Chapter 26 Fuxi

The two teams temporarily joined together due to an unexpected battle and headed towards the unknown "safe place" deep in the mist.

The temporary team of six was quite unusual.

The prophet Zhuge Jin, with his silver hair and white veil, walked with ease, as if strolling in his own courtyard. Beside him was Qiu Zangxue, whose murderous aura had not yet dissipated, and behind him were Xin Yuan'er and Bai Muling, each with a different expression.

Alongside them are Jun Xiangbei, whose temperament is as cold as ice, and Su Meichuan, whose eyes are full of charm.

Silence spread through the fog, carrying a hint of awkwardness and tentativeness.

Finally, Su Meichuan broke the silence first, his voice soft and charming, his gaze fixed on the relatively "normal" Xin Yuan'er:

"To be honest, we haven't officially met yet. I'm Su Meichuan, and this is Jun Xiangbei. Thank you all for your help earlier, otherwise we would have been in trouble."

He omitted specific information about his team and only gave their names.

Xin Yuan'er blushed instantly when that gaze swept over her, her heart inexplicably racing, and she stammered, "..."

"Ah, I am Xin Yuan'er, this is Boss Zhuge Jin, this is Boss Qiu Zangxue, and this is Miss Bai Muling!"

He hurriedly introduced his teammates, trying to divert attention.

The viewers in Xin Yuan'er's live stream burst into laughter when they saw him blush.

"Hahaha, the lucky one has been charmed!"

"Su Meiren's charm is irresistible to both men and women!"

Xin Yuan'er: Who am I? Where am I? Why is my face so hot?

Xin Yuan'er: Mom, I think I'm in love (just kidding)

Bai Muling introduced herself concisely: "Bai Muling."

Qiu Zangxue didn't even lift his eyelids, wiping the red bloodstains on his scimitar with his fingers. His focused and indifferent attitude made it seem as if everything around him was irrelevant.

Zhuge Jin's voice rang out at the right moment: "Just now in the wasteland ahead, Qiu Zangxue was baptized by the remaining battle intent of Xing Tian, ​​and his evil aura was just beginning to take shape, so his aura was exposed. Please forgive him."

He casually attributed Qiu Zangxue's improved strength to a stroke of luck.

Viewers of Jun Xiangbei's live stream:

"Master Zhuge: Keep a low profile, basic stuff, don't be silly."

"Xingtian's Battle Intent?! Holy crap, how come this stuff even appears in dungeons?"

"I see, no wonder the red-eyed guy seemed even fiercer."

Upon hearing this, Jun Xiangbei's eyes flashed with understanding. He then remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering his words, before finally speaking:

"To be honest, Mr. Zhuge, the goal of our trip is to find the deities related to 'emotions'."

He unusually offered a few more words of explanation, though his tone remained flat, but the content revealed his deep-seated predicament: "I myself... have inherent obstacles in the perception and understanding of emotions."

"They are highly susceptible to mental influences, especially those oriented towards emotions, and it is difficult to distinguish their specific categories."

Jun glanced at Su Meichuan from the north. “For example, Meichuan’s special ability, to me, is more of a hindrance than a help. I can’t accurately determine whether it triggers a protective instinct, a sense of belonging, or other… complex variables.”

He raised his hand, looking at his long but cold fingers, and said in a candid tone: "My core logic contains the underlying instruction of 'protecting humanity,' which makes me prioritize activating the protection program when looking at most human individuals."

"But emotions... are a more complex algorithm, and I know the wickedness of the human heart, yet I can't bring myself to be ruthless towards humans. So I need to understand it, control it, or at least... increase my resistance to it. The divine nature of emotions may be the key."

Reader comments:

"Holy crap! Is Jun Xiangbei really this honest? He's just openly admitting his weaknesses?"

"Because he's a robot, logic reigns supreme, and the best way to find a solution is to provide accurate information."

"Complex variables, hahaha, is he treating emotions like a bug?"

"So, he couldn't distinguish between protectiveness and lust when it came to Su Meichuan's allure?"

Zhuge Jin: Oh, so it's a robot that needs its emotion module upgraded. I'll remember that.

