Chapter Twenty-Seven: Hmph, Such a Small Formation
"Shh! Sister! Madam! Isn't it improper for us to sneak in like this? Why not just visit directly and ask what we need to know?"
In the forests of Xiaoqiongfeng Mountain, two shadows suddenly halted, emitting an aura of avoidance, still evading detection from magical senses.
Jiu Wu intercepted his taller companion and earnestly advised, "Xiao Jiu has grown up, we can't always keep her by our side. She's already a nine hundred and sixty-two-year-old immortal. She's no longer a child!"
Jiu Shi, stopped by her fellow Daoist, rolled her eyes slightly and snorted, "What can we find out by visiting directly? This kind of thing requires a stealthy approach to see the truth! Have you forgotten about Xiao Liu and Xiao Qi? How would we have discovered their affair if we hadn't caught them in bed? They would still be denying it now! Quick, hide and don't expose our tracks!"
Stamping her foot, Jiu Shi grabbed Jiu Wu's collar with delicate hands and lifted him up. The two figures once again turned into shadows and disappeared into the woods.
Jiu Wu could only force a bitter smile. Despite considering himself clever, he had no tricks in front of his beloved woman.
However, they had barely gone a hundred feet before having to stop again. Their figures appeared on the treetop of a large tree, carefully surveying ahead.
"This formation is quite cleverly arranged," Jiu Wu praised. "The boundary of the formation blends almost seamlessly with the surrounding environment, but the handling of the corners is not meticulous enough, revealing a slight fluctuation of spiritual energy."
"Hmm?" Jiu Shi tilted her head, her two braids made of long hair swaying gently. After a few glances, she casually remarked, "How could a mere illusionary formation affect us? Let's go, let's enter the formation. You seem unwilling? Don't you still want to sleep in bed tonight?"
Hearing this threat, Jiu Wu quickly relented and said, "Yes, yes, of course I want that. It's rare for you to come out of seclusion... Alright! I'll go first, and if anything happens, I'll take responsibility."
Jiu Wu sighed and, in an instant, surrendered to Jiu Shi's 'power', jumping down from the tree first and walking ahead with his hands behind his back, absentmindedly scanning the surroundings. He wasn't thinking about breaking the formation or underestimating the formation of Xiaojiongfeng. After all, Xiaojiongfeng didn't even have an immortal; how powerful could their formations be? What he was thinking about was the awkwardness if they were to stumble upon something between Xiao Jiu and Senior Brother Qi Yuan later... Especially... 'Senior Brother Qi Yuan probably won't pass the Heavenly Tribulation, will my little junior sister have to remain a widow just after finding her Dao companion? How can this be good?'
"Hurry up," Jiu Shi urged from behind, "If we dawdle like this, we'll be late for everything!"
"Don't worry, I've found the exit of the formation," Jiu Wu quickly deduced the entrance of this formation, and with Jiu Shi, they soon walked out of the first illusionary formation. But then, Jiu Wu stopped in his tracks, raised his left hand, and made a gesture to halt.
"Huh? Another chained formation?" Jiu Wu chuckled, rubbing his chin in admiration. "Although the illusionary formations we passed before and after are relatively simple, being able to create a chained formation is quite commendable."
"Enough chatter!" Jiu Shi snorted, taking a couple of steps to her junior brother's side. Releasing her divine sense, she quickly found the exit of this formation and coolly said, "Follow me."
Jiu Wu could only smile helplessly and followed his fellow Daoist and senior sister, still pondering how he would handle it if they did stumble upon something later...
Meanwhile, in a pill refining room a dozen miles away.
Li Changshou, who was sorting out poisonous herbs and spirit medicines, furrowed his brows slightly, discreetly glancing at Jiu Jiu who was meditating. He thought briefly but didn't say much.
Shouldn't Jiu Wu's senior brother also be one of the Nine Spirits of Wine? It so happened that these two could help him test the specific effects of the superficial illusionary formation.
"Wine Senior Uncle?" "Here, are we starting?" "We'll have to wait a bit more," Li Changshou smiled, "If someone asks what Wine Senior Uncle has been doing here all this time after returning to the Peak of Breaking Sky, just tell them the truth. However, it's best to keep the specific arrangement of the formations here and the number of formations a secret for the disciple."
