258: Chapter 258 Gongshu Yuan

The next morning, Ling Hao gathered core members for a meeting.

In the main hall, Ling Xiao, Ling You, Gu Yue, Xiao Yi, Jiang Wanshan, Sect Master Situ Kong, and others were lined up on both sides. Star Lord Suixing was left at Suixing Palace to continue acting as a Star Lord of the Heavenly Dao Palace. Although the Heavenly Dao Palace had received news of his visit to Suixing City, they hadn't confirmed if he had obtained the Star Lord Token. Even if they had, the temple currently had no energy to deal with it.

"Star Lord Suixing has defected to the Ling Family, but staying in Suixing Palace is more valuable than following us to Tianhuo City," Ling Hao explained briefly without elaborating.

Everyone nodded without asking further.

"I've called you all today for the Gangfeng Gorge Star Gate," Ling Hao went straight to the point. "The Star Gate's repair progress has reached ninety-five percent and will be completed within a few days. We must take control of the Star Gate before then."

"Control?" Gu Yue frowned. "Does Young Master Ling mean occupying the Star Gate?"

"Yes," Ling Hao said. "The Star Gate is an ancient ruin and a supreme treasure itself. It's easy to destroy but hard to rebuild. If we can control it, it will be of great use for exploring the outside world or fighting against the Heaven Beyond Heaven in the future."

Jiang Wanshan pondered, "But the Star Gate is personally guarded by Star Lord Luohou, along with six Void Refinement Deacons and over a thousand elites. A direct assault would come at a high cost."

"So we won't attack directly first." Ling Hao waved his hand, and a Jade Slip flew toward Gu Yue. "This is the structural diagram of the Star Gate's Formation base provided by Star Lord Suixing. The Formation base of the Gangfeng Gorge Star Gate centers on the 'Seven Stars Sky-Locking Array,' supplemented by the 'Heavenly Astral Demon-Subduing Great Array' on the periphery. The seven nodes of the Seven Stars Sky-Locking Array are controlled by seven core Formation Masters. As long as we control these seven people, we can control the Star Gate first."

Gu Yue took the Jade Slip and sent his Divine Sense into it, his eyes lighting up after a moment.

"I see! Although the seven nodes of the Seven Stars Sky-Locking Array are independent, they are interconnected through the spiritual power circuits of the Formation base. By controlling the lead Formation Master, we can inversely penetrate the other six nodes through his node. We don't need to control all seven; controlling one is enough!"

"Who is the leader?" Ling Xiao asked.

"Gongshu Yuan, the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Dao Palace's Tiangong Pavilion," Ling Hao said. "This man is obsessed with Formations and isn't particularly loyal to the Heavenly Dao Palace. If we give him better conditions, he will turn to us."

"How do we give him better conditions?" Xiao Yi asked.

Ling Hao's lips curled slightly: "The 'Chaos Array Interpretation'."

Several people in the hall looked at each other. Gu Yue was the first to react, a sharp light flashing in his eyes: "Is Young Master Ling referring to the Legacy of the ancient Chaos Formations?"

"Exactly." Ling Hao nodded. "Gongshu Yuan has been obsessed with Formations for centuries, and the resources the Heavenly Dao Palace can give him have reached their limit. But there's one thing the Heavenly Dao Palace can never give him—the Legacy of Chaos Formations—because that Legacy is in my hands."

He waved his hand, and an ancient Jade Slip appeared on the table. The Jade Slip was dark gold, with fine Chaos patterns flowing on its surface. It was the copy of the 'Chaos Array Interpretation' he had obtained from the Ancestral Dragon's cave.

"This is the basic chapter of Chaos Formations I've compiled from the Ancestral Dragon's Legacy. Although it's only the introductory part, for a Formation Master of Gongshu Yuan's level, the introduction is a path to heaven. He will understand that by following the Heavenly Dao Palace, he will never touch the threshold of Chaos Formations in his life; by following me, he can go much further."

Ling Xiao realized: "So you want to use the 'Chaos Array Interpretation' to bribe him."

