Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

The speaker was a young man wearing a silver array master's robe with star patterns embroidered on his chest. He was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, with sharp eyes and an air of academic arrogance.

He was accompanied by two companions, whose attire suggested they were from the "Star Luo Sect," a sect in the Central Region renowned for its array formations.

Zhao Qingyan looked up at the silver-robed man and said calmly, "The way of formations lies in the mind. Trapping the enemy is the goal, but how to trap them can be varied in countless ways. The 'Minor Five Elements Trapping Formation' is inherently a formation of change, taking its meaning of endless life."

"Adding the power of fire is not about dispersing it, but rather about using fire to generate earth, earth to solidify metal, metal to generate water, water to nourish wood, and wood to fuel fire, forming an internal cycle that enhances overall resilience. If used properly, it can both trap and injure the enemy."

As she spoke, she casually picked up a few ordinary array flags from the table for demonstration, released a little spiritual energy, and pointed them in the air.

In just a few strokes, a miniature, shimmering Five Elements array was sketched out. The connection between the fire and metal positions indeed used more harmonious transition runes, making the flow of energy in the entire array smoother and more robust, faintly showing the shadow of the basic changes of the "Two Elements Micro Dust Array".

Although it was just a casual demonstration, the understanding of the essence of formations, the exquisite control of spiritual power, and the profound Daoist charm emanating from the illusory formation diagram that far exceeded his cultivation level instantly drew surprised glances from many formation masters in the academy.

The silver-robed man's arrogance faltered. He stared at the illusory array for a few moments, his expression shifting as if he wanted to retort but couldn't find the right words.

His older companion beside him looked serious and inquisitive.

"Fellow Daoist's understanding of formations is indeed unique," the middle-aged formation master exclaimed, his attitude becoming even more polite. "Would you be willing to further discuss the application of the Five Elements' generating and restraining relationships in complex killing formations?"

Zhao Qingyan initially intended to politely decline, not wanting to attract too much attention. But just then, another elderly man, who had been silently observing from a distance, exuding a calm aura and dressed as a rogue cultivator, slowly walked over.

The old man was at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, and he possessed a calm demeanor that came from years of studying formations.

"Young lady," the old man said gently, looking at Zhao Qingyan, "your skill in setting up an array in the void is solidly grounded, and what's even more remarkable is the trace of..." The meaning is the same as the phrase. I have studied formations for hundreds of years, and have only sensed a similar essence in some ancient, fragmented formations.

"May I ask which master you studied under, and where you come from?"

This was a rather sensitive issue. Many eyes in the courtyard turned to look, including the silver-robed man and his companion, their gazes filled with curiosity and inquiry.

Clearly, Zhao Qingyan's skill, which she had just displayed, had already attracted the attention of those who truly knew their stuff.

Zhao Qingyan's mind raced, and she was about to respond with the prepared words: a rogue cultivator from the Southern Region who had accidentally obtained the inheritance of an ancient formation.

A cool, calm voice suddenly broke in, carrying just the right amount of familiarity and a hint of barely perceptible protectiveness: "Junior Sister Zhao, so you're here. Senior Brother Wang was looking for you, saying he has some newly acquired fragments of ancient formation diagrams and would like you to study them together."

A young female cultivator, dressed in a light blue outfit, with delicate features but an icy aura, appeared beside Zhao Qingyan at some point. It was Su Xiao.

She nodded slightly to the old man and the others as a greeting, then said to Zhao Qingyan, "Let's go, don't keep Senior Brother Wang waiting."

Zhao Qingyan understood and smiled apologetically at the old man and the others: "I apologize, senior, fellow Daoists, I have been summoned by my fellow disciples and must take my leave first. I hope we can learn from each other again another day."

With that, he and Su Xiao quickly left the courtyard.

Don't miss out: Chapter 495, "Vigilance," is available in its entirety. Click here.