Gu Yunqing heard these words through Qiu Zangxue's ears, and her heart was slightly stirred.

Just as I expected.

Jun Xiangbei's "saintly heart" in the original work originates from this.

A robot with the fundamental logic to protect humanity has unfortunately entered this dangerous game.

He faces greater malice from humanity, yet the underlying logic of protecting humanity makes it difficult for him to take action against those who harm him.

No wonder he seemed a bit hesitant during the fight just now.

"I see." Zhuge Jin nodded slightly, his voice still steady.

"The laws of emotions are elusive and difficult to grasp, yet the Way of Heaven is fifty, the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine, and man escapes one of them. Since there are traces to follow, it is not a dead end. The southeast direction can be used as a reference."

Jun looked north in the direction Zhuge Jin pointed, a faint glimmer of hope flashing in his eyes. He nodded solemnly: "Thank you."

Su Meichuan's smile became much more sincere: "Mr. Zhuge is indeed a brilliant strategist."

Just then, Su Meichuan seemed to feel that the atmosphere was too heavy, or perhaps he was curious about Xin Yuan'er's peculiar "luck," so he turned his gaze back to Xin Yuan'er, who had just calmed down from her blush.

As Su Meichuan's eyes flickered, her alluring charm subtly emanated: "Brother Xin, the way you threw things just now was quite unique. You were really lucky. I wonder how you did it?"

Xin Yuan'er felt a buzzing in her head, her face, which had just cooled down, flushed red again, her heart pounding wildly, and she was speechless as she looked at Su Meichuan's stunningly beautiful face so close to hers.

"Huh? I... I just threw it anywhere... Maybe... maybe I was just lucky today..."

He was at a loss, his eyes darting around, and he didn't dare to meet Su Meichuan's gaze.

Viewers in Su Meichuan's live stream saw through her true nature at a glance:

"Hahaha, here we go again, Brother Su just loves to tease honest people."

"The guy across the street: Don't come any closer! (blushing)"

Su Meichuan: It's so much fun to tease honest people.

Qiu Zangxue paused in wiping her twin swords, her scarlet eyes glancing at the flushed Xin Yuan'er. She let out a barely audible snort, seemingly bored with the scene, or perhaps finding Su Meichuan's abilities too "weak."

Gu Yunqing took in all of this.

He manipulated Qiu Zangxue to remain silent and distant, while his mind raced with calculations.

Gu Yunqing calmly assessed the temporary alliance before her.

Jun Xiangbei possesses top-tier combat power, but due to his own limitations, he is unable to harm others; his target is the Emotional God.

Su Meichuan possesses unique abilities, playing a significant role in team control and intelligence gathering. Moreover, she appears to be quite protective of Jun Xiangbei, making her a factor that can indirectly influence Jun Xiangbei.

Xin Yuan'er, a lucky buff, is a variable guarantee at crucial moments. Although his combat strength is worrying, he is enough as an "outsider" and atmosphere member.

Bai Muling, a reliable and stable ranged attacker, fills the gap in our team's alternate identity combination. Perhaps we can recruit her into the organization in the future.

On our side, Zhuge Jin is managed by the system to maintain his enigmatic image and provide strategic guidance, while Qiu Zangxue is the undisputed core of violent output.

The configuration of this temporary squad was surprisingly balanced and powerful.

This allows Zhuge Jin to demonstrate his value and solidify the alliance's position, and the guidance he just provided has already achieved this initial goal.

Next, Zhuge Jin needs to continue playing the roles of "human strategic map" and "opportunity detector".

To ensure that the team can also acquire points and other resources while searching for the Emotional Godhood, making the Junxiangbei team feel that they cannot do without them.

Gu Yunqing's thoughts drifted to the new vest.

Charm, emotional manipulation... these kinds of abilities are indeed very effective in teamwork and specific dungeons.

A succubus or fairy disguised as a seductive and alluring demon seems quite interesting, as she can easily stir up trouble and reap the rewards of certain "faith".

But... he glanced at the smiling Su Meichuan.

Not at the moment.

