I walk sideways in the game world

Chapter 263: Breaking the Formation Successfully, Master Approves

The night wind blew across the martial arts arena, picking up a few fallen leaves and dispelling some of the gloom from Ren Xiaoyao's heart. His master's words echoed in his ears, and he remembered that his master had once said that martial artists should be like water, flexible and adaptable, so that they could overcome hardness with softness and achieve success in all situations.

"Formation, battle, academy..." Ren Xiaoyao chewed on these words over and over again, and a flash of inspiration came to his mind. Yes, he had always been obsessed with the techniques of breaking the formation, but ignored the significance of the formation itself! The formation did not exist in isolation. It was closely related to combat and even more closely related to the various knowledge taught in the academy.

He no longer confined himself to the painstaking study of formation diagrams in the library. Instead, he integrated the various knowledge he had acquired at the academy, attempting to interpret formations from different perspectives. He flipped through books on martial arts techniques and the flow of power, attempting to understand the flow of energy within formations from a martial arts perspective. He also pored over ancient cultural texts, attempting to decipher the deeper meanings of formations through the symbolic meanings of various cultural symbols.

Day after day, Ren Xiaoyao immersed himself in his research, almost forgetting the time. He tried countless combinations and went in many wrong directions, but he did not give up, because he believed that his master's words could not be wrong. As long as he did not give up, he would definitely find a way to break the formation!

"Xiaoyao, what are you doing?" That day, Xia Lin arrived to bring Ren Xiaoyao lunch as usual, only to find him lost in thought, staring at a table covered in books and diagrams. The table was filled with a variety of books, from martial arts manuals to cultural classics, even astrological charts. He had connected seemingly unrelated points of knowledge with lines and symbols, forming a vast web of knowledge, with the diagram of the formation prominently displayed at the center.

"I, seem to..." Ren Xiaoyao raised his head, a strange light flashing in his eyes, "I found the direction..."

"What direction?" Charlene leaned forward curiously, looking at the books and blueprints scattered on the table. Her delicate eyebrows knitted slightly. "Have you been studying all this these days? Why does it feel even more difficult to understand than the homework assigned by the teacher?"

Ren Xiaoyao pointed at the vast network of knowledge, his tone tinged with excitement. "I've always thought of formations as a separate entity, overlooking the fact that they're actually a fusion of various types of knowledge. You see, the flow of energy within formations is actually closely related to the internal cultivation techniques we practice; and the layout of formations is similar to the principles of deploying troops in ancient military tactics..."

Xia Lin listened intently. Although she wasn't good at formations, she had a keen eye for other things. She would occasionally ask questions and offer her own insights, some of which Ren Xiaoyao had never even considered.

"Xiaoyao, look here," Xia Lin pointed at a complex symbol on the formation diagram. "Does this symbol look like the star track diagrams we've seen in ancient books, representing the orbits of stars?"

Upon hearing this, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly raised his head, a gleam in his eyes. He flipped through the astrological atlas he had seen before, carefully comparing the symbols and the patterns of the formations. A bold idea gradually formed in his mind.

"You're right, why didn't I think of that!" Ren Xiaoyao stood up excitedly and paced back and forth, "Formation, stars, could it be..."

As if grasping a lifeline, he poured all his energy into studying the astrological map. He discovered that many of the patterns and symbols in the formation were strikingly similar to those in the astrological map.

"I know, I know!" Ren Xiaoyao shouted excitedly. He picked up a pen and quickly sketched on the paper, combining the formation map and the astrological map, trying to find the pattern.

Xia Lin watched him quietly from the side, her eyes filled with worry and anticipation. She knew that Ren Xiaoyao had found the key to breaking the formation, but she also knew that this last step was also the most difficult one.

Time slipped by unnoticed, the sky outside the window gradually darkened, and only a single lamp in the room illuminated Ren Xiaoyao's focused expression. His fingers moved quickly across the paper, discarding each scrap of paper, only to be quickly covered by a new one.

Finally, after countless attempts and deductions, Ren Xiaoyao put down his pen, and a tired but happy smile appeared on his face.

"I...I think..." He took a deep breath and looked at Xia Lin with a determined look, "I found it..."

After a sleepless night, Ren Xiaoyao was still full of energy. He meticulously copied down his ideas and steps for breaking the formation onto paper, then checked them over and over again. Only after confirming they were correct did he breathe a sigh of relief.

The morning light streamed into the room through the window. Rubbing her sleepy eyes, Xia Lin saw the thick stack of manuscript paper on the table and a relieved smile spread across her face. "You've finally finished it," she whispered.

Ren Xiaoyao nodded, his eyes gleaming with confidence: "I think the Master will be satisfied when he sees it."

The atmosphere in the classroom where the teacher was teaching was unusually different today. Senior Brother Yun, usually late, arrived early and sat in the front row, a book on formations in hand, but he was clearly distracted. Junior Sister Su and several other students who usually didn't get along with Ren Xiaoyao also frequently cast curious glances at him.

Ren Xiaoyao handed his masterpiece to Master Mo, who took it, put on his reading glasses, and began to read it carefully. His brows sometimes furrowed, sometimes relaxed, and the wolf-hair brush in his hand kept scribbling on the blank space.

Time passed minute by minute, the classroom was silent, and everyone held their breath, waiting for the teacher's final judgment.

Finally, Master Mo put down the manuscript paper in his hand, took off his reading glasses, and looked at Ren Xiaoyao with a look full of admiration: "Xiaoyao, your answer is clear and logical. What's most rare is that you have integrated the formation, astrology, mental skills and other knowledge. This is the most spiritual solution I have seen in all these years."

There were exclamations all around. Senior Brother Yun widened his eyes in disbelief, while Junior Sister Su covered her mouth and looked at Ren Xiaoyao with admiration.

"However..." Master Mo's tone suddenly changed. "Knowledge gained from books is always shallow. True understanding requires personal experience. Theory alone is not enough to prove your true mastery of the formation." He looked around and said loudly, "In three days, I will set up a formation in the martial arts training ground. Then, all of you can participate in breaking the formation. Whoever can break out first will be recommended by me as an exception to participate in this year's Chamber of Commerce Championship!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the academy erupted in excitement. The Chamber of Commerce Tournament was a grand event that brought together the best young talents from across the continent. Being able to participate was not only a symbol of strength, but also a great honor.

Ren Xiaoyao's heart also burned with a raging fire. He clenched his fists and looked resolutely in the direction of the martial arts arena. He knew that this was not just a test, but also an opportunity, a chance for him to gain a real foothold in this world...

Three days later, the martial arts arena was bustling with activity. Ren Xiaoyao's gaze swept across the familiar faces around him, finally stopping at the massive and complex formation in the center of the arena. He took a deep breath and slowly stepped into it.