Following Shi Pozhu's finger flick, a muffled "thud" sounded. The space five zhang away from the dilapidated pavilion halfway up the mountain rippled slightly. It was as if there was an invisible membrane. The moment the black light approached the pavilion, it suddenly broke into several sections in mid-air. Then, turning into a few wisps of fine smoke, it abruptly vanished, as if it had been sucked in by some invisible force in front.
Seeing this scene, Li Yan's gaze focused, and he thought to himself, 'What a clever restriction. I didn't even sense it before. Even when the restriction was triggered, the spatial fluctuation was minimal!'
Li Yan stared at the dilapidated pavilion halfway up the mountain for a few breaths. Seeing no further reaction, he asked, "Is that 'Libei Beast' still hiding inside?"
"Yes, the restriction I left is not broken, so it must not have come out. Now with Fellow Daoist Zhang's help, let's see where it can run!" A smile appeared on Shi Pozhu's face.
"Fellow Daoist Shi, whether we can succeed or not is still up in the air! Next, I will only do as you instruct. As for whether we can finally open the restriction here, that will still depend on you."
Li Yan did not forget to remind him, lest Shi Pozhu blame him if they failed to break the restriction in the end.
"Of course, of course! Hehehe…" Shi Pozhu nodded quickly.
"Then what should I do next?"
Li Yan did not want to delay here for too long and asked directly.
"Oh, please be patient, fellow Daoist. I need to set up a formation first before we can act. But it won't take too long. Please wait a moment, Fellow Daoist Zhang."
Shi Pozhu's smile disappeared. He cupped his fists at Li Yan and then ignored him. With a continuous flash of dark light from the storage ring on his hand, seven exquisite small black flags floated before him. Each flag was only about seven inches long, and on the black flag surface of each was embroidered a star, large or small.
Shi Pozhu's movements were extremely fast. The moment the seven small flags appeared, he flicked his sleeve. The seven small black flags shot out like seven sharp arrows. With a "hissing" sound, they shot swiftly toward the top of the dilapidated pavilion diagonally above.
As the seven small black flags quickly approached the dilapidated pavilion, they suddenly scattered. At the same time, the seven stars on their surfaces, which had been like dead objects, suddenly burst with starlight. Then, a streak of light green light shot out from one of the flags and struck another small black flag in front of it.
The star on the surface of the struck black flag trembled slightly, and in an instant, it also shot out a streak of light green light, which instantly struck another small flag. The star on the surface of the third flag trembled again, and another streak of light green light shot out…
In this way, the seven small black flags were lit up and activated one by one at a visible speed. At the same time, they had suddenly dispersed above the dilapidated pavilion.
With a few soft "thuds," they were nailed into the void above the pavilion, as if they had been inserted into a solid object, covering the dilapidated pavilion below.
Seven streaks of light green light connected the seven small black flags. As they were nailed into the void and remained motionless, seven streaks of green light poured down from the seven black flag surfaces like a waterfall. In an instant, a dark green curtain enveloped the entire dilapidated pavilion below.
Seeing this scene, a light flashed in Li Yan's eyes. And his expression was also seen by Shi Pozhu. He couldn't help but laugh loudly.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Zhang also knows this formation!"
"Could this be the 'Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation'? I've heard that it uses the method of the Big Dipper's seven stars rotating in turn to activate the different corresponding restrictive powers, which can calculate four thousand nine hundred different restrictions. A cultivator can then use these different restrictive powers to try and break the corresponding restrictions.
"And these four thousand nine hundred restrictive powers are not fixed, but can evolve into different 'Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formations' depending on the mastery of the cultivator who refined it. The 'Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation' is just a general term. After it is refined, it can be said to be 'a thousand people, a thousand faces.' So Fellow Daoist Shi is actually a great formation master. I have been disrespectful!"
Li Yan nodded slightly. Although he was not good at refining artifacts and setting up formations, his knowledge was extremely broad. He knew that the hundred arts of cultivation were too profound for one person to master everything. Otherwise, he would have tried them all one by one. But even so, Li Yan read as many classics as he could. Although he did not cultivate them himself, he had to know more and be widely read, just in case.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, you flatter me. How am I a great formation master? I bought this formation at a high price, hehehe…"
At this time, Shi Pozhu had already fixed the seven formation flags in the void according to the positions of the Big Dipper. He withdrew his hand seals and waved his hand at Li Yan, shaking his head repeatedly.
