Chapter 405 - 37: Bright Mandala Embryo Barrier
"This shop sure talks big!"
Jingyuan couldn’t help but laugh as he looked at the notice posted at the shop’s entrance.
According to the notice, the Shopkeeper had set up nine simple Arrays inside. Anyone who could break a single one would receive ten thousand Lower-Grade Spirit Stones.
If someone broke all nine Arrays, they would be rewarded with an additional Fourth-rank Talisman!
"Brother, I want to go in and try," Jingxuan said seriously.
Jingyuan clapped him on the shoulder and declared magnanimously, "Alright, I’ll go with you. When we get the Spirit Stones, how about we split them fifty-fifty?"
Jingxuan gave him a deadpan look and didn’t respond.
"Er... how about a forty-sixty split?" Jingyuan said with a cheeky grin. "You just focus on breaking the Arrays, and I’ll act as your Guardian."
"Thirty-seventy," Jingxuan stated.
Jingyuan shook his head and sighed. "We’re brothers for life, Jingxuan. Hearing you say that really wounds me!"
Jingxuan smiled. "In that case, don’t trouble yourself, big brother. I can just go in by myself."
With that, he headed straight into the shop.
"Hey... wait for me!" Jingyuan hurriedly chased after him.
After the two entered the shop, they saw that the interior was luxuriously and elegantly furnished. A pretty young woman in a pale yellow dress stood behind the counter, resting her chin on her hand and staring blankly into space.
Hearing footsteps, she snapped back to reality. When she saw two young men in fine clothes with extraordinary auras enter, a spark of life returned to her eyes.
’They have Late-stage Sensing Cultivation at such a young age... and their Magical Robes don’t seem to be ordinary items... They must be disciples from a major family!’
A few thoughts flashed through the yellow-skirted girl’s mind, and a sweet smile was already on her face. "What can I help you two young masters with?"
Jingxuan cleared his throat and asked, "Is the notice outside your shop for real?"
Surprise flashed in the yellow-skirted girl’s beautiful eyes. "You’re here to break the Arrays?" she asked, curious.
Jingxuan nodded.
Jingyuan, however, fixed his gaze on the cuff of the girl’s sleeve. When he saw the Nine Nether Cloud Pattern embroidered with Dark Gold Thread, an imperceptible flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.
He had been spending his days with his father recently and had heard many secrets of the Cultivation Realm.
He instantly recognized the girl’s affiliation from the unique mark of the Nine Nether Demon Sect, one of the ten great sects of the Wilderness.
’This shop is run by the Nine Nether Demon Sect?’
Jingyuan discreetly sized up his surroundings without saying a word.
The yellow-skirted girl let out a small laugh. "My apologies, my apologies. I didn’t realize you two were Array Masters. Please forgive my rudeness. Right this way, please."
With that, the yellow-skirted girl glided gracefully from behind the counter and led the two brothers toward the back.
She wasn’t very old, but her every move possessed a natural, charming grace that was quite captivating.
Unfortunately, both brothers were completely oblivious to it.
Upon reaching the back of the shop, they were met with a spiral staircase. A ball of Buddha Light about ten feet in diameter floated at the entrance, interwoven with countless complex and profound Array Patterns and Buddhist Scriptures.
Jingyuan felt dizzy after just one glance and quickly looked away, not daring to stare at it again.
The yellow-skirted girl smiled. "Young masters, my master has set up nine Arrays in this building, one on each floor. How many floors you can ascend will depend on your own abilities."
Jingxuan said in a low voice, "Thank you for your trouble."
With that, he walked straight up to the Buddha Light Array and began to examine it with intense focus.
A look of surprise appeared on the yellow-skirted girl’s face. She didn’t leave right away, but instead watched with great interest.
Jingyuan stood to the side, appearing calm and collected, but he was secretly tense, silently acting as his younger brother’s Guardian.
