An array formation laid by a saintly powerhouse?
Ye Qiu was startled and immediately asked the Hundred Flowers Immortal: “Do you know how large this array formation is?”
“I do not know.” The Hundred Flowers Immortal said: “The methods of saintly powerhouses are profoundly mysterious. The arrays they lay can be as small or as large as they wish. A small array can be concealed within a speck of dust, while a large one can encompass tens of millions of li.”
What?
Ye Qiu and the Longbrow Real Person were both shocked.
The Hundred Flowers Immortal glanced at the white light barrier and said: “Evidently, this array formation is vast. As for its exact size, that I do not know.”
The Longbrow Real Person stared at the array formation for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead and cried: “I understand now.”
“What do you understand?” Ye Qiu asked.
The Longbrow Real Person said: “When we teleported earlier, we must have collided with this grand array, which is why the teleportation failed.”
The Hundred Flowers Immortal said: “The Real Person is right. Though the saintly array pattern is powerful, if one encounters a grand saintly array during teleportation, it will surely be obstructed.”
The Longbrow Real Person cursed: “Damn it all, which saintly powerhouse was so bored as to lay an array here? Not only did it cause our teleportation to fail, it even got this poor Daoist a whipping.”
Then, the Longbrow Real Person felt somewhat puzzled: “Strange, why would a saintly powerhouse lay such a grand array here?”
“Could it be that there is some treasure hidden inside?”
At this thought, the Longbrow Real Person grew excited and said: “Little rascal, let us find a way to enter the grand array. Perhaps there truly is something good within.”
Ye Qiu was so angry he could not contain it and raged: “At a time like this, and you are still coveting treasures?”
The Longbrow Real Person said: “What if there is some treasure inside that can cure the Immortal?”
Ye Qiu was stunned upon hearing this. Suddenly, he felt the Longbrow Real Person had a point. As Lu Luo had said earlier, the Ice Plains lay at the border between the Eastern Wastelands and the Northern Domain. This was a forbidden land of the cultivation world, and a saintly powerhouse would never lay a grand array here without reason.
If there truly was a treasure inside, it must be something extraordinary!
Ye Qiu pondered for a moment and said: “This is a grand array laid by a saintly powerhouse. With our cultivation, entering it would likely be harder than ascending to the heavens.”
“Moreover, even if there is truly a treasure inside, it may not be able to cure the Hundred Flowers Immortal.”
“The Hundred Flowers Immortal’s condition is critical. We cannot waste time here and must find a way to reach the Azure Cloud Sword Sect as quickly as possible.”
The Longbrow Real Person looked troubled and said: “The saintly grand array blocks the path. Going to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect now will likely not be so easy.”
Ye Qiu raged: “And you have the nerve to say that? If not for you, would we be here?”
The Longbrow Real Person said: “How can you blame this poor Daoist? The Immortal herself said it was the teleportation array colliding with the saintly grand array that caused the failure.”
Ye Qiu snorted coldly: “Was not the first time because your hand slipped?”
The Longbrow Real Person lowered his head and muttered: “The hand slip was because I was too excited. What, am I not allowed to be excited?”
Ye Qiu gazed at the saintly grand array, his heart troubled as well. Indeed, the saintly grand array blocked the way forward, and without spirit stones to activate the saintly array pattern, reaching the Azure Cloud Sword Sect seemed unrealistic.
What to do?
Now, there were only two paths to choose: retreat or go around.
Ye Qiu said: “We shall go around the saintly grand array and head to the Azure Cloud Sword Sect.”
The Longbrow Real Person said: “Little rascal, do not blame this poor Daoist for dousing your hopes with cold water. This saintly grand array is too vast. To go around it, who knows how long it would take.”
“Then what do you say we should do?” Ye Qiu asked.
The Longbrow Real Person thought for a moment and said: “Let this poor Daoist cast a divination!”
Ye Qiu did not stop him. At present, there truly was no better method.
The Longbrow Real Person drew four copper coins from the sleeve of his Daoist robe, laid them in his palm, and then muttered incantations under his breath.
After a while, the four copper coins floated into the air.
“Four directional spirits, heed my command. Seek the gate of life. Hasten as per the law!”
With a great shout from the Longbrow Real Person, the four floating copper coins flew towards the southeast, southwest, and north directions simultaneously.
Puff!
The coin flying east suddenly burst apart.
Immediately after, the one flying south also burst.
In less than three seconds, the one flying west burst as well. Only the coin flying north floated before the saintly grand array, spinning ceaselessly.
“Little rascal, east, south, west, these three directions are filled with immense peril. We can only go north.”
The Longbrow Real Person pointed towards the direction of the grand array.
Ye Qiu’s face darkened as he said: “Old thing, you are not coveting the treasures in the array and thus playing tricks to deceive me, are you?”
The Longbrow Real Person said: “Little rascal, we have known each other so long. You should know what sort of person this poor Daoist is.”
“I know.” Ye Qiu said: “Greedy for wealth and lustful.”
Pfft.
The Hundred Flowers Immortal and Lu Luo could not help but laugh.
“You old sod, this poor Daoist has lived a life of kindness and purity, yet you slander me so?”
The Longbrow Real Person glared at Ye Qiu and said: “This poor Daoist knows you worry for the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s safety. Since that is so, I shall cast another divination to see if the Hundred Flowers Immortal can pass this crisis.”
After speaking, the Longbrow Real Person closed his eyes and pinched his fingers to calculate.
Fully five minutes passed.
Only then did the Longbrow Real Person open his eyes and say: “Little rascal, it seems we must enter this saintly grand array.”
“This poor Daoist has just divined that the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s fate is full of variables. One step forward means nine deaths and one life. One step back means certain death.”
“In other words, the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s slim chance of survival lies within this grand array.”
Ye Qiu stared sharply at the Longbrow Real Person, saying nothing.
“Little rascal, why do you look at me so?” The Longbrow Real Person felt thoroughly uncomfortable.
“Can I trust you?” Ye Qiu asked.
“Am I so unworthy of trust?” the Longbrow Real Person countered.
Ye Qiu said: “If we find no slim chance within the grand array, you know full well what the Hundred Flowers Immortal will face.”
“Old thing, you are my friend. We have come a long way from the mortal world, and it has not been easy. I do not wish to fall out with you.”
“So, I hope you tell me the truth. Are you truly coveting the treasures in the array?”
“Indeed, this poor Daoist does wish to obtain the treasures in the array.” The Longbrow Real Person admitted frankly, then changed tack: “However, this poor Daoist has not deceived you. There truly is the Hundred Flowers Immortal’s slim chance within the grand array.”
Seeing the Longbrow Real Person’s earnest expression, unlikely to be feigning, Ye Qiu’s gaze fell upon the saintly grand array. He said in a low voice: “The saintly grand array is indestructible. How can we enter?”
The Longbrow Real Person said: “Do you not have the Xuanyuan Sword? Try it with that.”
“Even the Universe Cauldrons could not harm the grand array. The Xuanyuan Sword likely cannot either.” Though Ye Qiu held little hope for the Xuanyuan Sword, as he spoke, he had already drawn it.
Whether it worked or not, he had to try. As long as there was the slightest chance, he would never give up.
Ye Qiu handed the Hundred Flowers Immortal to Lu Luo, then took a deep breath. Suddenly, he flew forth and thrust his sword towards the saintly grand array.
