C5 Linglong Valley

Chapter Five: The Valley of Intricacy

A striking character suddenly appeared on the Stone Crystal with a "ding."

"Nine?" Lu Feng's face registered pure disbelief. The Stone Crystal was showing only Nine-stone Power.

He shook the Stone Crystal in his hand, wondering if there might be a malfunction. It was inconceivable that a warrior at the One-soul Stage could have less than ten Stone Powers. No one would take such a claim seriously; even an untrained person with a bit of brawn could potentially possess Nine-stone Power.

In the secular world, Lu Feng's performance would surely be met with mockery and contempt.

"No need to shake it; the Stone Crystal is accurate," the elder said, an air of expectation in his demeanor as he watched Lu Feng's alarmed eyes. He explained with a smile, "Your Seven Souls were shattered, and it was only through the array that you were able to stabilize and rebuild. Having Nine-stone Power is quite an achievement under those circumstances."

Lu Feng managed a wry smile. If his cultivation continued this way, his strength would be less than half that of an average person, not to mention less than a third of that possessed by the geniuses. Even if he reached the highest realm, he doubted he could defeat anyone.

Was he destined to become nothing more than a decorative piece, with status but no combat ability?

As Lu Feng was deep in thought, the old man extended two fingers and gently tapped Lu Feng's forehead. A gentle surge of strength began to flow into the place of Strength.

The next moment, Lu Feng's whole body jolted. The Stone Crystal in his hand quivered, and the characters on it began to leap at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Nine-stone Power!

Thirteen-stone Power!

Twenty-stone Power!

...

It finally settled on Fifty-stone Power!

"This..." Lu Feng's expression was a mix of bewilderment and awe.

The elder appeared equally astonished. Although he had anticipated a change in Lu Feng's power, the magnitude of the transformation was beyond his expectations. Once the initial shock passed, he explained with a touch of emotion, "This is the true might of the Soul Array, fully unleashed."

Lu Feng felt the surge of power within him. It was indeed the One-soul Stage, yet it rivaled the strength of the Five-soul Stage.

Before Lu Feng could adjust to the newfound strength, the elder's finger gently withdrew from his forehead. Almost immediately, Lu Feng experienced a sharp pain as the surge of power within him rapidly dissipated, returning to his baseline Nine-stone Power shortly after.

The elder's soothing voice filled the air, "You have grasped the first of the array formations, yet your Seven Spirit Souls are shattered and reliant on the formation's support. Consequently, you cannot wield the formidable power that comes with lifting the Forbidden Array's seal. To do so recklessly would only lead to the Seven Spirit Souls fracturing once more."

Lu Feng grasped the gravity of the elder's words, recognizing that his fragmented Spirit Souls required the stability and reconstruction offered by the seven formations. While lifting any one of the formations' seals could grant immense power, it also posed the risk of the Spirit Souls shattering anew.

Concerned that his point wasn't clear enough, the elder reiterated with gravity, "Given my current capabilities, I can only temporarily lift the seal on your Soul Array, allowing you to experience its power. However, I cannot enable you to wield it further. Only once you've fully mastered the Seven-soul Array will you be able to briefly lift the seal."

"To truly integrate and master it, you must seek the fabled Spirit Item—the Dragon Saliva."

With a tap of his fingertip, the elder transmitted a cryptic formula into Lu Feng's mind—a primer on the Seven-soul Array and the secret technique for its deactivation. Yet, it lacked the detailed instructions for its use and mastery.

While Lu Feng pondered over the formula, he didn't dwell on the latter part of the elder's message. Currently at the One-soul Stage, he couldn't foresee the challenges that would come with a complete understanding of the Seven-soul Array. Concerns about the Dragon Saliva were premature.

"Is there a way to comprehend the other six formations?" Lu Feng inquired, hope in his voice.

"The seven formations are each deeply enigmatic. Focus on solidifying and acquainting yourself with this formation for now. In due time, you will naturally come to understand the rest. Avoid haste and greed. As for the Array Breaking Technique, its essence lies in personal insight. Relying on others' interpretations will only backfire, stripping away the formation's intricacies. Ultimately, it is up to you to discover the path forward." With these parting words, the elder turned and made his way toward the Bamboo Gate.

Lu Feng gazed at the deserted Bamboo House, half-convinced that the recent events were nothing but a dream, lingering side effects of the darkness.

...

Months had passed, and Lu Feng was now fully acclimated to life in the valley, gaining a fair understanding of his surroundings. The place he found himself in was known as Exquisite Valley, yet its precise location within the Profound Heaven Continent remained a mystery. Lu Feng had inquired with the white-robed elder, who merely offered a cryptic smile without any clarification.

Including Lu Feng, Exquisite Valley was home to just three individuals. There was the white-robed elder he had previously encountered, known as Elder Bai, and another named Elder Hei.

Elder Bai described Exquisite Valley as an 'illusory' sect, dedicated to mastering the Array Dao. Its 'illusory' nature stemmed not only from its enigmatic locale but also because the true heart of Exquisite Valley was just the two of them.

