My Daily Cultivation Life with a Clumsy Female Disciple

When Li Shiyin and Chasing the Wind found Qin Ran outside the Dao Sword Sect, he was standing on the ground, using the most primitive thumb measurement method to measure various positions of the formation.

"Master!" Li Shiyin landed beside him and called out softly.

Chasing the Wind, seeing Qin Ran covered in mud, asked, "Wow! Dad, have you been rolling in the mud too?"

Qin Ran turned to look at him and asked calmly, "After teaching you formations for five years, how well have you learned?"

"Achoo..." Chasing the Wind sneezed upon hearing this, looking away casually and mumbling, "I learned pretty well."

"I studied formations for five years and mastered the basics. With formation diagrams, I can easily dismantle basic formations and formation patterns, and setting up formations is even easier," Qin Ran said. "Now you've also studied formations for five years. I want to see exactly how well you've learned."

Like a student who had slacked off all year and suddenly heard about an evaluation test, Chasing the Wind panicked. He turned back with a forced smile and asked, "Dad, can we not be so serious?"

Ignoring him, Qin Ran looked at Li Shiyin and asked, "Is this the best you could find?"

"I found Senior Brother Dong Zhongyuan. He's very familiar with Qi Peak and has already gone there to find people. They should be here soon," Li Shiyin replied.

She glanced at Chasing the Wind, who was hanging his head low. Knowing he had no chance, he gradually shrank his body smaller, hoping Qin Ran wouldn't see him anymore. Meanwhile, he muttered to himself, "It's over, it's all over, Dad's serious this time, I'm dead, I'm so dead..."

"Hmm! Dong Zhongyuan does seem to know formations," Qin Ran nodded and instructed Li Shiyin, "Go get Wen Jin, Yao Qingke, Ye Qingxuan, Xiao Bufan, and Ximen Wushang. Also find a disciple with earth affinity and one with water affinity."

"What do you need them for?" Li Shiyin agreed while asking casually.

"Due to time constraints, we can't set up a complete formation, so I've changed my approach and plan to rely on cultivators for the formation. We need people to guard it. I've set up eight life gates, so we need eight sufficiently strong cultivators to guard them," Qin Ran replied.

Li Shiyin counted on her fingers and asked, "That's only seven, isn't it?"

Qin Ran looked at her beautiful face and asked, "What about you?"

"Oh... right!" Li Shiyin suddenly realized and flew back into the Dao Sword Sect.

Qin Ran looked at Chasing the Wind, who had now shrunk to the size of a small kitten. The tiny white cat was trembling, muttering formation-related phrases to himself.

Things like "wind wood fire thunder lake," "seeking dragon dividing gold watching mountain," "heaven thunder stirring earth fire..."

He was completely panicked.

"Come here!" Qin Ran called out, feeling quite helpless inside.

This startled Chasing the Wind, who stammered, "D-d-dad..."

"I said come here..." Qin Ran repeated.

The small cat shuffled towards him step by step, trying to negotiate, "Dad, look, how about you just beat me up? Just don't make me set up formations."

Qin Ran just stared at him without speaking.

"How about I skip dinner tonight?" The little cat compromised, "Just don't make me set up formations."

Qin Ran still remained silent.

"I can stay indoors for a month."

"I... I'll go into closed cultivation for half a year!"

"I... I... I don't want to set up formations!" The white kitten finally broke down and cried, "Dad! Please spare me! I don't know how to set up formations!"

When the small white cat shuffled to Qin Ran's side, Qin Ran lifted his foot and kicked him far away.

"You said it yourself, remember! A man must keep his word!"

Hearing this, Chasing the Wind immediately became jubilant, nodding repeatedly, "Yes, yes! I'll keep my word."

Qin Ran called him back again, told him to return to his normal size, and wanted to use him as transportation.

Getting beaten, being used as a mount - anything was fine as long as his homework wasn't being checked. Chasing the Wind was happy with that.

When Dong Zhongyuan led seven formation masters out of the Dao Sword Sect, they saw Chasing the Wind flying up and down with Qin Ran, helping him verify formations while smiling with tears in his eyes.

It was obvious - he'd been beaten and then consoled with candy, like a child.

"Uncle?" Dong Zhongyuan approached with the formation masters and bowed to Qin Ran, "What do you need us to do?"

Sitting on the white tiger's back, Qin Ran looked down at Dong Zhongyuan and asked, "Can you understand formation diagrams?"

"Of course," Dong Zhongyuan smiled.

That was no joke - his formation skills were among the best in the Dao Sword Sect.

As for the formation masters behind him, would they be worthy of his attention if they weren't at least decent? Their proud expressions showed they were offended that Qin Ran seemed to underestimate them.

However, when Qin Ran looked carefully at Dong Zhongyuan, he felt this handsome fellow's face always gave off a frivolous impression that wasn't very trustworthy.

