What should I do?

  Should I break the stone?

  But how was I supposed to break that damn rock?

  A chill ran through my entire body.

  It had definitely been an ordinary stone when I’d been smoothing the cave.

  Of course….

  It had been strangely hard.

  But even when I examined it with divine sense, there had been nothing unusual.

  There were only two possibilities for this phenomenon.

  Either that stone was a treasure.

  Or it was an ominous relic.

  I retreated step by step.

  My back touched the wall of the cultivation chamber.

  Why hadn’t I made an escape route earlier?

  I made up my mind.

  If I survived this crisis, the first thing I’d do would be to dig an escape route.

  The one saving grace was that the stone wasn’t making any noise or moving.

  It was just quietly emitting light.

  There was no sound.

  If the stone had started moving, it would’ve been truly terrifying.

  …Well, honestly, it was already terrifying enough.

  How much time had passed?

  The light radiating from the stone began to slowly fade.

  When the light vanished, only golden characters and complex patterns remained on the stone.

  Is that… a formation?

  I used divine sense to examine the stone again.

  But it felt as though something was blocking me—there was nothing I could sense.

  This was the first time something like this had happened.

  Lowering my body cautiously, I backed out of the cultivation chamber.

  Observing it up close made me uneasy.

  What if it suddenly charged at me?

  I was afraid the stone might start flying around and rush at me.

  Following the instincts of a wimp, I squatted near the entrance, peeking out with just my head.

  That way, I’d be able to run if something happened.

  The reason I didn’t dare stand up was….

  Because it felt like the stone might fly at me.

  If it rolled instead, I could at least kick it.

  At the same time, curiosity welled up inside me.

  That thing was definitely no ordinary object.

  The path of cultivation was inherently fraught with danger.

  If one pursued only safety and did nothing, no amount of time would ever lead to the realm of a Great Immortal.

  Of course, I was fully prepared to flee. With my teeth clenched, I observed the stone.

  That was when it happened.

  A faint shape flickered and rose from the stone.

  It gradually became clearer.

  What finally revealed itself was—an old man with snow-white hair.

  The old man looked at me, half-kneeling, and burst into hearty laughter.

  “Hohoho! Yes, yes, that’s how it should be. If one were to behold my formation and not show proper respect, how could that befit a young cultivator? Good, very good.”

  …It seemed he’d misunderstood something.

  This wasn’t a posture of respect—it was a stance to run away.

  But honesty wasn’t always the best policy.

  I decided to keep my mouth shut.

  The old man looked extremely pleased.

  That aside.

  So this was what they meant by a jujube-colored face.

  His complexion was dark and leathery, like something dried by countless years.

  The old man, with the imposing air of a legendary warlord, slowly stroked his beard.

  “I am Haoranzi, the one who stopped this mountain from collapsing with a single formation. I already passed away three thousand years ago, but I had one lingering regret, so I left my consciousness behind like this.”

  My mouth fell open.

  So that Petrification Technique had been a formation?

  Just how powerful did that formation have to be to function properly even after three thousand years?

  It wasn’t like it had been embedded in a spirit stone mine, so the fact that it still operated meant it had maximized the use of natural elements.

  Perhaps noticing my astonishment, the old man’s expression brightened further.

  “I have been watching you dig this cave and set up formations here. You have quite a talent for formations. That is why I decided to reveal myself.”

  …I said nothing.

  It was true that I had some aptitude for formations, but I wasn’t some once-in-a-generation genius.

  The way he was praising me made it seem like he had ulterior motives.

  Twenty-two years of honed suspicion raised its head.

  Haoranzi’s eyes gleamed.

  “Of course, just because fate aligns and talent exists doesn’t mean anyone can receive my teachings. Had you not shown respect upon seeing my formation, I would have beaten you to death on the spot. Fifteen insolent brats have already died that way.”

  A chill ran down my spine again.

  As expected, there were no normal people in the cultivation world.

  I’d almost died without even knowing why.

