Flicking a Finger to Break the Formation!

The architecture of Great Brahma Temple is not particularly exquisite, but it has all the essential elements. Several large halls stand in the simple courtyard, and the temple gate looks even more Great Qi. Standing in front of the gate, you can see a large open space inside.

This open space has clearly been leveled and compacted, turning into a plaza.

The square is marked with intersecting lines, both horizontal and vertical.

Upon seeing this scene, Chen Jing and Chen Yun's expressions changed drastically. One was a scholar and the other a cultivator, so their eyesight and perception were naturally extraordinary. Although their sensitivity had decreased due to the suppression of the Capital Region, they could still perceive the artistic conception in the horizontal and vertical traces if they were close enough.

"It's only been a short time since I left, and this place has changed so much," Chen Jing remarked, glancing up at a corner of the temple.

He stayed here with the caravan for a while, but as a member of the Chen Household family, it would be unreasonable not to go home after returning to Prosperity Capital. However, he happened to run into Qiu Yan, who came by, and was ordered to accompany him. He only returned today, so he no longer knew anything about what happened at the temple.

Upon returning, I noticed the changes, but upon closer inspection, I also saw several familiar figures.

That corner house had several side rooms, which were used as accommodations for the disciples of the major academies in Eastern Capital.

The academies in Eastern Capital were not poor, and they could certainly stay at an inn upon arriving in Prosperity Capital. However, their purpose in coming here was to seek knowledge. With Senior Chen staying here, how could anyone leave except for Chen Jing, who had a specific reason?

As Chen Jing looked around, he spotted a few scattered figures, none other than his fellow Daoists from Eastern Capital.

These people had different expressions, but most of their eyes were focused on Qiu Yan, especially the few from the Nine Abyss Academy, whose gazes were like sharp blades, cold and sinister.

"Qiu Yan really came!"

"It seems the news was true. This is far too much praise for him. Even if he was the top scholar, to sit and discuss philosophy with Grand Confucian is truly astonishing."

"What virtue or ability does Qiu Yan possess? Even if he has caused extraordinary phenomena, he is ultimately just like us, merely a promising young talent. How can he possibly sit down and discuss the Dao with Grand Confucian?"

"Fortunately, He Shuchang traveled to the surrounding villages and towns, otherwise he certainly wouldn't have let it go."

This idea wasn't just held in the minds of the disciples of the Nine Abyss Academy; it was also difficult for others to understand.

The three monks endured hardship and near-death experiences Buddhist Sect their journey to the West, learning foreign doctrines and dedicating themselves to spreading them upon their return—this is perfectly understandable. Senior Chen, Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio, and others have long been renowned and are recognized as Grand Confucian throughout the world.

Such a debate between the two sides is quite normal, but an unexpected piece of news greatly surprised everyone—

This time, Qiu Yan was even invited to the discussion!

It's not about inviting him to receive instruction, but about debating with Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio!

The confusion fueled their jealousy, leading them to subconsciously attribute Xi Muyuan's death to Qiu Yan, thus seeking a rational explanation for their pent-up resentment.

And just like that, two unrelated things came together, seemingly out of the ordinary.

Hatred lingers in the heart, and one's gaze naturally changes; Qiu Yan could sense this as well.

"It seems that Xi Muyuan's grudge will ultimately fall on me. I didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me. What a pity, what a pity..."

The two consecutive "what a pity" remarks left the Chen Household brothers somewhat puzzled. But now was not the time to ask.

The voice of the guiding monk came from the side again—

"Please invite the top scholar to the temple."

Qiu Yan nodded and stepped through the temple gate. His feet touched the earthen square, and the huge chessboard was just a few feet away, practically within reach.

In an instant, the Force of Order swept over, like waves crashing on the shore, ethereal as the wind, causing Qiu Yan's clothes to flutter even without wind. He remained silent, snapped his fingers, and in turn activated the Order.

In an instant, everything in heaven and earth seemed to fall silent. The temple square seemed to be split apart, with horizontal and vertical lines flying into the air, forming a plane that was reflected in Qiu Yan's eyes. He narrowed his eyes slightly, a sharp glint in them.

The next moment, the Military School strategist's Defensive Order roared out, enveloping him and protecting him from the invasion of other Order. Then, he stepped out and entered the chessboard.

As the formations shifted and the scenery changed, the horizontal and vertical lines that made up the chessboard began to ripple, as if they were alive. The Sage Spirit of Master Xiaoyao burst forth from within, merging with the Ethereal Order, causing the surrounding light and shadow to suddenly distort! As if scattered by the wind!

Where the lines collapse, they transform into deep valleys; where the lines rise, they become towering mountains!

Between the peaks and valleys, Qiu Yan appeared as insignificant as an ant.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Just as Qiu Yan stepped onto the chessboard, the temple square shook, dust billowed up, obscuring his figure, making it difficult for those around him to see what was happening.

"Hmm? This Chessboard Formation really has such power? Is it truly a formation from the Qimen Dunjia?" An Jin and the others' expressions changed drastically.

Before long, the sound of metal clashing came from the smoke and dust, like swords clashing, accompanied by crisp "crackling" sounds, like chess pieces falling to the ground.

Those were two completely different Force of Order, colliding with each other again and again!

The clash of Order caused ripples to spread, reaching all the way to the main hall.

The temple was simple, but the main hall was decorated with great care, with curtains draped around the edges and stone slabs paving the floor.

