Chapter 115: The Changchun Palace

“Changchun Palace… What a great name! Kid, when your old master gets too old and lazy to move around, you should buy this Changchun Palace for me as a place to cultivate. And better yet, build a hut next to it called—Baiyun Temple!” Zhang Shisan chuckled mischievously.

Ever since he heard from the inn waiter that this dilapidated former palace was named Changchun Palace, Zhang Shisan had been grinning like a fox.

It’s not hard to understand why. Originally, the ancestral temple of the Quanzhen Taoist sect of the Dan Ding school was also named Changchun Palace, named after the sect’s patriarch Qiu Chuji, who was known as Changchunzi. After Changchunzi ascended to immortality, his disciples established a hall at the eastern branch monastery to honor him, naming it Baiyun Temple.

During the late Yuan Dynasty, Changchun Palace was destroyed in warfare and later rebuilt during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. Due to heavy damage, it was reconstructed on the site of Baiyun Temple. From then on, the Quanzhen sect made Baiyun Temple its ancestral temple.

Now, suddenly hearing that there was another Changchun Palace in the Yongping region, and that it had fallen into such decay, Zhang Shisan couldn’t help but feel delighted at others’ misfortunes. He even joked that any place named Changchun would wither away after a brief flourish, indicating the name itself was terrible.

“Master, you’re joking. This Changchun Palace was originally a Liao Dynasty Khitan temporary palace. If we trace its name, it predates the establishment of the Quanzhen sect and has nothing to do with Baiyun Temple,” Mei Qing, well-versed in history, naturally knew the origins of Changchun Palace. Seeing Zhang Shisan’s smug expression, he explained.

“Whether it’s earlier or later doesn’t matter. Anyway, now it’s not only hopelessly dilapidated but also occupied by a bunch of heretical villains, making it a chaotic mess. Whether it’s emperors or Taoist priests, choosing this name must be extremely inauspicious,” Zhang Shisan, adopting the air of a professional fortune teller, proceeded to explain how the name “Changchun” was incompatible with yin-yang balance, discordant with the eight trigrams, and contrary to the five elements—in short, completely disagreeable to him.

Seeing Zhang Shisan speaking with such enthusiasm, Mei Qing secretly thought, “I wonder what kind of bad experience my master had with the Quanzhen sect that he now dislikes even their ancestral temple.” Naturally, he wouldn’t dare to provoke his master directly, so he simply feigned a respectful and inquisitive attitude and asked, “Master, why didn’t we go directly to the mansion the leader entered last night, and instead came to this Changchun Palace first?”

Upon hearing Mei Qing’s question, Zhang Shisan couldn’t help but feel proud. He struck a pose of solemn authority, stroking his sparse beard as he spoke, “There’s great wisdom behind this, my boy. You’ve only recently joined the sect and have little experience in the martial world, so of course you wouldn’t understand. Clearly, yesterday’s so-called great leader is nothing more than a clay figure with a wooden core, bearing the title of leader but lacking real authority. Even if we were to inspect his residence thoroughly, we’d probably find nothing. However, this Changchun Palace, long abandoned, suddenly has rumors of ghosts, just like the Fishbone Temple. There must be some connection. Therefore, checking this palace first for any clues is undoubtedly a wise decision.”

After listening to Zhang Shisan’s explanation, Mei Qing couldn’t help but admire his master’s insight, seeing that despite his seemingly muddled appearance, his master actually had a sharp mind. Hou Shen, standing nearby, also said, “Master Zhang’s reasoning is indeed clear. I thought it was just because we couldn’t enter the mansion during daylight that we came here first to scout.”

Zhang Shisan became even more pleased and chuckled, “You, being a habitual thief, naturally think that way. But you didn’t consider that for cultivators like us, hiding our presence, the difference between day and night isn’t that significant. Little monkey, although you’re a martial artist, since you’ve joined Mei Qing, you’ll surely have the chance to learn some Taoist techniques in the future. You really should change your habits.”

Hou Shen naturally could only nod in agreement. Mei Qing, however, wasn’t entirely convinced. When he had taken great effort to subdue Hou Shen, what he valued most was precisely Hou Shen’s martial prowess. Although Mei Qing himself wasn’t particularly strong in Taoist techniques, he had at least entered the door of cultivation and naturally had opportunities to improve in the future. But whether high-level Taoist cultivation rendered ordinary martial arts useless—Mei Qing certainly didn’t think so.

