Chapter 139: The Three Powers and Five Elements

The rain of arrows had passed, and Mei Qing’s heart steadied. The warrior in the Five Elements Formation across from him had barely withstood the previous strike from the Demon-Subduing Pestle, and upon seeing it rise again for another blow, was just barely preparing to resist—only to be caught off guard when the pestle suddenly veered toward the rain of arrows instead. That unexpected shift left the warrior’s defense unfruitful.

Mei Qing secretly rejoiced. The talismans he had quietly released were already in place. He silently chanted the incantation, fingers forming the mystical seals, and suddenly shouted, “Haste!” At once, a blazing rain of fire, crackling and roaring, erupted around the five warriors.

Already weakened from their earlier injuries and startled by the feint of the Demon-Subduing Pestle, the five warriors failed to react in time as the fire engulfed them. Before they could respond, flames burst forth across their bodies, and they cried out in alarm. Unfortunately, these five were merely paper figures, possessing only limited sentience and dependent on Xi Nu’s commands for their actions. With the First Xi Nu, Yin Ping, unable to return in time to assist, the five found themselves defenseless. Their paper forms, already damaged, were swiftly consumed by the flames, turning into drifting ashes scattered by the autumn wind, vanishing into oblivion.

The First Xi Nu, realizing too late her mistake and seeing her five warriors reduced to ashes in an instant, flew into a rage. She summoned Yin Ping into her hand, her movements shifting rapidly, forming seals like blooming flowers, and bit down hard on the silver bead in her mouth, shouting, “Divine Command—Ganlu Qiong Jiang, Five Directions and Three Realms, Execute!”

The nectar from the bottle poured forth as if money were no object. Around her, a storm of wind and clouds surged, swords and blades howled, and warhorses thundered forward. Amid the howling cold winds, new battle formations emerged alongside charging iron cavalry, encircling Mei Qing at the center.

Mei Qing did not dare to be careless. He scanned the battlefield with his divine perception and realized that this time, three squads were advancing in unison—internally aligned with the Five Elements and externally following the Three Realms, forming a grand Three Realms and Five Elements Formation.

This time was even more formidable than before. Within the formation, the Three Realms interwove fluidly, the Five Elements cycled endlessly, and the transformations were numerous. Breaking through this formation would surely require more effort. Mei Qing took a deep breath, steadied his mind, and first released a Diamond Talisman around himself. Then, he continued to extend his divine perception, searching for the formation’s core nodes, silently calculating the patterns.

However, his opponent gave him no time for leisurely calculations. With a gust of golden wind, a general from the Heaven Formation of the Three Realms suddenly surged forward, drawing a longbow that released three black-feathered arrows in a triangular formation.

Mei Qing sighed inwardly and had no choice but to focus on defense. As he dodged and maneuvered, he still tried to calculate his next move with the remaining fragments of his thoughts.

The Three Realms and Five Elements Formation wasn’t particularly fearsome in itself. But when deployed using magical artifacts, one could calmly observe and calculate its patterns step by step. However, the First Xi Nu was commanding this formation using paper figures and horses, all under her direct control. The formation moved as one, dynamic and orderly, pressing forward relentlessly without giving Mei Qing a moment to breathe or observe. Compared to a static magical formation, it was far more dangerous—offering Mei Qing a new understanding of how formations could be applied.

Though he couldn’t break the formation immediately, Mei Qing was well-versed in formation theory. Having previously broken a Five Elements Formation at the start of the battle, he had some strategies in mind, allowing him to remain composed rather than panicking or becoming overwhelmed.

Now, half of his divine awareness was used to control the “Shadow Switch,” constantly shifting his position, while he quietly deployed several talismans in a reverse Five Elements pattern. The opponent’s Three Realms and Five Elements Formation moved seamlessly, making it impossible for him to catch them off guard as before. Thus, he had no choice but to counter formation with formation, aiming to disrupt their array and strike at an opportune moment.

As his formation neared completion, and the enemy continued their relentless assault without noticing his hidden maneuvers, Mei Qing felt a surge of joy. He shifted his awareness and moved his body to the formation’s core node, ready to chant the incantation and activate the formation—when suddenly, without warning, a chill ran through his heart. Without hesitation, he immediately unleashed the “Shadow Switch,” his figure flashing three times across the Bagua trigrams.

