Chapter 158 – Extra 19 – Sun Yunhe & Jiang Qi 3

True feng shui geomancy is not as the world’s legends suggest, where a feng shui master can make a judgment with just a glance. As the saying goes, “Three years to find the dragon, ten years to pinpoint the acupoint.” To uncover a place where feng shui energy converges and locate the true acupoint often requires a significant amount of time, effort, and even luck. Fortunately, Sun Yunhe is not a true disciple of the Native Soil Sect, and what he aims to do is not to establish a yin residence to seize the earth’s energy but to perform a ritual to break the Dragon Binding Formation, ensuring that this place does not endanger others. Therefore, when it comes to taking action, it is actually faster than expected.

Throughout the entire day, Sun Yunhe focused his energy on the collapsed ridge, searching for the key to breaking the Dragon Binding Formation. When night fell, he switched to using the Three-Star Instrument to calculate the celestial phenomena. This Spiritual Aperture originally carried a trace of pure yang energy, but under the influence of the military’s killing aura, it developed a tendency to transform into a malevolent dragon, making the Dragon Binding Formation even more solid. To break this formation, it was imperative to act at night, making the night’s celestial phenomena particularly important.

Compared to Sun Yunhe’s high spirits, Jiang Qi remained inactive, only hunting and cooking, occasionally observing the surroundings. He was never skilled in feng shui and had little interest in Spiritual Apertures. If not for accompanying his friend, he would likely never have ventured into such a dangerous place. Yet, even so, his cold expression showed no signs of irritation. As the night deepened and the stars twinkled, no matter where the person holding the Three-Star Instrument went, a pair of dark, bright eyes silently watched his back, never leaving.

After two days like this, Sun Yunhe finally let out a long breath, put away his prized possession, and returned to his friend’s side: “Brother Jiang, the method for setting up the formation is almost finalized. Let’s activate it tonight to avoid any complications.”

“Alright,” Jiang Qi responded without asking about the formation’s arrangement or the potential dangers.

Sun Yunhe paused for a moment, then earnestly explained, “Tonight, I will personally act as the formation’s eye, taking on the wrath of the malevolent dragon. However, the Dragon Binding Formation will inevitably give rise to evil spirits, so I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Jiang. I don’t know what might appear…”

“Mountain Demons,” Jiang Qi unexpectedly answered directly.

Sun Yunhe couldn’t help but frown: “Mountain Demons?”

He didn’t doubt Jiang Qi’s judgment, as their respective expertise was on par, and Jiang Qi was exceptionally knowledgeable about such malevolent spirits.

“I’ve seen some claw marks in the mountains. Mountain Demons thrive in the yin and can devour human souls. They’ve likely grown powerful, transforming into Cave Spirits,” Jiang Qi explained without changing his expression.

Although Cave Spirits were not as difficult to deal with as the Myriad Sects True Body, they were still quite dangerous. Yet, in Jiang Qi’s words, they sounded like ordinary small beasts. After a moment of contemplation, Sun Yunhe finally said, “This might be too dangerous. I should consider another method…”

Jiang Qi cut him off directly: “It’s just a few Cave Spirits. I can handle them.”

His tone was as calm as ever, showing no trace of fear. Despite his youthful and handsome appearance, Jiang Qi was a descendant of the ancient Wu lineage, and in terms of magical ability, he was likely not inferior to Sun Yunhe. With such a confident response, Sun Yunhe eventually nodded: “Then let’s activate the formation tonight.”

The Mao Mountain Sect’s formations were naturally quite intricate. Although Sun Yunhe had only recently completed his apprenticeship, he had already developed a set of simplified formation principles. Based on the Big Dipper, he calculated a type of earth vein acupoint known as the Seven Passes. By following the Seven Passes to set up the formation, one could harness the earth’s vital energy. Combined with the accumulated Red Rooster Throats and Thunderstruck Wooden Swords over the years, it was enough to suppress the malevolent dragon’s yin calamity. As long as the interaction between the malevolent dragon and the Spiritual Aperture was isolated, they could naturally dismantle it separately.

However, compared to ordinary formations, this one was astonishingly large, occupying the entire mountain and encircling both the Dragon Binding Formation and the Spiritual Aperture. Such a formation was not something others could set up, and even thinking about it would be daunting. Yet, Sun Yunhe arranged it without the slightest error. If other Taoist practitioners saw it, they would likely praise him as a prodigy.

Jiang Qi, however, wasn’t particularly impressed by the formation, partly because he had seen it many times and partly because he was well aware of his friend’s abilities. He didn’t even offer to help. After much busy work, the daylight quickly faded, and as dusk approached, the formation was finally complete. Sun Yunhe wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to his friend, who had been meditating nearby: “Brother Jiang, the formation is ready.”

Hearing this, Jiang Qi stood up, picked up the bag beside him, and walked toward the nearby forest. Sun Yunhe hesitated for a moment but eventually followed.

Deep within the forest path, there was a shallow stream, likely formed from a mountain spring. The water was clear and sweet, and the two of them had been fetching water from here for the past two days. However, today, Jiang Qi wasn’t here to drink. He quickly walked to the stream, put down his bag, and without hesitation, untied his belt. His indigo robe, after two days of camping, was somewhat dusty. Without a second glance, he tossed it aside, then casually removed his inner robe and undergarments, stepping naked into the stream.

The stream was shallow, barely covering his ankles. The sun had not yet set, and in the golden twilight, he knelt in the center of the stream, completely naked. Cupping a handful of clear water, he gently splashed it on his face, then his neck and arms, meticulously cleansing his body. His figure was not particularly muscular, even somewhat slender, but once unclothed, it didn’t appear weak. Instead, his well-defined bones and muscles exuded a smooth, indescribable beauty. The cold water droplets, illuminated by the sunlight, shimmered like scattered gold on his body, creating an ethereal beauty devoid of desire.

Sun Yunhe stood in the nearby woods, unable to tear his eyes away. Of course, he knew the principle of “do not look at what is improper,” but his eyes seemed to have lost control. He understood that this was merely a purification ritual before a Wu practitioner performed a ritual, as many Taoist priests also cleansed themselves before opening an altar. But when it came to that person, everything seemed to take on a different meaning, making his heart race uncontrollably.

Even though he knew someone was watching, Jiang Qi’s movements remained utterly composed. After thoroughly washing his body, he stood up, dripping wet, and slightly turned his face toward the woods. His dark, bright eyes directly met another pair filled with a hint of infatuation. Sun Yunhe, as if startled, quickly averted his gaze, while a faint smile briefly appeared on Jiang Qi’s lips. Stepping out of the stream, he opened his bag, took out a plain hemp robe, and draped it over himself. Then, with a gentle tug, he removed his hairpin, letting his black hair cascade over his shoulders.

When Wu practitioners perform rituals, they must communicate with the natural world. Therefore, they cleanse themselves with water, wear white robes, and let their hair down, walking barefoot. This is the most formal Wu method, rarely used except for worshiping heaven and ancestors. Yet, Jiang Qi had done this more than once in front of Sun Yunhe.

With a calm demeanor, he picked up his Golden Bell Ritual Instrument, carried his bag, and walked back, saying to the still-embarrassed Daoist Master Sun: “I’m ready. We can begin the ritual at any time.”

Sun Yunhe cleared his throat and looked away: “Thank you, Brother Jiang. Let’s enter the formation.”

Without any further discussion, the two walked side by side toward the formation.