Whenever a formation transforms, there must be life and death, strength and weakness. This is not because those who guard the formation are merciful at heart, but because the Heavenly Mechanism dictates it so. Without special means, the arrangement must follow these patterns for the array to take shape. The Four Symbols Formation is no exception.
Thus, every ferocious array operates by making the formation continuously shift and transform, striving to completely obscure the thread of life within it. The more it changes and the faster it operates, the harder it becomes to break the array.
The reason True Master Meng said that this Four Symbols Formation is not overly difficult is that it has fewer than a hundred variations. In other words, there are only nearly a hundred smaller formations rotating and overlapping within it. As long as you find the gate with the most vibrant thread of life during each variation, you can pass through safely.
However, this approach has its pros and cons. The gate with the strongest thread of life is always the one most heavily guarded by the formation’s keeper. Although its power cannot be further increased, it adds numerous complexities to the path, making it the most intricate of all the gates. A single careless step could easily lead to a mistake.
Zhang Yan also noticed that while this path seemed the safest, just after a few steps, ferocious beasts and evil demons formed by the formation’s Evil Qi would surge forward. Even if they couldn’t harm him, they could still delay his progress. By this calculation, even if he encountered no resistance at all, it would take him over an hour to reach the array corner.
As he contemplated whether to switch to another gate, a swarm of ferocious beasts suddenly leaped out ahead. With a single thought, sixteen streaks of sword light slashed forward, annihilating them all in just a short moment.
Yet this time, he sensed something unusual.
The Daoist cultivation of these beasts had grown stronger, nearing the Ming Qi First Realm.
He furrowed his brow slightly. Could it be because he was delving deeper into the formation?
No, that’s not it! He immediately dismissed this possibility. Even if that were the case, such a change should be gradual, not this abrupt.
Upon further reflection, the only explanation was that among the three Hua Dan cultivators, one of them had already perished within the formation.
The Evil Qi within the array is finite. If there are many disciples entering the formation, it will distribute itself among them, making the breakthrough process easier.
If he were the only one left, even along the gate with the most vibrant thread of life, the Daoist cultivation of each ferocious beast would elevate to nearly the Xuan Guang Realm, and he would slow down more and more as he progressed.
Once noon passes, even if he survived, the formation’s operator’s Qi Mechanism would flow more smoothly, and the array’s operation would become much faster. At that point, the formation’s power would only increase, making it even more difficult to break through.
Having reached this realization, his expression turned stern. He could no longer follow the methodical path; he would need to charge recklessly through another gate. He had to reach the northern array corner before all three Hua Dan cultivators fell.
While Zhang Yan was deep in thought, his movements slowed slightly. The talisman guiding him flitted farther ahead and soon disappeared from sight.
He was not rushed, however. From his sleeve, he retrieved the Star Positioning Plate bestowed upon him by True Master Meng. Infusing his mana into it, the plate began to evolve, revealing the Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches. Not only did it display the number of steps he had taken within the formation, but it also showed the directions he needed to change.
If a disciple in the formation had knowledge of arrays, even without the talisman, they could continue forward relying on this artifact.
He calculated for a while, and moments later, his eyes gleamed as he took a diagonal step forward.
It was as though he had entered another world. The surrounding scenery instantly changed, no longer bleak and obscure but dazzlingly bright, with countless streams of golden light pouring down like torrential rain from above.
Looking up, he realized it wasn’t rain but rather an uncountable number of sword energies cascading downward. Anyone entering this area without protective measures would be shredded to pieces in less than an instant.
Zhang Yan let out a mighty shout. A surge of Golden Fire Mysterious Light burst forth from the top of his head, forming a multi-colored cloud over thirty feet wide above him. Regardless of how the Gold Qi descended, it was swept away and refined into the purest spiritual energy.
At this moment, the Mountain and River Qi Map within his sleeve bag quivered slightly. A child emerged from it, bowed, and asked, "Master, may I gather this spiritual energy?"
Zhang Yan asked curiously, "Zhang Ju, for what purpose do you need this spiritual energy?"
With utmost respect, the child replied, "This energy is formed by the primordial Qi of several great cultivators, further purified through the array’s transformations. It is incredibly pristine, whether used to nourish Dharma Treasures or stored for future use—it is immensely beneficial."
Zhang Yan laughed heartily and said, "In that case, take it all."
The child’s face lit up with joy. With a wave of his hand, he summoned the Mountain and River Map from the sleeve bag. As soon as the Dharma Treasure revealed its true form, it unfolded into a scroll over a hundred feet long, absorbing all the dispersed spiritual energy around them.
Just then, a twitch stirred between Zhang Yan’s brows. The black glow that had remained dormant since he entered the formation suddenly became active. A black-robed, white-haired elder stepped out from it. He glared at the child and shouted, "Mountain and River Child, do you still recognize me?"
The child was startled and exclaimed, "You, aren’t you..."
The elder chuckled coldly and said, "It seems you haven’t forgotten me after all."
The child stammered in astonishment, "Weren’t you captured by a Daoist from the Mingcang Sect? How are you now here by my master’s side?"
The elder burst into laughter and said, "I am freer than you now. After that Daoist ascended into the heavens, I became unclaimed. Recently, someone sought me out with a request, so I’ve borrowed the body of your master for a time to handle a matter."
The child appeared somewhat wary of the elder, unsure of his intentions and not daring to respond casually.
The elder turned to Zhang Yan and said, "Zhang Yan, I know of your plans with Qin Mobai. I am here on his behalf to assist you, but I have my own karma to settle, and I need your help. If you agree, I will repay you in kind. You won’t have to waste your efforts setting up the aftermath—I’ll take care of it for you. What do you say?"
From the conversation between the two, Zhang Yan discerned that this elder was likely the True Spirit of a powerful Dharma Treasure and seemed to have strong ties to the Mingcang Sect. As for karma and similar matters, Zhang Yan never gave them much thought—he could eliminate them one by one once his cultivation reached a higher level.
Without hesitation, he nodded and said, "I agree."
The elder was overjoyed and said, "Good! Zhang Yan, your straightforwardness suits me well. Once we break the formation, just act according to my instructions, and I guarantee no one will trouble you afterward!"
...(To be continued. If you work, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)