Chapter 153 The Great Array is Destroyed and the Enemy's Camp is Infiltrated
Before consciousness returns to the body.
Song Yin: "If He can devour you, then you can devour Him, can't you?"
“That is indeed the case, but the old spiritual veins are in the process of depletion, and the new spiritual veins have not yet been born. Doing so will only accelerate the depletion of the spiritual veins. Faced with the sudden disappearance of spiritual energy, all kinds of chaos will erupt one after another. I am the Heavenly Dao of the Xuan Tian Realm, and I will never allow this to happen.”
Even a minor event like a decrease in spiritual energy can trigger a chaotic beast tide. If the spiritual energy of the entire cultivation world were to drastically diminish or even disappear, the terrifying consequences would be unimaginable.
Song Yin and Shi Heming both realized this and understood why the Heavenly Dao had instructed them to prevent the passage from opening.
After thinking it through, Shi Heming agreed to accept the temporary Heavenly Dao mission.
"My time in this realm is limited. Do you agree?"
Song Yin interjected, "From a certain perspective, wouldn't this count as saving the world? Especially since it happened without anyone knowing, right?"
"Calculate."
It's a pity Song Yin is currently in her golden dumpling form, otherwise she would definitely be performing a fly-rubbing-hands act. "It doesn't matter if no one knows, but can you give me some real benefits?"
Her voice even had a hint of ingratiation, and her otherworldly and refined demeanor was completely gone.
The Heavenly Dao of the Xuan Tian Realm: "...What do you desire?"
Song Yin tentatively spoke up, "Judging from your voice, I know that the 'heart-testing' part of the tribulation is your way of testing our resolve to seek the Dao. So... do you think it would be possible to remove the 'heart-testing' part from our future tribulations?"
"If you grant our small request, we'll surely work even harder for you in the Nine Spirits Realm!" The last sentence was spoken with great conviction!
Shi Heming, the little dumpling, was dumbfounded and swallowed back the words that were about to come out.
"Your demands are certainly not limited to this; please state your other requests as well." The Heavenly Dao of the Xuantian Realm wanted to see what else this fellow desired.
Song Yin: "Oh my! I knew you were generous! Saving the world is such a big thing, it's good to give us some merit! If the power of the lightning tribulation is reduced, that would be even better! What I ask for will not affect other lives, nor will it cause trouble for the Xuan Tian Realm, what do you think..."
"You really dare to think that way!" Shi Heming exclaimed, startled.
The Heavenly Dao of the Xuantian Realm wants to open Song Yin's skull to see what's inside! This despicable thing really dares to think that way!
"……allow."
Shi Heming, the little dumpling, tried his best to curl himself up tightly, but when he heard that the Heavenly Dao had given its permission, the little dumpling shook and then dispersed.
You agreed? You just agreed that easily?
The reason why Heaven granted her request was simple. Just as Song Yin said, her request had no adverse effect on the Xuan Tian Realm, and since they had succeeded, they should be rewarded.
"Great! Respected Heaven, as your 'child,' I will always support and love you!!" Song Yin said sincerely, word by word.
Her words came from the bottom of her heart; from this day forward, Heaven would be her best mother! Song Yin internally acknowledged Heaven as her mother, forcibly elevating her status.
The silly child is beyond saving. The Heavenly Dao of the Xuan Tian Realm is once again speechless because of the silly child. The time is almost up, so He sends the two children's consciousness back to their bodies.
Song Yin regained consciousness and moved her wrists and arms. "It's really good. This trip to the Nine Spirit Realms was worthwhile."
Shi Heming: "How did Yinyin know that He would agree?"
Shi Heming was still immersed in the fact that Yinyin was trying to get benefits and fleece Tiandao. Such things were not even written in storybooks, but they happened right before his eyes.
Song Yin: "When you ask someone to do something, don't you pay them? If I were to ask for these benefits for no reason, He would definitely refuse, but since we accepted His task, these benefits are the payment."
Even so, negotiating with the Heavenly Dao is still quite astonishing!
