomachs churn, calling it a sickening sight.
However, no one questioned him.
They clearly recognized him.
And knew his words were not false.
Ling Fan thought to himself, "To think I'd encounter someone who understands formations even in such a small place. He's quite talented. Although his strength is a bit low, only at the Giant Spirit realm, it's not a major issue. Under a formation, a Giant Spirit realm cultivator can still slay a Golden Core."
Li Huzhi urged, "Guest Official Ling, what do you think? As the saying goes, everyone has their specialty. Your strength lies in martial arts, but you don't understand formations. Don't force yourself into an embarrassing situation. Hand this task over to me, and I, Li Huzhi, guarantee you won't be disappointed."
Ling Fan said, "It's not impossible for me to hand over command to you."
Li Huzhi's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "Thank you, Guest Official Ling, for your magnanimity!"
Ling Fan chuckled, "Don't rush, there's a 'but.' How about this: I'll take ten people and teach them a simple formation. You take the rest, and you can also set up a formation. If you can defeat me, then I'll gladly give you command."
Upon hearing this.
Everyone was stunned, staring at Ling Fan with bewildered expressions.
Li Huzhi exclaimed, "Guest Official Ling, do you know what you're saying? You lead ten people, and I lead ninety. You think you can defeat me? That's as likely as the sun rising from the west! Let me put it this way, there's no such heaven-defying formation in the world that can fight one against ten. I've seen many ancient formations, but I've never encountered one that can turn lead into gold."
He looked at Ling Fan suspiciously and asked, "Guest Official Ling, when you say ten people, you don't mean ten Condensing Core realm cultivators, do you? If I take the remaining Giant Spirit realm cultivators, then what's the point of fighting? Without a formation, ten Condensing Core realm cultivators can easily crush ninety Giant Spirit realm cultivators."
Ling Fan shook his head and smiled, "No, I don't want ten Condensing Core realm cultivators, not even ten Giant Spirit realm cultivators. I only want ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators."
Ling Fan's words further astonished everyone, who couldn't fathom what Ling Fan was planning.
Li Huzhi said, "Guest Official Ling, are you playing with me? If you don't want to hand over power, then so be it. I can't defeat you or force you, so what can I do? As for your claim that ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators forming a formation can fight against a formation composed of ninety Condensing Core realm, Giant Spirit realm, and peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators, that's pure nonsense and absolutely impossible. It's not even worth discussing."
Ling Fan said, "A gentleman's word is his bond. I'm not joking."
After speaking, Ling Fan casually pointed ten times, selecting ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators from Xuan Yue Island.
Seeing that Ling Fan was serious and not just talking, everyone became even more amazed.
Even Li Huzhi was momentarily stunned.
When he came to his senses, fearing Ling Fan would go back on his word, he quickly said, "Guest Official Ling, this is your own request. You win some, you lose some! Don't go back on your word if you lose! The rest of you, listen to my command and form the formation."
It had to be said that Li Huzhi possessed talent in this area.
He weaved through the crowd, arranging people here and there, teaching them how to position themselves and form the array.
This hastily assembled group, under his guidance, began to show a semblance of order, looking quite impressive.
Ling Fan was not in a hurry, watching Li Huzhi arrange the troops and practice the tactics.
As he watched, he occasionally nodded.
Toad, with its bulging bull-like eyes, stared at Li Huzhi for a long time but couldn't discern anything.
It curiously turned to Ling Fan and said, "Esteemed Ling, isn't this too disadvantageous for you? Ten against ninety, and you're picking the weakest ten. Can you really win? I think this bearded man has some skill. Don't let yourself be capsized."
Ling Fan smiled without a word.
When Li Huzhi's formation was almost complete.
Ling Fan then turned his attention to the ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators he had chosen.
His powerful pupil force directly infused into their minds.
Soon.
A formation was imprinted in their minds.
A low-tier formation from the Heavenly Realm.
[Ten Generations Bright King Formation].
After digesting this information, these ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators looked at Ling Fan with shock, their hearts stirred by immense waves.
"Remember the essence of the formation. Later, you ten will arrange yourselves according to the formation. The core of the formation will be... this person."
Ling Fan gave further instructions.
Among these ten people, he had chosen the youngest peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivator.
"The strength of ten people will be concentrated and burst forth, and it will also borrow the power of heaven and earth. Can you withstand it? If not, say so in advance, and I can replace you. If you can withstand it, the benefits for you will be immense. Like a trace left by a passing goose, this power will help you refine yourself, indirectly solidifying your martial foundation. The bottlenecks that have been troubling you will cease to exist."
Ling Fan said to this person.
The young man's eyes showed determination, and he said, "No need to replace me! I can withstand it. If I can't, then I'll just die."
Ling Fan nodded at him and asked, "What is your name?"
The young man replied, "Qi Yunhu."
Ling Fan nodded, "Good."
At this time, Li Huzhi's practice was almost complete.
He said, "How is it, Guest Official Ling? My side is ready. How about your side? If you're not ready, we can wait a bit longer."
Ling Fan said, "No need to wait, let's begin."
"Good!"
Li Huzhi's eyes gleamed with confidence.
Although his cultivation was not outstanding, he was confident that in the field of formations, no one on Xuan Yue Island or its surroundings could surpass him. This was his lifelong passion and obsession, so how could he lose to an outsider?
Soon.
The two armies faced each other.
On one side were ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators.
On the other side, there were ninety people, including over ten Condensing Core realm cultivators and dozens of Giant Spirit realm cultivators, all strategically placed by Li Huzhi at key points of the formation. It looked orderly and quite formidable.
In comparison, Ling Fan's ten peak Heavenly Origin realm cultivators looked incredibly weak, a comparison as fitting as "a moth flying into the flame."
"Begin,"
Ling Fan said calmly.
"Battle!"
Li Huzhi shouted, his eyes filled with excitement.
Boom!
The formation composed of ninety people suddenly came alive like a primordial beast, a soaring morale reaching the heavens. In an instant, heaven and earth seemed to change color, as if intimidated by this astonishing aura.
Faintly, above the formation of ninety people, a terrifying, colossal fierce beast appeared, swallowing wind and spitting thunder, shaking the heavens and earth.
"This is the [White Tiger Sky-Splitting Formation]! With the power of ninety people, it can fight against a quasi-Golden Core."
Li Huzhi laughed triumphantly, as if his lifelong wish had finally been realized, and the pent-up frustration in his chest was swept away.
Rumble!
As the ninety people shouted in unison, the colossal fierce beast above the formation roared and charged towards Ling Fan's ten people.
Just then.
These ten people also moved, adopting a peculiar stance.
[Ten Generations Bright King Formation].
As the formation unfolded, a terrifying figure, as if supporting the heavens and earth, appeared above the formation. The moment this figure appeared, the spiritual energy in heaven and earth was instantly drained, and even many free-roaming martial laws in heaven and earth were drawn in, converging into this phantom image, like a true Acala.
At that moment, even many powerful cultivators felt their internal strength surge, having the illusion of it leaving their bodies.
"Ah!"
Qi Yunhu let out a low roar, his veins bulging, sweat pouring like a waterfall, but he gritted his teeth, enduring the sudden burst of extreme power.
As he pointed his finger.
The Acala phantom above the formation also pointed across space, colliding fiercely with the roaring, giant white tiger.
Boom!