C7 Forming a Team to Practice Array Formations.

To master array formations, one must possess a natural aptitude. Only those who can grasp the intricate secrets of array formations have the potential to become experts. Yet, even the most talented have their vulnerabilities, and not everyone in the sect is so gifted.

This was precisely why the Great Elder was so adamant in opposing Su Yinjian, though he hadn't realized that Su Yinjian's intention was to let the sect fall into ruin. His aim was to dismantle the sect, and the more the Great Elder resisted, the more determined Su Yinjian became.

"I understand how absurd this all sounds to you," Su Yinjian acknowledged, "but rest assured, I have my reasons. Great Elder, consider this: when true battle commences, what is the real impact of fighting alone?"

The Great Elder was taken aback, speechless at Su Yinjian's question. He had never prepared for such a scenario, nor had he considered the disciples needing to engage in desperate combat.

Su Yinjian continued, "There's no need to feign ignorance, Great Elder. Even if we have no intention of offending others, given our sect's status, isn't it inevitable that some would seek to overthrow us and claim our resources?"

Su Yinjian's gaze lingered on the Great Elder, who remained silent, recognizing the truth in Su Yinjian's words. The spiritual energy alone on the mountain where their sect resided was a magnet for many.

"We need to train some to master the formation arts so they can defend themselves. And even those without the talent must understand how to support their peers during formation setup, or how to break free if they're caught within one."

After a moment of reflection, the Great Elder could not deny Su Yinjian's logic, even if it seemed outlandish. He conceded, realizing that knowing how to dismantle a formation was far preferable to being perpetually ensnared. Thus, he agreed to cooperate, and all the disciples were summoned to the sect's square.

Su Yinjian surveyed the multitude of disciples before him. He had planned their formation training meticulously; it couldn't be left to chance. Allowing them to choose their own groups would only result in the strong banding together, rendering his efforts meaningless. The strong would only grow stronger, unaffected by the change.

"Here are your draw tickets. Each of you will draw one, and those with matching numbers will become teammates. You will need to practice together and deploy the formations I've taught you when the time is right."

With a wave of his hand, Su Yinjian conjured numerous formation diagrams before the disciples. The Great Elder, however, furrowed his brow once more. Su Yinjian had provided only the most basic of formations, ones that all disciples were familiar with, yet some lacked the skill to utilize them. Halting all other cultivation to focus on these rudimentary formations seemed rash.

The Great Elder, now looking to Su Yinjian, intended to offer counsel. He had accepted Su Yinjian's proposition for collective formation training, but surely they shouldn't be limited to such elementary and seemingly ineffective techniques.

"Great Elder, please, hold your concerns," Su Yinjian reassured. "The Sect Master must have his reasons for this approach. Let's not complicate matters further. I trust the Sect Master wouldn't gamble with the disciples' futures so carelessly."

Chen Ping stepped forward once again to offer his advice, his faith in Su Yinjian unshakable since the latter's actions had led to his breakthrough. No matter what Su Yinjian proposed, Chen Ping was convinced there was a valid reason behind it.

The Great Elder, however, couldn't help but look at Chen Ping with a mix of irritation and amusement. Was Chen Ping so overjoyed at his breakthrough that he'd lost all sense of scrutiny?

Yet, the Great Elder understood where Chen Ping was coming from and noticed that the other elders seemed to be in silent agreement with Su Yinjian's approach.

Feeling somewhat resigned, the Great Elder decided not to voice his concerns. With no objections from the other elders, he saw no point in causing friction with Su Yinjian over the issue.

He was curious about Su Yinjian's latest ideas and what they might bring to the sect. After all, Su Yinjian's past actions had always been justified, and he often ended up being the voice of reason.

"As I've instructed, each of you will draw a number to form teams. The winning team will be rewarded with a magical treasure—each member will receive one," Su Yinjian announced.

The Great Elder furrowed his brow. Following Su Yinjian's decision, the entire sect had halted their cultivation to pore over the basic formation diagrams Su Yinjian had provided.

"Sect Master, why have them study these basic formations when our library holds much more powerful ones?" Chen Ping asked, puzzled.

Su Yinjian gave Chen Ping a look of inscrutable depth. He hadn't yet formulated a convincing explanation, but to his surprise, Chen Ping seemed to have an epiphany.

"I understand, Sect Leader. The formations in the library are immensely powerful. Talented disciples might grasp their principles too quickly, risking harm to their peers during sparring, right?" Chen Ping said, nodding to himself, then beaming at Su Yinjian as if he had hit the nail on the head. Su Yinjian's lips twitched, but he said nothing more. Chen Ping had inadvertently provided the perfect rationale.

"Keep an eye on the disciples; ensure no one cheats during the competition. I don't want to see any foul play," Su Yinjian instructed before retiring to his quarters.

His team assignments had been haphazard at best, pairing the most powerful disciples with the weakest, those with no aptitude for formations. Little did the Great Elder and the others know, Su Yinjian had already tampered with the draw. The teammates they ended up with were entirely at Su Yinjian's discretion.

Despite their reservations, the Great Elder and the others trusted their Sect Leader implicitly after witnessing the outcomes of his previous, seemingly absurd plans. Thus, no one objected.

This trust allowed Su Yinjian to execute his plan smoothly. And as it unfolded, several highly skilled and talented disciples were inadvertently injured by their sparring partners, forcing them to halt their study of the formations and their cultivation.