The simplest example was the treasure vault of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, where ordinary cultivators were helpless, yet Hou Shen could move freely. That night, when they encountered the zombie Yang Zui, neither of them had much idea how to deal with it, and it was only with Mei Qing’s help that Hou Shen managed to land a successful strike. This showed that cultivators weren’t omnipotent, and martial arts weren’t entirely useless.

Of course, Mei Qing had also considered that since Hou Shen was now following him, combining his own knowledge of talismans with Hou Shen’s martial skills might prove even more effective. For example, if Hou Shen could use a talisman to conceal spiritual energy, combined with his near-invisible stealth and assassination techniques, cultivators below the Qi Condensation stage might find it hard to escape his attacks.

But it was still too early to discuss such things. It was just a secret plan Mei Qing had in mind, not something he had shared with anyone yet.

The Changchun Palace was located several miles southeast of Changchun Dian village.

At the foot of Changchun Palace originally lay a large lake called Changchun Dian, which also gave the village its name. Later, the lake gradually silted up and split into two parts—east and west—locally known as Big Changchun and Little Changchun.

Changchun Palace sat at the corner of Little Changchun, facing south, covering an area of more than ten acres. But as dynasties changed, locals gradually encroached upon the grounds, leaving only the main hall’s courtyard. Even that was now collapsing, with broken walls and ruined buildings.

As for the rumors of ghosts haunting the palace, they had also asked the inn waiter. However, before he could finish explaining, the waiter was called away by the innkeeper. All they knew was that at night, the palace would echo with sounds of people shouting and horses neighing. Locals, not understanding the cause, believed it was the spirits of former emperors haunting the place, leading their spectral troops in drills.

Since it was still daytime, the three of them didn’t perform any techniques and simply approached the palace like ordinary visitors, chatting and laughing as they reached the entrance. They saw two stone beasts standing outside, though now weather-worn and scarred. The once-vermilion walls had faded to pale, with many sections collapsed or riddled with holes. The two grand doors had long vanished, and the steps leading into the palace, as well as the grounds within, were now overgrown with thick wild grass.

“Changchun Palace… what a splendid name. Disciple, when I grow old and too lazy to move, you must buy this Changchun Palace for me as a place for cultivation. And it would be best to build a shed next to it, let’s call it—White Cloud Temple!” Zhang Shisan said with a hearty laugh.

Ever since the waiter mentioned that the dilapidated and desolate palace ruins were called Changchun Palace, Zhang Shisan had been wearing a mischievous grin.

This was not surprising, as the ancestral temple of the Quanzhen Sect of the Dan Ding School was originally called Changchun Palace, named after the sect’s leader, Qiu Chuji, who was known as Changchunzi. After Changchunzi ascended to immortality, his disciples converted the eastern courtyard into a Taoist hall dedicated to him, naming it White Cloud Temple.

During the late Yuan dynasty, Changchun Palace was destroyed in the war. It was rebuilt during the Hongwu era, but due to severe damage, it was reconstructed on the site of White Cloud Temple. Since then, the Quanzhen Sect has regarded White Cloud Temple as its ancestral temple.

Today, Zhang Shisan suddenly learned that there was another Changchun Palace in the Yongping area, and it was in such a state of decay that he couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. He even went so far as to say that any place named Changchun would flourish briefly before falling into ruin, suggesting that the name itself was unlucky.

“Master, you jest. This Changchun Palace was a Liao dynasty palace for the Khitan people. It was named long before the Quanzhen Sect was established, and it has no connection to White Cloud Temple,” Mei Qing, who was well-versed in history, explained upon seeing Zhang Shisan’s smug expression.

“Whether it was named early or late, it’s now not only in ruins but also occupied by a group of heretics, making it a place of chaos. Whether it was named by an emperor or a Taoist, the name is clearly inauspicious,” Zhang Shisan declared with the air of a professional fortune-teller, expounding on how the characters “Changchun” were incompatible with yin and yang, the eight trigrams, the five elements, and the flow of qi—essentially, it didn’t meet his approval.

