BOOK 2: CHAPTER 422: METHOD TO BREAK THE FORMATION, LEAVING TRACES LIKE A PASSING GOOSE

Vol 2 Chapter 422: Method to Break the Formation, Leaving Traces Like a Passing Goose

Finding the Heavenly River relics was not easy.

“While passing through the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation earlier, I was observing it,” the Heavenly Emperor body explained to everyone in the Formation Laboratory of the Black Tortoise Dormitory. “I found that the talisman diagrams in the sword formation are seventy percent identical to those in the Trapping Immortal Sword.”

Senior Sister Zhang said, “That’s normal. The Trapping Immortal Sword and the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation originate from the same source.”

Xie Qingxue listened nearby and was puzzled, “What use is that?”

“Currently, what blocks me from entering the Myriad Swords Realm are actually the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram and the Life and Death Register,” the Heavenly Emperor body explained. “These two treasures should have inherent spatial divine abilities.”

“Right now, it seems the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor wants to combine the spatial power of the Life and Death Register with the Heavenly River Sect to create a kind of underworld, which isn’t much of an issue.”

“The problem lies with the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram. It blocks the underworld from the outside world and restricts my movements.”

Xie Qingxue suddenly understood, “The Myriad Swords Realm is... quite far from the City of the Wrongfully Dead.”

“So if I want to find the Heavenly River relics, I must break free from the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram’s restrictions.”

In simple terms, the Myriad Swords Realm is not in the underworld. Zheng Fa wants to leave the underworld, so he must escape the blockade of the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation.

Put plainly, the formation diagram must be broken.

Xie Qingxue finally understood but then seemed as if she hadn’t, pointing to herself with a dazed expression: “Us? Break the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram?”

She looked down at Lady Nishang and others broadcasting live on the Tongjian device.

If the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram were so easy to break, what about the four True Immortals who were trapped in the formation before, calling for heaven in vain?

“They just lacked education.”

The Heavenly Emperor body joked.

He could tell that Senior Sister Zhang and the others were weighed down with pressure—Lu Mo’s threat was enormous.

After all, Lu Mo was not only profoundly cultivated but had also caused great trouble for the Heavenly River Sect and the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor. He was no easy opponent.

Now, with him as the imagined enemy, Zheng Fa had little confidence, only hoping the Heavenly River Venerable would lend more support.

Fortunately, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor was holding firm.

He glanced at the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor on the live stream, who had his eyes closed and brows tightly furrowed, clearly on the defensive. The Buddha light on him hadn’t increased much.

No matter how scheming Lu Mo was, given his current cultivation, refining the Life and Death Register—a treasure at the Golden Immortal level—was no easy feat.

Moreover, the Nine Nether Demon Ancestor, as the “spirit of the artifact,” hated Lu Mo to death.

This made it even harder for Lu Mo to refine the Life and Death Register, buying Zheng Fa and the others some time.

Xie Qingxue’s lips twitched slightly as the Heavenly Emperor body continued, “After all, they don’t understand the Trapping Immortal Sword like we do. Nor do they have the Function Talisman Diagram Theory.” ŕά₦O͍฿Ɛ𝘚

“Function Talisman Diagram Theory?” Senior Sister Zhang interrupted, “You think the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation fits this theory?”

The Heavenly Emperor body nodded, “When I was inside that spiritual energy cage, I noticed the talisman diagrams’ structure. Analyzing them with the Function Talisman Diagram Theory, they show some recursive characteristics.”

“So that’s why you couldn’t get out?” Senior Sister Zhang began to understand. “What kind of talisman diagrams are there?”

The Heavenly Emperor body drew countless talisman diagrams in the air. Senior Sister Zhang quickly furrowed her brows, studying them carefully.

Xie Qingxue listened bewildered. The Heavenly Emperor body glanced at her but said no more.

This was truly hard to explain.

