4: Go deep into the Black Wind Valley and experience the formation for the first time

Outside Blackwind Valley, beneath the old tree where Lin Gou was permanently stuck at the resurrection point.

Space twisted like boiling water.

Lin Gou's figure materialized out of thin air, perfectly intact, not even a wrinkle on his clothes.

He greedily inhaled a deep breath of fresh air; the suffocating sensation of instant death felt like a delusion from the last century.

"An S-rank death evaluation, even the air is sweet!"

Lin Gou impatiently closed his eyes to review his gains.

Within his Dantian, his Spiritual Qi was no longer a stream but a surging river, more than twice as powerful!

Qi Refining Stage 5 Early Stage!

His Foundation was as stable as a millennium-old turtle!

Warm currents surged through his limbs and bones; the Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art's second revolution automatically activated, and his Physical Body strength soared.

But these were just appetizers.

The real surprise came from the depths of his Soul!

A profound realization exploded within him; he felt as if he had established a mysterious connection with some existence between heaven and earth.

Divine Ability — Elemental Affinity (Fire)!

At this moment, Lin Gou felt like the King of Flames.

The restless Fire Spiritual Qi in the air rushed towards him, cheering as if they had met their long-lost father, affectionately rubbing against his Soul.

"Fire Elemental Affinity..."

Lin Gou's lips curved into an insane grin, almost reaching his ears.

A bold and exciting thought arose in his mind.

"If I play with fire and burn myself now, won't the rewards double?!"

This thought made him feel hot all over, an unbearable itch in his heart.

Without hesitation, he pulled out the scorching Blazing Flame Fruit from his System warehouse and popped it into his mouth without even looking.

Boom!

A pure Fire Dragon roared and exploded within his abdomen.

Before, this power would have been enough to burst him ten times over.

But now, under the calming influence of his 'Elemental Affinity' talent, the rampant Fire Dragon instantly transformed into a docile husky, allowing him to absorb it perfectly.

His Qi Refining Stage 5 Early Stage cultivation visibly surged up another notch!

"Awesome!"

Lin Gou carefully put away the treasures from his S-rank reward, his gaze burning as he looked towards Blackwind Valley again.

Having tasted the S-rank full feast, who would still care about those meager rewards?

"Ordinary Yao Beasts, the death-to-reward ratio is too low!"

"To continue enjoying big meals, I must play with my heart rate in creative ways!"

Lin Gou's mental abacus clicked loudly.

The Sect Jade Slip mentioned that besides Yao Beasts, Blackwind Valley also contained a large number of ancient abandoned Formations and Restrictions.

To others, those were death traps.

To Lin Gou, they were treasure troves, clearly marked and waiting for his 'visitation'!

"Formation Knowledge Fragments... sounds much more prestigious than strength pills!"

With his plan set, Lin Gou pushed his Aura Concealment Technique and Swift Wind Steps to their limits.

He transformed into a ghost-like shadow, stealthily moving close to the ground, and re-entered the valley.

With his Qi Refining Stage 5 cultivation and top-tier movement technique, the outer Yao Beasts couldn't even catch a whiff of him.

He headed straight for the abnormal Spiritual Qi area described in the Jade Slip.

Half an hour later, he stopped before a pile of chaotic rocks.

The arrangement of these stones, though seemingly random, made his skin tingle.

The flow of air here also seemed to have fallen into a mire.

"Something's here!"

Lin Gou's eyes gleamed.

But he didn't act rashly.

The System wouldn't give a high evaluation for a reckless man's death.

He had to act, to perform with technical skill, to show the unseen System!

Lin Gou paced around the chaotic rock pile, sometimes frowning deeply, sometimes making calculations with his fingers, muttering to himself, looking like a Formation Great Master who had encountered a millennium-old problem.

His inner monologue, however, was: "From which angle should I charge in to die in a cooler posture? Can I get a 360-degree Thomas flair-style sudden death?"

Once his act was sufficient, he picked up a stone and threw it in.

Buzz!

A pale yellow light curtain rose from the ground, runes flowing, an oppressive Aura washing over him.

