The light barrier was thick and somewhat murky. Though not as impenetrable as when it was shrouded in yellow mist, it still appeared rather blurry.
Besides this layer of light, there seemed to be several more layers inside. At the center of the barrier, a circular pillar several zhang tall could faintly be seen, adorned with what appeared to be ancient patterns and inscriptions. However, the group couldn’t make out the details clearly. As soon as their spiritual sense touched the barrier, it was completely repelled, unable to penetrate even slightly.
What was even stranger was the countless slender, multicolored bands of light drifting and weaving unpredictably between the layers of the barrier, as if alive, giving off an exceptionally eerie vibe.
The others also noticed this and couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement.
Han Li, however, frowned slightly, a trace of doubt flashing imperceptibly in his eyes.
Though he wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about ancient formations, he had seen quite a few in Xin Ruyin’s various texts. The appearance and aura of this formation didn’t seem to resemble any ancient formation he knew. Instead, it carried a somewhat sinister air.
Thinking this, Han Li glanced sideways at Shi Die not far away.
She was curiously examining the formation, her face showing no unusual expression. This eased Han Li’s mind, as he wasn’t very confident in his knowledge of formations, and he somewhat self-mockingly thought he might have misjudged.
“Alright! It’s getting late. Brother Han and the others have traveled a long way. Let’s rest for today and start breaking the formation tomorrow! Judging by its appearance, this formation won’t be broken in a short time!” Hu Yue considerately said to Han Li and the others.
Hearing this, Han Li also felt the fatigue from their long journey and didn’t object.
As for Fairy Shi, having seen the true face of the formation, she seemed eager to give it a try. However, since Hu Yue had already spoken, she refrained from saying anything.
The group returned to the stone houses.
Since there weren’t enough rooms, Han Li and the others casually gathered some soil to build a few additional earthen huts. After using petrification techniques to turn them into stone houses, they moved in.
…
The next morning, Han Li and Shi Die went to the vicinity of the light barrier and began various calculations and attribute tests.
The process of breaking the formation was extremely slow, especially at the beginning. Both of them often felt at a loss, frequently encountering insurmountable difficulties and making no progress for days.
However, no matter how tricky it was, formations were inanimate, while people were adaptable. Given enough time to study and ponder, even the most bizarre formation could gradually be deciphered.
Through Han Li and Shi Die’s collaboration, this so-called ancient formation was no exception. They slowly unraveled its secrets.
During this process, Han Li’s opinion of this female cultivator surnamed Shi greatly improved.
Though she was somewhat arrogant, she truly had some skills. Not only was she well-versed in various formations, but her calculations regarding the formation’s layout were meticulous and flawless, earning Han Li’s admiration.
In his view, her expertise in formation theory, while not as profound as Xin Ruyin’s, wasn’t far behind.
Yet, while impressed, Han Li was also somewhat puzzled. Why were all the formation experts he knew women? Did female cultivators have a natural talent for formations?
However, compared to Xin Ruyin, this Fairy Shi seemed somewhat theoretical. Though she could discuss formation theories eloquently, her methods for breaking formations were limited. If those methods didn’t work, she could only stare helplessly, at a loss.
Han Li’s half-baked knowledge of formations was naturally far inferior to hers in terms of calculation.
Knowing his limitations, he didn’t argue with her on this front. Instead, he directly applied Xin Ruyin’s various formation-breaking techniques, which greatly impressed her.
Thus, after developing a tacit understanding, Han Li and Fairy Shi formed a cooperation: she would calculate and identify the formation’s weaknesses, and Han Li would find ways to break them. This not only significantly sped up their progress but also allowed both to learn from each other, leaving them highly satisfied.
As for Jin Qing and the others, who couldn’t contribute for the time being, they obediently meditated and cultivated in the stone houses, quietly waiting for the two to break the formation.
One day, three months later, Han Li and Shi Die called everyone to the slope. After their busy efforts, the formation was almost completely broken, with only the final restriction remaining. Once this restriction was broken, the strange stone pillar would be fully exposed to everyone.
The light barrier now looked very different from when Han Li first saw it. Not only had it shrunk by nearly half, but its color had also changed from dull yellow to a fiery red. Anyone approaching could feel a wave of scorching heat.
Even more astonishing, the multicolored light bands within the barrier had now transformed into countless winged fire snakes, crawling all over the barrier and continuously spitting thin flames.
“What kind of demonic creatures are these?” Jin Qing asked in surprise upon seeing this.
The others also wore expressions of astonishment.
“Fire-attribute evil spirits—Chi E. They’re extremely rare and only form under very specific conditions. Their lifespan is very short, often dissipating on their own after just a few hours. However, the demonic flames they naturally spit are no less powerful than a cultivator’s core flame, and they particularly enjoy devouring the souls of mortals and the primordial spirits of cultivators. Dealing with them is very tricky. This final restriction clearly turns this area into a Triple Yang Zone, allowing these fire spirits to continuously regenerate indefinitely. If an uninformed cultivator forcefully breaks the restriction, they will inevitably fall victim to these Chi E,” Shi Die explained with a hint of pride.
After all, she was the first to identify the origins of these rarely known “Chi E.”
“Chi E?” Upon hearing that these creatures devoured primordial spirits, Jin Qing and the others couldn’t help but pale.
“Since you’ve called us here, it seems you two have a way to break this. Don’t hesitate to give us orders,” the usually silent cultivator surnamed Jian unexpectedly spoke up.
The others were slightly taken aback but then turned their attention to Shi Die and Han Li.
Han Li smiled faintly without saying anything, while Shi Die chuckled and said in a clear voice, “Senior Han and I were initially quite troubled, but after discussing for a few days, we finally came up with a reliable method to break the restriction. However, we’ll need everyone’s help.”
Though her appearance was ordinary, her voice was exceptionally clear, lending her a certain charm in that moment.
“Just tell us, Fairy Shi. Whatever you and Brother Han instruct, we’ll follow,” Hu Yue said with a light laugh.
Hearing this, Shi Die didn’t stand on ceremony and began giving orders directly.
“To break this formation, we need several water-attribute magical instruments that counteract fire. Senior Han and I have gathered a few. As long as everyone holds these instruments and stands in the positions we specify, when Senior Han breaks the barrier, you can use these instruments to eliminate any Chi E that slip through.”
“Everyone, please avoid using your own magical treasures to attack these evil spirits. They are natural fire spirits, something we cultivators usually avoid at all costs. Also, do not let them get close to you, or you’ll be in serious trouble,” Han Li added slowly.
Seeing Han Li’s grave expression, Hu Yue and the others exchanged glances and nodded solemnly in agreement.
Then, Han Li took out a small ruler, a small hammer, and a small fork from his person, distributing them to Jin Qing, Qu Hun, and the cultivator surnamed Jian, respectively. Meanwhile, Shi Die took out a blue silk handkerchief and handed it to Hu Yue.
Under Shi Die’s guidance, everyone took their positions nearby. Shi Die herself quickly retreated to the periphery, also pulling out a short sword magical instrument, focusing intently on Han Li’s actions.
Han Li didn’t rush to act. Instead, he carefully surveyed the surroundings once more to ensure everything was in order. Only then did he wave both hands, releasing dozens of blue formation flags, formation disks, and other water-attribute formation tools from his storage pouch. They hovered uncertainly around him.
Without a word, Han Li flicked his fingers lightly, and a series of soft “puff” sounds followed.
The formation flags and disks shot toward the red light barrier, landing around it in a specific pattern. The flags embedded themselves a few inches into the ground, while the disks hovered steadily a few inches above the ground, forming a solemn and imposing formation.
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