Chapter Sixty-Eight: Little Four Encounters the Sleeping Dragon Formation

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Fourfold Sleeping Dragon Formation

Chapter Ten: Sword Dance in the Empty Mountains – The Violet Lightning Startles Fiends, Fire Clouds Shroud the Ancient Crossing of the Taihang, Contest for the Marvelous Relic (Part Eight)

The young maiden spoke gently, “If that’s the case, it seems there is a trace of fate connecting us! The restrictions here are severe, far beyond your imagination, and I fear you won’t be able to break them. Why not...?”

Ye Hua was surprised, “Why not what? Could it be—could it be that you wish for us to join forces to break this forbidden spell together?” The maiden nodded, “Young hero, you are indeed perceptive. That is exactly my intention. What do you all think?”

Qing Kai and Xie Liang exchanged glances. Xie Liang whispered, “Brother Qing Kai, that stone tablet just destroyed the wind pillar—its power is formidable. If we rely solely on brute strength, I’m afraid it will be impossible to break. If we cooperate, I fear, I fear...”

Qing Kai furrowed his brows, “We may end up working for someone else’s benefit, toiling in vain!” Xie Liang nodded, “That is exactly my worry!”

The maiden seemed to understand their concerns. She smiled, “The matter at hand is to break this restriction first. If we can’t even do that, there’s no point in considering what comes after. Wouldn’t it be a waste of effort?”

Qing Shi’s eyes glittered, “Your words make sense, but we don’t even know who you are. How can we speak of mutual trust in seeking the treasure?”

The maiden looked into the distance. The waves merged with the sky, endless and vast. Lone clouds drifted at the horizon, carried by the wind. She smiled slightly, “In that case, you may address me as Mistress Dreamcloud.”

Qing Shi and his companions gazed at the maiden, full of suspicion. He whispered, “Mistress Dreamcloud! I have never heard that name before. Who knows if it’s real or not?”

Xie Liang stepped forward, his expression solemn, “Mistress Dreamcloud, since you propose cooperation, let us quickly open this stone tablet. Qingxu Mountain is a place where cultivators gather, with many sects mingling. If other evil factions discover us, there will surely be another conflict!”

The maiden smiled, “That is exactly my thought!” With that, she approached the stone tablet, gazing at it from a distance. The inscriptions upon it were damaged and eroded, nearly illegible, but faintly visible were several ancient characters: “The Grandmaster received the decree of Boyang, attained the pill and the Dao, descended to subdue demons, taught the Immortal Elder to rescue the lost, Jingyang slew the flood dragon... The tribulation has arisen, the Dao fortune has begun... The profound Dao is obtained within, guarded without, used as spirit, forgotten as tool...”

She studied the tablet for a moment, her brows knit in puzzlement. She circled it slowly, her close attendant ever vigilant by her side, tense and anxious.

The maiden hesitated, then stepped forward lightly. Suddenly, black mist surged from the stone tablet, clouds of gloom rolling in, dense fog enveloping all. The attendant felt the sunlight and sky vanish, confusion reigning, unable to distinguish directions. Amidst the whirling mist, ghostly voices wailed and chilling winds pierced the bones. She cried out in panic, “Miss, be careful!” The maiden seemed prepared, nodded, and with a turn of her palm revealed an ancient mirror, its surface crystal clear, radiating brilliance like a soul’s light.

The group saw the mist envelop the maiden, her figure vanishing, and all were startled. Within the fog, a stream of rainbow light appeared, shining cold and pure, and the maiden’s figure reemerged, ancient mirror in hand. They marveled at the treasure, wondering what kind of artifact could emit such dazzling light.

After a moment, the maiden appeared to determine her bearings and began to withdraw from the fog. As she moved, flames erupted behind and around her, followed by a thunderous roar as a fireball shot from the stone tablet, rising three fathoms high before bursting apart, transforming into a vast fire canopy descending upon the maiden and her attendant, forming a miniature volcano. Within the flames, countless three-inch jade-green fire spikes swarmed like locusts, shooting in all directions. The two women’s faces changed. The maiden spun her ancient mirror, releasing a five-colored radiance that soared skyward, then descended to form a transparent shield.