Though Mei Qing reacted quickly, he was still a beat too slow. A piercing whistle erupted beside his ear, followed by dozens of sea-bowl-sized flowers blooming in layers around him like a brilliant aurora, all bursting simultaneously with the shrill whistle.

Petals flew like a storm, striking Mei Qing’s protective Diamond Talisman and sending out rippling waves. Although Mei Qing had managed to evade the largest explosion of flowers, the blows he did take sent violent tremors through his inner essence, darkening his vision and nearly causing him to faint.

Mei Qing was deeply alarmed. As a cultivator newly ascended to the Qi Refining stage, he knew how vulnerable his nascent Dan was to shock. At this stage, his Dan had begun to show signs of forming an infant—a delicate state. Any injury to it would require immense effort to recover.

With no time to think, Mei Qing formed hand seals with both hands—inner seal representing the mundane, outer seal representing destruction, embodying the four realms of Huayan. He shouted, “Hmph!”

With this single gesture, powered by the Huayan technique, not only did he stabilize his chaotic inner essence, but he also used the destructive aspect to momentarily suppress the enemy’s Three Realms and Five Elements Formation. Fortunately, after that initial assault, the Sixth Xi Nu had failed to follow up with another attack, allowing Mei Qing to finally catch his breath. He quickly focused his divine perception, calming the dual lights of sun and moon within him, stabilizing his Dan, and adjusting his essence.

This incident clearly revealed Mei Qing’s lack of combat experience.

Previously, he had been too focused on battling the First Xi Nu’s formation and had neglected the lurking threat of the Sixth Xi Nu. The First Xi Nu clearly commanded the battlefield, while the Sixth wielded a long flute, summoning endless fields of flowers—a guardian deity skilled in direct magical attacks. Seeing Mei Qing maneuver skillfully within the Three Realms and Five Elements Formation, though unable to discern his exact plans, she had sensed his preparations for a counterattack. Seizing the momentary gap as he completed his formation and prepared to retaliate, she struck—successfully wounding him.

However, the Sixth Xi Nu had not expected Mei Qing to still manage evasion under such circumstances. Unable to follow up immediately, she left him a brief respite.

But only a moment passed before she realized she had missed her chance. She immediately raised her flute to her lips, and a piercing note shot straight toward Mei Qing.

At the same time, the troops within the Three Realms and Five Elements Formation raised their weapons once more, surging forward with murderous intent.

Mei Qing knew the situation was dire, but retreating now felt too hasty and unsatisfying. With a flick of his wrist, he produced three talismans.

The three talismans drifted forward, each landing precisely on one of the Three Realms positions within the enemy’s formation.

Both Xi Nus, having witnessed Mei Qing’s earlier power, were wary. Seeing him release three talismans now, they grew cautious, fearing he might have decided to fight to the death after being injured. They refrained from pressing too hard, instead using their techniques to keep Mei Qing trapped within the formation while planning their next move.

But as the talismans took effect, the earth element surged into the formation, stirring chaotic winds that pressed heavily toward the core nodes of the Three Realms and Five Elements Formation.

This surprised both Xi Nus. The core nodes of the Five Elements Formation were precisely the positions of the earth element. Mei Qing attacking with earth talismans—was he trying to pour oil onto the fire? Had the earlier attack driven him mad?

The rain arrows had passed, and Mei Qing felt a sense of relief. The warriors in the opposing Five Elements Formation had nearly been shattered by the Demon-Subduing Pestle’s strike. As the pestle poised for another attack, they braced themselves, but to their surprise, it veered off to intercept the rain arrows, rendering their defense futile.

Mei Qing secretly rejoiced. The talisman he had stealthily released earlier was now in place. Silently reciting the incantation and forming hand seals, he shouted, “Activate!” A dazzling rain of fire erupted around the five warriors.

Already severely wounded and disoriented by the pestle, the warriors were caught off guard by the sudden flames. As the fiery tongues licked their bodies, they let out panicked cries. Unfortunately, being paper constructs with limited intelligence, they could only act under the command of the First Stream Maiden, Yin Ping. With her unable to return in time, the warriors, already injured and made of paper, were swiftly consumed by Mei Qing’s flames, turning into ashes that scattered in the autumn wind.

