All of a sudden, he noticed that he was surrounded by silence. It was as if the sounds of the world had been muted and detached from the world. He could hear the sound of his breathing clearly.

Chu Li looked at Yue Ru in surprise.

Yue Ru smiled. "This is the Wondrous Light Formation. It creates its own world and is completely separated from the outer world. As long as you remain in here, the White Tiger Sect's White Tiger Soul-Tracking Technique would be useless against you."

Chu Li asked, "Are members of the Tian Luo Sect experts in formations?"

"Naturally." Yue Ru grinned. "The Way of Formations is one of the things cultivated by the Tian Luo Sect. It's too bad the required apt.i.tude for the study of formations is too high. There are hardly any disciples who are able to study it but the legacy of our founders remains."

Chu Li asked, "How many formation masters are there in the Tian Luo Sect?"

"Two," Yue Ru replied. "Are you interested in formations as well, Master Zhao?"

Chu Li nodded. "Very intriguing. I would like to cultivate it too."

"Alright." Yue Ru smiled. "Formations are different from other martial arts and it doesn't forbid us from spreading it to people outside of our sect. If you're able to grasp it, Master Zhao, it's due to your own good fortune."

Chu Li twitched his brows. "Aren't formations the ultimate form of sect-suppressing techniques within your sect?"

Yue Ru shook her head. "Our sect has sect-suppressing techniques but the Way of Formations isn't one of them. Therefore, if you want to learn the Way of Formations, I can give you the relevant books. However, formations are too arcane and cryptic and they result in a throbbing headache among those who try to learn them. I'm unable to study them."

"Thank you, then," Chu Li said.

Yue Ru disagreed. "Master Zhao, while you're here, you'll find that it's very boring and time pa.s.ses by really slowly. Aside from cultivating, studying formations is a fine idea too. You can kill time by doing so."

Chu Li nodded.

Yue Ru spoke, "It'll probably take a month before the White Tiger Sect gives up. You can stay here for the time being, Master Zhao."

"Won't I get you all in trouble?" Chu Li asked.

Yue Ru chuckled. "We're still somewhat on the same side as the White Tiger Sect and we're supposed to tackle those from the Holy Church of Light."

Chu Li asked, "Are making me hide here due to a personal vendetta?"

"Yes." Yue Ru nodded gently. "A huge grudge exists between Tan Jin and I, and he must pay."

Chu Li replied nonchalantly, "I'll kill him."

Yue Ru smiled again. "Master Zhao, I fear you're no match for him with your current skills and abilities. It's best if you wait for a while before killing him."

"Is he that powerful?"

"He's one of the top Elders in the White Tiger Sect and more powerful than Zhu Qingyou." Yue Ru pointed at a thin rope hanging near the corner of the wall. "If you need anything, just pull this rope. I'm the only one who can enter this room and no one else can do so."

Chu Li nodded.

Yue Ru curtsied and exited the room.

Chu Li thought about the Wondrous Light Formation.

This formation was indeed mystical. When he first entered this area, the Omniscient Mirror did not detect its presence. Now, as he stood within the formation, he could still view his surroundings with the Omniscient Mirror without any obstruction. It felt like the formation s.h.i.+elded him from a single direction."

He saw Yue Ru leaving the room and going into another room on the third floor. She pushed open the door and curtsied. "Master."

An attractive and slender young woman sat cross-legged on the bed in the room. Her mature charm gave off an alluring aura.

She opened her eyes and glanced at Yue Ru lazily and then asked, "Has he been hidden?"

"Yes." Yue Ru nodded obediently. "Master, why do we have to help him?"

"Why do you think?" The beautiful woman asked nonchalantly.

Yue Ru shook her head. "I don't understand. He's a disciple of the Holy Church of Light after all and he'll be our opponent in the future."

"The Four Major Sects have united with and fought against each other for so many years," the beautiful woman explained. "There's no need to worry about the destruction of factions and it's all a fight for personal gain. The Holy Church of Light is influential and powerful due to their dependence on the Li Dynasty's imperial court. The remaining three clans are small, so we can only unite with each other and tackle the Holy Church of Light for the purpose of personal gain. However, when it comes to personal gain, the three clans won't be united either."

"Yes." Yue Ru nodded. 

Each clan had to take care of their own interests. Furthermore, the way they dealt with matters and their concepts were different, so they were often at odds with each other.

The beautiful woman spoke, "Thus, don't be stubborn. Forming an alliance will mean hatred towards the Holy Church of Light. If there's a chance to be on good terms with each other, why not do so?"

"Master, do you mean that he's an important figure in the Holy Church of Light?" Yue Ru frowned. "He sure doesn't look the part. Instead, he looks more like an abandoned disciple."

She thought that Zhao Dahe looked foolish. His less-than-average looks did not help either and he did not make someone feel comfortable around him. Neither did he look like an important figure since he lacked the charisma of one. Overall, she felt that he was unlikely to become a person who commanded authority.

The attractive woman replied, "That's because you don't understand how the Holy Church of Light develops its disciples. The Holy Church is particularly strict towards its disciples. As compared to them, the disciples of the Tian Luo Sect are coddled."

"No matter how I look at it, he's a dead end," Yue Ru commented.

The attractive woman explained, "Their potential can be fully realized only by putting them in a state of despair and desperation. In the end, the most outstanding disciple will be discovered. Such is the way the Holy Church of Light develops its disciples. As for whether the disciples die, it all depends on their individual fortune. The Holy Church of Light won't save them."

"Cruel indeed." Yue Ru twitched her red lips and remarked nonchalantly, "Imagine the number of disciples that will be sacrificed! How will the disciples remain loyal to the Church?"

"The disciples might as well die sooner than later. That's how vicious the Holy Church of Light is!" The beautiful woman scoffed. "Nevertheless, this method is a good opportunity for us to befriend the disciples of the Holy Church of Light. We'll provide a.s.sistance in the midst of hards.h.i.+p. Next time, the Tian Luo Sect will be treated differently when he becomes an important figure in the Holy Church of Light."

"Master, do you really believe that Zhao Dahe will become an important figure in the Holy Church of Light?"

"My predictions are very accurate. He'll be an impressive figure, so treat him well," The beautiful woman a.s.serted. "Befriend him and you'll receive lots of benefits in the future."

"Yes, thank you, Master." Yue Ru nodded gently. "He wishes to study formations."

The attractive woman let out a soft "hmph.""Give him some beginner-level books on formations and we shall see how talented he is."

She waved her arm as she spoke.

"Yes," Yue Ru agreed, then curtsied and retreated.

When she closed the door, the house in Chu Li's Omniscient Mirror disappeared at once and could no longer be seen. Obviously, a formation had been set up in the beautiful woman's residence as well.

Chu Li raised his eyebrows and stored the Omniscient Mirror. As expected, Miss Yue Ru saved him because she was obeying her master's commands and not because she had a crush on him or out of pure vengeance. 

Yue Ru's master intended to take a chance on an una.s.suming figure and focused her attention on him. She had foresight, no doubt!

Soon, Yue Ru returned, carrying a few yellowed silk bound books with her. She laid them on the table and smiled. "Here are some beginner-level books. Why don't you glance through them first, Master Zhao? If you're able to understand them, you can move on to the more complex formations."

"Very well. Thank you, Miss Yue Ru." Chu Li cupped his fists.

Yue Ru grinned. "Master Zhao, if you can master formations, you'll stand a better chance of taking down Tan Jin."

"Yes." Chu Li nodded.

Through the learning of formations, he wanted to be able to use formations on his own too. It was also a crucial advantage in becoming an inner mountain disciple.