Mei Qing listened as Zhang Shisan explained the Two Extremes and Four Symbols array and the Hunyuan Taiji Formation. He then asked, “If that’s the case, according to what Master said, there’s no way to calculate the Two Extremes and Four Symbols array completely?”
Zhang Shisan shook his head and said, “Not necessarily. Although they are all Two Extremes and Four Symbols arrays, there are still differences. The formation depends on the skill of the arranger and the quality of the array’s focal point, so they are not the same. In the grand arrays guarding major sects’ mountain gates, usually passed down from elders, the focal points are often stabilized with magical treasures and weapons, naturally making them difficult to unravel. If an array is set by so-called experts in today’s world, their techniques inevitably leave traces, and the focal points may not be particularly formidable, so there are ways to break them. Besides, unraveling an array and breaking an array are not the same thing. If you try to fully calculate the entire formation, it’s naturally extremely difficult; but if you just calculate the current gate or palace, moment by moment, it’s not that hard. By moving step by step and calculating carefully, you will eventually find a way out. In fact, many people in the world break arrays in exactly this way.”
“Oh? So breaking an array can only be done by calculation?” Mei Qing looked at the Seven Yang Formation before him. Although it was reversed, according to Zhang Shisan’s explanation of array principles, he could roughly make out some of its structure. However, he was unsure how to proceed to break it.
“Breaking an array doesn’t only involve calculation. Generally speaking, there are three strategies,” Zhang Shisan mused. “The first is to break it by force. No matter what formation it is, it is always supported by spiritual energy and cleverly utilized by true essence. If your cultivation is high enough, you can ignore everything else and simply attack directly, causing the formation to collapse. However, this method requires your cultivation to be significantly higher than the formation’s strength to be effective. Take this current reversed Seven Yang Formation, for example. Although it’s not a particularly sophisticated formation, even I would find it somewhat tiring to break it by force.”
Mei Qing nodded in understanding. Formations draw upon the power of heaven and earth, and thus can channel energy far surpassing the strength of the one who arranged them. Therefore, to break a formation by brute force would require vastly greater spiritual power than what was originally used to create it.
“The second method is to break it cleverly. Every formation has its focal points and weak spots, all dependent on the interplay of yin and yang, the five elements, the flow of spiritual energy, and the application of true essence. If your insight is sharp enough, you don’t even need to calculate. Just identify the key points, and even with a single finger’s strength, you can shatter the entire formation. Or find its gaps and holes—no matter how many threads there are, there are always holes in the net, allowing you to pass through freely. But this method requires you to have mastered formations to an extraordinary degree and possess exceptional insight to reach such a level.”
As Mei Qing listened to Zhang Shisan describe this level of mastery, he felt a strong sense of aspiration. Although formations may seem, on the surface, to rely on the strength of spiritual energy and the power of the focal points, in reality, the most fundamental factor is the wisdom and ability of the arranger. If someone truly masters formations to an extremely refined level, they can instantly perceive the entire structure at a glance. Breaking arrays and defeating enemies would be like a skilled butcher dismembering an ox—no need to use brute force. With just a slight effort, they could shift a thousand pounds, handling even the heaviest burdens with ease, achieving perfect control.
“However, human strength and intelligence have their limits. Although these first two methods are well known, not everyone can achieve them. The third method is to break the array through calculation—responding to each move as it comes, calculating step by step, gradually breaking through the array. As for the various techniques and methods involved, they all revolve around this central principle.” As he spoke, Zhang Shisan began explaining how to break the current reversed Seven Yang Formation to Mei Qing.
As previously mentioned, any formation must rely on the transformation of spiritual energy through its focal points to maintain its operation. The most common way is to draw in the essence of the sun and moon, just as cultivators gather and refine it, channeling the essence of the heavens into the formation to support its function. This particular formation is a Seven Yang array, not relying on the sun and moon, but instead drawing energy from the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, absorbing the essence of the stars to supply the spiritual energy that powers the array.
Unlike the pure yang energy of the sun, the Northern Dipper represents the extreme of yin. By reversing yin and yang, this formation uses the yang energy of the imperial palace as a balancing force to suppress the yin and evil forces in the area, embodying the principle of using poison to counter poison.
It is said that the Southern Dipper governs life while the Northern Dipper governs death. The Northern Dipper is filled with killing energy, indicating that whatever evil force the arranger sought to suppress must have been formed from death energy or was extremely saturated with it. Additionally, to transform yin into yang, the array’s focal point must be a magical object filled with extreme yang energy, harmonizing with the true yang energy of the palace itself. Considering the Seven Yang Formation aligns with the Seven Stars, the object used must be something like a Seven Yang Ruler, or have seven apertures, or otherwise correspond to the principle of seven yang elements to be effective.
Since this formation integrates the Seven Yang and the Seven Stars, naturally the strategy to counter it should focus on these two elements. The Seven Yang refers to the Yang Dun (Yang concealment) of the Eight Trigrams, excluding the first Yang. The Seven Stars refer to the stars Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, Yaoguang, and Tianshu. Therefore, this formation has forty-nine variations, which is not considered an extremely complicated array.
