"Fiery Sun Dominating the Sky", the grand formation initiates; with the Heavenly Fire absorbed into the body, Nascent Soul reaches its pinnacle.
This was Song Jinglun's method for the next nine years.
Given this, it seemed that the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect was bound to witness the birth of a Nascent Soul-stage powerhouse.
Gu Panchun's intention to interfere with the Heavenly Fire Protective Formation and the Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation was now clear. She was undoubtedly targeting Song Jinglun's plan to refine the Heavenly Fire with the grand formation, intending to disrupt the formation just as he was about to break through, sabotaging his chance to form the Nascent Soul.
Only now did Shu Han have an epiphany; the personal vendetta Gu Panchun mentioned was against Song Jinglun.
To secretly oppose Song Jinglun was akin to seeking death! Or did Gu Panchun have someone supporting her from behind?
After some thought, Shu Han decided to play dumb and not reveal what he knew. He didn't want to get involved in her feud with Song Jinglun. Whether Song Jinglun could successfully form his Nascent Soul in nine years had nothing to do with him. After achieving the Golden Core using "Fiery Sun Dominating the Sky", he would surely leave the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.
So, Shu Han pretended to be unfamiliar with the Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation and followed Gu Panchun in silence.
However, Gu Panchun suddenly stopped at a juncture in the formation. She frowned at the crossroad, looking somewhat perplexed.
Based on the formation map in Shu Han's mind, he instantly understood her confusion.
According to the standard Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation, there shouldn't be any junction here. Why was there an unexpected pathway?
Had the formation pattern been wrong?
Then, Gu Panchun began walking into the extra branch, pondering with every step, showing signs of hesitation.
As they followed these anomalous patterns for quite some time, Shu Han gradually pieced together these out-of-place formation images in his mind. He felt as though he had seen these patterns somewhere before but couldn't recall where.
Suddenly, soft rustling sounds echoed from up ahead.
Shu Han and Gu Panchun quickly pressed themselves against the stone walls, holding their breath.
Soon, a light shone from the distance. Through his Clear Bright Spiritual Eye, Shu Han saw five members of the Forest Clan carrying sacred woods to the tunnel ahead, swiftly setting up the sacred wood ceiling of the passage.
"Members of the Forest Clan?"
"How could there be members of the Forest Clan here?"
Gu Panchun exchanged a knowing glance with Shu Han. Silently, they continued, skimming the walls. Those from the Forest Clan were of lesser power; they failed to notice the pair who slipped by them, busy as they were in laying the sacred timber roof.
No wonder Gu Panchun had signaled for him to use the Spirit Concealment and Void Transformation Technique. She seemed to have known all along that someone was constructing a formation here.
Although the direction of the formation had taken Gu Panchun by surprise, she adeptly planted the seeds of the Unbearing Waters Jade Mallow at crucial junctures of the pattern.
Thus, they moved closer to the core of the formation, every step taken with utmost caution for the number of the Forest Clan members was increasing.
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From Su Wanyi, Shu Han had learned that seeing the vast difference in power, many from the Forest Clan had decided to align themselves with the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect.
He had wondered where those who joined the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect had gone. Turns out, they were here, underground, crafting this formation.
But such a formation should be a top-secret project of the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect, related to Song Jinglun's Nascent Soul plan.
The Forest Clan, regardless of their loyalty, were still outsiders. Why entrust such a vital task to them? Was there no fear that some might harbor ill intentions?
Following Gu Panchun, they finally reached the heart of the formation pattern and stumbled upon a vast underground cavern.
Inside, a massive pile of the Forest Clan's sacred timber lay prepared. A figure, splendidly dressed in a red robe, sat amidst the timber, directing the movement of his tribe's members.
Shu Han's heart tightened at the sight.
The Forest Clan's High Priest!
He bore a striking resemblance to Zhuo Chun, likely Zhuo Chun's father, the fourth high priest of the Forest Clan.
Wasn't it said that the fourth priest had perished during the treaty renewal? How was he here, very much alive?
It dawned on Shu Han: the unexpected ambush of the Forest Clan during the treaty renewal, leading to the death of two priests, was because the fourth priest had become a mole for the Fiery Cloud Instant Sect!
But Gu Panchun did not recognize this priest. Her focus on deciphering the formation, she began heading straight for the cavern.
Shu Han swiftly grabbed her, whispering urgently, "Hold on! That's the High Priest of the Forest Clan! His perceptual abilities far surpass the average Golden Core cultivator!"
That day in the Southern Forest, when Wei Haolong used the Spirit Concealment and Void Transformation Technique to escape, he was detected by another priest from the Forest Clan, which spoke volumes of the priest's perceptual abilities.
Moreover, the Spirit Concealment and Void Transformation Technique was far less profound than the Heaven-Earth Transformation Art. If a Foundation Establishment cultivator were to use it, a slightly more perceptive Golden Core cultivator could possibly detect them.
Gu Panchun too was taken aback. She halted immediately, retreating slowly from the cavern and blending into the shadows of the trench.
Both moved silently, holding their breaths, their gazes locked onto the face of the Forest Clan's priest, scrutinizing his every expression. Yet, whether it was a flaw in the Spirit Concealment and Void Transformation Technique or the priest had sensed their wary eyes, he turned his head their way.
A surge of anxiety gripped Shu Han. Swiftly, he pulled Gu Panchun into the trench's embrace.
However, it was too late. He could already sense the priest of the tall woods approaching them.
Through the Clear Bright Spiritual Eye that penetrated stone, he observed the fourth priest, alertness evident on his face. The white flowers at the tips of his vine-like hair were all facing their direction, reminiscent of countless venomous snakes flickering their tongues. It seemed the priest had caught wind of something amiss and was swiftly approaching, inspecting everything on his way.
What to do?
Panic fluttered in Shu Han's heart.
Outside, with Shu Han's current prowess, a single use of the Shrinking Earth into Inches would allow him to easily evade the fourth priest.
But they were within the formation trench, and he couldn't use the Shrinking Earth into Inches. Plus, the exit wasn't accessible. No matter how fast they ran, they couldn't leave the formation.
In such a cramped space, if it came to blows, Shu Han might not necessarily fear the fourth priest. After all, it was hard to use greater techniques here, and his physical strength was unparalleled now.
Yet, they absolutely couldn't afford a skirmish here.
First, victory wasn't guaranteed. Second, if they caused a disturbance within the formation, they might activate the fire pattern, which could be lethal.
Disguise as members of the Forest Clan? That was out of the question. A single query would blow their cover.
Gu Panchun, anxiety evident, leaned in, transmitting to Shu Han, "We have no choice, young master. Given your formidable cultivation, can you quickly lead me to the formation's exit? We need to leave before he catches up!"
"But didn't you mention that the formation isn't set to activate yet?"
Determined, Gu Panchun declared, "Then we shall force it to activate early. Trust me!"
Understood!
With sheer resolve, Shu Han scooped up Gu Panchun, making an escape from the treacherous formation, planning to seek refuge within the Heavenly Fire Protective Formation.
Boom!
Shu Han soared through the trench with all his might. The fourth priest, taken aback by the sudden movement and sensing an escape, was covered in cold sweat as he transformed into a beam of light, chasing them down.
Shu Han, unfamiliar with the formation patterns and clearly slower than the fourth priest, found the distance between them narrowing rapidly.
However, once they reached the Heavenly Fire Conversion Formation, Shu Han moved with unparalleled finesse. He knew its paths like the back of his hand. Darting through various shortcuts, this time it was the fourth priest, unfamiliar with the formation's routes, who was gradually left behind by Shu Han.