33: Reverse Spirit Array

"Take care, you four guests."

"Golden Wind Jade Tower welcomes you to visit again."

The young female Attendant smiled and waved at the departing group; she was in a very good mood.

The Golden Wind Jade Tower did not lack distinguished guests, but big customers who spent nearly a thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones on a single meal were not common.

The service fee she received was also quite considerable.

"Junior Brother Qin, Senior Sister Zixuan, in ten days, my Ji Family will surely be ready to welcome you with open arms."

"Haha, Junior Brother Qin, you must definitely come."

"Naturally, naturally. I will certainly arrive on time with my wife."

Wife?

Hearing this, the look in Ji Lingshuang's eyes dimmed slightly, but the smile on her face remained unchanged as she bid the two of them farewell.

The Ji siblings had family businesses in Tianjian City, so they did not plan to return to the Cloud Heaven Sect for the time being.

Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan nodded, took their leave of the Ji siblings, and planned to use their Sword Kinesis Techniques to depart once they left Tianjian City.

Just then, Qin Dong detected something unusual within the range of his True Essence detection.

By the look of it, the other party was someone he had met once before.

Breeze Spirit Concealment Incantation.

Qin Dong pinched a hand seal, and a thin veil of magic power covered the two of them.

This veil of magic power could block a Cultivator's sight and detection.

"Come, let's head over this way to watch a good show."

Qin Zixuan nodded, took his arm, and followed Qin Dong toward a certain direction... In a dense forest on the remote outskirts of Tianjian City, a group of Loose Cultivators surrounded a black-robed Cultivator.

In this group of Loose Cultivators, the leader at the front was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, while the others had varying cultivation levels, but all were at the fourth level of Qi Refinement or higher.

"Sigh, have I been targeted after all?"

The black-robed person lightly stroked his cheek, secretly feeling lucky.

Fortunately, he hadn't removed the mask, otherwise there would likely be quite a bit of trouble.

"Fellow Loose Cultivator friends, I am a Disciple of the Cloud Heaven Sect. Are you not afraid of the Cloud Heaven Sect's retaliation?"

Zhao Shu took out a Cloud Heaven Sect Disciple token from the Storage Pouch at his waist and showed it to the group.

He hoped the other party would leave because of it.

However, his hopes were in vain.

"Heh heh, kid, so what if you're a Cloud Heaven Sect Disciple?"

"We Loose Cultivators come and go as we please. As long as we kill you on the spot and take your belongings, we'll immediately flee to the ends of the earth."

"By then, even if the news of your death leaks out, we won't fear being hunted down."

Before the leader of the Loose Cultivators could finish speaking, a bundle of flying needles suddenly attacked.

"Hidden weapons!"

The Loose Cultivators hurriedly circulated their True Qi to condense a barrier in front of them. It was a pity that these flying needles were not of high grade, otherwise the sneak attack just now would have been remarkably effective.

Kill!

A Loose Cultivator activated a Cultivation Technique and lunged forward, slashing down. Zhao Shu drew a longsword to meet the attack, and the two immediately became locked in combat.

This Loose Cultivator's strength was decent, and since the difference in their cultivation levels was significant, Zhao Shu was suppressed from the very first exchange. He parried left and dodged right, his situation becoming precarious; several times he was nearly wounded.

"Hahaha, Boss, I can take him down by myself."

The Loose Cultivator shouted arrogantly while attacking Zhao Shu.

His eyes were full of triumph; he was certain that Zhao Shu was merely holding on and would undoubtedly lose in a moment.

"Yuntian Mist-Rising Technique!"

Suddenly, Zhao Shu erupted with an astonishing burst of speed, instantly backing away a certain distance.

Immediately after, his Storage Pouch lit up, and he instantly took out two Formation Plates and threw them onto the ground where the Loose Cultivators were.

The Formations rose—they were a Soul-Bewildering Formation and a Defensive Formation.

"You dare pull out a mere two Yellow Rank Low Grade Formations? Brothers, get him!"

"Stop playing around, kill this kid quickly."

"Follow me!"

Receiving the order, over ten Loose Cultivators followed their leader and charged into the Soul-Bewildering Formation, each drawing their weapons and using their means to attack Zhao Shu's Defensive Formation.

Crack, crack, crack.

Under the attacks of the Loose Cultivators, the Yellow Rank Low Grade Defensive Formation was on the brink of collapse and about to vanish.

Snap!

The first Formation was broken.

Zhao Shu's expression did not change as his right finger quickly swiped across his left palm.

Drip, drip.

Blood flowed from his palm.

He chanted under his breath, his Origin Qi surging.

Countless white fragments suddenly flew out from the Soul-Bewildering Formation plate, fluttering in the wind and blocking the Loose Cultivators' vision.

The Defensive Formation, meanwhile, shone with great brilliance, once again forming an even larger semi-transparent barrier of light that protected Zhao Shu within.

"Boss! The Formation's weakness is there!"

A Loose Cultivator who had learned a smattering of Formation arts told the leader the approximate location of the Formation's weakness.

