<h4>Chapter 45: -45- Tenfold Fifty Sickle Formation</h4>


    ''Roughly a 50% chance...'' Ss began to think. Should he try it, or should he wait?


    "I can see this is a tough decision for you, so while you are making up your mind, I will go ahead and give this gift to you," the old man said.


    ''What could it be?'' Ss wondered.


    The old man then began, "This isn''t something required by thete master, but in congrattions for reaching the Dao Domain at such a young age and low level of cultivation, I have decided to personally create a sickle formation for you... I have long since known of your powerful divine will, and this formation will help you take full advantage of it."


    "And while this formation isn''t the greatest formation in existence, it should be much better than anything you will be able to find for quite some time..."


    "Heh, this formation the old man made was simplified from an iparably profound formation, so this sickle formation should easilypare to the likes of Immortal Rank formations... Of course, in your hands, it won''t be as strong as it would be in an actual Immortal''s, but it will still be much more profound than anything you will likely be able to find in whatever sect or school you end up joining..." the small child added.


    The old man smiled slightly as he handed the small book to Ss.


    The title on the cover, written in elegant script, read [Tenfold Fifty Sickle Formation].


    Ss opened it carefully, his eyes scanning the first few lines.


    He had seenplex formations before, but this one felt different—its very structure seemed to hum with power and potential, designed specifically for him.


    "The Tenfold Fifty Sickle Formation..." the old man began. "Though this formation is based on controlling sickles, its true strengthes from your ability to merge your Daos into a deadly force. It can harness the power of all three of your Daos, allowing you to wield them simultaneously within the formation."


    Ss''s eyes widened as he understood the depth of the formation. It wasn''t just a weapon—it was an extension of his path, of everything he had learned and mastered so far.


    The old man continued, "This formation is divided into ten levels, each level growing inplexity and power. It begins with fifty sickles, the simplest form of the formation. With each level, you will control fifty additional sickles, culminating at the tenth level with five hundred sickles moving in perfect harmony."


    Ss ran his fingers over the pages, feeling the power in the diagrams and instructions within the book. "And each level adds more sickles?" he asked, intrigued by how the formation would evolve as he advanced.


    The old man nodded. "Yes, at the first level, you control fifty sickles. This is the base level of the formation, where you can begin to weave your Dao of Crumbling into each strike, causing everything the sickles touch to decay and fall apart. The beauty of the formation, however, lies in its versatility. At this stage, you can also integrate your Lesser Dao of Rot to further erode the life force of anything caught in its path, or your Lesser Dao of Cleaving for sharp, precision strikes that can tear through the toughest defenses."


    Ss could already imagine the devastation thisbination of Daos could cause. Each sickle, infused with the destructive essence of his Crumbling, Rot, and Cleaving, would be far more than just a weapon—it would be a force of nature, capable of tearing down anything in its path.


    The small child grinned from the side, clearly excited. "And the best part? As your divine will and Qi quality strengthen, so does your ability to control more sickles. The second level of the formation will allow you tomand a hundred sickles. The sickles don''t just act individually either—they move as a single, cohesive unit, like an unstoppable swarm of des."


    The old man smiled slightly, but his tone grew serious. "At the third level, you will control one hundred fifty sickles. By this point, the formation bes more than just a coordinated attack. The sickles will begin to weave in patterns, creating a vortex of destruction that can surround and trap your enemies. Your Dao of Rot will allow you to weaken them from within, while the Dao of Crumbling breaks down their defenses, and Cleaving delivers the killing blow."


    Ss''s heart quickened as he imagined the scene—the sickles flying in unison, each one imbued with the lethal essence of his three Daos. He could already feel the potential forplete domination on the battlefield.


    The old man continued, "The formation''s true strength, however, lies in its higher levels. By the fifth level, you''ll be able to control two hundred fifty sickles. At this stage, the formation bes aplete force of destruction, capable of dismantling entire armies. The synergy between Crumbling, Rot, and Cleaving will be unparalleled. Crumbling will wear down even the toughest barriers, Rot will drain the vitality of any living being caught within, and Cleaving will slice through whatever remains."


    The small child nodded, eyes wide with excitement. "And it only gets stronger! The sixth level? Three hundred sickles. By then, it''s not just an attack—it''s a battlefield. The sickles will move like a storm, cutting through everything. And the best part? It''s all powered by your divine will and your Daos. You''re basically a walking disaster waiting to happen."


    Ss smirked at the thought. This formation was more than he had ever imagined. The power tomand five hundred sickles at once, each one charged with the lethal force of three distinct Daos, was a level of destruction far beyond anything he had previously considered.


    The old man''s tone deepened as he exined the higher levels. "By the tenth and final level, you will control the full five hundred sickles. At this stage, the formation reaches its ultimate potential. The sickles will not only move with blinding speed and devastating power, but will be able to react to your thoughts almost instantaneously. At this level, the sickles be a near-autonomous force, adapting to the flow of battle as you focus on weaving the effects of your Daos into every strike."


    Ss''s pulse quickened at the sheer potential of this formation. Five hundred sickles, all acting with precision, flowing through the battlefield like an endless storm. "And this can be done with all three of my Daos?"


    "Indeed," the old man said, his eyes gleaming with approval. "The formation is designed to harness the power of each of your Lesser Daos. You can decide which Dao to emphasize depending on the situation. Crumbling for when you need to tear down defenses, Rot for draining life and energy, and Cleaving for quick, deadly strikes. The formation will enhance whichever Dao you choose to focus on, giving you unmatched versatility inbat."


    The small child crossed his arms, nodding. "You''ll be able to switch between Daos on the fly, too. One moment, you can focus on Crumbling to weaken an opponent''s defenses. The next, Rot will eat away at their vitality, and then Cleaving will finish them off. It''s the perfectbination for someone like you."


    The old man then said, "For you specifically, with your current insights, the best thing you can do is use 50% destruction-aligned sickles and 50% death-aligned sickles... So keep this in mind when you are selecting your sickles... While any type of sickle will work, having bnce will be most effective... I know currently you don''t even have fifty sickles, but you will with time..."


    "So, have you made up your mind? Will you challenge the second level of the battle hall or not?" the old man asked once again.


    "While you don''t even have enough sickles to use the first level of the Tenfold Fifty Sickle Formation, you do have your ''Ten Scythes of Requiem'' that canbine and form the ''Requiem Harvest Formation,''" the old man said.


    ''A 50% chance... If I''m worried about even facing this risk, how could I possibly face the many challenges and tribtions an Immortal must face?'' Ss thought.


    He then nodded his head, having made up his mind. "Yes, seniors, I''ll challenge the second level of the battle hall."


    "Good, very good..." the old man said. "While thete master preached patience and knowing one''s limits, the path an Immortal must walk is naturally one of struggle... You must be able to face unbeatable odds and stille out the other side."