Li Nanzhu curled up into a ball beneath her covers.
Morning light filtered through the window screen, casting dappled shadows across the bedding.
She opened her eyes groatily, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the sparrow-head hairpin beside her pillow.
Memories of the previous night came flooding back—her master’s clearing heart and nature talisman, the gifts from her senior brothers and sisters, and that green lamp capable of reflecting one's true heart. At the thought, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
Outside the window, a few crisp bird calls rang out. Suisui clicked as it rolled over beside her pillow, its bone claws still tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
Li Nanzhu gently pulled the little skeleton into her embrace, feeling the warm pulse emanating from its soul fire.
She instinctively circulated the spiritual energy within her body, suddenly realizing that its flow was smoother than usual and her sea of consciousness was exceptionally clear.
Although the clearing heart talisman on her brow had faded, she could still feel its lingering, cool resonance.
“Is it because of the change in my state of mind?” Li Nanzhu blinked.
“Junior Sister, are you awake?” Duan Xianxing’s voice came from outside the door, lowered as if he were afraid of disturbing her if she were still asleep.
Just as Li Nanzhu was about to answer, she felt a sudden weight on her shoulder.
Suisui had woken up at some point and was struggling to climb onto her shoulder, its soul fire dancing with unusual joy.
The little skeleton’s bone claws gently tugged at her hair, then pointed toward the window—there, the morning light had already taken on a gilded edge.
“I’m up!” Li Nanzhu called out hurriedly while scrambling to get dressed. It was only then she remembered today was the day of the formation master competition. Her fifth senior sister, Feng Qingping, was competing. A flash of regret crossed her eyes.
Indulging in drink truly leads to missing matters of importance.
While Li Nanzhu hurriedly washed up, the little skeleton waited before the mirror, clutching her sparrow-head hairpin. Its soul fire flickered rhythmically, as if urging her on.
“I know, I know.” Li Nanzhu smiled as she took the jade hairpin. The moment her fingertips touched the ornament, she froze—the jade hairpin, which was usually cold to the touch, actually carried a hint of warmth.
The ruby at the sparrow's eye seemed more vivid than usual, as if it had come to life.
As she dithered, Duan Xianxing’s voice came again from outside: “Junior Sister, if you don’t come out now, I’m leaving without you!”
Li Nanzhu’s hand shook, and she nearly dropped the hairpin.
She quickly pinned it in place, scooped up Suisui, and ran out.
As she pushed open the door, the morning breeze met her, carrying the distinct fragrance of flora from the residence. She took a deep breath, feeling as though her entire being had lightened.
Duan Xianxing was waiting in the courtyard, holding a steaming oil-paper bundle: “For you. Spiritual rice cakes.”
Li Nanzhu was about to thank him when Suisui clicked in her arms. Its bone claws lightning-fast, it snatched the bundle away, its soul fire jumping with excitement.
“Suisui!” Li Nanzhu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The little skeleton had already tucked the spiritual rice cakes between its ribs and shook its head triumphantly.
Duan Xianxing laughed heartily. “Let’s go. If we wait any longer, we’ll miss Fifth Senior Sister’s match!”
With that, he grabbed Li Nanzhu’s sleeve and ran toward the arena.
“Where are the others?” Li Nanzhu asked while running. The morning wind poured into her collar, bringing a slight chill.
“They all went ahead with Fifth Senior Sister!” Duan Xianxing looked back with a grin. “If I hadn't been waiting for you, I’d be at the arena by now too!”
When the two and the skeleton arrived at the arena, the spectator stands were already packed. Today, many unfamiliar faces appeared around the floor—they were all from various formation sects.
“So many people...” Li Nanzhu whispered in awe.
“The Eight Sects don't have a sect that specializes in formations,” Feng Weilan said, appearing behind her at some point. His voice was low. “However, among the first and second-tier sects, there are seventy-two that were established through the Dao of formations. Today, two hundred and sixteen participants have come to compete.”
Li Nanzhu nodded, her gaze fixed on Feng Qingping in the arena. She stood in the line of contestants, her posture as straight as a green pine, looking remarkably simple among the more flamboyant formation masters.
“Fifth Senior Sister...” Li Nanzhu hesitated before asking, “exactly what rank is she as a formation master?”
Feng Weilan remained silent for a moment. “She has never gone to be tested.” He paused. “If we follow standard classifications, she is at least tier 5.”
Tier 5?!
Li Nanzhu’s eyes widened instantly. She had always known her fifth senior sister was strong, but she hadn't expected her to be this powerful.
Her gaze instinctively drifted toward the judges' bench.
One must realize that several of the elder judges seated there were only at the tier 5 level themselves.
And now, Feng Weilan was telling her that her calm fifth senior sister was capable of standing as an equal to these elders?
“What?” Feng Weilan raised an eyebrow. “You don't believe it?”
Li Nanzhu shook her head, then nodded, and finally whispered, “It’s just... I didn’t think she was that amazing.”
Despite her words, her fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes.
Given the strength and talent Fifth Senior Sister displayed, she likely would have reached tier 6 by the point of her death in the original story.
“A tier 6 formation master...” She repeated the title in her heart, her fingertips turning slightly cold.
In the entire cultivation world, the number of existing tier 6 formation masters could be counted on one hand. Every one of them was an existence capable of contending with an entire sect single-handedly.
But if Fifth Senior Sister truly had such strength, how could she have... in the original story?
“Junior Sister?” Duan Xianxing’s voice pulled her back to reality. “What are you dazing off for? The competition is about to start.”
Li Nanzhu forced a smile. The joy of yesterday’s birthday was largely dispelled by this sudden news.
As she turned her gaze back to the arena, the hall of discipline elder’s voice rang out right on cue:
“The first round of the formation master competition, the formation-breaking race, is about to begin!”
Before the words had even finished echoing, two hundred and sixteen pillars of light rose from the arena, enveloping every participant.
“The rules are as follows—” the elder shouted, “all participants must sequentially break the ten formations within their light pillar.”
He pointed to the formation diagrams in the sky. “There is a time limit of one incense burn for each formation! The difficulty of the formations will increase from tier 1 to tier 3. Once all ten formations are broken, the light pillar will automatically vanish.”
Seeing that most people looked indifferent, the elder’s voice suddenly turned stern.
“Although every participant will face the same types of formations, the positions of the array eyes and the flow of spiritual energy for each formation are completely different. This tests your understanding of the essence of the Dao of formations!”
A commotion immediately broke out around the arena.
This meant that participants could not borrow strategies from one another. Everyone had to independently analyze every single formation.
“The results will be determined as follows,” the elder continued. “Those who successfully break all ten formations will advance, while those who fail will be eliminated. If multiple people succeed, they will be ranked according to their total time taken.”
“That’s it?” Duan Xianxing curled his lip. “The highest is only a tier 3 formation. Fifth Senior Sister could break those with her eyes closed.”
Zhu Yinxi spun his jade flute around his fingertips. “It is indeed a bit simple.”
Jiang Yifan crossed his arms, the corners of his mouth twitching upward. “It seems this competition is just a performance stage prepared for our fifth junior sister.”
“The competition—begins!”
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