Chương 75: Chaos is Approaching! The Scheme for the Heavenly Yuan Pagoda!

The Scheme for the Heavenly Yuan Pagoda!

Inside the cave hall, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the cave ceiling, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The light and shadow changed slowly as the sun moved, like flowing time, tranquil and beautiful.

The air was filled with the faint aroma of spiritual tea, mixed with the fragrance of a few pots of spiritual herbs in the corner, making one feel intoxicated by the scent.

Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin were sitting at a stone table, on which several array diagrams were spread out.

The array diagrams were densely packed with various runes and lines, some as bold as dragons and snakes, others as delicate as strands of hair, layer upon layer, interlocking in one another.

Xin Ruyin lightly tapped the runes on the array diagram with her finger, explaining something in a soft voice.

Her voice was soft and clear, like a mountain spring, bringing peace to the listener's heart.

"Zhou Lang, look here. The position of this node can actually be slightly adjusted to make the flow of the Five Elements power smoother..."

Zhou Ding listened attentively, occasionally raising his own questions.

Although his mastery of formations was far inferior to Xin Ruyin's, his foundation was solid, and he could occasionally ask insightful questions.

The two worked together seamlessly, and through their question-and-answer exchanges, the secrets of the formation were gradually revealed.

The sunlight shone on Xin Ruyin's face, giving her a soft glow.

Her profile looked exceptionally gentle in the light and shadow, with her long eyelashes casting soft shadows on her eyelids.

Her slender, fair fingers traced lightly across the array, as if playing a silent melody.

Looking at her, Zhou Ding felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

These days are wonderful.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.

The footsteps were fast and heavy, completely unlike the quiet, nimble little girl she usually was.

"I've broken through! I've broken through!"

Xiaomei rushed out of the quiet room, her face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Her hair was a little messy and her clothes were wrinkled, clearly indicating that she had rushed out as soon as she finished her cultivation.

Xiaomei's voice was clear and loud, echoing in the hall.

Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin both looked up at her.

Xiaomei ran up to the two of them, put her hands on her hips, and proudly showed off her presence.

That aura was much stronger than before; it was indeed a breakthrough from the fourth level of Qi Refining to the fifth level.

Although it was just a small step, it was a huge improvement for this playful little girl.

A look of surprise flashed in Xin Ruyin's eyes, and she quickly stood up and walked forward.

"Xiaomei, you really broke through?"

She held Xiaomei's hand, carefully sensing her presence.

It is indeed at the fifth level of Qi Refining, with a solid foundation and no trace of superficiality.

This shows that Xiaomei has indeed been practicing diligently during this period and has not been slacking off.

Xiaomei nodded vigorously, her face full of pride, her chin practically pointing to the sky.

"Of course! Miss, I haven't been slacking off. I've been cultivating diligently for the past two weeks! I've been meditating and cultivating every day. I'm almost going stir-crazy, but the thought of spending my life with Miss and the young master has kept me going."

Xin Ruyin smiled with relief, her eyes welling up with tears.

This little girl has finally grown up.

"That's great! Xiaomei is amazing!"

Xiao Mei became even more smug upon hearing this.

She looked at Zhou Ding with a hint of pride and anticipation in her eyes, as if waiting for her son-in-law's praise.

"Young Master, I think my talent is pretty good? If I want to cultivate, I might be able to catch up with your level very quickly!"

She tilted her little face up, her eyes sparkling, looking just like a puppy waiting for its owner's praise.

Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh out loud.

How can we catch up with their cultivation level?

Xin Ruyin is now at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Although her cultivation speed is slower than that of ordinary people due to her Dragon Roar Body, her foundation is solid and her magic power is pure.

Zhou Ding is already in the late Foundation Establishment stage, and he's not far from reaching Core Formation.

Xiao Mei, a mere girl who has just broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, actually dares to say such boastful things.

Neither of them called her out on it; they just smiled at each other, their eyes full of affection.

Zhou Ding joked, "Yes, Xiao Mei, you have the best talent. As long as you cultivate diligently, you'll not only reach the Foundation Establishment stage, but you'll even become a Core Formation cultivator in the future."

He exaggerated deliberately, a mischievous smile in his eyes.

Xiao Mei was even more pleased with herself and nodded repeatedly, her little head bobbing like a chick pecking at rice.

"That's it! That's it!"

She stood with her hands on her hips and her head held high, as if she could already see the day she would become a Core Formation True Person.

