Chapter 42: A Masterstroke! Seizing the Power of Creation!
Chapter 42: A Masterstroke! Seizing the Power of Creation!
At the spot where the bluestone had fallen, a palm-sized yellow banner was embedded in the ground.
On the surface of the banner, countless lines intertwined in a pattern as intricate and obscure as a ghostly charm, forming a mysterious and complex array.
"Found it!" Chen Zhixing’s eyes lit up.
Now, all he needed to do was find a key node among the array lines etched on the banner and alter it to escape from the grand formation.
"Master, leave it to me," Qingzhi offered confidently. "I’ve traveled far and wide with the Sword God, and though I haven’t deeply studied arrays, I consider myself somewhat experienced."
Having followed Chen Zhixing for several days, she wanted to prove her worth.
"Alright." Chen Zhixing nodded casually, then turned his gaze back to the array pattern.
Within the void of the Immortal Sword Qingzhi, the sword spirit Qingzhi examined the array intently.
Her mind recalled the Sword God’s teachings on arrays.
"An array consists of three parts: the banner, the lines, and the diagram."
"To set up an array, first find a medium to serve as the banner, then draw the lines on it, connecting various nodes to form a diagram."
"Finally, infuse it with spiritual energy to activate it."
Muttering to herself, the sword spirit Qingzhi’s eyes scanned the diagram.
"The Dao manifests in fifty ways, but only forty-nine are revealed."
"The missing one is the key to survival."
"There’s always a way out; nothing is without flaw."
"Arrays are no exception."
"But where is this array’s flaw?"
Time passed slowly.
Staring at the densely packed lines on the diagram, the sword spirit Qingzhi felt more and more overwhelmed, as if she were reading an incomprehensible script.
"Master, give me a little more time. I’m sure I can figure it out. Trust me," she said awkwardly, but before she could finish her sentence—
"Huh?!"
Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed Chen Zhixing, who had been casually observing the banner, bend down and reach out to press one of the array nodes on it.
"Master, don’t be reckless! This could alert the array and trigger a backlash!" Qingzhi panicked.
Before her words were even finished, a faint light glowed at Chen Zhixing’s fingertip as he pressed the node.
Crack.
In an instant, the entire array began to move.
The space before Chen Zhixing twisted, and an invisible door slowly opened in the void, creating a passage out of the grand formation.
"It worked." Chen Zhixing stood up, muttering with some relief, "Good thing I read a few basic books on arrays when I was younger."
". . . ?"
The sword spirit Qingzhi was so stunned that her mouth could have swallowed an egg whole.
It worked?
Just like that?
She stared at Chen Zhixing with a dumbfounded expression. A grandmaster’s array had been so easily deciphered?
And just because he had read a few basic books on arrays as a child?
Ridiculous!
"What’s wrong?" Chen Zhixing noticed her reaction and asked curiously.
". . . Nothing, I just need some time alone," Qingzhi replied, feeling utterly defeated.
She couldn’t help but feel tears welling up inside, for the first time realizing how insignificant she, a once-proud sword spirit, had become.
"Let’s go." Chen Zhixing chuckled, not overthinking it, and stepped out of the grand formation.
After his departure, the invisible door slowly closed, as if nothing had ever happened.
Meanwhile, in the northernmost part of the Eastern Mystic Region.
The Tianshan Mountains.
This region was perpetually snowy, cold, and frozen.
Everywhere one looked, towering, icy peaks stretched into the sky, a place even birds could scarcely traverse.
Together with the Frozen Highlands, this area was known as one of the forbidden zones of the Eastern Mystic Region.
The Frozen Highlands was a forbidden zone due to the presence of Snow Maiden.
Tianshan, on the other hand, was forbidden because it was home to one of the three immortal sects, the Heavenly Saint Palace!
The Heavenly Saint Palace comprised three palaces, nine towers, and seventy-two halls.
At this moment, in the Wisdom Hall, where Elder Huixin resided, there was an unusual buzz of activity.
"You’re telling me someone found a way to perfect the Burning Sky Technique just by looking at it once?"
An old crone with frosty white hair, hunched over and dressed in ragged clothes, looked at Mo Qingyue with suspicion.
She considered herself one of the top scholars of spellcraft, if not the strongest. It wasn’t impossible for someone to perfect her spell, but to do so after just one glance?
She simply couldn’t believe it!
"Yes, and he even found a new approach to improve it," replied Mo Qingyue, now returned to her original stunning appearance, with a slight smile.
"Hmph, meddling with my spell is like adding legs to a snake!" Elder Huixin snorted coldly.
"Show me the guide. I want to see what this so-called improvement is," she demanded, extending her hand dismissively.
Mo Qingyue smiled and shook her head. "Not so fast. Remember our deal? If I found someone to perfect the Burning Sky Technique, you owe me a favor."
"Fine, fine. You crafty girl, always trying to outwit this old woman," Elder Huixin said, giving in.
Hearing this, Mo Qingyue smiled warmly.
She then flipped her right hand, and the guide diagram that Chen Zhixing had drawn appeared in her palm.
Elder Huixin took the guide without much thought and glanced down at it.
"This drawing . . . What a mess. It’s ugly and sloppy."
With just one look, Elder Huixin frowned.
The diagram was drawn with such carelessness that it lacked any of the neatness she was accustomed to. If it weren’t for Mo Qingyue’s serious demeanor, she would have tossed it away immediately.
Even so, Elder Huixin forced herself to focus on the guide.
As she studied it, the initial disdain on her face gradually faded.
Her expression turned serious.
"How is it, Elder Huixin?" Mo Qingyue asked with a slight smile.
"There’s something to it, but not much. I’ll tell you later after I finish looking at it," Elder Huixin replied, reluctantly admitting as she continued to study the diagram.
The more she looked, the more serious her expression became, her breathing growing heavier.
She continued to study, her seriousness turning into fascination, her eyes widening with a glint of discovery.
Moments later, it was as if she was completely absorbed in the diagram, oblivious to the outside world. Her hands trembled, and she occasionally let out exclamations of astonishment.
"So, the Shaoshang point was indeed problematic?"
"Changing the Shaoshang to the Qichong point? And it actually works like this?"
"Unbelievable, truly unbelievable!"
"Replacing this node with such boldness?"
"Combining the guides of extreme yin and extreme yang into a single divine technique?"
"Hiss—Switching the Taiyi point with the Lingxu point? How did I not think of that?"
"This is genius!"
"This actually works? I can’t comprehend it!"
"Brilliant, simply brilliant!"
"My heavens, how did they think to replace the Yangchi point with the Qinglengyuan point?"
An entire hour passed.
Elder Huixin alternated between deep contemplation, enthusiastic praise, and gasping in amazement, her face full of shock.
When even Mo Qingyue started to feel a bit uneasy, Elder Huixin finally finished examining the guide and looked up at her.
By then, her eyes were bloodshot, and her face was flushed with excitement.
"Your Highness, this is a masterpiece! A work of unparalleled brilliance, seizing the very essence of creation itself!"
Elder Huixin’s voice trembled with undisguised awe as she spoke, her face glowing with excitement at her newfound treasure.