Seeing her five warriors reduced to ashes, the First Stream Maiden was furious. She summoned her silver vase, her movements fluid and graceful, her seals blooming like flowers. Biting her silver teeth, she chanted, “Sweet Dew Generals, Five Lands and Three Talents, command!”

The sweet dew poured from the vase like an endless stream. Around her, the air churned with the sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses. Several battle formations emerged, accompanied by the charge of iron cavalry, trapping Mei Qing in the center.

Mei Qing, not daring to be careless, scanned the area with his spiritual sense. He saw three teams advancing, their formation a complex interplay of the Five Elements and Three Talents, creating a formidable Three Talents and Five Elements Formation.

This formation was far more intricate than the previous one, with the Three Talents weaving through the Five Elements in a myriad of transformations. Breaking it would require considerable effort. Mei Qing took a deep breath, calming his mind. He first activated a Diamond Talisman for protection, then extended his spiritual sense to probe the formation’s weak points, silently calculating.

However, his opponents did not give him the luxury of time. A sharp gust of wind signaled the attack of the Heaven Formation’s archer, who fired three black-feathered arrows in a triangular pattern.

Mei Qing sighed inwardly, focusing on self-preservation. As he dodged and weaved, he continued to plot his counterattack.

The Three Talents and Five Elements Formation was not inherently extraordinary. If it were merely a formation of magical tools, one could observe and calculate its changes. However, the First Stream Maiden controlled it with paper constructs, her commands precise and relentless, leaving no room for hesitation or observation. This made the formation far more dangerous than a static one, giving Mei Qing new insights into its application.

Though he couldn’t immediately break the formation, Mei Qing’s understanding of formation principles and his previous success against a Five Elements Formation gave him a plan. He used half of his spiritual sense to control his “Shadow Shift” technique, constantly changing positions, while secretly dispersing several talismans in a reverse Five Elements pattern. The opposing formation moved seamlessly, leaving no room for surprise attacks. Thus, Mei Qing had to counter the formation with his own, aiming to disrupt it and seize an opportunity to strike.

Seeing his formation nearly complete and his opponents still relentlessly attacking, unaware of his maneuvers, Mei Qing felt a surge of satisfaction. With a flick of his spiritual sense, he moved to the formation’s eye, ready to activate his spell. Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of danger struck him. Without hesitation, he fully activated “Shadow Shift,” his figure flickering in the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams positions.

Though Mei Qing reacted swiftly, he was a fraction too slow. A sharp, whistle-like sound pierced his ears, followed by the explosion of dozens of large, colorful flowers around him. The petals rained down like a chaotic storm, striking his Diamond Talisman and creating rippling circles of energy. Though he managed to avoid the worst of the explosion, the impact still shook his core, leaving him dizzy and on the verge of collapse.

Mei Qing was alarmed. As a newly ascended Qi Refining cultivator, his nascent Golden Core was extremely fragile, on the verge of forming a Nascent Soul. Any damage to it would be difficult to repair.

Without further thought, Mei Qing formed hand seals, internally stabilizing his chaotic energy and externally suppressing the formation’s assault. Fortunately, the Sixth Stream Maiden, who had launched the attack, did not follow up immediately, giving Mei Qing a moment to catch his breath and stabilize his core.

This incident revealed Mei Qing’s lack of combat experience. While he had been focused on the First Stream Maiden’s formation, he had overlooked the Sixth Stream Maiden, who wielded a long flute and conjured a sea of flowers, directly attacking with her magic. Seeing Mei Qing maneuvering skillfully within the formation, she had seized the moment to strike, injuring him.

However, the Sixth Stream Maiden was surprised that Mei Qing could still evade her attack, giving him a brief respite.

But only for a moment. Realizing her missed opportunity, the Sixth Stream Maiden placed her flute to her lips, producing a mournful tune that immediately targeted Mei Qing.

Meanwhile, the Three Talents and Five Elements Formation’s troops advanced once more, their weapons gleaming with deadly intent.

Mei Qing knew the situation was dire, but he was unwilling to retreat. With a flick of his wrist, he produced three talismans.

The talismans floated out, each targeting the Three Talents positions in the opposing formation.

