Chapter 2528 - 2592: Celestial Evolution
This Tian Yan Formation has a very domineering name. The so-called Tian Yan is recorded in "Zhou Yi · Xi Ci Shang Zhuan", which states: "The great derivation number is fifty, and its use is forty-nine. Divided into two to represent the duality, hanging one to represent three, using four to represent the four seasons, returning the odd to the remainder to represent leap years, and leaping again in five years, hence using it again and then hanging it. Heaven is one, earth is two, heaven is three, earth is four, heaven is five, earth is six, heaven is seven, earth is eight, heaven is nine, earth is ten. Heaven’s number is five, earth’s number is five, the five positions are obtained and each has its union. The total number of heaven and earth is fifty-five, and this is how changes occur and ghosts and gods operate."
In simple terms, when ancient people divined the heaven and earth, it was modernly called fortune-telling. They would use turtle shells and stalks of grass at that time, with the turtle shell called divination and the stalk of grass called divination sticks. Here, only the divination sticks of grass are mentioned. Originally there were fifty, but according to the law of heaven, the fifty should be one less, which is forty-nine, considered to be the Heavenly Path.
The Dao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things. All things bear yin and embrace yang, yet the way of heaven subtracts what is excessive and supplements what is insufficient, hence it hides one, called "human." The heart of Dao is profound and mysterious, the great derivation creates, heaven and earth interact, yin and yang unite, transforming and mysterious, hiding one, called "human path." The changes of heaven also affect all cultivations, exhausting the invariable ones as anomalies, humans hiding one, called "transformation." Therefore, the great Dao is fifty, Tian Yan is forty-nine, humans hide one.
Forty-nine is predestined by heaven, of various destinies and fates, and the hidden one is full of change and uncertainty, meaning that even if one could calculate the secrets of heaven and predict with divine insight, with humans as this variable, it is difficult to follow its trajectory and calculate its fate, because change is constant. Thus, the Heavenly Path hides one, making the number forty-nine.
The three words "Tian Yan Formation" fully illustrate the ambition of Xu Shu and the founder of the formation sect. By using such a name, it seems to suggest that this formation contains the Heavenly Path.
As for whether it truly contains the Heavenly Path, Li Yifei will know after trying it. Stepping through the Life Gate, Li Yifei enters the formation, not barging in. Entering means he found the Life Gate directly, while barging in would mean entering from any position, which is different. As for the effect... Li Yifei is not sure, but as he opens his eyes, everything before him changes dramatically, becoming infinitely variable. He is no longer in a field but a void, a baseless void. Before Li Yifei, there are only two platforms similar to chess pieces, about one square meter in size, with varied rules. Surrounding him is a vast expanse of white void, in front, behind, and even beneath him. This is not yet a chaotic state; Li Yifei even feels that his vision is unaffected within this formation, meaning he can see far away without hindrance.
But he still sees nothing, indicating the space here is vast, self-contained within the formation world. Li Yifei’s face shows no expression and his heart is not panicked. Having confidently entered the formation, if he cannot break this Tian Yan Formation, how can he intimidate Xu Shu outside? Crucially, it also feels like he is contradicting himself, especially since the guy outside tried hard to dissuade him.
Fortunately, he is not a complete novice. He has some understanding of formations. Looking at the two stone platforms floating in front of him, Li Yifei clicked his tongue and murmured, "Solving a maze?"
Tian Yan is fifty, hiding one, and Li Yifei is this one. This means within the formation, exists another forty-nine, housing all things and myriad changes.
"But is this possible? A formation set in half an hour can contain so many changes; that’s inherently impossible, suggesting it might be a camouflage!" Li Yifei speculated. He stood there for about five minutes and then took a step, reaching the first stone platform about three meters away. Although the platform seemed to float in mid-air, it was actually very stable. Li Yifei even stomped to feel the strength, incorporating hidden force in his step, testing if the platform could be broken. The fact proved... Li Yifei could not break it, at least not with fifty percent of his power.
Having taken the first step, Li Yifei quickly proceeded to the second. As soon as he stabilized his footing on the second step, he suddenly felt as if a new world appeared before him, with a stone platform appearing to the left, center, and right. Outside these platforms seemed clear, but Li Yifei knew it was the formation’s restriction; only by stepping forward could he see beyond the three stone platforms.
"One, two, three... One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, three gives birth to all things. Is the next step that holds the Tian Yan technique, upon stepping out, leading to a whole new world?" Li Yifei thought. It was quite likely. With stones on the left, center, and right, the next step’s choice was crucial. Li Yifei extended his aura but could not sense the surroundings.
