After Zhang Yan left Duanmu Li's place, he was led by Lu Guo to the foot of Turtle Snake Mountain. Since the mountain was locked by a formation, they couldn't fly, so the two of them entered the mountain through a small gravel path.
After walking for less than a hundred steps, he saw a clear green pond. It was about an acre in size, and the ripples were clear and crystalline. Waterfowl were swimming leisurely in the pond. The pond was surrounded by jagged rocks, shaded by trees, and a cave could be vaguely seen hidden behind it.
The ground in front of the cave was laid with hexagonal jade bricks, which were swept clean. A young boy stood beside the two purple wooden doors. He was quite quick-witted, and called out from afar, "Third Master is here." Full of joy, he pushed the door open and stood respectfully to one side.
When they reached the door, Lu Guo first patted the child's head, then turned to the side and politely said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, after you."
Zhang Yan cupped his hands and stepped inside. Suddenly, the light in front of him dimmed. He had entered a cave.
The cave was more than five hundred feet long and wide, with stalactites hanging from the ceiling like thorns and bamboo shoots. The sound of water dripping was as clear as the strings of a zither. Two bright jade lamps stood on the left and right, giving off a soft halo. There was a stone staircase in the middle that could accommodate four people walking side by side. However, the staircase was damaged everywhere, and moss had seeped into the cracks, as if it had been abandoned for many years.
After Lu Guo, he walked into the cave and pointed at the small path, "Fellow Daoist, please take a look. This stone staircase leads straight to the peak of Turtle Snake Mountain, but there are thirty-six formation doors on the way. Back then, there was an Uncle-Master from my sect who came here and lived for hundreds of years. He broke through the first eight formations. I'm ashamed, I've studied it for more than three hundred years, but I still haven't reached the ninth layer. I'm really useless."
At this point. His face was also filled with shame.
Among the three of them, he was the only one who knew a little about formations, but he didn't understand much. In addition, he couldn't decipher the eroded runes, so he could only waste his time here.
Over the years, Second Senior Brother Hong An had repeatedly asked for help from the outside world to break the formation, but Eldest Senior Brother Duanmu Li had turned him down. He could only brace himself and continue.
Fortunately, Zhang Yan's arrival gave him a glimmer of hope.
The two of them walked up the stone steps. After walking up a hundred and eight steps. The path under his feet led to the exit of the cave. It was about ten steps away.
Zhang Yan's eyes lit up as he raised his head to look over. He noticed that he was standing on a 300m wide stone platform, and his position just happened to be at the back of Turtle Snake Mountain. At this moment, the sky was still bright and illuminated the surroundings, and what entered his eyes was an expanse of lofty and beautiful peaks. On the jagged cliffs, there were clusters of green velvet and tenacious vines in the cracks of the rocks.
About ten steps to the left of the cave door, there was another row of stone steps that led to the second floor.
Just as Zhang Yan was about to take a step forward, his gaze shifted. Next to the cave door, he found a three-foot-tall bronze plate embedded deeply into the stone wall. There were many words written on it, and it was vaguely discernible that they were written in etchings, but it seemed to be from a long time ago. After being eroded by the wind and rain, it had long become indistinct.
Lu Guo followed him over, pointed at it, and explained, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, there are etchings like this at the entrance of the first to the eighth floor of the formation. They are the secrets to breaking the formation. However, after breaking the formation, the spiritual energy has already dissipated, and it has long been rusted. I came here a long time ago, and the words are still quite clear. I was afraid that there might be something hidden in them, and it would be inappropriate if they were lost, so I made other copies. "
Zhang Yan nodded and praised, "Fellow Daoist Lu is meticulous and meticulous. May I know where those copies are now? "
Lu Guo felt excited after hearing Zhang Yan's praise. He said, "I have these copies with me every day. They are all here. Please have a look."
He took out a jade disk from his sleeve and handed it over.
Zhang Yan reached out and took it. He held it in his hand and looked at it for a while. At first, he was surprised, but then he showed a thoughtful expression.
Seeing his expression, Lu Guo moved forward and asked curiously, "Fellow Daoist, did you see anything?"
Zhang Yan turned his wrist and put the jade disk into his sleeve. He said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist, you overestimate I. How could I see anything in such a short time? When we go back, I will carefully study it. Fellow Daoist, don't be anxious. "
Lu Guo sincerely cupped her hands and bowed deeply. She said, "Then I will leave it to you, Fellow Daoist."
After talking for a while, the two of them continued forward. This time, they didn't stop. They passed through eight stone steps and arrived at the entrance of the ninth floor of the formation. Just Now, they stopped.
Zhang Yan saw that if they went further up, the mountain path would be covered by spiritual clouds. He looked into the distance, and from time to time, there would be illusory lights flashing.
Seeing that he was standing a little closer, Lu Guo's expression changed. She hurriedly grabbed his sleeve and said in shock, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, don't go any further. This formation is extremely powerful. I previously released a few spiritual birds inside, and in the blink of an eye, they were all turned into meat paste."
Zhang Yan smiled and gently broke free from her hand. He pointed forward and said, "Fellow Daoist Lu, don't worry. I just want to take a closer look at the engravings on the plate."
Lu Guo let out a sigh of relief. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and said, "Fellow Daoist, please take your time."
In front of the formation, there was still a bronze plate similar to the one they saw before. However, it was different from before. The surface of the plate was enshrouded in spiritual light, and the words looked like they had been engraved. It was obviously under the protection of the formation.
Zhang Yan looked at it, and his expression became serious. He said in a deep voice, "The engravings here are several times more difficult than Just Now. I'm afraid I will have to spend some time to slowly deduce them."
