Chapter 349: The Lin Family

"Raging Wave Trapping Formation, third-grade formation, flaws..."

The book detailed the name and shortcomings of the formation.

As he was reading, he saw Mo Tianxue turn and clasp his fists: "Grandmaster Lin Tao!"

Withdrawing his attention, he saw an old man approaching, full of arrogance, chin slightly raised, and responded coldly: "Mm!"

"This is Grandmaster Lin Tao, vice president of the Formation Masters Guild, and the grand elder of the Lin family, one of the three great families of Tianwu Royal City!"

Seeing that Zhang Xuan did not know, Mo Yu quietly transmitted her voice.

"Vice president of the Formation Masters Guild?" Zhang Xuan looked over.

This old man was at the peak of Grandmaster realm, with a golden badge on his chest shimmering, adorned with two stars.

Two-star peak formation master!

"This formation was personally set up by the president, and trapping that [Golden-tailed Lion] is no problem. So, why the rush to call me over? What's happened?"

Glancing at Mo Tianxue, Vice President Lin Tao frowned.

His tone held no respect, but rather a questioning note.

Zhang Xuan was puzzled.

Regardless, Mo Tianxue was the king of Tianwu Kingdom, a revered position. Even someone of Hall Master Jiang's status would show some deference when speaking with him. For a vice president of the Formation Masters Guild to adopt such an attitude seemed a bit too much!

Even if formation masters were among the higher of the nine noble professions, capable of exerting extraordinary deterrence across levels with formations, they couldn't be stronger than master teachers!

"It's the Lin family... the Lin family is special!"

Just as he was wondering, Mo Yu's voice transmission sounded in his ear again.

She guessed Zhang Xuan's thoughts and explained: "Lin family head Lin Ruotian is the president of the Formation Masters Guild. Not only is his strength at half-step Sovereign, but more importantly, he is a three-star formation master!"

"Half-step Sovereign? Three-star formation master?"

The Iron-toothed Sky-roaring Beast was half-step Sovereign; Zhang Xuan knew how terrifying such strength was.

Although it was only half a step above Grandmaster peak, it touched the pinnacle of martial artists, and the former was incomparable.

Coupled with being a three-star formation master capable of setting up third-grade formations, even a true Sovereign would find it hard to gain an advantage against him.

Such strength might not mean much in a titled kingdom, but in a first-class kingdom like Tianwu, only the guardian beast within could suppress him to some extent.

Now that the beast was gravely ill and often went mad, it was no wonder they didn't take the royal family seriously.

"Hall Master Jiang hasn't reached half-step Sovereign; how can he have such strength?"

After the shock, he was puzzled again.

Logically, in any kingdom, the Master Teacher Hall had power that other guilds couldn't rival. How was it that Hall Master Jiang was only at Grandmaster peak, while the Formation Masters Guild president was stronger?

"Actually, President Lin Ruotian only broke through this year, all thanks to his good daughter..." Mo Yu said.

Zhang Xuan blinked.

"His daughter is extremely talented in formations and was sent to study at the Xuan Yuan Academy early on. As luck would have it, she caught the eye of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom's crown prince and became his consort. When one person attains the Dao, their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. He was granted a pill, which allowed him to break through and gain this strength!"

Mo Yu explained.

Zhang Xuan understood.

The crown prince of the Xuan Yuan titled kingdom held great power; obtaining a medicine to break through Grandmaster peak was not difficult.

Moreover, with such a connection, he had a strong backing, so it was no wonder he looked down on Mo Tianxue.

Although a first-class kingdom and a titled kingdom differed by only one level, the gap was huge.

Under the jurisdiction of the Xuan Yuan Kingdom, there were at least twenty or thirty kingdoms like Tianwu. If offended, they could be destroyed without anyone daring to say much.

After all, Tianwu Kingdom didn't even have a single Sovereign-level expert; its strongest guardian beast was only comparable to the Iron-toothed Sky-roaring Beast, half-step Sovereign.

"This President Liu Cheng of the Physician Guild is someone I specially invited to help treat the guardian beast, the Golden-tailed Lion!"

Mo Tianxue gave an awkward smile and quickly explained: "So, I ask Grandmaster Lin Tao to help remove the formation and let him enter to take a look. Perhaps he can cure the illness, and we won't need to trouble you further!"

"The Golden-tailed Lion is not just ill; its lifespan has reached its end. Our president has said it's incurable, so we trapped it to await death. Now, if we remove the formation and it can't be treated, and it escapes to wreak havoc in the royal city, who will bear the responsibility?"

Lin Tao flicked his sleeve.

"This..." Mo Tianxue didn't know how to respond.

What the other said was reasonable. If it could be cured, that would be best, but if not, removing the formation and letting the beast charge out would cause devastation.

Even as the king of Tianwu Kingdom, he would be unable to shirk blame or withstand the pressure.

"Since you can set up a formation, there should be a way to enter and exit freely, right? If you're worried it can't be cured, just go in and take a look. If it can't be treated, come back out!"