She even began to imagine herself wearing a magnificent robe, standing on a cloud, looking down on all living beings, with her mistress and son-in-law both proud of her...

Just then, her gaze fell on Xin Ruyin's arms, and she suddenly froze.

"Hey, where did this little ferret come from?"

She stared wide-eyed at the fluffy little thing in Xin Ruyin's arms, her eyes filled with curiosity.

It was a small purple ferret, only the size of a palm, entirely purple with fluffy fur, and with round, bright eyes. It was curled up in Xin Ruyin's arms, curiously looking around.

Its fur is smooth and soft, with a faint purple sheen in the sunlight. Its two little ears stand up and twitch from time to time, making it extremely cute.

Xiaomei's eyes lit up instantly, even brighter than when she was showing off her breakthrough.

Xin Ruyin looked down at the little one in her arms and smiled, "This is a baby that the son-in-law picked up from outside."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomei's eyes immediately lit up like light bulbs.

She leaned closer and examined the little ferret closely, her eyes filled with affection, wishing she could immediately hold it in her arms and rub it.

"So cute! Son-in-law, why didn't you pick up more? I want one too!"

As she spoke, she reached out to touch the little ferret, but then, afraid of startling it, she pulled her hand back halfway, her fingers twitching slightly in the air as if simulating a stroking motion.

Zhou Ding smiled slightly.

"I'll pick one for you next time too."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomei beamed with joy and nodded repeatedly.

"Young master, you have to keep your word! I want one as cute as Miss's!"

This sable was indeed found by Zhou Ding from the Taiyue Mountains.

This is a top-tier level one demonic beast named Purple Lightning Sable. It is extremely fast and skilled in the power of lightning.

He found it while treasure hunting. He originally wanted to kill it and take the materials, but looking at its lively eyes and thinking of Xiao Jin's Soul-Capturing Eye ability, he decided to test it.

The result was a success; Little Gold easily enslaved the sable.

It would be a pity to kill him, so he brought him back to keep Xin Ruyin company.

These days, Xin Ruyin is absolutely enamored with this little guy, taking him everywhere she goes.

The sable was well-behaved and never ran away. It would lie quietly in her arms, occasionally letting out a few soft cries or rubbing its little head against her hand.

At that moment, the sable was nuzzling Xin Ruyin's hand with its little head, making soft whimpering sounds, as if it were being affectionate. Its round eyes occasionally glanced at Xiaomei, with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

Xiao Mei stared longingly at the sable, her eyes filled with envy. She wished she were that little sable, held in her mistress's arms.

"Son-in-law, you have to keep your word! You have to pick one for me next time! I want a white one! No, a golden one! No, no, a multicolored one!"

She had already started daydreaming.

Zhou Ding smiled and nodded.

"Okay, definitely."

After so many days of testing, Zhou Ding finally figured out the situation of the Soul-Capturing Eye.

First, the success of the Soul-Seizing Eye depends on the strength of the enslaved demon beast's consciousness.

For Xiao Jin to succeed, his spiritual sense must be stronger than that of the enslaved demon beast.

Otherwise, not only will the enslavement fail, but it may also backfire, causing damage to the primordial spirit at best, and turning one into an idiot at worst.

The number of slaves is also related to the strength of Xiao Jin's spiritual consciousness.

The stronger one's spiritual consciousness, the more demonic beasts one can enslave.

But Zhou Ding discovered a pleasant surprise.

Since his consciousness was connected to Xiao Jin's, the strength of his consciousness represented the strength of Xiao Jin's consciousness.

This means that the power of the Soul-Seizing Eye is directly linked to the strength of Zhou Ding's primordial spirit.

This greatly increased the quantity and quality of the monsters that Xiao Jin enslaved.

Originally, Xiao Jin was only a level three demon beast, and its spiritual strength was at most equivalent to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

But now, Zhou Ding's spiritual strength is comparable to that of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.

This greatly enhances the power of the Soul-Stealing Eye.

Even a level four demon beast can be enslaved by Little Gold!

A level four demonic beast is equivalent to the late Foundation Establishment stage!

Excitement flashed in Zhou Ding's eyes.

If only I could enslave a few level-four demonic beasts...

How powerful would that be?

He took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement.

Not urgent.

Take it easy.

Level 4 monsters are not easy to find, nor are they easy to deal with.

Even if you can enslave them, you must first find them and subdue them.

