Chapter Seventy-Six: The Dragon's Roar Breaks the Formation
The gates of the Upholding the Right Dao Sect did not forbid outsiders from venturing into the mountain in search of fate and enlightenment. The formation itself was not a barrier, but rather a test.
As previously mentioned, when even the flow of true energy was hindered, should one be fortunate enough to receive the Divine Thunder, there would be no time to circulate true energy to suppress it—the thunder would enter, and before it could be controlled, one would be no different from an ordinary mortal, instantly reduced to ashes. Was this not a case of joy turning to sorrow?
Qingyuan had not expected that the person who took a single step before retreating from the second tier had failed even to circulate his true energy properly.
“In that case, Daoist Hongsong was overthinking it; he never had any hope of ascending the mountain.”
“No wonder, in the Yan Pavilion, many spoke with dissatisfaction toward the Upholding the Right Dao Sect. Yet those who had been turned away at the mountain’s edge bore no resentment in their words—they must have long understood that the formation was not meant to block, but to test.”
Thinking thus, Qingyuan found himself standing atop the second tier of steps.
This tier’s trial was the torment of illusory thunderfire upon the body.
Thunderfire seared his flesh, the pain unbearable. Should one’s mind falter, all cultivation would be destroyed, with unimaginable consequences.
Thus, this step was a trial that could truly injure.
Qingyuan felt as if a bolt of heavenly thunder struck him, scattering his true energy, burning his flesh black, an intense heat and pain penetrating to the bone, leaving him longing for death.
In an instant, sweat beaded on his forehead.
“Sixfold Pure Insight!”
He closed his eyes, envisioning a bright moon above his mind; the moon divided into six, illuminating all impure thoughts.
The agony of thunderfire dissipated instantly.
And so, he stepped upon the third tier.
“This… is too fast, isn’t it?”
All present watched as he placed a foot on the stone steps, and within a single breath, ascended the second tier. Before they could react or discuss, the young man had already set foot on the third.
...
Passing the second tier meant that, even with Divine Thunder upon him, one could subdue it.
The third tier was not a trial, but the barrier of the formation itself.
This place was originally a weak point in the formation—those with second-tier cultivation could shatter it and enter.
The voice echoing in his ear was clearly left behind when the Upholding the Right Dao Sect set up the formation, informing those attempting to enter.
Qingyuan marveled inwardly, thinking to himself, “Second-tier cultivation—the elder in yellow must have been quite accomplished in the second tier, yet he could not break this barrier?”
With these thoughts, Qingyuan did not hesitate. With a flick of his sleeve, he dropped the iron staff into his hand and struck forward.
Before him, it was as if an invisible wall stopped his staff.
A thunderous sound echoed in his mind.
The barrier shattered.
“So easily?”
He was about to ponder this when a sudden pang of unease struck him.
A wave of invisible force surged toward him.
...
“You think it’s so easily broken?”
The elder in yellow had already begun to leave, uninterested in those who challenged the formation. Yet, seeing Qingyuan take three consecutive steps to the third tier, even he could not help but take notice.
Now, as Qingyuan attempted to break the barrier, the elder’s heart was filled with cold amusement.
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“The Upholding the Right Dao Sect indeed did not set up a third barrier, but those who entered before, not wishing others to compete for fortune, laid down layer upon layer of obstacles, overlapping each other.”
“These barriers, once broken, can draw upon the Dao Sect’s formation to reform anew.”
“My earlier attempt was quite formidable, but it scarcely moved the barrier. Only cultivators of the third tier or higher could break it.”
“That Wu Nan from before, who did not enter Mount Fuzhong—he must be a third-tier cultivator. He waited to form his intent and break through to the third tier, only entering now to seize this opportunity.”
The elder in yellow could not enter himself, but that did not prevent him from watching the spectacle.
He halted and observed quietly, a trace of mockery in his eyes.
Others, unaware of the true reason, assumed these were the Dao Sect’s barriers.
...
“Cultivators of the fourth tier are already considered masters, and such figures are not without cunning. To think they secretly set up these obstacles.”
Qingyuan struck with his staff, shattering the formation’s barrier, but was repelled by the previous arrangements of those masters.
Yet, relying on his own strength, he managed to stand his ground without retreating.
No wonder previous second-tier cultivators could enter Mount Fuzhong, but this elder in yellow—quite accomplished himself—was turned away.
It turned out that, later on, the formation had been tampered with.
“Judging by this, unless one possesses third-tier abilities, these arrangements left by the masters cannot be broken.”
Qingyuan frowned deeply.
He had entered Mount Fuzhong to retrieve a treasure left behind by the Ancient Grandmaster of Guangyuan.
But if he could not even break through the powers left by others, how could he hope to claim the treasure under the noses of these masters?
He took a deep breath and circulated his true energy.
He raised the iron staff.
He struck again.
The formation’s barrier broke, but was again repelled by the masters’ arrangements.
A wave of invisible force surged toward him.
Had Qingyuan’s own strength not been considerable, he would have been forced to retreat.
He barely managed to hold his ground, closing his eyes to examine himself inwardly.
Twice breaking the barrier had already caused him harm.
“Must I retreat?”
No sooner had this thought arisen than two dragon cries echoed.
One from Mount Fuzhong.
One from within his body.
The two resonated.
Unconsciously, Qingyuan lifted his iron staff.
The staff subtly transformed into a dragon’s tail!
...
His vision blurred; it was as if he returned to the body of the mountain spirit.
He had struck the earth dragon in two with his staff.
The dragon’s body entered him, replacing his own bones.
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And the dragon’s tail had fused with his iron staff.
Thus, he and the staff were as one.
In that instant, even his breathing seemed linked to it.
...
Within the Purple Mansion of the Mystical Capital, the Ninefold Jade Tower shimmered faintly beneath six moons.
Inside the Refining Tower.
A figure, indistinct, gradually took shape.
He sat cross-legged.
His features formed, becoming clear, dignified—it was Qingyuan’s visage.
Limbs condensed, ends shaping into hands and feet, fingers spread.
He was clothed in moonlight, clad in white.
This Qingyuan sat cross-legged, left foot resting on his right thigh, right foot on his left calf, eyes tightly shut, breath deep and calm.
Yet, unlike usual, he held a white jade ruler in his arms, its color lustrous and flawless.
...
“Open!”
He struck with his staff.
The formation’s barrier opened!
The masters’ arrangements were broken!
He stepped forward, entering the empty gate.
A cry of astonishment arose behind him, including from the elder in yellow.
But Qingyuan’s expression was dazed; his vision transformed, and he heard nothing.
...
High above the sky, a figure sat in meditation.
He appeared around fifty, with flowing black beard, clad in blue Daoist robes, holding a horsetail whisk.
He was Hongyang, master of the Upholding the Right Dao Sect.
Below him lay Mount Fuzhong.
At his four sides sat other Daoists, all fifth-tier cultivators, capable of influencing the mountains and rivers. Hongyang himself was of the sixth tier, able to soar among the clouds, suspended above the sky.
“Hm?”
Hongyang suddenly opened his eyes in surprise. “Who just challenged the formation? Someone managed to break through completely?”
He was greatly astonished, rose to stand atop the clouds, and looked down.
For a long time, he saw no change.
He pondered for a moment, then sat again in midair.
“Fellow disciples, the formation is damaged. Go quickly and repair it.”
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