Having witnessed the power of Mei Qing’s talismans, the two Stream Maidens were wary. Seeing him unleash three at once, they grew cautious, fearing he might be desperate after his injury. They focused on containing him within the formation, planning their next move.

However, as the talismans activated, they drew in vast amounts of Earth Spirit energy, directing it towards the formation’s eye.

This move puzzled the two Stream Maidens. The eye of the Five Elements Formation was the Earth position. By attacking it with Earth Spirit talismans, wasn’t Mei Qing adding fuel to the fire? Had he lost his mind after being struck?

But Mei Qing, hovering calmly in the air, extended his hands, one facing up, the other down, and began to chant, “Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, command the Five Elements…”

“Palm Thunder!” The two Stream Maidens exclaimed in disbelief, their beautiful faces showing signs of alarm.

Mei Qing’s chant was the incantation for Palm Thunder, a technique he had seen in a fragmentary scroll. Though incomplete, he used it now as a diversion.

The two Stream Maidens, however, were not so dismissive. Mei Qing’s actions had been unpredictable, his tactics and spells always surprising. Though seemingly illogical, he had destroyed the Five Elements Formation and escaped the Sixth Stream Maiden’s sneak attack unscathed. His methods were novel and formidable, making them wary.

Thus, when Mei Qing began the Palm Thunder incantation, the two Stream Maidens focused intently, careful not to fall for his tricks.

But Mei Qing’s chant was strange. After a few words, his voice grew softer. Just as the two Stream Maidens were fully engaged in advancing their formation, Mei Qing suddenly shouted, “Escape!” and vanished without a trace.

The two Stream Maidens were stunned. They had expected Mei Qing to unleash Palm Thunder, but instead, he had used an escape technique. Had he been bluffing all along, planning to flee?

As they seethed with anger, they suddenly noticed the Earth Spirit energy around them, which had been gathering intensely after Mei Qing’s three talismans, now being drawn away completely by his escape technique.

A massive surge of spiritual energy followed.

“Reverse Five Elements? Earth Severance? No!” The two Stream Maidens realized they had been tricked. Despite their caution, Mei Qing had outmaneuvered them. It was too late to act.

The Three Talents and Five Elements Formation was inherently stable, excellent for defense and containment, but difficult to break. However, Mei Qing had not followed the conventional approach. Unable to overpower the formation, he had devised a clever trap. His three Earth Spirit talismans were not meant to disrupt the formation but to enhance its Earth Spirit energy. Normally, stronger Earth energy would stabilize the formation, so the two Stream Maidens had not anticipated his next move, leading to their downfall.

Earlier, while trapped in the formation, Mei Qing had not merely dodged. His movements had secretly laid the groundwork for a Reverse Five Elements Formation. When he activated his escape technique, he drew all the Earth Spirit energy from the two Stream Maidens’ formation, leaving it vulnerable. As he fled, the Reverse Five Elements Formation went into overdrive.

“Palace Lightning!” Both Xi Nus exclaimed in disbelief. Their previously serene and beautiful faces now bore expressions of shock.

The incantation Mei Qing was chanting was indeed from the fragmentary scroll he had once seen. However, he hadn’t fully grasped its meaning. Now, he was merely reciting it as a distraction to cover his real plan.

The two Xi Nus dared not take this lightly. Mei Qing had consistently surprised them with his tactics and magic. Though his actions often seemed illogical, the results—destroying a Five Elements Formation and surviving an ambush from the Sixth Xi Nu—were undeniable. His techniques were both novel and unpredictable.

Therefore, upon hearing him chant the Palace Lightning incantation, both Xi Nus became alert, carefully observing every move, fearing a misstep would lead them into his trap.

But Mei Qing’s chanting grew strange. After a few lines, his voice faded. Just as the two Xi Nus were fully activating the formation, tightening their grip step by step, they suddenly heard Mei Qing shout, “Vanish!” His figure flickered and vanished without a trace.

Both Xi Nus were stunned. How could Mei Qing, who had been loudly chanting the Palace Lightning spell, suddenly activate a teleportation technique? Had he been faking the whole thing, planning to escape all along?

The rain arrows had passed, and Mei Qing felt a sense of relief. The warrior in the opposing Five Elements Formation had nearly been shattered by the Demon-Subduing Pestle’s strike. Seeing the pestle poised for another attack, the warrior struggled to prepare for defense, but unexpectedly, the pestle veered towards the rain arrows, rendering this counterattack futile.

