196: The arrangement of the Guizhen Patriarch

"Then..."

"The things I need to do next."

"First is to crack the blood mass."

"Second is to Cultivate the [Grey Blood Sword Art], and by the way, comprehend the sword killing moves within the [enlightenment bead]."

"Third is to interpret the Formation here through the [tianfu array diagram]."

Xiao Shi made a detailed plan for this.

He knew these three things would be the key to whether he could obtain the Yin Flame.

Now, after his earlier cracking, the blood mass only had its final layer remaining.

However, the difficulty of cracking this last layer was also the greatest, requiring quite a bit of time.

While cracking the blood mass, Xiao Shi was also Cultivating the [Grey Blood Sword Art].

Earlier, he had almost finished Cultivating this sword art.

After all, with his talent, it wouldn't be difficult to master it.

He was mainly comprehending the sword Concept contained within this sword art.

This was also the key to comprehending the sword killing moves within the [enlightenment bead] later.

After some Cultivation, Xiao Shi successfully mastered the [Grey Blood Sword Art].

He discovered that besides the sword Concept it contained, its power was far more formidable than he had imagined earlier.

It was hard to imagine that this sword art was actually created by someone in the Qi Martial Realm!

At the same time, Xiao Shi also discovered that this sword art was incomplete.

To be precise, there was a theory within this sword art that the creator had not successfully implemented.

If this theory could be realized, then the power of the entire [Grey Blood Sword Art] would reach a higher level!

However, Xiao Shi was not in a hurry to study this theory for the time being.

After completing the Cultivation of the [Grey Blood Sword Art], he immediately began to comprehend the sword killing moves within the [enlightenment bead].

As his sword Concept strengthened, he was finally able to see this sword killing move within the [enlightenment bead] clearly.

Just as he had initially expected, this lightning-fast sword strike contained profound sword mysteries.

If one did not have sufficient attainments in sword techniques, even if they saw this strike, they wouldn't be able to comprehend anything from it.

And the deeper one's attainments in sword techniques, the faster one would comprehend this strike.

...

Three days later.

Swish!

A sharp, incomparable sword light flashed past the valley like lightning.

"Still not fast enough..."

Xiao Shi frowned.

After three days of comprehension, he had successfully comprehended this strike from the [enlightenment bead].

However, he was not satisfied with the strike he performed himself.

He knew very well that this strike relied mainly on speed!

The faster the speed, the stronger the power.

However, the speed of the strike he performed now did not reach his ideal situation.

One reason for this was mainly because he did not have a suitable sword in his hand.

The swords he currently possessed were all of Qi Warrior Grade and Entering Martial Rank.

As for Blood Martial Grade weapons, he only had one [Blood Shadow Sky Bow].

Currently, he could only use his fingers to perform this strike.

Naturally, he could not achieve the maximum power of this strike.

On the other hand, Xiao Shi felt that there were still some points of resistance in the performance of this strike.

It felt like a problem of insufficient proficiency.

He couldn't help but think of the unimplemented theory in the [Grey Blood Sword Art].

He pondered that if he could apply this theory to this strike, perhaps it could bring a greater enhancement to this strike, thereby making up for the current defects.

Thinking of this, he immediately began to study this theory according to his own ideas.

This theory was not only related to his own sword attainments, but also concerned his own Natal Martial Blood.

Once successfully implemented, Xiao Shi's Natal Martial Blood would turn gray when performing this sword art.

It would form another kind of power.

This power could only be used to drive the sword art.

It could not be applied to other aspects.

In other words, when Xiao Shi performed the sword art, he would not be able to use other means.

Although this drawback existed, in terms of sword techniques, it would reach an incomparably formidable level.

In addition, during these days, besides comprehending and improving his sword techniques, he also conducted an in-depth comprehension and sorting of the memories about Formations that he had plundered from Ke Zhuozheng.

This made his current attainments in Formations reach a very high level.

Consequently, he began to think about the powerful Forbidden Array that Ke Zhuozheng had displayed at that time.

If he could display this Forbidden Array, his strength would be able to be improved significantly again.

Although this Forbidden Array originated from the Guizhen Clan, and the members of the Guizhen Clan all used a special type of Formation as their Natal Martial Blood.

If one did not have this Natal Martial Blood Formation, many of the Formations within the Guizhen Clan would be difficult to display.

This included this Forbidden Array.