"Don't worry! I understand the reason!" Jiu Jiu pounded his chest confidently, exuding waves of assurance.
Li Changshou smiled and continued adjusting the proportions of various herbs.
The Immortal Pill of Fusion was finally going to be refined. However, they had to wait until the two true immortals outside left.
...
In the forest.
After the two Daoist brothers and sisters entered the formation for half an hour.
"You break the formation," Jiu Shi muttered, "I focus on artifact refining, and I can't match you and Third Senior Brother in the way of formations."
Jiu Wu smiled calmly, walked to the front of his lover, and a man's aura surged out of his short stature!
"Follow me. This formation is called the Spirit Crossing Sixth Transformation Array. It's actually a relatively basic illusionary formation, just that the entrance is set up in a peculiar way, which is up there."
Before he could finish his words, Jiu Wu had already found the exit of the formation. With Jiu Shi, he jumped up and broke into the next formation. The surroundings instantly turned upside down...
Half an hour later.
"It's strange, it seems like we've just circled back," Jiu Wu's expression gradually became serious as he calculated, "The twenty-four formations we just passed through are interconnected, forming a hidden large array. Guided by the entrance, it brought us back here directly. Although this formation method is a bit tricky and not considered brilliant, it's quite interesting... very interesting."
Jiu Shi massaged her temples, complaining, "How much longer will it take to break this formation? According to your timing, it's been three or four times already!"
"Ahem," Jiu Wu cleared his throat, "Alright, I'll get serious now. Follow me!"
Immediately, he grabbed his fellow Daoist and lover's hand, swiftly stepping into the maze again, the two figures disappearing rapidly into the dense forest.
Another hour later...
"This doesn't make sense. It shouldn't be like this," Jiu Wu sat cross-legged in a clearing filled with fallen leaves, continuously calculating.
Jiu Shi paced back and forth, murmuring some formation mantras, but they were of no use at the moment.
The problem now wasn't how to find Jiu Jiu in the large formation; the most critical issue now was that they had... lost their way in the chained formation!
Even if they flew upwards directly or climbed downwards, they would enter another illusionary formation!
It was a vicious cycle; they couldn't even retreat!
Jiu Shi said, "Why don't we just break this large formation?"
"No, should we capture someone or blast a mountain?" Jiu Wu smiled bitterly, "Besides, if news of this gets out, and it's known that we, husband and wife, are trapped in a place like Xiaojiongfeng without any immortals, where can we put our faces?"
Jiu Shi complained, "Aren't you good at formations?"
"These are indeed very basic formations, but there is no fixed solution for the chained formation. We can only continue to explore how to break it or find the flaws between the formations. But the person who set up this formation has concealed the flaws perfectly."
Jiu Wu slapped his forehead, "Come on, I've thought of a way to break the formation, let's try again!"
So, another hour later...
Thunk!
About five feet off the ground, a flat forehead continuously collided with the trunk of a large tree.
The short Daoist's eye sockets were sunken, and the once bright eyes were now dull. His brown Daoist robe was stained with some dry grass and fallen leaves, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
He hit his forehead against the tree trunk again, emitting a cold laugh from his mouth, murmuring, "Fake, isn't it? The formations I've comprehended before are all fake... So, basic formations can compose the most sophisticated illusionary and trapping formations. So, I've been on the wrong path all this time... Is my Dao also wrong? Is the Wuwei Sutra also wrong? Haha... Turns out, I'm only at this level as a true immortal, haha..."
Jiu Shi, beside him, was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say. She quickly knelt down and hugged her Daoist companion.
"Don't scare me, Senior Brother, let's just break the large formation."
"No, absolutely not. Are we here to capture someone or to blast a mountain?" Jiu Wu said bitterly, "Besides, if word gets out that we, as a couple, are trapped in Xiaojiongfeng without any immortals present, where can we put our faces?"
Jiu Shi complained, "Aren't you good at formations?"
"These are indeed very basic formations, but there is no fixed solution for the chained formation. We can only continue to explore how to break it or find the flaws between the formations. But the person who set up this formation has concealed the flaws perfectly."