"Hmph, petty tricks!"

"Let's see how many more turtle shells you have!"

The leader of the Loose Cultivators gave a cold laugh and swung the longsword in his hand. A Sword Qi like a rainbow slashed directly toward the Soul-Bewildering Formation's weakness.

However, although the Sword Qi was sharp, it did not break the Soul-Bewildering weakness.

The other Loose Cultivators' attacks also fell upon the Defensive Formation's weakness, but the barrier of light only trembled slightly, appearing as if it were indestructible.

"This is impossible. How can your Formation be this strong?"

"These aren't just formation plates; this is a Formation that was laid out in advance!"

The Loose Cultivator who had studied the Dao of Formations shouted out in shock and uncertainty; he had seen the strangeness of this Formation.

"We've been tricked! He purposefully led us into a trap!"

Zhao Shu spoke indifferently, his voice calm and firm:

"Did you think I was only capable of using Yellow Rank Low Grade Formations?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Shu flipped his hands and pinched a hand seal, causing the two Formation Plates on the ground to flicker.

Then, Zhao Shu struck his own chest heavily with a fist.

With a 'poof' sound, he coughed up a mouthful of essence blood from his jolted heart and lungs, spraying it onto the two Formation Plates. The Soul-Bewildering Formation and the Defensive Formation actually began to fuse, forming a brand-new Formation.

This Formation emitted a dazzling light, and a powerful aura of True Essence erupted from it, enveloping all the Loose Cultivators within.

The Loose Cultivators were greatly alarmed and hurriedly scattered like flies, but they were each blocked by the edge of the Formation and unable to escape.

"What rank of Formation is this?"

The leader's face turned ugly; even with all his strength, he was unable to break this Formation.

"Hmph, this is something I obtained from a black mine; it is called the Inverse Spirit Grand Formation."

"Activate!"

Pinching the hand seal again, as Zhao Shu's slightly exhausted voice fell, the Inverse Spirit Grand Formation was fully activated.

A power even stronger than before surged from the Formation, enveloping all the Loose Cultivators.

The Loose Cultivators only felt a massive pressure weighing down on them; their True Essence was being continuously drained, making it difficult to resist.

The leader of the Loose Cultivators finally showed a look of panic and roared loudly.

"Impossible! He's actually forcibly activating a Profound Rank Formation!"

"Madman! Madman!"

"Break the Formation with everything you've got! This Formation is too sinister!"

But it was already too late.

Inside the Inverse Spirit Grand Formation, all the Loose Cultivators' power was completely drained away.

"Spare us, we know we were wrong."

"Cui'er, I won't be able to see you again."

"Father, take care..."

These Loose Cultivators were simply unable to continue resisting the pressure from the Formation. In the end, under the suppression of the Inverse Spirit Grand Formation, they all died with blood flowing from their seven orifices.

"I... hate..."

Thud... the leader of the Loose Cultivators finally collapsed as well.

Zhao Shu stood quietly in the center of the Formation until everything returned to calm.

*Cough, cough.*

Zhao Shu's face was deathly pale as he wiped away a trace of blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth.

This location was too dangerous; after dispersing the Formation, Zhao Shu did not dare to linger.

Stepping forward hurriedly, he took the Storage Pouches from the Loose Cultivators and prepared to leave the area.

However, in the next instant, Zhao Shu was so frightened that his hair stood on end.

He beckoned with his hand: "Inverse Spirit Grand Formation!"

"Alright, no need to 'inverse' anything. We mean no ill will."

"The technique you used just now was the Yuntian Mist-Rising Technique; you are a Disciple of the Cloud Heaven Sect."

Qin Dong looked at the Formation patterns that were gradually lighting up again on the ground. With one step, he easily crushed the Formation seals all over the ground.

He couldn't help but silently feel pity for those ten or so people.

There was actually another Profound Rank killing Formation hidden here.

This king of caution had even laid down two sets of such Formations just to be safe. For them to pick this person to rob was truly rotten luck.

"The cultivation world truly has no lack of talented people."

"A Genius who can kill enemies of a higher level—very impressive."

Seeing the other party's consistently vigilant expression, Qin Dong couldn't help but offer a word of praise.

"We are also Cloud Heaven Sect disciples; we are fellow Disciples, so do not be afraid."

"This Formation of yours is not bad. Which peak are you a Disciple of?"

"In response to Senior Brother and Senior Sister, this humble one is a Disciple of Star Peak, Zhang Zhiping."

Zhao Shu gave a deep bow. Although he couldn't see the faces of the two clearly, he could make out their general outlines.

The cultivation world was full of intrigue and deception; he did not trust the two of them, so he immediately fabricated a name.

"If Senior Brother likes this Formation, this Junior Brother is willing to offer the technique with both hands."

Qin Dong's brow quirked. Wasn't Star Peak the former name of his One Pillar Supporting Heaven Peak?

This fellow didn't have a single word of truth in his mouth.

As for that Inverse Spirit Grand Formation the other party possessed, though it was peculiar, it wasn't enough to catch Qin Dong's eye.

