I have a composite mirror

Chapter 114 The Return Journey and the Ambush

The atmosphere inside the carriage was somber and somewhat oppressive.

The "Cloud-Treading Steed," with its scaly hooves, galloped away, leaving the hustle and bustle of the provincial capital far behind.

Liu Wenyuan remained silent.

He simply drove quietly, his back ramrod straight, like a javelin.

But Gu Shenyan could sense that the spiritual pressure of this late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was on the verge of exploding.

"After returning to the pavilion, no one is allowed to approach the top floor of Tingtao Pavilion."

Liu Wenyuan's voice entered the carriage, carrying an unquestionable air of authority.

"Those who disobey will be expelled from the sect."

The three people in the carriage felt a chill run down their spines at the same time.

Half an hour later.

Listening to the Waves Pavilion, the Pavilion Master's Secret Chamber.

The area is protected by layers of soundproofing and divine sense-isolating arrays, so that not even a fly can get in.

"Speak."

Liu Wenyuan turned around, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at Gu Shenyan.

Tell me everything you see, no matter how small.

Gu Shenyan took a deep breath.

He knew that now was not the time to hide his talents.

Aside from the clues about the merfolk bloodline in "The Chronicles of Cangming" and the existence of the system, he had to reveal everything.

"That fingerprint was left three days ago."

Gu Shenyan's voice was calm and steady.

"In the 'A Brief Study of Nanyang Witchcraft,' someone consulted the 'Tracing of Blood Curses' and the 'Illustrations for Making Soul-Sealing Nails.'"

"That aura is exactly the same as what I sensed from the Thunderous Bone Nail on the arena."

Liu Wenyuan's pupils contracted slightly.

"Anything else?"

"Beside the Xuan Turtle Sea-Suppressing Talisman, there is a hidden triangular curse mark, which is some kind of communication code."

"The most crucial thing is—"

Gu Shenyan paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"In the East District, column C, three pages of the book 'The Direction of Earth Veins and Ancient Study of Auspicious Sites' have been torn out."

"And the core array diagram of the adjacent Ancient Teleportation Array Fragment echoes the evil energy on the bone nail."

"This disciple boldly speculates that the bone nail is merely a trigger, or some kind of positioning beacon."

"Their real purpose is teleportation."

"Or perhaps—guidance."

A deathly silence.

The air inside the sealed room seemed to freeze.

Liu Wenyuan paced back and forth in the cramped space, his hands behind his back.

One step, two steps, three steps.

His footsteps were incredibly heavy, each one feeling like it was pounding on someone's heart.

a long time.

He stopped and let out a long sigh.

That sigh seemed to have aged him ten years.

"It really is an ancient teleportation array—"

Liu Wenyuan muttered to himself, his face ashen.

"Tearing up the ley line map was to conceal the landing point of the teleportation array."

"Their appetite is bigger than I imagined."

He suddenly raised his head, his eyes becoming more serious than ever before.

Be careful what you say.

"Disciple is here."

"This matter is too complex and has exceeded the authority of both me and Tingtao Pavilion."

Liu Wenyuan's voice was somewhat hoarse.

"This is not just targeting us; it's undermining the very foundation of the entire cultivation world of Great Xia."

"I must report to my master immediately and inform the highest levels of the Xuanzheng Division."

He reached out and patted Gu Shenyan's shoulder heavily.

"You have done a great service once again."

"But remember, the more you know, the faster you die."

"From now on, you are not allowed to leave the area of Tingtao Pavilion and the tenement courtyard."

"I will arrange for hidden sentries."

"Apart from necessary spiritual practice, sever all external connections."

Gu Shenyan's heart tightened, and he immediately bowed in respect.

"Disciple understands."

When we left the secret room, it was nearly dusk.

The setting sun, like blood, dyed the entire Tingtao Pavilion a somber, dark red.

As soon as Gu Shenyan stepped out of the main building, he was stopped by a figure.

It's Han Sushuang.

