C9 Genius Disciple Su Ge
Su Yinjian wasn't heartless. He understood the cruelty of denying these individuals the ability to cultivate. So, when he set his plans in motion, he made sure to have a contingency in place.
He provided them with only the most rudimentary formations. While these would indeed squander their cultivation efforts and earn Su Yinjian some Desolation points, they wouldn't cause the disciples undue harm. He needed them to fall further into depravity to harvest even more points in the future, so he couldn't afford to burn through all his disciples in one go.
"Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader. In truth, I've come to appreciate your difficult position. We excel in our understanding of formations, yet when it comes to applying them in real combat, we're at a loss to adapt them effectively," said the disciple of the Great Elder, his eyes gleaming with admiration as he gazed at Su Yinjian. Su Yinjian was momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to categorize the sect's members. They had an uncanny knack for providing solutions whenever he was at a loss for justification.
Su Ge then presented Su Yinjian with an item he'd been clutching tightly—a blueprint of his own creation. "I've drawn this up myself. I've long felt that our sect's formations are too elementary. Should we face a real enemy, we'd stand no chance. That's why I've been eager to uncover the formidable formations spoken of in our library."
Casting a covert glance at the Great Elder, Su Ge saw him nod in silent approval. Encouraged, he continued, "Su Ge, there's no need for hesitation. Speak your mind freely. The Sect Leader won't take issue with your thoughts. Your insights into formations have always surpassed others, and the Sect Leader values your opinions."
Su Yinjian offered an embarrassed smile. If it came to seeking advice on formations, he doubted he could offer Su Ge any meaningful guidance. The young man was, without question, a prodigy.
His expression shifted the next moment. The Great Elder had always lauded his disciple as a genius, and Su Yinjian had assumed it was mere self-promotion. Now, he was beginning to see the truth in those claims.
What did it mean to be a genius? It suggested that Su Ge might have gleaned something from Su Yinjian's recent antics, possibly even advanced formations.
Su Yinjian hoped that wasn't the case. If so, the Desolation points he'd just acquired might be snatched away by the system before he'd had the chance to enjoy them.
He examined another blueprint, which was as cryptic to him as the first. He observed Su Ge, eager to understand what the disciple had discerned.
Su Ge, unfazed, believed that a master like Su Yinjian would have already reached the same conclusions. He spoke up, "Sect Master, after much reflection, I've realized that despite our elders, our sect lacks a robust defensive formation. In the event of an invasion, our newest disciples would likely be the enemy's primary targets."
He presented his blueprint, which highlighted a significant vulnerability in their sect's formation—the controller, the heart of the formation, was utterly exposed to the enemy.
It was akin to a game where the mage stands in the open, vulnerable to attack. Su Yinjian had recognized this weakness long ago but had kept silent, as his ultimate aim was to bring the sect to its knees.
Unexpectedly, Su Ge had come to understand this matter on his own.
"Sect Master, Master, and esteemed elders, I've given this a lot of thought. Perhaps we could redesign the formation to serve both offensive and defensive purposes simultaneously."
As he spoke, Su Ge unfurled his blueprint, which was dotted with various red marks made by different brushes, each representing his insights. He then turned his gaze to the Great Elder and Su Yinjian.
"Regrettably, I've only been able to grasp so much and would like to seek guidance from Master and the elders on how to refine the formation further."
The Great Elder was initially taken aback upon hearing this. He stroked his beard and looked at Su Yinjian with a chuckle, curious to see what advice Su Yinjian could offer Su Ge.
A trace of guilt flickered in his eyes, suggesting he felt he had misjudged Su Yinjian, perhaps due to a previous outburst directed at him.
Su Yinjian felt a twinge of embarrassment; he had no advice to offer Su Ge, a true prodigy. Yet, Su Yinjian was reluctant for this genius to make a breakthrough now, fearing the loss of the Desolate Points he had painstakingly acquired from the system.
He knew he needed to devise a plan, or else the recently acquired Desolate Points would vanish. And according to Su Ge, the newly comprehended formation would significantly boost the sect's combat strength, while Su Yinjian's Desolate Points would plummet—an exasperating thought.
"In light of this, don't just cultivate here in peace. Avoid activating the formation recklessly—I don't want to see anyone get hurt. If someone provokes you, come directly to me; there's no need to engage them in battle," Su Yinjian said, his face conveying the rest and recovery Su Ge needed most. His concern moved the Great Elder and satisfied him, as Su Ge was his direct disciple.
But Su Yinjian knew the truth: his actions were driven by guilt, and he was even plotting to destroy this place.
After leaving Su Ge's room, the Great Elder suddenly offered an apology.
"I misinterpreted the clan's intentions and nearly offended the Sect Master. Please, don't take it to heart. If you still can't forgive me, I am ready to accept any punishment," the Great Elder said earnestly.
Su Yinjian gave an awkward smile and dismissively waved his hand, indicating it was no big deal.
He then addressed the Great Elder once more, "Keep me updated on any developments with Su Ge. It's not that I distrust him, but he's still recovering from his injuries. If he delves too deeply into comprehension, he might develop inner demons that could hinder his cultivation, which would be regrettable."
The Great Elder nodded in agreement, and Su Yinjian then headed to the square, where the disciples were embroiled in a heated debate over the formations.
Per Su Yinjian's instructions, each team had only one disciple skilled in formations, with the rest struggling to grasp even the basics. This disparity was causing significant strife and negatively impacting their cultivation.