Zhang Xuan couldn't help interjecting.

If a formation master can set up a formation, they must be able to enter and exit freely; otherwise, what use is a formation they can't handle themselves?

He had agreed to help treat the beast to repay the favor of the spirit stones and see if he could earn more.

Now, thanks to his bet with Prince Fei Xuan, he had obtained spirit herbs and such, equivalent to three spirit stones, enough to train to Grandmaster peak.

Thus, treating this beast was no longer crucial.

However, he still needed to go in and take a look; even if he couldn't cure it, it would count as fulfilling his commitment.

"Is this any place for you to speak?"

Hearing his words, Grandmaster Lin Tao raised his eyebrows with disdain: "I've heard about you. You just got lucky solving the problem of the Difficult Wall. Your strength is only at the initial stage of Tongxuan realm, barely qualifying for a one-star physician... What qualifications do you have to be president?"

"The Physician Guild and our Formation Guild are of equal rank. If you really want to be president, you should at least have Grandmaster peak or even half-step Sovereign strength! Before you have enough strength, you'd better not call yourself president, lest you embarrass yourself!"

"..."

He hadn't expected that a casual remark would provoke such a response and disdain. Zhang Xuan was speechless.

This so-called President Liu was not a title he had asked for. It was just a Physician Guild in a first-class kingdom; even if he were president, he didn't think it was anything impressive.

"Grandmaster, please calm down!"

Fearing Zhang Xuan would get angry, Mo Tianxue quickly said: "Just trouble Grandmaster to take us in. If it can't be cured, we'll come out..."

"A third-grade formation—do you think you can enter and exit as you please? It's full of dangers; a single misstep and you'll be in peril! It's no problem for me to go in alone, but to take a burden at the initial Tongxuan realm? What a joke!"

Grandmaster Lin Tao sneered.

Mo Tianxue was stumped.

Though the other's words were rude, they were true.

A third-grade formation could even trap a Sovereign expert, as evidenced by the Golden-tailed Lion being unable to escape after so many days.

A strong person entering, knowing the route and reacting quickly, might avoid danger. But someone at the initial Tongxuan realm was too weak; if they couldn't keep up and fell into the formation, escaping would be difficult.

He hadn't thought of this before. Hearing the other's words, he realized it and couldn't help feeling embarrassed. He looked over: "President Liu, I'm really sorry..."

Having invited someone over, only to find that due to the formation, they couldn't even see the beast, was indeed embarrassing.

"No matter!"

Zhang Xuan shook his head and looked over with confusion: "Since this formation can't be removed and you can't take me in, why not just stop it from running? If it's not running, there's no danger. After we go in, you can reactivate it, and that beast you mentioned naturally won't escape!"

Since a formation can be activated, it can also be stopped.

Just pause it, go in, and then continue—problem solved.

"Stop it?"

Mo Tianxue gave a bitter smile and couldn't help shaking his head.

Even though he knew little about formations, he found this hard to listen to.

Powerful formations absorb the world's energy to operate; once activated, they exert tremendous power.

Unless the formation base is destroyed, stopping it is extremely difficult.

Even the one who set it up would find it hard.

Unless the formation master's level is higher than the one who set it, and they are very familiar with the formation, able to find its flaws, it's impossible.

Otherwise, if anyone could stop a formation, formation masters wouldn't be so fearsome or rank among the higher noble professions.

"Ignorant!"

Lin Tao's contempt deepened.

Stopping a third-grade formation... even the president can't do it, and you speak so lightly...

Do you even understand formations?

Mo Yu also slapped her forehead.

Brother, no matter what, you're a two-star master teacher. Even if you don't know much about formations, you shouldn't say something so amateurish!

A third-grade formation can even trap a Sovereign expert. If it could be stopped so easily, what use would it be?

"Stopping a formation requires extensive knowledge of formations, and is even more difficult than... removing the formation..."

Seeing that the other still looked confused, Mo Tianxue couldn't help saying.

"More difficult than removing the formation? Alright..."

Zhang Xuan hesitated: "Wait for me!"

"Huh?"

They thought that after the explanation, President Liu would understand, but instead he looked unconcerned.

Wait...

Wait for what?

Will you understand after waiting?

Just as they were puzzled, they saw the fellow stride toward the courtyard before them.

"President Liu, be careful—if you fall in, it'll be trouble..."

Seeing him charge straight into the formation without a word, Mo Tianxue was startled, nearly fainting.

That was a formation that could trap a Golden-tailed Lion! What was a Tongxuan realm initial stage doing running over there...

"Seeking death..."

Not expecting this reckless fellow to dare go over, Grandmaster Lin Tao snorted coldly. Just as he was about to see the fool get trapped and embarrass himself, he saw the man approach the formation, lift his foot, and kick it fiercely.

Hum!

A rumble sounded.

The previously indistinct courtyard instantly became clear, revealing the scene inside.

"Alright, the formation has stopped..."

Zhang Xuan clapped his hands.