Cultivation is Creation-Chapter 182: Talking Shop

The thing about cultivator meetings is that they tend to follow a predictable pattern. First comes the posturing, then the politics, and finally: if we're very lucky: actual planning. Though sometimes we get stuck cycling between the first two steps until someone loses patience and starts throwing spiritual techniques around.

Fortunately, Liu Chang's decisive victory seemed to have knocked some sense into everyone. Amazing how getting punched through a wall can improve someone's cooperative spirit.

"The beast wave will likely hit within twenty-four hours," Liu Chang explained, using small spirit stones to mark positions on the map spread across our table. "Based on reports from our scouts, it's moving slowly but steadily through this region." He traced a path that led directly to our valley pass.

I studied the map carefully, noting how the terrain naturally funneled movement through specific channels. The mountains formed a rough V-shape, with our village sitting just beyond the point where the valley opened up into fertile plains. It was perfect for farming, but also perfect for channeling a massive wave of spirit beasts directly toward us.

"How many beasts are we looking at?" one of the Heavenly Jade cultivators asked. She'd introduced herself as Ming Yue, and seemed far more practical than her recently-wall-acquainted colleague.

"Early estimates suggest between two to three thousand," Liu Chang replied with a frown. "Mostly lower-stage beasts, but our scouts reported at least a dozen at the seventh stage or higher."

I could see some of the disciples looking nervous at the numbers, and I couldn't blame them.

A few dozen cultivators against thousands of spirit beasts sounds like terrible odds. But there's a reason why beast waves, while dangerous, aren't automatic death sentences.

See, most spirit beasts in a wave are basically cannon fodder - Qi Condensation stages 1-3 at best. They're dangerous to mortals, sure, but to a trained cultivator? Might as well be angry sheep with spiritual energy. A decent area-effect technique can take out dozens at once, and that's before you factor in formations and barriers.

The real threats are the higher-stage beasts, the ones at stage 7 or above. But here's the thing - they usually make up less than one percent of the total. In a wave of five thousand, you might see a dozen truly dangerous beasts. Still not great odds, but much better than five thousand equal opponents.

Plus, we have some major advantages. Spirit beasts are strong, sure, but they're not exactly tactical geniuses. They rely on instinct, which makes them predictable. Give me a spirit beast and a mortal bandit of equal power, and I'll pick the bandit any day. At least bandits occasionally come up with clever plans. Spirit beasts just charge straight at whatever made them angry, which makes them easy to trap and counter.

That's where formations and barriers come in - they let us control where and how we fight. Instead of facing a massive wave head-on, we can funnel them into killing zones, split them up, wear them down. It's like the difference between trying to catch a waterfall with your hands versus building channels to direct the flow.

Still, those dozen or so high-stage beasts... that's what keeps cultivators up at night. Because while we're busy dealing with the horde, all it takes is one seventh-stage beast breaking through at the wrong moment to turn a controlled situation into a massacre.

"That's an unusually large gathering for this region, isn't it?" I asked, remembering details from both the original Ke Yin's memories and what I'd read in the sect's records. "The last major wave here was barely a few hundred strong."

Liu Chang was nodding at my observation. "Yes, it's unprecedented for this area. Which is why we've modified our original plan to account for the increased numbers."

He rearranged the spirit stones, creating new patterns across the map. "We'll split into three main groups. The River Team will focus on establishing our eastern defensive line, using the waterway to create natural barriers. Su Yue will lead this group, coordinating with other fire-attribute cultivators to maintain a continuous steam barrier."

Su Yue grinned, a few sparks dancing between her fingers. "Finally, a chance to go all out without worrying about collateral damage. Well, much collateral damage."

The steam barrier wasn’t just hot water vapor - its spiritually enhanced steam infused with fire-attribute qi. When Su Yue and other fire cultivators superheat the river water with their qi, it’ll create steam that's hot enough to melt flesh and dense enough with spiritual energy to damage even beast cores.

Any lower-stage beasts that try to pass through it will have their flesh seared away and their cores damaged, while even higher-stage beasts will be weakened by the constant exposure to hostile qi. The steam can also be directed and concentrated by wind techniques to create areas of lethal intensity.

"The Mountain Team," Liu Chang continued, "will secure our western flank, preventing any beasts from circling around behind us. The Yan Clan team has graciously offered to take this position, as it best suits their... particular talents."

