The greatest saint of all time!

Chapter 33: Master of Array Formations?

"What does it mean that the Carefree King came empty-handed?"

"Could it be that he didn't prepare a gift?"

"That's incredibly rude!"

A murmur arose from the surroundings.

Crown Prince Lu Heng laughed out loud without any restraint, his eyes full of schadenfreude.

"Third son, today is Father's fiftieth birthday. You didn't even prepare a decent birthday gift, did you?"

"Is it because you can't afford it? If that's the case, you should have said so earlier!"

"I'm the elder brother here, so giving you a few things is better than you coming empty-handed!"

"Aren't you... slapping Father in the face?"

Despite the mockery, Lu Xuan seemed not to hear it, and simply bowed slightly to Lu Tianxing.

"Your subject Lu Xuan respectfully wishes Your Majesty a long and prosperous life."

"Your subject has indeed not prepared any rare treasures or important weapons from enemy countries."

"However, I made a little trinket by my own hands, which may be of good quality to Father Emperor."

As he spoke, Lu Xuan pulled out the dark, unremarkable stone.

Upon seeing this, the entire audience fell into a deathly silence.

Then, everyone burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! A stone? He brought a stone over?"

"Has the Carefree Prince lost his mind after leaving the palace? He actually presented His Majesty with a stone as a birthday gift!"

"This is so shabby! It's utterly shameful..."

Lin Ruofu shook his head, his eyes full of contempt.

How did that mysterious master take a liking to Lu Xuan?

Could it be that the opponent, despite being incredibly powerful, is blind?

However, just as everyone was laughing, Elder Chi Huo, who had been sitting at the head of the table with an arrogant expression, suddenly stood up the moment he saw the stone.

His eyes were fixed on the black stone in Lu Xuan's hand, and he gasped in shock.

"This...is a formation pattern?!"

"Spirit Gathering Array Pattern?"

Elder Chi Huo's exclamation was like a thunderclap from a clear sky.

The crowd, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly stopped, their mouths agape, staring in astonishment at the high and mighty elder of the Ziyang Sect.

Array patterns?

Spirit Gathering Array Pattern?

What is that?

Most court officials and princes knew very little about formations; they only felt that the name sounded somewhat familiar, but they didn't quite understand it.

However, Lin Ruofu and Wang Ji, these knowledgeable experts of the Tianyuan Realm, had their expressions change instantly upon hearing these four words.

Although they didn't understand how to set up formations, as top experts, they naturally knew what a spirit-gathering formation meant.

That's a formation that can only be set up in blessed lands or forbidden areas of sects, relying on the power of mountains and rivers and using countless rare and precious materials.

This formation was engraved on a palm-sized stone.

That's absolutely a fantasy!

"Elder Crimson Flame, you...you're not seeing things, are you?"

Crown Prince Lu Heng couldn't help but ask, his tone tinged with doubt.

"It's just a broken rock, how could it be..."

"Shut up!"

Elder Chi Huo suddenly turned his head and glared at Lu Heng.

"How dare this ignorant child speak so recklessly!"

After being publicly reprimanded by Elder Chi Huo, Lu Heng's face turned red, but he dared not utter a single word in rebuttal and could only slink away and shut his mouth.

Elder Chi Huo ignored him and strode down the steps to stand in front of Lu Xuan. His fiery red eyes were fixed on the black stone in Lu Xuan's hand, and his breathing became rapid.

"These patterns...this spiritual essence..."

"Although it was just carved on an ordinary piece of black iron ore, the exquisite craftsmanship of these array patterns is simply divine!"

"Even our Ziyang Sect's Supreme Elder, who has specialized in array formations for three hundred years, might not be able to inscribe such a complete spirit-gathering array pattern within this small space!"

At this point, Elder Chi Huo suddenly looked up, and the arrogance in his eyes when he looked at Lu Xuan was gone.

"Boy...no, Prince Xiaoyao! This...is it truly something you made yourself?"

Lu Xuan maintained his calm expression, as if he had only done something insignificant.

"nature."

"Just doodled when I had nothing else to do."

"But since it's a birthday gift, it should naturally be of some use."

Without further ado, Lu Xuan channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the black stone.

Suddenly, the originally dark and unremarkable stone burst forth with a soft white light.

Then, a vortex of spiritual energy appeared visibly around the stone.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a three-foot radius seemed to be drawn by some mysterious force, frantically converging towards the stone.

In just a moment, the concentration of spiritual energy around Lu Xuan had more than doubled.

Although this spiritual energy was insignificant, it still caused Elder Chi Huo beside him to gasp, a look of rapture on his face.

"This...it really is a portable spirit-gathering array!"

"The effect is actually so amazing?"

Elder Chi Huo was so excited that his beard began to tremble.

"It can be carried with you at all times, and it can nourish your physical body and increase your cultivation speed..."

"This... even within my Ziyang Sect, there is no such treasure!"

"If someone can wear this item for an extended period, even someone with mediocre talent can significantly increase their cultivation speed, essentially turning them into a genius!"

"Moreover, with such spiritual energy nourishing them, even those whose vital energy is depleted can live longer and a few years longer!"

Upon hearing these words, everyone was stunned.

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence.

The way they looked at Lu Xuan changed.

Originally, it was just mockery.

Now, however, it has turned into greed.

Prolong life and increase cultivation speed...

For any martial artist, that would be an irresistible temptation.

Especially those old folks who have been stuck at a bottleneck for years and are nearing the end of their lives.

This thing is more precious to them than any divine weapon!

Lin Ruofu also stared intently at the stone, his greed undisguised.

These treasures, which continuously generate spiritual energy, are simply priceless, even if you have money.

Even if the Lin family were incredibly wealthy, they couldn't find another stone exactly like it.

On the dragon throne.

Lu Tianxing suddenly stood up and said "good" three times.

"Okay! Okay!"

That already dignified face now revealed an undisguised look of surprise.

He strode down from the dragon throne, came to Lu Xuan, and took the black stone directly from him.

Immediately, I felt the rich spiritual energy rushing towards me.

Lu Tianxing felt as if every pore on his body opened up, and the fatigue from handling state affairs for days was instantly swept away.

"Third brother, did you really make this yourself?"

Looking at his son, whom he usually ignored, Lu Tianxing felt a storm raging in his heart.

The art of formations is obscure and difficult to understand; only those with great perseverance and wisdom can enter its realm.

To inscribe such a heaven-defying formation on such a small medium is as difficult as ascending to heaven!

Where did my third son learn this skill from?

Is it...

A flash of inspiration struck Lu Tianxing, instantly bringing to mind the mysterious master who had refined the perfect-grade pill.

Alchemy, medicine, and now... array formations.

How many coincidences are there in this world?

The only explanation is that the mysterious master behind the third brother is not only proficient in alchemy and medicine, but also a master of formations!

even……

The third brother has most likely been taken in as a personal disciple by that master and received his true teachings!