Translator: 549690339

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“Brother Da Bai, stand here and silently count to five, then walk straight ahead, and you’ll be able to walk out of the first formation,”

Tian Hui said before carrying on with Wanying, heading towards both ends of the formation.

“Understood, thanks for your assistance, young lady,”

Li Xiaobai knew they were breaking the formation. According to her instructions, he stood still and began to count down the seconds.

Seeing Li Xiaobai standing motionless, Wanying spat in disdain, “Such a bumpkin.”

After mentally counting to five, Li Xiaobai began to walk forward. To be on the safe side, he lit a Huazi. The surrounding grey mist gradually lessened, and suddenly the daylight became bright, and his body had stepped out of the formation.

Many more cultivators appeared before him, their brows furrowed in concern as they faced the second Maze Formation.

The two young ladies also emerged: “You bumpkin are quite obedient. You must cooperate just as well with the next formation. For you to pass through two formations in a row should count as a pretty good achievement already,”

Wanying spoke disdainfully from a position of superiority.

“Hehe, thank you, young lady,”

Li Xiaobai chuckled. It was best to win with minimal effort. The first few formations ensnared the most cultivators, so there was the highest likelihood of being discovered if he appeared out of the ordinary. With the assistance of these two ladies, he didn’t need to reveal his true strength for the time being.

After all, he was being carried along at the moment, with any trouble falling squarely on the young ladies’ shoulders.

Tian Hui offered a polite smile and then began to discuss the route for passing through the formation with Wanying. Li Xiaobai understood they were treating him like a tool, not trusting in his abilities at all.

But this was also good, less contact meant the lowest possibility of exposing himself.

Being quietly carried along was a first for him, and, he had to admit, it felt quite nice.

“Hui’er, what a coincidence to run into you here! Did you come to participate in the Array Formation Sect’s grand competition too?”

A male cultivator spotted Tian Hui among the crowd, his eyes lighting up as he walked over with a cheerful smile.

On seeing the man, Wanying’s expression turned joyful: “Senior Brother Zhao Hao!”

“Ah, Wanying, long time no see. You’ve grown prettier. What are you doing here?”

Zhao Hao said with a jovial laugh, glancing briefly over Li Xiaobai.

“We’re trying to pass through the formation. My senior sister has already figured out the routes for the first two formations, but the only help we’ve found is a bumpkin,”

Wanying said somewhat dissatisfied.

Li Xiaobai felt a bit awkward, this girl’s tongue was indeed sharp.

“Wanying, we should be grateful that Brother Da Bai is willing to help us. Don’t speak nonsense!”

Tian Hui frowned slightly and spoke with mild displeasure.

“No worries. I have the solutions for these first three formations well in mind. If Hui’er doesn’t mind, why not let me lead the way and help you through this second formation?”

Zhao Hao said with a smile.

“That won’t be necessary. Wanying and I have already figured out a strategy to smoothly get through the second formation. You should try to pass on your own, Brother Zhao, and avoid being dragged down by me,”

Tian Hui said coldly, having no fondness for Zhao Hao, the playboy.

“Hui’er, this is the Array Formation Sect competition. Aiming for a good ranking is what you’re hoping for, right? I remember last year you only passed two formations. With my help this year, passing even the fourth formation is not impossible,”

Zhao Hao advised.

Wanying added, “That’s right, Sister Tian Hui. Senior Brother Zhao is the Array Formation Sect Saint Heir’s cousin; he must know many methods to break the formations. With him, we have a greater chance of winning a good ranking!”

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Tian Hui’s expression was uncertain; she actually wanted to pull Li Xiaobai over to use him as a shield, but his dignified appearance didn’t lend itself well to persuasion.

Seemingly noticing Tian Hui’s difficulty, Zhao Hao very empathetically said, “This brother should join us too. Let’s not talk about anything else; getting through three Formations shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Li Xiaobai’s face lit up with surprise: “That really would be great!”

Wanying scoffed: “Bumpkin, you’ve really stumbled into some dumb luck!”

With no other choice, Tian Hui nodded in agreement: “Then I’ll have to trouble Senior Brother Zhao.”

Zhao Hao chuckled and led the group into the Formation, which to Li Xiaobai seemed rather child’s play; even without using Huazi, he could completely immunize himself from the power that came with the Formation.

With his current defensive power, low-level Illusionary Realms couldn’t affect him.

Envious glances came from the surrounding cultivators.

“Those guys are so lucky to have Zhao Hao with them.”

“Yeah, it’s said that Zhao Hao has already figured out the mechanisms ahead. With him leading, the first three Formations should be a piece of cake, right?”

“Exactly, the guy has strong connections, a powerful backer; they just have to ask around if they face any obstacles, while we have to study it the hard way.”

“Sigh, true enough…”

Listening to these people around, it seemed that Zhao Hao had some significant backing and could know things about the Array Formation Sect’s trials.

“Bumpkin, keep up, don’t slow down Senior Brother Zhao!”

Wanying sharply barked, her disdain for Li Xiaobai reaching its peak. In her view, Senior Brother Zhao didn’t need to bother with such a dead weight; it would be a huge favor to even help him pass one stage.

“Senior Brother Zhao seems very impressive?”

Li Xiaobai, unconcerned, sidled up with a grin, asking secretively.

“Calling you a bumpkin really fits. Senior Brother Zhao is a True Disciple of our Array Formation Sect, and he is also the cousin of the current Sect’s Saint Heir. The relationships involved are not something you can imagine. All you need to know is that following Senior Brother Zhao can help you get through the stages!”

Wanying said with scorn.

“I see.”

Li Xiaobai nodded, understanding that being Zhen Qiankun’s cousin, he likely knew some insider information.

Once Zhao Hao entered the Formation, he never stopped moving. With twists and turns, he very smoothly led everyone out of the Formation.

Li Xiaobai felt rather speechless inside. This guy’s acting was not up to par; clearly having the strength to instantly pass the Formation, he had instead been waiting in front of it, obviously waiting for Tian Hui.

It couldn’t be more obvious.

In front of the third Formation, the number of hesitating people was significantly lower, making the place seem a bit empty.

Zhao Hao surveyed the Formation in front of him, appearing to compare it with something.

“Senior Brother Zhao, do you know what that last Formation is like?”

Li Xiaobai asked. Tian Hui and Wanying didn’t chime in, seeming also interested in this topic.

Zhao Hao looked impatient, originally wanting to find an excuse to send Li Xiaobai away, but when he saw the look in Tian Hui and Wanying’s eyes, he changed what he was about to say.

“Of course I know. This is not something just anyone knows. I’ll only say it once, listen carefully. That last Formation is said to be a privilege provided by the sect; if one can successfully get through the first nine Formations, they can enter the final Formation and enjoy this privilege.”

Zhao Hao said proudly.

“Even True Disciples don’t know this news; in the entire Array Formation Sect, aside from the Sect Master and Elders, only the real elite disciples are privy to this secret.”