There are no ancestors at all; I made them all up.

Chapter 80 No Way

Guanhai Pavilion, the heated room on the top floor.

Su Zhi was carefully reviewing the battle formation diagram when a knock sounded at the door.

"Enter."

A woman in a palace dress entered with graceful steps.

"But Chen Qing has something else on his side?" Su Zhijin asked without looking up. "Is he looking for refining materials? Or is he trying to find out what's going on inside Mount Xuyuan?"

"Neither." The woman's expression was strange. "Just now, Sect Leader Chen had the little monkey that came with him perform the apprenticeship ceremony and was teaching the monkey the method of guiding qi into the body!"

"Teach...monkeys?"

Su Zhijin paused in his writing, then chuckled, "Eccentric people have their quirks, let him be."

He changed the subject, picked up the roster, and said, "You've come at the right time. The mountain and sea evil energy has changed, so the plan has been brought forward. Tonight at midnight, the token holders from all sides will enter the formation. Ling Xiao, Chen Qing, and the 'seeds of vitality' from Xuanji Chess Academy will all be placed in the Gengshen team and assigned to the 'Zhaogui Formation' at the foot of the mountain!"

The woman in the palace dress took the register, hesitated slightly, and said, "Although that trapping formation can isolate the inside from the outside and ensure temporary safety, the Void Abyss Remnant Mountain is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. What if..."

"It's alright." Su Zhijin waved his hand. "The merit document clearly states that the primary task is to survey the nodes of this array and the geomagnetism. Those few Yuan Qi Seeds have mediocre array skills and cannot decipher its mysteries in a short time. With the array in place, even if wolves are eyeing it, they will find it difficult to cross the line!"

He paused, then added, "It would look even more natural if a seasoned formation master accompanied us."

The words have not yet been spoken!

"call out--"

A streak of crimson light tore through the sky and transformed into a flaming jade talisman that hung in front of the table!
Su Zhijin swept his spiritual sense across the area, his composure vanished, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes!
"Has something changed?" The woman in the palace dress sensed something was amiss.

"The demon cub has finally lost its patience!" Su Zhijin tightened his grip, and the jade talisman shattered silently. "The demon's presence has been revealed, and its intention... is to 'seed the calamity'!"

"Trying to steal the seed of vital energy?" The woman in the palace dress's expression changed slightly. "How dare you! Should we adjust our strategy and temporarily avoid a direct confrontation?"

"Avoid?" Su Zhijin's gaze pierced through the window lattice, looking towards the southern sea shrouded in heavy ominous clouds: "Only when the bait is fragrant enough will the fish take the bait!" He paused, then added, "However, this matter must be explained to Elder Xu."

Inside the Listening to the Waves room.

"...Although the patriarch was seriously injured, he gained an opportunity because of it!"

Chen Qing's voice was low and deep.

On the futon, the golden monkey sat upright, its furry face full of concentration.

"...He seized this opportunity to glimpse a trace of the mysteries of Taiyin, and even had a sudden enlightenment of the profound truths of Buddhism amidst life and death, his cultivation not only did not decline but increased!" Chen Qing smiled, "This is what is meant by: fortune and misfortune are interdependent, the Great Dao is profound and subtle!"

"Chirp chirp!"

Upon hearing this, the little monkey scratched its ears and cheeks, jumped up and down, and kept shouting excitedly.

Seeing this, Chen Qing smiled and said, "You do indeed have some talent." He rubbed the little monkey's head and said, "Taking a monkey as your eldest disciple has always been a sign of great fortune. Now that you've entered the sect, you should emulate the all-knowing 'Monkey King,' diligently cultivate and practice, and not let your master down!"

"Squeak!" Although the little monkey was confused, the words "Brother Monkey" and the solemn tone made it respectful. It immediately put its paws together, bowed to Chen Qing, and its furry face was serious.

"Good! When you have made some progress, I will name you!" Chen Qing felt relieved, and the tension he had been feeling for days eased a little.

Once the little monkey had settled down and was clumsily practicing its breathing technique, Chen Qing also sat cross-legged on the couch, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep.

White mist surged, and the Taoist scroll hung in the air.

