The Five Paths Six Emotions Formation sounded like an illusory formation, but it was in fact Lord Xingde's killing formation. The five paths were the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, and heart; lose these five paths, and confusion would wind around one's body. The six emotions were pain, pleasure, color, fragrance, gain, and love; if the six emotions were lost, the spirit would not flow freely.
Once this formation was deployed, it immediately enclosed the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain, blocking their five paths and throwing their six emotions into disorder. The Three Heroes could not withstand it at once.
The foundations of the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain were exposed on the spot. They were merely at the Qi Refining fifth to seventh layer—how could they be Lord Xingde's match?
Lord Xingde was also greatly puzzled. With cultivation like theirs, they dared occupy Ink Mountain? It was truly inconceivable!
Watching the Three Heroes struggle bitterly within the formation, Liu Xiaolou felt immensely pleased. He stood to one side with his arms folded, leisurely watching the battle while taking the opportunity to learn how to control a formation. Naturally, it was difficult for him to lend a hand.
In past spell battles, Liu Xiaolou's side had always resorted to every kind of trick, with fellow cultivators swarming forward to catch their opponents off guard. Today, fighting the so-called "Three Heroes of Ink Mountain," they were openly and honorably crushing their foes with a grand formation. He had never enjoyed such a novel experience before; it was truly exhilarating beyond measure.
With a Qi Refining ninth-layer expert guarding the rear, fighting really was satisfying!
"Eldest brother, third brother, these opponents are tough!"
"Eldest brother, second brother, I can't hold on!"
"Second brother, third brother, don't panic! The old method!"
"Supreme Terrace Star, ever-changing without cease, Heavenly Hero Flag—unfurl!"
"Drive out evil, bind fiends, preserve life and protect the body, Earthly Hero Flag—unfurl!"
"Wisdom bright and pure, heart and spirit serene, Human Hero Flag—unfurl!"
"Three Talents Soul Protecting Flag, open! Hurry, as the law commands!"
Liu Xiaolou blinked. Oh? These three brothers shouted in rather perfect unison. They must have practiced often.
Three small flags materialized in the hands of the Three Heroes, forming the Three Talents Soul Protecting Flag. As the flag wind fluttered, it forcibly pulled the three brothers free from Lord Xingde's killing formation.
Lord Xingde could not help praising them. "Fine flags!"
As he focused and prepared to respond, the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain leaped far away instead, retreating dozens of zhang and not daring to come forward for another fight.
Liu Xiaolou shouted, "You three, why aren't you coming up to continue?"
The eldest among the Three Heroes, Heavenly Hero, said, "If we can't beat you, why would we come up and fight? To throw away our lives? Do you take my brothers for fools?"
He understood. The Three Talents Soul Protecting Flag was a treasure with immensely powerful defenses but no killing power. The three brothers had somehow acquired it and relied on it to occupy Ink Mountain.
Lord Xingde chuckled, withdrew the Five Paths Six Emotions Formation, and waved his sleeve. "Since that is so, I shall spare you. Go flee for your lives!"
That generous sentence of forgiveness instead drew a burst of ridicule from the other side.
"You old thing, who needs you to spare us? What grand words! If you have the guts, catch up to us!"
"Ink Mountain is my brothers' cave abode. You barged in rudely, and heaven will strike you with thunder!"
"If you have the ability, go down and gather stones. Just watch how my brothers kill you!"
Lord Xingde had always prided himself on being suave and graceful, with dignified bearing, yet the three brothers' insults made flames surge above his head. He once more brought out the Five Paths Six Emotions Formation disk and chased after them. His cultivation far surpassed that of the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain, and he moved with astonishing speed. How could they possibly escape? They were immediately trapped within the formation again.
The Three Heroes of Ink Mountain repeated their old trick, chanting the flag incantations in neat, ringing unison.
"Supreme Terrace Star, ever-changing without cease, Heavenly Hero Flag—unfurl!"
"Drive out evil, bind fiends, preserve life and protect the body, Earthly Hero Flag—unfurl!"
"Wisdom bright and pure, heart and spirit serene, Human Hero Flag—unfurl!"
"Three Talents Soul Protecting Flag, open! Hurry, as the law commands!"
The three flags again transformed into one, sweeping the three brothers out of the great formation. Yet the three brothers did not leave. Instead, they circled around to the southwestern corner of the cold pool and continued jumping about and hurling insults, their curses becoming even more foul and filthy.