"It's not a bribe, it's an exchange," Ling Hao corrected. "He controls the Star Gate for us, and I give him the Legacy of Chaos Formations. We each get what we need—a fair trade."

"But how do we get the 'Chaos Array Interpretation' into his hands?" Xiao Yi asked. "Gangfeng Gorge is heavily guarded, and Gongshu Yuan rarely leaves his quarters. Our people can't get close to him at all."

"I don't need you all," Ling Hao said calmly. "I will go personally."

Silence fell over the hall.

"Brother Hao, you're going personally?" Ling Xiao frowned. "Isn't that too risky? Gangfeng Gorge is guarded by Star Lord Luohou, six Void Refinement Deacons, and over a thousand elites. If you get surrounded..."

"I'm not afraid of being surrounded, but if we start a fight, there's a chance the Formation base will be damaged, so we can't force our way in." Ling Hao stood up and walked to the map. "I will use Space-Time Rules to sneak into the Star Gate's Formation base and find Gongshu Yuan directly. Once he's convinced, the Star Gate will be in our control."

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "After we take care of Gongshu Yuan, as for Star Lord Luohou—if he's sensible, I'll spare his life; if not, I'll just take his token."

Everyone looked at each other, seeing the gravity in each other's eyes, but also a hint of excitement.

Taking down Star Lord Luohou and seizing the Star Gate—if this move succeeded, the Ling Family's situation in the Central Region would be completely opened up.

"Tomorrow night, we act." Ling Hao turned around.

---

The next night, Gangfeng Gorge.

The night was as dark as ink, with only scattered torches flickering in the wind within the canyon.

When Ling Hao stepped out of the Void Realm, he was already standing at the edge of the Star Gate's Formation base. The Five Elements Forbidden Domain unfolded silently, and the five tokens in his sleeve vibrated slightly, completely suppressing all spatial fluctuations within a radius of hundreds of feet.

The Star Gate's Formation base covered a vast area, circular in shape, with a diameter of about three hundred feet. The surface of the Formation base was covered with dense star runes, which flowed with a faint golden light, illuminating the entire canyon like daylight.

Seven Formation Masters were sitting around the center of the Formation base, each holding a Formation Plate, adjusting the spiritual power circuits of the Star Gate. The leading old man had white hair and beard, a withered face, but exceptionally bright eyes.

Gongshu Yuan.

Ling Hao didn't hide his presence but walked directly over.

"Mr. Gongshu."

Gongshu Yuan looked up, and the moment he saw Ling Hao, the Formation Plate in his hand almost fell.

"You... you are..."

"Ling Hao." Ling Hao sat cross-legged opposite him, and five tokens flew out of his sleeve, hovering between them. Five-colored light unfolded silently, isolating the surrounding space. Now at the Mid-Integration Stage, even Star Lord Luohou hadn't noticed his arrival.

Gongshu Yuan's expression changed drastically. He had certainly heard of Ling Hao's name—the young man who had defeated five Star Lords in a row and left the Heavenly Dao Palace in a state of Chaos. Now, this young man was sitting right in front of him, and not one of his six colleagues or the outer guards had noticed.

"Young Master Ling has impressive methods." Gongshu Yuan forced himself to calm down. "To what do I owe the honor of this late-night visit?"

"I just want to talk with Mr. Gongshu. I want this Star Gate, so I need your help."

Gongshu Yuan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Young Master Ling, I have been in the Heavenly Dao Palace for three hundred years. Although I am not highly valued, I am still a person of the Heavenly Dao Palace. For you to ask me to betray the temple..."

"It's not betrayal," Ling Hao interrupted him. "It's a choice."

He took out the dark gold Jade Slip from his robe and placed it on the Formation base.

"This is the basic chapter of the 'Chaos Array Interpretation', recording the introductory methods of ancient Chaos Formations. If Mr. Gongshu is willing to help, this Jade Slip is yours. When the Ling Family establishes a firm foothold in the Central Region in the future, the complete Legacy of Chaos Formations will be handed to you one after another."

Gongshu Yuan's gaze fell on the Jade Slip, a longing that couldn't be concealed flashing in his eyes.