Urban Martial Saint

The peculiar nature of Chatiang Peak led Ye Qing and Fu Qingping to refrain from ascending directly, instead meticulously observing the position of the stars under the mountain.

The Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation wasn’t something Ye Qing had deeply studied. However, the Tiangang Beidou Step Technique he learned was the culmination of all Taoist formations, allowing him to easily comprehend other Taoist formations. Having previously read about the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, Ye Qing began to grasp some understanding while observing the stars using the principles of the Tiangang Beidou Step Technique.

”Based on the layout of this Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, Chatiang Peak serves only as an entrance, not an exit!” Ye Qing muttered softly.

Fu Qingping glanced at Ye Qing, surprised, ”Have you studied the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation too?”

”Just a little,” Ye Qing smiled, saying, ”According to Qimen Dunjia, the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation is divided into eight gates: Closed, Life, Injury, Obstruction, Vision, Death, Shock, and Open. It’s ever-changing; the power of this formation was once used by the sage Zhuge Liang to resist a hundred thousand elite soldiers. Judging by the star positions, Chatiang Peak is merely positioned at the Open Door, serving only as an entrance, not an exit.”

While speaking, Ye Qing turned to look around, seemingly searching for something. After a while, he suddenly pointed towards a mountain forest in the north, saying, ”According to the orientation of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, the Gate of Life should be over there. Could it be that the exit of the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master is over there?”

Fu Qingping was even more astonished. Although he had read about the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, his research in this area was not profound, and he couldn’t analyze the positions of the gates. Ye Qing’s analysis was truly beyond his expectations; who would have thought Ye Qing had such research into Taoist formations?

Fu Qingping looked at the mountain forest and then at Chatiang Peak, murmuring, ”What predecessors left behind is indeed mystical. Regardless, seeing the layout of this Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, we must be careful. If there are indeed traps inside the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, it will truly be dangerous!”

Ye Qing nodded, fully aware of the power of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation. Entering and stepping into the wrong gate would surely lead to a fatal outcome!

However, if the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master was indeed arranged according to the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, finding the relics left by Ghost Valley Master within would not be an easy task. It seemed that Ghost Valley Master deliberately intended for his tomb’s legacy to be left for the descendants of the Taoist Sect; otherwise, why leave such a Taoist Great Array?

Yet, now was not the time to ponder these matters. With Fu Qingping’s assistance, Ye Qing followed him up Chatiang Peak. Despite the surrounding cliffs, Fu Qingping traversed as if on level ground, experiencing no difficulty. Only upon reaching flat ground did he set Ye Qing down.

”They’re on the mountain, likely yet to find the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master,” Fu Qingping whispered after they reached level ground. With his superior Six Senses, he could clearly hear the movements of the Wo Country’s Ninja upon reaching the mountain. Wen’er, being among them, was notably less skilled, making her footfalls conspicuous.

”Let’s not alert them yet,” Ye Qing suggested, stopping by a large rock. From this midway position on the mountain, he could precisely observe the stars above.

Ye Qing finally understood why they had to search for the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master on a Half-Moon Night. Not only was the Gold Silk Armor usable on such nights, but crucially, it was on Half-Moon Nights that the celestial concordance with Chatiang Peak established the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation. Evidently, the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master was indeed arranged according to this formation.

While researching the alignment of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams, Ye Qing concurrently validated his learnings of the Tiangang Beidou Step Technique. Unknowingly, his understanding of the step technique and the formation deepened significantly. Pondering for a long time, he abruptly stood, slowly stepping thrice according to the Tiangang Beidou Step Technique. Then, he gently closed his eyes and carefully took a fourth step.

Standing nearby, Fu Qingping observed Ye Qing’s actions. Watching him take those four steps, a glint of admiration flickered in his eyes. Though not deeply studied in Taoist formations, Fu Qingping recognized the intricacy of those four steps. Indeed, with those steps alone, Ye Qing could evade three moves should Fu Qingping choose to fight him now!

Ye Qing was equally astounded, realizing that he had previously managed only three steps, which was his limit. Yet, this time he had succeeded in taking the fourth step, hinting at his advanced understanding of Taoist formations!

The Tiangang Beidou Step Technique only consisted of seven steps. According to Shen Tianjun, mastering all seven steps meant comprehending all Taoist formations. With all seven steps mastered, even an ordinary person without martial arts knowledge could evade an attack from a Peak Master, showcasing the technique’s formidable power.

