Three Sixty-Year Cycles
Several months later.
Autumn Moon Mountain Market. Chen Cheng cave abode.
Tables of banquets were set up in the square in front of the cave abode. The Qi Refining Realm deacons from the market were all seated, enjoying various Spirit Cuisine and wines that were rarely seen in the past, while watching women dressed in thin veils dance sensually.
On the high platform at the north end of the square, a table was set up, where five Foundation Establishment cultivators were sitting. The one wearing a long red robe and sitting in the main seat was Chen Cheng.
Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Chen, on reaching the age of thirty! A truly joyous occasion!
"Look, this is top-grade ginseng that I specially asked someone to bring from Mosquito Immortal City. It's perfect for you, fellow Daoist!"
"Although we Foundation Establishment are granted a lifespan of two hundred years, how many of us truly live to a ripe old age? Fellow Daoist Chen is still one hundred and eighty years old, truly a role model for us all. Come, come, let me toast the birthday celebrant!"
"It is truly an honor for me, Chen Cheng, that you all could come. Tonight, we shall drink until we drop!"
"..."
The five were drinking when suddenly a loud shout rang out from outside, "Master of Autumn Moon Mountain — the Fairy Crimson Refinement— has come to offer her congratulations!"
"The shop owner is here!"
Everyone was surprised to hear this and stood up, especially Chen Cheng, who was quite taken aback.
He organized this grand birthday celebration for Sanjia in order to have a suitable reason to gather people together, but he did not invite Fairy Crimson Refinement or the Foundation Establishment from the other two countries.
As they pondered, three figures streaked across the sky and landed on the high platform. The one in the lead was none other than Fairy Crimson Refinement, while the other two were Foundation Establishment from two other countries.
Chen Cheng and his entourage had already come forward to greet them, and the many deacons in the square had also risen. Following Chen Cheng's lead, everyone bowed and said, "Greetings, Fairy Crimson Refinement!"
"No need for formalities, everyone!" Fairy Crimson Refinement smiled and gently waved her hand, then looked at Chen Cheng, "Elder Chen, it's your third birthday celebration, why weren't I invited? Are you dissatisfied with me?"
Upon hearing this, Chen Cheng quickly stepped forward, saying with trepidation, "This old man would never dare to have any dissatisfaction with the fairy. The reason I did not invite the fairy and the two fellow Daoists is simply because this grand birthday celebration is a trivial matter, and I dare not disturb the fairy's peaceful cultivation."
"Hehe!" Fairy Crimson Refinement chuckled softly, and the invisible pressure instantly dissipated. "How could Elder Chen Zhang's third birthday be a trivial matter? As the head of this workshop, I, as his master, must come to offer my congratulations."
As she spoke, she took out a congratulatory gift, Chen Cheng quickly accepted. He then invited Fairy Crimson Refinement to take a seat.
The Fairy Crimson Refinement, without any hesitation, sat in the main seat where Chen Cheng had just been sitting.
The atmosphere at the table immediately became somber, with everyone speaking cautiously, the relaxed and casual atmosphere from before completely gone.
While talking to Fairy Crimson Refinement and greeting the other two cultivators, Chen Cheng secretly calculated the time. Seeing that it was almost Hai Shi (9-11 PM), he stood up and said:
"Fairy, fellow Daoists, please forgive me. This old man has prepared a special treat for you, and I must go and inspect it myself. I hope you will wait a moment, for I will surely add to your enjoyment."
"Oh, and there's still some fun to be had! I'll definitely have to take a good look at that book, Fairy!"
"Fellow Daoist Chen, with a fairy present, please refrain from engaging in such vulgar and unrefined entertainment, lest you spoil the fairy's enjoyment!"
"Fairy, fellow Daoists, rest assured, I will definitely satisfy you all!"
Chen Cheng bowed and took his leave, heading towards the backyard.
He arrived at the location of the core of the already set-up second-tier grand formation, the "Cloud Net Concealment Array," silently calculating the time in his mind. At precisely 9 PM, he took a deep breath, "Lü Bu, don't trick me!"