The usually icy beauty now had a rare blush of excitement on her face.

"Junior Brother Gu!"

She walked quickly over, clutching a jade slip tightly in her hand.

"Although the Golden Crow Sky-Splitting Talisman is an incomplete scroll, I have comprehended a new spiritual energy circulation path from it."

"If it can be integrated into my 'Crimson Lotus Sword Formation,' its power will increase by at least 30%!"

Looking into her pure and ardent eyes, Gu Shenyan sighed inwardly.

Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

Congratulations, Senior Sister.

Gu Shenyan forced a smile.

"If you want to meditate in seclusion these next few days, it's best to stay in the courtyard and not go to the back mountain."

Han Sushuang was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

But trusting Gu Shenyan, she nodded nonetheless.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Before they had taken more than a few steps, another figure emerged from behind the artificial hill.

It's Zhangqiao.

The boy peeked around cautiously, like a startled rabbit.

After confirming that no one was around, he approached Gu Shenyan and lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Gu—Brother Gu."

"What is it?"

Zhang Qiao swallowed hard, his hands trembling slightly as he pulled a worn, yellowed thread-bound book from his pocket.

The pages were almost falling apart, riddled with holes from insects.

"The fragment of the teleportation array diagram I saw in the pavilion—"

"It looks very similar to an illustration in my family's book of 'Fragments of Feng Shui'."

Gu Shenyan suddenly stopped and his gaze shot towards Zhang Qiao like lightning.

Zhang Qiao was so startled that he almost dropped the book.

"I'm serious!"

"My ancestors were actually feng shui masters, but they later declined."

"I can't understand the book either, but I remember the diagram."

"That's a malevolent formation that 'reverses Yin and Yang'!"

Gu Shenyan took the tattered book, but did not open it. Instead, he solemnly put it into his storage bag.

"Brother Zhang, you have done a great service."

"But keep this matter of the book to yourself, don't tell anyone."

"Including Pavilion Master Liu."

Zhang Qiao nodded frantically, his face deathly pale.

"I know, I know—I only trust you, Brother Gu."

"I'll give this book to Brother Gu; I hope it will be of some help."

Gu Shenyan gave him a deep look.

"Don't worry, I will do my best to protect you."

Back in the courtyard, night had already fallen.

Gu Shenyan sat by the window of the west wing, his fingers rhythmically tapping the table.

"System, attempt to connect to Chen An's communication talisman."

[Connecting————]

Connection failed.

[The other party's communication talisman has been damaged, or is located in an extremely high-level spiritual energy shield.]

Gu Shenyan's heart sank.

Chen An has gone missing.

That well-informed, always-smiling fat man seemed to have vanished into thin air.

This is definitely not a coincidence.

"Knock knock knock".

A very light knock sounded on the door.

Three long and two short.

Gu Shenyan's expression shifted, and he waved to unlock the door.

Shi Quan slipped inside, his movements as nimble as a cat's.

He knelt on one knee, looking somewhat flustered.

"Young master."

"What's wrong?"

"In the past few days, there have been several unfamiliar faces outside the courtyard."

Shi Quan said in a low voice.

"They disguised themselves as peddlers and beggars, but I could smell something was off about them."

"It smells like blood."

"and----"

Shi Quan hesitated for a moment, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes.

"Last night, around midnight, I felt a cold, eerie presence sweep across the courtyard."

"It stayed in your west wing for a long time."

"The feeling was like being stared at by a venomous snake; it sent chills down my spine."

Gu Shenyan suddenly stood up.

The enemy arrived faster than expected.

They panicked.

This shows that the clues I brought back really hit their sore spot.

"understood."

Gu Shenyan took out several talismans from his pocket and handed them to Shi Quan.

"These are high-level concealment talismans and earth escape talismans."

"Starting tonight, you won't be sleeping here."

"Go to the cellar, and no matter what noise you hear, you are not allowed to come out."

Shi Quan's eyes reddened, and he kowtowed heavily.

"Take care, young master!"

