Mountain Seal

The morning mist had not yet dissipated when the next day arrived.

"How strange! Could it be that my deductions were wrong? The celestial secrets here have become slightly disordered. Originally, it was a situation of the star pivot shifting and the thunder constellation descending to earth, but the celestial secrets have changed, and fate has been altered. Even the heavenly rain has been forced to stop midway. This is an omen of unforeseen changes disrupting the universe."

The charred puppet—no, it should be Rogue Person Yunxiu— looked up at the sky and muttered to himself.

After a night of hard work, he finally managed to repair the charred and mangled body—the new limbs were carved from lightning-struck wood, with mechanical gears embedded in the joints, making a slight "click" sound when they turned.

Although they were both old men and Rogue Cultivator, Rogue Person Yunxiu was still more sophisticated than Old Chen Sheng, who lived a life of street hustles.

At least when it comes to predicting celestial secrets, Old Chen Sheng has absolutely no ability in that regard.

Rogue Person Yunxiu was particularly confident today because he had already figured out how to persuade the reclusive young monk.

However, when he walked to the front yard, he suddenly paused, and saw a figure leaning against the ground beneath the Lightning Puppet statue.

"This--"

Rogue Person Yunxiu was stunned.

Yesterday's scene is still vivid in my mind. The other side used many tricks and only advanced five steps. How come they can be lying down and sleeping right now, just one night later?

What he couldn't understand even more was --

The person was clearly there, but the divine revelation in his eyes indicated that the place was empty.

It was as if this person had completely disappeared from "fate".

"Could it be that I used too much of my Law Power last night, causing me to lose my ability to deduce the secrets of heaven?"

"Moreover, why does it feel like the formation here has disappeared?"

He tentatively took a step forward—

The anticipated Qi and Blood aura, powerful enough to crush even the soul, did not actually arrive.

Even the nailed-down Lightning Puppet require a continuous supply of energy from the formation to exert their "pressure."

Without the energy supply of the array, and not being a true immortal body, it naturally ceased to function.

Rogue Person Yunxiu breathed a sigh of relief and took a few more steps. Just as he was about to make contact with the other person, a calm and indifferent voice rang out.

"Go any further, this mechanical puppet isn't at its killing threshold yet, but you're about to reach mine."

Rogue Person Yunxiu felt a chill run down his spine. He turned his head abruptly and saw the great spear Shattering Thunder with a buzzing sound and a deafening roar.

The powerful Rogue Cultivator frozen in place for a long while before finally letting out a dry laugh:

"I never imagined that you would break through this formation so quickly, young fellow Daoist. Could it be that you used the Kṣitigarbha Womb-Reincarnation Method of Buddhism?"

Hu Mang slowly opened his eyes, his gaze carrying a hint of something inexplicable compared to before.

Rogue Person Yunxiu was shocked and blurted out, "You found the Tribulation Eye here?!"

It wasn't found, it was eaten.

However, Hu Mang didn't intend to tell the other party the truth; he simply grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

Silence means consent.

Rogue Person Yunxiu immediately realized why he had been unable to deduce the other party's fate. With the help of the "Tribulation Eye" in this place, the other party was indeed able to conceal their own destiny and prevent others from spying on it.

But how could they have accomplished this in just one night?

Considering that the other party seemed to have mastered it with ease, the Mysterious Yin Old Daoist had spent half a century comprehending the "Mysterious Yin Devil Moon."

Could this young monk be a cultivation genius comparable to the Six Swords of the Southern Dipper High Heaven Sword Sect?

Rogue Person Yunxiu suppressed his shock, his heart sinking. Since the other party could see through the Tribulation Eye, the possibility of him persuading the other party had decreased by 30%.

Fortunately, I have something that the other party will definitely be interested in.

"Yesterday, I sparred with you, and I discovered that your foundational cultivation method seems to have a slight imperfection. If I could help you perfect your foundation, would you be willing to assist me in finding the Zhen'ezi?"

