I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 174: Chapter 148: Luring the Enemy Deep Within (Kanzaki Alliance Leader +3)

”How should I proceed?”

Having made up his mind, Jiang Yuebai wouldn’t hesitate in the slightest.

Zhao Fuyi unfurled the Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array Map, or to be precise, it was a star map devoid of any discernible pattern, just clusters of star points, dense or sparse, without any description besides the title. Jiang Yuebai couldn’t comprehend it at all.

Zhao Fuyi’s hand moved across the star map, one star point lit up, then another, and another... soon, more star points illuminated simultaneously.

”One gives birth to two, two give birth to three, three give birth to all things. Tai Chi gives birth to Two Elements, Two Elements give birth to Four Symbols, Four Symbols give birth to Eight Diagrams. You don’t need to know too much right now, just follow your intuition and remember the lit star points, imprint them in your mind.”

Jiang Yuebai felt restless, anxiously scratching his head, ”I don’t even know what this is, how does memorizing it help? Are you really sure I can do this?”

Zhao Fuyi looked into Jiang Yuebai’s eyes, speaking with earnestness, ”You may not be the most talented in the Array Dao I’ve ever seen, but you are certainly the most diligent. In today’s Array Dao, thanks to meticulous research by many predecessors, simplicity is sought from complexity; you can form arrays just by trying out set array maps consistently.”

”Many have only a superficial understanding of the principles behind array maps, and there’s really no need to spend time and energy understanding the complex foundational theory at the early stages of the Array Dao; just follow the established rules set by the forebears to array. I was the same initially; it wasn’t until my Core Formation that I realized such a path only follows the old ways, unable to break through or transcend.”

”For a long time afterward, I immersed myself in refining the basics of the Array Dao, from simplicity to complexity, then sought new simplification. You find the Array Dao difficult because you understand the basics well. Hee Wangchen can replicate the arrays of predecessors, but you can combine new arrays to counter him. You do have talent in Array Dao; your effort is your talent.”

Jiang Yuebai’s pupils trembled as he stared intently at Zhao Fuyi, ”Do you really... recognize my talent?”

Zhao Fuyi nodded without hesitation, ”The Wind-Fire Heaven Extreme Array you successfully arrayed wasn’t just by luck; it was formed by instinct during a critical moment, relying on deeply ingrained rules and intuition of the Array Dao. The same goes here, do not think too much, listen to your intuitive sense for arrays.”

Jiang Yuebai felt something in his heart being filled, realizing that while he once thought he was average in talent concerning the Array Dao, his effort compensated for his talent’s inadequacy and secured Zhao Fuyi’s recognition.

Jiang Yuebai’s spirit was uplifted as she rubbed her face, continuing to memorize the star points on the map. Gradually, she vaguely sensed a certain rule among them; the star points in her mind connected autonomously, forming mysterious, strange runes.

Zhao Fuyi continued, ”Originally, eight array points are required, but I’ve modified your array plate. Once you reach the formation core position, you only need to summon the array plate and adjust the positions of soldiers within the array according to the responses from the four array points, using array soldiers as chess pieces to replicate the star points from the star map, responding internally and externally; thus, the Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array can be formed!”

A moment later, Jiang Yuebai’s clear eyes were filled with starlight radiance. She quietly closed her eyes, gathering the starlight at the bottom of her eyes, imprinting it in her mind.

Zhao Fuyi’s complexion was ashen as he embedded the original main array plate simply into the Eight Arrays Plate and handed it to Jiang Yuebai, sustaining himself with sheer will.

”The formation core position is directly above the crater. When you look up, the handle of the Beidou stars pointing directly at your Baihui Acupoint is the optimal position. You only need to hand me over to the people of the Three Elements Sect; you can effortlessly sneak inside.”

”No! They’ll possess you with the Ghost Clan’s old monster!” Jiang Yuebai flatly refused.

Zhao Fuyi suddenly smiled, a face showing a softness she never revealed before.

”Don’t worry, they’ll go to great lengths for the body of the Earth Spiritual Realm’s strongest, and won’t let me in my weakened state damage the foundation, they’ll surely find a way to restrain me and wait for my recovery before attempting possession. I’m buying you time.”

What Zhao Fuyi said made sense; with Zhao Fuyi creating a distraction, who would pay attention to a minor Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator? Thus, it would be easier to infiltrate.

After understanding, Jiang Yuebai didn’t act ceremoniously, taking something from her bracelet and stuffing it into Zhao Fuyi’s hand.

Zhao Fuyi was momentarily stunned, then clenched it tightly in her palm, ”How much of this do you have?”

Jiang Yuebai gestured, and after thinking briefly, Zhao Fuyi quickly relayed instructions to Jiang Yuebai.

”... Focus on arraying, don’t bother with anything else.”

Jiang Yuebai frowned and nodded, Zhao Fuyi removed her storage ring and handed it to Jiang Yuebai.