"It's you!"

A flash of ecstasy crossed Lin Gou's eyes, but his face wore a calm expression of "I've seen through everything."

He first extended a finger and lightly touched the light curtain.

Hiss!

An electric arc bounced off, his fingertip tingling slightly.

【Ding! Host has been attacked by a damaged Earth-element illusory Formation, sustaining minor injuries.】

"Is that all?"

Lin Gou's heart settled, but his expression grew even more solemn, as if confronting a peerless Grand Formation.

He took a deep breath, adopted a Grandmaster's starting stance, and, facing a corner of the light curtain, bellowed like thunder.

"Break!"

The next second, he headbutted it.

He was gone instantly.

No, he felt as if he had crashed into a speeding mountain.

Boom!

The entire Grand Formation was completely detonated by his suicidal attack, earth-yellow light shooting into the sky.

The ground trembled, and dozens of sharp earth spikes, thicker than his own body, shot up from all directions, mercilessly impaling him like a human shish kebab.

Excruciating pain overwhelmed his consciousness.

【Ding! Host has died!】

【Death method: Forcibly breaking a damaged Formation with a unique 'Iron Head Skill', suffering backlash from the core energy of the Earth-element illusory Formation.】

【Comprehensive evaluation: B+ rank (includes active exploration, attempt to break, and exaggerated performance)!】

【Reward: Formation Knowledge Fragments x3 (Earth-element basics), minor cultivation increase, 'Formation Affinity' characteristic (weak).】

【Resurrection countdown: 42:18.】

In the familiar darkness, Lin Gou nodded with satisfaction.

"B+ is fine, knowledge and characteristics in hand, no loss!"

...Forty-two minutes later, beneath the old tree.

Lin Gou's figure reappeared.

He immediately felt the difference.

His mind now contained fragmented yet profound Earth-element Formation knowledge.

More importantly, that weak 'Formation Affinity' characteristic.

Now, he felt like a humanoid Formation radar, vaguely sensing abnormal energy nodes around him.

"A divine skill!"

Lin Gou was overjoyed and was about to re-enter the valley to find a new Formation to "exchange feelings" when his expression suddenly changed.

His "Formation radar" hadn't sounded.

But in the direction of the waterfall, a strong Spiritual Qi fluctuation and an almost inaudible cry for help were detected by him.

"Help me..."

The voice was clear, with a girl's unique timbre, yet permeated with despair.

Lin Gou raised an eyebrow.

"Something's happening?"

He immediately pushed his Aura Concealment Technique to its maximum, moving like a weightless falling leaf, silently approaching the waterfall.

Behind the roaring water curtain.

A young girl in a pale purple tight-fitting outfit was being tightly surrounded by three green-faced, fanged Swift Wind Demon Wolves.

The girl had a graceful figure, her sword light flowed like water, and her cultivation was surprisingly Qi Refining Stage 7.

Inner Sect Disciple!

Lin Gou's eyes lit up.

But at this moment, this high and mighty Senior Sister's pretty face was pale, sweat pouring down, and her Spiritual Qi circulation was visibly sluggish.

She was nearing her limit.

"Three Qi Refining Stage 6 Demon Wolves, ganging up on a Qi Refining Stage 7 Inner Sect Prodigy..."

"This... this is a fucking S-rank evaluation delivered right to my doorstep!"

Lin Gou's heart pounded "thump-thump," and his blood began to warm.

Risk?

Non-existent!

His biggest risk now was not dying spectacularly enough, not in a cool enough posture, leading to a low System evaluation!

Seeing the girl stumble, her guard wide open, forced by a Demon Wolf, the fatal fangs of the other two Demon Wolves were already at her neck!

"Now!"

Lin Gou's eyes flashed with brilliant light, and he burst out from behind the waterfall like a cannonball!

"Prodigy, dare not harm others!"

A furious roar, righteous and earth-shattering!

"Senior Sister, don't panic! I'm here to help you!"

Lin Gou held a broken iron sword, distributed in the beginner village, his face etched with tragic determination, carrying an epic Aura of "though tens of thousands oppose me, I shall go," and charged straight into the center of the battlefield.

