Chapter 144: The Eight Trigrams Formation Diagram is a Rare Treasure

You children cannot possibly be so naive as to believe that a tiny little benefit in your hands could tempt Fuyou Ming into reluctantly agreeing to your conditions. If that were truly the case, I would have deeply misjudged you all! A voice transmission drifted from afar, entering their bodies and then echoing within their hearts. Everyone was momentarily stunned. Isn't this the voice of the old headmaster? But why does he not manifest here in person, choosing instead to communicate via voice transmission? Could it be that this place has long been monitored by others? To ensure absolute safety, he must have chosen such a roundabout way to communicate with them.

You old fellow, stop playing the ghost and playing tricks here. Do not think that by hiding in the dark, I, your grandfather, do not know who you are. Why don't you come out right now, or else do not blame me for taking matters into my own hands! Xiaoyin looked around with extreme vigilance and shouted loudly, but other than a gentle breeze brushing past, there was no other response. The surroundings were eerie to the point of silence; even the sound of breathing could not be heard, let alone anyone stepping out from the shadows. Yet Xiaoyin still maintained a look of guarded readiness, terrified that someone might suddenly pounce and catch him off guard. After all, that old headmaster was no pushover, and heaven knew what malicious tricks he might concoqu to plot against them.

Xiaoyin, do not be so disrespectful to the headmaster. Withdraw at once. May I ask what brilliant strategy the senior has to temporarily keep Fuyou Ming in check? Yushang smiled faintly, stepped forward toward the empty clearing of all directions, cupped his fists, bowed, and spoke with utmost respect. It seemed this old fellow had been eavesdropping on them for a long time and possessed a brilliant strategy to deploy. However, it remained unknown what condition he would demand in exchange this time. Everyone knew this old headmaster never suffered a loss and always took advantage of others; the conditions he proposed would likely be no simpler than dealing with Fuyou Ming!

If you truly wish to know what brilliant strategy can restrain that Fuyou Ming, set off immediately and seek me out at the Hall of Divine Weapons. Move quickly, or you will miss the opportunity. Do not worry about whether there is any deception in this; when you arrive, I shall naturally give you all a satisfying answer! Once again, a robust voice transmission echoed in everyone's hearts, though this time his tone clearly carried a hint of inexplicable emotion. It was impossible to tell whether it was joy or displeasure; the feeling was utterly subtle, as if every time they were helpless, this sensation would quietly arise. Perhaps the old headmaster's joining this time was another turning point in the affair. Good or bad, they had better go and investigate for themselves first!

Since Master has given the command, we had better head there as quickly as possible. If we keep Master waiting here for too long, it would show a terrible lack of respect for his elderly self. When that time comes, do not expect a brilliant strategy; even a simple sentence need not be hoped for from Master's lips. Leng Huaiyi urged everyone hastily, wanting them to set off at once. He knew the old headmaster's temper all too well—he despised waiting for others above all else. Prolonged waiting was nothing short of a disguised form of torture. Therefore, if they were late, they would be striking his fatal weakness, and they could forget about ever seeing the old headmaster's favorable expression or receiving the strategy capable of protecting everyone.

Hearing Leng Huaiyi put it this way, the group nodded in tacit agreement, then unleashed their respective abilities and dashed toward the Hall of Divine Weapons. Sure enough, not long after, they arrived before the grand doors that constantly radiated a mysterious aura. At this moment, Lan Bingxian stepped forward, just about to recite the incantation to open the doors, when the doors unexpectedly swung open on their own, and a tremendously powerful force surged out from within. It swept everyone inside in an instant, and then the doors slammed shut with a sudden, violent crash. All of this happened so abruptly that before anyone could react, they were already standing right in the center of the Hall of Divine Weapons, bathed in the radiance of divine weapons and the intangible chill released by them.

When everyone finally calmed their minds and looked around, they saw the old headmaster gazing at them with a very peculiar expression, as if pondering something. His gaze revealed a trace of hesitation and worry, yet simultaneously carried an emotion akin to certainty. Entangled together, though it was impossible to tell what the old headmaster was truly thinking, one could discern his indecisiveness from his eyes, as if he were trapped between left and right, unable to make a choice and feeling deeply conflicted.

Junior is extremely curious about what brilliant strategy the senior mentioned. We wrung our brains for a long time yet failed to find Fuyou Ming's weak spot. Could it be that the headmaster has long since perceived his Achilles' heel, which is why you are so confident that Fuyou Ming will undoubtedly fall into our trap and be controlled by us in turn? Yushang asked impatiently. His eyes revealed a long-lost fervor and expectation; he believed the old headmaster would give him a satisfying answer. Although this old fellow was crafty, he would never intentionally harm others, so his ideas were certainly worth listening to.

You have all simply entangled yourselves in the fragmented souls while forgetting the most crucial point: what should be used to fuse those reincarnated, fragmented souls back together? And this very item is something Fuyou Ming cannot obtain. If you use it to trade with him, would your chances of victory not be even greater? The old headmaster stroked his beard and spoke softly, yet his eyes clearly expressed reluctance, as if some supreme treasure were about to leave him. In short, it was a look of profound regret.

Judging by the headmaster's meaning, could this item be right here within Yanlan Academy? It's just that I don't understand—since it is right here, with the King's abilities, how could he fail to obtain it? Of course, I am not implying that the people of Yanlan Academy are incompetent and unable to protect that item, but as you know, the realm the King has attained is exceptionally high; no matter the defense or the barrier, it is simply impossible to trap him. Yu Xiaoran asked the old headmaster in utter puzzlement, unable to comprehend what in this world could possibly stump Fuyou Ming or possess the ability to withstand his covetous desires.

