Breaking the Formation

The light barrier was thick and murky. While it was not as completely obscuring as the yellow mist had been, the view through it remained blurry and indistinct.

Moreover, beyond this single barrier, there appeared to be several more layers within. At the very center of the formation, a faint column several meters tall could be seen, covered in what looked like ancient patterns and archaic script. Exactly what they were, none of the group could make out, for whenever their spiritual sense touched the light barrier, it was completely repelled, unable to penetrate even a fraction.

Stranger still, countless slender, seven-colored light ribbons drifted and wove unpredictably between the layers of the barrier, as if alive. The sight was extraordinarily eerie.

The others, now seeing this spectacle, could not help but murmur in wonder.

Han Li, however, wore a slightly grim expression. A flicker of doubt passed through his eyes.

Although his knowledge of ancient formations was limited, he had encountered no small number of them in the various tomes Xin Ruyin had left him.

The appearance and aura of this formation before him did not seem to match any ancient formation he knew. Instead, it carried a somewhat sinister quality.

With this thought, Han Li turned his head and glanced at Shi Die.

She was curiously examining the formation, her face revealing nothing unusual.

This eased Han Li’s mind, as he was not confident in his own knowledge of formations. He chided himself a little for a mistaken judgment.

“Alright! It’s getting late. Brother Han and the others have traveled a long way; you should all rest. We’ll begin the formal work of breaking the formation tomorrow! Judging by its appearance, it won’t be taken down in a short while!” Hu Yue said considerately to Han Li and the others.

Hearing this, Han Li realized that the continuous journey had indeed left him somewhat fatigued, and he raised no objection.

Fairy Shi, on the other hand, seemed eager to begin after seeing the formation’s true appearance. But since Hu Yue had spoken, she said nothing more.

The group flew back to the stone hut.

Because there were not enough rooms, Han Li and the others casually molded some earth into a few more earthen huts, then turned them to stone using a petrification technique before officially moving in.

...

The next morning, Han Li and Shi Die went to the vicinity of the light barrier and began their various calculations and tests of the formation’s properties.

The process of breaking the formation was extremely slow.

In the beginning, especially, both of them felt somewhat at a loss. They frequently encountered unsolvable difficulties and could go for days without making any progress.

But regardless, the formation was dead, while they were alive.

Given enough time for study and deliberation, even the most bizarre formations could be gradually cracked. Under the combined efforts of Han Li and this woman, this so-called ancient formation was no exception. Its secrets were slowly revealed by the pair bit by bit.

During this process, Han Li’s opinion of the female cultivator named Shi greatly improved.

Although somewhat arrogant, she was genuinely skilled.

Not only was she thoroughly familiar with all manner of known formations, but her calculations regarding the formation’s layout were meticulous and precise. Han Li was quite impressed.

In his estimation, her theoretical knowledge of formations, while not as profound as Xin Ruyin’s, was not far behind.

Yet, even as he admired her, he felt a bit puzzled. Why were all the formation experts he knew women? Did female cultivators possess some natural talent in this area?

However, compared to Xin Ruyin, this Fairy Shi seemed somewhat lacking in practical experience.

Although she could discuss various formation theories with great fluency, her methods for actually breaking them were far too limited—just the same few techniques used over and over. If they failed, she was at a complete loss.

Han Li, with his half-baked knowledge of formations, was naturally far inferior to her in the art of deduction. He knew his limits and did not argue with her on this front. Instead, he directly applied various breakthrough techniques he had learned from Xin Ruyin where appropriate, which earned him a look of surprise from the woman.

Thus, after a period of tacit cooperation, Han Li and Fairy Shi developed a method: she would deduce and locate the formation’s weaknesses, and he would find ways to break them.

Not only did this greatly speed up the progress of dismantling the formation, but it also allowed both of them to pick up knowledge they had lacked, much to their mutual satisfaction.

As for Jin Qing and the others, unable to participate, they dutifully sat in meditation and practiced Qi cultivation within the stone huts, waiting for the pair to finish.

