Soul Fixing Formation
“There are countless formation guardians at Formation Sect. The main defence formation, though, is Formation Palace. I’m the only one in the sect who comprehends how to utilise its true power. Unfortunately, I can’t leave this place. Accordingly, the responsibility falls on your shoulders.”
“Do you know who the spies are, Elder?”
“No. Even though I can see what is happening on the sect grounds, I cannot hear anything outside. Talisman Sect is the home of foxes. They wouldn’t discuss their plans on our turf. Formation Palace and this formation of mine are linked. For insurance purposes, I’ve cut off my connection to Formation Palace. That’s why Zhuge Xiaosheng had to tell me you climbed Celestial Staircase in eight jumps.”
“How do I use Formation Palace to fight Talisman Sect?”
“To control it, you need twenty Greater Heaven casters while you command Formation Palace. The only hope of fending off the invaders from Talisman Sect is using Formation Palace. I won’t be able to see your astonishment when you witness its power. If you add Mu Chenghong to the equation, you will have just enough people to activate it.”
“Elder, were you not aware Mu Chenghong and Situ Yangtian are also Talisman Sect’s spies?”
“They’re spies?” Chen Tiandao flinched. He heaved a heavy breath and lamented, “The divination mentioned you have a one in four chance of rescuing Formation Sect. I guess that explains the fraction. I guess there’s nothing we can do, then.”
“Mm… Elder, I will do my best. To that end, I need you to teach me a formation. I believe it is the only chance I have of turning the tables.”
“What formation?”
“Divine Soul Formation, the formation that allows its caster to control Greater Heaven Stage formation casters,” Mu Yu answered, emphasising every word.
Mu Yu wanted to boost divine soul wood’s control limitations using Divine Soul Formation. He intended to control the other two Greater Heaven Stage casters to utilise Formation Palace in battle.
“I know what you’re thinking now. Do you know why I classified it as a forbidden formation?”
“Because it is amoral?”
“That’s one reason. It’s different to Talisman Sect’s Divine Soul Talisman, in that their version can only take control of someone for four hours. Divine Soul Formation, on the other hand, can control anyone within its area of effect. Once a target is marked, they will still be under its effects after leaving the formation. The only way to remove the marking is if you destroy the formation. When your shifu and I came up with it, we decided to erase it for our original intent was to cast it on elemental demons, but it didn’t work.”
“You and shifu created it?”
Chen Tiandao nodded. “Your shifu also created slave pill with Eternally Youthful Ku Mu in hopes of ending the war between elemental demons and humanity. In the end, we found a universal issue with our ideas: both of them require divine soul wood, which is a wood. That’s never going to work on elemental demons.”
“Hang on, Shifu and Dad created slave pill? Dad never told me that,” said Mu Yu, resentful.
Eternally Youthful Ku Mu and Feng Haochen’s creation came back to bite them painfully – fatally in Ku Mu’s case. Gui Xuanyue nearly killed Feng Haochen using slave pill. Tian Budai triggered Ku Mu’s death also using slave pill.
“How did Eternally Youthful Ku Mu die?”
“Tian Budai fed him a slave pill and ordered him to kill an ultimate immortal. As a consequence, Third Heaven Palace’s executioner executed him.”
“… Karma… He should’ve realised the risk of slave pill.”
“It’s not karma! A desire to do good inspired their creation!” Mu Yu snapped, ignoring the difference in seniority. “You also created Divine Soul Formation with a good intent in mind, did you not?”
“Man should never create some things. No matter what the initial motivation was, it is harmful once it is used to sin. I did not mention karma in the sense that Eternally Youthful Ku Mu deserved to die. His death was inevitable just as mine is.
“Eternally Youthful Ku Mu is arguably the most underappreciated genius. I won’t deny that not even I was fond of interacting with him. Nonetheless, nobody can doubt his abilities. His biggest mistake is also my biggest mistake, which was helping your shifu.”
Mu Yu blatantly expressed hostility through his eyes and questioned, “Why was it wrong to help my shifu?”
Chen Tiandao tugged the corner of his lips up, mocking himself. “Your shifu prioritises humanity, which hurts Third Realm Palace’s goals. He wanted to end humanity’s war against elemental demons for good. Third Heaven Palace would never let that fly. Sadly, I wasn’t aware of Third Heaven Palace’s scheme when I helped cast Celestial Prison.
“Once Celestial Prison was cast, our qis were linked, informing all of us of any abnormalities. We all detected movements when Sword Shadow Dust Gale returned to it a few months ago. We are all aware that he now has enough power to resist its corrosion and could even remove it to restore his cultivation. I imagine all but one person wants to see that because the elemental demons are free to start another reign of terror on Third Continent. Without him, the war would be tough. If Eternally Youthful Ku Mu didn’t die, I wouldn’t have found out about Third Heaven Palace’s scheme.
“After Eternally Youthful Ku Mu passed away, Celestial Prison lost stability. Its energy is now divided between us survivors. That was when I realised we, as the formation’s guardians, are irreplaceable. Third Heaven Palace’s leader is the formation’s guide. If Xie Bulao and I are both removed from the picture, Third Realm Palace’s blasted formation guardian will have absolute control over the formation and your shifu!
“The instant Eternally Youthful Ku Mu passed away, all of Third Heaven Palace’s schemes flashed before me. Those scums only want soul energy to consolidate their rule! I only saw a flash of information. But nevertheless, Xie Bulao and I are now aware Third Heaven Palace is scheming to eliminate the both of us.
“This crisis Formation Sect is set to be confronted with is actually Third Heaven Palace’s formation guardian’s scheme. Without him supporting Talisman Sect, they wouldn’t even be able to dream of overthrowing us.”
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