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Thank you, wimp’s instinct.

  That aside, was this old man even sane?

  What kind of lunatic would kneel upon seeing a formation carved into stone?

  Me? I definitely hadn’t knelt.

  I’d just bent my knees for propulsion.

  As if reading my thoughts, Haoranzi stroked his beard and boasted confidently.

  “One who truly cherishes formations cannot sense the aura of a formation I created and simply pass by. Once one perceives its profundity, reverence naturally forces the knees to the ground!”

  Now I was sure.

  This old man was crazy.

  Still, I maintained a respectful expression on the surface.

  I’d been honing my acting skills for twenty-two years for moments like this.

  That’s right.

  Just think of it as acting.

  I’d long since thrown away my former timidity.

  Introverted people were actually good at talking to strangers.

  “You speak truly, Elder. Upon seeing your formation, I was so astonished that my knees bent on their own before I realized it.”

  Haoranzi burst into satisfied laughter and began praising himself.

  “Indeed! When it comes to formations, I am the greatest in this world. Though three thousand years have passed since my death, I have yet to see anyone surpass me.”

  Isn’t that because you’re already dead?

  I lowered my head as much as possible.

  My eyes trembled uncontrollably.

  “You must be wondering why my realm remained at the Decisive stage. There is a reason. I fell too deeply into the marvelous charm of formations and neglected my cultivation. It was never due to a lack of talent.”

  …Yes, yes. Of course.

  It felt like listening to a drunk boss brag about his glory days.

  At least bosses paid salaries—what was this old man giving me?

  The light slowly faded from my eyes.

  At this rate, I might ascend to heaven.

  The old man continued rambling.

  “Hm, since fate has aligned, I suppose I can call you my disciple. I shall personally bestow a gift upon my disciple.”

  I didn’t trust him at all.

  But I had to react.

  This old man was a serial killer.

  A calculated serial killer, at that.

  Who knew when he might suddenly start swinging stones at me?

  “Y-You’re giving me a gift? Oh my, what an honor! Thank you so very much!”

  The old man’s face shot skyward.

  He tilted his head up so much it looked like rain could pour straight into his nostrils.

  “If your talent in formations is genuine, you will be able to solve the first formation carved into this stone. Once you do, the location of the next formation stone will be revealed. Solve and master them all in this manner, and one day you may reach the same realm as I.”

  …My strength drained away all at once. A gift? A gifft?

  I was reminded of teachers who sprang pop quizzes without warning and then claimed they were doing it for our sake.

  The old man kept talking.

  “There are a total of 128 formation stones I left behind. They contain the essence of every formation I achieved throughout my life. Solve them as quickly as possible. It’s not because I died after making a wager with someone. Hem hem.”

  Ah, yes…. A wager.

  You waited three thousand years after killing fifteen people—you must really want to see this through.

  Now I understood why he’d praised me so highly. He’d probably been thinking, ‘Just let one fool fall for it.’

  The old man smiled in satisfaction.

  “Now, this first formation stone will soon transform into a jade slip. Please enjoy it. And be sure to solve them all.”

  As he spoke, the old man pointed at the formation stone.

  “And within the first jade slip, there is one additional gift. If you feel inclined, go and see it. It’s in Qingliu City.”

  The old man, who had been smiling with a healthy complexion, suddenly hardened his expression as he added a warning.

  “I cannot lose to that Qing Xianzi fellow. Once you solve all 128, I will reveal myself again. Until then.”

  With those words, the old man’s form faded and disappeared.

  128…?

  I’d become an exam-taker just like that.

  Hah.

  Still, it was fortunate.

  The old man disappeared more obediently than expected.

  My heart was pounding wildly.

  This damned cultivation world was far too hazardous.

  But…. A gift?

  Qingliu City?

  That was one of the most bustling cities around.

  The stone the old man had called a formation stone began to emit light once more.

  The light faded.

  In its place remained an incredibly sturdy-looking jade slip.

  …Even as a jade slip, it looked threatening.