If this were the modern world, Xie Qingxue, having played video games before, could understand if Zheng Fa used an analogy:

In reality, the Slaying Immortal Formation Diagram was like a maze game. In video games, the code manipulates pixels, but in the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation, the talisman diagrams manipulate the physical laws of Xuanwei, trapping Zheng Fa and the others.

Perhaps the talisman diagrams were even more complex than computer code, controlling more elements.

But the underlying idea wasn’t that different.

In the Jiushan Realm, probably only Senior Sister Zhang could understand such an analogy.

Senior Sister Zhang said, “You mean using the Trapping Immortal Sword to escape the sword formation?”

What she said exactly reflected Zheng Fa’s thoughts.

Parsing the sword formation was one thing.

Escaping it was difficult.

But Zheng Fa still had the Trapping Immortal Sword!

With his understanding of the talisman diagrams and the sword formation, combined with the connection between the Trapping Immortal Sword and the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation,

Zheng Fa was confident he could escape the Slaying Immortal Sword Formation and head to the Myriad Swords Realm.

The Heavenly Emperor body still had various matters in the Jiushan Realm to handle, so he did not stay long.

Senior Sister Zhang remained in the laboratory, analyzing, deducing, and calculating.

Xie Qingxue assisted beside her.

After all, she was most familiar with the Heavenly River Sect’s cultivation methods and well acquainted with the terrain, making her a valuable reference.

Half a month passed in a flash.

Senior Sister Zhang had never left the laboratory.

Being at the Nascent Soul stage, she didn’t need to eat or drink, but prolonged use of the Innate Eight Trigrams for deduction had paled her complexion.

The faint glow of spirit stones illuminated her face, making her skin look translucent and fragile, like delicate white jade glass.

Xie Qingxue knew that although Senior Sister Zhang didn’t say much, she was undoubtedly anxious and restless.

“Have you done the deduction?”

“Hm?”

“Even if we find the Patriarch’s relics, can we really stop Lu Mo from proving the Dao... What’s the chance of success?”

Senior Sister Zhang looked at her, fell silent for a long while, and finally said, “I haven’t calculated it.”

...

Senior Sister Zhang glanced again at the various talisman diagrams in the spirit stones before her, pondering deeply. She muttered a sentence that made Xie Qingxue surprised:

“The decisions made by my junior brother don’t need to be calculated.”

...

On another island in the Black Tortoise Dormitory, Zheng Fa’s younger sister Zheng Shan was curiously watching Xiao Yuying wandering about.

Zheng Shan was now at the Golden Core stage and theoretically could have her own small courtyard.

But she still lived with their mother—

She knew her brother was busy with many affairs and sometimes hard to take care of the household, so she simply stayed by their mother’s side.

Some matters, however, she couldn’t discuss with their mother as it would only add worries.

She was quite familiar with Xiao Yuying and couldn’t help but follow her when she saw her.

“Zheng Shan?”

Xiao Yuying looked surprised to see her approaching.

Her gaze was kind—

On one hand, Zheng Shan had attended her classes.

On the other, Zheng Shan was Zheng Fa’s sister, and since Xiao Yuying had a good relationship with Zheng Fa, she naturally treated his sister warmly.

Zheng Shan did not neglect her identity and respectfully greeted her before asking, “Teacher, what are you doing?”

“Me? Just looking around.” Xiao Yuying thought for a moment, then raised a jade cylinder in her hand and explained, “I want to record what I see and hear in the Jiushan Realm.”

“Record?”

Zheng Shan furrowed her delicate brows, as if not understanding.

Xiao Yuying smiled and asked in return, “Did you come to see me for something?”

“Nothing!” Zheng Shan instinctively replied but hesitated and then whispered, “Teacher Xiao, if that Lu Mo...”

Xiao Yuying suddenly realized.

The Nine Nether Demon Ancestor’s livestream was accessible to anyone with a Tongjian device.