Inside the hall, three monks sat cross-legged on prayer cushions, holding prayer beads in their hands. Behind them was a golden Buddha statue. In front of them were four cushions, with four elderly people sitting on either side. Senior Chen and Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio were prominently among them.

Suddenly, ripples spread, and all seven people present felt them.

"If it is indeed a disruption of Order, although it is a matter of Military School, it is also a branch of Human Path."

"For a young man of this age, such achievements are truly astonishing. I originally thought that Bai Zhaoyuan would be the first among the younger generation to Thought-Convergent Order, but unexpectedly, Qiu Yan has suddenly appeared in the world, breaking the norm."

Two elderly strangers spoke with sighs, their voices aged.

Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio nodded and said, "It is truly rare for this young man to have such attainments, but the fact that he cannot pass the Chessboard Formation I set up shows that he is not yet qualified to discuss the Dao with us."

Senior Chen frowned slightly, glanced at Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio, and said in a deep voice, "This discussion is originally our business. You invited this boy here, but if he is driven away before even entering the door, his reputation will be ruined."

Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio was prepared and calmly replied, "His inability to cross the chessboard shows that although Qiu Yan Thought-Convergent Order, he still has shortcomings and needs to calm his mind and study diligently!"

Upon hearing this, Senior Chen remained silent, while the other two elderly men nodded in agreement, finding it reasonable. Of course, they knew a little about Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio's thoughts, but they also agreed that what he said made sense.

Qiu Yan, at such a young age, is already Thought-Convergent Order and propriety. Once he gains enough fame, he will immediately become a Grand Confucian scholar, standing on equal footing with these old folks. Such a position is extremely rare and cannot be achieved through mere hard work.

However, if one cannot pass through the Chessboard Formation laid out by Nine Rhymes, it means that although one's thoughts resist Order, one's heart is still within the confines of the system, and one is merely an outstanding junior, not Grand Confucian of the same generation.

Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio continued, "Actually, while letting him leave early would certainly damage his reputation, as long as he devotes himself to his studies, he can still achieve great things, letting the world know that he is no ordinary person, and leaving behind a reputation for knowing shame and then striving harder. Moreover, it can save him from the danger of discussing the Dao with us and the backlash from the established Order. It is not a bad path, which shows our care for the younger generation..."

"Thank you so much, sir!"

Before Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a clear voice coming from outside the main hall!

"Huh?" He was taken aback at first, then his expression changed. His composure froze on his face, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He quickly regained his composure and looked in the direction of the voice.

A tall, slender young man walked slowly in from outside the hall. His steps were swift and powerful, as if he were riding the wind and clouds. As he entered, he shook off the dust from his clothes, exuding an imposing aura, like a triumphant general.

Upon seeing this person, the expressions of the people in the hall changed. The three monks raised their eyelids, their faces unchanged, but the fingers holding the prayer beads paused for a moment, though only briefly.

Senior Chen's stern face remained unchanged, but a strange light flashed in his eyes. As for the remaining two old men, they looked surprised and carefully examined the newcomer.

The gazes of the group converged on the young man, their intensity almost palpable, causing his clothes to flutter as if an invisible pressure was bearing down on him. Yet, he seemed oblivious, offering a smile and bowing to them, saying, "This humble student, Qiu Yan, greets the esteemed Grandmaster and grandmasters."

This person was Qiu Yan. In the short time it took for the Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio to finish speaking, he had already passed through the Chessboard Formation and entered the hall. Outside the hall door behind him, the dust that had been raised fell back down, and the chessboard on the ground was gone. The ground seemed to be much more solid than before.

"He actually came out! And the time it took..." Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio stared at Qiu Yan, who looked back at him as well.

This was the first time the two had met face to face, but through their shared aura and Karma connection, they could recognize each other at a glance.

After exchanging glances for a few moments, Qiu Yan suddenly stepped forward, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. The chessboard's layout contains profound meaning. The concave shape represents humility and openness, while the convex shape represents the accumulation of small hills into great ones, the convergence of rivers into a vast expanse, and the union of great men into a public good. The principles of Human Path contained within have greatly benefited me. This trip has certainly not been in vain!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a graceful aura rose from Qiu Yan's body, quite different from the cold and hard aura of a warrior. However, the seemingly incongruous atmosphere was harmoniously unified in him.

Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio's eyelids twitched, and he was surprised. "In such a short time, he broke the chess formation and even grasped some principles. How does this person's brain work?"

It's not difficult to glean some insights from the Chessboard Formation, but even those with exceptional comprehension need time to reflect and meditate for several days. However, Qiu Yan, possessing Divine Spirit Body, can quickly analyze it and then comprehend it using his Fleshly Body.

"Since you're here, you're a guest. Please have a seat." At this moment, the leader of the three monks spoke.

The man had a sorrowful face, full of wrinkles, and was quite old, yet his skin was fair and tender, and his cheeks were rosy, which was rather strange. After saying this, he ordered tea to be served, and his voice rang out. Soon, a young novice monk brought tea over.

After settling down, Qiu Yan greeted the group again, then said to the Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio, "I have seen the Master's teachings, but it would be impolite not to reciprocate. Since I wish to verify them, I should also ask the Master to guide me in what I have learned."

Upon hearing this, the others showed no surprise, but Master of Nine-Rhyme Studio smiled calmly.

What do you have to show me?

Just as Qiu Yan was about to speak, a voice came from the side—

"Wait!"

It was actually Senior Chen spoke up.

ps:

Thank you "xuyun517" for the monthly vote!

Fourth watch finished!

Four more updates tomorrow! Hope you all continue to support me!