Translator: Kazeyuki_ Editor: Jimmy_
In the first section of the semi-final, there were a total of two tasks.
After the first task had ended, the Stargaze Palace was leading for the moment. Just with the result from this round alone, this leading advantage was apparent.
Obviously, the Archaic Mysteries sect had already realized that for this Friendly Competition, regardless of anything else, they would only be playing a minor role. However, despite this fact, they had no way out and could only maintain their position. Or else, it would be a small matter to lose the competition, but a greater problem if they lost their pride and the dignity of the sect.
However, the entire Dragon and Tiger Sect had become even more nervous. They realized that their most formidable opponent would not be Archaic, the hosts, but the Stargaze Palace who had always kept a low profile.
With this goal, all those disciples of the Dragon and Tiger sect rubbed their fists and prepared to fight with the Stargaze Palace. Although they were temporarily behind the Stargaze Palace by thirty points, they were not discouraged. They felt that they still had much hope in the later competition.
Next up in the first segment of the semi-final, the second task was to test endurance and defensive abilities.
This time, all participants of the three countries would be put into a giant eight divinatory trigrams of the books of changes. Once this giant eight divinatory trigrams was initiated, it would send out all types of attacks.
It would be a great challenge to all participants. Firstly, it would test their defensive abilities. Next, it would be a challenge of their endurance.
For this second project, all three groups would start at the same time.
The giant eight divinatory formation were set up beforehand and verified by the three big shots at the scene. They would not allow any form of unfairness.
This formation needed on the site set-up and inspection. Thus, after the first competition had ended, there were three days to rest.
Within these three days, all the sects were studying how to deal with this eight divinatory trigrams.
This would be a group task for all eight disciples would enter the formation. If each person could hold for two hours, they would succeed and each person would get ten points. For this project, there were no reward points for individuals but as a team.
The first place and second place teams would still receive twenty and ten points. The last place would not get any points.
If there was a tie, they would reward the points according to the highest ranking. If both were tied in the first two places, they would get twenty points. If the later two places were tied in the second place, they would get ten points.
Of course, per historical experiences, the probability of a tied situation was not high.
In this task, theoretically, the highest points one could get was eighty points. Plus the twenty reward points from the first place, one could get one hundred points.
Of course, historically, it was rare to get a perfect score.
Tan Zhongchi said: “Within this eight divinatory trigrams, the attacks will keep increasing. Thus, it will be tough to make it through two hours. This will pose a great challenge to your teamwork. Wei Yi and Wushuang, since you two are Middle Stage warriors, you must bear more responsibilities. For this one, your performance is closely tied with the grades of this section.”
Wei Yi nodded: “We will use everything we’ve got.”
However, Qin Wushuang said: “Teacher, since this is a team challenge, why don’t we use formation?”
Tan Zhongchi sighed :”Formation… In the Three Eastern Empires, we have not done much research on formation techniques. Most importantly, that formation is favorable to fighting with humans. However, while we are facing the formation itself, with its entirely different attack power than humans, there are no patterns. Thus, ordinary formations will not work against this eight divinatory trigrams. If we used it forcefully, it may make us disorganized.”
Qin Wushuang was speechless as he also found it strange. In the one year when he was at the Stargaze Palace, he had rarely saw any exercises or activities related to formation exercises.
He thought it over and could not understand. In the end, he reached a conclusion that it should be related to the culture of this world. This world emphasized on individualism and heroism. Personal pursuit to martial arts was greater than everything else. Correspondingly, there were little interest regarding teamwork.
After all, the path of martial arts training was as vast as the sea. Regardless of how much power you could elicit from teamwork, it would be useless against an opponent that was much more powerful than you. Thus, this world valued individual strength.
Only, Qin Wushuang felt that it was a misunderstanding.
After he thought for a moment, he gathered some courage and said: “Teacher, when I was at that cave in the Green Jade Mountain, I saw a formation picture and it was extremely interesting. That formation seemed miraculous. Thinking back, I feel that once we make use of it, it would be suitable to fight against the attacks of the eight divinatory formation.”
In fact, Qin Wushuang was going through a tough decision making process. Naturally, he was not going to talk about the one he had seen at the Green Jade Mountain cave, but an extremely powerful formation he had seen in his former world—The Big Dipper Sky Gang Formation.
The creation of this formation originated from the endless Big Dipper sky formation from the starry sky.
The so-called seven stars of the Big Dipper were Alpha Ursae Majoris, Beta Ursae Majoris, Gamma Ursae Majoris, Delta Ursae, Epsilon Ursae, Zeta Ursae and Eta Ursae Majoris. Since the shape formed by these seven stars were somewhat strange, it was easy to make one think of scooping the wind from the dipper. Among these seven stars, the Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta formed the body of the scooper and was called the head. Then, the Epsilon, Zeta and Eta formed the handle and was called the ladle.
To use the formation, it would need seven elite warriors of similar strength. They would take one corner according to the direction of the seven stars to form the formation.
