Volume One: Turmoil in Yan and Yun Chapter Seventy-Nine: Breaking the Deadlock (IV)

Peerless Under Heaven stands not only far above other cultivation arts in terms of combat power, but few can match it when it comes to support as well.

Apart from the Path Companion Art of the Red Qilin Pavilion, it is in a league of its own among supportive arts. With Du Gu Zhe’s mere Hunyuan-level strength, he was able to amplify someone as powerful as Shui Dongliu, a Void Dao expert. The degree of enhancement might not be worth mentioning, but the feat itself defied all reason.

Feng Qi smacked his lips and sighed, “If His Majesty were to strengthen the Windguard, just how powerful would they become?”

Du Gu Zhe had nearly exhausted his own vitality; his face was pale and covered in cold sweat. “The Windguard aren’t as strong as Father. That wouldn’t be worthwhile.”

Feng Qi paused, needing a moment to understand Du Gu Zhe’s meaning.

The Windguard’s power didn’t rival the Divine Emperor’s. Even with the Divine Emperor’s support, their strength couldn’t compare to the Emperor or the Windguard themselves.

This wasn’t a simple one-plus-one-equals-two calculation.

Feng Qi nodded. “Who’s in Wuyang now? Sword Paragon or Dao Sage?”

Du Gu Zhe didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Although the world hasn’t clearly divided the Path Unification realm into ranks, great figures in this realm are indeed differentiated—just like with the initial, intermediate, advanced, and perfected stages.”

Feng Qi said, “Unity, Divine Concealment, and Heaven-Piercing.”

Du Gu Zhe was taken aback and gave a wry smile. “That’s not recorded in the Dao Canon. I didn’t expect you to know.”

Feng Qi replied, “Just because it’s not in the Dao Canon doesn’t mean there aren’t other ways to learn of it. What exactly is Your Highness trying to say?”

Du Gu Zhe said, “My father said he is currently at the Divine Concealment stage. The world’s top experts mostly reside at this stage.”

Feng Qi was silent for a while. “Including Sword Paragon and Dao Sage?”

Du Gu Zhe replied, “If they’re within Wuyang City, even together they’re not a match for my father.”

He wasn’t referring to the Dragon Soaring Grand Array, but rather to the imperial dragon qi of the royal path.

Revered by all, the imperial dragon qi had accumulated to a truly terrifying degree.

“So they too are at Divine Concealment,” Feng Qi remarked. “Then where will the Divine Emperor’s destiny unfold?”

“I don’t know,” Du Gu Zhe replied. “But judging by my father's expression, there must be a Heaven-Piercing figure somewhere in this world.”

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A single thought from a Path Unification expert could traverse thousands of miles, but the Void Dao fell short. It took Shui Dongliu three full hours to reach the outskirts of Wuyang City.

The sun should have been blazing overhead, yet darkness shrouded the land. Though he knew the formation wasn’t far, only a few faint sparks could be seen in the distance.

Feng Qi frowned, the waves of power from the array in the night making him hesitant to move even half a step recklessly.

Even Shui Dongliu would be instantly reduced to a pool of blood if he entered rashly.

“This puzzle is difficult,” Du Gu Zhe said with a furrowed brow. “Li Jin Xing is also a major figure in the Path Unification realm. How could we possibly break an array set by him?”

Feng Qi replied, “When Li Jin Xing was my age, he once devised a solution to the Ten Thousand Jiao Formation of the South Sea. Given that, the challenge he’s set for me can’t be unsolvable.”

Du Gu Zhe thought for a moment and refrained from further comment.

Shui Dongliu frowned. “To break a formation, you usually locate the core or the key node; otherwise, you use brute force and overwhelming power to disrupt the formation’s momentum. But right now, you can’t even enter the array—how can you hope to find the core or the node?”

Feng Qi considered and said, “I want to see the formation as a whole.”

“That would take a long time,” Shui Dongliu observed.

Feng Qi shook his head. “Lend me the Life-Painting Brush.”

Shui Dongliu was momentarily taken aback, but handed the brush over after a brief thought.

The Life-Painting Brush was modeled after the Pure Origin Divine Brush. While it couldn’t turn everything imagined into reality like the original, it did possess some similar effects.

“I’ll warn you—if you hope to use it to break the array, you might be dreaming.”

Feng Qi shot him a look. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”

Shui Dongliu was again taken aback, suspecting the youth was mocking him.

Before he could retort, Feng Qi swept the brush through the air, painting a great clear mirror.

A massive mirror truly appeared in the sky.

It reflected the image within the formation.

What they’d perceived as a few scattered sparks was actually the fires of battle outside Wuyang’s outer city.

“It seems the outer city isn’t a major issue,” Du Gu Zhe remarked.

“Not necessarily,” Shui Dongliu muttered, his heart sinking as he recognized some familiar faces who hadn’t yet reached the city walls.

As Shui Dongliu studied those acquaintances, lost in thought, Feng Qi was already in motion.

He’d previously discussed the array’s nature with Dou Xiaotong. Since Li Jin Xing had made this a trial for him, it wouldn’t exceed his own capabilities.

To balance Feng Qi’s power with the formation’s defenses, only a grand array from the Astral Phenomena Canon would suffice—a formation drawn with the world itself as the brush, channeling the power of the stars and heavens. To break it by force would require shattering the heavens and earth.

Feng Qi knew he wasn’t capable of that—yet.

But perhaps there was another way.

The mirror’s reflection revealed not only Wuyang, but the formation itself. Though the night concealed all, the brilliance of the Myriad Stars Grand Array shone through briefly—enough to be seen.

“The Myriad Stars Grand Array,” Shui Dongliu murmured. “I can’t help you with this. The Carefree Pavilion is not the Academy of Ji after all.”

“Ji Academy is within the array,” Feng Qi replied softly. “If you’re hoping for their help, I wouldn’t count on it.”

He suddenly frowned. “But there may be an exception.”

“Ji Academy has been closed for years,” Shui Dongliu said. “The world hasn’t seen its disciples for a long time. How could there be an exception?”

Feng Qi replied, “On my journey south, I encountered the Seven Observers of the World. If one of them were here…”

“Nonsense,” Shui Dongliu interrupted. “The last group of Seven Observers have long since passed away, and the new group hasn’t been selected. Where would you find such a person?”

Feng Qi hesitated, then raised his brows and laughed aloud.

“What’s so funny?” Du Gu Zhe was still pondering the many variables in this situation, unsure if things would proceed as he and the Divine Emperor had predicted. Feng Qi’s sudden laughter interrupted his train of thought, causing him to frown.

“I was just thinking,” Feng Qi said. “I actually let Li Jin Xing slip away right under my nose.”

Shui Dongliu was shocked. “You saw the Wise Immortal?”

Du Gu Zhe was at a loss for words.

Feng Qi said, “I can’t be absolutely certain, but at that time, it was almost certainly Li Jin Xing.”

Shui Dongliu wanted to ask what had happened, but the situation was pressing. He forced himself to suppress his curiosity. “Break the array first—we’ll talk later.”

Although there was no immediate danger, who could say what might come?

Feng Qi sat cross-legged, gazing up at the formation in silence.

After about half an hour, he rose, dusted himself off, and said, “I’ll give it a try.”

Du Gu Zhe asked, “Are you confident?”

Feng Qi replied, “Somewhat.”

Du Gu Zhe was quiet for a moment, then said, “Come back alive.”

Feng Qi chuckled. “I know all the tropes from the storybooks, so I won’t make any grand vows. I can only promise to do my best.”

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