Reading the qi to find the mountain, the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation

Although Jian Cunyi's relationship with the Hunyuan Dao Palace was complicated and even somewhat strained, in most cases, the "Feng Shui Master" Jian Cunyi got along well with people in the Daoist Sect community.

Because in Lin Yu's view... Jian Cunyi and the Daoist priests of the Prison Mountain Realm are actually not much different.

Essentially, this "Feng Shui Master" and they are all the same kind of people—sincere, upright... at the same time, somewhat stubborn, even one could say single-minded.

After all, no normal person would ever think of a solution like bringing people from the Ten Realms into the Real World.

In particular, Jian Cunyi came up with this plan out of genuine good intentions.

In some ways, this guy is really a bit scary.

It was precisely because he acted entirely out of good intentions and wanted to do good that Lin Yu felt a sense of awe towards him.

But as much as he respected him, it also meant that... for Lin Yu, he could completely use the same methods he used on most of the Daoist priests in the Prison Mountain Realm Jian Cunyi Fraud this guy.

As long as you make him feel that you are also doing good deeds, he won't delve into what you're doing and will unconditionally support you.

Just as Lin Yu had said he was thinking about how to scheme against the "Diviner," Jian Cunyi immediately showed his full support.

"Very well, dealing with the 'Diviner' definitely requires a lot of thought—that guy is the most cunning, the most evil, the most treacherous... and also the most intelligent I've ever met."

"To deal with him, you have to keep thinking."

Lin Yu nodded. "Indeed... I've also had a few encounters with the 'Diviner.' That guy is truly ruthless and unscrupulous—he's incredibly powerful and has absolutely no Without Taboos. He has virtually no sense of shame or dignity, and his methods are vicious and cruel. He'll use every trick in the book to deal with the weak. Being an opponent like that... is truly terrifying."

"It's so much easier to talk to someone like you who's seen his methods and his true colors. I remember you unfortunately encountered him when you were still at the 'Tier 1'," Jian Cunyi said admiringly. "It seems you didn't become complacent or underestimate the 'Diviner' just because you escaped his trap that time. On the contrary, you deeply realized how terrifying that bastard is."

Lin Yu nodded sadly. "Indeed, because I know that my Escape... was mostly by luck."

"But don't underestimate yourself too much. Even if it was just luck... any other 'Tier 1' wouldn't have been able to escape even with luck. You've already gone far enough," Jian Cunyi said, taking out his folding fan again and fanning himself like a madman, even with the gale around them reaching level ten or higher. "To be honest, while I mainly found you because of the [Fragment of Fate]... it wasn't just because of the [Fragment of Fate]. You yourself are also very important."

"I can sense that you are... a real headache and a difficult problem for the 'Diviner' as well."

Jian Cunyi spoke, Lin Yu smiled and said, "You flatter me... Perhaps compared to other Player of my skill level, I might indeed cause more trouble for the 'Diviner,' but in front of you, I'm just a minor inconvenience."

After all, Lin Yu couldn't proudly say that half of his [Item] were specifically prepared for "Diviner" after he advanced to "Tier 4".

Admittedly, Lin Yu had indeed made a lot of preparations for the "Diviner," especially after obtaining the soul of "White Sand" to create a simulator. He also learned a lot about the "Diviner" through "White Sand," a trusted Partner he knew before the "Diviner" rose to prominence, and "A'yu," his right-hand man.

In addition, as a relatively important member of "Order," he also has access to some high-level information, so Lin Yu also has some knowledge of the records left behind after the battle between "Grandmaster" and "Diviner."

Compared to ordinary "Player," Lin Yu can indeed be considered someone who understands "Diviner" quite well.

But compared to Jian Cunyi... Lin Yu admitted that he was still far inferior.

The difference in his understanding of "Diviner" from Jian Cunyi's is as vast as the difference in expertise between a primary school student who subscribes to "Insect World" magazine and enjoys catching longhorn beetles and raising silkworms, and Jean-Henri Casimir Fabre* in the field of insects.

(*Jean-Henri Casimir Fabre: A renowned 19th-century French entomologist, author of "The Insect World," and often referred to as the "Homer of the Insect World" and the "Virgil of the Insect World.")

Jian Cunyi was not modest in this regard, nodding and saying.

"Indeed, I won't let you worry about dealing with the 'Diviner' this time... but it's good that you maintain this habit of thinking things through."

The two chatted about the "Diviner" without slowing down their journey.

Soon...

Lin Yu and Jian Cunyi arrived at the edge of Nine Cold Mountain and Wind Prison.

Compared to the deepest part of Wind Prison, the wind force and speed are actually reduced here—the raging eye of the storm and whirlwinds that we had seen occasionally before are much less frequent here.

However, as they approached Nine Cold Mountain, the strong winds brought with them a chilling and gloomy atmosphere.