This formation could be any size. When fighting with human beings, it could turn into a giant formation. Regardless of individual or group attacks, it would produce great power.
Within a smaller distance, it could turn into a defensive formation. Each person only needed to extend one hand and hold the shoulder of the person next to him, they could merge all power of all seven people into one. Anyone could release this power.
Thus, the profound secret of this formation was to gather power.
The central position of this formation was at two places. One was at the Delta of the body, and the other was at the Epislon of the ladle.
These two position were the two major areas of this formation. It needed two people with strength stronger than others.
Naturally, among the Stargaze disciples, it would belong to Wei Yi and Qin Wushuang.
Since Tan Zhongchi heard the seriousness in Qin Wushuang’s tone, he said: “Wushuang, what kind of formation? Tell us about it.”
Qin Wushuang did not speak as he took out utensils and started drawing it.
After he had drawn the diagram of the Big Dipper Sky Gang Formation, Tan Zhongchi’s expression slightly changed. After he had heard Qin Wushuang’s explanation, Tan Zhongchi felt extremely moved. He could not help but feel shocked as he said: “Wushuang, your formation is extremely miraculous! Did that Green Jade Cve truly have this recorded?”
Qin Wushuang said: “When I just entered, I only got to see this diagram after I had disguised myself. It was under the roof of that sky window and appeared clearly under the sunshine. Thus, I have seen it once. Then, I remembered it. When I think back about it, I felt this formation is not ordinary.”
Tan Zhongchi sighed: “It’s not only not ordinary, it has surpassed all the legacies in the Three Eastern Empires. Wushuang, for sure, that cave is a wonderful place. Unfortunately, it is now a pile of ruins…”
Although Tan Zhongchi was wise, he would never have thought that the Green Jade Mountain was only the First Loop of the formation. And that Seven Deadly Formation Arrays was linked interchangeably. Thus, he would never imagine that there were other fortuitous opportunities aside from the transportation circle in the Green Jade Mountain.
Hearing Qin Wushuang’s words, Tan Zhongchi felt regretful: “Too bad the Stargaze did not discover that cave. I reckon that there are definitely some other fortuitous opportunities in that cave. One diagram is already so profound, that cave… it’s too bad.”
The others also sighed endlessly.
However, Tan Zhongchi was a senior and rather open-minded after all. After he a brief lamentation, he came to a realization as he said: “Wushuang, since you are able to have so many fortuitous opportunities, it means that you have a deep fortune. In your future martial arts training path, you will surely encounter some special fortuitous opportunities. This is your natural born luck. Perhaps, when you go on the Endless Eastern Sea exploration, you would gain a great harvest. Who knows. Ok, let’s not tarry, we shall practice and test this miraculous formation. By the way, what is the name of this formation?”
Qin Wushuang said with a smile: “The name was next to the diagram. If I remembered it correctly, it should be called the Big Dipper Sky Gang Formation.”
Tan Zhongchi nodded: “Great name as it is related to the seven stars of the Big Dipper. A very suitable name.”
If there were some mediocre warriors forming this formation, it would take them longer to use it. However, each of these eight people were the most talented people from the Stargaze Palace with extreme talent and intelligence. After Qin Wushuang’s explanation, they had already understood most of it.
Plus with Tan Zhongchi, the most elite warrior teaching on the side, they had discovered much more profound secrets that Qin Wushuang had not grasped before.
This way, after the “Big Dipper Sky Gang Formation” had gone through the hands of Tan Zhongchi, they had uncovered much more potential.
They had eight people, yet this formation only needed seven. The matter of how to arrange the last person was problematic. Initially, Qin Wushuang planned to let himself and Wei Yi oversee the formation from the two core position.
However, Tan Zhongchi felt that Wei Yi and Zhou Fu could take over the core position. Qin Wushuang could wander around the outside circle. In case something were to happen to one of the other disciples, Qin Wushuang could take over since he knew more about this formation.
And that person who met with the accident could withdraw from the formation at any time.
If nobody had any problems, with Qin Wushuang’s strength, he could still deal with the attacks of that eight divinatory formation by wandering on the outside.
Hearing Tan Zhongchi’s explanation, Qin Wushuang felt it made sense. Immediately, he nodded: “You’ve made good arrangements, I should listen to your advice.”
Tan Zhongchi laughed: “Ok, hurry and get use to this formation. Let’s aim to become familiar with it within three days. This formation still needs much more exploration. If we make good use of it, it could completely become a mainstay as the protection formation for the Stargaze. Wushuang, you have made a huge contribution!”
Qin Wushuang said humbly: “It was only a coincidence. If Senior Brother Wei Yi was the one that went, this achievement would belong to him.”
Tan Zhongchi waved his hand: “Ok, continue to train, I will think more about it.”
Qin Wushuang did not know that his contribution to this “Big Dipper Sky Gang Formation” would go on to become a long lasting existence. It would become a legend and a treasured heritage technique of the Stargaze Palace to be practiced by its disciples through the generations.
