Pre-Heaven Bagua and Post-Heaven Bagua

"Are the positions of these ghosts arranged according to the principles of the Eight Trigrams, with the Kun trigram as the core?"

"The Eight Trigrams of the Primordial Heaven encompass all things in the world, using ghosts and monsters to represent these phenomena. Look, this position is the drowned ghost, which died in the water and represents water. This position is the wronged ghost, buried in the earth and representing earth. This position is the lustful ghost, the embodiment of desire and representing fire. This position is the painted-skin ghost... Hmm, it's probably just there to fill the space."

"No, I think this formation resembles the Later Heaven Bagua. It should be arranged according to the principles of the Later Heaven Bagua, with the formation's core located at the Zhen position."

"How did you all learn formations? Are ghosts and monsters the only nodes for setting up formations? Can't buildings be used as nodes for formations?"

"Look, on one side of Hanshui City are the Yin Corpse Mountain Range of the Corpse Driving Sect, a symbol of extreme Yin, and on the other side are bustling areas like brothels, full of people, a symbol of extreme Yang. Centered around the governor's mansion, the Yin and Yang are balanced, which promotes the prosperity of Hanshui City. This was the original intention behind the establishment of Hanshui City."

"Now someone has placed a vengeful ghost in Hanshui City, disrupting the balance of Yin and Yang. Can't you understand such a simple principle?"

"What utter nonsense! The rumor about the balance of Yin and Yang in Hanshui City has been circulating for millennia, and people still believe it!"

"It's not that I believe it, I'm just doing rational analysis!"

"What rational analysis? We're all cultivators, the strong are respected. If you're capable, let's see who's the best!"

The array masters argued and became increasingly agitated, almost to the point of fighting.

Lu Yang wanted to step forward and stop them, but he was too weak and powerless to stop these old scholars.

Actually, there is a way to stop the old scholars from arguing. As long as he says that he is the disciple of the Silent Daoist, Lu Yang believes that the old scholars' attention will soon shift from the formation to himself.

However, this method is too dangerous; even a fairy would find it difficult to protect herself.

Even if the danger level is not high, the fairy cannot protect herself.

"Masters, how is the research on the formation progressing?" Governor Lü came out of the stone chamber and went straight here to inquire about the masters' progress.

Qiu Jinan and Meng Jingzhou looked relieved, as if the world had opened up before them.

"Don't worry, I said I would teach you a Secret Method of our sect. I will teach you after this is over!"

When Qiu Jinan controlled Meng Jingzhou and taught him boxing techniques to Grandpa Ba, he promised to pass on his Secret Method to Meng Jingzhou.

He always keeps his word.

"Are you alright?" Lu Yang asked knowingly, not wanting to reveal that he had been spying.

"Brother Meng's Curse has been lifted?" Man Gu was genuinely concerned about Meng Jingzhou, and Zhao Po, following behind, was also very concerned about Meng Jingzhou's condition.

"It's alright, it's alright. After all this time, it's finally all settled. I'm free again!"

"If I had followed my method and committed suicide once, the Curse would have been lifted long ago," the Immortal Fairy muttered, finding the efficiency of lifting the Curse too low.

"How did you lift Brother Meng's Curse?" Man Gu suddenly asked, somewhat bewildered, as if he had remembered it just now but had forgotten it now.

Zhao Po is in the same situation.

This is due to the effects of the immortal's characteristics.

Meng Jingzhou chuckled but didn't reply.

Otherwise, it's very likely that after answering once, Man Gu will ask again half an hour later, and you'll have to answer again, and then ask again, and so on, endlessly.

"It's a pity that Senior Sister isn't here, otherwise I wouldn't have had to make this trip to the desolate state." Meng Jingzhou missed the days when Senior Sister was around.

Qiu Jinan was taken aback, not understanding why Meng Jingzhou would ask such a question, "You mean Yun Zhi? She's at the Ask Dao Sect. I even saw her when I went to inquire where you two were going."

"When did Senior Sister return to the sect?"

"The second day after you set off for the desolate land."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Lu Yang: "..."

"Why are you in such a hurry to come to the desolate state!" Lu Yang was the first to attack, striking first.

"What? I rushed to the desolate state? How was I supposed to know that Senior Sister would return so quickly? On the contrary, you follow Senior Sister around every day, how come you don't even know where she went!" Meng Jingzhou skillfully shifted the blame to Lu Yang.

"Who dares to inquire about Senior Sister's whereabouts? Do you dare!"

"I wouldn't dare!" Meng Jingzhou confidently.

"If you two ask what Yun Zhi went to do, I do know," Qiu Jinan said.

"She went to process the release papers for that silent old thief."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Lu Yang: "..."

"The Sect Master has committed another offense and gone to jail?" Man Gu asked in surprise.

Governor Lü is listening to the opinions of the formation masters.

"Listen to me, the principle behind this formation is definitely the Eight Trigrams!"

"What 'Pre-Heaven Bagua'? This is clearly 'Post-Heaven Bagua'!"

Qiu Jinan sighed, looking rather troubled. "It's that debate about the pre-heaven Bagua versus the post-heaven Bagua again. What a hassle."

"The debate between the Pre-Heaven Bagua and the Post-Heaven Bagua?" Lu Yang and the others had never heard of this debate.

"This involves the profound theories of formations, so it's normal that you haven't heard of them."

"The Pre-Heaven Bagua and the Post-Heaven Bagua originated in High Antiquity. It is said that they were obtained by a High Antiquity immortal who observed the heavens and the earth, and they must conform to the laws of heaven and earth."

"This High Antiquity immortal proposed the theory of the Eight Trigrams, but the High Antiquity civilization has been so severely lost that only the Pre-Heaven Eight Trigrams and the Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams have been passed down to the present day. This has led to frequent disputes between the two sides about which one is the orthodox one."

"If the theory of the Eight Trigrams can be completed, this debate between the innate and the acquired will come to an end."

"The theory of the Eight Trigrams, I know that." The Immortal Fairy once again displayed her rich experience. She was either a participant in many High Antiquity legends and major events, or a mastermind behind them.

You know?

"What you're saying is obvious. I know everything. The birth of this Bagua theory is closely related to me."

"This is a theory proposed by you, Fairy?" Lu Yang was Celestial Person, and suddenly felt that the Immortal Fairy was much more intelligent.

The Immortal Fairy shook her head, not taking credit for it. "Not at all. This is a theory deduced by the Immortal of Time. I was cheering him on and encouraging him when he was doing the deduction."

Lu Yang wondered if there was a punishment involved. If the Time Immortal couldn't deduce the result within the allotted time, would it be his meal?

The Immortal Fairy, unaware that Lu Yang was making a sarcastic remark, continued to recall her past experience, "He looked up to count the stars, squatted on the ground to examine the mud, and then did some calculations with his fingers, coming up with a whole theory."

"According to him, his Bagua theory encompasses all phenomena in the world and can serve as the foundation for array formations. Array formations set up using Bagua theory are unfathomable, and even cultivators of the same level would find it difficult to deduce and break them. It is a first-rate array formation theory!"

"The complete Bagua theory is divided into four parts: the Pre-Heaven Bagua, Today's Bagua, Tomorrow's Bagua, and After-Heaven Bagua. I don't know how it was passed down, but now only the Pre-Heaven Bagua and the After-Heaven Bagua remain."