Two days ago, Gang Zhao's lair,

Ashen was lying on a luxurious, humongous bed that he took out of his space ring, placed under the shade of a tree with luscious leaves.

His gaze fixed on the sky visible through the gaps of the leaves.

His mind constantly produced thoughts, helping him think:

I have a large army of tigers, but what would be the most efficient way to use them?

Origin realm and Core-formation realm tigers don't make much of a difference when the fight is between King realm spirit beasts.

Even though they can take down one or two king realm spirit beasts with their sheer number, that still won't be an efficient way to use them.

Moreover, the prince's side will have an equal or greater number of beasts.

The number game won't help in the Conqueror's Battlefield.

I can enslave more beasts like I did when I went to face Qin Feng, but...

If I do that, then the secret that I can enslave any beast and not just tigers would be exposed.

If that is exposed, someone might even deduce that it was me who controlled the Metal Claw Eagle King and Blue Lightning Bull to attack Fanrong's group.

Everything I have done till now will be wasted if that truth comes out.

Moreover, there are no more tiger kings left in this forest to enslave.

I would have enslaved them if there were more.

There is just one emperor realm tiger in the forest; however, enslaving it would be impossible at my current strength.

If I can just think of a method to make use of weaker beasts, then it would give me a huge advantage.

Sigh... He sat up straight and began contemplating.

At times like this, it is better to look for a solution step by step.

Don't burden your brain with too much at once.

Thinking this, he began recalling cultivation paths, visiting them one at a time to check if they could be the solution he was looking for.

Finishing the cultivation paths he could think of, he sighed in disappointment.

Sigh... the cultivation paths have some potential, but they can't be used in this situation.

Next,

Aren't there three arts?

As he thought of this, he suddenly burst into laughter:

"Hahaha. How could I not think of this sooner?" He was surprised by his own ignorance. "The answer was right in front of me. I have already learned one of these arts!"

"Formation—!" He muttered, getting on his feet. "That's the answer I was looking for!"

"I'm already a formation master because of the books I mastered in the Phoenix Feather Sect. I can make use of level-3 formations, but..." He paused with a grim expression.

"Level-3 formations cannot help in overturning a battle. I need at least a level-5 formation to trap a whole army."

He began to think of a solution for this new problem.

Should I ask the Shang Clan's formation master for help?

But there isn't any time left for me to wait for his reply.

The Zhuji tribe is an enslavement-path tribe, so they won't have any advanced books on formation arts.

Advanced formation arts books can only be bought in the Primordial Dragon Formation Society located in the capital.

What should I do?

At this moment, the system's message appeared as the message screen shimmered in the air before materializing.

[Ding! Host, You can raise your attainment in the formation arts at a small price of 2 million Villain Points. This mighty system can even suggest a formation that can help you in this situation.]

"Huh? But didn't you say before that I have to learn formation arts myself? You said you couldn't help."

Ashen remembered the system's words clearly.

If the system could help him, then why would he go through the hassle of acquiring formation arts books?

The system, however, was ready with an answer.

[Ding! Host, the system was level 1 at that time. Also, you were dirt poor, not even having a million Villain Points. Even if the system offered to raise your attainment, you wouldn't be able to afford it.

Even though it was a bit hurtful, it was still the truth.

Ashen was convinced by the system's explanation.

Deciding to focus on the future, he made use of the opportunity presented to him by the system.

"System, leave raising my attainment for later. I need a formation that can trap the whole army of Prince Ming Han, rendering them unable to resist."

Ashen found 2 million Villain Points a bit ridiculous since he had become a formation master just by mastering the books for eleven thousand Villain Points.

If there was a cheaper option, why waste the precious points that could help him increase his cultivation and achieve his goals faster?

The system, adhering to his command, flashed the message with the usual voice:

[Ding! Host, this mighty system will show you suitable formations as per your request.]

[

'Image'

Price - 500,000 Villain points.

'Image'

Price - 500,000 Villain points.

'Image'

Price - 500,000 Villain points.

...

]

Multiple formation designs were presented by the system.

The system revealed the formation design first because even after seeing the design, Ashen wouldn't be able to make use of it without buying it.

The formation arts were not simply about laying the formation; they also needed a method to operate.

Where to channel qi to create which effect?

One couldn't control a formation without understanding this.

If Ashen's attainment was high, he may have been able to deduce the method to control the formations; however, since that was not the case, the system simply revealed the formation designs.

Ashen looked at them carefully, rejecting each, one by one.

What is this?

Why are they so complex?

Just laying one of these formations without any disturbance would take more than half a day.

How am I supposed to make use of these?

It isn't like the army of the prince would wait for me to lay the formation.

He instantly corrected his command to the system:

"System, these formations are too complex. Show me a simple formation that can be laid in a few minutes."

[Ding! Host, There is no existing formation that matches your requirements.

Would you like the system to create a formation just for your requirements?

Cost—2 million Villain Points only.]

Only?

So you won't help me unless you extort me of 2 million Villain points... Is that it??

Though Ashen was indignant, he decided to go with the only option he had in front of him.

If he decided to increase his attainment, he would only rise to a formation grandmaster level, being able to design formations only up to level 4.

It would require more than 2 million Villain points to get what he wanted with that choice. Moreover, it will take time to design a formation yourself.

"Alright. You win. Take the 2 million you want." Ashen said slightly indignantly.

[Ding! Thank you, Host, for believing in the system.]

-----------------------------------

(A/N - Thanks for reading. ^..^)