Zhao Linger, the girl in purple, who was in despair and preparing to burn her vital blood, suddenly turned her head.

She saw it.

She saw a Junior Brother wearing the most ordinary Outer Sect clothes, with a cultivation of merely Qi Refining Stage 5, yet he was charging towards death like a meteor, without a trace of hesitation.

Was he... insane?

The Demon Wolf closest to Lin Gou was completely enraged by this ant's provocation, abandoning its nearby prey and transforming into a green lightning bolt, pouncing on this suicidal thing.

Lin Gou screamed with inner ecstasy: "Good! You're the one! My good boy!"

His face, however, showed a resolute expression of facing death like it was coming home, and he shouted with all his might to Zhao Linger: "Senior Sister, quick, leave! I'll hold it back!"

He even symbolically held the broken iron sword across his chest, attempting to block.

Crack!

The iron sword snapped in response, more brittle than paper.

The Demon Wolf's gleaming sharp claws landed squarely on his chest.

Pfft!

Lin Gou spat out a mouthful of hot blood, staining Zhao Linger's shocked vision.

His body flew backward like a broken sack, crashing heavily onto the cold rock.

In the last moment before his consciousness dissipated, he heard the most beautiful sound in his life.

【Ding! Host has died!】

【Death method: To save fellow Inner Sect female Disciple Zhao Linger, challenged a higher level, sacrificed heroically, successfully attracting crucial enemy firepower.】

【Comprehensive evaluation: A+ rank (includes heroic rescue, challenging a higher level, fearlessness in death, and a glorious curtain call in front of a key figure, and other highlight actions)!】

【Reward: One 'Heroic Flash' special gift package!】

【Package opening...】

【Congratulations to Host for obtaining: Minor increase in Charm, Zhao Linger's favorability +20!】

【Congratulations to Host for obtaining: Cultivation increase (Qi Refining Stage 5 Middle Stage → Qi Refining Stage 5 Perfection)!】

【Congratulations to Host for obtaining: Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art second revolution Perfection realization!】

【Congratulations to Host for obtaining: Healing sacred medicine 'Life-Creating Pill' (pseudo) x1!】

【Resurrection countdown: 29:58.】

Worth it!

So damn worth it!

Lin Gou, in the endless darkness, laughed like a 300-pound child.

Meanwhile, on the chaotic rock beach.

Zhao Linger was completely stunned.

That Outer Sect Junior Brother... just... died?

To save her?

A Junior Brother she didn't even know, used his meager cultivation and his life to block a fatal blow for her.

Blood stained the rocks beneath him, and it also seared her eyes.

On that ordinary face, there remained the last trace of his resolute charge towards her.

A colossal, indescribable emotion, like a mountain, violently struck her heart.

Shock, guilt, gratitude, and a hint of... intense heart palpitations that she herself couldn't understand.

"Junior Brother..."

Zhao Linger murmured, her voice hoarse, unlike her own.

She suddenly snapped back to reality, looking at the remaining Demon Wolves, a never-before-seen coldness and fierceness flashing in her eyes.

She absolutely could not squander the opportunity this Junior Brother had bought for her with his life!

Amidst her grief and indignation, a new power spontaneously arose within her Dantian, her Battle Intent unprecedentedly flourishing!

A moment later.

The battle ended.

Zhao Linger, leaning on her sword, covered in blood, stumbled to Lin Gou's "corpse."

Looking at the face that had died for her, her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and her eyes welled up.

"Thank you, Junior Brother... for saving my life."

She knelt down, her hands trembling, and picked up the half-broken sword, carefully wiping away the dust, and solemnly placed it into her Storage Pouch.

"I will remember you."

She gazed deeply, deeply at Lin Gou, as if to engrave that face into her Soul, before dragging her heavily injured body and turning to leave.

She did not see.

The moment she turned, the "corpse" lying in the pool of blood transformed into billions of specks of unseen starlight, and with a gust of wind, it dispersed.

Leaving no trace.