Five Elements and Eight Trigrams
Shifting his attention to Green Pine Sect’s duo, Uncle An asked, “And you two?”
Bai Lang was astute enough to discern Uncle An had yet to show his full power. With a hearty chuckle, he replied, “Dustfallen Sect is admirable. Please pretend we were ever here. Farewell.”
“Can we have a few words in private?” Qing Mei asked Cheng Yan.
Cheng Yan smiled. “There is nothing to talk about between us, sorry.”
“Coward!” Qing Mei left with red eyes.
Cheng Yan watched on, heart silently breaking.
Mu Yu ran over to help up Daoist Bo Yang. “Elder Bo Yang, are you all right?”
Daoist Bo Yang forced a smile. That day, he learnt Dustfallen Sect wasn’t ranked last because they were weak but because they didn’t compete. He looked over to Abbess Bo Hua and shook his head. “Sadly, people have changed.”
Besides referring to the change of heart others and status having changed, Daoist Bo Yang implied he was no longer able with only one arm. In the scenario Dustfallen Sect were willing to take him in, he wouldn’t accept the offer. He would be ranked the lowest among them. Who would he be in the sect?
“Mu Yu, take Daoist Bo Yang in for treatment. As for the others, lock them up. Jiuhua Sect won’t let that be the end of it. We’ll keep them as hostages,” instructed Uncle An.
“Where would we lock them up?” questioned Xiang Nan, since they didn’t have many rooms.
“Just ask Elder Xun to set up spirit suppression formations,” answered Uncle An, heading back up the mountain.
“Why do we have to do all the labour again?” whined Xiang Nan.
Over the next few days, Dustfallen Sect enjoyed a brief peace. Green Pine Sect didn’t come knocking. Jiuhua Sect was unaware Dustfallen Sect held their members captive; Reverend Jiuahua merely thought his disciples were taking their time. Uncle An set up a spirit suppression formation using four purple-gold spirit stones, albeit begrudgingly due to the return to investment. They wouldn’t have starved to death if they didn’t eat for a month, but Mu Yu decided to be a gentleman and stick to his principles, providing them with some of Uncle An’s meals. The “warm” gesture “moved” the thirty-three prisoners to tears.
Uncle An supplied Elder Xun with the five materials to set up Dragon Searching Formation. The next step was to paint the formation using spiritual energy. Uncle An spent the last three days at Dustfallen Precipice drawing it as Elder Xun couldn’t do it. Mu Yu paid them frequent visits and was in awe at the profoundness each time. Having been caught in a five elements formation previously, Mu Yu was eager to learn more about formations from Elder Xun.
“According to ancient texts, we research Eight Trigrams Formation to defuse the Five Elements Formation elemental demons are proficient at. The Taiji produces two forms, named Yin-yang, which are called Liangyi, the two opposing manifested forces. The two forms produce four phenomena. The four phenomena produce Eight Trigrams.
“Eight Trigrams consists of the Creative North, Clinging East, Abysmal West, Joyous Southeast, Arousing Northeast, Gentle Southwest and Bound North. The eight positions can produce different formations and correspond to five elements’ techniques.
“Creative’s image in nature is heaven. Joyous’ image is marsh. Clinging’s image is fire. Arousing’s image is thunder. Gentle’s image is wind. Those make up wood. Abysmal’s image is water. Bound’s image is mountain. Receptive’s image is earth. Those make up fire.”
Elder Xun placed the frosty mystic sea ice at Abysmal West. The dark blue ice was a fist-sized ice soul. Accidentally coming into contact with the frosty qi inside it would freeze one.
Mu Yu pointed to the ten thousand-years-old greenwood. He could sense the life from it. He asked, “Which formation trumps the other?”
“That’s a hard question to answer. There’s a degree of similarity between them. It’s markedly more difficult for us to use Five Elements Formation compared to elemental demons. That’s why we draw Eight Trigram formations.” Elder Xun placed a transparent and gleaming sunken rock ice earth where he drew a spiritual energy line northwest.
“Elemental demons can change the terrain. Can Eight Trigrams Formation do that?” inquired Mu Yu, looking at the green ancient spirit five elements fire in the container.
“Yes. Having said that, you usually wouldn’t change it once you’ve set the area of effect. As for Five Elements Techniques, the elemental demons can alter the formation’s course at their own leisure thanks to their innate talent,” answered Elder Xun, placing the golden transcending siderite back in place.
“Is it almost done?”
“We need to wait until noon,” Uncle An responded.
“You have studied Formations, Sir An?”
After learning Uncle An put away thirty-three Golden Core Realm cultivators without breaking a sweat, Elder Xun developed a new level of respect for Uncle An. Still Elder Xun felt awkward around Uncle An the last few days as Uncle An didn’t utter a word to the former and merely followed directions. Uncle An only spoke a few words when Mu Yu dropped by.
“No, but I’ve seen them.”
Mu Yu was curious where Uncle An encountered formations before, but he knew it was impossible to pry it out of the latter, so he didn’t go there.
According to the sun, noon was approximately two hours away.
“How is Daoist Bo Yang doing?” questioned Uncle An.
“I have been taking care of him. Though he is faring better, he is still exhausted. His wounds are severe, and he’s missing an arm. Therefore, I think his cultivation level will inevitably regress.”
Daoist Bo Yang informed them Hao Yingjun furtively rescued Hong Yan when she was in danger. Gu Yitian’s whereabouts were unknown for the meanwhile. Mu Yu wished to have a rematch with Gu Yitian. Nonetheless, it obviously was going on the back burner.
“Daoist Bo Yang was the one who helped us establish Dustfallen Sect when we first arrived at Moyun Mountains, so take good care of him,” Uncle An instructed.
Mu Yu nodded. “Uncle An, what do we do if Green Pine Sect and Jiuhua Sect come back? I think their patriarchs will personally come now that your cultivation has been revealed.”
Uncle An got to his feet. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. I’m going to cook now.”
“Sir An, let me cook,” proposed Elder Xun, getting to his feet.
“Have a respite. I’ll be back soon.”
“Young Master Mu Yu, I heard you fought to a draw with Daoist Qi Qin.” Elder Xun knew firsthand how tough it was to serve Daoist Qi Qin because of his temperament.
“I told you not to call me ‘Young Master.’ It sounds weird,” Mu Yu complained.
Elder Xun laughed. “You fulfilled my lifetime wish; however, I am an insignificant nobody compared to everyone at Dustfallen Sect. I did tell you I would be your servant if I joined Dustfallen Sect. If I don’t assume this identity, I can’t find it in me to stay and be a waste of air.”
“We don’t have a hierarchy where one is superior to another. If there’s any hierarchy, Shifu would be ranked highest, followed by Uncle An. Everyone else is one big family. I’d like for you not to distance yourself. I led an impoverished life before, so calling me ‘Young Master’ and the sort just feels weird. Just consider me your junior. My martial siblings won’t mind. We need your help to locate Shifu, so you are our hope. We don’t mind your cultivation level. If they cared, they wouldn’t have allowed you to stay.”
Elder Xun finally came to terms with the fact it would be frustrating for them if he kept lowering himself when they considered him one of them. Some forms of respect didn’t need to be expressed explicitly.
Stroking his beard, Elder Xun stated, “By the way, remember I mentioned our sect has a large-scale formation protecting the formation. I’ve managed to figure out some facts about it over the last few days.”
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