This guy indeed set up a decent formation, at least better than the two formations in the previous house, enough that Li Yifei could not break them with a wave of his hand. And he could break those previously because his strength far exceeded Xu Shu, severely limiting the formation’s capability. But this Tian Yan Formation... differs from those two formations.
It also differs from other formations Li Yifei has encountered before, so he hasn’t found a method to break it yet.
Standing with his hands behind his back, Li Yifei did not hesitate and directly headed to the right. While Tian Yan changes, he remains unchanged. Therefore, as he takes this step, Li Yifei also circulates True Qi, guarding his Spiritual Platform, clear and undisturbed.
Sure enough, with this step taken by Li Yifei, the surrounding space seemed to transform instantly, no longer in a void but on earth. It wasn’t the previous flat farmland but a valley, surrounded by lush green trees growing upward. Li Yifei stood in the middle of a pool, surrounded by rippling green water, incredibly deep beneath, without a visible bottom. Li Yifei looked down but saw nothing, and even extending his aura could not perceive the surrounding environment.
Standing on the water’s surface, Li Yifei frowned. The surroundings abruptly changed, but no direction for the next move was apparent. Above the pool was only a square stone beneath Li Yifei’s feet, unlike before, where the next step was visible.
No next step? Certainly impossible, for the next step lies within. Li Yifei needed to understand what the Tian Yan was evolving. Upon realizing, he could break the formation. His thoughts were clear; trees were uniform, water was unremarkable, yet there were no birds in the forest, nor fish in the water, and... even the air did not exist. Li Yifei spun around, sensing this. Such an environment indicated it was entirely fake, constructed by the formation,
But... is there no air? Then, what is he breathing? Li Yifei took several deep breaths and could distinctly feel oxygen entering his lungs, utilized by the body, dispersing through his meridians, also sensing a trace of Spirit Qi within, although its amount was very low.
Oh, not knowing how long had passed, perhaps mere seconds, maybe minutes, Li Yifei nodded slightly, gaining some understanding. Here, the aura is isolated, so it cannot be perceived, but since it is fake, there must be a way to solve it. Thus, Li Yifei first took a step, his foot stepping into the water, as if to plunge into an abyss in the next moment, drowning.
However, with this step, the surrounding space seemed to compress, distort, and tear apart. In a flash, Li Yifei appeared on another stone platform. If someone were nearby, they would see Li Yifei standing still for a moment, then stepping to the next stone platform. This stone platform had a pattern. Li Yifei looked down and saw a simple drawing of a Flying Bird upon it, though merely minimal lines, still discernible.
A pattern of flying birds, does it have any meaning? Li Yifei did not understand, but it was not important, as his surrounding space changed again. Li Yifei himself seemed to transform into a flying bird, soaring through the sky. No, not just any bird, for behind, a Golden Eagle several times its size was in pursuit.
Can it change like this? Li Yifei was secretly astonished, not expecting this Tian Yan Formation to have such a simulation state, exceeding Li Yifei’s imagination. He fluttered his wings rapidly, because instinct told him if he didn’t dodge swiftly, being caught by the Golden Eagle behind could result in injury or even greater danger.
This was instinct, Li Yifei feeling like that small bird desperately flapping its wings, pursued relentlessly by the Golden Eagle intent on devouring him.
The two birds soared in the sky, Li Yifei transformed into a small bird, exerting all efforts, gliding and leaping, yet unable to shake off the Golden Eagle behind.
Tian Yan is fifty, hiding one, Li Yifei silently chanted in his heart, taking a glance backward only to find the Eagle less than ten meters away; the foul wind drawing closer. He already saw the Golden Eagle’s sharp claws, ready to shred whatever caught; its claws primed to strike at any moment.
This cannot work; Li Yifei suddenly made a diving motion, rapidly flying downwards. The Golden Eagle’s momentum was too strong, barely pulling back but having gained some distance from Li Yifei. However, by flapping furiously, it quickly closed in again, tilting its head and screeching across the air, seemingly enraged, relentlessly pursuing Li Yifei.
"Damn!" Li Yifei saw he was about to crash; pursued closely, he rotated, barely squeezing between two large rocks. Yet the rocks were not tightly spaced, allowing the Golden Eagle to follow through.
Indeed, it passed even faster than Li Yifei. The distance between the two birds kept closing: ten meters, five meters, three meters, two meters, one meter... right as the eagle’s claws were about to snatch the small bird, which was indeed Li Yifei, Li Yifei suddenly let out a loud shout, or rather a bird’s cry, grasping the protruding part of the stone on the right with his right wing.