I noticed he didn't specify what those talents were. Probably for the best: some things were better left unspoken, especially when they involved the empire's leading clan of cultivators.

"The Valley Team will establish our main defensive line here," he pointed to where the pass began to widen. "We'll create a bottleneck, forcing the beasts to engage us in smaller numbers. The Heavenly Jade disciples will anchor this position."

Handsome: who I'd learned was actually named Shen Xuanyu: nodded stiffly.

The hole he'd made in the tavern wall had been temporarily patched, though Old Lu's youngest son was still busy carting in supplies for proper repairs. I caught Shen Xuanyu wincing slightly every time a particularly loud hammering sound came from that direction.

"The rest of us will form mobile response teams, ready to reinforce any position that comes under heavy pressure. Questions?"

Several hands went up, but my attention was drawn to Chu Feng. He was staring at the map with an intensity that seemed out of place, especially around the area where he'd claimed to find that mysterious shrine. His earlier nervousness had completely vanished, replaced by something that looked almost like... hunger?

I needed to talk to Liu Chang about this. But not here, not with everyone watching. The last thing we needed was to start throwing around accusations when we were about to face thousands of spirit beasts.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

As the others began discussing specific tactical details, I caught Liu Chang's eye and gave a slight nod toward the door. He raised an eyebrow but followed my lead.

"Excuse us for a moment," he said smoothly. "I need to discuss some formation specifics with our expert."

We stepped outside into the cool evening air.

"Something's bothering you," Liu Chang said once we were out of earshot. It wasn't a question.

I nodded, choosing my words carefully. "It's about Chu Feng. His behavior... it seems off."

"How so?"

"The shrine he mentioned: he was practically desperate to investigate it immediately, alone if possible. And his reaction to that Verdant Dreamwalker was strange. It was like he recognized it, or at least expected it."

Liu Chang's expression remained neutral, but I noticed his qi shifting slightly. "Go on."

"The way he fights is inconsistent too. Sometimes he struggles against beasts he should easily handle, other times he moves with perfect precision. And now he's suddenly very interested in a specific part of our defensive line..."

I trailed off, not wanting to explicitly accuse a team member of potential sabotage. Liu Chang seemed to understand what I wasn't saying.

"You think he might be working against us?"

"I think something isn't adding up," I replied diplomatically. "And given what we're about to face..."

He nodded slowly. "I appreciate your discretion in bringing this to me privately. You're right: we can't afford any uncertainties right now."

"I could be wrong," I added quickly. "I don't know him well enough to judge what's normal behavior."

"No, your observations match some of my own concerns." Liu Chang's voice was thoughtful. "I'll keep him close: partner him with me for the mobile response team. That way I can watch him directly."

"Just... be careful? Especially around that shrine. Maybe we should check it out as a group after the defenses are set up."

A slight smile crossed his face. "Worried about your team leader?"

"Worried about everyone," I corrected. "We're about to face thousands of spirit beasts. The last thing we need is someone working their own agenda."

He clapped me on the shoulder. "Fair enough. I'll be careful. And speaking of working: you should head out soon. Your formation team is waiting."

Ah yes, my "team." Which consisted of exactly one person: a Yan Clan disciple named Yan Ziheng who had been assigned to assist me with setting up defensive formations. The fact that a Yan Clan member was taking orders from an outer disciple felt...strange.

I found Yan Ziheng waiting by the village gate.

"Senior Brother Ke," he said formally. "It's an honor to work with a Level 2 Expert."

That took me by surprise. Usually, Yan Clan members didn't show deference to anyone outside their clan, let alone a mere outer disciple. But I suppose the Formation Guild rankings transcended normal sect politics.

"The honor is mine," I replied automatically, then had to hide my amusement at how formal we both sounded. Two formation nerds trying to out-polite each other while a beast wave approached. Sometimes cultivation world politics were just absurd.

"I have to admit," Yan Ziheng said as we headed toward our assigned position, "I was surprised to learn about your rank. You're younger than me, with lower cultivation, yet..."

"Yet I somehow managed Level 2?" I smiled. "The Formation Guild cares more about skill than power. Though having more qi definitely helps with larger arrays."

He nodded eagerly. "That's actually why I wanted to work with you. I've been stuck at Level 1 for years. My formations are technically sound, but they lack... innovation? The guild keeps saying I need to create something new to advance."