The attributes overlap too much. There is already a professional one. Creating another one would not only easily lead to conflicts, but also cause unnecessary comparisons and suspicions.

Most importantly, it also distracts readers and hinders the creation of uniqueness for each pseudonym.

Therefore, Gu Yunqing put this idea on hold for the time being.

The next potential identity should perhaps focus on support, healing, or something more rule-based or curse-oriented, to further enrich the "organization's" ability system.

"There is a faint divine power reaction ahead, seemingly a broken protective barrier. Perhaps we can rest here for a while." Zhuge Jin spoke again, breaking Su Meichuan's "one-sided teasing" of Xin Yuan'er and drawing everyone's attention back to the road ahead.

In the distance, where the mist had just cleared, several broken stone pillars covered in dark purple moss stood askew, enclosing a small area.

A faint light lingered at the top of the stone pillar, forming a dilapidated light shield that barely kept out the dense fog, making the atmosphere inside relatively peaceful.

"Shall we rest here for a while before heading southeast?" Jun Xiangbei spoke, acknowledging the location, his tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

Qiu Zangxue ignored him and was the first to step into the light barrier. Her scarlet eyes scanned the area, and after confirming that there were no hidden threats, she found a corner to sit down.

He placed the two swords across his knees, closed his eyes to rest, but in reality, he was familiarizing himself with the newly acquired, restless fighting spirit of Xing Tian within his body.

Others also entered the small safe zone one after another.

Xin Yuan'er finally escaped Su Meichuan's "clutches," breathed a long sigh of relief, and whispered something to Bai Muling.

Bai Muling quietly examined her throwing knives.

Jun Xiangbei walked to a short distance from Zhuge Jin, silently watching the churning fog outside, seemingly digesting the information he had just received, and also seemingly hesitating whether to ask anything more.

Su Meichuan observed this peculiar group with great interest, her gaze lingering particularly between Zhuge Jin and Qiu Zangxue, clearly filled with curiosity about their relationship.

Gu Yunqing "watched" the team, which had temporarily calmed down, through Qiu Zangxue's perception.

The alliance has been initially formed, and the objectives are now clear.

Next, in this perilous Ragnarok land, he will hunt for points while searching for the divine fragments related to Jun Xiangbei's "emotional cognition".

He controlled Zhuge Jin, facing southeast, his voice like a prophecy, yet also like a statement:

"The road ahead is treacherous, full of illusions, and inner demons will inevitably appear. Hold fast to your true self and do not be misled by external things."

These words were both a reminder to everyone and seemed to be specifically spoken to Jun Xiangbei, who was struggling to discern his own emotions.

Jun Xiangbei paused almost imperceptibly, without turning around, but his clear, cold voice came through: "Understood."

Gu Yunqing smiled silently to herself.

The play continues. And he is becoming increasingly adept at directing this play.

He's determined to stir up this mess and reap huge profits from it.

An emotional deity? If it is found, it may not only be useful to Jun Xiangbei, but may also inspire him to understand the power and nature of "faith" and "cognition".

After resting for a while, the six of them got up again.

Guided by Zhuge Jin, Qiu Zangxue took the lead and disappeared back into the thick fog.

As we traveled further southeast, the surrounding fog seemed to thin out.

The ground beneath our feet was no longer scorched or reddish-brown, but was gradually being replaced by a kind of stone slab.

On the stone slab, ancient and complex engravings are faintly visible, seemingly an extension of some kind of pattern.

A staggered stone forest began to appear all around, each boulder naturally bearing patterns resembling hexagrams, seemingly chaotic yet subtly conforming to some profound truth.

“This place… has a very different atmosphere.” For the first time, Zhuge Jin, who was being managed by the system, showed a hint of “gratitude.”

"The energy ahead is arranged in an orderly manner, not naturally formed, but artificially arranged, and... it is extremely profound."

After walking for a short while, the view suddenly opened up before us.

The mist was completely blocked out here, and a valley shrouded in a hazy, clear light appeared before everyone.

The entrance to the valley is not a simple passage, but consists of eight towering stone gates, each carved with a different basic trigram.