In actuality, Shen Tianjun himself, despite his extensive research into Taoist formations, could only manage four steps. Ye Qing achieving the fourth step implied his research in Taoist formations nearly matched that of Shen Tianjun. This progress resulted entirely from Ye Qing’s mutual validation of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation. It must be acknowledged that the formation left by Guiguzi genuinely embodied the essence of Taoist formations!

After taking the fourth step, Ye Qing opened his eyes, directly gazing at a spot halfway up the mountain. Suddenly, he pointed there, softly saying, ”The Tomb of Ghost Valley Master should be in that position!”

”What?” Now it was Fu Qingping’s turn to be astonished. He looked at Ye Qing, asking, ”How did you know?”

”Because that’s the location of the Open Door in the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation!” Ye Qing replied.

Fu Qingping hadn’t extensively studied the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation, and now with it formed by Chatiang Peak and the celestial alignment, he was even less able to deduce the position of the eight gates. Unexpectedly, Ye Qing managed to pinpoint their locations, making Fu Qingping incredibly impressed.

”Let’s go and have a look,” Fu Qingping said, grabbing Ye Qing and heading towards the spot Ye Qing had just indicated.

Fu Qingping’s strength was immense. Even while holding someone, he moved across the mountainous terrain silently. Although many Wo Country’s Ninja and Church experts were on the mountain, none noticed them. Carrying Ye Qing, Fu Qingping skillfully avoided these people, quietly reaching the location indicated by Ye Qing, which was a platform midway up the mountain.

”Is it here?” Fu Qingping whispered.

Ye Qing slowly nodded, confirming his speculation—it was indeed a platform. He carefully went to the platform’s edge, which descended into an unfathomable abyss. Ignoring the precipice, Ye Qing scrutinized the mountain wall on the other side. After contemplating, he walked beside it, measuring distances with his feet, while knocking on the rock wall, searching for something.

Since Ye Qing was knocking with his hand, the sound was faint, just audible to him. After a while, he stepped back, pointing to a section of the wall, and said in a low voice, ”It’s here!”

Surprise flashed in Fu Qingping’s eyes as he hurriedly examined the rock face but found nothing unusual. He also tapped the wall, yet it sounded dull inside, as if there were no space within.

”Is this the place?” Fu Qingping asked in disbelief, ”Is there no secret chamber inside?”

”The rock is too thick, so there’s no echo when tapped. But this must be where the Gate of Life is located!” Ye Qing replied, glancing around as he spoke softly. ”The method to open this door likely involves using the method left by Ancestor Chen Tuan, requiring one hundred and eight Famed Instruments arranged in a formation to unlock it!”

Saying this, Ye Qing clutched his chest. For some reason, upon reaching this place, the Taoist power within him began to stir. An uncanny sensation suggested something behind the rock wall was drawing his Taoist power.

As the Taoist power surged, the forces of the Buddha’s Relic and the Devouring Demon Flower within him also stirred. These powerful energies began to surge within Ye Qing, confronting the Taoist power in a very peculiar way.

Ye Qing didn’t understand what was happening, but assumed there was definitely something crucial to the Taoist Sect behind the rock wall; otherwise, his internal energies wouldn’t be so restless. He had encountered a similar situation before in the Doomsday Sect, when the presence of Taoist Wuji caused his internal energies to surge unnaturally. This time, though, what could lie behind this rock wall? Could there even be a living person?

”Since the Wo Country’s Ninja holds the method to open this tomb, let’s wait for them to come and open it!” Fu Qingping stepped back, whispering, ”I hear them getting closer, but it’s uncertain if they’ll find this spot. It would be troublesome if they don’t realize this is the entrance to the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master!”

Ye Qing murmured, ”They should be able to find it, considering the Gold Silk Armor can guide to the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master. With it in their hands, they surely won’t mistake the location!”

”That’s good!” Fu Qingping nodded, pulling Ye Qing as they retreated, concealing themselves behind a large rock on the mountain, quietly observing the platform’s activity.

After about ten minutes, a group finally appeared on the platform. Ye Qing saw clearly that it was indeed the group of Wo Country’s Ninja, as Wen’er was among them, and one person held the Gold Silk Armor!

At last, they had arrived!