As the Pure Yang expert had said, Ji Xiang was on the verge of reaching the Nine Heavens Palace, but the illusion before him shattered, revealing the formation that had been laid out long ago.
There was no killing formation, only a confinement formation. Since Ji Xiang had not absorbed the confinement formation within the stone pillar, he had not detected it at first. Only when he was trapped did dozens of profound iron divine chains erupt between heaven and earth, binding him tightly!
Only then did the blank divine牌 "realize" and list the攻略 methods for Ji Xiang.
[Shangqing Captive Dragon Formation: The dragon is trapped, yet strives to ascend!]
[Those who enter the formation will have their magic power reduced by half and will be continuously drained by the formation. The formation will then transform into the entrant, and the entrant will become the formation's eye. Ordinary methods of breaking the formation require self-mutilation to escape!]
[To break this formation, one can use the "Middle Volume of the Jade Book" to conjure a dragon form. Though not a true dragon, a form is sufficient. Gather incense and faith, and the dragon, in Taoism, primarily serves to help cultivators ascend and descend, communicating with the gods. By breaking the formation with a dragon, the captive dragon ascends, and the profound chains will naturally loosen.]
[Reciting Ge Hong's "Pao Puzi" and the "Huang Bai Pian" can gradually dismantle this formation.]
[Alternatively, using the "Dao Ji Jing" to replace oneself with a Nascent Soul can allow one to escape the formation.]
Ji Xiang's gaze shifted from astonishment to anger, then to confusion, followed by contemplation, and finally settled into calmness.
"There is a change in Shangqing."
"I have lost track of time in the True Spirit Rank Chart. Much time has likely passed. But why would the Shangqing Sect suddenly use a formation against me? And here, I only see the formation, not the person who set it up."
This formation was unattended, clearly set up long ago, and possessed immense power.
Ji Xiang couldn't understand. The Shangqing Sect, which had been relatively amicable with him before, had suddenly turned hostile after only a few days?
Could it be because he had absorbed the formation within the stone pillar, causing the sect masters of Maoshan to lose face?
But even if they lost face, they wouldn't dare to oppose the Maoshan Sect Master. So, was this formation set up by the Sect Master? To save face, or to test him?
"This is quite interesting. Leaving a formation here as if they knew I would inevitably pass through this path... No, perhaps other directions around the Great Yuanbao Hall are also equipped with numerous formations..."
"This formation is hidden. In its normal state, it is indistinguishable from the mountains and rivers. The activation of formations within the Shangqing world is powered by the forces of Maoshan itself, thus Shangqing Maoshan is inherently a peerless grand formation."
"Once I enter this place, the formation will activate immediately, trapping me within. However, there is no killing intent, clearly intending to delay my actions, or perhaps to completely lock me here..."
"They did not leave a killing formation because they feared I would break this formation after obtaining the stone pillar's killing formation? Why would the Shangqing Sect do such a thing?"
With numerous questions and no one in sight, Ji Xiang could not find answers through his own speculation. He merely analyzed the possible causes of conflict before shaking his head to himself.
"In any case, this makes me very unhappy."
The methods to break this grand formation appeared in Ji Xiang's eyes. After a while, this "Shangqing Captive Dragon Formation" gradually disintegrated under Ji Xiang's recitation of scriptures, while the incense and faith energy on Ji Xiang's body gradually surged, conjuring dragon forms that coiled outwards. Dragons ascended to the heavens, entwining the profound iron chains, which soon began to disappear, transforming into masses of primal energy that merged back into heaven and earth.
"I haven't learned the Nascent Soul technique from the Dao Ji Jing yet, so I can't use it proficiently, but the Huang Bai Pian is enough!"
"Break the formation!"
Ji Xiang shouted, and the formation shattered as it was broken.
However, just as the formation was being broken, a second formation suddenly descended!
Waves of potent Yang energy, incredibly fierce, seemed like a killing formation Ji Xiang had encountered in the stone forest before, yet its essence was different!
Ji Xiang was both shocked and enraged!
"Well done, Shangqing! Are you playing a game of nesting dolls with me?"
The surrounding Yang energy gathered, ferocious and cyclical, making it almost impossible to find a key to breaking it, and there were no apparent weaknesses. At this moment, the ten directions of heaven and earth were filled with blazing sunlight, casting no shadows on the mountains and rivers!
"This formation resembles a Yang Gathering Formation within a killing formation, but this is a confinement formation, even more potent than a Yang Gathering Formation. It only confines, not kills, refining heaven and earth."
The blank divine牌 provided the answer!
[Shangqing Sun Soul Yang Spirit Grand Formation: No shadow seen in the sun, Yang spirit and ghosts coexist!]
[This formation locks the entrant's Yang energy. The stronger the Yang energy, the more powerful the locking force. This is because the core of this formation also uses the entrant as its eye. To escape, one must weaken their own Yang energy and damage their cultivation!]
[The longer one is trapped in the formation, the more the golden energy of the Yang spirit gradually dissipates, the water of the Yin魄 gradually conceals into a wheel, the fire energy declines, the physical body becomes defiled, gradually turning purely black and lusterless, transforming into an 'obscured body.' The Yang energy is lost, becoming half Yin and half Yang, neither favored by the sun and moon nor protected by the Yin and Yang realms, forever subjected to torment.]