Lu Guo sighed and said, "I can't help you with this matter. I can only trouble you."
Zhang Yan nodded slightly. He sat cross-legged on the ground and closed his eyes to meditate.
Lu Guo saw that he seemed to be immersed in it. She was stunned for a moment. She walked around on the spot a few times before finally retreating quietly.
After the footsteps went far away, after a while, Zhang Yan opened his eyes and released a stream of smoke, enveloping the stone platform. He then took out the Hero's Knot Fish Drum from his sleeves and held it horizontally in front of him, whispering, "Is Shishu here?"
A green light flashed, and the Fish Drum True Spirit came out. He took a few steps forward and looked at the formation in front of him. He clicked his tongue.
Zhang Yan didn't stand up. He only said, "Uncle-Master, can I harvest the Azure Yang Astral Spirit here?"
The Fish Drum True Spirit chuckled and said, "I can try."
He stretched out his hand and a stream of clear air came out of nowhere. It slowly gathered in his hand and finally condensed into a grain of green jade the size of a grain of rice.
After a while, there was another grain. As time passed, more and more grains gathered in his hand. After two hours, there were already over a hundred grains in his hand.
Zhang Yan stared at it. His eyes lit up. He stood up and said, "Is this the Azure Yang Astral Spirit?"
He walked to the Fish Drum True Spirit's side and reached out to grab a handful of it. He held it in his palm. The object was crystal clear, like a jadeite. It shone brilliantly, but its weight was light. Its aura was slightly heavy, and it floated up like dust. It was several inches high, but it didn't disperse.
The Fish Drum True Spirit was slightly dissatisfied. He said, "This place is still far from the Extreme Heaven. The essence energy contained in the Astral Spirit is too thin. Although it is useful to you, the effect is minimal. You might not be able to enter the Yuanying Realm even after cultivating for a hundred years. But if you have the ability to reach the peak of this mountain, it won't be an extravagant hope to break through the gate in half a cycle of sixty years."
Zhang Yan looked up with a resolute expression. He clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Then let's go to the peak."
At this moment, the sound of footsteps could be heard. Zhang Yan's eyes flashed. He waved his sleeves and gathered all the smoke in the area. The Fish Drum True Spirit also disappeared.
A moment later, Lu Guo came up the stone platform with a Dao child with delicate features. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist deduced the Eroding Runes. It must be quite tiring. You must have no one to serve you. Eldest Senior Brother ordered this little brother to send a Dao child here for you to use. If it doesn't suit your taste, this little brother will find someone else."
Zhang Yan glanced at the Dao child. He saw that the Dao child was dressed like a jade carving and looked intelligent. However, his eyes were flickering. It was obvious that his thoughts weren't pure. Zhang Yan couldn't help but be surprised.
How could he not know Duanmu Li's intentions? This Dao child was a servant in name, but in reality, he was worried about him. He was just using him to monitor him. He smiled and said, "Temple Master Duanmu is considerate. Leave this Dao child here."
Lu Guo patted the Dao child's back and said, "Quickly greet Daoist Zhang."
The Dao child hurriedly bowed and said, "Little Tong Zhong Xin greets Daoist Zhang."
Zhang Yan responded indifferently.
Lu Guo was afraid that she would disturb Zhang Yan's thoughts, so she hurriedly left after saying her greetings.
After he left, Zhang Yan called Zhong Xin over and said, "When I'm deducing the technique, you have to stand a little further away. You're not allowed to come within three zhang of me without my permission. Otherwise, if I accidentally kill you, it'll be your own fault for seeking death. Do you understand?"
Zhong Xin's face paled and he hurriedly said, "This Dao child doesn't dare, this Dao child doesn't dare."
Zhang Yan waved his sleeve and said, "Step aside for now."
Zhong Xin hurriedly retreated dozens of steps and stopped ten zhang away. Just Now, he couldn't help but reveal a trace of disappointment on his small face.
He was actually not a servant boy, but a disciple that Duanmu Li had taken in two years ago. Other than to check on Zhang Yan's movements, he had also come with the intention of secretly learning the Erosion Symbol Deduction Technique. Seeing how cautious Zhang Yan was, he instantly felt that his chances were slim.
Zhang Yan ignored him and calmed his mind to deduce the inscriptions on the bronze plate.
After a moment, he could see that if he followed the orthodox method, it would take him a year and a half to fully understand it. Moreover, even if he obtained the method, it might not necessarily be the orthodox method. He would still need to use a spirit bird to break through the formation and verify it, which would delay him even more.
It was easy to imagine how difficult the twenty-seven formations would be. Fortunately, he had the remnant jade to help him, otherwise he would definitely be trapped here.
However, just as he was about to borrow the remnant jade, a light suddenly flashed in his mind as if he had thought of something.
With a flip of his hand, he took out the jade plate that Lu Guo had handed to him. When he looked at it carefully, he couldn't help but reveal a somewhat strange expression.
These eight formations didn't seem like much individually, but when they were linked together, it became somewhat interesting.
Just from the inscriptions alone, it seemed that they went from shallow to deep, and the further they went, the more difficult they became. If it wasn't for someone who was proficient in this Dao, he would never have been able to see it.
If his guess was correct, perhaps there was no need to go through so much trouble.
He thought for a moment and flicked his finger. The Stellar Sword Orb flew out and hovered beside him. This object was connected to his mind, so if someone approached while he was deducing, it would definitely alert him.
Then, he reached into his sleeve and held the remnant jade. His mind sank into it and he patiently deduced … To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)! ~!
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