Chapter 304: Strong Soldiers

Although that was said, the facts were right in front of his eyes, and Commander Yang still believed it. He had no choice but to believe it.

Because Ink Painting had already started explaining the formations on the Black Mountain Stronghold map to him.

He explained where formations were drawn in the stronghold, what each formation was used for, what would happen if the formation was forcibly broken, and what to do if it wasn't broken.

He also explained the overall concept of the formations in Black Mountain Stronghold, where the formations were strong, where they were weak, and which route was best to take when attacking.

He pointed out where there were secret doors and back roads that needed to be sealed in advance to prevent the evil cultivators from escaping.

The more Commander Yang listened, the more shocked he became.

This level of formation attainment completely exceeded his understanding. Many formation principles, he could not even understand clearly, and even getting a rough idea was strenuous.

The last time he had this feeling was when he was in the clan school, following a formation master, scratching his ears and cheeks while learning formations.

Commander Yang secretly glanced at Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan's expression was much calmer now, and his demeanor was also very steady. However, instead of saying steady, it was more like a bit numb...

It was like being in class, no matter what the teacher said, he just couldn't understand it. Over time, he became numb, listening with one ear and letting it out the other.

Commander Yang felt much better in his heart.

He thought to himself, "Just as I said, Zhang Lan and I are about the same."

His own formation level wasn't good. The little he learned didn't even count as a hair in front of a true formation master.

Even if Zhang Lan's level was a bit higher than his, it was still limited. It was impossible for him to understand this level of formations.

Commander Yang silently disdained Zhang Lan in his heart for a moment, then fully concentrated on listening to Ink Painting explain the formations in his clear and childish voice.

He needed to understand the terrain structure and formation layout of Black Mountain Stronghold to formulate targeted tactics.

He didn't need to understand some formations too deeply, but he had to know their function and what to pay attention to when breaking them so as not to fall into the evil cultivators' trap.

The first-grade compound formations exceeded his understanding of formations. Fortunately, Ink Painting was logical, detailed, and easy to understand. He paid attention to the places Ink Painting mentioned, and for the places he didn't understand, Ink Painting also patiently explained.

Commander Yang listened more and more seriously, even picking up a pen to record some key points at any time.

After Ink Painting spent the better part of the day explaining the formations on the Black Mountain Stronghold map, Commander Yang was shocked and at the same time, his mood was complex.

He was shocked that Ink Painting, at such a young age, actually had such profound formation attainment.

His mood was complex because he had never listened so seriously during formation classes in the clan school, but now, listening to a young formation master explain formations, he was so concentrated that he even took notes...

Commander Yang's attitude towards Ink Painting unconsciously became much more solemn.

This was the respect for a first-grade formation master.

Compared to the first-grade formation masters he knew, Ink Painting's formation level was clearly a notch higher.

Commander Yang let out a strange tsk-tsk sound, then asked someone to bring tea, pastries, and even several plates of spiritual fruits and spiritual meat with dense spiritual energy to entertain Ink Painting.

"Little Mister Ink, please feel free, no need to be restrained."

Commander Yang's tone was very polite.

"Thank you, Commander Yang!"

Ink Painting had been talking for a long time and was a bit thirsty, so he didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down properly, drank the sweet tea, and picked some spiritual fruits and spiritual meat he hadn't eaten before to taste.

Commander Yang held the annotated map and discussed something with Zhang Lan on the side.

They didn't avoid Ink Painting, and Ink Painting listened openly and honestly.

However, what they were talking about was mostly related to the deployment of Dao soldiers, the switching of attack and defense, marching, and formations. He couldn't understand it, but he partially understood some of it and recorded it to see if it could be used in the future.

Ink Painting ate with relish while listening with interest.

After the two finished talking, Ink Painting, who had eaten and drunk to his heart's content, asked the question he cared about most:

"Commander Yang, can we exterminate Black Mountain Stronghold this time?"

Commander Yang thought for a moment, pondering the plan they had just made. After a moment, he said decisively:

"Yes!"

Ink Painting's eyes lit up, "Really?"

Commander Yang nodded and explained to Ink Painting:

"Dao soldiers can be said to be the most elite cultivators of the Dao Court. The strength of Dao soldiers is not in the cultivation of individual cultivators, but in the fit between their armor, spiritual tools, formations, and other cultivation methods, as well as their Dao soldiers' spiritual roots, techniques, and Dao methods."

"A team of ten Dao soldiers is mostly composed of cultivators with the same or similar spiritual roots, the same type of techniques, or mutually harmonious cultivators. They wear fine armor, hold sharp long weapons, and on their armor and weapons, they draw energy-connected branches and resonant morale formations. When fighting cultivators of the same realm, they can be said to be invincible."

"They even have the power to fight against cultivators of a higher realm!"

"Can they even defeat Foundation Establishment?" Ink Painting asked.

He knew that there were four bosses inside Black Mountain Stronghold, which meant there were four Foundation Establishment evil cultivators.