Mei Qing secretly rejoiced. The talisman he had stealthily released earlier was now in place. Silently reciting an incantation and forming hand seals, he shouted, “Swift!” A dazzling rain of fire erupted around the five warriors.

Already severely wounded and disoriented by the pestle, the five warriors failed to react in time as the fiery flames engulfed them. They let out panicked cries. Unfortunately, being paper constructs with limited intelligence, they could only act under the command of the First Stream Maiden, Silver Vase, who was too late to aid them. Their paper bodies, already injured, were quickly consumed by Mei Qing’s fire, turning the five beauties into ashes that scattered in the autumn wind.

Enraged by the loss of her warriors, the First Stream Maiden summoned her silver vase, her movements fluid and graceful. She chanted, “Sweet Dew Generals, Five Lands and Three Talents, by decree!” The vase’s sweet dew poured out like a flood, surrounding her with a storm of blades, galloping warhorses, and chilling winds. Several battle formations emerged, trapping Mei Qing in their midst.

Mei Qing, cautious and alert, scanned the battlefield. He noticed that this time, three formations had emerged, combining the Five Elements internally and the Three Talents externally, forming a complex Three Talents and Five Elements Formation.

This formation was far more intricate than before, with the Three Talents and Five Elements intertwining and shifting continuously. Breaking it would require significant effort. Mei Qing took a deep breath, calming his mind. He first activated a protective talisman and then extended his spiritual senses to probe the formation’s weak points, silently calculating his next move.

However, his opponents did not allow him the luxury of time. A warrior from the Heavenly Formation of the Three Talents suddenly charged forward, firing three black-feathered arrows in a triangular pattern.

Mei Qing sighed inwardly, focusing on self-preservation. As he dodged and weaved, he continued to strategize.

The Three Talents and Five Elements Formation was not inherently formidable. If it were merely a static formation, Mei Qing could have observed and calculated his way through it. However, the First Stream Maiden had animated the formation with paper soldiers and horses, making it dynamic and relentless, leaving no room for hesitation or observation. This made it far more dangerous than a static formation and gave Mei Qing new insights into the application of formations.

Though he couldn’t break the formation immediately, Mei Qing’s understanding of formation principles and his earlier success in dismantling a Five Elements Formation gave him a strategic edge, preventing him from being overwhelmed.

Now, half of his spiritual energy was devoted to controlling his “Shadow Shift” technique, constantly changing positions, while he quietly scattered several talismans in a reverse Five Elements pattern. The opposing Three Talents and Five Elements Formation moved seamlessly, leaving no openings for surprise attacks. Thus, Mei Qing had to counter the formation with his own, aiming to disrupt it and seize an opportunity to strike.

Seeing that his formation was nearly complete and that his opponents were still relentlessly attacking, unaware of his maneuvers, Mei Qing felt a surge of satisfaction. He shifted his position to the formation’s core, ready to activate his spell. But suddenly, a sense of dread overwhelmed him. Without hesitation, he fully activated his “Shadow Shift,” his figure flickering across the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams positions.

Though Mei Qing reacted swiftly, he was slightly too slow. A sharp, whistle-like sound pierced his ears, followed by the explosion of dozens of large, colorful flowers that bloomed like a radiant storm around him.

The petals rained down like a chaotic storm, striking Mei Qing’s protective talisman and creating rippling waves of energy. Though he managed to avoid the full force of the explosion, the impact still sent violent tremors through his core energy, leaving him dizzy and on the verge of collapse.

Mei Qing was alarmed. As a cultivator who had recently advanced to the Qi Refining stage, he knew that his nascent core, which was beginning to take on the form of a nascent soul, was extremely fragile. Any damage to it would be difficult to repair.

Without further thought, Mei Qing formed hand seals, internally manifesting the “Civil Phase” and externally the “Destructive Phase,” fully embodying the Four Realms of the Avatamsaka Sutra. He shouted, “Hah!”

With this single phase, he stabilized his chaotic core energy and temporarily suppressed the relentless attacks of the Three Talents and Five Elements Formation. Fortunately, the Sixth Stream Maiden had only launched a single attack and failed to follow up, allowing Mei Qing a moment to catch his breath. He quickly focused his spiritual energy, calming his core and adjusting his energy flow.

