Celestial Swords Nine Catalysts Formation (Part 2)
Chen Tiandao kept the marks Feng Haochen left at Celestial Swords Hill’s rock so that he could study it. Regrettably, it was beyond him and killed numerous disciples who tried to see it for themselves. Mu Yu was no different to his disciples in that aspect. Howbeit, Mu Yu was lucky his two rowdy companions coincidentally chanced upon the true secret Feng Haochen left behind.
Every smooth, yet explosive, movement from Feng Haochen turned complex symbols to sword technique afterimages. Whenever his blade cut the sword formation lines, the resulting force would vanish and reappear.
Mu Yu, who was following around, took the sword techniques and made them a part of him. Consequently, he was able to finally draw swords from any location at will. He devoted himself to the sword formation, becoming one with it. His sword was at every corner of the sword formation. If anyone stepped into it, his celestial sword could deal damage.
After five days of working on the sword formation, Mu Yu opened his eyes to greet the rising sun on the sixth morning. The life qi and death qi in his eyes morphed into sword qi. Look into his eyes, and one would see an individual performing Celestial Swords Nine Catalysts swordplay. Once he suppressed his sword qi, his eyes would return to normal.
The sword marks on the rocks reduced them to debris since Mu Yu withdrew the sword techniques within, leaving them defenceless against Feng Haochen’s lingering sword qi.
“In the end, Sword Shadow Dust Gale has taken what he left behind…” Chen Tiandao arrived next to Mu Yu in a flash, standing with his hands behind his back as he watched the hill turn back into a flat plain, dust dancing without any choreography in the air.
“It is my honour to meet you, Elder Chen Tiandao.” Mu Yu got to his feet and bowed. Xiaoshuai and the dragon vine returned to their respective places.
“How did you identify me?” Chen Tiandao asked without making eye contact.
“You are the only individual capable of crossing through Celestial Swords Nine Catalysts Sword Formation.”
“So, Mu Yu, disciple of Sword Shadow Dust Gale, what is your purpose in coming to Formation Sect? Did your shifu have you come here to retrieve the sword formation?”
Unsurprised Chen Tiandao saw through his disguise, Mu Yu answered, “You speak in jest, Elder. Shifu did not send me to retrieve anything. I only found out about this place after joining Formation Sect.”
“… Your shifu and I pitted our formation skills against each other here long ago. I lost to Celestial Swords Nine Catalysts. He agreed to leave the traces on the rocks for me to study. In exchange, I helped him cast Celestial Prison. By my calculations, it’s about time for Celestial Prison to erase him, correct?”
Mu Yu jerked his head up.
“There’s no need to be surprised. Besides me, Xie Bulao, Eternally Youthful Ku Mu, Illusionary Clear Rain, a member of Third Heaven Palace and your shifu came together to cast Celestial Prison. Your shifu is the formation core, while we are the formation guardians.”
Oh, I thought Third Heaven Palace’s ‘formation guardian’ was a term exclusive to him, Mu Yu realised. “Why are you telling me this, Elder?”
“If you’re here, it means Eternally Youthful Ku Mu has passed away, correct?”
Mu Yu’s white fists answered the question.
“My condolences. He wasn’t an advanced cultivator, but I must admit he surpassed me in the realm of formations. He’s one of the few people deserving of praise,” Chen Tiandao solemnly expressed. He finally turned to Mu Yu and added, “Nine Heaven Demon Sealing Formation. I thought Sword Shadow Dust Gale would resort to it sooner or later.”
“Would you be able to defuse it for me?”
“I can, but only in exchange for helping Formation Sect weather this crisis.”
“I apologise for my ignorance. Could I ask you to enlighten me as to how Talisman Sect could threaten you?”
“Cultivators aren’t immortal.” With a wave, they appeared in a forest. Chen Tiandao expounded, “These falling leaves are almost symbolic of my lifespan’s countdown timer. Nobody will fear my corpse.”
“Your lifespan has reached its end?”
Only then did it occur to Mu Yu that there was an active formation around him. Everything in the environment was rippling. For some reason, the ripples slowed down the activity of his cells.
“I was supposed to have departed ten years ago, but I was waiting for you.” Chen Tiandao sat down on the ground. The leaves on his shoulder created the impression that he had been sitting still there for a long time.
“I am sorry, but I do not follow,” responded Mu Yu, thinking, Did he predict everything I’d do?
“To keep it simple, I used Star Defying Divine Creation to see the future. That, of course, comes with a price. Ever since I saw the future, I learnt you could change Formation Sect’s fate.
“What is Star Defying Divine Creation?”
“The concept of formations in your mind is still limited. Formations aren’t merely tools to attack or defend. They can also be used to learn about an individual’s or sect’s destiny. As you might imagine, knowledge of the future allows one to prevent problems and capitalise on opportunities.”
“So… it is a formation for seeing someone’s future?”
“When my time was up a decade ago, I traded my last trace of life to see the future of Formation Sect. Through that vision, I learnt that, no matter how Formation Sect developed, extermination was inevitable. You were the only piece that could change that fate. I saw you seeking me out. For that reason, I found a way to prolong my life until I could meet you.”
“What can I do as a Body Severing Realm cultivator?”
“According to the vision, Formation Sect is heading toward its doom. The only one who can save it from demise is someone who can solve the eighth hexagram, overcome their fear and ascend Celestial Staircase in eight jumps. Ironically, it’s not a real disciple of Formation Sect who has to save us.
“I was surprised you chose the Life After Death route. I thought you would’ve solved all of the hexagrams. I suppose Eternally Youthful Ku Mu’s death was traumatic.
“Soul Fixing Formation exceeds your imagination. When you master it, you will know what I mean. I am helping you purely because I have a request to make of you.”
“I still do not understand why I am being hailed as a saviour when there are many superior Greater Heaven casters from Formation Sect compared to me.”
“Because you’re the only one who can control Formation Palace.”
Previous Chapter l Next Chapter
