Chapter 51: Chapter 016 The Seal of the Fudo Ming King
Evening
Yan Chuan remained in the military camp.
Outside the commander's tent, numerous guards stood watch.
Inside, Yan Chuan addressed Huo Guang and Liu Jin.
"Tomorrow morning, we will set out for the large Feng Shui array. This array is filled with countless illusions, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. It's not just about cultivation level; often, it depends on one's mindset. I'm going to teach you a seal technique tonight. Ensure that everyone learns it by morning!" Yan Chuan said with a serious tone.
"A seal technique?" Huo Guang and Liu Jin's eyes lit up with interest.
"Yes!" Huo Guang responded, excited.
"This technique is called the 'Indestructible Ming Wang Seal'. It consists of fourteen different hand seals that can bring calm amidst confusion and remain as immovable as a mountain!" Yan Chuan explained.
"Understood!"
"The fourteen seals are: the Solo Vajra Seal, the Treasure Mountain Seal, the Head Seal, the Eye Seal, the Mouth Seal, the Heart Seal, the Armor Seal, the Lion's Roar Seal, the Flame Seal, the Flame Wheel Seal, the Shangqiao Seal, the Sword Seal, the Binding Seal, and the Triple Vajra Seal!"
Yan Chuan demonstrated the fourteen seals with his hands for Huo Guang to learn.
The seals were simple to learn; within half an hour, Huo Guang had memorized them all.
"Lord, this Indestructible Ming Wang Seal... it looks..." Huo Guang frowned.
"What is it?" Yan Chuan asked, puzzled.
"Is simply performing these hand gestures really effective?" Huo Guang voiced his doubts.
Huo Guang had expected a formidable magical technique, but after half an hour of learning, he was somewhat disappointed to find it was just a series of peculiar hand movements.
"Ha, it's normal if you can't perceive the subtlety. This seal is a rare technique in the cultivation world. Those with magical power can use it to move mountains and suppress demons. With your current level of cultivation, you can't unleash its full potential, but it's effective for maintaining stillness and guarding the mind. It will be very useful in the Feng Shui array!" Yan Chuan assured him.
"Understood!" Huo Guang responded, his expression serious.
"There is also a mantra to accompany this technique. Remember it clearly!" Yan Chuan said sternly.
"Yes!"
"Nammo Samanta Bodhisattva!" Yan Chuan chanted.
"Nammo Samanta Bodhisattva!" Huo Guang repeated.
"Good. You have one night to teach the entire army. Do not practice it along the way, and keep it confidential!" Yan Chuan instructed.
"Yes! I will make sure the entire army learns it!" Huo Guang promised solemnly.
"Lord!" A voice called from outside the tent.
"What is it?" Yan Chuan inquired, his tone serious.
"A messenger from the Immortal Sect requests an audience!"
"Oh?" Yan Chuan stepped outside, slightly surprised.
Outside, stood Qinglong, a subordinate of Mo Yuxi, dressed in black.
Qinglong, somewhat stout, appeared extremely capable.
"Master Yan, the Saintess sent me with this item as compensation for the previous promise!" Qinglong said, handing over a small jade vial.
Huo Guang and the other soldiers around remained hostile.
However, Yan Chuan remained calm, took the vial without much inspection, and said to Qinglong, "Thank your Saintess for me."
"Certainly." Qinglong nodded and then left.
"Lord, we don't need their false courtesy!" Huo Guang growled.
Yan Chuan smiled with satisfaction, appreciating Huo Guang's strong spirit.
"Let bygones be bygones. I won't forget this grudge. Besides, the revenge has yet to be exacted!" Yan Chuan reassured him.
"Yes!" Huo Guang nodded.
Opening the small jade vial revealed a green pill.
"A Chongjing Pill?" Yan Chuan's eyes narrowed.
"Lord, what is a Chongjing Pill?" Liu Jin asked with curiosity.
"For those who have reached the peak of physical cultivation, consuming this pill can elevate them to the精境 (Refined Realm). Although it's only effective for those at the physical realm, it's more precious than many high-level pills," Yan Chuan explained.
"Really? It can elevate someone to the Refined Realm?" Liu Jin was astonished.
Huo Guang also looked at the pill with keen interest.
"Put it away. This pill is not ordinary. I didn't expect Mo Yuxi to be so generous. With something so valuable, there must be something she wants in return! It seems we need to be even more cautious moving forward!" Yan Chuan said solemnly.
"Yes!" the others agreed.
Above the Camp
A crane let out a long call, carrying Mo Yuxi through the air.
The crane flew towards a nearby white cloud where a small white boat was anchored.
Landing on the boat, Mo Yuxi joined the four subordinates, including Qinglong, who stood respectfully. Wen Ruo, Yang Zhijiu, and Ding Wugu watched from below.
Below, a forest was spread out.
A large sedan carried Yan Chuan, making its way slowly through the trees.
"Ha, this guy really knows how to enjoy himself. Even as a guide, he needs to be carried in a sedan?" Yang Zhijiu looked displeased.
"Indeed, he thinks too highly of himself!" Ding Wugu coldly observed.
Wen Ruo, however, did not comment but instead looked at Mo Yuxi and asked, "Saintess, have you assessed the situation properly?"
"Yes, I've circled around several times. It's a circular Feng Shui grand array! And there's an entrance right ahead!" Mo Yuxi nodded.
"Let's use this entrance. We absolutely cannot enter from the southwest. Last time, we barely made it out, thanks to Yuxi's help!" Yang Zhijiu immediately said.
"Hmm, it seems the Silver Armor Army has stopped below?" Wen Ruo observed.
"Let's go down!" Mo Yuxi said.
"Agreed!" The group nodded.
"Little Crane, catch a couple of beasts to give them a meal!" Mo Yuxi instructed the crane.
