The Devil's Tribulation

Chapter 176 Array within array

When Pan Chengfeng was stroking the big stove, Chu Xuanji was already calling everyone to gather outside. Pan Chengfeng reluctantly let go of the stove, went outside, and asked, "Did you find anything in the study?" Chu Xuanji sighed and said, "Nothing, just some insignificant books..." Tang Tong said happily, "It's insignificant to you, but it's a lot of wealth to me. If you don't need it, just give it to me. I don't need the 1% share, just give me these books and jade slips."

Everyone was shocked and wondered if Tang Tong had found something from those books. Chu Xuanji understood Tang Tong and explained: "Brother Tang loves books. These books record history, geography and some records of the owner's travels around the world. They are indeed a treasure for Brother Tang." Tang Tong bowed and thanked him: "Brother Chu understands me. Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. I am indeed very interested in the books here. I believe there are many people in the academy who like them."

Everyone nodded, but no one really wanted Tang Tong to give up his 1% share. Chu Xuanji put away the books and jade slips, went to another room to put away the stove, and said, "It seems that the owner of this place has spent all his life's savings in order to break through to the Mahayana stage, and there is nothing valuable left. Let's go to the backyard and see if there is anything else to gain."

Everyone left the main hall and arrived at the backyard. Everyone was dumbfounded. The backyard was barren, with nothing but a few rocks and weeds. However, it was still vaguely visible that there were at least four large medicinal gardens here. It was just that they were probably taken by the owner here. Just like Chu Xuanji said, the owner here basically spent all his wealth in order to break through to the Mahayana stage. Why do you say that? If you collect spiritual medicines normally, you will keep the roots and wait for them to grow out later. But the owner here collected the roots together, because it is more valuable to sell them this way.

Several people walked around the 'wasteland' for a few times, confirmed that nothing was left, and then gathered together again. Chu Xuanji said: "I thought there would be a lot of spiritual treasures and secret manuals, but now it seems that there is nothing valuable here except for the fusion manual that I don't know where." Pan Chengfeng said: "Those medicine gardens in front should not be valuable in the eyes of fusion cultivators, so they are kept, otherwise we will really have nothing." Tang Tongdao: "Not entirely, if we can find that manual, it can be said to be more valuable than anything else. After all, in the past tens of thousands of years, the highest-level auction is the Refining Void Manual, and most of them are incomplete. The fusion manual is still very valuable. As for this, I guess Brother Chu and Master Wu have channels to get it, and we all rely on chance."

Master Wu said, "Although our sect is also a big sect, the fusion technique is not provided for free. I have served the sect for so many years, and at most I can only get the Lianxu technique. I don't know how long I have to serve the sect before I can get the fusion technique." Chu Xuanji also laughed and said, "Brother Tang, you don't know that even if it is a big sect, the fusion technique is not given away just because it is said, not to mention our Wanbao Pavilion. Without special contributions, it is impossible to grant the fusion technique." After these words came out, Pan Chengfeng had a new understanding of the fusion technique. It was indeed a toad yawning before. Pan Chengfeng said, "What are you waiting for? Go back and continue to look for the technique, otherwise you will really be unwilling." Everyone had no objection and went back to the main hall to continue looking at the statues.

In the main hall, Pan Chengfeng sat back on the cushion, staring at the statue with his chin in his hand. Everyone gathered around to watch, but no one dared to reach out. After staring at it for another hour, Pan Chengfeng couldn't help but say, "I say, we still have to reach out and touch it. We've been watching for a long time. What can you see?" Everyone hesitated. It was just as Pan Chengfeng said. After watching for a long time, they couldn't see anything. Chu Xuanji said uncertainly, "How about we set up the Xuanwu formation, so that there will be a buffer time even if there is any emergency?" Pan Chengfeng said, "I think there should be no so-called formation. That combined cultivator is so poor that he even pulled out the roots of spiritual medicine and sold them. I think he should not have the money to set up any large formation. Even if there was one before, he dismantled it and exchanged it for resources to impact the Mahayana."

Everyone understood immediately after hearing this. It was really possible. This person should have risked everything and exchanged all his belongings for resources to impact the Mahayana stage. He should not have left any tricks behind. Wu Xunjie said, "What about the forbidden formation before?" Pan Chengfeng said, "Didn't I say before that the things in the front garden are not in the eyes of the fusion cultivators. Look, what are the void flowers, the Shengsheng fruit, the Lianxu puppets, and the Huashen puppets? Not to mention, these things are probably not worth half a spiritual medicine in his backyard in the eyes of the fusion cultivators. He didn't care about these things, so he left them there, which made it a bargain for us." Everyone was a little shaken. What Pan Chengfeng said made sense. So after a discussion, they finally decided that they had to touch it with their hands, otherwise they would be unwilling to go back like this.