Most disciples in the Jiushan Realm had one of these.

Combined with the presence of Jiushan News,

many disciples clearly understood the conflicts between the Hundred Immortals Alliance, Haori Mountain, and even Leiyin.

They naturally also knew that Lu Mo proving the Dao was not good news for the Hundred Immortals Alliance.

“Are you worried about this?”

Zheng Shan nodded, looking troubled. “I can’t show it in front of others, after all...”

“Because you are Zheng Fa’s sister, if you panic, it could affect the other disciples.”

Zheng Shan nodded fiercely and continued, “I dare not say much in front of Mother either.”

Xiao Yuying nodded gently, her gaze warm but the words she spoke were somewhat cold:

“I don’t know...”

“Don’t know?”

Seeing Zheng Shan’s face grow more fearful, Xiao Yuying understood that although she was at Golden Core, she hadn’t experienced much danger.

This was unavoidable.

No one in the Jiushan Realm wanted Zheng Shan to be in trouble outside.

This was of course a form of care for her.

But on the other hand, it was also a limitation—while other disciples could go to the Hundred Immortals Alliance or even the sea region, it was incredibly difficult for Zheng Shan to leave.

Compared to other disciples, Zheng Shan’s world was invisibly much smaller.

Xiao Yuying’s expression softened as she looked at Zheng Shan:

Zheng Shan seemed to understand the meaning but had never complained. In the end, she was determined to stay by her mother’s side.

Compared to the child who had just entered Jiushan University before, the current Zheng Shan seemed quietly mature.

“Lu Mo is a True Immortal, even a Golden Immortal. I’m still at Nascent Soul,” Xiao Yuying said calmly, “I obviously can’t guarantee if he will succeed.”

“But I know that the Sect Leader, Patriarch Zhang, and everyone in the Jiushan Realm are trying their best.”

Zheng Shan nodded slowly, but her eyes remained full of worry.

Xiao Yuying didn’t try to comfort her but added,

“Do you know? Since ancient times, countless sects and prodigies in Xuanwei have become just history.”

Zheng Shan turned to look at her, seemingly not understanding what she meant.

“Maybe it’s Lu Mo, or maybe other matters—we too may one day face insurmountable difficulties and enemies we cannot defeat.” Xiao Yuying handed the jade cylinder to Zheng Shan and smiled, “But we have always left behind many things.”

Zheng Shan understood, “So, Teacher, you want to record them?”

“Yes. Jiushan University, Jiushan Military Academy, even how ordinary people live in the Jiushan Realm, how the divine path operates here—I want to record it all.” Xiao Yuying explained, “This was established by your brother and is completely different from other parts of Xuanwei—a unique sect and world.”

“They deserve to be remembered.”

Zheng Shan nodded softly, her face inevitably showing some pride.

“So rest assured, even if it’s just for this reason,” Xiao Yuying added, “there will be many in the Jiushan Realm willing to fight to the end.”

“Mm!” Although Xiao Yuying’s words were quite pessimistic, for some reason Zheng Shan felt less anxious. She suddenly asked, “Teacher Xiao, are you willing too?”

Xiao Yuying glanced at her.

“I didn’t mean ‘teacher’... I mean, Teacher Xiao, you could go back to the sea region...” Zheng Shan blurted out awkwardly, “My brother would definitely persuade you...”

Xiao Yuying waved her hand, seemingly understanding Zheng Shan’s meaning.

“That’s why I want to record all this.”

“Huh?”

Zheng Shan didn’t understand the connection.

“If I record it, I’ll have no major regrets.”

...

“Zheng Fa, what are you looking at?”

In the modern nursing home, Old Man Bai curiously stood beside Zheng Fa and followed his gaze toward the spiritual fields in the mountains.

These were newly developed spirit fields, located in the area where Rainbow Mountain’s spiritual energy was strongest.