This will all take time.

But at least, it's possible.

……

this day.

Zhou Ding and Xin Ruyin continued to study the formation in the hall.

The two were discussing the details of a formation when Zhou Ding proposed an idea, and Xin Ruyin was deducing whether it was feasible.

She frowned slightly, her fingers gently tracing runes in the air.

Sunlight streamed down, bathing the two of them in a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

Suddenly, the inverted five elements array restriction outside the cave was triggered.

Zhou Ding frowned and extended his divine sense.

A moment later, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

The visitor turned out to be none other than his sixth senior brother, Wu Xuan.

He and Wu Xuan had never really interacted.

Wu Xuan is Li Huayuan's sixth disciple. He is in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, handsome, and dressed in luxurious clothes. He is a well-known playboy.

His favorite things to do on weekdays are traveling and pursuing female cultivators; cultivation has become a secondary pursuit.

What is he here for?

With a thought, Zhou Ding sent a transmission talisman through the formation into his hand.

Wu Xuan's voice came from the talisman, carrying a hint of urgency and anticipation.

"Junior Brother Zhou, I am Wu Xuan. Please come out and meet me."

Zhou Ding pondered for a moment, then said to Xin Ruyin, "Sixth Senior Brother is here. I'll go out and see him."

Xin Ruyin raised her head, a look of doubt flashing in her eyes.

Wu Xuan?

What is he here for?

But she didn't ask any more questions, she just nodded.

"Go ahead. I'll continue studying this node."

Zhou Ding got up and walked out of the cave.

Outside the cave, Wu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back.

Today he was dressed in a white brocade robe, with a jade pendant hanging from his waist and a folding fan in his hand, still looking as dashing and debonair as ever.

His hair was neatly combed, and he had a faint smile on his face; he certainly looked like a refined gentleman.

But upon closer inspection, one can discover his differences.

His eyes held a hint of urgency, his brows were slightly furrowed, and the smile on his lips was somewhat stiff.

He paced back and forth, occasionally looking up towards the cave, his eyes full of anticipation.

He was completely different from his usual leisurely self.

When he saw Zhou Ding come out, his eyes lit up and he quickly went to greet him.

"Junior Brother Zhou! Cola Novels, turn the next page and you'll find another world."

His voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.

Zhou Ding cupped his hands and said, "Sixth Senior Brother, what brings you here today?"

Wu Xuan smiled, but there was a hint of embarrassment and awkwardness in his smile.

He rubbed his hands together, hesitated, and finally mustered the courage to speak.

"Junior Brother Zhou, to be honest, I've come here today to ask you for a favor."

Zhou Ding was surprised.

"Please speak, senior brother."

Wu Xuan took out a formation diagram from his bosom, held it in both hands, and carefully handed it to Zhou Ding.

It was a palm-sized piece of animal hide covered with various runes and lines.

The lines were densely packed and layered, clearly forming a rather complex formation.

"It's like this, Junior Sister Dong Xuan'er tested me with a formation, saying that if I could break the formation, she would agree to meet me."

When he mentioned Dong Xuan'er, a tender look flashed in his eyes, and his tone softened.

"I... I know absolutely nothing about formations, so I have no choice but to ask my junior brother for help."

As he spoke, a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, and his ears turned slightly red.

Zhou Ding took the array diagram and glanced at it.

It was a rather complex formation, and with his level of expertise, he truly couldn't understand it.

But he knew that Xin Ruyin would definitely be able to understand it.

He looked at Wu Xuan, speechless.

Just to see Dong Xuan'er, he lowered himself to beg for help?

Moreover, judging from the complexity of this formation, it is clearly not something that can be easily broken.

Was Dong Xuan'er making things difficult for him, or was she testing him?

This sycophantic behavior left him both amused and exasperated.

But he didn't say anything more, he just nodded.

"Don't worry, senior brother, I'll have Ruyin take a look."

Upon hearing this, Wu Xuan was overjoyed and repeatedly clasped his hands in greeting, almost kneeling down to kowtow.

"Thank you, junior brother! Thank you, junior brother!"

He added, "Junior brother, you must hurry! Junior Sister Dong said that if we can break the formation within seven days, she will see me. If not..."

His face showed anxiety, and his eyes were full of worry.

Zhou Ding nodded.

"Don't worry, senior brother, I will definitely give you a reply within seven days."

Wu Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, said a few more words of thanks, and then hurriedly left.

