Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

Chapter 178: Formation Setup

Meng Zhang wasted no words and gathered all the participating disciples of the Taiyi Sect together, casting a cold gaze upon the chaotic scene below. Foundation Building cultivators stood there, doing nothing but relying on their imposing presence to intimidate the crowd.

As everyone quieted down, Meng Zhang coldly declared, "With the imminent battle, our sect will now enforce military law."

"Those who disobey orders will be executed. Those who desert during the battle will be executed. Those who shrink back in fear will be executed."

With Meng Zhang's words, a solemn and murderous atmosphere filled the air.

Initially, Meng Zhang thought there would be some individuals who would challenge his authority, giving him an opportunity to make an example out of them. However, he had overestimated the courage of these people.

The core disciples of the Taiyi Sect naturally supported Meng Zhang wholeheartedly. As for those cultivators who had recently joined, they wouldn't be foolish enough to confront Foundation Building cultivators. Only a fool wouldn't have survived until this point, and those who were willing to lower their pride and join the sect wouldn't have much integrity left.

Meng Zhang, who had recently reached the Foundation Building stage, underestimated his ability to suppress Refining Qi cultivators.

Although he didn't achieve his goal of using fear to control the crowd, he managed to subdue them and make them obedient to his commands, which was enough for now.

During this period, Meng Zhang carefully assessed the numerous new disciples he had recruited.

Meng Zhang possessed the innate Divine Ability of Mind Reading, and its power had increased after reaching the Foundation Building stage. Reading the thoughts of a group of Refining Qi cultivators was as easy as flipping his hand.

None of these disciples possessed any secret techniques that could control or lock away their thoughts.

Meng Zhang called each disciple individually and asked them questions. Although the questions seemed simple, his Mind Reading Divine Ability was quietly at work.

With so many people, Meng Zhang spent a considerable amount of time and exhausted himself before completing this crucial task.

Meng Zhang had grasped the thoughts of all the disciples. Their secrets, which they believed were well-hidden, had not escaped Meng Zhang's Divine Ability.

Meng Zhang divided these disciples into three categories.

The first category consisted of those who were loyal and devoted to the Taiyi Sect.

Among these new disciples, such individuals were extremely rare, with only a handful of them. They deserved special attention and would receive focused cultivation from the sect in the future.

The second category included those who had doubts about the Taiyi Sect but had good intentions and didn't harbor excessive calculations.

These disciples had the potential for transformation and hope. They could be observed and educated slowly, and they shouldn't be easily abandoned. They deserved another chance.

The final category comprised those who never had good intentions from the beginning and only temporarily joined the Taiyi Sect due to circumstances. As soon as they had the opportunity, they would immediately leave the sect and might even turn against it.

For the third category of people, Meng Zhang planned to eliminate them all during this upcoming battle. Of course, he wouldn't make it too obvious in order to appease the new disciples.

Meng Zhang didn't reveal the name of the formation, "Qiankun Wheel Rotation Formation," to the crowd. He simply informed them that they would be practicing a basic formation for the next month, which would be used in the upcoming battle.Pai Sect, Golden Blade Sect, and other sects have inherited formations that are ordinary and wield average power, lacking notable reputation. Many of these formations don't even have proper names, and the better ones are given random names. Apart from their own sects, other sects haven't even heard of them. The new disciples who practice formations believe that their own formations are of this kind.

Except for Meng Zhang, only a few people know the true details of the Qiankun Wheel Rotation Formation. Meng Zhang has divided all the disciples into two groups. One group consists of the true core disciples of the Taiyi Sect, who need to be protected during the upcoming battle. Yang Xueyi leads this group. The other group is the dissidents that Meng Zhang plans to eliminate, with Zhang Hantao, the head of this group.

Originally, the Zhang family was a small family near the Taiyi Sect. When Meng Zhang led the disciples of the Taiyi Sect to sweep through the surrounding areas, Zhang Hantao realized that a small Refining Qi family couldn't resist the team led by Foundation Building cultivators. Therefore, Zhang Hantao wisely chose to surrender.

Meng Zhang, who was eager to pacify the surrounding areas quickly, didn't reject the idea of accepting defectors. Zhang Hantao's voluntary surrender set a good example for the surrounding forces. Moreover, Zhang Yingying, a female cultivator from the Zhang family, had shown talent in alchemy since she was young and had been taken as a disciple by an alchemist from Twin Success Valley, who trained her diligently. After becoming an Alchemist, Zhang Yingying resided in Singing Sand City, refining pills in Twin Success Valley's shop. She also secretly supported the Zhang family.

When Twin Success Valley fell, Zhang Yingying didn't join the fleeing Twin Success Valley disciples but instead escaped halfway and returned to the Zhang family. Even though she was only a First Rank Alchemist, capable of refining First Rank pills for Refining Qi cultivators, Meng Zhang saw her as a rare productive talent.

With the Zhang family joining the Taiyi Sect, Zhang Yingying naturally became an asset to the sect, providing a better foundation for the cultivation of alchemists within the Taiyi Sect. Originally, if Zhang Hantao had been honest, he might have found his place within the Taiyi Sect. Unfortunately, this cunning man made numerous secret moves.

When Qiaoshou Sect and Golden Blade Sect joined forces to sweep through the surrounding areas, Zhang Hantao secretly contacted these two forces. Even after the four sects formed an alliance and united against external threats, he didn't stop his actions. Many years ago, a female cultivator from the Zhang family had married a cultivator from the Liu Family as a concubine. While Twin Success Valley existed, the Zhang family never publicized this relationship. Now, facing the approaching Liu Family and Green Bamboo Mountain coalition, Zhang Hantao secretly tried to use this connection to secure a way out for the Zhang family by aligning with the Liu Family.

Zhang Hantao's covert actions didn't escape Meng Zhang's eyes. Meng Zhang saw through all his intentions. Meng Zhang wished to strike Zhang Hantao down with a single blow, but he realized that publicly executing Zhang Hantao would bring more harm than good, so he reluctantly restrained himself.

Meng Zhang understood that Zhang Hantao was doing everything to protect his family, but he would never accept such a person who played both sides and betrayed others. Zhang Hantao became the leader of this dissident group, and his fate was sealed.

The Qiankun Wheel Rotation Formation, with its interplay of Yin and Yang, positive and negative, rotation, and coordination, can bring out the disciples' abilities beyond their normal levels. Although Wen Qiansun only has a mid-stage Refining Qi cultivation base, his exceptional knowledge of formations led Meng Zhang to appoint him as the commander-in-chief responsible for overseeing the formation and commanding during battle. Wen Qiansun has mastered all the mysteries hidden within the Qiankun Wheel Rotation Formation. Meng Zhang's plan will primarily be executed by him.

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