  It seemed sturdy enough to be used as a weapon in an emergency.

  I cautiously approached the jade slip.

  Examining it with divine sense, it didn’t seem problematic.

  Should I look at it?

  Was it worth risking danger?

  Yeah.

  Let’s take a gamble just once.

  I picked up the jade slip.

  Aside from looking extremely solid, there didn’t seem to be anything special—

  Ah. There was something.

  A small pattern was carved at the end of the jade slip.

  When I touched it, a sharp pain pricked my finger.

  Then the pattern on the jade slip transferred to the back of my hand.

  The pattern soon melted into my skin.

  …

  What on earth just happened?

  This was terrifying.

  Had I been cursed or something?

  Of course. I was going to die! I was going to die!

  Perhaps startled by my panic, the system spoke up.

  […This is an invitation to an exchange gathering. It is held once every hundred years in Qingliu City. Those who are not invited cannot enter. The next gathering will be held in 97 years.]

  Ah, I see.

  That was awkward.

  I pressed the jade slip to my forehead.

  The jade slip contained a total of three formations: a trap formation, a concealment formation, and a defensive formation.

  Still half in doubt, I soon became absorbed in the formations.

  “Ha…. So being called a genius wasn’t a lie after all.”

  The entire structure was different from any formation I’d seen before.

  There were 128 formations like this? And I could learn them all? I couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Maybe being called a master of formations wasn’t just empty boasting. I should look into it someday.”

  Joy steadily filled my chest.

  Was this what they called a fortuitous encounter?

  Of course, I still had to learn and decipher the formations.

  But all I had was time.

  I was confident.

  I would decipher all 128 formations and make them my own.

  That would be one more step toward becoming a Great Immortal.

  At that moment, a system notification sounded.

  [You have acquired a new formation system different from existing ones. As a reward for contributions related to three formations, you are granted 3 points.]

  Jackpot!

  I hugged the jade slip tightly to my chest.

  Then I bowed respectfully in the direction where Haoranzi had disappeared.

  “I don’t know how long it will take, but I will definitely succeed.”

  From today onward, that crazy old man was our old man.

  ***

  With a chilling scream, dozens of Jade Ear Rabbits chased after me.

  I sighed as I ran.

  “Damn rabbit bastards!”

  …There was a reason things turned out this way.

  A few days ago, I’d succeeded in deciphering a newly learned formation.

  It was a trap formation.

  Since I’d learned it, shouldn’t I use it?

  My targets were Jade Ear Rabbits and Flying Immortal Grass.

  As always, I’d made thorough preparations for safety.

  Concealment and soundproofing techniques were a given.

  I spread my divine sense as wide as possible to stay alert.

  In my left hand was a spirit stone, and in my right was the jade slip.

  …That jade slip actually made a decent weapon.

  By injecting spiritual power, it could turn into stone, and its size could be adjusted at will.

  At this point, it was practically a magic artifact.

  But……

  As was always the case with life.

  Things didn’t go according to plan.

  I arrived at the Jade Ear Rabbit habitat.

  And just as I was about to set up the formation plate, a baby Jade Ear Rabbit appeared.

  I tensed up.

  Do you know what the scariest animal in the world is?

  The answer… is an animal protecting its young.

  If there was a baby here—

  That meant the mother or father was close by.

  I cautiously retreated.

  From afar, a sound like an enraged bull stomping the ground echoed.

  With thick hind legs pounding the earth, the mother Jade Ear Rabbit charged straight at me.

  The baby Jade Ear Rabbit tilted its head, watching me flail about.

  …Are you mocking me?

  I didn’t even have time to set up the formation plate before the mother rabbit rushed in.

  The distance between me and the mother Jade Ear Rabbit was about one meter.

  It looked like it would ram into me at any second.

  “Damn it.”

  I spat out a curse.

  “I hate laying hands on small animals!”

  And then—

  I raised the jade slip and swung it without mercy.

  …I had no choice. To survive—