Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

While listening to Wu Tian explain the Immovable Mountain King Formation, the little girl glanced at Su Kai’s failure and chuckled softly, her look seeming to say, "Your skill is just so-so."

This expression greatly provoked Su Kai. What a joke! Am I being looked down on by a child? He felt he had to show the little girl how formidable he truly was. With sudden, solemn concentration, he cast aside all distracting thoughts and began to craft the Immovable Mountain King Formation. Creating a Formation required more than just a brush and ink; other materials were necessary as well. Through his efforts, one-tenth of the Immovable Vajra King Formation’s pattern appeared on his arm.

The little girl was shocked. Could it be that this adult is actually getting serious? She immediately turned to Wu Tian and said, "Dad, hurry up and explain! As a child, how can I possibly lose to an adult?"

Wu Tian was rendered speechless. What does she mean, ’as a child, how can I lose to an adult’? Isn’t it perfectly normal for a child to lose to an adult? He just smiled and quickened his pace, and finally, the little girl understood the Immovable Mountain King Formation.

It was a Seventh Grade Formation, generally used to stabilize mountains, roads, or seas. It could render mountains unshakeable, roads unwavering, and seas calm, protecting an entire region.

Once she understood, the little girl had a general idea of how to create it. After all, the steps were written out on every Array Master’s platform, though whether she could actually complete it was another matter entirely. "Mom, help me grind the ink! The Immovable Mountain King Formation requires talc powder and Great Bell Stone to be mixed into the ink."

Qin Yuhan nodded. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves before she began to grind the ink using an inkstone and an ink stick. An Array Master’s inkstone was at least as large as a cauldron; if it were as small as a scholar’s, how could it possibly grind hard formation stones into the ink? Consequently, the ink stick was also massive. There was no specific standard for the ink stick, however. It could be a weapon, or one could even use their hands.

After a moment’s thought, Wu Tian took out the Jade Rabbit Mortar and the Jade Rabbit Pestle. These two items were Supreme Treasures he had discovered in the Guanghan Palace while searching for the Heavenly Eye. On Earth, there was a famous poem:

> *When I was young, I did not know the moon,*

> *I called it a white jade plate.*

> *I thought it was a mirror from the Jade Terrace,*

> *Flying high among azure clouds.*

> *An Immortal dangles her two feet,*

> *How round the laurel trees grow.*

> *The white rabbit pounds medicine endlessly,*

> *I ask, for whom is this meal prepared?*

These were the very tools used by the Jade Rabbit of Chang’e to pound elixirs. Using them to grind ink now seemed perfectly appropriate in Wu Tian’s eyes.

Qin Yuhan took the Jade Rabbit Mortar and Jade Rabbit Pestle and poured in the Nine-Headed Lion Ink, adding the formation stones at the same time. The venue had already prepared the stones. The Array Master Guilds were immensely resourceful, so a few formation stones were of no consequence to them. The more Qin Yuhan ground the ink, the more skilled and swift she became.

The assistants grinding ink for Su Kai, Zhao Tian, Yang Ziwei, Little Snail, and Mountain Snake watched her with envy. Seeing how quickly she worked and how superior her tools were, their resentment grew. Why were their tools just ordinary large stones instead of Supreme Treasures? The old saying about comparisons being maddening had never felt so true.

***

The audience was unfamiliar with the tools of the trade, but anyone with eyes could see how special the implements in Qin Yuhan’s hands were. The Jade Rabbit Mortar and Jade Rabbit Pestle occasionally pulsed with a dazzling light. If those weren’t Supreme Treasures, what were they?

From the judges’ platform, Si’er watched the scene, her small fists clenched tightly. "This is a certain win."

Master Luo Tian nodded in agreement. Wu Tian could casually produce a Supreme Treasure; who knew how many more he possessed? With Wu Tian guiding her, the little girl undoubtedly had a chance to win.

"You’ve got to be kidding me." Su Peng couldn’t stand it any longer. Why should a child get to use such fine tools to create a Formation? He was unconvinced and jealous. Of course, he couldn’t say so outright, so he just chuckled. "The tools may be good, but what’s the use if the Array Master’s skill is lacking? An Array Master’s success ultimately depends on their own ability, not their tools."

Then, without anyone noticing, he slipped off his shoe and stomped his bare foot on the ground. A Fifth Grade Formation Pattern—the Great Earth Shaking Formation—was inscribed on the sole of his foot. Instantly, an invisible shockwave traveled through the ground, heading straight for the little girl’s station and aimed directly at Qin Yuhan.

Sensing the disturbance, Wu Tian snorted and activated his Earth Spirit Root, causing the vibrations under the ground to vanish completely.

What? From the judges’ platform, Su Peng froze.

Wu Tian was furious. He shot a warning glare at Su Peng. Just you wait. When this competition is over, I’m coming to end your pathetic life!

A shiver ran down Su Peng’s spine. Wu Tian’s eyes were as cold as ice, and for that moment, Su Peng felt as if he had been plunged into the depths of hell. Wu Tian withdrew his gaze after only a brief instant, but Su Peng was already drenched in a cold sweat.

"What’s wrong with you?" another judge, Big Conch, inquired.

"I..." Su Peng gasped for air, his face pale. He didn’t dare explain why.

***

By now, Qin Yuhan had finished preparing the ink. The little girl dipped her brush into it—this was the brush of the legendary Godly Brush Ma Liang. Though it wasn’t on the Heavenly Pen List, she felt it definitely deserved a spot in the top ten. After dipping the brush, she glanced at Wu Tian again.

He nodded. Without anyone else seeing, he had already added Divine Beast blood to the ink. The Formation Pattern drawn with this mixture would be invisible, which he knew would reassure the little girl that her aesthetic sensibilities wouldn’t be offended.

The little girl smiled and began to draw on the back of her own small foot. Traces of Spiritual Power gathered there, and the Formation Pattern began to glow with a faint, magical light.

The entire plaza fell silent as the spectators stared, dumbfounded. It looked like this child was going to be the first one to finish the Formation.

Su Kai and the others, still busy drawing their own patterns, noticed what was happening. They still needed more time to finish. But the little one? She’s already done? How is this possible? Are we adults really going to be outdone by a child?

At that moment, the little girl looked toward the judges’ platform and announced, "This Guild President has finished."

Her words made Su Kai and the others even more frantic. From the judges’ platform, Luo Tian saw this and nodded with a smile. "It seems we have our winner. I hereby declare that the champion of this friendly competition is—"

"Hold on." Big Conch and Sea Snake, also acting as judges, suddenly stood up, clearly holding a different opinion.

Luo Tian and Si’er both frowned slightly. Si’er was particularly annoyed. "Isn’t the result perfectly obvious?" she demanded.

"We haven’t checked if this Formation Pattern is functional yet," Big Conch said with a dry laugh.

Sea Snake added, "Besides, even if it works, its power might be insufficient. Completing it first doesn’t matter if it’s not powerful enough to qualify."

Su Peng also didn’t want the little girl to win, but the memory of Wu Tian’s gaze terrified him into silence.

Big Conch and Sea Snake exchanged a look, then left the judges’ platform to inspect whether the little girl’s Formation Pattern was up to standard.

Wu Tian stood there quietly. An inspection was not unreasonable, but if they started spouting nonsense, then...