"Ah, the infamous original formation requirement." I remembered my own breakthrough project: the Symphony Shield. "It's not just about making something new. It's about understanding the underlying principles well enough to combine them in unique ways."

We reached the eastern edge of the village, where the river curved gently around farmland. Perfect spot for the first array anchor.

"Here, let me show you something," I said, pulling out my formation flags. "The Symphony Shield wasn't just a random creation. It started with a basic question: how do you make a barrier that adapts to attacks?"

I began setting up the first anchor point, using qi to attune it to the local spiritual energy. "Most barriers are static: they either hold or break. But what if we could make one that learns? That redirects power to wherever it's being attacked?"

Yan Ziheng watched intently as I drew the base pattern, his eyes widening as he recognized the principles involved. "The spiral sensor array... it's not just for detection, is it? It's actually mapping attack patterns?"

"Exactly!" I couldn't help but get excited: it was rare to find someone who actually understood formation theory. "And the curved channels aren't just for show. They're like... imagine a water wheel, but for qi. The attack's own power helps drive the defense."

We continued working as I explained the Symphony Shield's design principles. The formation slowly took shape, anchor points creating a semicircle that would shield the village's eastern approach. It wouldn't cover the entire village: I wasn't powerful enough for that yet: but it would protect the most vulnerable area.

"The real breakthrough," I continued, adjusting a resonance chamber, "was realizing that formations don't have to be purely mechanical. They can learn, adapt, even predict if you design them right."

"Like the octagonal chambers?" Yan Ziheng asked, helping me align the next section. "They're not just storing energy, they're... analyzing it?"

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

"Sort of. Think of them like... you know how some cultivation techniques get stronger the more you use them? Same principle, just applied to formation theory."

We worked steadily, placing arrays and checking alignments. It was pleasant, actually. Yan Ziheng asked intelligent questions, and his help made the work go faster than expected. Plus, it was nice to talk shop with another formation enthusiast.

"The trick to creating an original formation," I explained as we finished the final connections, "is to solve a specific problem. Don't try to make something completely new: look for gaps in existing designs and fill them."

He nodded thoughtfully. "I think I understand. It's not about forcing innovation, it's about... seeing what's missing and finding elegant solutions?"

"Exactly. Take this array we just set up. It's basically a Symphony Shield modified for large-scale area defense. Same principles, different application."

We stepped back to admire our work. The formation hummed quietly, nearly invisible except to those who knew what to look for. But I could feel it working, the qi flowing smoothly through the patterns we'd created.

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Yan Ziheng bowed again. "This has been most enlightening. Though... may I ask something personal?"

I nodded, curious.

"Why did you choose to study formations? Most cultivators focus on combat techniques, especially at our level. Formation mastery usually comes later..."

That was a complicated question with an answer I couldn't actually give. I couldn't exactly say 'well, I have these mysterious runes that I felt like might work well with formations.’

Instead, I said: "Combat techniques are important, but they're limited by your cultivation level. Formations... they're like a language. Once you understand the grammar, you can write any story you want."

He seemed satisfied with that answer, though I noticed him giving me thoughtful looks as we headed back to the tavern. We found the other teams already gathering, comparing notes on their preparations.

"The steam barrier is ready," Su Yue reported. "Just need to channel power through it when the beasts arrive."

"Western defense line is set," another disciple added. "Though we had to modify the terrain a bit. Sorry about that farmer's field..."

Various teams gave their reports, everything seeming well in hand. Almost too well in hand, really.

"Well," I said carefully, "since we're ahead of schedule, maybe we should check out that shrine? All of us together, of course."

Chu Feng's reaction was interesting. For just a moment, something like panic flashed across his face. Then it was gone, replaced by his usual nervous energy.

"Oh, that?" he laughed awkwardly. "I was probably wrong about that. Just normal qi fluctuations, nothing worth investigating..."

"But you seemed so certain earlier," I replied. "Said it couldn't wait, that whatever was up there was growing stronger..."

"Did I? No, no, must have been nervous. You know how it is, pre-battle jitters and all that..."

I caught Liu Chang's eye. He'd noticed it too: Chu Feng was trying way too hard to keep us away from the shrine now. Earlier he'd been desperate to investigate it, and now suddenly it wasn't worth checking?

“A quick investigation now could save us trouble later.," Liu Chang cut in smoothly.

I watched Chu Feng's face carefully as he realized there was no getting out of this.

Whatever secret that shrine held, we were about to find out: whether he wanted us to or not.