Chapter 112: The Trial Before the Journey

The outcome of the Xuanjian City array incident provided Ji Yao with a concrete goal for her first journey after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage: a trip to the Western Ridge.

More precisely, she aimed to approach the Forbidden Magic Land to verify whether it was, as Situ Jing had speculated, a fragment left behind from an ancient battlefield of immortals and demons.

With a clear objective, she only needed to strive toward it. Since the situation was understood, the only lingering issue was the potential trouble of opening the forbidden space, but that was not yet a pressing concern.

Deciding to set out for training, she began her preparations. After refining her new equipment, she realized her kit was quite comprehensive, covering everything from head to toe, with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

All that remained was to prepare talismans and engrave array patterns onto her Heavenly Star Disc. Taking this opportunity, Ji Yao purchased the necessary materials, depleting several thousand of the low-grade spirit stones she had in her pockets.

As one’s cultivation level rises, the cost of materials for ancient talismans increases exponentially. It was no wonder this craft had been lost; even someone from a family with a private spirit stone mine could hardly afford it.

Ji Yao now deeply appreciated how extravagant her use of talismans in the secret realm had been—it was practically no different from throwing away spirit stones. While the power was immense, the crucial point was that the cost she bore was vastly different from that of modern talisman masters.

A stack of blank spirit bamboo paper and cinnabar cost only a few dozen spirit stones. When crafted into a first-tier talisman, the return was two or three hundred. In contrast, for her talismans, the materials alone cost two or three hundred, yet others would only perceive them as ordinary talismans. There was no hope of recovering the cost, and since she would never sell them, every one she used was a direct loss.

Ji Yao even considered asking Dongfang Shun if he had used the stack of talismans she had given him previously; if not, could he return them? Of course, it was merely a thought; she could never actually bring herself to do it.

The greatest value of this talisman legacy lay in array-talismans. As for other types, they could only be crafted for self-defense—as a surprise trump card—rather than being squandered like standard talismans of the same tier.

Losing a means of defeating enemies was a pity, but Ji Yao was not a specialized talisman master, so she did not feel disappointed. By refining what she excelled at, she needed no other means for protection. Much like a sword cultivator, her combat prowess would far exceed that of other cultivators.

Ji Yao spent another month in a semi-secluded state, raising her proficiency in array formations by a level. Simultaneously, she engraved the various array patterns she had mastered into her Heavenly Star Disc.

During this time, she was also tempered by her senior brothers, the sword cultivators. Her sword techniques improved significantly, a far cry from her previous method of "building a cart behind closed doors."

In particular, having Dongfang Shun, who was also studying arrays, to debate and spar with, allowed Ji Yao to gradually refine her initial ideas and implement them onto the Heavenly Star Disc.

After all, Situ Jing’s approach was different; she did not watch Ji Yao every moment, preferring to let her find her own way. Her guidance was like that of a university professor—self-study was the key.

While Mo Daoyan would occasionally provide careful guidance, it was limited to the application of the sword. Thus, no one knew of the modifications and improvements Ji Yao made to the Heavenly Star Disc, not even Situ Jing, whom she saw every day.

Perhaps Dongfang Shun, who frequently sparred with her, sensed something from her use of arrays, but he would never have guessed that these elements were being integrated into a small Heavenly Star Disc.

With her preparations complete, Ji Yao stood before Mo Daoyan to request leave for her journey.

***

Mu Baiyun walked in from outside. As Ji Yao turned, she saw the young man in blue robes approaching against the light. The sun cast a halo behind him, softening the lines of his already handsome face.

She could not tell if his usually expressionless face had recovered or if the rising morning sun favored him, but Ji Yao inexplicably felt that "a beauty is like a flower across the clouds." Perhaps such a person was best admired from afar.

As Mu Baiyun walked over with a steady, unhurried gait, he could not help but notice the graceful figure in the hall. The frail little girl he once knew had, in just a few years, grown to the height of his shoulder and become the only junior sister of Tianlv Peak.

However, the way she looked at him made it difficult for Mu Baiyun to ignore her. It was as if she were admiring a beautiful scene from a great distance—her eyes held only admiration, devoid of any romantic inclination.

*Romantic inclination? What am I thinking?* Mu Baiyun was startled, finding his own thoughts somewhat presumptuous. He lowered his eyelids, concealing the emotions in his eyes.