"Forget it, keep the Formation for yourself."

"The show is over. Wife, let us go."

Qin Dong was truly at a loss for words regarding the other party's caution, but on second thought, he could understand it somewhat—otherwise, he wouldn't be a king of caution.

In this situation, if it were him, he would most likely act the same way.

With the matter concluded, he and Qin Zixuan immediately flew on their swords back toward the Cloud Heaven Sect.

"Husband, do you know what the background of that black-robed person is?"

"No need to worry about him; perhaps he is just an ordinary Disciple."

After a period of traveling by sword, the two finally returned to the front of One Pillar Supporting Heaven Peak.

However, it was quite lively at the foot of One Pillar Supporting Heaven Peak now.

A group of courtyards that had been abandoned for a long time was now brightly lit, and young figures could be seen passing to and fro from time to time.

Seeing this, Qin Dong couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity as to who was so bold as to live here.

One must know that on the surface, Zhang Yizhi and the Black Blood Mountain City were already in a life-and-death struggle, and even he and Qin Zixuan were on the Black Blood Mountain City's hit list.

One Pillar Supporting Heaven Peak was the spiritual peak of the two of them; the meaning of living here was self-evident.

Even if Qin Dong were to put out word that he didn't know these people, the Black Blood Mountain City would most likely not let it go.

Although the Cloud Heaven Sect's secrecy was currently quite good, no one knew when the matter might leak out.

When that time came, what awaited these people would be a great disaster... Qin Zixuan glanced at him and spoke faintly: "I'm going back first."

After saying that, she took the lead and flew toward the palace at the peak.

Qin Dong nodded; seeing her excited state, it was clear she was thinking of quickly going to research the uses of the Qili Flower.

In a courtyard, by the side of a pond, a figure was sitting cross-legged.

Wang Wantang's expression was somber, with a hint of confusion showing on her face.

"Just where exactly did it go wrong?"

After thinking for a while to no avail, Wang Wantang steadied her mind again and continued to Cultivate her technique.

This was a technique called the Yuntian Canon, which was given to new Disciples of the Cloud Heaven Sect.

Although this set of techniques was only at the Yellow Rank Medium Grade, it was a solid Mind-Cultivation Technique that led directly to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Most new Disciples cultivated this Yuntian Canon and would usually change their Mind-Cultivation Technique after Foundation Establishment.

Wang Wantang stubbornly circulated the Yuntian Canon; at first, she could still condense True Essence and draw in Spiritual Qi.

But as time passed, her body gradually became soaked with sweat, making her pure white Disciple's Daoist robe appear exceptionally transparent.

Especially those two... their outlines were clearly visible.

"Keep everything else the same."

"Completely close off the Shenzang and Lingxu Acupoints."

"At the Huagai and Yutang Acupoints, reverse the True Essence with all your strength."

"Twelve breaths at a time, repeat twice."

Hmm? Whose voice is that?

Wang Wantang hesitated for a moment before deciding to follow what the other party said to manipulate the Meridians and Acupoints in her body.

Despite her heart being full of doubt, this magnetic voice made her feel very much at ease.

Although in the cultivation world, incorrect guidance often meant Qi Deviation, at this moment, she wanted to progress far too much.

Wang Wantang took a deep breath and began trying to close off the two major Acupoints of Shenzang and Lingxu in her body.

These two Acupoints were completely closed, no longer circulating Spiritual Qi.

Immediately, Wang Wantang felt a warm current rise from her Dantian, slowly flowing toward her limbs and bones; that warm current gradually surrounded the locations of Shenzang and Lingxu.

Then, she began to reverse the flow of True Essence in the two major Acupoints of Huagai and Zigong.

This step was even more difficult because the process of reversing True Essence would make one feel extreme discomfort, as if countless needle tips were pricking wildly inside the body.

But Wang Wantang gritted her teeth, sweat dripping from her forehead; she persevered, not letting her body relax in the slightest.

Twelve breaths at a time... slowly inhaling and exhaling, every breath accompanied by the circulation of True Essence, every breath making her feel as if her body were wailing.

When the first circulation ended, Wang Wantang felt that her body was already completely soaked in sweat, but she chose to continue repeating the process.

This was because she felt that upon finishing the process, her Meridians had become somewhat unusual—it was a sense of smoothness she had never experienced before.

Crack.

Finally, after completing the second breathing cycle, Wang Wantang's body suddenly relaxed.

Her body at this moment felt as if it had been purified; every part was full of vitality.

She opened her eyes and saw that the world before her seemed to have become clearer, and the Spiritual Qi in the air had also become more perceptible.

The second layer of the Yuntian Canon, success!

"Very good, you've completed it."

That voice rang out again; this time, Wang Wantang could sense a hint of praise contained within the voice.

Wang Wantang looked around and in the blink of an eye discovered a strange figure standing at the entrance of the small courtyard.

"This Senior Brother, you are..."

Wang Wantang stood up and cupped her fists in a salute, her voice carrying a bit of gratitude without losing its vigilance.