Master Yichuan, upon recognizing Fan Li, flushed red. "Ahem... My teacher, Guiguzi, is aware of your intentions," he announced. "The rules of Mount Yunmeng dictate that only Confucian cultivators may enter. Those who qualify, please follow me. The rest of your entourage, please wait outside the mountain."
Having said this, Yichuan turned and headed into the mountain.
Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia were about to follow when a woman with a graceful figure and veiled face emerged from the carriage behind Fan Li.
"What kind of important event is this? You actually brought a female companion? Are you trying to burden us?" Sage Ruler Jin De erupted in anger, but was met with a strange, scrutinizing look from Fan Li. "What? Am I wrong?"
"Isn't the Sage Ruler also a woman?" Fan Li's tone was odd. "Based on your words, Sage Ruler, are you looking down on yourself?"
"You!?" Jin De was furious and about to lash out when Yan Yuan stepped in front of Fan Li with a vigilant expression.
Following closely behind, Zhuge Liang, Zhou Yu, and Guo Jia also joined in, forming a human wall.
The message was clear: the relationship between the four kingdoms was closer than that with the Pure Land.
Sage Ruler Jin De gritted her teeth in frustration but could do nothing about it. She glared at Fan Li fiercely, then frowned at the woman before turning and heading up the mountain.
"Is she Sage Ruler Jin De? The legendary number one female Confucian cultivator?" Lu Fubao, her face hidden behind the veil, asked Fan Li in a low voice.
"Yes, Your Highness should be cautious of her," Fan Li replied softly.
Lu Fubao chuckled, "We're not in the palace now, you can call me Miss Lu to avoid revealing my identity."
Fan Li nodded. "Very well."
As they entered the mountain, Yichuan explained along the way, "Mount Yunmeng is divided into three sections.
The first section at the foot of the mountain is just an ordinary mountain path, without any formations or restrictions, completely safe.
When you reach the mountainside, you will encounter Mount Yunmeng's special formations, divided into the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. You must rely on your own abilities to pass through the Five Element Formation before you can continue upwards.
The summit of Mount Yunmeng is where my teacher, Guiguzi, cultivates in seclusion. However, before reaching the peak, there is still a secret formation, said to be set up by the first Guiguzi, which has existed for a thousand years.
If you cannot break the formation, you cannot reach the summit, let alone see my teacher's true appearance."
Hearing Yichuan's explanation, Sage Ruler Jin De felt displeased. How strong could this generation's Guiguzi be? At most, he was a Great Vehicle Realm Confucian cultivator, similar to herself, right?
Such arrogance was infuriating!
"As Guiguzi's disciple, do you know how to break the formation?" Jin De asked Zhuge Liang.
Zhuge Liang shook his head, "When I began my cultivation, our teacher would temporarily suspend the Five Element Formation, allowing us to climb to the mountainside and listen to his teachings transmitted from the summit. As for the summit of Mount Yunmeng, I have never been there."
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Jin De frowned. She then inquired with Zhou Yu and Guo Jia, but they gave the same answer.
"These men are useless! It seems I have to rely on myself to recruit Guiguzi," Sage Ruler Jin De muttered to herself. She didn't bother asking Fan Li, treating him as if he were invisible. His mere Foundation Building cultivation was simply beneath her notice.
Yichuan, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped. "Everyone, we have arrived at the first formation."
The mountain path ten yards ahead, even the entire Mount Yunmeng, was shrouded in a thick mist. As far as the eye could see, there was only a vast expanse of white mist, not even a single leaf visible.
"This is the Water Mist Labyrinth. Once you enter the formation, you will lose your sense of direction and be unable to distinguish east from west, north from south.
Please rely on your own abilities to find the way up the mountain. If you cannot, you will be forever trapped within the mist formation until your death."
After Master Yichuan finished speaking, Sage Ruler Jin De scoffed. "Is this the extent of Guiguzi's abilities?"
"With vision obstructed, ordinary people would be greatly affected, but how could it pose a challenge to cultivators?" Crown Prince Wanli also sneered.
The Water Mist Formation was just an ordinary small formation. Even if it enveloped the entire Mount Yunmeng, it only demonstrated Guiguzi's considerable cultivation level, not his ingenuity.
"There's something you don't know," Yichuan added. "Once you enter the Water Mist Labyrinth, every ten yards you travel, the world will spin, and your senses will be confused. Even cultivators, after experiencing this repeatedly, will completely lose their sense of direction."
Hearing Yichuan's explanation, Sage Ruler Jin De finally frowned.
Having to reorient themselves every ten yards was indeed troublesome. With her cultivation level, she could easily destroy the formation by force. However, the Pure Land had sincerely invited Guiguzi to come out of seclusion. If she didn't follow the rules and broke the formation, how could she gain his approval?
Yichuan also glanced at Fan Li with a smug look. Among this group, he had the weakest cultivation and would surely be the first to lose his way.
So what if he was the Duke Jin of the Great Chu? Getting lost in Mount Yunmeng and eventually starving to death would be a great joke!
Remembering his humiliation at the academy, Yichuan finally felt a sense of satisfaction at getting his revenge.
"Everyone, please enter the formation," he urged, fearing that Fan Li might back out.
"Duke Jin, let us travel together and avoid getting separated," Zhuge Liang suddenly said.
"Thank you," Fan Li nodded, understanding that Zhuge Liang intended to protect him.
As they entered the Water Mist Labyrinth, it felt like falling into a sea of white mist. Their vision was severely limited, able to see only a foot ahead.
"Please stop," Zhuge Liang said, taking something out of his sleeve. He tossed it casually, and it landed on the ground, transforming into a mechanical cart the size of a millstone.
"This is a compass, capable of identifying directions."
Zhou Yu praised, "I've heard that you are skilled in mechanics, having created the remarkable wooden ox and flowing horse. I didn't expect you to also have this compass."
"Gongjin knows me well," Zhuge Liang replied modestly. "Mechanics is but a minor skill, not worth mentioning."
Guo Jia, however, interjected, "Kong Ming, excessive modesty is hypocrisy. I've heard that you have a mechanical army under your command, with each mechanical beast possessing the combat strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator."
Zhuge Liang smiled without answering. He gently waved his feather fan, and the compass began to move forward on its own.
"It doesn't even need to be pulled or guided?" Fan Li was secretly amazed.
Mechanics? He hadn't expected Zhuge Liang to be a master of mechanics.
"Mechanics is a variation of formations. By engraving various formations into mechanisms, they can produce wonderful effects," Lu Fubao suddenly explained softly in Fan Li's ear.
"Do you also know mechanics?!" Fan Li was surprised. He had almost forgotten that Lu Fubao was a master of formations.
So, did she also excel in mechanics?
"Hmph," Lu Fubao raised her chin. Though her face was hidden behind the veil, she surely wore a smug expression.
The group moved forward steadily.
As Yichuan had said, every ten yards they traveled, the world would spin, making them dizzy and disoriented.
However, the compass remained unaffected, its pointer firmly pointing in a certain direction.
"Your Highness, I am ready."
On the other side, Crown Prince Wanli and Zhang Juzheng had also entered the formation.
Zhang Juzheng held a paper figure, the size of a palm, in his hand. The paper figure held a paper sword, currently pointing in a certain direction, which happened to be the same as Fan Li's group.
"Shall we set off?" Zhang Juzheng asked.
"No rush." Crown Prince Wanli shook his head with a sneer. He held a few butterflies in his hand, also made of paper.
He tossed the paper butterflies into the air. The paper butterflies came to life. They flapped their wings and flew swiftly towards Fan Li's group...