Chapter 57

Large-scale formations like the Heavy Wave Formation require a tremendous amount of energy to operate. Given the large number of disciples in the Martial Academy, each disciple can only get a limited amount of time each month to cultivate within the grand formation. Therefore, the significance of the external academy ranking trials is to allocate cultivation time based on the rankings.

"This is the reference table for the external academy ranking and the corresponding cultivation time. You can take a look yourselves."

Luo Xiao tossed a jade slip to each person.

Lin Tian glanced at it and found that disciples ranked 150th and below in the external academy could accumulate five hours of cultivation time each month in the Heavy Wave Formation and the True Essence Condensation Formation. Those ranked from 150th to 101st could cultivate for one day. Those from 100th to 51st could cultivate for two days. Those from 50th to 11th could cultivate for three days. Those from 10th to 4th could cultivate for five days.

And the top three had even more time.

The third place could accumulate seven days of cultivation.

The second place could accumulate eight days of cultivation.

The first place could accumulate ten days of cultivation.

"I am ranked second in the external academy, which means I can have ten days each month to cultivate in the Heavy Wave Formation or the True Essence Condensation Formation on the other side."

Lin Tian thought to himself.

Thinking of this, Lin Tian couldn't help but feel grateful to Su Shu. This girl had gathered all the beast cores under her name, which allowed him to rank second in the external academy and enjoy the current treatment.

"Alright, everyone, divide into five teams and enter in order."

Luo Xiao shouted.

The Heavy Wave Formation operates using beast cores as its source. It can accommodate a maximum of twenty-five people at a time. With 103 new disciples in the Martial Academy, dividing them into five teams was the most suitable. Soon, the 103 disciples were divided into five rows: three teams of twenty-one people and two teams of twenty people.

Looking at the grand formation ahead, each disciple was extremely excited.

Luo Xiao looked at everyone and shouted again, "Before you enter, let me remind you: with your current cultivation, you can only cultivate in the double gravity zone. Do not overestimate your strength and venture into the triple gravity zone, challenging the formation beyond your limits may put you in danger!"

"Teacher, it's just cultivation. Even if it's difficult, it shouldn't be dangerous, right?"

Someone asked cautiously.

Hearing this, many disciples looked at Luo Xiao, including Lin Tian.

Luo Xiao snorted and said, "Don't be too naive! Think about it, if you were thrown into the five times gravity zone, the immense gravity would make it hard for you to move, and you wouldn't even be able to call for help. At that point, what could you do besides wait to die?" After a pause, Luo Xiao looked at everyone with a cold and serious expression and said in a low voice, "At least ten Martial Academy disciples have died in this grand formation!"

The over a hundred disciples immediately changed their expressions.

"This..."

"How could it be..."

"Actually... people have died."

Some disciples' faces turned pale.

"Don't be nervous," Luo Xiao waved his hand and said, "Those who died were all overestimating themselves and forcibly entering gravity zones beyond their maximum tolerance, which led to their gradual exhaustion and death. As long as you have an accurate self-assessment and don't be blindly arrogant, death will not happen."

Hearing this, the disciples finally relaxed a bit.

Lin Tian looked up at the grand formation ahead, feeling quite excited.

"Alright, now, the first team, go in. Today is just to let you experience it, each team will spend one hour inside," Luo Xiao said, "I'll reiterate, you can only cultivate in the double gravity zone!"

"Yes, teacher!"

The disciples responded in unison.

Luo Xiao nodded and looked at Lin Tian, who was in the first team, and smiled, "Lin Tian, you were the first to arrive today, so I'll give you a special reward. You can cultivate inside until the first trial ends for all five teams." Saying this, Luo Xiao looked at the other 102 disciples, "Do you have any objections?"

The disciples looked at each other and all shook their heads; they indeed had no right to object.

Lin Tian stood in the first team and bowed slightly to Luo Xiao, "Thank you, senior."

"No problem, hardworking people should naturally be rewarded," Luo Xiao shook his head and added, "When you enter the Heavy Wave Formation, your body will need to adapt. On your first entry, most people can only last for about an hour. Pay attention to the time, and when your body is about to reach its limit, come out immediately. Wait until you recover a bit before entering again to cultivate."

"Thank you for the reminder, Lin Tian will remember it."

Lin Tian said.

Luo Xiao nodded and looked at the others, "Alright, the first team, go in!"

Saying this, Luo Xiao stepped aside.

"Whoosh!"

In a moment, the disciples were in an uproar, one after another entering the grand formation ahead.

Lin Tian was in the first team and naturally stepped in first.

