Chapter 67: Vulnerability

“You are the highest-ranking person of the battle forum at Daoxuan Peak.” Chen Jingzhai looked at him. “In the future, you will have to get on the battle forum to learn more from the others. So now that you have a chance to meet up, why not give it a try?”

“Master-Uncle?” Sun Changrong said with a wry smile. “It’s more important to lift the Restrictions first.”

“Then make that a competition!” Chen Jingzhai said with a smile. “Whether it’s you or Li Yifei, you can both participate in the competition to see who can lift the most Restrictions and who can enter the cave residence first.”

“Sounds good!” Li Yifei’s eyes were burning slightly, and he immediately nodded in agreement.

“Junior Brother Li!” Sun Changrong had a helpless look on his face.

“Senior Brother Sun, don’t say anything anymore.” Li Yifei looked at Chen Jingzhai. “I have been very much looking forward to competing with Little Master-Uncle and learning from him. This time, Little Master-Uncle took the initiative to propose this great idea, so how can I refuse it?”

“That’s right!” Chu Jingsong walked over from the restricted area. “Count me in!”

“And me!” Jiang Youning’s even-keeled voice was heard as well.

“For the battle of formations, you guys don’t need to jump in the fray!” Sun Changrong tried to persuade them.

“It’s not impossible!” Li Yifei said. “Since it’s a battle of formations, someone has to lift the Restrictions. The two senior brothers may choose between the Little Master-Uncle and me.”

…

“That works!” Jiang Youning nodded and went directly to Li Yifei’s side.

“Then I will follow the Little Master-Uncle!” Chu Jingsong went to Chen Jingzhai readily.

“I have no objection whatsoever!” Chen Jingzhai nodded with a smile.

“I can’t do anything about you guys.” Sun Changrong scratched his head. “If so, let’s get started!”

Chen Jingzhai smiled, then took the lead to leave, choosing another portal.

Chu Jingsong was following closely behind.

Li Yifei was too proud and unwilling to take advantage of it and went to another portal with Jiang Youning.

The palace complex covered a large area, located on the north but was south-facing.

Four portals echoed four different, smaller palace clusters, which appeared extremely imposing.

Chen Jingzhai and Li Yifei each chose the portal on the west and east, respectively.

Chu Jingsong followed Chen Jingzhai to the western gate. Judging from the Restriction overflowing with spirit light, he couldn’t help but be a little worried. “Is Little Master-Uncle sure about this?”

Moments ago, he and Jiang Youning had been bombarding the Restrictions with almost all their strength to no avail. Although this place seemed to have existed for a long time, the Restrictions were so solid and strong that even they could not break through them.

“Under the guidance of Sun Changrong, were you able to find the secret to lifting the Restrictions?” Chen Jingzhai asked.

“No!” Chu Jingsong shook his head and said, “Sun Changrong just arrived not too long ago, and he is still observing.”

“That’s right!” Chen Jingzhai’s mouth curved up. “This is an immortal abode!”

“Immortal abode?” Chu Jingsong’s eyes widened, looking at Chen Jingzhai. “So, what if it is really the immortal abode?”

“Grade 4 corresponds to the Nascent Zhenjun; Grade 5 corresponds to the

True Venerable Spirit Plane and Grade 6 corresponds to the Immortal of Tribulation,” Chen Jingzhai rattled off nonchalantly. “Immortal of Tribulation is also known as the True Immortal of Tribulation, and this here is the residence that belonged to Immortal of Tribulation.”

“Are you sure?” Chu Jingsong was looking grave. “If this is the residence that belonged to the Immortal of Tribulation, it is proof that this secret zone is truly unusual. Therefore, we might have to leave the secret zone earlier than expected.”

“There is no mistake,” Chen Jingzhai said calmly. “Don’t worry too much. Although this is the residence of the Immortal of Tribulation, it’s just a side residence, so there won’t be too much danger.”

“Side… side residence?” Chu Jingsong’s mouth opened slightly as he looked at the palace complex.

“It’s the Immortal of Tribulation!” Chen Jingzhai laughed and said, “This kind of existence is already standing at the peak of this world. Once he chooses to stay in a certain place, the place will naturally become a cultivation court. Even common barren mountains will become spiritual mountains because of his presence.”

“That’s true!” Chu Jingsong nodded thoughtfully.

He reluctantly accepted this explanation only because it was the Little Master-Uncle who said it.

After all, the Immortal of Tribulation was a mythical existence, and he did not know much about it either.