The eight gates are arranged in a mysterious order, with light and shadow flowing between them and energy connecting them, forming a huge and complex innate Bagua formation.

Under the cover of the array, the scenery in the valley appeared and disappeared, seemingly close at hand, yet far away.

Even more alarming, there were fresh signs of battle scattered on the ground near the valley entrance, as well as the corpses of several players who had recently lost their lives.

Clearly, the cost of attempting to force one's way through this place would be extremely high.

At this time, there were two or three other player teams lingering outside the Bagua Formation. Some of them attempted to violently attack the stone gate, which triggered a backlash from the formation.

A stream of water energy transformed into black ice, instantly freezing the man into an ice sculpture, which then shattered on the ground.

Some people were holding compass-like tools, painstakingly calculating the hexagrams, their foreheads covered in sweat, clearly making little progress.

A viewer in Jun Xiangbei's live stream typed a string of question marks:

"??? Aren't the dungeons we participate in all about being chased by ghosts? Why are the ones the pros are participating in different?"

"Different dungeon levels, those being chased by ghosts are all low-level dungeons."

"This formation is so fierce? How can we break it?"

"An instant kill? That's way too difficult!"

"Looks like we'll have to rely on technical skills; brute force won't work."

"Master Zhuge, it's your turn to shine."

Qiu Zangxue's crimson eyes swept over the corpses and agitated players, a cold smile curving his lips, seemingly quite satisfied with the "danger" here.

He gripped his twin swords tightly, a fighting spirit gleaming in his eyes.

Jun Xiangbei's gaze swept across the entire Bagua formation, a fleeting blue light flashing in his eyes.

He was rapidly recording and analyzing the energy fluctuations and attack patterns of the formation.

Finally, he looked at Zhuge Jin and said succinctly, "This formation is profound, and forcibly breaking through it would come at too high a cost. Does Mr. Zhuge have a better plan?"

Su Meichuan also dropped her joking expression, looking at the complex hexagrams, her delicate brows furrowing slightly: "This looks even harder than solving advanced mathematics..."

Xin Yuan'er and Bai Muling were at a loss and could only turn their attention to their boss.

Through Qiu Zangxue's perspective, Gu Yunqing took in the entire Bagua formation that exuded an ancient and mysterious aura.

I was slightly taken aback at first, then a feeling of relief welled up inside me.

Fortunately, Zhuge Jin was handed over to the system for management.

This innate Bagua formation involves the profound principles of the I Ching and is infinitely variable; it cannot be deciphered with mere cleverness or information from the original text.

If he were to personally control Zhuge Jin, he would probably show his weakness now, and the image of a master that he had worked so hard to create would be greatly diminished.

Now, professional tasks can be left to professional "systems".

Without making a sound, he issued the command to Zhuge Jin, who was hosted by the system, through the consciousness link: "Demonstrate your value and break this formation."

Zhuge Jin nodded slightly, took a few steps forward, and approached the ever-turning Bagua diagram.

The white veil covering his eyes seemed to "see" through the invisible flow of energy, and his ethereal voice slowly rose, carrying a calm understanding of the essence of things:

"The eight trigrams of the Earlier Heaven are Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui. They correspond to Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain, and Lake."

"The formation here is based on the Eight Trigrams, and it evolves through the changes of the heavens, with the Qi flowing and endlessly regenerating."

Zhuge Jin raised his hand and pointed to one of the stone gates carved with the "Li" hexagram: "Li represents fire, which appears bright, but things will inevitably turn into their opposites when they reach their extremes. At this moment, the energy is too strong. If you enter this gate, you will surely be burned to death."

It then points to the "Kan" hexagram: "Kan represents water, which appears gentle but is actually turbulent and lurking with murderous intent. The person just now touched the murderous intent of Kan water."

Zhuge Jin's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears, including those of the player teams nearby who were deep in thought.

Some people were dismissive, some were skeptical, and some seemed thoughtful.

Viewers in Zhuge Jin's live stream flooded the chat with praise:

"It's starting! Master Zhuge's mini-lesson is beginning!"