Hearing the other say this, Li Yan did not press further on whether the other was being polite or had really obtained this formation by other means. Instead, he carefully looked at the light green waterfall in the sky.
"Although I have also heard of this formation, I only know a little about it. I still need Fellow Daoist Shi to explain clearly how to assist."
"Fellow Daoist Zhang is too modest. Your knowledge of formations is profound. In that case, I don't need to explain the details of this formation to Fellow Daoist Zhang. The cooperation will be much simpler! We shouldn't delay. Although this formation is good, the light it emits is a bit eye-catching. We should try to break it as soon as possible!"
Shi Pozhu was also relieved. Since Zhang Ming recognized this formation, he didn't need to explain the function of the "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation" in detail. Otherwise, he would not only have to explain the position Zhang Ming should stand in to assist, but also the things to pay attention to when acting. More importantly, how could he dispel Zhang Ming's concerns and let a cultivator stand at the formation eye of a strange formation, so that he could help him wholeheartedly.
Otherwise, even though Zhang Ming had previously agreed to help, if he were to be placed at a strange formation eye position, he would probably still hesitate.
"Everything will be as Fellow Daoist Shi instructs!" Li Yan cupped his fists slightly.
"Since it's the 'Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation,' Fellow Daoist Zhang should know why I've come to you. Please take charge of the Tianshu star's position and use it to drive the other six stars to rotate!"
Shi Pozhu then looked at Li Yan with burning eyes.
Li Yan withdrew his gaze from the light green waterfall and also looked at Shi Pozhu, smiling slightly. "No problem!"
The "Tianshu star" was the water-attribute star among the seven stars. It was the hub that connected the seven stars, the formation eye. It could be used to connect the seven stars, and then let the seven stars move together. Moreover, standing at this position had another advantage, which was to be able to actively grasp and control the dynamics of the "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation," and to be able to interrupt the operation of the formation at any time, regardless of the person controlling it.
It was precisely because of this that when Li Yan had said the name "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation," Shi Pozhu had been relieved. As long as Li Yan knew this formation, then he would have no more worries.
Li Yan said no more. With a leap, he floated toward the position of the "Tianshu star." The next moment, he stepped on top of a black flag and looked down at the dilapidated pavilion covered by the green curtain.
At the same time, Shi Pozhu also flew up and landed on top of another small black flag. Li Yan recognized that position as the "Tianxuan star."
Seeing Shi Pozhu stand still, a dark light flashed deep in Li Yan's eyes. Then he quietly waited for Shi Pozhu to activate the formation so that he could link the seven stars.
The "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation" actually only required one person to control. It was often used to "break a formation with a formation." But often, in order to break different restrictions, it might require the help of others to enhance a certain power. From the way the dilapidated pavilion had absorbed Shi Pozhu's casual strike, Li Yan could roughly see that the protective formation outside the pavilion was mainly based on water-attribute power.
Therefore, Shi Pozhu needed a person proficient in a water-attribute cultivation method to activate the "Tianshu star" so that the "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation" could exert its strongest power. This was the cleverness of the "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation." If it was used to break a composite grand formation, the "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation" could be assisted by six people at the same time.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, we will infuse our magical power at the same time after one breath. You just need to infuse your magical power into the surface of the 'Tianshu star' formation flag below. You don't need to worry about the rest."
Shi Pozhu nodded slightly at Li Yan. Since he was asking others for help, when refining this set of formations, he would of course not require others to also perform auxiliary hand seals. In that case, if they were not familiar with each other, it would be much more difficult to cooperate.
Li Yan did not say much. The next moment, a dark light flashed in his hand, and a streak of dark light shot from his palm toward the black flag surface below.
At the same time, Shi Pozhu also flicked his fingers continuously, and six streaks of light shot toward the other six formation flags. At the same time, he was also nervously sensing the magical power that Li Yan had sent out.