Seemingly to prevent the Hu Mang from refusing, Rogue Person Yunxiu quickly added before the other party could speak:

"I don't need you to do anything, fellow Daoist. I just need you to help me find Zhen'ezi. After that, it's none of your business."

Hu Mang tilted his head.

What are you holding in your hand?

Rogue Person Yunxiu kept his right hand hidden behind his back, so Hu Mang couldn't see what the other was holding, but the peculiar aura gave him a vague guess.

"After installing the limbs last night, I secretly went out to the place where I had fought a great battle. Although I didn't find the physical body, I was fortunate enough to retrieve the Acquired Law Treasure I had used before, which is this item."

Rogue Person Yunxiu extended his right hand and took out a square seal.

Hu Mang raised an eyebrow.

It really is Law Treasure!

He stared intently and saw that the seal was square and heavy, three feet and three inches long and wide. The rock patterns on the side of the seal resembled layered mountains, and the cliffs, crevices, and withered spiritual herbs growing there were all in the original form of the mountain range.

Its texture is warm and mellow, with a bluish-green color, and hidden spiritual crystals deep within. It is the condensation of the earth's essence nurtured by the sacred mountain for thousands of years.

The seal knob transforms into a series of miniature mountain peaks, with the main peak towering majestically and secondary peaks surrounding it. Wisps of clouds and mist often seep out from the gaps between the peaks, creating a lingering azure atmosphere.

As Hu Mang focused his attention, the clouds in the sky seemed to be pressed down layer by layer by the power of the mountains, the sunlight became dim, and only the rumbling of the mountains could be heard in the world. The air was heavy and stagnant, as if it had turned into mountains, as if it wanted to completely press him down into the mountains.

However, as the Hu Mang opened and closed its eyes, this perception vanished instantly.

A hint of surprise flashed in Rogue Person Yunxiu's eyes, seemingly astonished that the Hu Mang had so quickly shaken off the pressure of the Law Treasure.

"The Cultivation Method I practice is the Heavenly Gang Wind Method, with its foundation in the Garrison Wind Primordial Gang. Although it has many benefits such as mastery of wind escape and the ability to evolve the Heavenly Gang Divine Wind, its foundation has always been unstable due to the influence of the wind. Therefore, I spent a great deal of effort and resources to collect a section of Spirit Vein from Qianyuan Mountain and refined it for sixty years before I obtained this treasure."

At this point, a hint of nostalgia flashed in Rogue Person Yunxiu's eyes.

As for Hu Mang, his eye twitched.

Refining treasures at the cost of destroying natural cultivation reserves—if this were placed at the Heavenly Gate, even Spirit Transformation would be imprisoned for life.

"You probably don't intend to use this treasure to get me to save someone, do you? But you trust me enough to display it in front of me. Aren't you afraid I'll kill someone to steal it?"

Rogue Person Yunxiu laughed heartily:

"Young friend, you jest. Although your personality is somewhat peculiar, I can tell at a glance that you are by no means the kind of person who would kill for money."

No, I really am that kind of person.

If something like this were to appear in the Heavenly Gate, my ancestral graves would be dug up.

The possibility of crossing between two worlds is mostly unpredictable.

Since it cannot be traded as a commodity, its usefulness is greatly diminished.

And most importantly, you've already retrieved the Law Treasure; if you haven't found one or two ways to save your life, do you think I'd believe you?

A cultivator who Three Flowers and Five Qi Great Perfection, according to his understanding of cultivation realms—

Above the Golden Core stage, below the Nascent Soul stage

So Hu Mang remained calm, preparing to see what conditions the other party would propose.

Anyway, it's not him who's in a hurry.

Rogue Person Yunxiu withdrew his seal, gazed at the Hu Mang, and spoke with less calculation and more genuine seriousness, "Yesterday, I exchanged blows with you, fellow Daoist. Although it was only a few exchanges, I keenly sensed that there are still two aspects of the foundation of your physical body that are not yet fully perfected."