"Caw!" The crane flapped its wings and flew away.
"Why are we catching beasts for them?" Ding Wugu complained.
"We're about to enter the array, and these people are just fodder. Ding Wugu, why are you worried? Just let them die full!" Yang Zhijiu laughed.
"True, hahahaha!" Ding Wugu laughed heartily.
Mo Yuxi and Wen Ruo said nothing further.
Yang Zhijiu had a powerful father, and Ding Wugu knew Feng Shui techniques that would be useful in the array.
Below was a vast valley.
Yan Chuan stepped out of the sedan, facing a wall of misty clouds. However, there was a crack in the misty wall. Through the crack, he could see a pitch-black, eerie void.
"Lord, I previously searched the surroundings and did not find this crack!" Huo Guang frowned.
"This Feng Shui array was partially breached by the nine-star alignment, allowing entry. Don't worry about it; arrange for the soldiers to eat first!" Yan Chuan instructed.
"Yes!" Huo Guang responded.
Evening
"Why have we stopped? It's been three days already. Is this how you guide us?" A grating voice cut through the air.
From above, Ding Wugu descended, his face twisted in disdain.
Yan Chuan's eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent but quickly turned to Mo Yuxi. "Miss Mo, have you examined the terrain around here?"
"Yes, I've flown around. It's a circular Feng Shui array with eight entrances," Mo Yuxi replied, nodding.
"Oh? Could you draw a map?" Yan Chuan asked gravely.
Mo Yuxi drew a circle on the ground with a stick and marked eight points on it.
Yan Chuan studied the simple diagram intently.
"Caw!"
In the sky, a crane let out a long call.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two giant snakes, each about four zhang long, fell from the sky. Their bodies were riddled with large gaping holes, their hearts devoured by the crane. The snakes writhed in pain, clearly unwilling to die like this.
"Demonic beasts?" Liu Jin's face changed.
"We're about to enter the array, so this is just an appetizer for you," Mo Yuxi said with a smile.
Yan Chuan frowned slightly, then shook his head. "We can't enter the array from here."
"What do you mean 'can't'? What are you talking about?" Ding Wugu's eyes widened with anger.
"We can enter from here, but with our current cultivation, it would be like walking into our own graves," Yan Chuan explained, shaking his head.
"Are you trying to back out now? It's not going to be that easy!" Ding Wugu scoffed.
Mo Yuxi and the others also frowned.
Yan Chuan coldly laughed. "Aren't you the so-called Feng Shui master? Can't you see this outer array? Can't you see the eight entrances?"
"You! Am I not a Feng Shui master? I've studied Feng Shui for fifty years and can't compare to a young brat like you? I have a pure Yin constitution, the best for sensing Feng Shui. I can detect things you can't. What right do you have to criticize me? Your meager constitution can't compare to mine!" Ding Wugu spat out angrily.
"Hmph. Last time, Miss Mo left in a hurry to save you, didn't she? Which entrance did you use back then?" Yan Chuan turned to Mo Yuxi.
"This one," Mo Yuxi pointed to one of the entrances.
"Qian Position? I guessed as much. Did you encounter the Ma Demon, who is as fierce as the blazing sun? With the horse trampling on the Yellow Spring, bringing about the end of heaven and earth?" Yan Chuan said淡淡ly.
"Ma Demon?" Yang Zhijiu's expression changed.
Ding Wugu's eyebrows twitched, and he stared at Yan Chuan with suspicion.
"Mr. Yang, it seems your subordinates died under the horse's hooves, right?" Mr. Wen asked with curiosity.
Yang Zhijiu's face darkened as he nodded.
"Oh, Mr. Yan, do you recognize this array?" Mo Yuxi's eyes brightened.
Yan Chuan looked at Ding Wugu with a half-smile. "This is one of the most basic formations in Feng Shui arrays. Anyone who deals with Feng Shui arrays should have heard of it!"
"Hmph!" Ding Wugu snorted disdainfully.
"Oh? What is it?" Mr. Wen asked with curiosity.
"This outer array is called 'Eight Fiends of the Yellow Spring,'" Yan Chuan said solemnly.
"Eight Fiends of the Yellow Spring? I've heard of it. Kan Dragon, Kun Rabbit, Zhen Mountain Monkey, Xun Rooster, Qian Horse, Dui Snake Head, Gen Tiger, and Li Pig are the fiends. If you encounter one of these, it's a disaster!" Mr. Wen's eyes lit up.
"Looks like Mr. Wen knows Feng Shui too!" Yan Chuan smiled.
"Not really. Feng Shui relies on constitution and birth date. Without the right time and constitution, even the most extensive texts can't help. I've only read about it and am seeing it for the first time now!" Mr. Wen smiled.
"So, the Eight Fiends of the Yellow Spring. How unfortunate!" Ding Wugu's face darkened, still full of resentment towards Yan Chuan.
"Does that mean we really can't enter from here?" Yang Zhijiu frowned.
Mr. Wen looked at Yang Zhijiu and nodded. "According to the positioning of the Eight Fiends of the Yellow Spring, entering from here would indeed be extremely dangerous. This is the Kan position, with the Yellow Spring Dragon Demon. You've already faced the Yellow Spring Horse Demon, which was quite perilous. Imagine encountering the Yellow Spring Dragon Demon!"
Yang Zhijiu was speechless.
Dealing with the horse almost killed him. Facing a dragon would be...
"Does that mean we need to take a long detour?" Mo Yuxi frowned.
"For safety, we must detour. We should enter from the Kun position. The Rabbit is much gentler. The Yellow Spring Rabbit Demon should be less overbearing!" Yan Chuan confirmed.
"Eight Fiends of the Yellow Spring? Alright, we'll follow your lead!" Mo Yuxi finally decided.