Seeing Zhang Shisan’s animated speech, Mei Qing thought to himself, “I wonder what grievance my master has against the Quanzhen Sect that he even dislikes their ancestral temple.” Out loud, he tactfully asked, “Master, why didn’t we go to the residence where the sect leader entered last night? Why did we come to Changchun Palace first?”

Zhang Shisan was delighted by the question. Striking a pose of a wise master, he stroked his sparse beard and said, “There is profound wisdom in this. Qing’er, you are still new to the sect and have little experience in the world, so of course, you wouldn’t understand. The so-called sect leader we saw yesterday was nothing more than a clay idol, bearing the title but incapable of handling serious matters. Even if we went to his residence, we wouldn’t find anything of significance. Changchun Palace has been abandoned for a long time, and suddenly there are rumors of hauntings, similar to the Fishbone Temple. There might be some connection. Therefore, it is wise for us to first investigate Changchun Palace for any clues.”

Mei Qing couldn’t help but admire his master’s insight, despite his seemingly careless demeanor. Hou Shen, who was standing nearby, chimed in, “Master Zhang’s explanation is clear. I thought we came here first because it was daytime and inconvenient to inspect the residence.”

Zhang Shisan became even more pleased and chuckled, “You, being a habitual thief, naturally think that way. But you should know that for us cultivators, hiding our presence makes little difference whether it’s day or night. Hou Shen, although you are a man of the world, since you are now following Mei Qing, you might have the chance to learn some Taoist arts in the future. You should change your habits accordingly.”

Hou Shen could only nod in agreement. Mei Qing, however, had his own thoughts. He had gone to great lengths to recruit Hou Shen, valuing his martial skills. Although Mei Qing’s Taoist abilities were not yet strong, he believed they would improve over time. However, he didn’t think that high-level Taoist cultivation would render ordinary martial arts useless.

The simplest example was the treasure vault of the Imperial Guards. Ordinary cultivators were helpless against it, but Hou Shen could come and go freely. That night, when they encountered the zombie Yang Zui, neither Mei Qing nor Hou Shen could do much, but it was Hou Shen who ultimately dealt the decisive blow with Mei Qing’s assistance. This showed that Taoist cultivation was not omnipotent, and martial arts were not without merit.

Of course, Mei Qing also considered that if he could combine his knowledge of talismans with Hou Shen’s martial skills, they could be even more effective. For instance, if he had a talisman that could conceal spiritual energy, combined with Hou Shen’s nearly invisible stealth and ambush techniques, even cultivators below the Qi Refining stage would find it hard to escape.

However, it was too early to discuss these ideas, so Mei Qing kept them to himself.

Changchun Palace was located several miles southeast of Changchun Town.

At the foot of Changchun Palace was originally a large lake called Changchun Lake, from which the town derived its name. Over time, the lake gradually silted up and was divided into two parts, known locally as Big Changchun and Small Changchun.

Changchun Palace was situated at the corner of Small Changchun, facing south and covering more than ten acres. Over the years, as dynasties changed, the palace was gradually encroached upon by villagers, leaving only the main courtyard of the main hall, which was now in ruins.

As for the rumors of hauntings, they had asked the waiter, but before he could explain, he was called away by the innkeeper. All they knew was that at night, the palace was filled with the sounds of people shouting and horses neighing. The villagers, not understanding, believed it was the spirits of the former emperor and his troops practicing drills.

Since it was daytime, the three of them did not use any spells but walked to the palace gate like ordinary tourists, chatting and laughing. Outside the palace, two stone beasts still stood, though they were heavily weathered and scarred. The once vermilion walls had faded to pale, with many sections collapsed or full of holes. The main gates were long gone, and the steps and the area inside the walls were overgrown with weeds.

“Vast heaven, who is this person—hehe, I fear the way of heaven is merciless, and does not age with the world,” Zhang Shisan sneered after a long inspection.

“It’s rare for Master to express such sentiments, lamenting the passing of time,” Mei Qing remarked, surprised by Zhang Shisan’s uncharacteristic musings.

Zhang Shisan shook his head without a word and casually cast an invisibility talisman. The three of them passed through the palace gate and disappeared like a wisp of smoke.

Inside the courtyard, the decay was even more evident. The western annex had collapsed, and the main hall and eastern annex were in shambles. Upon seeing this, Zhang Shisan frowned, and Mei Qing let out a thoughtful “Hmm.”

