Chapter 95: The Flaw in the Sealing Array

Fortunately, with the first position as an anchor, the remaining six array discs, though still placed at a sluggish pace, were nevertheless installed far more quickly than the first.

By the evening of the following day, the seven array discs had finally been set in stable order.

Ji Yao glanced at the discs’ actual positions and sensed that something was not quite right, yet she could not immediately tell where the problem lay.

Once the formation builders stepped away, the two disciples from the Mystic Mechanism Sect joined hands in a series of hand seals. Light blossomed from the seven array discs, and a luminous curtain rose slowly upward, linking heaven and earth as it enveloped both the earlier pillar of light and the breach.

With the great array operating properly, everyone let out a sigh of relief and began showering the Mystic Mechanism Sect with praise.

But the two from the Talisman Sect did not move. They merely stared fixedly at the light curtain of the array, while the two from the Mystic Mechanism Sect, though politely nodding at the compliments around them, offered no words in reply and kept their gazes on the same glowing barrier.

Ji Yao had already been studying this great array formed from array discs, and as she watched the seven streaks of starlight slowly circulate across the sealing formation’s luminous curtain, she noticed a subtle hesitation each time one of them passed.

At such a moment, her curiosity was stirred as well. She rose and walked toward the group of twelve.

After first giving a respectful salute to the two cultivators of the Mystic Mechanism Sect, Ji Yao said, “Pardon the interruption, senior brothers of the Mystic Mechanism Sect. I have a question and wonder if I might ask for your guidance.”

When Ji Yao stood, Yun Fei beside her also rose with her. At this point, he walked over together with her and once again served as a background figure.

Perhaps because the great array had just been completed and their hearts were somewhat settled, the two from the Mystic Mechanism Sect were not offended on seeing that it was the pair of them. Instead, they nodded kindly and agreed.

With their permission, Ji Yao went straight to the point and pointed out the issue.

“As far as I know, the path of array study must be followed step by step. Once one has sufficient understanding, it becomes clear that a great array constructed by nesting array disc upon array disc can never quite compare to an on-the-spot formation laid in one uninterrupted flow and adapted to the terrain. When the formations between the discs change over, there will inevitably be some sluggishness.”

Hearing that her question was not about the most elementary aspects of formations, but about content only those with a certain foundation would study, the two from the Mystic Mechanism Sect finally understood that this junior sister from the Cloud-Piercing Sect must have some training in the art of formations.

The others from the various sects were mostly still at the beginner level, so they had not heard of such things. On the contrary, one of the people from the Azure Sun Sect slightly furrowed his brow after listening.

After a pause, seeing that the others had acknowledged her reasoning, Ji Yao knew the conversation could continue, and she then raised the next question.

“So, this great array has not actually been fully completed, has it?” If this were a formation devised by a grandmaster of the Mystic Mechanism Sect, they would surely have accounted for such a problem and found another method to make up for it.

The eyes of the two from the Mystic Mechanism Sect lit up.

“Junior sister is perceptive. That is indeed the case, but the work that follows must be completed by the two Daoist friends from the Talisman Sect.”

As soon as their words fell, an uproar rose among the crowd. So the great array had not actually been finished after all? The man from the Azure Sun Sect tightened his frown.

When everyone looked back at the pair from the Talisman Sect, they were no longer simply staring in a daze at the sealing array’s light curtain. Instead, each had drawn three talismans of unusual material from his storage treasure.

Once again, top-grade spirit jade!

The bases used for those six talismans were unmistakably top-grade spirit jade of the same quality as the array discs, and even more, they were fourth-rank talismans made from top-grade spirit jade. That was true prodigality.

One had to know that top-grade spirit jade could even serve as the foundation for crafting the highest ninth-rank talismans. That would have been a truly extravagant undertaking.

The two men likewise refined the six talismans with a special technique before affixing them to the sealing array’s light curtain. Starlight flashed, and the six talismans transformed into six streaks of flowing brilliance, chasing after the stars upon the curtain.

Seeing this, someone could not help but ask, “Why are there only six talismans? There are seven stars here!”

The four from the Mystic Mechanism Sect and the Talisman Sect exchanged glances, each wearing a wry smile, uncertain how to answer.