But the Little Master-Uncle actually saw through the nature of this place, so would this mean that the Restrictions have a chance to be lifted?

Although Chu Jingsong had a muscular physique, he was not a brainless chap. On the contrary, he was pretty bright.

When his thought turned to this, his eyes lit up a bit. He did not ask any more questions, but he was getting a little excited inside.

He was very competitive in nature, and this time it seemed that he had picked the right team.

Initially, he was a little worried about Li Yifei’s astral vision, but now he was looking forward to the showdown instead.

At this time, Chen Jingzhai stood in front of the palace gate, and his special talent, once again, supplied him with crucial information.

[Object name: Hongdu Immortal Abode—side residence]

[Compatibility: One of the nine great side residences of Hongdu Immortal.]

[Grade level: Grade 5 and above]

[Vulnerability: 12 celestial keys to lift seven layers of Restrictions; or action taken by True Venerable Spirit Plane.]

[Item name: 36-level Hongdu Celestial Cloud Restriction]

[Compatibility: One of the inherited celestial restrictions by Hongdu Immortal]

[Grade level: Grade 6]

[Vulnerabilities: Small Heavens Cloud Forbidden Restriction, Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation, Restriction Breaking Drill, etc.]

Perhaps it was because their grade levels were too high, he did not get too many details on either the side residence or the Restrictions, and none of their efficiencies were showing.

And the vulnerabilities, too, were hard to execute. Chen Jingzhai had not even heard of some of these items.

This was pretty concerning.

Fortunately, Chen Jingzhai saw something familiar: Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation.

Chen Jingzhai could never have imagined that he would see the name of this Grade 3 formation as a countermeasure to lift the Restrictions on the side residence of the immortal abode.

He could not be more familiar with this particular formation!

Not long after entering the secret zone, thanks to the guidance of the shadow mouse, Chen Jingzhai obtained three formation techniques.

Mountain Duplication Formation was one that Chen Jingzhai had used easily and often.

The remaining two formations were the White Crane Shadow Maze and the Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation!

It was precisely because of this countermeasure that Chen Jingzhai was confident to go toe to toe with Li Yifei.

He was the Little Master-Uncle, and he was the one who proposed the competition. So he would not run the risk if he weren’t sure he would win.

If he lost to Li Yifei, even if Li Yifei had the astral vision to aid him, it would still be a colossal embarrassment to Chen Jingzhai.

“Master-Uncle, let’s get started!” Chu Jingsong said eagerly.

“Not so fast,” Chen Jingzhai said with a smile. “I want to sort everything out first and study the best way to lift the Restrictions. You can wait patiently for a while or go and check on Li Yifei’s progress.”

“Is that so?” Chu Jingsong replied with a smile. “I better wait here, then!”

“Then wait!” Chen Jingzhai stepped forward and put a hand out in the air.

A barrier formed by the concentration of the Restriction was blocking him.

Chen Jingzhai was not surprised by this. While recalling the Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation, he was also observing the Restriction itself.

The 36-level Hongdu Celestial Cloud Restriction had Grade 4 and 9 as its grade level.

The outermost ring of palaces was covered by Restrictions ranging from level 1 to level 9.

The first level 9 Restriction represented the periphery of the side residence.

The second level 9 Restriction was considered the real entryway.

The third level 9 Restriction was around the central area inside.

The fourth level 9 Restriction may be guarding some important treasure.

All four level 9 Restrictions were progressive in strength, and its prowess, understandably, would only grow stronger.

Chen Jingzhai did not step inside, but his divine mind probed the first Restriction.

Although he hadn’t studied too many formations, he cultivated in the Formation Sky Scripture.

After cultivating the scripture for a period, a strong sensitivity toward formations would be developed.

This was the case with Chen Jingzhai. As his divine mind was searching in the first Restriction, he recalled the Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation in his mind, trying to find any weaknesses in the Restriction.

Lifting the Restrictions meant finding weaknesses after understanding the principle behind the Restrictions.

This did not mean that Chen Jingzhai needed to set up the Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation to overcome the other formation.

Instead, he needed to use the principles and techniques of the Golden Kraken Silhouette Formation to lift the Restrictions.

At first, Chen Jingzhai could not get a grasp on the matter.

But, with the progression of time, the Yin Yang formation pattern in his body began to radiate a glorious light.

Slowly, he seemed to find a feel for it.

A new world seemed to be opening up before his very eyes.