Shi Heming: "Next, we will destroy the stone pillars and damage the foundation of the great formation."
Song Yin considered many things. "Destroying those stone pillars and damaging the foundation of the great formation is not enough. We must also destroy the records of the great formation, otherwise they will rebuild the great formation again."
"But we don't know who has the records of the great formation," Shi Heming pointed out the key issue.
Song Yin paced back and forth, pondering how to solve the problem.
She quickly stopped in her tracks. "I've got it."
Inside the empty underground palace, in the corner of the cloud-patterned wall, two people huddled together, one speaking and the other nodding repeatedly.
As the layers of restrictions were gradually broken, some of the cultivators who had created the array looked toward the entrance.
"What are you looking at?" someone asked.
"The barrier seems to have been opened, but when I look closer, it doesn't seem to be open."
"Perhaps you're seeing things? No new people will be coming in recently, and the old patriarch just came by too."
"Perhaps..."
Outside the underground palace, after the Spirit Master sent out the message, the Nascent Soul stage cultivator closest to the Netherworld Black Corner Region arrived at top speed.
Gao Xiuran was a Nascent Soul sword cultivator from the Shengyang Sect, the closest sect to the Youluo Black Corner Region. He had no intention of going out after receiving the news, until he heard the message from the Spirit Control Ancestor that two new, unknown Nascent Soul cultivators had appeared, and that one of them might be a sword cultivator, which piqued his interest.
Gao Xiuran is basically invincible in the Nine Spirits Realm. His swordsmanship has not changed for a long time, and he urgently needs someone of equal strength to spar with him so that he can learn more.
"Brother Gao, I've been waiting for you! I knew you'd come as soon as I sent the message." Ancestor Yu Ling greeted him warmly.
Gao Xiuren: "You mentioned in the message that there was a new Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator. Where is he?"
"That damned swordsman, what else can he think of besides swords?" The Spirit Master Ancestor muttered to himself, but on the surface, he put on a smile. "There was a Nascent Soul stage swordsman. My demon beast died by her sword. She and another Nascent Soul cultivator came to the entrance of the underground palace, but I persuaded them to leave." When he talked about the dead Blizzard Demon Bear, the Spirit Master Ancestor's smile disappeared.
Gao Xiuran frowned: "They left? They didn't force their way into the underground palace?"
The Spirit Master Ancestor said, "They didn't force their way into the underground palace. They were easy to talk to and didn't have any strange tempers. Unlike you, who can't stop talking about your sword. You should just spend your whole life with your sword! If I could defeat them, I would definitely make them pay with their lives for my Blizzard Demon Bear."
The unfamiliar Nascent Soul sword cultivators have all left, so what's the point of me coming here? That old codger Yu Ling spends all his time raising demonic beasts and doesn't bother with anything else.
Gao Xiuran: "Which direction did they go?"
The Spirit Master grabbed Gao Xiuran, "Hey, you can't leave. I called you here to help me. You know how important the things in the underground palace are. I'm also afraid that the two who left will find a chance to secretly return later. If you stay here, you might be able to wait for that Nascent Soul sword cultivator to come back. Then you can fight him however you want."
The Spirit Master knew how to manipulate Gao Xiuran, and after hearing his words, Gao Xiuran indeed gave up the idea of chasing after him.
Ancestor Yu Ling said, "You should stay with me and guard the underground palace. Even if we don't see that unfamiliar Nascent Soul sword cultivator, you can still go to the Great World to find new opponents the moment the passage is successfully opened."
"I need a quiet place to meditate on the way of the sword, so don't bother me unless it's important." Gao Xiuran walked to the side.
The Spirit Master secretly rolled his eyes. As long as the person stays, that's fine.
The spring gushed forth, and a man flew out. This male cultivator, dressed in the robes of a Taiqing Sect disciple, stumbled out, attracting the attention of many.
"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened, Ancestor!"
Ancestor of Spirit Control: "Tsk, what's wrong? Speak up."
The male disciple, of medium height, was trembling all over. "The great formation! The great formation! The great formation was destroyed by a stranger who broke in!"