But time was pressing, and he had no choice now.

"In that case, you eight people, perfect..." he said, taking out a thick stack of papers from his storage bag, and introduced to the eight people, "These are the formation diagrams. I've divided it into eight parts..."

"Wait!" Dong Zhongyuan's smile froze as he began to realize something was wrong. He pointed at the papers in Qin Ran's hand and asked with surprise, "Uncle, are these... formation diagrams?! Not formation books?"

Formation diagrams should be just one sheet, right? A diagram only shows formation patterns, bases, and focal points - how could there be so many pages?

Qin Ran sighed internally, he knew this would happen!

He explained, "This formation is designed to deal with Zhican Valley. I specifically took time to deduce it. It doesn't aim for power or precision, only to maximize space and defense..."

"Wait?!" Before he could finish, Dong Zhongyuan interrupted him again, staring with wide eyes as if he'd heard something impossible, "Un-uncle? This... this formation, you deduced it?"

He must have heard wrong.

Qin Ran put down the diagrams and asked Dong Zhongyuan seriously, "Do you actually understand formations?"

"Uh..." Dong Zhongyuan had thought formations were his secondary expertise and he understood them well, but now, given the direction of this conversation, he wasn't so sure anymore, "I suppose... I do?"

"Ah!" Qin Ran rubbed his temples, feeling mentally exhausted. Not wanting to say more, he divided the formation diagrams into eight parts and gestured for Dong Zhongyuan to help distribute them, saying, "This formation is built on the Eight Trigrams as its foundation, which will divide the area around the Dao Sword Sect into eight parts according to the trigram attributes. Based on your formation specialties, each of you will be responsible for one area."

Dong Zhongyuan skeptically accepted the diagrams and, after consulting with the other formation masters, distributed them one by one.

"I've already built the basic defensive framework of the formation. The fine details of formation pattern carving, I'll handle those," Qin Ran watched as they examined the diagrams and explained their tasks,

"What you need to do is perfect and amplify the corresponding attributes in your respective formation areas according to their properties.

"The outer perimeter of this formation focuses on defense, making it difficult for enemies to pass through; but the formation space will be centered around the cultivators guarding it.

"In other words, the formation space you're each responsible for should provide appropriate enhancement to the combat power of our fellow sect members stationed there.

"This is your primary task.

"Secondly, you need to handle the following aspects:

"Lay down space-time formation patterns to expand each area's space, making it easier for our fellow sect members to fight inside while dispersing enemy forces;

"Set up teleportation formation patterns to facilitate movement between areas, allowing us to concentrate our forces;

"Implement illusion formation patterns which can confuse enemies at appropriate times, helping our sect members fight or retreat;

"Place containment formation patterns to prevent enemies from breaking the formation from within."

"Uncle?" Dong Zhongyuan asked weakly, "Are you finished?"

Qin Ran looked at him with furrowed brows and asked, "What now?"

"Ahem..." Dong Zhongyuan looked back at his fellow excellent formation masters, seeing their bewildered expressions, and gathered his courage to say to Qin Ran, "Your requirements are a bit... complicated."

"I've given you all the formation diagrams, you just need to follow them to draw the patterns," Qin Ran said, confused. "Is it really that difficult?"

"Senior Uncle..." Dong Zhongyuan spoke with slight hesitation, "We... well, it seems we can't quite understand the formation diagram."

Qin Ran understood the issue and sighed, unable to hold back his words:

"None of you have studied formation patterns... When learning formations, didn't you ever try to break down the patterns? When setting up formations, weren't you curious about why certain patterns produced specific effects? Haven't you thought about the principles behind pattern combinations..."

These excellent formation masters looked at each other in confusion. Who would study such things when learning formations?

It's like considering how rice is grown, analyzing its composition, nutritional structure, and molecular basis when eating a meal.

Who would be that crazy?!

Qin Ran sighed, "I know human thinking tends to be lazy, but I never imagined none of you had thought about it deeply."

...Perhaps the problem wasn't with them, but with him.

Qin Ran explained to the group:

"The first few pages of the formation diagram show the detailed breakdown process, from patterns to basic formations to complete formations; the middle pages demonstrate the derivation process from patterns to formations; the last pages contain the complete formation diagram, effect illustrations, and explanations of the formation's intended purpose.

"What you probably need is the complete formation diagram... that page."

The eight excellent formation masters felt strange emotions stirring within them, quite complex feelings indeed.

They flipped through the diagrams in their hands until they found the complete formation diagram. Though still complex, it was at least comprehensible now.

"Now then, as I said earlier, set it up according to importance," Qin Ran was quite exasperated. If he wasn't at his limit, he really wouldn't want to deal with these... people.

For these formation masters, though it was still challenging - they had never tried breaking down a complete formation into smaller parts before - they didn't dare speak up seeing Qin Ran's obvious frustration.