However, with Xiao Shi's current attainments in Formations, he felt that he could completely make some changes and adjustments on the original basis of this Forbidden Array.

Even without the Guizhen Clan's Natal Martial Blood Formation, he could still display it.

Xiao Shi already had a preliminary conception for this in his heart.

Once successful, when he displayed this Formation, he would no longer turn into a violent bear, but would Incarnate as a Crimson Tiger!

He prepared to combine his own characteristics to modify this Forbidden Array into a unique Formation suitable for himself.

...

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, it had been ten days since Xiao Shi entered the valley.

Inside the Zhiyan Division, Old Ancestor Guizhen sat quietly in front of the main hall, expressionless.

Since Xiao Shi entered the Yin Flame Valley, he had been squatting here, not leaving half a step.

He knew that there was only one entrance and exit to the Yin Flame Valley.

He was not afraid that Xiao Shi would escape from other places.

As long as he squatted here, he would definitely be able to catch the other party.

However, although he looked very calm on the surface, he was actually already starting to get anxious inside.

He knew very well that once it dragged on until the City Lord returned, things might have variables!

What he was most worried about was that after the City Lord returned, he would protect Xiao Shi because he appreciated him.

With the City Lord's strength, plus the Formation authority he possessed in Lieyin City...

he was far unable to compete with him.

Once the City Lord wanted to protect Xiao Shi, no one in this Lieyin City would be able to kill him!

And the City Lord's whereabouts were always elusive; even Lord Mo, who served as the butler, did not know when the other party would return.

The longer it dragged on, the more anxious and uneasy Old Ancestor Guizhen felt inside.

Whoosh!

Lord Mo, dressed in black robes, appeared behind Old Ancestor Guizhen at this moment.

His expression was as indifferent as always.

Although Old Ancestor Guizhen did not look back, he had already sensed the arrival of the other party.

"He shouldn't know that the City Lord is not in Lieyin City, right?"

Old Ancestor Guizhen asked in a deep voice.

He suspected whether Xiao Shi knew in advance that as long as he dragged it out until the City Lord returned, he would have hope of survival, so he kept staying inside and didn't come out.

Lord Mo shook his head.

"Only I know about this matter."

Saying this, he glanced at Old Ancestor Guizhen.

"Actually, you don't need to be so anxious..."

"The City Lord's departure this time is not quite the same as in the past."

"I suspect... the City Lord might have encountered some trouble there."

"He shouldn't be back so soon."

Old Ancestor Guizhen did not have any relaxation because of these words from Lord Mo.

His brows were still tightly furrowed.

"Should? This is just your speculation!"

"I don't want any variables in this matter. I must have him die!!"

"As the City Lord's butler, do you not have any method that can allow me to enter the Yin Flame Valley?"

Lord Mo's expression remained as usual.

"This main hall itself is a part of the Formation below. You know this better than I do. Let alone me, even the City Lord cannot let you enter, unless you are a Flame Bearer..."

"But it's a pity, you left the Flame Bearers back then, and it is impossible to become a Flame Bearer again now."

"However."

"Since you are so anxious, I do have a way."

Old Ancestor Guizhen heard this and immediately turned his head to look at Lord Mo.

Lord Mo said indifferently.

"All Flame Bearers have two chances to enter the Yin Flame Valley. Among the current Flame Bearers, there are some people who can still enter one more time..."

As soon as his words came out, light appeared in Old Ancestor Guizhen's eyes.

He understood the other party's meaning.

As long as he let these Flame Bearers who could still enter the Yin Flame Valley go in and catch Xiao Shi, he wouldn't be afraid of the other party hiding inside and dragging out time.

...

In the valley.

Xiao Shi let out a long breath and opened his eyes.

After these ten days of Cultivation, he had successfully studied the theory that had not been implemented in the [Grey Blood Sword Art], and combined it with the sword technique within the [enlightenment bead].

Now, when he performed this sword technique, he could directly enter a powerful sword-wielding state through the Natal Martial Blood in his body.

He called this state the Grey Sword Form.

In this form, he could only perform sword techniques.

Means like [Blood Vein Finger] could not be performed.

However, after entering this form, his sword technique would reach an extremely formidable level.

Besides that, Xiao Shi's changes and adjustments to the Forbidden Array had also been completed.

At this moment, he was already able to display this powerful Formation, forming a transformation similar to Ke Zhuozheng's earlier.

