Three Talents Creation Array

Qian Meng froze, the difficulty on her face flashing past in an instant. Concerned for the sect's dignity, she ultimately chose silence.

Lu Feng took it all in. The thought he had harbored of stopping while he was ahead vanished as well.

Blindly protecting one's own like Qian Meng was not necessarily a good thing.

He looked coldly and arrogantly at Qian Meng, Si Ma Ye, and the others.

"Have you truly decided to stake this array disc?"

"If I am fortunate enough to win this wager, this array disc will also fall within the range of my selection."

"You will not feel heartache over losing it? You will not regret it?"

"Cut the crap," Si Ma Ye spat domineeringly. "If you can win, that is your skill! If you cannot, just you wait. You will have a bitter fruit to swallow!"

Lu Feng ignored him, his gaze still fixed on Qian Meng. "No regrets?"

Qian Meng frowned to herself. A strange unease unexpectedly flickered through her heart. Lu Feng's wild and uninhibited bearing in particular gave her a vague sense of familiarity, as though she had once suffered at the hands of someone with just such an attitude.

Thinking of how extraordinary the origins of this array disc were, even rarer than that illusion-array disc...

Qian Meng hesitated.

If its secrets could be comprehended, it would certainly be a Heaven-grade grand array. Should an outsider steal it away, it would inevitably be a tremendous loss to the sect.

Yet given the current situation, she could not possibly cast aside her dignity and refuse.

She could only pray that no one would be able to see through it.

After steadying herself,

Qian Meng said with a stern face, "I am not so petty as to lack even this much magnanimity. If you can comprehend it, then choose it as you please."

A triumphant smile curved Lu Feng's lips. As he idly toyed with the array disc he had taken, he casually asked, "Has Qian Shi ever heard of the Jade Blossom Sect from the Three Tribulations Era?"

Qian Meng frowned, replying without understanding his intent, "The Jade Blossom Sect was a renowned grand sect of array masters during the Three Tribulations Era. What array master would not know of it?"

Lu Feng's smile did not fade. "Then Qian Shi must also know of the incident when the sect leader of the Jade Blossom Sect was plotted against during its decline at the end of the Four Tribulations Era?"

"Of course," Qian Meng answered instinctively. "The Ancient Texts all record it. The last sect leader of the Jade Blossom Sect was murdered by a trusted confidant within the sect, which led to the sect's complete downfall."

Lu Feng smiled and raised the array disc in his hand.

Qian Meng shuddered violently. "Could it be... that this array disc contains the array that murdered the Jade Blossom Sect Leader back then?"

"Precisely." Lu Feng gave a profound, unfathomable smile and spoke the array's name: "Three Talents Creation Array."

Qian Meng was stunned. Her voice trembled as she said, "A late-stage Heaven-grade grand array, the Three Talents Creation Array? Is it truly this terrifying array from the legends?"

As she spoke, regret and resentment churned ceaselessly in her heart.

By the look of things, this array disc could not be kept today.

Thinking of the Three Talents Creation Array's extraordinary nature, Qian Meng was so vexed that she nearly wished she could slaughter Si Ma Ye and the others.

At the same time, she regretted that when her own Sect Leader had proposed placing those damaged or incomprehensible array discs from the treasure vault among the rewards for meritorious disciples, she had not spoken out against it.

The predecessors had deliberately kept such array discs sealed away in the treasure vault. There was clearly a deeper meaning behind it—they would rather let them gather dust than allow them to circulate in the world and create more enemies.

What they had feared was precisely a situation like this.

Si Ma Ye's face darkened, his heart filled with unease. Though he knew little about the Three Talents Creation Array, combining it with the Jade Blossom Sect's history made it clear that the array was no ordinary thing.

Even in its final days of decline, the Jade Blossom Sect's leader could not possibly have been weaker than a Heaven Soul Realm Late Stage expert.

An array capable of easily killing a Heaven Soul Realm Late Stage soul master was obviously extraordinary beyond measure.

Mu Rong Yu, however, was not especially uneasy. Instead, he glared suspiciously at Lu Feng and coldly questioned, "You say it is the Three Talents Array, and that makes it the Three Talents Array? What proof do you have? There are no Array Soldier Puppets or anything of the sort within this array disc. According to the Ancient Texts, the legendary Three Talents Creation Array had three incredibly powerful array puppets—Heaven, Earth, and Man—guarding it!"

Hearing this, Si Ma Ye hurriedly echoed, "Exactly. The legendary Three Talents Creation Array used Heaven, Earth, and Man puppets as its foundation. They echoed one another, complemented one another, and generated transformations from one another, coordinating with seamless understanding. When attacking, they were like thunderbolts carrying the weight of ten thousand jun; when defending, they were like a Great Wall of steel. It was called a perfect array!"

"If this array disc truly contains the Three Talents Creation Array, then why is there not even a trace of Array Soldier Puppets inside? Even if it is damaged, surely all three puppets could not have vanished without a trace?"