"What?!" The Spirit Master's eyes widened in anger after hearing the explanation.
Gao Xiuran was also drawn to the attention.
Ancestor of Spirit Control: "Who is it? Male or female? What is their cultivation level?"
"Reporting to the Ancestor, there is a female cultivator. Even Uncle Pan is no match for her. She wielded a sword and chopped down all the stone pillars! A fight has already broken out inside. Uncle Pan said that this person is probably at the Nascent Soul stage and told me to come out and quickly ask the Ancestor for help."
The Spirit Master pressed further, "Is it a green-blue robe?"
"right!"
The Spirit Master's mind went blank, completely blank. "Oh no, oh no, when did she sneak in? Brother Gao, she's the one you're looking for!"
Gao Xiuren's expression changed instantly, and he quickly entered the underground palace from the spring.
The Spirit Master muttered "It's over, it's over" for a long time before finally regaining his senses and following closely behind. "All disciples, listen to my command! Guard this place well! Don't let a single person escape!"
"yes!"
The disciples surrounded the spring, and the male cultivator who brought the news was also well taken care of.
"Senior Brother Meng Duan, please sit here and rest for a while. We'll take care of things here."
Meng Duan is the male cultivator's real name; he is a late-stage Foundation Establishment array cultivator from the Taiqing Sect.
Meng Duan's body was still trembling, clearly terrified. Of course, which Foundation Establishment disciple wouldn't be afraid of facing a Nascent Soul stage monster?
"Thank you, please be careful too."
These disciples were to guard the spring, so they left Meng Duan on the other side.
After everyone had gone, Meng Duan's trembling stopped. He tilted his head slightly towards the spring, a slight smile playing on his lips. He casually tossed out a few spirit stones, combined them with spiritual energy, and set up an array without anyone noticing.
Gao Xiuran and the Spirit Master entered the underground palace one after the other.
Upon entering the location of the grand formation, the stone pillars were indeed broken and collapsed, just as the messenger disciple had reported. Many Foundation Establishment stage formation cultivators lay on the ground. One formation cultivator, whom many disciples called Uncle Pan, was pinned to a broken stone pillar by an unknown magical artifact. His skin was an abnormal color, and he was already dead, like a tattered flag hanging on a pole.
Only a dozen or so array cultivators remained alive, all lying on the ground severely injured.
Song Yin hovered in mid-air, her back to the newcomers. "Honestly, I told you before we came in that we were sneaking in, but you wouldn't listen. Now that I've killed most of my men, what's the meaning of you coming back..." Song Yin turned around and saw Gao Xiuran and the Spirit Master. "Oh, sorry, I thought it was my companion who came in, and I mistook you for him."
"It's you again! Look what you've done!" The Spirit Master was almost fainting with rage. "Brother Gao, her companions aren't here, so it's perfect for us to kill her two against one!"
The great formation can be rebuilt, but he can't afford to waste time!
Song Yin walked step by step through the air: "Two against one?"
Without wasting words, Gao Xiuran drew his sword and said, "Gao Xiuran, a Nascent Soul sword cultivator from the Shengyang Sect, requests your guidance, fellow Daoist." He did not make a move but waited for Song Yin to accept the challenge.
A Nascent Soul stage sword cultivator? When did he arrive? I thought there was only the Spirit Control Ancestor, but there's another sword cultivator, Gao Xiuran.
It is estimated that Shi Heming had already blended into the group of people outside.
The real Meng Duan was secretly dealt with, and his soul was secretly searched. Shi Heming, who knew about Meng Duan's experiences and interpersonal relationships, then put on the Linglong Mask to change his body shape and appearance, making him difficult to detect among this group.
The two split up; she destroyed the great formation, while Shi Heming, disguised as Meng Duan, infiltrated the enemy camp. After the formation was destroyed, the Spirit Master and his group would surely rebuild it, and Shi Heming, infiltrating the enemy camp, would gain firsthand information.