Now the fire spikes rained down. The group heard a cacophony; the shield’s light flickered, growing dim. Just as tension mounted, a long, echoing roar sounded. Suddenly, several fire dragons shot from the stone tablet, charging at the transparent shield. Faces paled—no matter how formidable the shield, it seemed unlikely to withstand the dragons.

Just as worry set in, a streak of white light, swift as lightning, descended from the sky, twisting like a divine dragon or rainbow, striking the fire dragons. Half the dragons dissipated with a mournful cry. Within the shield, the maiden summoned a long sword, firing it at the remaining dragons, dispersing them all.

As the radiance faded, the maiden and her attendant stood beside the group. The mist around the stone tablet, lacking a target, gradually dispersed. The maiden bowed to Ye Hua, “Thank you, young hero, for your timely assistance!” It turned out the white light was Ye Hua, who, seeing the fire dragons’ ferocity, acted out of urgency, wielding his saber to strike.

Ye Hua blushed, “You are too kind, maiden.” She bowed again, then addressed the group, apologetic, “You all witnessed what happened. As for the inscriptions on the stone tablet, I do not fully understand their meaning. However, the formation surrounding the tablet is based on the Primordial Eight Trigrams—positions of Kan, Zhen, and Kun—then layered with the Later Eight Trigrams: Dui in the west, Li in the south, Kan in the north, all interwoven and responding to each other. At the positions of Lesser Yin, Lesser Yang, Greater Yin, each contains a key point.

The universe is formless and chaotic, a single mass. The five directions and five elements generate and restrain each other, following celestial patterns and the four seasons. To break the formation, one must apply metal-type techniques at Dui, wood-type at Zhen, fire-type at Li, earth-type at Gen, and I shall apply water-type at Kan. If five people act simultaneously, the formation can be broken with ease. This is the Fourfold Sleeping Dragon Formation, created by Longzhi, the founding master of Dragon Cave Temple. It is renowned for its concealment and offensive power. Compared to formations reinforced with jade or stone tablets, it is even more formidable!”

Ye Hua and the others were astonished. They never expected the young woman to possess such profound knowledge of formations. Simply by circling the tablet, she not only named the formation but explained its origins and principles in detail.

If another master of formations, such as Zhiguang or Zhigang of Biyun Temple, had heard her, they would have been utterly impressed, exclaiming, “How is it that this young lady’s understanding of formations is so deep and incisive!”

The group’s knowledge of formations was shallow, yet hearing her speak so casually, they believed her without doubt. Qing Kai stepped forward, “Very well, I shall apply my technique at Gen. Is that acceptable?”

The maiden nodded with a gentle smile, “Of course. However, we still need three practitioners skilled in metal, wood, and fire techniques.” Xie Liang nodded, “I will take the Zhen position.” The maiden’s attendant bowed respectfully, “Miss, may I take the Li position?”

“Naturally. Among those present, you are the most adept in fire techniques! As for Dui, there’s no need to search further—this young hero is more than qualified. His mastery and inner reserves are impressive, which I greatly admire!” She smiled graciously at Ye Hua.

Ye Hua blushed, stammering, “I am far inferior to Brother Qing Shi. His metal technique is much stronger than mine!”

The maiden gave a soft “Oh,” then turned to Qing Shi, who shook his head, “Brother Ye, now is not the time for modesty. You are the most suitable for Dui.” Seeing Qing Shi’s insistence, Ye Hua could not refuse, and reluctantly agreed, “Then I must obey, though I pray I do not hold everyone back.”

The maiden smiled sweetly, “Young hero, you are too humble!” She proceeded to mark the positions around the stone tablet, indicating the key points, the timing and places for attack and defense, the coordination between metal and fire, the harmony of earth and wood, the interplay of water and fire, and the fusion of metal and water.

Everyone committed her instructions to heart, not daring to be negligent.