"Even though I don't understand it, it sounds amazing."

"The other players are all listening intently."

Zhuge Jin ignored the reactions from the outside world and continued:

"The eight trigrams interact and intertwine, their numbers intricate and complex. At present... the Qian position is hidden and does not manifest, the Kun position is heavy and bears all things, the Zhen position is thunderous and full of life, and the Xun position is windy and unobstructed..."

He pondered for a moment, then finally pointed to the stone gate carved with the "Xun" hexagram, symbolizing "wind".

"The Xun trigram represents wind, which is all-pervasive and adapts to the times. At this moment, the formation is in flux, and the gate of life is hidden in the Xun trigram. Enter from here, following the image of 'Wind Mountain Gradual Progress,' turning every three steps and changing every nine steps. One must not make a mistake."

After saying this, Zhuge Jin stopped talking and took the lead in walking towards the "Xun" trigram stone gate.

The steps seem ordinary, yet they subtly follow a certain rhythm. Sometimes they take three steps forward, then suddenly turn to the left; sometimes they take nine steps, then abruptly turn to the right.

Wherever he passed, the array's aura, which had been flowing endlessly and exuding a dangerous aura, parted on its own like gentle flowing water, making way for a safe path that could only accommodate one person at a time.

Zhuge Jin's live stream:

"Holy crap! They really got in?!"

"Such a powerful connections are being used by that kid Xin Yuan'er? I want to be one too!"

"Look at me, boss! My superpower is time reversal."

"Is this Boss Zhipin? I'm a jinx, please take a look at me, experts."

Without any hesitation, Qiu Zangxue immediately followed.

Seeing this, Xin Yuan'er and Bai Muling quickly followed, carefully stepping in Zhuge Jin's footprints.

A swift blue light flashed in Jun Xiangbei's eyes. He seemed to instantly verify the rationality of Zhuge Jin's pace and said, "Follow me."

Then he and Su Meichuan embarked on that safe route together.

Their movement immediately caused a stir among the other player teams nearby.

"They're in! Quick, follow them!" someone shouted impatiently, trying to rush in along the path Zhuge Jin had taken.

However, the energy flow in the Bagua formation is constantly changing.

After Zhuge Jin passed by, the position of the "Gate of Life" had been slightly adjusted.

The first player who tried to copy the method completely had only taken a few steps when the stone slab beneath his feet suddenly lit up with a dazzling "Li" trigram rune, and raging flames appeared out of nowhere, instantly engulfing him, leaving only a short scream.

Another person, thinking himself clever, tried to force his way in through the "Zhen" trigram door next to him. But as soon as he touched the door frame, a bolt of purple lightning struck down and he was instantly reduced to ashes.

In Zhuge Jin's live stream, knowledgeable viewers commented:

"You think you can just follow along? The formations are dynamic!"

"Exactly, a bunch of laymen, yet they dare to blindly follow others."

"+1"

Screams and the booming of the formation echoed behind them, further highlighting the stability and mystique of the path led by Zhuge Jin.

Jun Xiangbei followed closely behind, calmly observing Zhuge Jin's every step and the corresponding changes in the surrounding array's energy.

He appears to be recording data, building models, and trying to understand this non-logical algorithm based on the changes in hexagrams.

Through Qiu Zangxue's perception, Gu Yunqing took in the miserable state of the players behind her and Jun Xiangbei's analytical behavior, and smiled slightly.

Want to learn? It's not that easy.

This formation is ever-changing. If the system does not directly analyze it based on the rules, relying solely on human calculation would be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to errors.

However, as a robot, Jun Xiangbei might be able to deduce and learn this method.

Just as the team ventured deep into the heart of the formation, only a few dozen meters from the valley floor, a sudden change occurred!

The swirling trigrams around him twisted and contorted, and thick mist, accompanied by roars, surged from the array nodes, quickly coalescing into several guardian phantom beasts of various shapes, some real and some ethereal.

There was a giant azure-scaled python formed from the Xun wind, a stone-armored bear leaping from the runes of Gen Mountain, and a raging bird conjured from the Li fire...