This was an extremely vicious, even malevolent, refining grand formation. Such formations were specifically designed to deal with powerful individuals of crooked paths, belonging to the trump cards of trump cards. They could weaken one's cultivation, disrupt one's Yang energy, and even permanently destroy one's form and spirit. It was indeed very powerful!
Ji Xiang's anger grew.
"Shangqing Maoshan, what are you doing, daring to treat me like this?"
In Ji Xiang's eyes, the text within the inner landscape reappeared, this time detailing the method to break this formation.
This time, it was simple and direct!
[Yang has fullness, the moon has its waxing and waning. All things, Yin and Yang, must not exceed their bearing capacity. Use the 'Three Capitals Seal' from the "All-Under-Heaven Cave Scripture," combined with the twelfth chapter, 'Chapter of Annihilation,' from the "Yuqing Hidden Book." Condense all one's Yang energy into a single point, point it into the void, and transform it into the 'Great Opening Seal.' When the light appears to shatter, use the divine ability of the Ascension Realm to shatter the void, and the formation will be broken!]
The methods provided by the blank divine牌 were generally the optimal solutions. Ji Xiang was very satisfied with this method.
"No need to recite scriptures, but to let me have a good fight! Excellent!"
"All-Under-Heaven Cave Scripture!"
Regarding the Three Capitals Seals and the Three Sovereigns Seal within the "All-Under-Heaven Cave Scripture," Ji Xiang had not obtained the complete cultivation methods for the grand seals. However, it was not a problem. With the True Meaning of the Three Teachings, subsequent seals could be derived by sacrificing other scriptures.
Ji Xiang condensed his Yang energy into a single point, then pushed it out with a hand seal!
The Three Powers: Heaven, Earth, and Man!
The Three Powers Seal condenses all the Yang energy of the human body into a single point, combined with the energies of heaven and earth, to attack a specific point with immense power. However, if the energies of heaven and earth are in disarray, the power of the Three Powers Seal will be greatly diminished. To unleash the Three Powers Seal at its full potential, the timing and location must be perfect, along with one's own perfect condition.
No matter how low the grade of the "All-Under-Heaven Cave Scripture," it was still an offensive technique derived from the Donghua Immortal Scripture. Not only in the outer mountains and rivers, but even in the inner mountains and rivers, it was an extremely powerful offensive art!
This time, combined with the twelfth chapter, 'Chapter of Annihilation,' from the "Yuqing Hidden Book," which annihilates all things, whether they exist or not, in heaven and earth, causing them to melt like frost under the sun. Carrying the majestic demonic might, it descends upon heaven. All evil spirits, crooked ghosts, and improper spirits encountered by this chapter's technique are annihilated. Even righteous and fierce techniques will disintegrate from within when encountering this chapter, destroying their pháp power!
Ji Xiang followed the method provided by the blank divine牌, merging the two great techniques. His hand seals shifted, and an unprecedented seal appeared in the void. This was a new seal formed by the 'Chapter of Annihilation' to complement the Three Capitals Seal!
The Great Opening Seal!
Ji Xiang pointed the seal forward, and the light in the void shattered, transforming the seal into a palm!
Shattering the Void!
Boom!
With a tremendous tremor of heaven and earth, this magnificent formation rumbled and disintegrated, turning into nothingness. Everything ceased to exist. However, the breaking of this formation seemed to have exceeded the expectations of the one who set it up. Other formations outside began to slowly activate only after this formation had been broken for a while.
At this moment, Ji Xiang was already prepared!
"Hmph! Did you think that grand formation could trap me! Of course, I was almost trapped by you, but everyone has their own means!"
"These formations should not be kept any longer!"
Ji Xiang reached downwards, and five streaks of lightning surged from his fingers!
Mastering the Five Thunders through the Thirty-Six Transformations of Tiangang!
With the roar of the Five Thunders, ten approaching confinement formations were directly shattered on the spot!
Then, Ji Xiang took out the Mingguang Heavenly Scripture, pointed with his incense and faith energy, and summoned the natural Xuan Qi. The Thirteen Heavenly Formations he had obtained in the stone forest were now put to good use!
Heaven and earth instantly changed their colors. Ji Xiang unleashed the Heavenly Tribulation Grand Formation, which possessed the most destructive power!
The Heavenly Tribulation Grand Formation would shatter everything within the formation, whether it was a person or a formation, whether it was alive or dead, leaving no trace!
"Fourfold Thunder Tribulation Grand Formation! Rise!"
"The might of the Crimson Heaven, the sun and moon hide their radiance; the stars dim, the constellations darken, ghosts cry and gods grieve...!"
"In the fourfold heavens, there is nothing I cannot destroy!"
Ji Xiang recited the incantation, and the Heavenly Tribulation Grand Formation roared and descended. The formations that rushed towards him were instantly submerged in the blazing lightning. This place turned into scorched earth. After this formation fell, nothing could remain!