“Although this is the case, this array contains many clever and subtle elements, worth studying. Also, this is not a killing or trapping formation meant to target people. Therefore, I will only explain the method of breaking it to you, and once you understand it yourself, that will be sufficient. Today, we shouldn’t stir up trouble or scare off the snake, so we’ll leave the array intact for now,” Zhang Shisan instructed Mei Qing, clearly explaining the positions of the Seven Stars and Seven Yang array nodes.
Although the Seven Stars and Seven Yang are used together, there are still distinctions in emphasis. Among them, the Seven Stars form the body, while the Seven Yang serve the function, which is why it is called the Seven Yang Formation. However, when breaking the formation, the Seven Stars are the primary focus, and the Seven Yang serve as auxiliary. The Seven Stars rotate, with the handle of the Dipper as the key. To break the array, one should enter from Tianshu, pass through Yuheng to Tianxuan, using the reverse order of the Seven Stars to activate the seven yang concealments. The formation will then naturally collapse.
Although this sounds simple, Zhang Shisan explained every variation in detail, taking nearly half an hour. Mei Qing listened with great attentiveness, occasionally asking questions, and finally truly grasped the method of breaking the formation. He couldn’t help but let out a long breath, feeling deeply enriched by the experience.
“Besides this reversed Seven Yang Formation, there’s also a Three Lights Formation here. However, this formation is entirely dependent on magical artifacts and is originally an illusionary array, not particularly complicated. Wait while I guide you through it, and you’ll understand without further explanation,” Zhang Shisan said lazily, putting away his gourd of wine and shouting, “Go!” as he summoned everyone forward toward the main hall.
Just as they were about to enter the main hall, Mei Qing suddenly felt the scenery before him distort. He quickly focused his mind and carefully examined it. Zhang Shisan intentionally allowed Mei Qing to observe clearly. As they flew forward, he pointed out the formation’s subtleties. Mei Qing finally understood that this Three Lights Formation did not refer to the sun, moon, and stars but rather the harmonization of three lights—an illusionary formation used to deceive others.
No wonder when they entered the courtyard, everything appeared desolate and ruined. The real scene had been hidden by this formation. The focal point of the Three Lights Formation must be a mirror-like magical artifact, capable of altering light to create numerous illusions to deceive others.
The application of this formation was quite different from the previous reversed Seven Yang Formation. After going around several times, Mei Qing finally felt he had grasped its subtleties. He nodded to Zhang Shisan, stepped away from his side, and began walking according to his calculations, performing a series of strange steps.
To an ordinary observer, these steps would seem to go left and right, forward and backward, completely without pattern, appearing chaotic beyond belief. However, Zhang Shisan watched with a smile, stroking his beard. When Mei Qing’s body suddenly vanished, Zhang Shisan immediately took Hou Shen with him and shouted, “Quick!” and they too disappeared.
In an instant, the three of them reappeared in the rear courtyard of the palace.
Behind the main hall of the palace was where the emperor resided during his travels, separated by a courtyard wall. Previously, due to the Three Lights Formation’s concealment, both distant and close views revealed only a desolate and empty landscape. However, as Mei Qing and the others passed through the formation, the scene before them was startling. In the courtyard stood seven tall flagpoles, each adorned with talisman-like symbols. On the ground, scattered haphazardly, were dozens of black coffins.
These coffins were strange—each lid was worn and dull, as if frequently touched and handled.
Around the coffins lay various bizarre bones. Some were over a meter long, with four legs and two wings; others were as small as a fist, with eight legs and two claws. Most of them were dark in color, appearing extremely hard and dense.
These bones were not randomly scattered on the ground like ordinary remains but maintained their own distinct forms, like lifelike specimens proudly standing beside the coffins.
“What is this?” Mei Qing was greatly startled at the sight and quickly asked Zhang Shisan.
Hou Shen, standing beside him, also looked puzzled. Despite his extensive experience traveling the martial world, he had never seen such a scene and turned to Zhang Shisan with a questioning gaze.
“This… this… these are… Nightmare Spirits? May the Three Pure Ones above protect us. What are they trying to do here?” Zhang Shisan, no longer his usual confident self, looked visibly shaken.
“What are Nightmare Spirits, Master?” Mei Qing was about to ask Zhang Shisan for more details when he suddenly noticed Zhang’s expression turn tense. Zhang signaled him to be silent, and Mei Qing immediately stopped speaking.
Zhang Shisan did not dare to delay. He began chanting a spell while throwing out a small piece of cloth shaped like a corner of a robe, signaling Mei Qing and Hou Shen to follow his movements.
When they first entered the formation, Zhang had not taken it too seriously, merely using a concealment spell to keep the three of them hidden. Now, seeing the scene before him, he finally dared not be complacent. As soon as he deployed his magical artifact, Mei Qing felt a thick surge of true essence envelop him completely, cutting off any outward leakage of spiritual energy. Obviously, this small piece of cloth was a magical item for concealing their presence.
Seeing this, Mei Qing’s eyes fixed on the cloth corner, studying it intensely. No matter how hard he looked, he couldn’t figure out what this piece of cloth was or what secrets it held. However, his gaze gradually became more and more intense with fascination.
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