To be honest, the soul search was the fastest, but unfortunately it only contained useless memories. In the end, all the clues pointed to an old acquaintance from the Taiqing Sect, Master Shangci.
The Spirit Master immediately launched into a tirade: "What do you mean, 'give me some guidance'? You surnamed Gao, have you lost your mind? She destroyed our great formation and killed many formation cultivators from our various sects. You should go and kill her!"
The Spirit Master cursed at Song Yinpo again: "You killed my Blizzard Demon Bear, and I was thinking of letting you go, but you are full of treachery. Not only did you sneak into the underground palace, but you also ruined the plans of our sects over the years. Today I will tear you to pieces!"
After listening to the curses of the Spirit Master, Song Yin extracted the key information. Her eyes darted around, and she said to Gao Xiuran, the Spirit Master's accomplice, "Fellow Daoist Gao, I am also a sword cultivator. I can spar with you, but the Spirit Master beside you is just making a racket. Why don't you deal with him first, and then we can have our match?"
Judging from Gao Xiuran's current behavior, he really is a bit... dull? Song Yin couldn't find an adjective, so she could only use "dull" to describe him.
"Shameless! Even on the verge of death, you're still trying to sow discord between us." The Spirit Master was so anxious that he jumped up and down, but he didn't release the few remaining Nascent Soul level demon beasts he had left.
He couldn't afford to lose any more of his precious demon beasts, so he left the fighting to Gao Xiuran.
Gao Xiuran flatly refused: "No, the Shengyang Sect and the Taiqing Sect are on good terms, and I am acquainted with him, so I will not touch him. Besides, as a sword cultivator, my sword will never be turned against my own people."
Among the surviving array cultivators, several dragged their wounds toward the edge. The destructive power of battles between Nascent Soul cultivators was extremely strong; if they didn't avoid the danger, they would only be unlucky enough to lose their lives.
Song Yin held several Illusionary Heart Demon Pills between the fingertips of her left hand; they were even Rank 8 Illusionary Heart Demon Pills.
"You're quite honest. How about this, I'll change the terms. Tell me where this grand formation's blueprints came from, and who knows the specific construction method for this grand formation, and I'll have a good fight with you, how about that?"
Song Yin asked this question because she wanted to find out whether the method and blueprints were only possessed by Master Shangci, or whether others also had them.
The Spirit Master Ancestor, whose mind was filled with precious monsters, finally realized that something was amiss.
The blueprints for this grand formation are held by Master Shangci, who never shows the entire formation to anyone else. He personally oversees the core of the formation, and even the formation cultivators who carved these stone pillars only know a portion of its contents.
Why has she been inquiring about the grand formation? Could it be that the formation has other uses after its completion? Or does she know something that others don't?
Gao Xiuran honestly recalled and said, "As far as I know, the blueprint for the great array was found by True Person Shangci in the Youluo Black Corner Region in the past, and only he knows the core part. True Person Shangci is an array cultivator, and he can see the value of the blueprint at a glance."
I had previously thought that the blueprints were passed down through generations, but that's not the case. The Nine Heavens Secret Realm is far too authoritative; they even have this kind of thing.
She really wanted to see Daoist Jiutian again and ask him why he had put such dangerous blueprints in the secret realm!
Song Yin put away the Eight-Turn Illusionary Heart Demon Pill hidden in her fingertips. Gao Xiuran was too honest, and she was too embarrassed to trick him.
Master Yu Ling: "That's all you're saying?"
Gao Xiuran: "Otherwise what?" These cultivators are always thinking about going to the Great World to find opportunities for ascension, but he doesn't have such a long-term vision. He should just live in the present.
He should seize the opportunity to spar with other sword cultivators of the same level, rather than giving up the present opportunity for the sake of some vague future.
Everyone has their own plans. Song Yin is searching for clues, the Spirit Master is looking to enjoy endless cultivation resources in the Great World in the future, and Gao Xiuran is looking to further comprehend the Dao of Sword and improve his strength.
Song Yin raised her empty hand, and the Starfall Poison Ruler, which was nailed to the broken stone pillar, vibrated a few times. Then she pulled it out of the stone pillar and it quickly flew back into Song Yin's hand.