“Good disciple, do you sense anything?” Zhang Shisan asked, looking at Mei Qing.

Mei Qing tilted his head and carefully examined the surroundings before replying, “This place is filled with heavy yin energy! Although it was once an imperial palace, the imperial aura, which is the epitome of yang energy in the world, should not have dissipated so easily. It seems someone has tampered with this place.”

Zhang Shisan shook his head, “You’re right, but you’re mistaken. Someone has indeed tampered with this place, but they chose this palace precisely to use its yang energy to suppress the yin. It seems someone is refining something evil, and as it nears completion, the yang energy can no longer contain the yin, allowing some of it to leak out. That’s why the locals hear strange noises and see apparitions, thinking it’s haunted. Take a closer look. Even though you haven’t studied formations, can you roughly make out the Reverse Seven Yang Formation and the Three Lights Formation here?”

Mei Qing listened carefully and focused his spiritual senses to inspect the area. Upon closer examination, he indeed noticed some anomalies.

The reason he hadn’t sensed it at first was due to the Reverse Seven Yang Formation. Although Mei Qing hadn’t studied formations, his extraordinary intuition and experience from practicing thunder seals allowed him to perceive the basic principles of yin and yang and the five elements. The Reverse Seven Yang Formation, as the name suggests, uses yang energy to suppress yin energy, transforming the palace’s inherent dragon yang energy to counteract the yin. Because of this reversal, the yin and yang energies did not directly clash, blending harmoniously. As a result, Mei Qing initially only sensed the overwhelming yin energy and missed the flow of yang energy.

Although he didn’t fully understand the formation’s workings, Mei Qing greatly admired the technique of transforming yang into yin. These days, he had been pondering the application of yin-yang and the five elements, and seeing this common Seven Yang Formation used in such a way fascinated him.

After a long while, Mei Qing gradually withdrew his spiritual senses and praised, “Marvelous, truly marvelous. Formations are like talismans, with endless subtleties to explore.”

Zhang Shisan nodded with a smile, “Whether it’s techniques, formations, or talismans, they all boil down to the interplay of yin and yang and the five elements—mutual generation, mutual restraint, and mutual complementarity. However, the cleverness in their application requires insight, experience, and skill to truly grasp. Mei Qing, you have excellent intuition and decent skill, but you lack experience. In the future, if you encounter sophisticated formations or talismans, pay close attention.”

Mei Qing grimaced, “Master, you speak so easily, but you forget that I had no guidance growing up. I can’t even distinguish one formation from another. If I encounter one, I might just get trapped and die—as they say, ‘Hear the truth in the morning, die by evening!'”

“You foolish boy, with a master like me to guide you, what do you have to fear? Fine, fine, stop looking at me like that. Since we’ve encountered a formation, I’ll teach you a bit. I’ll only say it once, and if you don’t get it, you can die by evening!” Zhang Shisan snorted.

With that, Zhang Shisan didn’t rush to speak. Instead, he pulled out a large gourd of wine, took a sip, savored it for a moment, and then began leisurely, “All the formations in the world, no matter how they change, are based on the principles of Primordial Chaos, Two Forms, Four Symbols, Eight Trigrams, Five Elements, Seven Stars, and Nine Palaces. However, each incorporates different techniques and variations. There’s too much to cover all at once, so let’s start with the basics.”

“Rarely does my master speak with such poetic lament,” Mei Qing, surprised by this unusually poetic tone from his usually coarse master, couldn’t help but tease him.

Zhang Shisan only shook his head without answering, then casually drew an invisibility talisman. The three stepped through the palace gate and immediately vanished like a wisp of smoke.

Inside the courtyard, the decay was even worse. The western side hall had collapsed entirely, and the main hall and eastern side hall were also in tatters. After a brief look, Zhang Shisan frowned, and Mei Qing also let out a low “Hmm.”

“Good apprentice, do you sense anything?” Zhang Shisan asked, glancing at Mei Qing.

Mei Qing tilted his head, concentrated for a while, and then replied, “This place has a tremendous amount of yin energy! Considering it was once an imperial palace, even though long abandoned, the imperial aura should still be strong—the ultimate yang energy in the world. How could it have become so easily overwhelmed by yin filth? Someone must have tampered with this place.”