He took a few steps, then looked back, hesitated, and finally turned and left.

Zhou Ding watched his departing figure, shook his head, and turned back to his cave.

……

Inside the cave, Xin Ruyin looked up when she saw him return and asked, "Sixth Senior Brother has left?"

Zhou Ding nodded and handed her the array diagram.

"He brought a formation and asked you to take a look at it."

Xin Ruyin took the array diagram and examined it carefully.

Her gaze moved slowly across the array diagram, her brows sometimes furrowing and sometimes relaxing.

Her fingers traced lines in the air, simulating the operation of a formation.

Her lips moved slightly, as if she were silently reciting something.

A moment later, she looked up, a look of surprise flashing in her eyes.

"This is... a Lesser Five Elements Trapping Formation? No, it's much more complex than the Lesser Five Elements Trapping Formation. It should be an improved version. Look here, the way this node is arranged is very similar to the style of ancient cultivators."

She pointed to a spot on the array diagram and explained.

"And here, the arrangement of these runes is also very ingenious. Ordinary array masters would never think of such an arrangement."

She looked at Zhou Ding with curiosity in her eyes.

"What does Sixth Senior Brother need this for?"

Zhou Ding recounted what he had overheard outside.

Xin Ruyin couldn't help but laugh out loud after hearing this.

"Just to see a female cultivator? Sixth Senior Brother really is..."

She shook her head, not finishing her sentence, but the smile in her eyes said it all.

Zhou Ding smiled as well.

"Since he's asked, let's help him out. It won't take much effort anyway."

Xin Ruyin nodded.

"Okay. I'll take a look. I should be able to crack it by tomorrow."

As she spoke, she lowered her head again and continued to study the array diagram.

Her fingers traced lines lightly in the air, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

For her, breaking through an unfamiliar formation is a pleasure in itself.

……

Seven days later, Xin Ruyin handed the deciphered formation to Zhou Ding.

Zhou Ding sent a message to Wu Xuan, asking him to come and collect it.

Wu Xuan received the solution, expressed his gratitude profusely, and left in high spirits.

"Thank you very much, junior brother. I will definitely thank you properly once things are settled between me and junior sister Xuan'er."

He held the paper as if it were a priceless treasure, his smile brighter than the sun.

As Zhou Ding watched his retreating figure, a name came to mind.

Dong Xuan'er.

As a time traveler, he naturally knew about this woman who had some interactions with Han Li in the original story.

She is a disciple of her senior master Hong Fu, and is outstanding in appearance and talent, making her quite famous in Huangfeng Valley.

She was beautiful, but her personality was somewhat willful and arrogant; most male cultivators simply couldn't catch her eye.

Dong Xuan'er's use of formations to test Wu Xuan was clearly a deliberate attempt to make things difficult for him.

This woman has a particular fondness for toying with men's hearts.

Later, in order to choose a cultivation partner for Dong Xuan'er, the Old Ancestor Hong Fu also took a liking to Han Li, which triggered a series of events.

He calculated the timeline.

Dong Xuan'er chooses a cultivation partner...

and then?

Zhou Ding's heart stirred.

Chaos is imminent in the Yue Kingdom.

As a time traveler who had read the original work, he naturally knew what was going to happen next.

After Dong Xuan'er chooses a cultivation partner, the six sects of the Demonic Sect will invade the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom.

It was a long-planned invasion; the six sects of the demonic path joined forces and swept through the enemy with unstoppable momentum.

The seven factions of Yue joined forces to resist, but suffered repeated defeats.

The Core Formation cultivators and Nascent Soul elders of the seven major sects could only flee in disarray with their remaining troops.

Ultimately, the seven factions of the Yue Kingdom were defeated and fled to distant lands, handing over their centuries-old foundation to others.

That was a catastrophe that swept across the entire Yue Kingdom.

Countless cultivators perished, countless families were destroyed, and countless lineages were severed.

In the Taiyue Mountains, those once-prosperous cave dwellings will become ruins.

With his level of cultivation, he was naturally powerless to change any of this.

He was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, and in such a great battle, he would have difficulty even protecting himself.

Core Formation cultivators are falling like rain, so what can a Foundation Establishment cultivator like him do?

For Zhou Ding, making preparations in advance and protecting himself is the best course of action.

He would never risk his life for the seven factions of Yue; that's not his style.

His goals are immortality, power, and freedom.

He wouldn't die for someone else.