It was not until Li Yan had released his magical power that he finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
"Although the magical power is not that extremely pure water attribute, to be able to cultivate to this level, it must be his main cultivation method. It should be enough."
As the two of them simultaneously poured their magical power in, the light green curtain covering the pavilion below began to rotate with a low "hum." Then, Shi Pozhu, in mid-air, sat cross-legged above the Tianxuan star. His expression was solemn. He continued to pour in magical power with one hand, while his other hand constantly formed hand seals, his lips moving as if he were chanting.
As his incantations began, the "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation" below began to spin faster and faster. A few specks of green light were "flung" out, and then scattered downwards.
While these green lights were still scattering in the air, they suddenly gathered together, forming chains of various lengths, linked ring by ring. When these chains reached five zhang above the top of the dilapidated pavilion, they quickly connected with each other. In an instant, the entire pavilion was heavily wrapped in circles of light green chains.
The moment these light green chains wrapped around the pavilion, Li Yan, who was pouring in magical power, suddenly felt the formation flag on the "Tianshu star" under his feet tremble violently. Then, a powerful force rushed toward him from the formation eye of the "Tianshu star."
At the same time, a section of the crisscrossing, layered light green chains on the pavilion bulged out at a visible speed, as if it had been inflated. In an instant, the light green gold chains made a "kaka" sound, and cracks appeared in the originally tightly packed overlapping chains, as if something was trying to drill out from within.
With the violent trembling of the small black flag on the "Tianshu star," as the hub controlling the seven stars, wisps of green spiritual energy began to dissipate from under Li Yan's feet. With the dissipation of the green spiritual energy, the rotation of the entire "Seven Stars Flowing Waterfall Formation" also rapidly slowed down.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang!" Shi Pozhu shouted in a low voice.
Li Yan did not speak. A faint dark light flickered around him, and a boundless magical power pressed down. Under the sweep of this magical power, the formation flag on the "Tianshu star" instantly stabilized. The light green waterfall below also began to spin rapidly again.
Outside the dilapidated pavilion, the light green chains that had originally bulged high, as if about to be broken, continued to slide in a crisscross pattern like giant snakes, tightening inward again.
In this process, the light green chains made a continuous "bang bang bang..." breaking sound, but the broken parts of the chains were covered by more green chains falling from the sky, layer upon layer of suppression…
For the rest of the time, halfway up the mountain, the huge green mass formed by the light green chains would shrink one moment and expand the next. Li Yan and the other would continuously channel their magical power to suppress and clamp it. At the same time, Shi Pozhu's one hand would continuously send out different hand seals. Li Yan, on the other hand, was secretly observing, not missing a single one of the other's movements.
"This is already the one thousand eight hundred and forty-seventh hand seal he's used. Does that mean he's already used that many different restrictions to try and break it!"
However, at this time, sweat also appeared on Li Yan's forehead. He had not expected the counter-attack from the pavilion to be so powerful. Almost every time Shi Pozhu changed his hand seal, the counter-shock force it erupted with would increase by a fraction.
Li Yan frowned. Such a consumption of magical power was not good. A flash from the ring on his hand, and a bottle of pills had already appeared in front of him.
With a gentle wave of one of Li Yan's hands, the stopper of the bottle opened, and several pills had already flown into his mouth. Then, the aura on his body slowly began to rise again.
The storage ring on Li Yan's hand was from Qi Jinghong. It was just right for daily use and as a cover-up. Li Yan also had three storage pouches at his waist. They were the three monk's pouches that he had re-refined. Because the appearance of the monk's pouches was too unique and easily recognizable, although Li Yan did not have the ability to refine a space-type storage magical treasure, he could still re-refine it on the original basis and change its style.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I feel that we are not far from breaking the restriction!"
Seeing Li Yan swallow the pills, Shi Pozhu quickly spoke, for fear that Li Yan could not hold on. Although he also had good qi-replenishing pills, if he rashly gave them to Zhang Ming, the other would probably not take them.
Li Yan did not speak, just nodded at Shi Pozhu. The magical power on his hand surged again, continuously pouring into the small black flag below…