Chen Qing's gaze was fixed on the two newly added sections of text in the "Li Qing" chapter:

[There was once a patriarch named Li Qing, who rose from the brink of disaster. His innate wisdom allowed him to see the vast universe in the smallest dust particle, to grasp the profound mysteries of the universe, and to suddenly comprehend the wondrous truth of Bodhi. Thus, he opened a new chapter in the Dharma lineage and was revered by later generations as the Dharma Master, his incense burned eternally in worship, and his lineage continues unbroken.]

"Touching the profound mysteries of Taiyin, one suddenly comprehends the wondrous truth of Bodhi..."

Chen Qing recited in a low voice, his mind racing.

"'Sudden enlightenment' is a natural progression, but 'touching the Taiyin' is only the tip of the iceberg..." Chen Qing sensed the unfinished meaning from the word "touching".

However, having achieved his goal of taking on disciples, his mind turned to the tadpole runes on the "Mysterious Yin Principles" he had obtained from the Mysterious Prison.

"To translate the tadpole runes, the Remnant Scroll Pavilion should be the first choice. However, we don't know how much of the strongman's mind has recovered, and the scholar is deep in thought, so the risks are unpredictable."

Chen Qing shook his head, determined to search for clues at Black Reef Island first: "There are also the array restrictions in the Xuan Prison. If we can find an expert to decipher them, our chances of escape will increase. I should go and get to know a few array masters."

Once the thought was settled, Chen Qing woke up again, summoned the woman in the palace dress, and said, "Please tell me the whereabouts of Attendant Xu and Master Huichi."

"Master Xu has been invited by General Zhao to a meeting and has not yet returned. Master Huichi is residing in the East Garden," the woman replied immediately.

"Thank you." Chen Qing bowed and headed towards the East Garden.

After a cup of tea time.

“Amitabha,” Hui Chi sighed, shaking his head as he examined the tadpole-shaped runes that Chen Qing had drawn with water. “This humble monk does not recognize these characters.”

Xuanzhaozi, who was standing to the side, pondered for a long time before suddenly saying, "I don't recognize it either. However, judging from its spirit, it is not a talisman of this world, but rather resembles the 'prayer texts' used in the sacrifices of the ancient tribes. At that time, the human race had not yet risen, and each tribe had its own secret prayers to heaven, which were very different from those of later generations."

"Zhu Wen?" Chen Qing suppressed his surprise and doubt, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you both for clearing up my doubts." After exchanging a few more pleasantries, he took his leave.

With doubts still lingering, he was in no hurry to re-enter the perilous dream of the Xuanyu Prison.

The battle with Zhao Ye, in which he forcibly activated the death energy of his Golden Core, had significantly depleted Chen Qing's willpower, and he planned to recuperate briefly. However, as darkness fell, a woman in a palace dress hurriedly knocked on the door, bringing with her a military order from the Zhenhai Division.

"Sect Leader Chen, the demonic traces have appeared. To avoid any unforeseen complications, all the mountain clearing teams must assemble ahead of schedule! You have been assigned to the 'Gengshen Team,' please proceed to the west dock immediately to board the ship!"

"Ahead of schedule?" Chen Qing was taken aback, then understood. "That's fine." He got up and walked away, and the golden monkey nimbly leaped onto his shoulder.

The woman in the palace dress hesitated for a moment, then handed over two bottles of pills: "Sect Leader Chen, these are Qi-replenishing pills, issued to all cultivators holding the token. They can replenish the internal energy consumed."

Chen Qing casually took it, nodded slightly, and his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.

At the west dock of Xuantietai, several flying boats are hovering, ready to depart.

At the meeting point of the Gengshen team, Lin Zhuan and Zhang Shun from Xuanji Chess Academy were chatting with Ling Xiao, who looked a little uneasy.

Just as Ling Xiao was feeling overwhelmed, he suddenly saw Chen Qing's figure. As if seeing a savior, he immediately went to greet him: "Fellow Daoist Chen! You've finally arrived!!" His smile was warm and enthusiastic, completely different from his previous politeness.

This enthusiastic attitude immediately drew everyone's attention.

Lin Zhuan frowned and scrutinized him, while Zhang Shun's smile remained unchanged, but a look of inquiry flashed in his eyes.