And in Ink Painting's perception, among the Dao soldiers, only Commander Yang was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Commander Yang didn't answer, but asked Ink Painting:

"How do Qi Refining cultivators compare to Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

Ink Painting remembered Elder Yu's previous words, then said: "Ten Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators can be exchanged for one Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator."

"These words are right, but not entirely right." Commander Yang said, "Not just any ten Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators can contend with a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator."

"Generally, Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators, if their battle experience is not rich enough and their cooperation is not tacit enough, even if there are more than ten of them, the Foundation Establishment cultivator will find their flaws and defeat them one by one."

"Only experienced in battle, with rich experience, firm will, and tacit cooperation, Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators are enough to fight across realms."

"Dao soldiers are like this?" Ink Painting said.

Commander Yang nodded, "Not only that, Dao soldiers have specialized soldier armor and formations added to them. When a small team forms an array and fights head-on, they can even kill Foundation Establishment cultivators!"

Ink Painting was shocked in his heart.

Dao soldiers were actually so powerful, no wonder the Black Mountain Stronghold forces were so large and acted so secretly. It was probably because they were truly afraid of being discovered by the Dao Court and being exterminated by the Dao soldiers.

Even Qi Refining Ninth Layer Dao soldiers, forming a battle array, were enough to contend with Foundation Establishment cultivators.

One Qi Refining Ninth Layer could not contend with Foundation Establishment, so then ten, if ten were not enough, then a hundred.

Once hundreds or thousands of Dao soldiers formed a battle array and charged and killed on the battlefield, cultivators only a few realms higher would be unable to resist.

Ink Painting suddenly realized:

"This is almost the same as formations. If the formation patterns are not strong enough, just accumulate formation patterns to form a single array. If a single array is not strong enough, just accumulate single arrays to form a compound array. If a compound array is still not strong enough, just accumulate more single arrays to form an even more powerful great array!"

"Gathering sand into a tower, gathering rivers into the sea. Formations accumulate little into an array. Cultivators accumulate weakness to win against strength. This is also a kind of law of the heavenly way!"

The more Ink Painting spoke, the brighter his eyes became.

Although Commander Yang didn't understand formations, he also involuntarily nodded, feeling it was very reasonable. He had led soldiers in battle for many years and had deep experience in this.

Ink Painting still had one point of doubt, "What formations do the Dao soldiers use?"

Commander Yang hesitated a bit, and a look of apology appeared on his face, "This is a secret of the Dao Court and cannot be told to outsiders."

Actually, it wasn't that he couldn't say it, it was mainly that he didn't know either.

These formations were all under the unified control of the Dao Court and issued by the Dao soldiers department. They were only responsible for using them and didn't even repair them, so they naturally didn't know what formations were drawn inside.

But saying he didn't know would be too embarrassing, so he just found an excuse to get through it.

Ink Painting didn't suspect him and apologized, "I was too impetuous."

The secret formations of the Dao soldiers indeed should not be inquired about. He was also temporarily curious and wanted to know the differences between these formations and the formations he usually learned.

"These are small matters, no need to mind." Commander Yang felt a bit guilty and waved his hand.

Ink Painting chatted simply with Commander Yang again, then prepared to get up and leave.

Commander Yang hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping.

Ink Painting couldn't help but ask: "Does Commander Yang still have something?"

Commander Yang looked at Zhang Lan, sighed, and said:

"There is still one matter. The deep mountain fog formation has changed, and we cannot find where Black Mountain Stronghold is."

He had asked Zhang Lan to help him invite a formation master, one to explain the formations on the Black Mountain map, and the other to enter the deep mountain and reconfirm the position of the fog formation to facilitate their attack on Black Mountain Stronghold.

But the scouts he sent to probe discovered that the position of the fog formation in the fog forest had all changed, and not only that, the fog in the forest was also thicker.

The guide map Ink Painting had drawn before was naturally useless.

With the guide map invalid, they couldn't find the entrance to Black Mountain Stronghold, so exterminating Black Mountain Stronghold naturally couldn't be talked about.

Ink Painting was still a bit hesitant. He had promised Elder Yu not to enter the deep mountain.

Moreover, the third boss probably still missed him.

But without thinking of a way to pass through the fog forest, they simply couldn't wipe out Black Mountain Stronghold.

Ink Painting looked at Commander Yang and Zhang Lan and asked: "Will you all be my bodyguards?"

Commander Yang nodded and said: "I and Zhang Lan will escort you."

"If we meet Foundation Establishment evil cultivators?"

Commander Yang said coldly: "I will transfer several more teams of Dao soldiers. If we meet Foundation Establishment evil cultivators, we will suppress and kill them directly! We will definitely protect you safely and not let you lose a single hair."

Zhang Lan also said: "I also told Elder Yu this, that with Dao soldiers protecting you, even if Foundation Establishment evil cultivators want to kill you, it is estimated they cannot succeed. He agreed to let me find you for help."

Ink Painting nodded, "Okay, then we will go to the fog forest to see."