Mu Baiyun nodded at Ji Yao to indicate he was interrupting, then walked directly to Mo Daoyan and bowed.

"Uncle-Master, by the time I arrived, the Qingyang Sect had already punished their involved disciples. I merely went through the motions, so for the time being, both sides remain at peace."

"Very well." Mo Daoyan nodded, acknowledging the report. "Your presence was merely to state the Lingyun Sect’s stance. Others will handle the rest; you need not concern yourself further."

"Yes, Uncle-Master." Mu Baiyun had regained his composure. Facing Ji Yao again, he returned to his usual demeanor. "Junior Sister Ji, I have finished my business. Please, continue with your consultation."

Ji Yao shook her head with a smile. "No need. I have already asked Master, and he has agreed. I am just about to return to finish my preparations and will set out at dawn tomorrow."

A flicker of confusion passed through Mu Baiyun’s eyes. He glanced at his Uncle-Master’s expression and realized that Ji Yao’s departure was not a task assigned by Mo Daoyan. He asked casually, "Are you planning to go down the mountain for training?"

"Yes," Ji Yao nodded with a smile. "I want to go out and test what I have learned."

"Have you decided where to go?"

"I have a general direction: toward the northwest or the west."

Mu Baiyun pondered briefly. The Lingyun Sect was located slightly west of the center of the Central Province. Further west lay the Nine Buddhas Temple, while the northwest was the territory of the Xuanji Sect.

He assumed Ji Yao would not go very far. Having heard from Junior Brother Dongfang that she was studying arrays, he thought she might be heading to the Xuanji Sect to seek validation, which seemed a reasonable choice.

Ji Yao dared not tell them she was heading for the Forbidden Magic Land, so she could only give a vague direction.

The Forbidden Magic Land was situated in the northern part of the Western Ridge—the northwest of the Central Province. It was indeed closer to the Xuanji Sect, but traveling straight northwest from the Central Province into the Western Ridge would ultimately lead one to the location of the Forbidden Magic Land.

Her ambiguous answer relied on common logic; after all, no newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator would intentionally run toward a place like the Forbidden Magic Land.

Rolling her eyes, Ji Yao looked at Mu Baiyun with a brilliant smile. "Senior Brother Yun, I have a request. Could I trouble you for some help?"

Mu Baiyun was still not quite used to this form of address, but he did not wish to correct her. "Speak your mind."

"Using your cultivation and combat prowess as a benchmark, could you help me test the effects of my array? If I can cause you some trouble, Senior Brother, I will have more confidence when I set out."

Ji Yao’s reasoning was simple: if her Heavenly Star Disc proved effective against a cultivator like Mu Baiyun, she could buy herself time to escape should she encounter danger.

Because Mu Baiyun possessed wind and lightning spiritual roots and was a sword cultivator, his speed and attack power far exceeded those of an average Golden Core cultivator. If she could hold her own against him, she would certainly not be forced into a position where she could not enter her space.

Ji Yao was now certain that although her storage ring looked inconspicuous, it was a product of Mu Tianheng and was at least of immortal-tier quality.

Looking at the Lingtian Pavilion of the Lingyun Sect, which was crafted by Ancestor Mu Tianheng before his ascension, one could see the proof; a structure with a spirit, its actual effectiveness far surpassed that of an ordinary immortal artifact. This was Ji Yao’s foundation of confidence.

Mu Baiyun did not refuse; he found Ji Yao’s request practical. "Very well, let us go outside and test it. Uncle-Master, please join us."

With Mo Daoyan present, Ji Yao’s safety would be guaranteed.

Mu Baiyun did not realize that he had never before felt such uncertainty about controlling his own strength. Could it be because the person he was sparring with was Junior Sister Ji?

The two arrived at the open ground outside the hall. Ji Yao arched her brows with a smile. "Senior Brother Yun, you must be realistic when we spar!"

A pitch-black array disc, distinct from the others, was released. It hovered in the air before her, and a green jade flute—not unfamiliar to Mu Baiyun—floated out from within.

Ji Yao reached out and summoned the Qingyue Flute into her hand. A flash of silver light appeared as the sword blade emerged.

Mu Baiyun watched as she seemed to be lifted by the array disc, thrusting toward him at high speed.

*Wasn't this supposed to be a test of the array's effects?*