This incident revealed Mei Qing’s lack of combat experience.

While he had been preoccupied with the First Stream Maiden’s formation, he had overlooked the Sixth Stream Maiden, who wielded a long flute and summoned a sea of flowers, directly attacking with her magic. Seeing Mei Qing maneuvering skillfully within the Three Talents and Five Elements Formation, she seized the moment he was preparing to counterattack and launched a sneak attack, successfully injuring him.

However, the Sixth Stream Maiden hadn’t anticipated Mei Qing’s ability to evade her attack, giving him a brief respite.

But only for a moment. Realizing she had missed her chance, the Sixth Stream Maiden immediately brought her flute to her lips, producing a piercing note that targeted Mei Qing.

Meanwhile, the warriors of the Three Talents and Five Elements Formation regrouped, their weapons raised, ready to strike again.

Mei Qing knew the situation was dire, but he was reluctant to retreat. With a flick of his wrist, he produced three talismans.

The talismans floated out, each targeting the Three Talents positions within the opposing formation.

Having witnessed the power of Mei Qing’s talismans earlier, both Stream Maidens were wary. Seeing him use three talismans at once, they grew cautious, fearing he might be desperate and willing to risk everything. They decided to focus on containing him within the formation, planning their next move.

As the three talismans activated, they drew in vast amounts of earth energy, creating a swirling vortex that pressed down on the core positions of the Three Talents and Five Elements Formation.

This move surprised both Stream Maidens. The core of the Five Elements Formation was the earth position, and Mei Qing was attacking it with earth energy talismans. It seemed counterintuitive, almost as if he had lost his mind after being struck.

But Mei Qing remained calm, floating in the air with a serene expression. He extended his hands, one facing up, the other down, and began to chant in a clear voice, “Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, command the Five Elements…”

“Palm Thunder!” both Stream Maidens exclaimed in disbelief, their beautiful faces showing signs of alarm.

Mei Qing’s chant was the incantation for the Palm Thunder technique, which he had seen in a fragmentary text. Though incomplete, he used it now as a decoy for his true plan.

The Stream Maidens, however, couldn’t afford to underestimate him. Mei Qing’s tactics and spells had been unpredictable and effective so far, from destroying the Five Elements Formation to evading the Sixth Stream Maiden’s sneak attack. His ingenuity and novel techniques made him a formidable opponent.

Hearing Mei Qing recite the Palm Thunder incantation, both Stream Maidens heightened their vigilance, carefully observing him, wary of falling into his trap.

But Mei Qing’s chant was strange. After a few words, his voice grew softer. Just as the Stream Maidens were fully focused on maintaining their formation and closing in on him, Mei Qing suddenly shouted, “Escape!” and vanished without a trace.

Both Stream Maidens were stunned. They hadn’t expected Mei Qing, who had been chanting the Palm Thunder incantation, to suddenly use an escape technique. Had he been bluffing all along, planning to flee?

As they seethed with anger, they suddenly noticed the earth energy around them, which had been gathering rapidly after Mei Qing’s three earth talismans, had been completely drained by his escape technique.

Then, a massive surge of spiritual energy erupted.

“Reverse Five Elements? Earth Severance? No!” The Stream Maidens realized they had been tricked. Despite their caution, Mei Qing had outmaneuvered them. It was too late to counter.

The Three Talents and Five Elements Formation, inherently stable and defensive, was excellent for containment but difficult to break. However, Mei Qing had defied convention. Unable to overpower it, he had devised a clever trap. His three earth talismans weren’t meant to disrupt the formation but to enhance its earth energy. Normally, stronger earth energy would stabilize the formation, so the Stream Maidens hadn’t anticipated his next move.

While trapped in the formation, Mei Qing hadn’t just been evading attacks. He had subtly laid down a Reverse Five Elements Formation. When he activated his escape technique, he drained all the earth energy from the Stream Maidens’ formation, leaving it vulnerable. As he fled, the Reverse Five Elements Formation he had set up went into overdrive, causing chaos.

Then, a terrifying surge of spiritual energy rippled outward.

“Reverse Five Elements? Cutting the Earth Element? No good!” The two Xi Nus finally realized the truth. Despite their caution, they had still been outmaneuvered by Mei Qing. But it was already too late to counter.