Zhang Shisan shook his head and said, “You’re right, but your reasoning is wrong. Someone definitely did tamper with this place, but choosing this imperial palace was precisely to use its yang energy to suppress the yin filth. It seems someone must have been cultivating something evil here, and as it nears completion, the yang energy can no longer fully suppress it, allowing some yin energy to leak out. That’s why the locals hear strange noises and see weird shapes, thinking it’s haunted. Take a closer look. Although you haven’t studied formations, you should be able to roughly perceive the Reversed Seven Yang Formation and the Three Light Formation here.”

Upon hearing his master’s words, Mei Qing immediately calmed his mind and carefully examined the area with his spiritual sense. As he focused, he indeed began to perceive some clues.

The reason he hadn’t noticed anything at first was precisely because of the Reversed Seven Yang Formation. Although Mei Qing hadn’t formally studied formations, his spiritual sensitivity was exceptional, and his experience with refining lightning prohibitions had given him a keen perception of basic yin-yang and five elements energies. Thus, he could now perceive a bit of the formation’s nature. The Reversed Seven Yang Formation, as its name suggests, uses yang energy to counteract yin forces, redirecting the natural yang energy of the palace to suppress the yin energy. Because of this reversal, yin and yang did not directly clash but instead blended together, which was why Mei Qing initially thought the yin energy was overwhelming and failed to detect the flow of yang energy.

Although he didn’t fully understand the formation’s function, Mei Qing greatly admired the technique of converting yang into yin. Lately, he had been thinking deeply about the transformation and application of yin-yang and the five elements. Seeing how this commonly seen Seven Yang Formation could be used in such a way fascinated him.

After a long while, Mei Qing slowly withdrew his spiritual sense and exclaimed in admiration, “Marvelous! Truly marvelous! So formations, like talismans, have such profound and intriguing applications.”

“The Palace of Eternal Spring… what a splendid name indeed. Disciple, when your master grows old and too lazy to move around, you must buy this Palace of Eternal Spring for me as a place for cultivation. And it would be best to build a shed next to it, let’s call it—the White Cloud Temple!” Zhang Shisan said with a hearty laugh.

Ever since the waiter mentioned that the dilapidated and desolate palace ruins were called the Palace of Eternal Spring, Zhang Shisan had been wearing a mischievous grin.

This was no surprise, as the ancestral temple of the Quanzhen Sect of the Dan Ding School was originally named the Palace of Eternal Spring, named after the sect’s leader, Qiu Chuji, who was known as the Eternal Spring Master. After Qiu Chuji ascended to immortality, his disciples converted the eastern courtyard into a Taoist hall dedicated to him, naming it the White Cloud Temple.

During the late Yuan dynasty, the Palace of Eternal Spring was destroyed in the war, and it was rebuilt during the Hongwu era. However, due to severe damage, it was reconstructed on the site of the White Cloud Temple, which then became the ancestral temple of the Quanzhen Sect.

Today, Zhang Shisan suddenly learned that there was another Palace of Eternal Spring in the Yongping region, and it had fallen into such ruin that he couldn’t help but feel a sense of schadenfreude. He even went so far as to say that any place named “Eternal Spring” would inevitably decline after a brief period of prosperity, suggesting that the name itself was unlucky.

“Master, you jest. This Palace of Eternal Spring was originally a Khitan palace during the Liao dynasty, and its name predates the establishment of the Quanzhen Sect. It has no connection to the White Cloud Temple,” Mei Qing, who was well-versed in history, explained, seeing Zhang Shisan’s smug expression.

“Whether it’s early or late, it’s now not only in ruins but also occupied by a group of heretics, making it a place of chaos. Whether it was named by an emperor or a Taoist, it’s clearly an inauspicious name,” Zhang Shisan, with the air of a professional fortune-teller, expounded on how the characters “Eternal Spring” were incompatible with the principles of yin and yang, the eight trigrams, the five elements, and the flow of qi. In short, it didn’t suit his taste.

Mei Qing, watching Zhang Shisan’s animated speech, thought to himself, “I wonder what grievance my master has with the Quanzhen Sect that he even dislikes their ancestral temple.” Out loud, he tactfully asked, “Master, why didn’t we go to the residence where the sect leader entered last night, instead of coming here to the Palace of Eternal Spring first?”