It was just a pity that the Grey Sword Form and the Formation transformation could not be carried out at the same time.

But even so, Xiao Shi's strength had already been greatly improved.

"Next, it is to interpret the Formation here through the [tianfu array diagram]!"

Xiao Shi thought while taking out the [tianfu array diagram].

This Formation existing in the valley was even more profound and high-end than the Yinyan Grand Formation in Lieyin City.

After all, this Formation had to both Seal and suppress the Yin Flame, and constantly absorb its power.

If it weren't for the [tianfu array diagram], even with Xiao Shi's current talent in Formations, it would be difficult to understand this Formation.

It was truly because the level of this Formation was too high.

Now with the assistance of the [tianfu array diagram], this complex and profound Formation seemed to be dismantled in his eyes.

It was directly dismantled into countless small Formations.

But even these dismantled small Formations were still profound in Xiao Shi's eyes, making him unable to understand them.

Fortunately, the [tianfu array diagram] could continue to dismantle.

After dismantling multiple times in a row, Xiao Shi was finally able to understand.

This also gave him a clearer understanding of the profoundness of this Formation.

In addition, regarding the cracking of the blood mass, there were only the last two Natal Martial Bloods left now.

As long as he let these last two Natal Martial Bloods fall off, Xiao Shi would be able to obtain the secret within the blood mass.

Before this, he had thought that in the cracking of the last layer of the blood mass, as long as a few pieces of the last layer of Natal Martial Blood fell off, even if they didn't all fall off, as long as there was a gap, he would be able to see through this gap and know what was inside in advance.

However, he discovered that...

even though most of the last layer of Natal Martial Blood had fallen off, he still didn't know what exactly existed inside.

It seemed that within the wrapping of this last layer of Natal Martial Blood, there existed a sphere invisible to the naked eye, and these Natal Martial Bloods were all stuck to the sphere.

Only by letting all the Natal Martial Blood fall off would this invisible sphere appear before his eyes.

"It's almost time!"

Xiao Shi took a deep breath.

His eyes were full of expectation.

...

Zhiyan Division.

Under the gathering of Old Ancestor Guizhen, he had successfully gathered three Flame Bearers who could enter the Yin Flame Valley.

Hong Six was among them.

Old Ancestor Guizhen looked at the three and spoke in a deep voice.

"Your mission this time is to catch him out of the Yin Flame Valley. Even if you can't catch him, you must force him to leave the Yin Flame Valley!"

Before this, he had already given these three Flame Bearers many benefits.

After all, for these Flame Bearers, every opportunity to enter the Yin Flame Valley was very precious.

If there were no sufficient benefits, they naturally could not waste this opportunity for no reason.

"What if we accidentally beat him to death..."

The big man with a black beard, Xiong Wu, who had a tall figure and looked like a black violent bear, asked in a deep voice.

"Try to keep him alive."

Old Ancestor Guizhen said coldly, he wanted to torture Xiao Shi to death himself.

"If you can catch him, or make him run out by himself, after the matter is done, I will give you additional benefits!"

"But if there is really no other way, killing him is also fine, but I will not give any more benefits."

These words of Old Ancestor Guizhen immediately made the eyes of these three Flame Bearers shine.

Especially Hong Six.

Originally, his cooperation with Yu Shuang of the Guizhen Clan was to obtain blessings in Formations through the Guizhen Clan.

Now, if he could obtain Formation blessings from Old Ancestor Guizhen, it would definitely be greater than the blessings from Yu Shuang's side!

"Must catch him alive!"

All three Flame Bearers had a firm thought in their hearts at the same time.

As for Xiao Shi's combat power...

they were not worried.

The three of them were all Three-Blood!

Among them, Xiong Wu even possessed formidable combat power not weaker than Ke Zhuozheng.

Now, under the assistance of Old Ancestor Guizhen, he had improved quite a bit.

If the three of them attacked together, they would definitely be able to take Xiao Shi down.

Immediately, the three of them moved, swept directly towards the hall in front, stepped into it, and disappeared.

"It's just a pity..."

"Those few Flame Bearers in the Martial Soul Realm no longer have the opportunity to enter the Yin Flame Valley."

"Otherwise, letting those Martial Soul Realm Flame Bearers make a move would definitely be simpler."

Old Ancestor Guizhen felt some regret about this.

However, even without those Martial Soul Realm people making a move, he believed that with these three Flame Bearers, it was enough.