Lord Xingde said to Liu Xiaolou, "Xiaolou, I'll keep watch above. You go down into the pool and retrieve the stones. The Mystic Stone is at the bottom; you'll recognize it at once. Take a piece about the size of a fist. Then stir the water at the pool bottom. The Spring Essence Jade clings to bubbles like jade pearls, so take a few grains."
Liu Xiaolou accepted the jade box Lord Xingde tossed him and leaped into the pool.
The pool was somewhat deep, over eight zhang. Even with his Qi Refining third-layer cultivation, Liu Xiaolou felt discomfort in his eardrums. After swimming around for a short while, he spotted a fist-sized strange stone wedged in a crack. Its center was hollowed out; it was indeed a Mystic Stone. Its base was joined to the earth, so he went over and snapped it off.
He then stirred the water over the crack. Bubbles rose from within it, and sure enough, a few held tiny jade beads inside. He immediately collected them in the jade box.
After gathering the Mystic Stone and Spring Essence Jade, Liu Xiaolou swam out of the water and climbed ashore. He found Lord Xingde fighting the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain. In the blink of an eye, they escaped again, and their filthy abuse came one after another, cursing Lord Xingde until his face swelled red with rage.
Only upon seeing Liu Xiaolou return safely did Lord Xingde let out a long breath of Turbid Qi. After hesitating for a moment, he left behind a harsh threat and departed with Liu Xiaolou.
After descending Ink Mountain, Lord Xingde's lingering fury had yet to fade. Only after Liu Xiaolou soothed him with a few kind words did his temper settle somewhat.
Ten li from the mountain, night had already fallen. The two found a sheltered spot to rest and examined the Mystic Stone and Spring Essence Jade by the campfire.
Lord Xingde nodded in praise. "This Mystic Stone is of excellent quality, and the few grains of Spring Essence Jade are bright in color as well. They'll be useful! Xiaolou chose well."
Liu Xiaolou said, "I found them as soon as I went underwater. I did not deliberately choose them."
After thinking for a moment, Lord Xingde said, "Perhaps those three dog thieves forcibly occupied Ink Mountain, so fewer people came to mine Mystic Stones and Spring Essence Jade. They have been well nourished in the pool. Come to think of it, did those three dog thieves render a service instead?"
As they spoke, a fierce gust came hurtling out of the darkness. Liu Xiaolou hurriedly drew his sword to block it, only to find that it was several stones. They carried great force; if they struck him, he would surely suffer a broken head and bleeding face.
Lord Xingde moved like a rabbit released from its leash, immediately pouncing toward where the stones had come from. In an instant, blazing mystical light from an intense spell battle lit up the forest.
Immediately afterward came another round of flag incantations in neat unison.
"Supreme Terrace Star..."
"Drive out evil, bind fiends..."
"Wisdom bright and pure..."
"Three Talents Soul Protecting Flag, open! Hurry, as the law commands!"
Not long afterward, Lord Xingde returned in a furious state. Amid a chorus of abuse, he asked Liu Xiaolou for advice. "Do you have any good method? I wish I could tear such scoundrels into ten thousand pieces!"
Liu Xiaolou was also quite helpless. He had already figured out the Three Heroes of Ink Mountain's fighting method. The Wulong Mountain fellow cultivators had a tactic like this among their tricks. Though he himself lacked the seniority to have used it, he had certainly heard of it. It was almost impossible to counter.
For the moment, he could only spread his hands. "Being angry is useless. You can't hit them, and you can't outcurse them. What else can we do?"
Lord Xingde said, "We can't stay on Ink Mountain any longer. We'll leave overnight."
Liu Xiaolou said, "This is called the dogskin plaster harassment tactic: they stick to you without end, and you can't shake them off no matter how hard you try. Even if we fled a thousand li away, they would dare harass us for a thousand li. What they rely on is the sheer madness of rabid dogs! Senior, don't even think of hiding back on Xingde Mountain. If they recognize your mountain gate, there will never again be a peaceful day."
Lord Xingde asked, "Then what should we do?"
Liu Xiaolou suggested, "How about I go speak with them?"
"Speak about what?"
"Give them some benefits..."
"Under this bright and open heaven, must we still submit to extortion by three such lowly thieves? Wouldn't that be admitting defeat? Absolutely not!"