Zhang Shisan, pleased with the question, puffed up with pride and stroked his sparse beard. “There’s a profound reason for this. Qing’er, you’re still new to the sect and haven’t traveled much, so you wouldn’t understand. That so-called sect leader from yesterday is nothing more than a clay statue, bearing the title but incapable of handling real matters. Even if we went to his residence, we wouldn’t find anything of substance. This Palace of Eternal Spring has been abandoned for a long time, and suddenly there are rumors of ghosts haunting it, much like the Fishbone Temple. There might be some connection between the two. That’s why we came here first to look for clues. It’s a wise decision.”

Mei Qing couldn’t help but admire his master’s insight, despite his seemingly scatterbrained demeanor. Hou Shen, standing nearby, chimed in, “Master Zhang’s explanation is clear. I thought we came here first because it’s broad daylight and inconvenient to sneak into the residence.”

Zhang Shisan laughed heartily. “You, being a habitual thief, would naturally think that way. But for us cultivators, hiding our presence isn’t much different whether it’s day or night. Hou Shen, although you’re a man of the martial world, since you’re following Mei Qing, you’ll have the chance to learn some Taoist arts in the future. But you should change your habits.”

Hou Shen could only nod in agreement. Mei Qing, however, had his own thoughts. He had gone to great lengths to recruit Hou Shen, valuing his martial skills. While Mei Qing wasn’t particularly strong in Taoist arts, he had at least started on the path and believed he could improve in the future. But he didn’t think that once one’s Taoist cultivation reached a certain level, martial arts would become useless.

The simplest example was the treasure vault of the Imperial Guards. Ordinary cultivators were helpless against it, but Hou Shen could come and go freely. That night when they encountered the zombie Yang Zui, neither of them could do much, but with Mei Qing’s assistance, Hou Shen managed to strike a decisive blow. This showed that Taoist cultivation wasn’t omnipotent, and martial arts still had their uses.

Of course, Mei Qing also thought that if he could combine his knowledge of talismans with Hou Shen’s martial skills, they could be even more effective. For instance, if he had a talisman that could conceal spiritual energy, combined with Hou Shen’s nearly invisible stealth techniques and ambush skills, even cultivators below the Qi Refining stage would find it hard to escape.

But it was too early to discuss these ideas. Mei Qing kept them to himself for now.

The Palace of Eternal Spring was located several miles southeast of the town of Eternal Spring Pond, near the edge of a large pond called Eternal Spring Pond. The town’s name also derived from this pond. Over time, the pond had silted up and divided into two parts, known locally as Big Eternal Spring and Small Eternal Spring.

The Palace of Eternal Spring was situated at the corner of Small Eternal Spring, facing south and covering more than ten acres. Over the centuries, as dynasties changed, the palace was gradually encroached upon by villagers, leaving only the main courtyard, which was now in ruins.

As for the rumors of ghosts haunting the palace, they had asked the waiter about it, but before he could explain, the innkeeper called him away. All they knew was that at night, the palace was filled with the sounds of people shouting and horses neighing. The villagers, not understanding, believed it was the spirits of the former emperor and his troops practicing drills.

Since it was daytime, the three of them didn’t use any special techniques but walked to the palace gate like ordinary tourists, chatting and laughing along the way. Outside the palace, two stone beasts still stood, though they were heavily weathered and scarred. The once red walls had faded to pale, with many sections collapsed or riddled with holes. The main gates were long gone, and the steps and courtyard inside were overgrown with weeds.

“Vast and eternal heavens, who is this person—hah, I suppose the heavens are indifferent and do not age with the passage of time,” Zhang Shisan sneered after a long inspection.

“It’s rare for Master to express such sentiments, echoing the lament of the millet,” Mei Qing remarked, surprised by Zhang Shisan’s uncharacteristically profound words.

Zhang Shisan shook his head without a word and cast an invisibility talisman. The three of them passed through the palace gate and disappeared like a wisp of smoke.

Inside the courtyard, the decay was even more apparent. The western annex had collapsed, and the main hall and eastern annex were in shambles. At first glance, Zhang Shisan frowned, and Mei Qing let out a thoughtful “Hmm.”

“Good disciple, do you sense anything?” Zhang Shisan asked, looking at Mei Qing.

Mei Qing tilted his head and carefully examined the surroundings before replying, “This place is filled with a heavy yin energy! Although an imperial palace may have fallen into ruin, the imperial aura is the pinnacle of yang energy in the mortal world. It shouldn’t be so easily tainted by yin. Someone must have tampered with this place.”