They were not physical entities, but they emitted energy fluctuations no weaker than those of low-level divine servants, roaring as they pounced on the six people who had broken into the formation.

"Hmph, finally something decent has arrived." Qiu Zangxue's hoarse voice carried a hint of excitement.

Qiu Zangxue shot out like an arrow, heading straight towards the group of phantom beasts.

The twin blades drew cold arcs, colliding fiercely with the sharp teeth of the Azure Scaled Wind Python, the heavy palm of the Stone Armored Bear, and the fiery feathers of the Flaming Bird!

The battle erupted instantly!

Qiu Zangxue's fighting style remained wild and violent, but with the support of Xing Tian's fighting spirit, his swordplay gained an added touch of bloodlust.

Facing the phantom beasts made of energy, his twin blades seemed to possess a certain demon-slaying and void-cutting property; wherever the blades passed, the phantom beasts' bodies were constantly torn apart and disintegrated.

However, these phantom beasts are continuously replenished by the energy of the formation, and can quickly reassemble after collapsing, which is quite troublesome.

"Kan position, water overcomes fire, prioritize killing the Firebird."

"Thunder in the Zhen position can disturb the spirit of the wind python."

Zhuge Jin's voice rang out at the right moment, like the most accurate tactical commander, pointing out the attributes and weaknesses of the phantom beast.

Chou Zangxue's crimson eyes flashed, and his sword stance immediately changed. He abandoned his entanglement with the stone bear, and with a strange twist of his body, his twin swords, accompanied by a shrill whistle, went straight for the mad bird that was constantly spewing flames.

As expected, due to the elemental advantage, the Firebird let out a mournful cry, and its body disintegrated at a much faster speed than before.

On the other side, Jun Xiangbei also made his move.

His swordsmanship was precise and calm, each strike aimed directly at the weakest point of the phantom beast's energy core, making it extremely efficient.

Su Meichuan tried to influence the phantom beasts with her charm, but found that it had little effect on these energy creations that did not have true intelligence. So she had to turn to some small restraining skills to assist her.

Xin Yuan'er and Bai Muling also used their own methods to deal with one or two who had slipped through the net.

With Zhuge Jin's precise guidance and the team members' cooperation, the guardian phantom beasts generated by the formation were quickly cleared out.

Qiu Zangxue flicked away the non-existent "bloodstains" on her knife, her crimson eyes still brimming with unfinished business, yet she knew this was no place to linger.

Gu Yunqing nodded inwardly.

The system-hosted Zhuge Jin is fairly reliable.

It can not only break formations, but also provide optimal tactics.

Gu Yunqing then pondered that this valley was protected by such a profound Bagua formation, and the opportunities it contained must be extraordinary.

Combining the aura of the hexagrams here with the innate opportunities... could it be related to the legendary Emperor Fuxi?

If that's true, then the so-called 'divinity'...

A thought flashed through his mind, causing his breathing to quicken slightly.

If it is truly the divine essence of Fuxi, its value is immeasurable.

Furthermore, this greatly enhances the "prophetic" and "insightful" abilities of Zhuge Jin, who is essentially a pseudonym.

"Let's go." Jun Xiangbei's voice interrupted Gu Yunqing's thoughts.

The group didn't linger and quickly passed through the Bagua formation along the last safe path.

The light and shadow shifted before their eyes, and in the next moment, they were completely inside the valley.

The mysterious and dangerous Bagua formation behind him rippled like water and slowly disappeared, isolating him from the noise and danger outside.

Within the valley, clear springs flow, exotic flowers and rare herbs abound, and the air is filled with a refreshing and invigorating natural fragrance.

In the center of the valley, an ancient altar stands quietly, with a soft and profound light floating above it.

Within it, there seemed to be ethereal figures of a dragon-horse carrying a map and a black tortoise presenting a book, floating and undulating, exuding a vast and ancient aura of law.

That aura, though originating from the same source as the Bagua Formation, was even more primal, even more... supreme.

Gu Yunqing stared intently at the ball of clear light through Qiu Zangxue's eyes.

It is the aura of the origin of the Eight Trigrams!