Hu Mang raised an eyebrow slightly, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Firstly, it lacks the aura of wind, clouds, rain, and fog; secondly, it lacks the form of mountains and the universe."

Hu Mang's initially relaxed expression gradually turned serious.

The momentum of wind, clouds, rain, and fog?

What are the shapes of mountains and rivers?

Isn't this referring to his two undeveloped minor energy channels, "True Form of Mountains" and "Spiritual Light of Water and Mist"?

The cultivators of this world are something else!

At least Doctor Sun, with his bald-headed Golden Core, didn't realize that he had created a second foundational Cultivation Method.

So, what are you planning to do?

Hu Mang got straight to the point.

"You may temporarily lend me this Flower of Spirit and this Mountain-Suppressing Seal for your study."

"At that time, my Flower of Spirit will leave my body and merge into this Mountain-Suppressing Seal. I will use this treasure to perform magic and evolve the 'Wind Mountain Force.' Fellow Daoist, observe this evolution, and you will naturally be able to mend your incomplete foundation."

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

Hu Mang pondered for a moment. This thing... it had a bit of a "Realm Cloud" vibe that Heavenly Gate hadn't released yet.

"Won't the senior colleague suffer any losses from this operation?"

Hu Mang's attitude finally improved a little.

Rogue Person Yunxiu sighed:

"There will certainly be losses. Among the Three Flowers, the Flower of Spirit is the most valuable. It is formed by cultivators who comprehend the mysteries of heaven and earth and attain enlightenment. Even if it is only borrowed, the loss is still considerable."

"But if I cannot find a physical body and reunite my soul within this ten-month period, this Flower of Spirit will naturally dissipate. Compared to that, no loss is too great."

Hu Mang nodded slowly. If that was the case, then he understood what the other party meant.

How long do you need to prepare?

Eight hours.

"OK."

Soon, Rogue Person Yunxiu found a quiet room in the compound of government offices and began to cultivate in seclusion.

Hu Mang naturally had an unshirkable responsibility to protect the law.

At the same time, the "Heavenly Eye," Devil-Suppressing Divine Mark divine patterns, reappeared from the thunderclouds, peering into all directions.

He's probably the only one who would dare to use his divine authority so recklessly.

"That's what Old Deng says, but could he possibly try to possess me while I'm trying to comprehend my cultivation level?"

After all, if one can possess a puppet, then possessing a living person doesn't seem to be a problem.

"If that's the case, then I'll have you try my newly developed Dragon Eye."

He lightly rubbed his left eyelid with his fingertip. Beneath the eyelid, besides the faint Yin-Suppressing Mark, deep within his eye, was a cold, golden vertical pupil.

Dragon Eye, or rather, the Tribulation Eye.

It's not just you native cultivators who can interpret the secrets of heaven.

At least within this city, if Hu Mang were to unleash the secrets of heaven, he would undoubtedly be stronger than his opponent.

He took out the "Dragon-Shaped Meridian Diagram" from his Storage Bag once again and unfolded it to look at it.

The dragon's form remained ferocious and menacing, without claws, scales, whiskers, or a head.

But this time, it saw!

Two hollow, cold, vertical pupils, seemingly capable of devouring everything, were quietly embedded in the dragon's head, staring intently at the Hu Mang.

At that moment, Hu Mang suddenly had a strange feeling.

It wasn't him looking at the picture; rather, the broken dragon Dragon Vein was scrutinizing him through the Tribulation Eye.

Most importantly, by controlling the Dragon Eye, he confirmed a very important piece of information, which was also the reason for his trip.

It turns out that the Thunder Net in the city has not yet been controlled.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to absorb this Tribulation Eye so easily.

After observing it for a while, Hu Mang put the painting away again.

But then he suddenly let out a soft "hmm".

Within the thunderclouds overhead, the Heavenly Eye suddenly spun, its pupils contracting as it locked onto a specific direction.

In that direction, he saw someone he knew.