The Three Realms and Five Elements Formation was extremely stable, defensive and difficult to break, making it ideal for trapping opponents.

But Mei Qing was not one to follow the rules. Knowing that a direct assault would be difficult, he had cleverly set a trap. Earlier, when he released the three Earth Talismans, he wasn’t trying to disrupt the enemy. Instead, he was intentionally enhancing the earth energy within their formation. After all, the denser the earth energy, the more stable the formation—so the two Xi Nus had not anticipated his next move, leading to their downfall.

The rain arrows had passed, and Mei Qing felt a surge of relief. The warriors in the opposing Five Elements Formation had nearly been shattered by the Demon-Subduing Pestle’s strike. As the pestle poised for another attack, they braced themselves, but to their surprise, it veered off and targeted the rain arrows instead, rendering their defense futile.

Mei Qing secretly rejoiced. The paper talisman he had stealthily released was now in position. Silently reciting an incantation and forming hand seals, he shouted, “Activate!” A dazzling rain of fire erupted around the five warriors.

Already severely wounded and disoriented by the pestle’s earlier strike, the warriors were slow to react as the flames engulfed them. They let out panicked cries, but being paper constructs with limited intelligence, they could only act under the command of the First Stream Maiden, Yin Ping. With her delayed return, they were left defenseless. Their paper bodies quickly succumbed to the flames, and the five beauties turned to ash, scattering in the autumn wind.

Enraged by the loss of her warriors, the First Stream Maiden summoned her silver vase, her movements fluid and graceful like blooming flowers. She gritted her teeth and chanted, “Sweet Dew Generals, Five Lands and Three Powers, command!”

The vase poured out sweet dew like a torrent. Around her, the air churned with the sounds of clashing swords and galloping horses. Several battle formations emerged, encircling Mei Qing with a fierce, chilling wind.

Mei Qing remained vigilant, his eyes scanning the battlefield. He noticed that three teams had emerged, forming a complex Three Powers and Five Elements Formation. This formation was more intricate than before, with the Three Powers interweaving and the Five Elements constantly shifting. Breaking it would require considerable effort.

Taking a deep breath, Mei Qing steadied his mind and activated a protective talisman. He extended his spiritual senses, probing the formation for its weak points while silently calculating his next move.

However, his opponents gave him no respite. A warrior from the Three Powers Formation shot three black-feathered arrows in a triangular pattern toward him.

Mei Qing sighed inwardly, focusing on self-preservation as he dodged the arrows, all the while continuing his calculations.

The Three Powers and Five Elements Formation was not an extraordinary spell, but when deployed with paper constructs under the command of the First Stream Maiden, it became a formidable force. The formation moved with precision and relentlessness, leaving no room for Mei Qing to catch his breath or observe its patterns. This dynamic approach made it far more dangerous than a static formation, giving Mei Qing new insights into the application of such spells.

Though he couldn’t immediately break the formation, Mei Qing’s understanding of its principles and his earlier success in dismantling a Five Elements Formation gave him confidence. He wasn’t overwhelmed or distracted.

Half of his spiritual energy was devoted to controlling his “Shadow Shift,” constantly changing his position. Meanwhile, he discreetly scattered several paper talismans, arranging them in a reverse Five Elements pattern. The opposing formation moved seamlessly, leaving no openings for a surprise attack. Thus, Mei Qing had to counter the formation with his own, aiming to disrupt their rhythm and seize an opportunity to strike.

As his formation neared completion, the enemy continued their relentless assault, oblivious to his maneuvers. Mei Qing felt a surge of satisfaction. He shifted his position to the formation’s core, ready to activate his spell. But suddenly, a sense of dread washed over him. Without hesitation, he fully activated his “Shadow Shift,” his figure flickering across the battlefield in a series of rapid movements.

Despite his quick reaction, he was a fraction too slow. A sharp, piercing sound erupted in his ears, followed by the explosion of dozens of large, colorful flowers around him. The petals rained down like a chaotic storm, striking his protective talisman and sending ripples through his spiritual energy. Though he managed to avoid the worst of the explosion, the impact left his inner energy in turmoil, and he nearly blacked out.