Three months later, on one particular day, Han Li and Shi Die called everyone to the slope in front of the formation.

After all their hard work over these past months, the great formation had finally been almost completely dismantled, leaving only the last restriction.

Once this restriction was broken, the strange stone pillar at the center would be fully exposed.

The light barrier at this point was vastly different from what Han Li had first seen.

Not only had its area shrunk by nearly half, but its color had changed from the original muddy yellow to a blazing, fiery red. Anyone who drew near could feel a wave of heat washing over them.

More astonishingly, the seven-colored light ribbons within the barrier wall had transformed into countless winged fire snakes, crawling and slithering everywhere across the surface of the barrier, constantly spitting thin flames.

“What kind of monsters are these?” Jin Qing asked in surprise at the sight.

The others also wore expressions of astonishment.

“‘Fiend Wings,’ a type of fire elemental spirit. They are extremely rare and can only form in very special environments. Their lifespans are very short, often dissipating on their own after just a few hours. However, the demonic fire they spit is no less powerful than a cultivator’s Nascent Flame. They are most fond of devouring the souls of mortals and the Nascent Souls of cultivators, making them quite troublesome to deal with. This final restriction was clearly designed to create a ‘Three Yang’ location here, allowing these fire spirits to be continuously reborn, never dying out. If a cultivator unfamiliar with their origins were to forcibly break through the restriction, they would undoubtedly fall victim to these Fiend Wings.” Shi Die explained with a hint of pride.

After all, the obscure origin of the “Fiend Wings” had been her insight.

“Fiend Wings?” Upon hearing that these things would devour their Nascent Souls, Jin Qing and the others could not help but change expression.

“Since you’ve called us here, you two must have a solution. Please don’t hesitate to instruct us,” the usually quiet cultivator surnamed Jian unexpectedly said.

The others were momentarily startled, then turned their gazes toward the woman and Han Li.

Han Li smiled faintly and said nothing. Shi Die let out a light laugh and spoke in a clear voice:

“Senior Han and I were also quite troubled at first, but after a few days of discussion, we finally devised a proper method for breaking this restriction. However, it will require everyone’s assistance.”

Although her face was plain, her voice was crisp and pleasant, lending her a certain charm in that moment.

“Just say the word, Fairy Shi. Whatever you and Fellow Daoist Han instruct, we will do,” Hu Yue said with a grin.

Hearing this, Shi Die did not stand on ceremony and began issuing instructions.

“To break this formation, we need several mutually restraining water-attribute magic tools. Senior Han and I have managed to gather a few pieces. I ask that you each hold one of these tools and stand in the positions we designate. When Senior Han breaks the barrier, you will use these tools to eliminate any ‘Fiend Wings’ that slip through.”

“I also advise everyone not to use your own magic treasures to attack these spirits. They are natural fire elementals that cultivators normally go out of their way to avoid. Even more importantly, do not let them get close to you, or the consequences will be severe,” Han Li added slowly.

Seeing the gravity in Han Li’s expression, Hu Yue and the others exchanged glances before all acknowledging the warning with serious nods.

Han Li then took out a small ruler, a small hammer, and a small trident from his person, handing them to Jin Qing, Qu Hun, and the cultivator surnamed Jian respectively. Meanwhile, Shi Die produced a blue silk handkerchief and gave it to Hu Yue.

Under Shi Die’s guidance, the four took their positions nearby. Shi Die herself quickly retreated to the periphery, also producing a short sword magic tool, and focused her gaze on Han Li’s actions.

Han Li did not act hastily. He carefully surveyed the entire area once more. Finding nothing amiss, he waved his hands. Dozens of blue formation flags, plates, and other water-attribute array implements all flew out of his storage pouch, swirling around him unsteadily.

Without another word, Han Li’s ten fingers flicked lightly. A series of soft “putt” sounds rang out in rapid succession.

One by one, the flags and plates shot toward the perimeter of the red light barrier, slowly descending according to a specific pattern. The flags had their poles driven a few inches into the ground, while the plates floated steadily a few inches above it, forming a solemn and imposing array.