"I'll be here the whole time. If you don't understand something, ask me directly," Qin Ran instructed finally. "I hope you understand the severity of the situation. Don't pretend to understand when you don't."

"Yes!" Dong Zhongyuan responded with the other uncertain formation masters, and they dispersed to their assigned areas.

"Father..." Chasing the Wind spoke up from beneath Qin Ran, "See? It's not that I'm stupid - formations are just too difficult. Even they don't understand."

Qin Ran gave him a smack, scolding, "You're just too lazy!"

Chasing the Wind felt wronged but didn't say anything more.

While Chasing the Wind wasn't good at using his brain, he had plenty of brute strength.

He carried Qin Ran up and down as they set up formations, flying back and forth in front of the Dao Sword Sect, showing no signs of fatigue.

His cat-like steps remained elegant throughout.

In the evening, Li Shiyin brought seven people out from the Dao Sword Sect, including Tian Wenjin, Yao Qingke, Ye Qingxuan, Xiao Bufan, and Ximen Wushang, along with two sect members Qin Ran didn't recognize.

Li Shiyin introduced them: "Master, this is Liu Tu from the main peak, an Earth Spirit Root cultivator at mid Golden Core stage; and this is Sun Yao from the Sword Peak, a Water Spirit Root cultivator at early Golden Core stage."

Qin Ran didn't say much else, just pointed to the formation being set up and told the eight people, including Li Shiyin:

"The formation being set up here is called the Divine Ghost Eight Trigrams Formation. Eight trigrams, eight positions, eight elements, eight directions, so it needs eight people as formation eyes to guard it.

"This formation will be set up with you eight as the main anchors. You'll guard the formation space as the Dao Sword Sect's first line of defense against Zhican Valley's invasion.

"Any questions?"

After what happened earlier, he didn't want to explain in detail anymore, just directly stated what they needed to do.

The cultivators who remained at the Dao Sword Sect were basically those who hadn't wanted to flee. Though they were somewhat reluctant to be the first line of defense, no one voiced any objections.

Besides, Li Shiyin was also part of the first line.

"Very well. Li Shiyin cultivates the Nine Revolutions Star Sword Technique, you'll guard the Qian position; Tian Wenjin, you have the Thunder Spirit Root, guard the Zhen position; Yao Qingke takes Dui; Xiao Bufan takes Li...

"You need to coordinate with these eight formation masters to set up the formation, and each of you can find ten Golden Core stage and twenty Foundation Building stage cultivators from the Dao Sword Sect to help guard the formation space." Qin Ran arranged with them.

Finally, he added: "Although you are the Dao Sword Sect's first line of defense, remember you are only the first line. When the time comes, use the formation as your primary means of combat. Remember, your lives are most important - preserve your fighting strength as much as possible for the battles to come."

He emphasized, "Fight primarily using the formation. If the formation breaks, retreat immediately. Fall back to the Guardian Mountain Formation, where others will be responsible for the second line of defense."

He swept his gaze across the faces of these fellow sect members, some friends and some foes, and finally asked: "Have I made myself clear?"

"Understood!" The eight nodded in unison.

"Now..." Qin Ran's gaze lingered on Li Shiyin's face, "Dismissed!"

Li Shiyin gave Qin Ran a silly grin, saluted and said loudly: "Yes! Master!!"

She then secretly transmitted: "Master, don't worry, Shiyin is the strongest! Watch Shiyin's performance!"

Qin Ran hardened his heart and nodded expressionlessly.

"Please... please... don't let anything happen!" he prayed silently.

Time's passage is actually constant, but psychological time varies greatly for different people.

For those constructing the Dao Sword Sect's first line of defense, two days seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.

They had barely finished setting up the formation's basic framework, arranged the formation elements and spaces, and hadn't even set up the transportation formations when the enemy arrived!

At noon that day, outside the Dao Sword Sect, a dark mass of black clouds suddenly appeared in the distance, gradually drifting closer, overshadowing the sect.

It blocked out the sky and sun.

Qin Ran, as the chief formation engineer, was riding his white tiger directing several formation masters when he turned to see that mass of cultivators more oppressive than the storm clouds.

A massive cloud ship slowly pressed forward, with over a thousand cultivators before and behind it.

Even for mortals, this would be considered a proper army.

But this was an army of cultivators, with Golden Core cultivators as common as dirt, nearly a thousand of them.

The pressure was almost physical, pressing down on people, threatening to crush them.

Throughout the Dao Sword Sect area, not a single shadow could be seen, not a sound could be heard. Even the mosquitoes in the forest didn't dare to fly; the earthworms deep underground didn't dare to breathe.

Seeing this, Qin Ran patted Chasing the Wind's head, and the tiger carried him forward to meet the army of cultivators, flying to the front of the Divine Ghost Eight Trigrams Formation.

One man and one tiger, facing thousands upon thousands of troops.