"Come, come, Fellow Daoist Chen, let me introduce you!" Ling Xiao pointed to Lin and Zhang, "These two are outstanding disciples of the Xuanji Chess Academy. Junior Brother Lin Zhuan possesses the Xuan Guang Dao Body; Junior Brother Zhang Shun possesses the Azure Sea Spirit Heart. Both are outstanding young talents!"

Then, he pointed to a man and a woman, the man rugged and the woman agile, "These two are the elites of Hundred Birds Valley, Fellow Daoist Feng Guang and Fellow Daoist Qing Ling, whose skills in beast taming and combat are superb!"

The people greeted him, but their attitudes varied.

Chen Qing calmly returned the greeting and sized up the group.

At this moment, a thin man in a gray Taoist robe rushed over, slightly out of breath: "Sorry! I was delayed on the way!" He looked apologetic.

"Fellow Daoist Yun Cang! We've been waiting for you!" Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and introduced, "This Fellow Daoist Yun Cang comes from the Yun Clan of Luoshui. He has a profound family learning and is especially skilled in formations! Fellow Daoist Yun will be the main force in this expedition to survey the key nodes of the formation!"

A master of formations?

A glint of light flashed in Chen Qing's eyes.

Zhang Shun smiled and stepped forward, saying, "I have long heard of the Yun family's 'Heluo Star Chart' as exquisite and unparalleled. It is my great fortune to see it today!"

Yun Cang was somewhat flattered and quickly returned the greeting: "Fellow Daoist Zhang is too kind. My skills are but a humble skill, and I dare not accept such a title..."

Ling Xiao looked around at everyone, full of vigor: "Everyone! Our Gengshen team has the Profound Light Dao Body, the Azure Sea Spiritual Heart, the Beast Taming Elite, the Array Master, and Fellow Daoist Chen with such a solid foundation, as well as the protection of the Zhenhai Division's elite! This mission to dredge the geomagnetic field will surely be a resounding success!"

Chen Qing's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He thought to himself that this flag should not be raised, but then he thought again that his own team was indeed luxurious in terms of configuration. Not only were the connections very strong, but Ling Xiao and Yun Cang were both at the third realm in terms of their auras. The auras of the several black-armored guards were also very strong. The Zhenhai Division must have a well-thought-out plan. Surely they would not encounter any misfortune as soon as they stepped out.

"Everyone's here, board the boat! Let's go!"

The group filed onto the dark flying boat.

"Buzz!"

The flying boat shuddered, its runes suddenly glowing brightly, and it shot off into the distance like an arrow!

Chen Qingxing walked to Yun Cang's side, cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Yun, my foundation in formations is still shallow. Since this opportunity has come, may I ask you for some guidance?"

Yun Cang hesitated for a moment, then nodded reluctantly: "Sect Leader Chen, please speak."

Chen Qing didn't stand on ceremony and raised several questions he had discussed with Jiang Kai in his dream.

Upon hearing this, Yun Cang's lazy expression vanished, and he sat up straight. After a moment of contemplation, he began to answer seriously, citing classical texts and analyzing the situation meticulously.

Chen Qing listened attentively, occasionally asking questions.

Lin Zhuan, who was not far away, saw this and assumed that Chen Qing was just trying to find an excuse to curry favor. He shook his head and felt disgusted. He had heard of Chen Qing, who was highly regarded by Uncle Mo, but he was greatly disappointed when he met him.

Zhang Shun sensed something and replied telepathically, "We are from a small family, and this is a rare opportunity. We must do our best to seize it. However, such haste is ultimately a poor choice."

Ling Xiao also noticed this scene. Remembering how much her master valued Chen Qing, she suspected that he was trying to curry favor, but she understood the difficulties of the small sect and remained silent.

Soon, the airship arrived at a turbulent sea.

Inside the cabin, Chen Qing and Yun Cang were having an in-depth discussion about a connection between array patterns.

suddenly!

"Om-"

A piercing shriek tore through the sky!
The airship trembled violently!

The civilization of the boat wall is uncertain whether it will be destroyed!

"No."

Chen Qing's eyelids twitched, and he knew something was wrong.

"Enemy attack! Form ranks!"

Outside the boat, the fierce roar of the guard commander could be heard!
　The second update is coming soon. Also, it will be available for purchase tomorrow. I hope you will all support it!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)