Immortal Dao is dead, I am the mastermind behind it all.

"I see."

Shen Moyan recalled the "Array Dao Atlas" he had seen in his previous life.

"Then the Wild Goose Formation True Lord used human faces as the basis for setting up the formation."

Shen Moyan looked towards the direction of the 'mouth' on the face of the Kuafu man.

It was Kongsang County.

In the past, the Kongsang Sea was drained of its waters and transformed into land and mountains.

Over time, the area has transformed into the second largest gathering place for cultivators in Langya Prefecture due to its abundant spiritual energy.

The power of the Nine Songs Immortal Lord's Dharma form, which can suppress the demon race with a single word, did not come from nowhere.

The power that suppressed the demon race naturally came from Kuafu's mouth.

"It seems that the ten array points left by the Wild Goose Formation True Lord in Langya Prefecture are all closely related to Kongsang County."

Shen Moyan made a reasonable deduction.

The ten key points of the formation serve two purposes.

Firstly, it serves as a link to extend the influence of the Daoist charm of human faces to the entire Langya Prefecture.

Secondly, it is used to attract the attention of others and distract the other True Lords.

There is only one true core to the formation, and that is Kongsang County.

"My knowledge of array formations is still too rudimentary," Shen Moyan sighed.

Having seen the array pattern book of the great array, he became arrogant and thought he understood the entire great array.

Little did they know they had fallen into a trap set by others.

The art of formations is complex and multifaceted.

By outlining the array patterns, all things can be connected.

Not to mention the incredibly profound and mysterious Divine Refining Array for All Beings.

Shen Moyan is still a beginner when it comes to formations.

"Knowing the basics of the opponent's formation, yet being unable to change it, is truly pathetic."

Shen Moyan thought to himself, his face darkening.

True Lord, for truth, for the Lord.

Can anyone sway your actions and deeds?

Not to mention that Shen Moyan is not even a Purple Mansion cultivator yet, so he can hardly be called a True Person.

He quickly felt relieved.

Don't know how? Then go and learn!

Study him for three years, if three years isn't enough, then thirty years, if thirty years isn't enough, then three hundred years!

If one lifetime isn't enough, then three lifetimes, thirty lifetimes!

One day, Shen Moyan will no longer be helpless when faced with such a complex and intricate formation.

In short, it can be summed up in one sentence.

"This is the time for spiritual practice!"

Shen Moyan, who was far away in Gwangju, regained his confidence.

Using his Heavenly Demon Eyes, he memorized the underground veins that resembled array patterns from Luo Changting's perspective.

He then purchased a bunch of books on formations from Wanbao.com and began to study them diligently.

…………

"Unbelievable, to become one with heaven and earth, this is truly the power of gods and demons."

Chaoyang Lake, Luo Changting flies back to her family.

He didn't know where the face came from.

But one thing is certain: the ground beneath his feet is the 'head' that the Six Hells Demon Sect is looking for.

Because he used his knowledge of spiritual essence, the entire opera troupe had no recollection of his sudden departure and return.

Only Luo Hanchan was secretly watching him, her small eyes filled with worry.

"Father, where are we going next?" Luo Changting asked.

"Dongshan City".

As the sun sets, outside Chaoyang Lake, the carriages of the opera troupe form a circle.

The campfire crackled, illuminating the tired yet relaxed faces of the group.

After a day of hustle and bustle, with chaos about to erupt, this rare moment of peace seems all the more precious.

"Brother! Come and get me!"

Luo Hanchan's silvery laughter pierced the twilight as she ran and weaved between several carriages, her hair fluttering in the evening breeze.

She had just taken the Gathering Essence Pill, and her complexion was rosy. The weakness that had plagued her for many years had also temporarily left her.

Luo Changting stood by the campfire, stiffly following his sister's figure.

His movements were much faster than his sister's, but he deliberately slowed down and forced a smile onto his face.

Within his body, the power of the demonic seed circulated slowly like an ice stream, bringing strength while also acting like invisible sandpaper, gradually eroding the warmth in his heart.

He could clearly sense some subtle emotions.

For example, the warmth that should have welled up when I saw my younger sister laughing is becoming dull and blurred.

Since he began practicing demonic cultivation, he is losing his sense of being a "human being".

"Little Cicada, slow down, don't fall."

He spoke, his voice slightly hoarse without him even realizing it.

"No way! Why are you so slow today, bro!"

