With the time-slowing function of the qiankun ring, Fang Hao’s efficiency in learning Formations increased significantly. Formations that took others ten days to master, he could complete in just one.

He had nearly mastered everything in the introduction to formations, so Fang Hao began attempting to improve and innovate on his own.

One day, a sudden idea struck him: could he combine multiple small Spirit Gathering Formations to create a composite Spirit Gathering Formation with even better results?

No sooner said than done. Fang Hao performed repeated deductions and experiments within the qiankun ring. After failing countless times, he finally succeeded in designing a Triple-Layered Spirit Gathering Formation.

The effect of this new Formation was astonishing; its efficiency in gathering Spiritual Qi was three times that of a single Formation. However, it was also more demanding, requiring more Spirit Stones to maintain.

Fang Hao quietly set up this Formation in his room, and his cultivation speed soared once again.

As his cultivation base improved, the number of missions Fang Hao could accept also increased. He began taking on Formation-related tasks, such as repairing certain protective Formations of the Sect or helping other Disciples set up cultivation Formations.

These missions offered high contribution points and allowed him to practice his Formation skills, killing two birds with one stone.

Gradually, the reputation that Fang Hao is quite good at Formations spread throughout the Outer Sect. Disciples frequently came to him for help with setting up Formations, with rewards ranging from contribution points to Spirit Stones.

Fang Hao accepted all comers, earning resources while accumulating experience in laying out Formations.

One day, the Mission Hall posted a special task: repair the Sword Testing Formation at the Outer Sect Martial Arts Arena. This Formation had fallen into disrepair and had been inactive for a long time. The mission reward was as high as three hundred contribution points, but no one had taken it—the Formation was too difficult, and no one had the confidence to fix it.

Fang Hao studied the mission description and felt it was worth a try. His current understanding of Formations already far surpassed that of an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.

When he went to accept the mission, the deacon Disciple kindly reminded him, "Junior Brother Ning, several Senior Brothers at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer have already failed this mission. Why don’t you reconsider?"

Fang Hao smiled. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother, but I’d still like to try."

Arriving at the Martial Arts Arena, Fang Hao carefully inspected the Sword Testing Formation. This Formation was indeed complex, consisting of eighteen small sword Formations that were all interconnected. If one part was damaged, the entire Formation would fail.

Fang Hao spent three days studying the Formation blueprints and performed dozens of deductions within the qiankun ring before finally finding a way to repair it.

The repair process went smoothly. When the final Formation eye was restored, the entire Sword Testing Formation suddenly lit up with a dazzling white light. Eighteen streaks of Sword Qi shot into the sky, intertwining to form a magnificent sword net.

"It’s a success." the spectating Disciples exclaimed.

The news spread quickly, and Fang Hao became famous overnight. Now, all the Outer Sect Disciples knew there was a Formation expert named Fang Hao in Courtyard 27 of District D, who could repair the Sword Testing Formation while only at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

The Mission Hall deacon rewarded Fang Hao with three hundred contribution points on the spot and additionally gifted him a copy of Detailed Explanation of Basic Formations, calling it the Sect’s recognition of his talent for Formations.

Fang Hao’s fame soared, and more and more Disciples came to him for help. Even some Inner Sect Disciples heard that there was a Junior Brother in the Outer Sect who was good at Formations, and they would occasionally seek him out to set up Spirit Gathering Formations for their cultivation.

Fang Hao refused no one, but his fees were not cheap. After a period of time, he had actually saved up quite a lot of Spirit Stones and contribution points.

With resources in hand, Fang Hao’s cultivation speed increased even further. With the help of the qiankun ring and its time-slowing effect, he soon reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak, only a step away from the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

One day, while Fang Hao was cultivating in his room, he suddenly heard someone calling at the courtyard gate.

Zhu Pang went to open the door and then shouted in surprise, "Fang Hao. Someone’s looking for you."

Fang Hao stepped out of his room and saw a woman in green robes standing at the gate. She had a beautiful face and a cold, elegant temperament—it was actually the Inner Sect Disciple, Liang Ling.