That is correct. That item is indeed within our Yanlan Academy. The reason Fuyou Ming has been unable to seize it is because upon this treasure, the academy's founder and various elders have placed a joint seal. Only those who understand its secret incantation can break it; external force alone cannot destroy it, not even ancient deities acting personally. One can hardly expect them to completely unseal it, let alone Fuyou Ming, who remains secluded in Youming Capital. At this point, the old headmaster raised a deeply arrogant smile. Judging by this alone, Yanlan Academy standing tall and unfallen for thousands of years was indeed a matter of course!

That sounds incredibly formidable; my curiosity has been completely hooked. May I ask what that treasure actually is, Headmaster? Yan Xuexiu could not suppress her curiosity and asked excitedly. To think there was a treasure in this world that even the King could not handle! She truly wished to lay eyes on the true appearance of this treasure and see if it was as rare as this old fellow claimed. However, hearing him talk like this, could it be that he intended to gift this treasure to them to resist Fuyou Ming? When on earth did this old fellow become so kind-hearted?

Look forward; that treasure is the Bagua formation embedded in the floor. With it, not only can fragmented souls be fused back together into one, but in times of crisis, it can also be unleashed to fend off formidable enemies. As the old headmaster looked toward the Bagua formation, a brilliance quite unlike ordinary days burst forth from his eyes. Mixed within it were longing and pride; it was evident that he held extremely high hopes for this seemingly unassuming Bagua formation. Could it truly be that gold fears no fire, as formidable as the legends claimed? Yet looking at its appearance, it was truly so inconspicuous that one could not help but overlook it.

That simply looks like an ordinary Bagua formation. Aside from helping people summon their own weapons, no matter how one looks at it, it doesn't look capable of resisting formidable enemies! Furthermore, when we walked into this Bagua formation the other day, we didn't feel the slightest abnormality. If it were truly as formidable as Headmaster says, it would certainly have shown some resistance. Why would it so easily allow outsiders to enter and use it at will? Lan Wu's tone clearly expressed her disbelief in the Bagua formation possessing the power claimed by the headmaster. It plainly looked so weak; how could she believe this thing could withstand the King's onslaught?

Although this Bagua formation appears unremarkable on the surface compared to other divine artifacts, the essence contained within it is more precious than any treasure. From places in the world possessing the most spiritual essence, my academy elders extracted the pure essences of the eight mysterious substances of nature: Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain, and Marsh. They then inlaid these essences respectively into the finest crystals of this world, which were forged from the remains of fallen powerhouses of the Immortal-Underworld War combined with underworld fire. Right at the very center of this Bagua formation lies a treasure beyond your imagination: a single drop of pure blood shed by an ancient deity. The might of this single drop of blood is fully capable of rivaling the cultivation of a world-renowned powerhouse. The old headmaster narrated all this slowly, wearing no particular expression at the moment, yet everyone understood that his heart was surging just as violently as their own.

Heavens! This Bagua diagram actually contains the divine blood of an ancient deity? This is a rare treasure that no precious artifact can ever exchange for! Moreover, legend has it that as long as this divine blood remains unextinguished, the power within it will be endless, and it will gradually enhance alongside the host's cultivation, ultimately reaching an even more ideal realm. It is practically a disguised form of assistance, helping the person who obtains this divine blood ascend to another untouchable realm. To embed such a precious treasure within this Bagua formation is perhaps a bit of a waste. If it could be integrated into one's body, the outcome would surely exceed our imagination! Even Xun Mishuang could not help exclaiming in admiration at this point. Having been in Yanlan Academy for so many years, this was her first time hearing of such an exhilarating treasure here, leaving her utterly astonished!

If one were truly to refine this divine blood and integrate it into the body, the outcome would indeed exceed our imagination, just as you said. Divine blood certainly possesses an irresistible temptation for cultivators, but it carries unimaginable destructiveness simultaneously. If one's own cultivation is insufficient and they forcefully absorb it into the body, the ultimate consequence can only be a tragic mutual destruction. More severely, if the divine blood erupts within the body, causing the absorber to fail to withstand this formidable energy, their soul and body will scatter into nothingness. Lan Bingxian slowly explained the severity of the matter to everyone. Although divine blood was precious, it was also a disguised form of fatal poison.

That is to say, if it is injected into this Bagua formation, it can both retain its power and protect the recipient from suffering its ill effects. Consequently, it is transformed into a supreme divine artifact in disguise, while also concealing the secret that such a rare item exists within it, preventing those who covet the divine blood from discovering it. This move is truly ingenious! Yin Boxuan looked at the Bagua formation, nodding repeatedly in praise. In truth, he had not been in Yanlan Academy for very long, and this was also his first day hearing that such a formidable treasure existed within the Hall of Divine Weapons. Master was truly tight-lipped; had they not united today to deal with Fuyou Ming, he surely would never have revealed this secret.

I never imagined that such a tiny Bagua formation would conceal so many rare objects. When I was careless before, I truly underestimated it! However, how can this Bagua formation be integrated into the host's body so that it becomes like a part of one's own flesh, unable to be seized by others, while normally exerting its strengths to repel enemies for us? At this moment, Xiaoyin's gaze toward the Bagua formation was vastly different; he seemed immensely interested in this object and refused to distract his gaze elsewhere for even a moment.