In a bygone era, Exquisite Valley was a grand sect with innumerable disciples and a presence that spanned the entire continent. But as time shifted and the world underwent various changes, the sect had fallen into decline.

Lu Feng had initially been curious about the exact cause of this decline, but after witnessing the two old 'children' of the valley bicker incessantly, he abandoned the question, intuiting the likely reason for the sect's downfall.

Through months of companionship, Lu Feng learned that the two elders were the sole heirs of this secluded sect. Elder Bai was an expert in the Array Making Dao, while Elder Hei excelled in the Dao Of Formation. With one focused on creating arrays and the other on breaking them, their constant disputes were hardly surprising.

Yet, if one knew that these two had shared nearly a century together, it would become apparent that their daily spats and playful banter were, in fact, a cherished aspect of their lives. To have such companionship in one's later years could indeed be considered a great blessing.

Driven by a spirit of rivalry, the elders' lifestyles and every gesture were diametrically opposed: one would set up an array, the other would dismantle it; one donned white, the other black; one relished meat, the other adhered to a vegetarian diet; one soared to the skies, the other delved into the earth.

In everything they did, it seemed they were determined to be each other's perfect foil.

The two elders shared only one trait: both had shoulder-length white hair and chest-length white beards.

"You old turtle, after all these years, you've still got some tricks up your sleeve..." Elder Hei, having just finished a friendly sparring match, stood on a slope and called out to Elder Bai.

Clad in a black Array Robe, Elder Hei's garment fluttered in the breeze atop the slope, its dark green patterns shimmering with a flowing light. His body, reminiscent of weathered wood, exuded a lively aura. A mischievous smile played on his lips, yet it conveyed a sense of warmth and benevolence.

In contrast to Elder Bai, Elder Hei sported a round, protruding belly. His slightly plump figure, glistening with a sheen under the sunlight, resembled a jovial Buddha, always chuckling and frolicking like a mischievous old child.

"Old Curmudgeon, just look at yourself. The older you get, the more stubborn you become, and you still won't concede!" Elder Bai, dressed in a dark white Array Robe with a pattern of white clouds that also glinted with light, retorted. His face puffed with annoyance at Elder Hei's words, and he tugged at his white beard as if he might yank it off in frustration.

"Concede? What's there to concede? Your limited moves are hardly worth the effort. Give it a few years, and not only will I beat you, but my disciple will too," Elder Hei shot back.

"All you do is boast. You can't even break through my formation, and you're pinning your hopes on that youngster, Liu Su?" Elder Bai paused, a thought striking him, and he continued with a hint of irritation, "So that's your game, you old curmudgeon. You're grooming Liu Su as your disciple, hoping he'll challenge me in the future. If I win, you'll accuse me of bullying the young, and if I lose, you'll gloat for a lifetime."

Elder Hei burst into hearty laughter, his face revealing an 'I knew you'd catch on' expression. He stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Liu Su's talent is indeed rare, surpassing even ours. It's only a matter of time before he defeats you."

Watching Elder Hei revel in his apparent cunning, Elder Bai grew even more incensed. He stamped his foot and spun around, muttering to himself as much as to Elder Hei, "No, this won't do. I must also take on a disciple to level the playing field."

"Don't kid yourself; even if you took on ten, you'd be no match for Liu Su!" Elder Hei said with a laugh that seemed to convey, "Go ahead, I won't stand in your way."

Elder Bai took a moment to collect himself, recalling Liu Su's time studying in the valley. Just as Elder Hei had described, Liu Su was indeed a rare talent, a genius seldom seen in this world. Observing Elder Hei's nonchalant demeanor, Elder Bai's heart grew even more anxious. "Where in the world could there be another Liu Su?" he thought, with a tinge of sorrow in his heart.

With a squeak, the bamboo door swung open, and Lu Feng stepped out to be met with Elder Bai's gaze—surprised, yet tinged with hesitation and uncertainty.

Lu Feng felt bewildered, catching Elder Bai's intense stare and feeling scrutinized. He was momentarily unsure of himself, wondering if he had done something wrong.

Elder Bai stepped to the side, facing Lu Feng, and after another once-over, he abruptly asked, "Young man, would you like to become my disciple?"

"Take you as my master?" Lu Feng was taken aback, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Elder Hei, equally startled, quickly joined their side, pleading, "Old Turtle, don't be hasty. If it's that big of a deal, I won't have Liu Su challenge you. If that's not enough, can't she just call you 'Master'?"

Elder Hei's words unexpectedly carried a note of genuine concern, a stark contrast to his earlier teasing and mockery.

Often, the ones who understand you best are your adversaries or confidants.

Elder Hei, having known Elder Bai for many years, was well aware of Elder Bai's sentimental nature. He also knew about the alteration in Lu Feng's Seven Souls, leaving him with only seven years of life. Elder Hei didn't oppose Lu Feng; rather, his greater concern was for Elder Bai. He didn't want Elder Bai to become too emotionally invested or to dedicate too much, fearing the heartache that would follow after seven years.

Previously wavering, Elder Bai's resolve deepened upon hearing the name "Liu Su." He turned to Lu Feng once more and asked, "Are you willing?"