Zhang Shisan shook his head. “You’re right, but you’re thinking in the wrong direction. Someone definitely tampered with this place, but they chose this palace precisely to use its yang energy to suppress the yin. It’s likely that someone is crafting something sinister here, and as it nears completion, the yang energy can no longer fully contain the yin, allowing some to leak out. That’s why the locals hear strange noises and see apparitions, thinking it’s haunted. Take a closer look. Even though you haven’t studied formations, you should be able to roughly discern the Reverse Seven Yang Formation and the Three Lights Formation here.”

Mei Qing, following Zhang Shisan’s guidance, calmed his mind and carefully observed with his spiritual senses. Upon closer inspection, he indeed noticed something unusual.

The reason he hadn’t sensed it at first was due to the Reverse Seven Yang Formation. Although Mei Qing hadn’t studied formations, his spiritual sensitivity was exceptional, and his experience with thunder seals had given him a keen sense of the basic principles of yin, yang, and the five elements. Thus, he could vaguely grasp the formation’s workings. The Reverse Seven Yang Formation, as its name suggests, used yang energy to suppress yin. By reversing the natural flow, it prevented direct conflict between yin and yang, blending them harmoniously. This was why Mei Qing initially only sensed the overwhelming yin energy and missed the subtle flow of yang.

Though he didn’t fully understand the formation’s intricacies, Mei Qing was deeply impressed by the technique of transforming yang into yin. Lately, he had been pondering the interplay and application of yin, yang, and the five elements. Seeing the common Seven Yang Formation used in such a novel way captivated him.

After a long while, Mei Qing gradually withdrew his spiritual senses and exclaimed, “Marvelous, truly marvelous! Formations are like talismans—there’s so much to explore and appreciate in their applications.”

Zhang Shisan nodded with a smile. “Whether it’s techniques, formations, or talismans, they all boil down to the fundamental principles of yin, yang, and the five elements—their mutual generation, restraint, and complementarity. But to truly grasp their subtleties, one needs insight, experience, and skill. Mei Qing, you have excellent insight and decent skill, but your experience is lacking. In the future, if you encounter sophisticated formations or talismans, pay close attention.”

Mei Qing grimaced. “Master, you make it sound easy, but I’ve had no guidance since childhood. I can’t even distinguish one formation from another. If I stumble into one, I might be trapped forever—as they say, ‘Hear the truth in the morning, die by evening!'”

“You foolish boy, with a master like me to guide you, what do you have to fear? Fine, fine, stop looking at me like that. Since we’ve encountered a formation, I’ll teach you a bit. I’ll only explain once—if you don’t get it, you can die by evening!” Zhang Shisan snorted.

With that, Zhang Shisan took his time, pulling out a large gourd of wine and taking a sip. After savoring it for a moment, he began to explain leisurely, “All formations in the world, no matter how they change, revolve around the patterns of Primordial Chaos, Yin-Yang, Four Symbols, Eight Trigrams, Five Elements, Seven Stars, and Nine Palaces. Each incorporates different techniques and variations. It’s impossible to cover everything at once, so let’s start with the most basic patterns.”

Mei Qing frowned and said, “Master, you just talk easily, but you never think about how I grew up without proper guidance. I couldn’t even tell one formation from another. If I ever encounter one, I’ll probably be trapped inside it—’He who hears the Dao in the morning may die content in the evening!'”

“You silly kid, with a master as great as me guiding you, what do you have to fear? Alright, alright, don’t look at me like that. Since we’ve encountered a formation today, I’ll teach you a little. But I’m only saying this once—if you don’t understand it, then ‘He who hears the Dao in the morning may die content in the evening!'”

Saying this, Zhang Shisan didn’t rush to speak. Instead, with a casual movement of his hand, he pulled out a large gourd of wine, took a swig, savored it for a moment, and then began speaking slowly and deliberately, “All formations under heaven, despite their endless variations, ultimately stem from the fundamental patterns of Hunyuan, Liangyi, Si Xiang, Bagua, Wu Xing, Qixing, and Jiugong. Of course, each has its own unique variations and transformations. There’s too much to explain all at once, so I’ll start with the most basic patterns.”