Understanding the reasoning behind their words, Qian Meng could not help showing a trace of embarrassment. Just as she was about to speak, Lu Feng's explanation had already reached them.

"The Three Talents Creation Array flows like drifting clouds, with no fixed form."

"The so-called Three Talents puppets are not array soldiers from an ordinary puppet array. They are three array puppets formed by the array's guiding of heaven and earth's power. They may take human form, or the form of anything in the world."

"Once the array takes shape, above, it can become a sword that cleaves the heavens, cutting across the firmament."

"Below, it can become a hammer that shakes the earth, intimidating the eight wildernesses."

Mu Rong Yu was clearly doubtful. He felt that no array could possess such exaggerated might. He had sensed the aura within it himself; at most, it was only somewhat stronger than the previous Earth-grade Fleeting Dream array disc, nowhere near powerful enough to shake heaven and move earth.

He secretly believed Lu Feng was putting on a show and grossly exaggerating, and was about to speak again.

But Qian Meng's sharp, icy glare forced him back.

Then two words, cold to the extreme, entered his ears.

"Enough."

They were laden with disappointment.

Mu Rong Yu's heart abruptly lurched. From Qian Meng's attitude, he finally realized that Lu Feng's words were likely true nine times out of ten.

In his panic, he repeatedly shot frantic looks toward Si Ma Ye at his side.

Si Ma Ye understood. Somewhat at a loss, he said, "Even if what you say is true, you must still prove that this array disc is truly as you claim. You must also restore the damaged section of its pattern. Otherwise, it cannot count as a win."

"It is merely a small section of array pattern. What is so difficult about that?" A faint smile played on Lu Feng's lips as he casually tossed the array disc back. "Sense it for yourself. If you think the restoration is insufficient, I do not mind spending some more effort on it. After all, once I select this array, I will have to restore it completely sooner or later."

Si Ma Ye caught the array disc in astonishment. Upon sensing it, he discovered that a small damaged section of its pattern had indeed been repaired, arranged in an exceedingly strange curved configuration. He had examined this array disc countless times and could tell at a glance that there was absolutely no issue with the restoration.

Only...

He had not seen Lu Feng repair it either.

Once could be blamed on distraction and a failure to notice.

But after two consecutive times, Si Ma Ye could not help realizing that the man before him was likely far more profound and terrifying than he had imagined.

Perhaps... before this man, he truly was nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well, utterly lacking vision.

Thinking that such a rare array disc was about to fall into the other party's hands, and that the whole matter had begun because of that woman Ye Lingfei stirring up trouble...

For a moment, Si Ma Ye's gaze toward Ye Lingfei and Lin Yuhan turned icy.

It was filled with disgust and hatred!

Sensing that the situation had turned unfavorable, Mu Rong Yu immediately looked toward Si Ma Ye. Their gazes met, and the two nodded in tacit understanding.

The next moment,

Mu Rong Yu flashed forward, snatched the array disc from Si Ma Ye's hand, and prepared to flee from the Carefree Pavilion.

But before he could even take a step, a fierce Sword Light was already pressed against his throat. If it advanced another inch, blood would spatter on the spot and his life would be extinguished.

Mu Rong Yu's legs trembled uncontrollably in fright as he turned his head in terror.

Seeing that Lu Feng had condensed the fierce Sword Light with Sword Fingers, he stood rooted to the spot in utter shock.

"You... you are an array master?"

Qian Meng's aura had surged, and she had originally intended to intervene, perhaps even turn a blind eye and allow Mu Rong Yu to leave first before punishing him afterward.

Yet when she sensed the familiar aura Lu Feng had exposed in his urgency, she withdrew her intention to act.

Having successfully identified Lu Feng's identity, the tension on her face eased away.

She also finally understood how the legendary Three Talents Creation Array—an array disc so damaged that no clues could be seen from it at all—had been recognized so easily.

Given Lu Feng's attainments in the array path, she found it not at all strange.

Watching Lu Feng strike with such thunderous decisiveness and mercilessness, Si Ma Ye, Ye Lingfei, and the others were all stunned in place. The terrifying killing intent Lu Feng inadvertently gave off made their hearts quake with fear, cold sweat spreading all over them.

Mu Rong Yu swallowed fearfully and, with trembling hands, passed the array disc back.

Tang Yuan snatched it away and said contemptuously, "You call yourselves disciples of righteous and prestigious sects, yet you act so shamelessly? You refuse to honor a wager you lost and actually tried to grab it and run?"

Qian Meng shot Si Ma Ye a viciously displeased glare.

Now that she knew Lu Feng's identity, she no longer had the slightest intention of favoring him.

Si Ma Ye trembled in alarm and hurriedly excused himself, "Martial Uncle, do not misunderstand. This was Mu Rong Yu's act alone. He must have heard how extraordinary this array disc was and, in a moment of greed, harbored wicked thoughts."