Jingxuan’s eyes shone with a spiritual light as he stared unblinking at the Array Patterns within the Buddha Light, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Little Xuan, are you confident?"
A crisp, pleasant voice suddenly rang out in Jingxuan’s divine soul.
It was none other than the Array Spirit Maiden from the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect!
Jingxuan pondered for a moment before replying in his mind, ’Little Master, this Array isn’t difficult. What surprises me is how similar it is to the Divine Soul Formation in that Extraterritorial Bodhisattva Statue.’
’Correct. Buddhist Sect Arrays all stem from the same lineage. This Array is part of the Buddhist Sect’s Bright Mandala Embryo Barrier. Unfortunately, it has the form but lacks the spirit,’ the Array Spirit Maiden explained.
’The Bright Mandala Embryo Barrier... Little Master, you recognize this Array?’ Jingxuan asked mentally.
’I do. My former master once obtained a collection of ancient Buddhist Sect scriptures. The section on arrays was all-encompassing and greatly aided his cultivation of the Array Dao,’ the Array Spirit Maiden said, her words laced with a hint of nostalgic sorrow.
She had stayed by Wen Qianqian’s side for many years. Although Wen Qianqian also had a talent for Arrays, she was worlds apart from the maiden’s former master.
In her former master’s words, she ’lacked spiritual aptitude.’
It wasn’t until she met Jingxuan that she realized the true successor to the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect had finally appeared.
At that moment, she watched as Jingxuan silently made his deductions. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he suddenly reached out and tapped a finger, sending an Array Pattern into the Buddha Light.
The entire ball of Buddha Light flared brilliantly. The Array Patterns and scriptures within suddenly grew still and silent before slowly dissipating.
She laughed from the bottom of her heart.
’This child... he’s so much like my former master!’
The yellow-skirted girl let out a small gasp, not at all expecting that the young man before her could break the Array so easily.
The notice had been posted for several days, and many Array Masters from the market city had come to observe and try their hand, but few had broken the Array with such ease.
Among those Array Masters were even Honored Guest Elders from the ten great sects—Tier Three Array Masters!
Even so, no one had yet managed to reach the ninth floor.
As the yellow-skirted girl watched Jingxuan’s back, she had a vague premonition—
This young man might just succeed...
At the top of the stairs, Jingxuan turned to Jingyuan and smiled. "Brother, let’s go up."
Jingyuan nodded, then looked at the yellow-skirted girl. "Do we get the Spirit Stones one floor at a time, or all at the end?"
The yellow-skirted girl shot him a look and smiled. "You won’t be shorted. Just focus on breaking the Arrays for now. I’ll make the arrangements later."
"Of course. It’s clear your establishment is a major enterprise; you surely wouldn’t go back on your word," Jingyuan said.
The yellow-skirted girl’s beautiful eyes darted about as she asked another question, "May I ask where you two young masters cultivate? Which great senior is your master?"
Jingyuan gave a sly smile. "Our sect’s elder doesn’t allow us to reveal his venerable name."
With that, he and Jingxuan headed for the second floor.
At the entrance to the second floor, another ball of golden Buddha Light floated, blocking their path.
Jingyuan felt his head swim and didn’t dare look at the Buddha Light Array for long. He quickly turned back toward the stairs, a newfound respect for his younger brother, Jingxuan, blooming in his heart.
’Even though the kid likes to delve into ’unorthodox paths,’ he really does have some skill!’
This Buddhist Sect Array was clearly set up by an expert. At his current level of strength, even if he tried to break it by force with his Tier Two Flying Sword, he probably wouldn’t succeed.
But his little brother had just casually tapped it and broken the Array with ease.
It had the feel of ’one sword to break all techniques’!
’My sword light still isn’t sharp enough...’
Jingyuan sighed inwardly.
This time, after about a quarter of an hour, Jingxuan’s calm and steady voice came from behind him: "Brother, we’re going to the third floor."
...