Comparing the "blurred vision" given by Yun Jushi during the Mind Imprint, Lin Yu looked around but did not see any place that matched the image in his Memory.

"It should be in this area... within a hundred miles, but I'm not entirely sure of the exact location."

As Lin Yu spoke, Jian Cunyi up.

"Brother Lin, you've worked hard. As long as we can lock down this area within a hundred miles... leave the rest to me!"

As he spoke, he put away his folding fan, then took out a Bagua compass and a whisk from his robes. Holding these two items, he made a rather solemn hand gesture.

Looking at the object in Jian Cunyi's hand and the hand seals he was making, Lin Yu, who had some knowledge of folk customs and Daoist culture, knew very well that the hand seals Jian Cunyi Magical Artifacts or the Prison Mountain Realm.

He used methods from the Real World!

Lin Yu couldn't help but ask, "You... you're so professional?"

"Of course, although I'm called a 'Feng Shui Master,' it's just that I have a deep personal interest in and have studied the art of geomancy quite a bit... In terms of Daoism, I've formally studied under a master, unlike those 'Diviner' who don't even have layperson certificates or ordination certificates. My master is a legitimate Orthodoxy of the Mystic Gate."

Lin Yu looked at Jian Cunyi with utmost respect. "May I ask who your master is?"

"In-service lecturer at the North China Daoist Academy; Vice President of the Jincheng Yixue Association!"

Jian Cunyi said earnestly.

Lin Yu, who had been expecting Jian Cunyi to give a complete account of Mountain Green, was once again somewhat surprised by Jian Cunyi's answer.

"That's quite Orthodoxy, even a bit formal... But Brother Jian, are you from Jincheng? Your accent doesn't sound like it at all."

Jian Cunyi shook his head. "I'm from Qi Province, I just became an apprentice in Jincheng... Let's not talk about that, anyway, province and place of origin are not important to me."

"It's getting late, I should hurry up and find the ruins of that Daoist Sect."

As Jian Cunyi spoke, he began to breathe deeply—as his breaths became long and deep, Lin Yu could feel that he had indeed mobilized the spiritual energy of the Prison Mountain Realm.

This guy really knows how to read the atmosphere!

Jian Cunyi raised his Compass and looked around following the Compass needle. He quickly said, "Although this place is close to Nine Cold Mountain... it seems there really is a suitable place to build a mountain gate!"

"The convergence of three mountains and the gathering of qi at the entrance... Considering that Nine Cold Mountain Wind Prison are becoming increasingly violent, the spiritual energy gathering pattern there might have been even better in a few hundred years!"

"Moreover... although the deep, horizontal valley in front of the mountain may seem somewhat inauspicious, a hundred years ago, this area was probably indeed a continuous stretch of lakes and marshes—the perfect mountain gate layout with its back to the mountain, facing the water, and surrounded by mountains on three sides."

Jian Cunyi analyzed the situation, Lin Yu replied, "If it looks like there were ever any bodies of water, then that's correct; the place is indeed next to a lake."

After Lin Yu finished speaking, Jian Cunyi became even more certain. "Then there's no mistake, Brother Lin—it must be there!"

"Come with me!"

With that, Jian Cunyi put away the Bagua Compass and whisk, and then set off with Lin Yu.

Jian Cunyi's steps were firm, and the place was indeed not far from where they were. Soon, the two of them crossed a hill and arrived at the entrance of a valley.

As Jian Cunyi said, this place is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and not far away there is a sinkhole-shaped valley covered with wild grass, which looks like the result of a dried-up lake.

However, looking into the valley, it was still empty, with no trace of any Daoist Sect ruins.

Forget about Daoist temple and main halls, Lin Yu and Jian Cunyi didn't even see ruins or collapsed buildings.

Inside, there were only scattered bits of rock and some weeds and shrubs.

But neither Lin Yu nor Jian Cunyi thought the two had come to the wrong place.

Brother Jian, what do you think?

Lin Yu looked at Jian Cunyi and asked, "This valley... is a bit too clean. Could it be that the Daoist Sect from back then was completely destroyed?"

"After all, five hundred years is enough time for those buildings to completely collapse and disappear—especially since this sect may have been wiped out overnight due to a major upheaval."

As Lin Yu spoke, Jian Cunyi shook his head. "No, Brother Lin, quite the opposite."

"The reason we can't see any trace of this Daoist Sect isn't because it's been completely destroyed... but rather because it's been preserved so well that we can't see anything when we stand here and look inside—of course, even if we went inside now, we wouldn't find anything either."

"Because although this Daoist Sect may have been destroyed... its protective mountain Formation is still perfectly preserved and is still functioning normally!"

"So what we see here... is merely an illusion created by the magic array within this Mountain-Guarding Grand Formation!"