342: Beacon Fires as the Mirror

This was a questioning of Su Ming's strength.

How could someone at the Qi Refinement Stage achieve something that even those at the Foundation Establishment Stage couldn't?

Su Ming did not panic.

“Because from the very beginning, I never intended for my ‘Spider Web’ to rely entirely on spiritual power.”

He extended his right hand, palm upward, and a strand of extremely fine Water Spiritual Energy slowly condensed, forming a complex three-dimensional structure.

“The one hundred and eight core nodes of the Spider Web are all built with star-patterned steel as their foundation and buried three zhang deep. The main Formation Plate is not driven by Spirit Stones, but rather... triggered by essence blood.”

When Su Ming mentioned the words ‘essence blood,’ his face turned slightly pale, a lingering effect of the depletion of his vital energy and blood. “When the Beacon Mode is activated, it actually detonates the ‘Resonance Talismans’ at all sub-array nodes. This resonance does not rely on spiritual power transmission; instead, it conducts physical signals through the vibrations of the Spiritual Veins. As long as the Spiritual Veins remain intact, the signals will not stop.”

“star-patterned steel... physical resonance...”

Master Xuan Heng murmured to himself, and then a brilliant light burst from his eyes. “What a brilliant idea to not rely on spiritual power! In a Spirit-Severing Land, this is the only way to survive. Junior Brother Mo... truly did not choose the wrong person.”

He looked at Su Ming, his tone unusually carrying a hint of warmth. “After this battle, you must properly organize the blueprints and insights for your ‘Spider Web.’ They may be of great use in the future.”

“The technical hurdle is passed,” Lin Yu reminded. “Next is the political hurdle.”

The blurred figure who had not yet spoken—the one containing a vast life force—finally spoke up. His voice was gentle, yet it carried a heavy, compassionate weight:

“Fewer than two thousand people eventually evacuated from Iron Wall Pass. Your Spider Web covered Bing Battalion and several surrounding defense zones. In the end, how many people did you save?”

Su Ming fell silent for a moment.

He ran the number through his mind. Behind every digit was a living life, and also a burden he had been forced to abandon on the path of escape.

“The Spider Web guided and assembled a total of two thousand three hundred and twelve people.”

Su Ming reported a number precise down to the single digits. “Most of them were comrades from Bing Battalion, Ding Battalion, and adjacent defense zones. The remaining survivors were those who fought their way back through personal martial prowess, or those who were extremely lucky and happened to be in the gaps of the insect tide.”

“Two thousand three hundred people...”

“Well done.”

The weight of those two words was heavier than any reward.

Sect Head Yun Miao nodded slightly, and the pressure enveloping Su Ming finally dissipated by more than half. He paused and added, “The names of Zhao Tieji, Chen Chuan, and all the fellow Disciples who fell in battle have been entered into the official register of the ‘Hall of Heroic Souls.’ The Sect’s compensation will be delivered to their respective families in a few days. Do you... have any words to pass on on their behalf?”

Su Ming was silent for a moment and shook his head. “I... have no words to pass on.”

“It seems that you have fulfilled your duties in the war and even exceeded your responsibility to defend the land. But...”

Yun Miao’s tone shifted, becoming deep and unpredictable. “Before Elder Mo entrusted the formation heart seal to you, what decision did the high-level officials within the pass actually make? Why did the self-destruction of the Mountain-protecting Formation come so decisively, without even leaving more time for evacuation?”

This was an extremely sensitive question.

Out of the tens of thousands of defenders at Iron Wall Pass, only so few survived, largely because the Formation self-destructed too quickly, cutting off the retreat for most people. If not handled properly, this could lead to the charge of ‘slaughtering fellow Disciples.’

The pavilion instantly fell into a dead silence.

Su Ming felt his heart thud violently in his chest.

He knew that this was the final protective talisman Old Mo had left him, but it was also the hottest of potatoes.

Su Ming took a deep breath, looked up, and stared directly into the Sect Head’s sphere of clear light.

“Old Mo said that the Sect Master had issued a secret order long ago.”

Su Ming’s voice was not loud, but every word was clear, like a thunderclap hitting the ground. “If the pass must be lost, then destroy the Formation foundation, collapse the Spiritual Veins, and die together with the enemy. The secrets of the Formation and the underground Spiritual Veins must never fall into the hands of the Yao Race.”

He paused and squeezed the second half of the sentence through his teeth: “The self-destruction of Lingshu Hall was not a temporary whim; it was... part of the plan.”

Although there was no sound in the pavilion, Su Ming clearly felt the surrounding starlight tremble violently for an instant. The Map of Mountains and Rivers beneath his feet even distorted for a moment.

Total silence.

That silence was even more terrifying than the previous pressure. It was the collective mourning of five great figures standing at the peak of the Cloud Hidden Sect when faced with a cruel truth.

Su Ming felt a bitter taste in his mouth. He was just a minor Qi Refinement Stage Disciple; just looking at a power play of this level made his eyes ache.

A long time passed.

The Peak Master of the Prison Peak on the right spoke again, his voice carrying less Killing Intent and more desolation:

“When the Formation heart was delivered, did you know its weight? You are but an Outer Sect Disciple; how did you dare to accept such a heavy treasure? Did you ever hesitate?”

Su Ming lowered his head and looked at his palm.

It seemed as if the warmth of Old Mo's withered palm and the decisive force with which he had pushed him away still lingered there.

“I... knew my cultivation was low and originally did not dare to accept it.”

Su Ming’s voice was somewhat raspy, carrying a hint of suppressed trembling. “But Old Mo said: ‘This seal has a spirit; choosing a master is not based on cultivation, but on the compatibility of Heart-Nature. The pass can be broken, but the seal must not be lost.’ In that situation, other than me, Old Mo had no hope of anyone else surviving.”

He looked up, his eyes slightly red, but he forced himself not to let the tears fall:

“I... had no other choice.”

A long sigh followed.

It came from Master Xuan Heng on the left.

The starlight on this Master of Formation Peak swayed gently, as if mourning his deceased old friend, and as if acknowledging this new successor.

“Junior Brother Mo’s actions have always been calculated and flawless.”

Master Xuan Heng’s voice echoed in the pavilion with a definitive power. “His choice of Su Ming at the moment of life and death was by no means accidental. This boy has a resilient Heart-Nature, acts meticulously, and knows when to choose and when to retreat. In my view, since this formation heart seal has already recognized its master, it is the will of heaven.”

“Agreed,” the figure containing the Sword Qi, who had not spoken until now, briefly uttered two words.

Sect Head Yun Miao was silent for a moment.

The starry sky above his head rotated slowly, as if deducing something. Finally, all the starlight converged into a soft beam that fell upon Su Ming.

“Today’s inquiry will end here for now.”

Yun Miao’s voice returned to that distant indifference. “Su Ming, the Sect will have a public verdict on your merits and faults. Since the border guarding true seal has entered your body, it is your Opportunity and your responsibility. Go now and rest well.”

“Yes.”

Su Ming felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty.

He bowed deeply once more, not even daring to wipe the cold sweat that already covered his forehead. He slowly backed away three steps before turning and walking toward the starlight portal.

Until his figure completely disappeared behind the door.

Inside the Starfall Pavilion, the five figures did not disperse.