As soon as he entered the Heavy Wave Formation, Lin Tian felt his body become heavy, a sense of oppression appearing in his mind and every part of his body, making him quite surprised. He lifted his leg and found it much more difficult, as if his legs were filled with mercury, and even a sharp pain came from them.

"Is this the double gravity zone?"

Lin Tian was slightly startled.

At this moment, he felt as if a tremendous force was pressing him down, making him extremely uncomfortable.

"Ah!"

"It hurts!"

"Ow!"

Around him, many disciples howled, their cries sounding almost like wild beasts.

Outside the grand formation, Luo Xiao's voice echoed, "The Heavy Wave Formation amplifies the natural gravity of the world. This gravity is completely different from the feeling of carrying a heavy object. When you carry a heavy object, the weight only presses on one part of your body, such as your shoulders, arms, or other parts."

"However, the natural gravity will equally press on every part of your body, every inch of flesh. In the Heavy Wave Formation, every inch of your skin will bear one, two, three, or even more times the gravity of the outside world. This gravity not only presses but also gives you a feeling like being cut by a blade, as if sharp blades are slicing through every inch of your flesh, muscles, and organs!"

Hearing Luo Xiao's voice, Lin Tian's heart stirred.

"Is that so."

He thought to himself.

He had been puzzled earlier, as he had carried Su Shu and a little girl before, but never felt this way. It turned out that the form of gravity pressure was completely different from the pressure of ordinary heavy objects.

"Pressing on every inch of flesh? This grand formation must have been inscribed by at least a sixth-level array master."

Lin Tian thought.

A sixth-level array master was terrifying to think about, and it was likely that only the array master guild in the imperial city could have such a powerful expert, and they would be at least an elder level.

"Ah! I can't take it! It's unbearable!"

"It hurts so much!"

"I want to get out!"

Around him, cries of pain echoed. Under the pressure of gravity twice that of the outside world, many disciples looked terrible, with no visible injuries on their bodies, but the intense pain was unbearable for many.

Soon, some began to move toward the exit of the grand formation.

Lin Tian glanced around, his expression calm. He took steps in this area, and with each step, his body felt a sharp pain, similar to the feeling when he had tempered his flesh and blood. Gradually, his pace quickened, and the pain intensified.

"This Heavy Wave Formation is for training physical strength, enhancing the body's overall qualities. Cultivating the Two Instruments Step here should be quite effective!"

Lin Tian thought to himself.

The Two Instruments Step was a peerless movement technique he had extracted from the information in his mind. This technique had nine levels, and he was currently at the first level. The Heavy Wave Formation used array patterns to amplify the natural gravity of the world, pressing on the body and restricting the movements of martial artists. Therefore, cultivating the Two Instruments Step was the best choice.

Lin Tian took a deep breath and began to move according to the principles of the Two Instruments Step. This step technique was extremely mysterious. According to the information in his mind, this technique could initially grant the practitioner speed beyond that of ordinary people, and when cultivated to the extreme, it was incredibly powerful, allowing one to cross vast distances with a single step, truly the ultimate speed of the world.

"Ouch!"

As he moved the Two Instruments Step, Lin Tian felt his body becoming increasingly painful, making him wince. This made him realize that even in the double gravity zone, he was already in such discomfort. If he were to enter the triple gravity zone now, he might really not be able to bear it.

By this time, half an hour had passed since the first team entered the Heavy Wave Formation. Except for Lin Tian, all the others in the first team had already left the formation. Lin Tian was not at all concerned about this. His expression was calm, his gaze determined, and he continued to cultivate the Two Instruments Step in this area.

As he moved, Lin Tian soon saw a red mark, which spread in a 360-degree circle on the ground, making his heart stir: "The area inside this mark should be the triple gravity zone, right?"

After some thought, Lin Tian approached slightly and tried to extend his right hand into the red mark.

Instantly, a sharp pain came, as if his right hand had been cut off by a large blade.

Lin Tian was greatly alarmed, and his face changed.

He stomped his feet hard on the ground and immediately retreated a yard.

His right hand hung slightly, a burning and stabbing sensation came, and then Lin Tian felt his entire right arm go numb, as if it had lost all sensation.

"Too terrifying!"

Lin Tian felt a chill, finally understanding what Luo Xiao had warned them about. It was not at all exaggerated. Just extending one arm into the triple gravity zone made him so uncomfortable, and if he were to enter the entire body, he might really be crushed.

"For now, I'll cultivate in the double gravity zone. Once I adapt to it, I'll go to the triple gravity zone."

Lin Tian thought to himself.

He rubbed his slightly numb right arm, and after a few breaths, Lin Tian moved again, enduring the intense pain brought by the double gravity while stepping the Two Instruments Step in a loop.