As he spoke, he kept shooting meaningful looks at Mu Rong Yu.

Mu Rong Yu's expression stiffened. Although he was deeply resentful that Si Ma Ye would protect himself and shift responsibility onto him at such a critical moment, making him bear the blame alone, given the situation, having one person shoulder the crime was indeed better than implicating the sect's dignity.

He could only grit his teeth and accept the blame. He abruptly dropped to his knees before Qian Meng and slapped himself across the face.

"Martial Uncle, I was wrong. I lost my head for a moment and was drawn in by this powerful array disc, wanting to claim it for myself."

"I lost my senses and caused the sect to lose face."

"Please punish me, Martial Uncle."

His attitude was exceedingly sincere, without the slightest hint of pretense.

Yet the ruthless, resolute look in his eyes seemed to convey a stubborn message: wrong was wrong, but he would not change.

Seeing this, Qian Meng rebuked him coldly, "Your usual absurd conduct would have been one thing, but now you have done something that damages the sect's reputation!"

Mu Rong Yu lowered his head even further.

"Go." Qian Meng raised a hand, signaling for Mu Rong Yu to turn around. "The ones you have offended are them. Apologize to the two of them!"

Since she saw that Lu Feng intended to conceal his identity, Qian Meng tactfully did not expose it.

Mu Rong Yu's face darkened to the extreme at her words.

He had his pride and dignity. Kneeling before an elder of his own sect was nothing, but making him kneel before outsiders? Even if he died, he would never accept such humiliation!

Seeing the stalemate,

Mu Rong Yu instinctively turned a pleading gaze toward Si Ma Ye, hoping the latter would speak up and say a few words for him.

But the instant their eyes met, Si Ma Ye avoided his gaze.

That made Mu Rong Yu's heart turn cold.

Left with no choice, he looked toward Ye Lingfei and Lin Yuhan on the other side, his gaze containing three parts plea and seven parts threat.

If the two women dared avoid him as well, then afterward, he would make them suffer this humiliation a hundredfold!

Seeing that she could not avoid it, Ye Lingfei hesitated for a moment before forcing herself to speak to Lu Feng. "This wager was unfair and cannot count. You concealed your true strength. You were plainly bullying people!"

Before Lu Feng could speak, Xiao Yixue, who had been silently standing at the side, suddenly spoke.

"The world has always been like this. Where is there any fairness or unfairness? Since you accepted the wager, you must acknowledge it. You all have mouths too. If you did not ask about our strength beforehand, who can you blame!?"

The words were exceedingly familiar.

Lu Feng understood at once. Xiao Yixue had directly borrowed Ye Lingfei's earlier mocking words and returned the ridicule to her step by step.

"Well said!"

Tang Yuan could not help praising her as well.

Giving them a taste of their own medicine like this was simply too satisfying.

Seeing Ye Lingfei's face darken from the scolding, her speechless and stifled expression—

It was incomparably refreshing!

Mu Rong Yu's face turned even darker. Seeing no possibility of a turnaround, his gaze abruptly became icy as he rose and prepared to leave regardless.

"Stop!" Qian Meng immediately roared, deeply angered by such disregard for propriety.

Mu Rong Yu said coldly, "You are only my Martial Uncle, not my master. Whether I am beaten or punished is not for you to decide."

"You!" Qian Meng's face turned livid with fury.

Mu Rong Yu ignored her completely and continued walking away.

But Tang Yuan stopped him. "You lost the wager, and now you want to leave without paying on behalf of your side?"

With a dark expression, Mu Rong Yu flung out a cloth pouch. "There are ten Mid-Grade Source Stones inside, along with several dozen Gold Soul Coins! Consider the extra a bargain for you!"

Tang Yuan could not help laughing. "Are you trying to dismiss beggars?"

Thinking of the guilt he felt for having shifted responsibility earlier, Si Ma Ye said, "I will cover the rest."

Mu Rong Yu's expression eased slightly, but all traces of his former amiability were gone. He coldly swept Si Ma Ye a glance and prepared to leave again.

Tang Yuan raised an arm to block him once more. "I said it is not enough!"

Mu Rong Yu said angrily, "Do not look down on people! For the cost of a few Earth-grade array discs, Brother Ye can still afford it!"

Sister Wang, the manager, had finished counting the dozen or so chests of money and slowly walked over.

Seeing this, Mu Rong Yu casually said, "If it is not enough, have Sister Wang put it on the account! Though my Mu Rong Family is not some great power, we will never default on your debt!"

Sister Wang awkwardly raised her hand, stopping Mu Rong Yu as he tried to leave yet again.

"Um... Young Master Mu Rong..."

"Your family may not be able to afford their expenses."

Mu Rong Yu was displeased. "Even you look down on my Mu Rong Family now? We might not be able to produce Heaven-grade Source Stones, but a hundred or so Earth-grade Source Stones are nothing to us."