Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World-Chapter 1214 - 537: Water Mother’s Whereabouts, Jiushan’s Transformation
Zheng Fa quickly felt the various inconveniences brought by chaos.
Chaos, in Zheng Fa’s current understanding, is a disorderly intermingling of spiritual energy, much like tangled balls of thread; time, space, matter, and spiritual power are all in disarray.
Traveling through chaos presents two major problems — you don’t know what’s ahead, or even where to go.
Zheng Fa tilted his wings to avoid a suddenly appearing space rift, and glanced at the Lingxi True Spirit in the mirror.
The Lingxi True Spirit wasn’t pointing in any specific direction, or rather, every time Zheng Fa moved forward a little, it felt like the direction had skewed and needed readjustment.
He thought about it and understood — it wasn’t him who had deviated, but the destination that was moving by itself!
"Master Zheng!" After flying for an uncertain amount of time, Lord Nichang suddenly pointed ahead, "There! That’s the Jade Tower Mystical Stage, where Lady Water Mother is secluded!"
Zheng Fa looked forward and saw a nine-story tall building glowing in the chaos, like a ship in the dark ocean, rising and falling, drifting everywhere.
Zheng Fa spread his wings and landed in front of the building.
Lord Nichang hurriedly called out, "Ni Chang requests an audience with Lady Water Mother!"
There was no sound from the building.
"Lady Water Mother?"
Lord Nichang called again, but Zheng Fa shook his head and said, "There seems to be no one here."
He turned around, put the Mandarin Duck Treasure Mirror into his sleeve, and then carefully examined the Jade Tower ahead.
The Jade Tower was magnificent, about forty to fifty zhang wide. Upon closer inspection, it was exquisite everywhere, with engravings of birds, beasts, plants, and trees in the corners under the parapet, evidence of its former splendor.
But now it was different.
Even with spiritual energy’s protection, under the erosion of Chaos Qi, the green jade balustrades were already dull, beams and pillars damaged, and walls had collapsed.
Lord Nichang pursed her lips, her voice slightly lowered, spoke to Zheng Fa, "Lady Water Mother was previously secluded on the ninth floor."
Zheng Fa, knowing the guidance of Immortal Lingxi’s true spirit, thought that this was the place he was meant to come to; if he wanted to find Lady Water Mother, he would likely have to start here. So, along with Lord Nichang, he began ascending the jade steps towards the upper floors.
Lord Nichang looked around as she walked, seemingly searching for familiar people.
But there was no one.
She couldn’t help but sigh and said, "The Jade Tower Mystical Stage is the center of the Yaochi Immortal Realm, where our Dao Fruits often gather... it used to be so lively."
"There." She pointed at a spot of chaos outside the railing, "Should be that location, that’s where Yaochi is located."
"Yaochi vast and mighty, the water as blue as the sky, immortal plants growing thick; we often placed drinks on the bow of the boat, rowing around, music harmonizing..."
Saying this, Lord Nichang couldn’t help but smile self-deprecatingly and said, "Forgive me, Master Zheng."
Zheng Fa shook his head and spoke sincerely, "If Lady Water Mother can be found, the splendor of Yaochi can be restored."
Lord Nichang turned to look deeply at Zheng Fa, nodded silently, and then turned back to lead Zheng Fa further upwards.
The entire ninth floor had only one room, simply furnished, with only a cabinet for holding jade tubes, a futon, a wooden table, and an incense burner.
Besides these, there was nothing else.
Nor was there anyone.
As soon as he entered, Zheng Fa was attracted by a painting on the wall, which covered the entire wall. The painting held hundreds of shining points, beside each were densely packed spirit talismans, glowing and flowing.
Judging by the position of the futon and wooden table, Lady Water Mother’s seclusion here must have been for the daily contemplation of this painting.
Lord Nichang also noticed the painting. She walked to the wall, scrutinized it for a long time, then turned her head to ask Zheng Fa:
"Master Zheng, do you recognize it?"
Zheng Fa shook his head slightly, thought for a while, and said, "I think it might be an array."
"An array?" Lord Nichang frowned and said, "What kind of array would make Lady Water Mother study it so deeply, and yet she went missing?"
Zheng Fa didn’t know either.
With Zheng Fa’s cultivation in the talismanic Dao, he couldn’t discern the function of this array. What he was certain of was that this array was more complex than the Thick Earth Magnetic Array, perhaps a hundred times more!
Unable to find clues from the painting, Lord Nichang simply walked to the wooden table, delightedly exclaiming, "A Jade Tube!"
Zheng Fa turned to look over.
Indeed, at the center of the wooden table was a jade tube, and beside it, something like a token; on the back of the token were four bizarre patterns.
Zheng Fa squinted his eyes.
"This was left by Lady Taiyin!" Lord Nichang grasped the jade tube, her tone growing increasingly joyful, "No, it was left by Lady Taiyin, Lady Qingnv, and the Divine Lady together!"
"It’s like they knew someone would come! They left information for us on purpose!"
"Lady Taiyin said Lady Water Mother was studying an array with the intent to attain Dao Daluo, but suddenly disappeared. Later, Lady Taiyin discovered Lady Water Mother was trapped in that array, which is why Yaochi became like this, and the three of them went to rescue her together..."
At this point, Lord Nichang paused, frowned, and said, "The three ladies didn’t return either? Is this array so formidable?"
She glanced again at the jade tube, continued to read, "This array... Let me see, got it! Lady Water Mother once mentioned it is called..."
"All Heaven Stars Formation."
"Huh?"
Hearing Zheng Fa’s voice, Lord Nichang turned around and stared blankly at him, asking, "How do you know?"
"I can read."
"?"
Zheng Fa pointed at the token and said, "These four characters are ancient script, meaning All Heaven Stars."
Lord Nichang glanced at the token, then at Zheng Fa, seemingly suspecting he was mocking her.
"It’s the All Heaven Stars Formation." After a moment of silence, she continued, "This token is the key to entering the All Heaven Stars Formation. As long as you input immortal power, you can go to find Lady Water Mother!"
