Seeing that Song Changsheng's expression was growing unpleasant, Zhu Yiqun immediately took the hint and shut his mouth. However, his beady little eyes continued to dart curious glances at Song Changsheng.
Song Changsheng couldn't help but rub his forehead. Explaining things to this guy would only make it worse the more he explained, the more suspicious it would sound.
So, he simply ignored Zhu Yiqun and picked up his pace, heading straight into the dense forest ahead.
In less than half an hour, the group had all arrived at the designated meeting point as planned. Once everyone was accounted for, they began their journey toward the ancient ruins…
The ruins were quite a distance from the market. Even traveling at full speed, it still took them a full two days and one night to reach the outer perimeter of their destination.
On a desolate hillside, Zhu Yiqun pointed to the forest below and said, "Down there lies the ruins. There are still a few days left before the Winter Solstice. Let's rest here for a bit, and then begin our preparations."
Everyone had been traveling non-stop and was visibly worn out. They each found a spot to sit down and began to rest and recover…
"Fellow Daoist Song, come take a look," a calm voice called softly beside Song Changsheng.
He looked up and saw that it was Xu Yun, the other formation master in the group, gesturing for him to come over.
Xu Yun looked to be around thirty years old. In terms of cultivation level, she was among the weakest of the group, but she was still a top-tier first-grade formation master. When it came to breaking formations, she and Song Changsheng were the main force.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, what is it?"
"A second-grade, high-tier formation the [Xuan Yang Heavenly Steel Array]. Aren't you interested in seeing it for yourself?" Xu Yun asked with a slight smile.
Song Changsheng walked over and found that the edge of the ruins was not far from where she sat. The area was thick with Yang energy, to the point where it caused mild discomfort just standing near it.
"It is a second-grade high-tier formation. If it weren't for the approaching Winter Solstice, we wouldn't have a chance at all of even disturbing such a permanent formation."
A second-grade high-tier formation like this would normally require the combined efforts of several Foundation Establishment cultivators to break through by force. With their current group, that simply wasn't possible.
"Exactly. We're fortunate. While this [Xuan Yang Heavenly Steel Array] is powerful, it's a Demon-Refining formation. It won't actively attack righteous cultivators like us, giving us the rare chance to study a second-grade formation up close."
Xu Yun smiled faintly and sat cross-legged near the edge of the formation, beginning to study its runes.
Naturally, Song Changsheng wouldn't let such an opportunity slip by. He found a spot not far from Xu Yun and began to observe the formation as well.
As he began studying, he quickly noticed something strange. This was his first time encountering the [Xuan Yang Heavenly Steel Array], yet the process of comprehension felt unusually smooth.
The deeper he delved, the more he understood why this formation's rune patterns bore a striking resemblance to those found on the broken formation base he had picked up in the central plaza of the market.
While there were many subtle differences, it was clear that they originated from the same source. Since Song Changsheng had already thoroughly studied the patterns on that formation base, this one was much easier for him to comprehend.
This was very good news for him. The runes on the formation base had already deepened his understanding of formation arts, but they were incomplete, leaving many questions unanswered.
Now, with the help of the [Xuan Yang Heavenly Steel Array], he might finally be able to fill in those missing pieces…
Time passed quietly. In the past few days, Song Changsheng had almost fully comprehended the formation, gaining tremendous insight he had even vaguely touched the threshold of the next level.
Beside him, Xu Yun also seemed to have made great progress, a charming smile spreading across her face.
"Changsheng, how is it? Do you have confidence in breaking it?" Zhu Yiqun hurried over and asked.
"I'm fairly confident now. The time has come let's begin the formation break," Song Changsheng replied calmly and assuredly.
"That's great news! Fellow Daoists, take your positions we're breaking the formation!" Zhu Yiqun slapped his thigh in excitement and immediately called the others into action.
"Fellow Daoist Song, to break this formation, we've prepared a large amount of Cold Nether Stones and three Formation-Breaking Talismans. What method do you think we should use?"
Xu Yun respectfully handed the decision over to Song Changsheng.
"In that case, I'll humbly offer my plan," Song Changsheng said. "Here's what I propose: The two of us will use the Cold Nether Stones to set up suppressive arrays at these two weak points to steadily drain the formation's Yang energy.
Once the energy reaches a sufficiently low level, we'll activate the Formation-Breaking Talismans to open two breaches. The rest of you will maintain the stability of the breaches from the outside, while Xu Yun and I enter to search for the formation's core and attempt to dismantle it from within."
Xu Yun didn't comment, but Xu Yunhe spoke up instead:
"Fellow Daoist Song, how confident are you that you can locate the formation's core? We only get one shot at this."
"At least seventy percent," Song Changsheng replied conservatively.
"Seventy percent? Good enough for me!" Li Hu bellowed cheerfully.
"I think that's acceptable," the others nodded in agreement. In the path of cultivation, nothing is ever guaranteed. Seventy percent was already considered quite high.
"Alright, Fellow Daoist Xu, let's split up and begin."
Song Changsheng and Xu Yun each headed to the weak points they had identified earlier. There, they took out their array flags and Cold Nether Stones and began constructing suppression formations.
Although both were peak first-grade formation masters, the difference between their skills quickly became apparent Xu Yun was a full half an hour slower than Song Changsheng.
Once both formations were ready, they activated them simultaneously.
In an instant, a surge of chilling Nether Qi erupted from the formations. Guided by the two formation masters, the cold energy surged toward the [Xuan Yang Heavenly Steel Array].
Buzz…
The moment the cold met the blazing Yang energy that formed the barrier, it was like cold water hitting hot iron loud sizzling sounds echoed through the air.
As the Winter Solstice neared, Yang energy in the world was naturally weakened. The formation's energy was being consumed far faster than it could be replenished, and soon it showed signs of faltering.
Just as the Cold Nether Stones were about to be fully depleted, Song Changsheng shouted:
"Prepare the Formation-Breaking Talismans!"
Li Hu and Zhuang Yuechan stepped forward from the group, each holding a weathered, yellow talisman in hand.
Now Song Changsheng understood why Zhu Yiqun had insisted on waiting for Zhuang Yuechan she had a Formation-Breaking Talisman too.
"Activate!"
The two simultaneously triggered their talismans. Twin beams of dazzling black light shot straight toward the weak points, and with a thunderous boom, two vortex-like breaches were blasted open in the barrier.
"Enter the formation!"
As Song Changsheng and Xu Yun stepped into the formation, Zhu Yiqun and the others quickly activated their spiritual power to stabilize the breaches this was the pair's only exit.
If the breaches closed before the formation was broken, the two would be lost within the formation's labyrinth, eventually trapped and killed!
Inside the formation, the danger level spiked dramatically. A single misstep could draw the attention of the ferocious Heavenly Gang Winds, which would shred intruders apart. Every movement had to be made with utmost caution.
Song Changsheng kept mentally reviewing the formation's runes, simulating its operational patterns with every step he took. Each footfall required a new calculation.
This was an extreme test of his mastery in formations one wrong deduction could lead him straight into the jaws of death.
But this was also the fastest way to break the formation. As long as his deductions were accurate, he could quickly locate the hidden core buried deep within…
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