The next moment, an array plate appeared in his hand, and he chanted incantations. In an instant, wind and clouds surged, and clumps of mist rose from below, quickly spreading and covering the ground. Then, one after another, beams of light shot into the sky, stirring up ripples of spiritual energy in the air. A large bowl, like an inverted bowl, faintly appeared and quickly closed.
At the banquet, the cultivators initially paid no attention to the emerging clouds and mist, assuming it was merely a prelude to the festivities. One cultivator even chuckled, "It must be Fellow Daoist Chen who had the Wondrous Sound House prepare a new dance; his favorite is..."
Before the words were even finished, everyone saw the surging spiritual energy and the great formation beginning to close in.
"This... this seems to be the ' Cloud Net Concealment Array.' When did Chen Cheng set up this second-tier formation in his cave abode, and why is he activating it?"
"Chen Cheng, what do you mean by this!"
Just as several cultivators who were on good terms with Chen Cheng were wondering what was going on, Fairy Crimson Refinement's figure had already transformed into a streak of light and headed towards the gap that had not yet closed.
"Fairy, don't go!"
Just then, Chen Cheng's voice rang out, followed by a cloud of mist that instantly enveloped Fairy Crimson Refinement.
The Fairy Crimson Refinement felt a flash before her eyes and the world around her changed, becoming a vast expanse of white, and she could no longer sense the outside world. At the same time, it seemed that something was hidden in the rolling clouds.
"Chen Cheng, what do you want to do!"
She roared, and spiritual light appeared on her body. The beast-taming pouch at her waist opened, and snake demons flew out, reaching out to the surrounding area.
As a disciple of Mosquito Immortal City, she was naturally familiar with the "Cloud Net Concealment Array." This was the most frequently set up formation by Array Master Zong. She had set one up in her cave abode in Mosquito Immortal City. Its offensive capabilities were very weak, posing almost no threat to Foundation Establishment cultivators, but it could conceal Divine Sense and trap people inside. If one did not know the proper method, it would be difficult to get out of it.
Why did Chen Cheng suddenly activate the formation to trap her? Did he intend to rebel?
Suddenly, her expression changed drastically. With a flick of her wrist, a formation plate appeared, which was now spinning continuously, its surface flashing with spiritual light.
'Someone is attacking the great formation!'
The Fairy Crimson Refinement instantly realized that Chen Cheng had truly rebelled, trapping her and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators here to facilitate an attack on the formation from the outside.
"Chen Cheng, how dare you!"
She roared and opened the beast-taming pouch at her waist, releasing countless mosquitoes that flew out in all directions.
Although a third-tier grand formation can withstand Golden Core cultivators, it still requires someone to control it. She currently holds the core formation plate but cannot go to the center of the grand formation. Relying solely on the grand formation to operate on its own, its power is incomparable to what it once was. If Golden Core were to attack—no, it must be Golden Core cultivator attacking—otherwise, Chen Cheng would not have betrayed Mosquito Immortal City.
At the same time, Chen Cheng's voice rang in the ears of the other Foundation Establishment:
"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to worry. Just wait here for a moment, and a great show will unfold, along with a great fortuitous opportunity. I, Chen Cheng, would never harm any of you, nor do I have the ability to do so!"
"Fellow Daoist Chen, what exactly do you mean? Why have you trapped us here?"
"Quickly open the great formation and let us out, or don't blame me for turning against you!"
"Fellow Daoist Chen must have his reasons. Let's remain calm. This Cloud Net Concealment Array has no offensive capabilities, and getting out will require a great deal of effort..."
"Hmph, I think Chen Cheng is about to rebel. Something must have happened outside. Everyone, hurry up and join me in breaking this great formation!"
"..."
A series of Divine Sense transmissions converged in the void. Although the Foundation Establishment who were closely related to Chen Cheng were also surprised, their reactions were not too intense.
The Foundation Establishment from both countries who had come with Fairy Crimson Refinement were both shocked and frightened, and immediately separated from the others.
Fearing that they were in cahoots with Chen Cheng and wanted to harm them, they simultaneously used Law Technique to try to break free of the formation.