"Are you Fang Hao?" Liang Ling sized him up, her gaze scrutinizing. "I’ve heard you’re good at Formations. Help me set up an Ice Attribute Spirit Gathering Formation, and the reward will be generous."

Fang Hao’s heart stirred. An Ice Attribute Spirit Gathering Formation was an Advanced item; there were only brief records of it in the introduction to formations, and he had never actually set one up before.

But this was an opportunity—an opportunity to make contact with an Inner Sect Disciple.

"I can try, but I’ll need some special Materials," Fang Hao replied calmly.

Liang Ling nodded. "I will provide the Materials. I’ll come to pick you up tomorrow and take you to my Immortal Cave."

After speaking, she turned and left, leaving behind a cold and elegant silhouette.

Zhu Pang leaned in, his face full of envy. "Not bad, Fang Hao. Even an Inner Sect Senior Sister is coming to you for Formations. I’ve heard this Senior Sister is a famous ice beauty in the Inner Sect; many Inner Sect Senior Brothers want to pursue her."

Fang Hao smiled but said nothing, his mind already calculating how to set up that Ice Attribute Spirit Gathering Formation tomorrow.

That night, he spent an entire night deducing within the qiankun ring, which was equivalent to ten nights in the outside world and finally designed a satisfactory plan.

The next day, as expected, the Inner Sect Senior Sister Liang Ling arrived on time and took Fang Hao toward the Inner Sect area by flying on a sword.

This was Fang Hao’s first time entering the Inner Sect. He saw that the density of Spiritual Qi here was several times that of the Outer Sect. Pavilions and towers were elegantly arranged, and spiritual birds and exotic beasts could be seen everywhere. It was indeed incomparable to the Outer Sect.

The Senior Sister’s Immortal Cave was located on an icy cliff, and the cold air was biting. After carefully observing the environment, Fang Hao began to set up the Formation.

With the previous night’s deductions, the setup process went smoothly. The moment the Formation was completed, the ice Spiritual Qi within the Immortal Cave instantly became several times denser, even condensing into a faint icy mist.

Feeling the effect of the Formation, a trace of a smile finally appeared on the Senior Sister’s cold face. "Not bad, even better than I imagined. Here is your reward."

She handed Fang Hao a small pouch; inside were five Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Fang Hao suppressed the excitement in his heart as he took the Spirit Stones. These were Mid-Grade Spirit Stones. One was worth a hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. An Outer Sect Disciple couldn’t earn this much even in a year.

Back at his Outer Sect residence, Fang Hao was still excited about today’s harvest. But as soon as he entered the courtyard, he felt the atmosphere was off.

Zhu Pang and Li Xuan were both in the courtyard, their expressions grave. Chen Feng stood to the side, his eyes flickering.

"Fang Hao, someone from the Deacon Hall came looking for you," Li Xuan said in a heavy voice. "They said someone reported you for secretly learning Inner Sect Cultivation Techniques and want you to go to the Deacon Hall tomorrow for an investigation."

Fang Hao’s heart sank. Secretly learning Inner Sect Cultivation Techniques? That was no small accusation.

He looked at Chen Feng, who avoided his gaze, but the trace of smugness at the corner of his mouth did not escape Fang Hao’s eyes.

Fang Hao understood immediately. It must be Chen Feng’s doing. Seeing that he had been too prominent lately, Chen Feng had become jealous and falsely accused him.

But Fang Hao did not panic. He had the qiankun ring and the Myriad Manifestations Heaven Swallowing Art, but none of those were Inner Sect techniques. As for his knowledge of Formations, most came from the introduction to formations and self-study, while a small portion came from the Detailed Explanation of Basic Formations awarded by the Sect—all of which were obtained through legitimate means.

"Thanks for letting me know. I’ll go to the Deacon Hall tomorrow to clear things up," Fang Hao said calmly.

Returning to his room, Fang Hao fell into thought. A tall tree catches the wind; those words were indeed true. It seemed he would have to be even more careful in the future.

However since someone wanted to mess with him, he didn’t need to be polite anymore.

A cold light flashed in Fang Hao’s eyes. He no longer hid his Qi Refining Fifth Layer Peak cultivation base and began to circulate it with full force.

It was time to Breakthrough to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.