The nailed corpse fell from the stone pillar and crashed heavily to the ground with a thud.
The disciples who were nearby were terrified. They scrambled and crawled behind another dilapidated stone pillar, hugging themselves and trembling.
Song Yin: "Fellow Daoist Gao, let's postpone our sparring for a moment while I deal with him first."
Upon hearing this, the Spirit Master immediately summoned his magical artifact, enveloping his entire body. "Gao Xiuran, my combat power is not as strong as yours. Are you going to stand idly by?"
Gao Xiuran sighed, took a few steps and stood in front of the Spirit Control Ancestor, "I will fight you first, fellow Daoist."
Song Yin's face was gloomy; it seemed he couldn't avoid fighting two against one. Indeed, he was a Nascent Soul cultivator after all; honesty and dullness were merely the outward impression he gave to outsiders.
In the blink of an eye, Song Yin threw out the Starfall Poison Ruler, which struck Gao Xiuran directly in the face.
Gao Xiuran flicked his wrist, raising his sword to block the Starfall Poison Ruler, only to see it suddenly turn as it approached him, attacking the Spirit Master Ancestor who was hiding in a defensive artifact from behind.
The Spirit Master's expression immediately changed, and he added another layer of basic defense to himself.
For many years, he has been training demonic beasts. He can spare time to send them to fight, but he is reluctant to let his demonic beasts get hurt. Whenever he encounters a strong opponent, he is reluctant to release his demonic beasts and insists on fighting on his own.
"This is a rare fifth-tier magic weapon. Trying to break through its defenses is a pipe dream." The Spirit Master Ancestor calmed his mind.
On one side, the Spirit Master was battling the Starfall Poison Ruler that was breaking through his defenses; on the other side, Song Yin and Gao Xiuran had already exchanged several blows. The speed of their battles was dazzling, and the collisions of spiritual energy stirred up large and small pieces of pebbles all over the ground.
The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had climbed to the foot of another dilapidated stone pillar thought he was safe, but several pieces of rock grazed his ears and hit the stone pillar behind him, and a few hit his body directly.
He had no choice but to move again, tears and sweat mingling together. "Why am I always the one who gets hurt and has bad luck..."
His small voice could not stop Gao Xiuran and Song Yin from hitting the ground from the air and then hitting the air from the ground.
As a disciple of the Taiqing Sect, he couldn't even ask the Spirit Control Ancestor for help. And the Spirit Control Ancestor didn't offer any protection to the few surviving disciples, leaving them to fend for themselves.
Gao Xiuran approached Song Yin several times, but Song Yin dodged him each time. His sword moves were also easily neutralized by Song Yin.
After exchanging blows for several dozen rounds, Gao Xiuran distanced himself, his heart pounding with shock, and two blazing flames shot into his eyes.
This is the opponent he wants! This is the kind of sparring he craves!
Gao Xiuran tried his best to speak in a calm voice, but his excitement could still be heard in his words, "Fellow Daoist, which master did you study under? Your swordsmanship is so amazing!" If he could, he would also like to become a disciple!
Song Yin roughly assessed Gao Xiuran's level; his strength was quite good, but unfortunately, he hadn't reached the state of perfect harmony between man and sword, and was ultimately far inferior to her own.
Even if I told you, you wouldn't know.
She shifted her gaze; the Spirit Master was still reinforcing his defenses while he watched the battle unfold.
Song Yin made a hand seal, causing the Starfall Poison Ruler to unleash its strongest power. With a few buzzes, it directly pierced through the layers of defense of the Spirit Control Ancestor.
"How could this be? This is a fifth-tier defensive magic weapon!" Ancestor Yu Ling exclaimed in panic.
Song Yin: "What a coincidence, my magic artifact is of the sixth rank."
Sixth tier?! Isn't that a magical artifact that only Nascent Soul stage experts can forge? Do they even have Nascent Soul stage experts in the Nine Spirit Realm?!