Since Zheng Fa reached Nascent Soul, he had developed many new spirit veins. Over the years in the modern world, many useful spiritual plants had been cultivated one after another.

Now, the nursing home had cultivated over thirty types of spiritual plants.

This spirit field was growing two of the latest discovered types, one of which was a kind of spiritual bamboo frequently used by Xuanwei cultivators to make talisman paper.

It was quite an astonishing surprise.

This spiritual bamboo had just been planted, barely sprouted from the soil, and was only as tall as the lower legs of Zheng Fa and the others.

Old Man Bai was puzzled because Zheng Fa kept staring at the newborn bamboo shoots for no apparent reason.

Zheng Fa didn’t answer, his mind wandering.

When he was with the Heavenly River Sect, his spirit was tense, and his thoughts were fully occupied with observing the situation and environment, leaving no time for idle thoughts.

Even as the Heavenly Emperor body in the Jiushan Realm, he was the steady anchor.

The danger of Lu Mo proving the Dao was well known throughout the Jiushan Realm, naturally causing tension within the sect.

He had to appear calm, even relaxed.

Only in the modern world did he have the luxury to daydream.

The bamboo shoots before him looked healthy, full of vitality.

The breeze blowing from the spirit fields carried a refreshing fragrance.

Behind the spirit field was a small agricultural research building, with young faces coming and going.

Because the cultivation of spiritual plants was progressing smoothly and yielding continuous results, hope for the future showed on their faces.

Everything was going well, just like the modern world, only just getting on track.

But time was running out.

Old Man Hou seemed to spot the two and walked out from the teaching building with a hearty laugh.

“Director!” he greeted.

“Old Hou, what good news?”

“Remember the spiritual wheat we cultivated before?” Old Man Hou explained, “Using that spiritual wheat as the parent, our wheat varieties have evolved. The yield is over thirty percent higher than before!”

Old Man Bai was startled, “That much!”

“Yes, and the environmental requirements have decreased somewhat.” Old Man Hou’s face flushed, unsure if it was from cultivation or excitement. “We calculated that if this is promoted widely, at least everyone in our country will have enough to eat.”

“Also, I heard there have been some breakthroughs on Teacher Tian’s side.”

Zheng Fa knew about this: “Teacher Tian has cultivated a new type of soybean.”

“Soybeans are great, soybeans are great!” Old Man Hou laughed so hard his eyes disappeared. “They’re good for humans and fill a big gap in animal husbandry.”

Soybean meal was the primary protein feed in animal husbandry, its importance undeniable.

“Give us ten more years! No, eight!” Old Man Hou pounded his chest and boasted a little, “Everyone will be a martial arts genius!”

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

When he first practiced martial arts, the trainer thought he was a genius—mainly because he ate and drank heartily in the modern world, making him much stronger than an ordinary farmer.

Now, with so many new varieties of staple foods and feeds, the whole population’s physical quality would improve significantly.

Zheng Fa glanced at Old Man Hou, who was dreaming about the future, and thought silently:

If the Heavenly River Venerable hadn’t left any countermeasures capable of reversing the situation, then no matter what, he would have to sever contact between the modern world and Xuanwei Realm.

Old Man Bai looked at Zheng Fa, then at Old Man Hou, deep in thought.

...

Night fell at the nursing home.

“Zheng Fa!”

Hearing the call, Zheng Fa opened the door and saw Tang Lingwu and Old Man Bai standing at the entrance together.

“What’s going on?”

“Come in and talk!” Old Man Bai barged into Zheng Fa’s room without fear of the famous Jiushan Sect Leader of Xuanwei.

Tang Lingwu also had a stern face, watching Old Man Bai’s domineering behavior.

The two sat on the sofa in the living room, their sharp gazes fixed on Zheng Fa as if holding a court session:

“Speak!”

Zheng Fa shook his head and smiled.

He couldn’t hide anything from Senior Sister Zhang in the Jiushan Realm, nor from these two here in the nursing home.