Mei Qing was alarmed. As a newly ascended Qi Refinement cultivator, his nascent core was extremely fragile, on the verge of forming a nascent soul. Any damage to it would be difficult to repair.

Without delay, he formed hand seals, stabilizing his inner energy with the “Hua Yan” method. This not only calmed his turbulent energy but also temporarily suppressed the relentless attacks of the Three Powers and Five Elements Formation. Fortunately, the Sixth Stream Maiden, who had launched the attack, didn’t follow up immediately, giving Mei Qing a moment to recover.

This incident revealed Mei Qing’s lack of combat experience. While focused on the First Stream Maiden’s formation, he had overlooked the Sixth Stream Maiden, who wielded a long flute and controlled a sea of flowers, directly attacking with powerful spells. Seeing Mei Qing maneuvering skillfully within the formation, she seized the moment he was preparing to counterattack and struck, injuring him.

However, the Sixth Stream Maiden didn’t expect Mei Qing to evade her attack, giving him a brief respite.

But the reprieve was short-lived. The Sixth Stream Maiden quickly realized her missed opportunity and brought her flute to her lips, unleashing a mournful melody aimed directly at Mei Qing.

Simultaneously, the warriors of the Three Powers and Five Elements Formation regrouped, their weapons raised, ready to attack once more.

Mei Qing knew the situation was dire, but he wasn’t ready to retreat just yet. With a flick of his wrist, he produced three talismans, sending them flying toward the Three Powers positions in the enemy formation.

Having witnessed the power of Mei Qing’s talismans earlier, the two Stream Maidens were wary. Seeing him unleash three at once, they grew cautious, fearing he might be preparing a desperate counterattack. They focused on containing him within the formation, biding their time.

As the talismans landed, they drew in vast amounts of earth energy, creating a swirling vortex that pressed down on the formation’s core.

The two Stream Maidens were puzzled. The core of the Five Elements Formation was the earth position. By attacking it with earth energy, wasn’t Mei Qing adding fuel to the fire? Had he lost his mind after being struck?

But Mei Qing remained calm, floating in the air with a serene expression. He extended his hands, one palm up, the other down, and began to chant, “Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang, command the Five Elements…”

“Palm Thunder!” the two Stream Maidens exclaimed in disbelief, their beautiful faces showing signs of alarm.

Mei Qing was reciting the incantation for Palm Thunder, a powerful spell he had glimpsed in a fragmented scroll. Though he didn’t have the complete spell, he used it as a diversion for his true plan.

The two Stream Maidens, however, didn’t take it lightly. Mei Qing’s tactics and spells had been unpredictable and effective so far. He had destroyed the Five Elements Formation and evaded the Sixth Stream Maiden’s attack, showcasing his ingenuity and resourcefulness.

Thus, when they heard him chanting the Palm Thunder incantation, they immediately heightened their vigilance, fearing they might fall into his trap.

But Mei Qing’s chant grew softer, and just as the two Stream Maidens were closing in, he suddenly shouted, “Escape!” and vanished without a trace.

The two Stream Maidens were stunned. They had expected him to unleash Palm Thunder, but instead, he had used an escape technique. Had he been bluffing all along, planning to flee?

As they seethed with anger, they noticed the earth energy around them, which had been gathering rapidly after Mei Qing’s three talismans, had suddenly been drained completely by his escape spell.

Then, a massive surge of spiritual energy erupted.

“Reverse Five Elements? Earth Severance? No!” The two Stream Maidens realized they had been tricked. Despite their caution, Mei Qing had outmaneuvered them. It was too late to counter.

The Three Powers and Five Elements Formation was inherently stable, excellent for containment but difficult to break. Mei Qing, however, had no intention of playing by the rules. Faced with a formidable defense, he devised a clever trap. His three earth talismans weren’t meant to disrupt the formation but to strengthen its earth energy. Normally, increased earth energy would make the formation more stable, so the two Stream Maidens didn’t anticipate his next move, leading to their downfall.

While trapped in the formation, Mei Qing hadn’t merely dodged attacks. His movements had secretly laid the groundwork for a Reverse Five Elements Formation. When he activated his escape spell, he simultaneously triggered the Reverse Formation, draining the earth energy from the Three Powers and Five Elements Formation. Though he escaped, the Reverse Formation went into overdrive, causing chaos in his wake.