After seeing Shi Quan off, Gu Shenyan immediately sent out two communication talismans.

After a while.

Han Sushuang and Jia Shouren, who had recovered from their injuries, rushed to the west wing.

"What happened?"

Although Jia Shouren's face was still somewhat pale, his eyes had regained their usual shrewdness.

Gu Shenyan didn't waste any words.

He immediately activated the [Environment Scan] and confirmed that there were no eavesdroppers in the wall.

"Someone wants to kill us."

Upon hearing this, both Han Sushuang and Jia Shouren changed color.

"Is it about the Secret Pavilion?" Han Sushuang reacted quickly, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.

"good."

Gu Shenyan calmly took out a stack of talismans from his storage bag.

These talismans are different from those on the market.

The talisman paper was an eerie dark blue, and the cinnabar on it was a deep, purplish-red.

This is a special talisman that he improved using system optimization.

"This is a symbol of unity."

Gu Shenyan distributed the talismans to the two of them.

"One for each person, keep it close to your body."

"Once someone is attacked and the talisman is activated, the other two talismans will immediately ignite and indicate the location."

He then took out several battle flags and handed them to the two men.

"Old Jia, you're good at earth-based defense."

"You should bury these 'earth-feeding spies' in the four corners of the courtyard."

"Senior Sister Han, your Golden Fire Sword Qi is the sharpest."

"Hide these 'Explosive Flame Talismans' behind the artificial hill and trees in the yard."

"Remember, stay hidden."

Jia Shouren took the battle flag, his palms slightly sweaty.

"Junior Brother Gu, who are they? Is such a big fuss necessary?"

Gu Shenyan looked out at the deep night outside the window, his voice low and soft.

"If Pavilion Master Liu is not mistaken..."

"We may be facing a group of desperados."

"They'll do anything to keep a secret."

The next three days.

The courtyard house seemed to have turned into an iron barrel.

The three of them ate and lived together, inseparable.

On the surface, the courtyard remained calm and peaceful, and the disciples continued their cultivation and playful antics as usual.

But in Gu Shenyan's view...

The spiritual energy fluctuations in the air are becoming increasingly agitated.

That was the calm before the storm.

Late at night on the third day.

There is no moon, and the wind is high.

The entire Tingtao Pavilion fell into a deep sleep.

Only the occasional chirping of insects added to the desolate atmosphere.

The west wing of the tenement courtyard.

Gu Shenyan sat cross-legged on the bed, seemingly in a meditative state.

In reality, every muscle in his body was tense.

[Alert: Abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations detected.]

[Direction: Due North, 300 meters.]

Quantity: Five.

[Energy Level Analysis: Four late-stage Spirit Gathering Realm cultivators, one —]

[Alert: A cultivator at the early stage of the Law Forging Realm!]

Gu Shenyan suddenly opened his eyes.

Forge the Realm of Law!

The other side actually dispatched a master at the Forging Law Realm!

They're determined to silence me!

"They're here!"

He gave a low shout, and his voice instantly rang in the ears of Han Sushuang and Jia Shouren through the communication talisman.

Almost at the same time.

A strange black mist suddenly rose outside the walls of the tenement.

The black mist spread silently and rapidly, enveloping the entire courtyard in the blink of an eye.

The warning artifacts that were originally placed on the wall seemed to go silent the moment they came into contact with the black mist, their light dimming instantly.

"A shielding artifact?"

Gu Shenyan gave a cold laugh.

"Unfortunately, I'm not using a magical artifact."

Just as the five dark figures leaped over the wall like ghosts and landed on their feet.

hum!

Suddenly, countless dazzling golden lights shone from beneath the ground.

"rise!"

Gu Shenyan made a hand seal.

The "Golden Light Binding Spirit Talisman" buried underground erupted simultaneously.

A dozen golden light locks, like venomous snakes emerging from their holes, tightly coiled around the legs of the dark figures.

"What?!"

The leader of the men in black let out a low growl of alarm and anger.