Jiu Wu slapped his forehead, "Come on, I've thought of a way to break the formation, let's try again!"
So, another hour later...
Thunk!
About five feet off the ground, a flat forehead continuously collided with the trunk of a large tree.
The short Daoist's eye sockets were sunken, and the once bright eyes were now dull. His brown Daoist robe was stained with some dry grass and fallen leaves, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably.
He hit his forehead against the tree trunk again, emitting a cold laugh from his mouth, murmuring, "Fake, isn't it? The formations I've comprehended before are all fake... So, basic formations can compose the most sophisticated illusionary and trapping formations. So, I've been on the wrong path all this time... Is my Dao also wrong? Is the Wuwei Sutra also wrong? Haha... Turns out, I'm only at this level as a true immortal, haha..."
Jiu Shi, beside him, was at a loss for words, not knowing what to say. She quickly knelt down and hugged her Daoist companion.
"Don't scare me, Senior Brother, let's just break the large formation."
"No, absolutely not. Are we here to capture someone or to blast a mountain?" Jiu Wu said bitterly, "Besides, if word gets out that we, as a couple, are trapped in Xiaojiongfeng without any immortals present, where can we put our faces?"
Jiu Shi couldn't think of a response, and the two remained silent, hugging each other tightly.
Swoosh...
A gentle breeze swept through the woods, and suddenly the forest was filled with white mist. However, the mist quickly dissipated. At the same time, the two heard a conversation not far away.
"Wine Senior Uncle, let's go through the practice once. Later, I'll put these two herbs into the furnace, and you..."
"Yes, no problem."
Jiu Wu and Jiu Shi exchanged a glance, and the latter immediately cast a spell, turning them into shadows and heading towards the direction of the voices.
Soon, they found out that where they had just been was only a short distance from where Jiu Jiu was. Hiding behind a large tree, the two cautiously peeked out and saw Li Changshou and Jiu Jiu discussing something in front of the alchemy furnace.
Unknowingly, it was almost dusk, and the slanting rays of the setting sun shone on Jiu Jiu. She stood with her hands behind her back, her left foot tiptoed, her body slightly leaning forward, carefully listening to the detailed steps of alchemy being explained by the tall figure in front of her.
In the sunlight, the tips of her hair just fell on her shoulders, reflecting a faint light. Her skin was clear and moist, her eyes like stars were clear and bright; her slender neck and prominent collarbones, the simple linen short shirt barely suppressing her charming figure, her waist almost hidden under the garment but subtly revealed, and her slender and delicate legs peeking out from under her short skirt... Her skin was flawless and translucent, exuding a rare spirituality and beauty.
And beside her, the male cultivator in a blue robe, with his long hair simply tied up with a headband...
Jiu Wu looked puzzled and whispered, "Isn't that Changshou Junior Nephew? Could it be that the formations here..."
Before he could finish his sentence, his mouth was immediately covered by a slender hand.
"Shh!" Jiu Shi whispered, "Let's go back and talk later. Don't disturb them."
"Are we leaving now?" Jiu Wu asked, puzzled.
"Why not? He's quite handsome, this younger generation. He seems reliable too, although he's only at the Returning Void Realm... That's not a problem."
Jiu Shi smiled faintly, pulling Jiu Wu to start performing the stealth technique.
Coincidentally, a tender green leaf left its home, swaying and falling onto Jiu Wu's head...
Finally, they left.
Li Changshou breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, activated the surrounding large formation again, and repeatedly checked all around.
Fortunately, nothing was exposed.
The effect of the trapping formation was unexpectedly good, and the information transmitted to the intruders by the trapping formation itself also met Li Changshou's original expectations.
"Let's start alchemy." He said, and then turned to walk to the open space on one side, taking out the pouch marked 'Xuan Eleven.' With a shake, a pile of items fell to the ground.
"What are these?" Jiu Jiu asked curiously.
"Some necessary preparations for refining poison pills," Li Changshou smiled and said, "I've also prepared a set for Senior Uncle. Let's put them on together. Although Senior Uncle has strong immortal energy, poison can seep through any gap, so it's better to be careful."
"Okay, Junior Nephew, you are considerate." Jiu Jiu blinked her eyes, full of curiosity, and leaned over from the side.