Luo Hanchan turned around abruptly, almost bumping into his arms. She looked up at him, her nose glistening with fine beads of sweat.

"Did you study all night and get exhausted?"

Looking at her carefree smile, Luo Changting reached out and ruffled her hair, just like he had done years ago.

His fingertips paused slightly before touching her hair, and in the end, he simply brushed away a fallen leaf from her shoulder.

"Yeah, a little."

Luo Changting responded in a low voice, suppressing the fleeting thought.

He must cherish these moments; they are proof of his being a "human being."

At this moment, Luo Hanchan seemed to remember something, and carefully took out an object from her bosom, presenting it to Luo Changting like a treasure.

"Brother, this is for you!"

It was a mask.

The material is neither gold nor wood, and it feels cool to the touch, exhibiting a strange bluish-green color, like the purest sky after the rain.

The mask has a simple and ancient design, without complicated patterns, only outlining the contours of the eyes, nose and mouth, with smooth lines and a mysterious charm.

The most peculiar thing is those eyes; they seem empty, yet you can vaguely feel them gazing at you with a detached calm and profundity.

"What is this?" Luo Changting was slightly taken aback.

"My father gave it to me!" Luo Hanchan exclaimed excitedly. "He said he got it from a very, very old opera troupe, and it's called... Azure Nether Mask!"

"It's said that only the best actors could wear it when performing the story of 'Afan' in 'The Chronicles of Mountains and Seas'!"

The Records of Mountains and Seas...Afan...

Luo Changting's heart stirred.

He naturally knew this story: the sparrow shed its mortal form, transformed into feathers, ascended to the heavens, and spread its wings to protect all living beings.

Opera troupes often adapt this play, with some versions including "The Calamity of Immortality" which incorporates romantic themes, and others called "The Legend of the Azure Netherworld God".

However, the endings are mostly about the gods manifesting their power and the gods bestowing blessings upon all living beings, lacking the aloofness and detachment from the mortal world found in the original text.

"Father said this mask has a very impressive history, and it can also... um... calm the mind!"

Luo Hanchan tried hard to recall Luo Hui's words, her little face serious.

"You've been frowning a lot lately. Wearing this might cheer you up!"

Luo Changting took the mask, and the cool sensation from his fingertips caused his restless demonic energy to pause slightly, bringing a moment of inexplicable peace to his mind.

"Thank you, Xiao Chan."

His voice softened slightly as he gently placed the mask over his face.

Surprisingly, the size fits perfectly.

The moment the mask was put on, the surrounding noise seemed to disappear instantly.

The glow of the campfire, the figure of my sister, and the noise of the campsite were all blurred through a faint blue-green filter.

A strange sense of isolation arose within him, as if he were standing in a quiet, independent space, observing the outside world.

The surging demonic energy within his body seemed to be blocked by this layer of sky, becoming much more docile, and he could see other things again with normal divine sense.

At that moment, behind the mask, Luo Changting's pupils suddenly contracted.

He stared intently at Luo Hanchan.

A faint golden light seemed to linger around the younger sister, carrying an indescribable sense of antiquity and holiness.

He abruptly removed his mask, and a demonic thought struck, causing the illusion to vanish.

"What's wrong, brother? Don't you like it?" Luo Hanchan asked worriedly.

"No... I like it very much."

Luo Changting held the mask tightly in his hand, as if he knew why that immortal master had treated his sister that day.

With some suspicions in his mind, he couldn't help but bite his lip tightly.

"Thank you, Xiao Chan, this gift... is very precious."

He looked up and gazed at Luo Hui, who was smoking alone at the edge of the camp.

The father seemed to sense something and looked up, his gaze complex, filled with worry and a hint of relief.

He nodded slightly to Luo Changting, said nothing, and then lowered his head again.

Luo Changting remained silent.

"Azure Mask..." He stroked the cold mask, his heart churning with emotion.

"Avatar transforms from mortal to ascend to the heavens..."

"Transformation into the mortal realm..."

"Transformation into a Divine Being..."

Only by transforming into a god can all of this be changed.

He carefully tucked the mask into his bosom, pressing it close to his skin.

"Brother, we're entering Dongshan City tomorrow. Do you think they sell sugar figurines there?"

Luo Hanchan became lively again, tugging at his sleeve and asking questions incessantly.

"Hmm, there probably will be."

He took his sister's hand and walked towards the campfire.

"Come on, let me roast you a sweet potato."

The flickering firelight illuminated two figures, one large and one small.