In the Remorse Sea, Gu Immortals hovered suspended in the air.
Miao Mingshen and the other three each occupied an auxiliary formation, continuously channeling their power. The grand formation's strength steadily penetrated into the underwater great formation.
Fang Yuan was setting up an Immortal formation.
His aura surged forth, still at the Seventh Transformation level. A faint blue-green glow enveloped his entire body, his eyes blazing with blue light, deep as the ocean and sharp as lightning.
With a wave of his hand, a massive number of mortal Gu flew into the air like a swarm of mosquitoes, a vast cloud swirling and circling overhead. Within moments, they had formed the embryonic shape of an auxiliary formation.
Next, Fang Yuan produced Immortal materials one after another, deploying Killer Moves in succession to flesh out the auxiliary formation's framework.
Ren Xiuping and the others who had newly joined stared intently at Fang Yuan, watching him construct the formation in complete silence.
The expressions on the Gu Immortals' faces were all complicated — even Shen Congsheng's.
"Being able to set up formations using Immortal materials — this is what a Formation Dao Grandmaster looks like."
"Chu Ying cultivates Transformation Dao, yet who would have thought his attainment in Formation Dao would be this extraordinary? Truly rare. How does he dual-cultivate both?"
"He must have discovered a wondrous method for dual-cultivating Transformation Dao and Formation Dao. Just like Lei Gui Zhenjun of the Heavenly Court, who dual-cultivates Soul Dao and Lightning Dao, or Jiuling Xiangu who dual-cultivates Transformation Dao and Slave Dao."
"It's not just the level of Formation Dao Grandmaster — Chu Ying's techniques for constructing formations are so practiced and refined. What's even more frightening is that he simply doesn't lack Formation Dao Immortal-level Killer Moves. His efficiency in setting up formations is truly unparalleled in this era!"
The more the Gu Immortals watched, the more astonished they became. The depth of Fang Yuan's Formation Dao mastery sent tremors through their hearts.
"With abilities like these, he can handle many of the tasks on the Merit Stele."
"Most of the Merit Stele's tasks involve reorganizing landscapes and harmonizing ecosystems. That's incredibly advantageous for Chu Ying."
"No wonder he's been able to complete so many tasks!"
"An ordinary Formation Dao Gu Immortal needs to use Immortal Gu to set up an Immortal formation. But Chu Ying is a Formation Dao Grandmaster — he only needs to expend Immortal materials. That qualitative difference is terrifying."
The Gu Immortals couldn't help feeling both jealous and envious as they watched, while secretly envying Miao Mingshen and his group. They had truly latched onto a powerful backer in Chu Ying.
Ren Xiuping had already begun to seriously consider: once this mission was complete, should he abandon Shen Congsheng's side and defect to Fang Yuan?
From what he could see, Fang Yuan was magnanimous. The grudge Ren Xiuping had previously formed with him had been completely set aside, at least for the time being.
What worried Ren Xiuping was that Fang Yuan already had Miao Mingshen and his crew around him. Even Tu Tutuo and Zeng Luozi had better relationships with Fang Yuan than he did.
"For Chu Ying, he can completely choose to cooperate with whomever he finds agreeable. Why would he bother teaming up with someone like me, who has a grudge against him?"
A thought struck Ren Xiuping: "Even though having the Formation Dao Grandmaster level means Chu Ying can use Immortal materials to set up formations, his greatest constraint is still Immortal materials. If he's short on Immortal materials, I can use that to my advantage — proactively contribute materials and establish a closer cooperation with him."
Ren Xiuping decided to sacrifice some of his own interests. Only by doing so could he move Fang Yuan and secure cooperation.
"This formation has been set up. I'd like Immortal friend Ren Xiuping to take the first position in it," Fang Yuan spoke up at this point.
He had already completed one auxiliary formation. Like the ones before it, though constructed in midair, once finished it sank downward, submerging partially beneath the ocean's surface.
"Certainly, certainly." Ren Xiuping chuckled, flew down, and without even inspecting the auxiliary formation, stepped directly into it.
Ren Xiuping had no attainment in Formation Dao. Even with Fang Yuan constructing the formation right before his eyes, he couldn't perceive the mysteries of this auxiliary formation. But he trusted in Lord Letime's methods and wasn't afraid of Fang Yuan plotting against him.
Lord Letime's prohibition against Gu Immortals attacking each other had greatly strengthened the degree of mutual trust among them.
Fang Yuan continued setting up formations.
One, two, three...
One Gu Immortal after another entered the formations, and the auxiliary formations' power grew ever stronger.
But Ren Xiuping's expression was growing increasingly grim.
The Immortal materials in Fang Yuan's possession seemed inexhaustible!
During this time, he had seen Dominant Copper, Earth Ultimate Celestial Gang, Azure Jade Windflow, Dark Green Inkstone, Celestial Soaring Jade...
The sheer wealth on display left the assembled Gu Immortals speechless.
Ren Xiuping secretly drew in several cold breaths.
With wealth like his, how could he possibly compare?
What dampened Ren Xiuping's spirits even further was Fang Yuan's attitude.
He expended these Immortal materials to set up formations without so much as a blink — decisive and effortless, as though these expenditures meant nothing to him at all!
Although Fang Yuan lacked Immortal materials, that was for the sake of mass-refining Immortal Gu. The materials used here for formation construction were only a tiny fraction of his reserves. Even if another hundred such auxiliary formations were needed, Fang Yuan could bear the cost without difficulty.
Therefore, to Ren Xiuping and the other Gu Immortals, Fang Yuan's display came across as the epitome of prodigious wealth.
After expending considerable time and effort, the auxiliary formations were finally all set up.
Shen Congsheng and the others each took their positions within the auxiliary formations. These formations were distributed around the underwater great formation, and from high above they resembled a peacock spreading its tail.
Each auxiliary formation was like the eye of a peacock's feather. The power they projected converged into streams that flowed into the great formation beneath the sea.
The auxiliary formations appeared identical on the surface, yet each differed in subtle ways.
This was Fang Yuan's custom adjustment based on each Gu Immortal's individual characteristics. For instance, Miao Mingshen's auxiliary formation incorporated a considerable amount of Space Dao Immortal materials, which better suited his capabilities. Ren Xiuping's auxiliary formation still had several vacant positions where his desolate beasts could be stationed, allowing him to fully utilize his strengths in Slave Dao.