He needed to find a safe place to escape this catastrophe.

Chaos Star Sea...

These three words came to Zhou Ding's mind.

According to the original description, the Chaotic Star Sea has richer cultivation resources and is more suitable for the survival of independent cultivators.

The islands there are scattered like stars in the sky, and there are many cultivators, but there is no unified major power. Various forces intersect, and although it is chaotic, it is also free.

Most importantly, it is far from the Yue Kingdom and is unaffected by the invasion of demonic forces.

If you want to escape the chaos of war, this is definitely an excellent place.

He began to make plans in his mind.

However, some preparations need to be made before heading to the Chaotic Star Sea.

First, there is the ancient teleportation array.

In the original story, the spirit stone mine contained an ancient teleportation array leading to the Chaotic Star Sea, but it had fallen into disrepair and needed repair.

The Great Teleportation Token is also crucial for activating the teleportation array. Without it, finding the teleportation array is useless.

He needs both of these things.

That spirit stone mine is also within the territory of Yue Kingdom; we have to go find it.

Secondly, there is the incomplete map of the void.

In the original story, the Yue Kingdom's royal palace contains a fragment of the Void Heaven Map, which can be used to enter the Void Heaven Palace after arriving at the Chaotic Star Sea.

The Void Heaven Palace contains countless treasures, and even opportunities that can help one form a Nascent Soul.

He was determined to get his hands on this incomplete map.

At last……

Zhou Ding took something out of his pocket.

It was a golden token, about the size of a palm, entirely gold in color, with the words "Tian Yuan" engraved on the front and intricate runes on the back.

The token felt heavy in my hand and had a faint warmth to it, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary object.

It was the Heavenly Origin Decree.

He recalled the record of the Heavenly Origin Order in the Yin-Yang Creation Manual.

"The Heavenly Origin Token is the token of the successive sect leaders of our Heavenly Origin Sect, and also the only key to open the Heavenly Origin Pagoda. The Heavenly Origin Pagoda is located at the core of the forbidden area, and contains the treasures passed down through generations of our sect. Without this token, even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator who forcibly enters will surely perish within the pagoda's restrictions.

Whoever obtains my token may enter the pagoda and take what I have treasured throughout my life..."

Tianyuan Pagoda.

At the heart of the Crimson Forbidden Land lies the legendary pagoda.

Inside lies the Tianyuan Sect Master's lifelong collection, containing countless treasures, elixirs, magical artifacts, cultivation techniques, and even the legendary "Six Ding Heavenly Armor Talisman."

That talisman is said to be able to withstand even attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators, making it a life-saving treasure.

Before heading to the Chaotic Star Sea, he must enter the Crimson Forbidden Land to obtain the supreme inheritance within the Heavenly Origin Pagoda.

Judging by the time, the period of weakness in the ancient forbidden area outside the Crimson Forbidden Land is fast approaching.

The ancient barrier weakens every five years, and in the past, the seven sects would take this opportunity to open a passage and send their disciples in.

However, that restriction is only for disciples below the Foundation Establishment stage; cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage cannot enter.

He was already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Zhou Ding frowned.

That ancient forbidden area only allows cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage to enter.

This restriction was set up by the former sect leader of Tianyuan Sect to prevent high-level cultivators from entering and disrupting the balance within the forbidden area.

After all, if Core Formation stage cultivators can get in, what are those Qi Refining stage disciples still fighting for?

He wanted to go in by himself, but he couldn't.

Forcing your way in will only result in you dying inside, just like that ancient cultivator from the Heavenly Talisman Sect.

He did want Xin Ruyin to go in.

But that's too risky.

The Crimson Forbidden Zone is not a safe place.

It contains countless monsters and various restrictions.

With Xin Ruyin's cultivation at the eighth level of Qi Refining, going in would be a near-death experience.

Those demonic beasts and those restrictions could all cost her her life.

He couldn't bear to part with it.

"It seems I have no choice but to go to the Yue Kingdom's royal palace."

Although the refining process is complicated, it is indeed feasible.

If one could create an avatar and send it into the Crimson Forbidden Land...

Although the avatar is not as powerful as the original body, it can enter the forbidden area as long as its cultivation level is kept below the Foundation Establishment stage.

All I need to do is get into the pagoda and take the treasure.

A glint of light flashed in Zhou Ding's eyes.

The Yue Kingdom's royal palace is a must-visit.

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