”This item, temporarily keep it for me, lest it falls into the hands of villains. Time is of the essence; I just sensed that the aura has grown incredibly strong, and now fear that once that old monster awakens, they might directly destroy the entire secret realm.”

”Wait a moment.”

Jiang Yuebai turned her back, summoned the Five Elements Lotus Platform, and threw everything she wouldn’t need into it, swiftly refining them into Five Elements Essence Qi.

Seeing the Five Elements Essence Qi still halfway there, Jiang Yuebai steeled herself and added over a thousand Thorn Seeds and some rarely used talismans and Elixirs.

The Five Elements Essence Qi reached halfway, Jiang Yuebai gritted her teeth and threw in a hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, prompting a quick surge of Five Elements Essence Qi, she continued adding Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Finally, under the accumulation of Spirit Stones, the Essence Qi in the Lotus Platform filled to the brim.

Grabbing the Seven Evils Banner, Jiang Yuebai saw Zhao Fuyi in blood-soaked attire, raising her hand to cast a Dust Cleaning Technique, before going over to help Zhao Fuyi pin her disheveled hair with a jade hairpin.

”You are True Monarch Fuyi of the Heavenly Interence Sect, the Earth’s foremost Array Master, you must not appear disheveled.”

Zhao Fuyi’s nose tingled, deeply moved in her heart, ”You’ve seen more than enough of me looking disheveled.”

With her hair pinned, Zhao Fuyi removed the Red Scale Armor and straightened her clothes.

”Put on this Red Scale Armor, should anything happen... you must survive!”

Zhao Fuyi stood up, her black hair half pulled-up, the simplicity of her purple garments could not conceal her iron-like spirit, like a tree of jade branches planted in a sunless place, naturally radiating brilliance, so dazzling.

Jiang Yuebai looked up and exhaled, ’escorting’ Zhao Fuyi forward.

They were at the base of the Divine Silence Ridge volcano, after navigating through twists and turns, they soon ran into a well-guarded sentry post.

Seeing Zhao Fuyi, the Evil Cultivators from the Three Elements Sect were terrified, each summoning magic artifacts to protect themselves as if facing a grave threat.

Jiang Yuebai stepped out from behind Zhao Fuyi, still under the guise of the Sun Erosion Sect’s Ding Yan identity. Without explaining her situation, those anxious to earn merit were vying to escort Zhao Fuyi to the sect leader.

As she expected, no one paid attention to her, a low-ranking Evil Cultivator of Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

Inside the volcano, the mountain walls held a footpath; Jiang Yuebai followed the group of Evil Cultivators inside, watching them escort Zhao Fuyi deeper and downward into the depths of the volcano.

Intense firelight surged with brutal ferocity deep underground, black stone pillars holding aloft an ancient altar above the Earth Evil Fire Sea.

The altar appeared weathered and dim, yet emanated a chill that pierced Jiang Yuebai’s bones.

Countless Netherworld Blood Evil gathered into a red ocean encircling the altar, intermittently emitting eerie laughter.

A girl shrouded in a black robe stood quietly at the altar center, dark intangible energy swirling around her feet, like venomous serpents coiling around her slender ankles, biting fiercely, continuously injecting poison.

With just a glance, Jiang Yuebai recognized her.

Lin Suwan!

Feeling a sense, Lin Suwan looked up, prompting Jiang Yuebai to turn away quickly, clinging tightly to the mountain wall.

”Master, Zhao Fuyi has been found!”

Lin Suwan’s gaze fell upon Zhao Fuyi.

Lin Suwan’s state was extremely peculiar, with emotions and expressions alternating between gentleness and aggression, her neck twisting in moments of pain and excitement.

”Just... wait... a moment... I will soon... be... reborn!”

Jiang Yuebai clung to the mountain wall, following the footpath toward the volcano’s summit.

The mountain wall had numerous caves filled with white bones, guarded by many Evil Cultivators.

Jiang Yuebai moved stealthily, responding to inquiries with claims that the shaft below collapsed, and she needed to leave the Divine Silence Ridge from above.

Exiting the crater, the world remained shrouded in darkness; the Beidou Seven Stars hung in the sky, with numerous Feather Clan Extraordinary People circling the crater as escorts.

”Leave quickly if there’s nothing!”

The two Evil Cultivator guards at the crater scolded Jiang Yuebai, without warning, she drew her sword suddenly.

The zigzag Sword Aura sliced through the night, one guard split into four segments, blood spraying.

”Enemy attack!!”

Bang!

A firework exploded mid-air, the silent night becoming agitated, surrounding Feather Clan Extraordinary People swarming, Evil Cultivator guards from beneath rushing forward.

Jiang Yuebai’s black feathers spread into wings, the seven stars overhead, riding on the breeze, she hovered directly above the crater, expressionless, gazing at the surrounding formidable foes.

In the instant they all charged, a swift gust bled through the skies; Jiang Yuebai vanished without a trace, leaving only a Jade Pivot Thunder Pearl trembling in the wind, bursting with a resounding boom!