Ji Yao answered for them.

“Because it cannot be done.” Ji Yao glanced at the speaker.

“No one could do it. The final talisman must enter the array itself. Tell me, who would dare, with Qi Refining cultivation, to step into a formation sealing a Foundation Establishment demonic beast?”

“This is the Immortal Awakening Secret Realm!” By the end, Ji Yao was almost speaking to herself in a sigh.

But all of them were cultivators; at such close range, who would fail to hear her clearly?

With Ji Yao opening the conversation for them, the four from the Mystic Mechanism and Talisman Sects found the rest of the explanation much easier to voice.

“What this junior sister from the Cloud-Piercing Sect has said is exactly what we intended to say.

“The true person of our sect told us before departure that this is the Immortal Awakening Secret Realm, a place where only Qi Refining cultivators can enter. It is impossible to expect a Qi Refining cultivator to personally set up a top-tier formation here on site.

“So using composite array discs is the only feasible method. But this method has a flaw: the formations cannot merge perfectly with one another, and gaps will appear, which must be sealed with talismans.

“Even so, talismans cannot make it perfect. In the end, there will still be one gap that cannot be sealed.”

One more thing the four did not say, perhaps because they felt it difficult to speak of the fact that so many people from the Seven Great Sects had gone to such lengths to achieve this, only to find that the problem could not be fundamentally solved.

Ji Yao thought that whether they said it or not hardly mattered. By midnight, everyone would know. Reaching this point was already the best solution the modern world of cultivation could devise.

Of course, the word “best” naturally had to exclude the reason Si Tu Jing had once told Ji Yao.

Only after personally taking part in everything did Ji Yao understand what Si Tu Jing had meant, and only then did she grasp the crucial role of array talismans within the inheritance of ancient talisman arts.

It seemed the four had also thought this through. In the end, one of the Mystic Mechanism Sect cultivators said, “This gap appears once every seven days. Each time it does, a third-rank demonic beast may escape.

“So when you return, please be sure to inform your sects and leave a warning for the disciples who enter the secret realm in the future.”

By this point, everything had been laid bare, and the result was no longer so hard to accept.

“All right! Midnight is almost here. Everyone go back and make your preparations!” Ji Yao reminded them.

Yun Fei, who had all along been properly fulfilling his role as a background figure, suddenly pointed his sword-like fingers toward the center and spoke with fervor.

“Let us slay, in one stroke, the first third-rank demonic beast to appear after the formation is complete, and use it to consecrate this undertaking!”

Ji Yao stared at the person beside her as though meeting him for the first time, her eyes nearly bulging from their sockets.

Where on earth had this overdramatic youth come from? Was there anyone in charge of him or not?

Once Yun Fei finished speaking, the disciples of the Cloud-Piercing Sect behind him were the first to echo his cry.

Ah! Weren’t they supposed to be cold, aloof sword cultivators? How had the entire style of painting changed so abruptly? Clearly, they were a pack of overexcited youths!

How had the sect simply let them out like this? Ji Yao already felt the urge to cover her face.

Then this ailment known as adolescent theatrics spread through the entire field in an instant. More than a thousand voices rose in high-pitched slogans, sending birds and beasts scattering through the night forest that should have been utterly still.

Amid those cries, Ji Yao, who had stiffened into a statue, was hauled back to the Cloud-Piercing Sect’s camp by Yun Fei.

The moment he pressed her down to sit, Ji Yao heard Yun Fei’s voice transmission.

“That tall disciple of the Azure Sun Sect just now is wrong. The way he looked at you was very strange, and he was hiding killing intent very well.”

Startled, Ji Yao nearly sprang to her feet again, only to realize that Yun Fei still had a hand on her shoulder.

That was close. Ji Yao steadied herself, then cautiously sent out her spiritual sense to confirm the person Yun Fei had mentioned.

Even though she had made a small splash this time, she was still nothing more than an unremarkable Qi Refining cultivator. She had not harmed anyone’s interests, either, so Ji Yao did not think she had offended anyone.

She had been in this world for so long, and the only person who had ever shown open, unmistakable murderous intent toward her had been the woman named Xuan Yi.

If Yun Fei was right, then this would be the second.

Who exactly was this person? Did he know her as well?