The Spirit Master dodged the Starfall Poison Ruler, but his arm was still grazed by it.
With defensive artifacts useless, the Spirit Master could only summon his own multiple demonic beasts.
"Old friends, I can only entrust this to you today..." The poison quickly took effect, and the Spirit Master's tone changed drastically, "It's poisonous!"
After the Starfall Poison Ruler came into contact with the Spirit Control Ancestor, Song Yin retrieved it.
"Without fourth or fifth-grade detoxifying pills, the toxins in the body cannot be suppressed," Song Yin kindly reminded her.
What should we do? What should we do? Is he going to die?
The appearance of multiple monsters will not change the fact that he is destined to die.
"No, it can't be." The Spirit Master frantically popped pills into his mouth, but the poison just wouldn't subside. "Why, why is the poison still spreading even after I took a fourth-grade pill!"
As death approached, the Spirit Master collapsed. He hadn't yet witnessed the opening of the portal between the two realms, hadn't yet seen the new great world, hadn't yet ascended, he still…
The Spirit Master swayed and then fell heavily to the ground. The demonic beasts he raised did not attack, but instead all roared or howled around him.
Gao Xiuran stopped in mid-air, his chest heaving, quietly watching the familiar person, whose breath was barely a whisper, and watching the light in his eyes gradually fade away.
"Do you still want to fight me? To be honest, you can't beat me." Song Yin twirled her sword. If Gao Xiuran wanted to continue fighting, she would have no choice but to send him to the underworld to keep the Spirit Master company.
The moment the Spirit Master breathed his last, his body rapidly decayed, gradually turning into a pool of blood filled with poison, while his soul also drifted out, quickly flying away from the barrier.
Song Yin took out a small gourd, intercepted the spirit of the Spirit Master, and stored it in her magic artifact. She didn't immediately erase his spirit; it was still useful. A Nascent Soul stage spirit must hold many secrets, so she kept it to search his soul.
A dozen seconds later, Gao Xiuran sheathed his sword, the flame in his eyes turning into deep apprehension.
He used a sixth-tier magic weapon without hesitation, easily killing a Nascent Soul cultivator of the same realm. As a fellow sword cultivator, he was no match for his opponent and was beaten down, which made him feel fear that he hadn't felt in a long time.
I haven't felt this way for many years, but it has returned today.
"I concede defeat. May I ask your name, fellow Daoist?" Gao Xiuran clasped his hands in a fist salute.
"Song Le".
Song Le... I've never heard of a prominent family with the surname Song. Gao Xiuran took a deep look at the broken tree stump, took a deep breath, and then retreated.
It's better this place is destroyed. Rather than pinning our hopes on a vast world we've never seen before, we should focus on cultivating in the Nine Spirit Realm.
After Gao Xiuran left, she glanced around at the remaining array cultivators and said, "They're all Foundation Establishment stage array cultivators. I'm leaving; it's pointless." With that, she disappeared as well.
They can't kill them all; leaving them alive will allow Shi Heming to blend in with the others without attracting attention.
Gao Xiuran flew out of the spring and said, "The Spirit Master has passed away. Everyone, listen to my command and leave with me."
"What?" The people waiting outside began to panic.
Song Yin also appeared shortly after.
Gao Xiuran lowered his stance: "Fellow Daoist Song, I implore you to spare the lives of these disciples."
Song Yin glanced at Shi Heming in the corner and quickly looked away. "For Fellow Daoist Gao's sake, it's fine."
...
Following the massacre of the Lü family, another major event occurred: the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Taiqing Sect passed away! This event even overshadowed the massacre of the Lü family.
Meanwhile, within the Taiqing Sect, Shi Heming and his other disciples went to see the Venerable Shangci.
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Author's Note: A short skit unrelated to the main text:
Gao Xiuran: How about I become your apprentice? You can teach me swordsmanship and make me as skilled as you.
Song Yin: No, no, you're too old. [Sunglasses]
Gao Xiuran: I'm going to manually reincarnate!
Song Yin: [Afraid]
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[Empty bowl]
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