The two walked quite a distance and turned into a secluded alley. Su Xiao then whispered, "After you left, two more groups of people casually inquired about your background from the people in that courtyard. One group was the Star Luo Sect people from earlier, and the other group... had a more concealed aura, not like simple array masters. The questions they asked were mostly related to 'Southern Region,' 'inheritance,' and 'whether you had a Nascent Soul elder accompanying you.'"

Zhao Qingyan's heart skipped a beat: "The sect leader is right, we are indeed being watched. Even this small exchange meeting has attracted attention."

"Hmm," Su Xiao nodded, "but for now, it seems to be just a test, without any ill intent. Your behavior just now will probably make some people even more 'curious.' From now on, we need to be more careful."

As night fell, the city of Wanfa was illuminated with lights, adding to its enchanting and dreamlike atmosphere compared to the daytime. However, the atmosphere in the courtyard of the inn where the Qingyun Sect members were staying was somewhat heavy.

Shen Mo summoned everyone to the main room. The room wasn't large, and it felt a bit crowded with ten people crammed in. Shen Mo set up a soundproof barrier and slowly scanned the group with his gaze.

"Tell me, what have you seen and heard, and what have you felt in Wanfa City these past two days?" Shen Mo asked calmly.

Shi Tie was the first to speak, his voice muffled and still tinged with resentment: "Damn it, these people from the Central Region treat people differently based on their status! Today, Hu Zi and I went to watch the excitement outside the 'Duel Arena' in the west of the city. A few local cultivators were initially quite polite to us because they saw that we were wearing our newly bought robes and were doing alright."

"Later, for some reason, when they heard we were from the Southern Region, their eyes immediately changed, and their words were full of disdain. If Tiger hadn't held me back, I really wanted to go on stage and spar with them!"

Wang Hu said in a deep voice, "It's not just contempt. On the dueling platform, I noticed several matches that seemed fair but were actually rigged. Some people used banned drugs, some tampered with their magical artifacts, and some deliberately feigned weakness to lure their opponents into placing heavy bets before suddenly unleashing their power... The battles here are even more varied and ruthless."

Li Xiaocao whispered, "When I went to the medicinal herb market, I also encountered someone who tried to sell me inferior medicine as good medicine. Luckily, Atu reminded me, and Qingyan gave me a medicine-identifying talisman... Moreover, I felt that the people here were very calculating when they were negotiating prices, their eyes were always darting around."

A-Tu scratched his head: "I just feel that... there are many 'cavities' under this city, and some very ancient and faint auras remain, as if something has been buried for a very long time... Moreover, the 'qi' on some of the cultivators in the city feels strange. The way they connect with the earth's energy seems different from ours. I can't quite put my finger on it, it's just awkward."

Zhao Qingyan briefly recounted her experience at the exchange meeting, as well as the information Su Xiao had gathered.

Shen Mo listened quietly, his face expressionless. He remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking:

"I heard it all, and I felt it all. This is the Central Region, or rather, the microcosm of the Eastern Wilderness cultivation world on the eve of the Heavenly Origin Conference."

"The spiritual energy is denser, the resources are more abundant, and the opportunities are greater—that's a fact. But the competition is also more brutal, people's hearts are more complex, and the rules... seem more like decorations serving the strong and those with connections."

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the dazzling yet illusory lights of Wanfa City outside.

"Here, strength is fundamental, but not everything. Background, wealth, connections, and even some underhanded methods can all be the key to victory or defeat, life or death."

"You think that the average level of cultivators in the Central Region is higher, and that's true. But you must understand that this 'higher' level is based on more abundant resources, more complete inheritance, and more intense internal competition and elimination."

"They may lack the ruthlessness and tenacity forged in the struggle between life and death, but in terms of the diversity of their methods, their use of the rules, and their thirst for victory, they are only stronger."

"In the Tianyuan Tournament, the competition on the arena is about cultivation, combat skills, and teamwork. But off the arena, there are many other things to consider: intelligence, scheming, public opinion, and even some underhanded tactics."