Chapter 103: Ming Zhaoshuang Sees Heaven And Earth
Upon waking again, the youngsters’ wounds had indeed recovered by about thirty percent, just as Yiqi Huang had said.
With the System’s help, Ming Zhaoshuang had recovered by about fifty percent, her bone and blood reconnected mostly, but she was still the most severely injured and couldn’t walk.
Shen Liqian looked at the token that had appeared out of thin air in her hand, understanding that Yiqi Huang still wanted to give it to her, so she accepted it.
She went to help Ming Zhaoshuang, chiding, “You, not understanding music theory, why did you rush out? Why did you have to complete the trial?”
Though she said this, how could Shen Liqian not understand Ming Zhaoshuang? Her touch was light and gentle, and she also sent spiritual power into Ming Zhaoshuang’s body.
Ming Zhaoshuang stuck out her tongue at her, saying, “Qianqian, you’re lecturing me? Look at your own hands.”
Her hands weren’t much better either; she wouldn’t be able to play the Konghou for at least a month.
Shen Liqian smiled, and recalling it now, she felt her behavior at that time was a bit crazy.
It could even be said to be a bit foolish.
Fortunately, the result was better than they had anticipated.
Suddenly, Ming Zhaoshuang’s gaze froze as she stared at the large characters floating in the air, remaining silent for a long time, obvious surprise showing in her eyes.
The remaining few people were similarly affected.
Astonishingly, no one would have thought that the last formation in the Talisman Saint’s Secret Realm would be the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation!
The Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation, created by Talisman Saint Wei Shuo, allowed one to glimpse the power of heaven and earth and understand yin and yang. Legend had it that it was the only Ascension path for Talisman Masters, with countless researchers over tens of thousands of years.
Yet, no one had ever managed to replicate it successfully.
And no one had ever known what Wei Shuo truly saw within the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation, which led to her death within ten years, making her the earliest among the Five Sages to perish.
And now, they were actually going to break the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation!
“Ten thousand two thousand years have passed, you finally arrived.”
In the air, Wei Shuo’s faint and weary voice came, as if she had known of their arrival long ago.
Ming Zhaoshuang looked up, feeling as though Wei Shuo’s gaze was on her, but she couldn’t find Wei Shuo’s figure anywhere, only hearing her calmly narrate.
“The Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation was personally set by me, integrating the Great Dao of heaven and earth and the governance of yin and yang.”
“The outside world exaggerates it to the heavens, calling it the only Ascension path for Talisman Masters; they also say it can reverse time, rewind space, and return to ancient times; even more, they claim it can overturn heaven and earth, confuse yin and yang, causing the formation setter’s disposition to become chaotic, leading to a short and tragic life.”
“All of this is utter nonsense. If you believe it, then get lost with me.”
“In the final analysis, the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation is just me seeking guidance from those old folks in the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and seeing some things I shouldn’t have.”
“As for why I died, seniors will tell you later. I can only tell you that I have no regrets in my death, nor do Yixu, Ou Ziye, Feng He, and Yiqi Huang. We clearly understood what we were doing.”
“Within this formation that steals heavenly secrets, I saw the true appearance of the cultivation world we inhabit: the Heavenly Dao acting alone, all living beings suffering, the sun and moon out of sync, yin and yang in disorder, heaven and earth in shared sorrow, mountains and rivers weeping together.”
“This situation has been ongoing for a hundred thousand years, yet no one has ever broken it. This is something we were unwilling to see. Fortunately, I also saw you, new life, new hope, a new… cultivation world.”
“Therefore, we are willing to use our flesh and blood, our bones and marrow, to forge a new path for the sun, moon, all living beings, mountains, rivers, and yin yang, to create a new Heavenly Dao.”
Wei Shuo’s voice carried on, neither hurried nor slow. No one interrupted, and no one spoke unnecessarily.
They all felt that Wei Shuo seemed to want to tell them something, but due to some limitation, she could only hint at it.
What kind of appearance was the true appearance of the cultivation world she spoke of? Was it the appearance they were currently in?
As Ming Zhaoshuang pondered, she looked down at the land beneath her feet and frowned.
The land beneath her feet was moving.
All around was crystal clear seawater, gently lapping at the riverbanks, while the land beneath her feet was rotating counter-clockwise, as if chasing something.
And across the seawater, one could see a larger island in the distance, but no matter how their circular small island followed, it could never reach the island that resembled a fish’s tail.
Could it be that the island was also moving?
Ming Zhaoshuang looked up, staring at the distant island, increasingly feeling that the land beneath her feet was moving, chasing around that island. Or rather, the circular island beneath her feet, along with the fish-shaped island beside it, were all moving around a central point.
And this formation was called the “Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation.”
Unlike the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation they had seen before, which was filled with distinctions between good and evil, this Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation truly achieved the coordination of yin and yang and truly echoed heaven and earth.
Mountain against water, yin against yang, two tails moving, appearing to chase, yet also appearing to transform.
It could be said that the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation was an evil formation, a pirated version!
No wonder the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation was rumored to be so miraculous; it turned out to be because the pirated version was rampant, even overshadowing the genuine one.
After examining this formation, Ming Zhaoshuang finally relaxed. At least it wasn’t the evil formation they had encountered before, and Wei Shuo bore them no ill will. She decided to treat it as an extension of the previous levels.
Above the sky, Wei Shuo’s words continued:
“Now, the yin fish carries its tail, the yang fish circles its head, the formation has opened. Wei Shuo, founder of the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation, anticipates your Challenge Trials within the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation, and also anticipates that within the Heaven and Earth Yin Yang Formation, you can See Oneself, See All Living Beings, and See Heaven and Earth, and that you can Break Oneself, Pity All Living Beings, and Change Heaven and Earth!”
As her words ended, the surroundings of the youngsters shifted again, as if they were in a bright night, the moonlight so brilliant it was like daylight, and the starlight dazzling like the daytime sky.
Before Ming Zhaoshuang’s eyes, even though Shen Liqian was still supporting her, she could no longer see Shen Liqian’s figure.
Her soul had departed her body.
The souls of the other youngsters had also all departed. They stood under this bright night, only able to see the scenery before them, but not their teammates around them.
They walked towards the road in front of them, their steps almost listless.
Unlike the souls of the other youngsters, Ming Zhaoshuang’s soul seemed to stack up like afterimages, drifting vaguely towards its destined direction, without consciousness.
And Wei Shuo, according to their order of entry, slowly judged the past they were about to face and the future they were about to see.
“Fei Changxiu, See Oneself.”
“Ming Chenxing, See Oneself.”
“Qin Feilong, See Oneself.”
“Shen Liqian, See Oneself.”
Wei Shuo yawned out of boredom, but stopped upon seeing a snow-white figure.
Her gaze instantly softened, as if, through the figure before her, she saw the shadow of an old friend, and she softly smiled, saying:
“Ming Zhaoxue, See All Living Beings.”
Just as Wei Shuo was about to go closer and examine the appearance of this person named Ming Zhaoxue, her attention was immediately drawn by the light that followed.
She stared at Ming Zhaoshuang’s disappearing back, her pupils widening instantly, only to lower again in an instant.
Wei Shuo’s eyes curved into a knowing smile. She slowly spoke, uttering her final words:
“Ming Zhaoshuang, See Heaven and Earth.”