Chu Xuanji said carefully: "No one here knows the methods of the combined cultivators, so for safety reasons, let's set up the Xuanwu formation and then go to explore the statue." Everyone agreed and took out the formation flags. Master Wu said: "This Xuanwu formation has been simplified a lot in order to be refined into formation flags. But the power is not bad. Remember, the six formation flags must input mana at the same time to activate the formation. If someone withdraws mana in the middle of the formation, the formation will collapse." Everyone nodded, and Master Wu shouted: "Formation up!" The six people input mana at the same time, and the six formation flags lit up at the same time. A formation pattern in the shape of a Xuanwu was formed instantly, and the green light enveloped the six people.

After getting ready, Chu Xuanji said, "Everyone, keep the formation, I'll go check the statue." Chu Xuanji took the formation flag and approached the statue. He carefully reached out and gently touched the statue's calf. Finding that there was nothing wrong, he became bolder and touched this and that, and finally started to knock. When he knocked on the book held by the statue, the whole hall suddenly shook. Everyone was shocked, and Chu Xuanji hurried back to everyone and asked, "Master Wu, what formation is activated?" Master Wu also observed with a serious face.

The hall was still shaking, but the imagined formation did not appear. Master Wu said, "It's not a formation, it should be a mechanism! There is a mechanism running underground, so the hall is shaking. It should be because the mechanism has not been used for too long, so the momentum is so loud." Everyone was stunned and asked at the same time, "Mechanism?" Since it is not a formation, everyone subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief, but looking at Master Wu's expression, it seems that he is not relaxed at all, and everyone's heart that has just been relieved is lifted again. The hall shook for more than ten breaths, and the entire layout of the main hall changed. Where there was nothing before, high walls rose up.

Master Wu's face changed and he shouted, "Oh no!" Everyone was startled by Master Wu's shout! Before they could ask, Master Wu continued, "The mechanism has been activated, and the layout of the entire hall has changed. I couldn't see it before, but now I have seen it! This great man has set up a formation within a formation! We have entered the middle of two formations!" Chu Xuanji asked hurriedly, "Master, have you seen what formation it is?" Master Wu said solemnly, "I have only seen one now, which is the previous forbidden formation! I can't see the other one yet."

Everyone was shocked and tried it hurriedly, only to find that their magic power could not be used again, and their bodies became heavier and heavier! Chu Hao was shocked: "It seems to be different from the previous one, and my body seems to be heavier!" Master Wu also nodded and said: "This forbidden magic formation has a much higher gravity than the previous one. But it seems that fellow Pan is not affected much." Everyone's waist was a little bit unable to straighten up, but Pan Chengfeng was still touching the high walls that had just risen from the ground as if nothing had happened.

Pan Chengfeng turned around and said, "Look at the statue. The layout has changed completely. The statue is still motionless, but it seems to have more words." Everyone walked to the statue with some difficulty, and saw two rows of words written on the back of the statue: "I like to study mazes in my spare time. If the destined person can pass through it smoothly, the skills will be revealed." Everyone didn't quite understand this, and looked at Master Wu. Master Wu said, "I don't understand mazes either." Tang Tongdao: "I do understand a little bit. The general maze is not difficult, but the combined great powers like to play, so it's probably not that simple. We should be in the center of the maze now. This can be called a complex maze or a circular maze. It's very difficult to get out of this kind of maze." Chu Hao said, "Don't explain, I just want to ask, do you know how to get out?" Tang Tongdao: "Although I know this is a circular maze, I don't know how to get out, and I don't know if there are any other changes or dangers in it."

Pan Chengfeng said: "Since it is a maze, there must be a way out. I know how to get out, but I think it will take a lot of time." Pan Chengfeng played with mazes when he was a child. Although it was not a very difficult maze, he did know some tricks. Everyone asked: "How to get out?" Pan Chengfeng said: "My method is called 'backtracking'. Although it is stupid, it is the most likely way to find the exit."

Next, Pan Chengfeng explained the "backtracking method". In fact, it is very simple, that is, mark every intersection you have walked through, walk to the end of each intersection, and then go back from the end to walk the forks that you have not walked before, eliminating them one by one until you find the right way. Wu Xunjie said: "Wouldn't it take a long time? We don't know how big this place is. What if it takes decades or hundreds of years to find it?" Pan Chengfeng smiled and said: "This great man is looking for an heir, not to kill anyone. So, I think this maze should not be too big. I am just worried that there are some unknown dangers." Wu Xunjie said: "Huh, didn't you say before that this great man had no money to set up the formation? Now he has not only set up, but also two!"

Pan Chengfeng scratched his head and said, "Who knows what this great man is thinking? You said he is going to make a last stand, why is he still keeping these things? If it were me, I would have dismantled them all and exchanged them for resources." Chu Xuanji said, "We can't figure out what the great man is thinking. The most important thing now is to get out. Don't forget, the skills are at the exit!"