The ancient forest grew eerily silent as late afternoon crept in. Dare Drake Tran and Zhu Bajie studied a series of strange concentric circles etched into the ground—a part of an expansive and ancient formation.
"Odd…" Zhu Bajie muttered, momentarily forgetting his usual craving for food. "These symbols… I've seen them before, back in the Heavenly Realm."
Dare placed a hand on one of the carvings, and instantly a current of ancient spiritual energy coursed along the markings, emitting a faint glow.
"Senior Brother, should we start a livestream for this?"
"Wait," Zhu Bajie cautioned, his face unusually serious. "I sense… demonic energy."
But it was too late. The symbols began glowing brighter, spreading outward to form a complex network that spanned the entire forest.
[System Notification: Ancient Formation Detected!]
[System Notification: Activating "Formation Analysis" Feature]
"Alright…" Dare sighed. "Let's go live then!"
[Notification: Livestream "Exploring an Ancient Formation" has started]
"Hello, everyone!" Dare greeted the virtual audience with a smile. "Today, we're diving into a special discovery…"
Viewers poured in, captivated by the strange, glowing symbols illuminating the forest floor.
[CelestialPalace_001: Be careful. This is the Heaven and Earth Reversion Formation.]
[CelestialPalace_002: Demonic interference detected.]
"Heaven and Earth Reversion Formation?" Zhu Bajie gasped. "Impossible! This formation only appears in…"
A soft sound interrupted him. From the darkened depths of the forest, shadowy figures began to move.
Zhu Bajie quickly drew his Ninefold Spirit Trident, while Dare kept the livestream running. The viewer count spiked as tension mounted.
"Demonic cultivators…" Zhu Bajie muttered. "Low level, but there are many of them."
[System Analysis:
• 8 Demonic Cultivators Detected
• Cultivation Level: Qi Refining Stage 4-5
• Attributes: Bearing marks of the Great Mercy Temple]
"Who are you?" A raspy voice emerged from the shadows. "How dare you trespass on sacred ground?"
"Sacred ground?" Zhu Bajie sneered. "I'd say you're the trespassers here. The Heaven and Earth Reversion Formation is a legacy of the Heavenly Realm—not something for demons to defile!"
[CelestialPalace_001: Look closely at the marks on their robes.]
[CelestialPalace_002: Clues about the Great Mercy Temple are right in front of you.]
Dare activated the "Formation Analysis" feature, trying to gather information while remaining ready for combat.
[Analysis Complete:
• Original Formation: Heaven and Earth Reversion Formation
• Alteration: 30% demonic energy, 70% celestial energy
• Purpose: Absorbing and converting spiritual energy
• Notable: Signs of recent interference]
"Look!" one of the demonic cultivators pointed at the livestream screen. "They're broadcasting this!"
"Hah," Zhu Bajie smirked. "So you demons are tech-savvy now? Interesting…"
[One million viewers!]
[Watch out! The demons are surrounding you!]
[GIFT ALERT! Thousands of 'Protective Talismans' sent in!]
The tension thickened as the demonic cultivators emerged from the shadows. They wore black robes with distorted symbols—a twisted version of the Great Mercy Temple's mark, corrupted with demonic elements.
"Senior Brother," Dare whispered, "they look just like…"
"Yes," Zhu Bajie nodded. "Like the demonic beast from last night. The same force is controlling them."
The atmosphere quivered as the ancient formation reacted to the demonic energy. The lines etched on the ground shifted from a soft green to a dark purple hue.
"Kill them!" the lead cultist commanded. "We can't let the secret of the formation get out!"
[Two million viewers!]
[CelestialPalace_001: Use the formation against them!]
[CelestialPalace_002: Each corner has a weak point. Find it!]
The eight demonic cultivators attacked in unison. Thick, black energy twisted through the air, forming deadly arrows aimed at the two brothers.
"I've got this!" Zhu Bajie whirled his Ninefold Spirit Trident, creating a defensive barrier. "Focus on the formation, Junior Brother!"
Dare didn't hesitate, immediately activating his newly acquired skill.
[Ancient Heavenly Method Activated!]
[Analyzing formation weak points…]
"Well!" one of the demonic cultivators sneered. "Let's see what you can do with your puny Qi Refining Stage 6!"
But his grin faded as Dare began the graceful movements of the Heavenly Spirit Dance. This time, there was nothing comical about his steps. The symbols on the ground responded, pulsing in rhythm with his movements.
[GIFT ALERT! Waves of 'Heavenly Essence' gifted!]
[Viewer Count: 3 million! New record!]
"No…" the lead demon cultivator's face darkened. "That movement… Heavenly Spirit Dance! How do you know—"
"Silence!" Zhu Bajie roared, the Ninefold Spirit Trident slicing a blazing path through the air. "I'll show you the real moves of a former Marshal!"
The battle escalated fiercely. Dark energy clashed with radiant spirit energy, filling the air with blinding sparks. Yet amid the chaotic onslaught, Dare continued the precise steps of the Heavenly Spirit Dance.
[Analysis Complete! Weak points identified!]
[CelestialPalace_001: NOW!]
"SENIOR BROTHER!" Dare shouted. "Northwest corner!"
Zhu Bajie understood immediately. In a swift motion, he drove the Ninefold Spirit Trident into the ground at the northwest point. The celestial weapon struck the exact weak point.
BOOM!
A loud explosion shook the ground. The entire formation blazed with light as the dark energy in the air was sucked toward a single point, as if pulled by an invisible force.
"No!" the lead demonic cultivator shrieked. "The formation is… reversing!"
"Exactly!" Dare cried, finishing the final move of the Heavenly Spirit Dance.
[System Notification: Formation Reversal Activated!]
[System Notification: Initiating Demonic Energy Purification!]
The eight demonic cultivators were drawn into the energy vortex. Dark energy was extracted from them, revealing clearer markings on their robes.
"Look at this!" Zhu Bajie pointed to the glowing symbols. "These are marks from the Great Mercy Temple, but…"
"…they've been altered." Dare nodded. "It's as if someone is deliberately corrupting Buddhist teachings into demonic practices."
[CelestialPalace_001: Collect those marks. They're an important clue.]
[CelestialPalace_002: And don't forget… whoever is controlling them is still hiding somewhere.]
As the energy vortex dissipated, the eight demonic cultivators lay unconscious, stripped of all demonic energy, leaving them as ordinary humans in black robes.
[Livestream ended with 5 million viewers!]
[Notification: Received 1 million virtual gifts!]
[Notification: Unlocked Achievement "Formation Decipherer"]
"Senior Brother," Dare picked up a fragment of the robe with the mark. "I think we've uncovered an important clue about the Great Mercy Temple."
"Yes," Zhu Bajie replied, his tone serious. "But first…"
"Let me guess," Dare chuckled. "You're hungry?"
"No, no!" Zhu Bajie said earnestly. "I want to cook… demon stew! Heard it's a delicacy of—"
"All right, fine!" Dare relented with a grin. "But at least let's get out of here first."
They quickly gathered the necessary clues and left the area. Behind them, the symbols on the ground gradually faded, leaving behind a faint glow—a reminder of secrets yet to be uncovered.
In the sky above, the sun began to set. How many days remained until they reached the Great Mercy Temple? And what would they discover upon arrival?
[System Notification: New Mission Unlocked!
• "Those in the Shadows"
• Difficulty: ★★★★★
• Reward: To be determined
• Duration: Until the demon-controller is found]