Chapter 4: Destruction of the Formation

Playing against Li Yao was one of his father's guests on retainer. The guest noticed Li Yao beaming after reading the message. Knowing Li Yao's plan, he asked sharply, "How fares the investigation on the incident at the Tai Xuan Summit?"

Li Yao gently set down the jade strip bearing the message. Filled with exhilaration, he could concentrate on the game no more, and didn’t even bother hiding his excitement. "Li Ye has arrived at the Taixuan Monastery and has no idea of the fate that awaits him. I have ordered that a magical trap, the Xiaoxuan Formation, be placed outside the main hall of the monastery. He will be greatly injured when the trap is sprung."

A satisfied smile lined the guest's face. "The Xiaoxuan Formation is known to be extremely powerful. Anyone within the circle of the magical formation will hardly be able to escape unscathed. The people of the Taixuan Monastery will be able to slip away with the jade medallion during the commotion."

Li Yao said, "Everyone covets the jade medallion, the fabled bequest of Prince An. I cannot suffer being implicated in the theft of the medallion, but who would suspect Taoist priests? They will easily slip past suspicion like fish through broken nets. Instead, everyone will believe that the brazen and intrusive Li Ye suffered from of one of Celestial Master Yuan's traps. Nobody will think of blaming me for his misfortunes."

The guest could only nod with admiration at Li Yao's elaborate scheme and said, "Li Ye is nothing but a worthless fool. Not only has he failed to cultivate, he can’t even hold onto the jade medallion of Prince An. The string of misfortunes that continue to shroud over him like dark clouds will forever keep any supporters or sympathizers at arm's length. The prospects certainly look optimistic for you, Young Master!"

Li Yao sniggered and replied, " As a noble of Guanxi, I cannot allow the offspring of common blood to succeed the name of Prince An! His rise will only bring shame to the Imperial Clan!"

The Li Clan was one of the noble families who hailed from the vicinity of He Long in the Guanxi area, and it had been instrumental in helping the Tang Empire to solidify their rule across the entire country. The imperial court had bestowed the Guanxi aristocrats power and influence that eclipsed over the newer noble families of Guandong.

The guest listened, choosing to remain silent, his head bowing slightly. This was too grave an assertion for him to judge.

Li Yao sat back in his chair and smiled to himself as he imagined what was happening on the summit.

* * *

Li Ye strode toward the stone steps leading into the main hall of the monastery.

Watching him closely were Shangguan Qingcheng and the honor guard, and the three Taoist priests. Everyone observed him with unnerving angst and apprehension, their breaths held as if a strong, vice-like grip clutched at their throats. Only the eldest priest remained calm and indifferent, his eyes closed as if meditating serenely.

Li Ye stood reverently with his hands behind his back as he gazed up at the great hall, standing in its shadow while being shrouded by the overwhelming presence of the sanctum that paid homage to the Prime Celestial Ruler Zhenwu.

Legend had it that brilliant and beautiful shafts of sunlight adorned the speckled clouds in the skies and immortal acolytes and mythical dragons descended from Heaven to receive and welcome him when Zhenwu had finally attained immortality long ago at Mount Wudang. He became the patron deity of many Taoist monasteries and shrines in the Tang Empire, and, according to myth, he was charged with the duty of watching over humanity, protecting them against demons and evil while serving justice and peace. Said to be a deity with tremendous authority and power, he had no lack of worshippers paying respects to him.

In his previous life, Li Ye had walked straight into the trap on the stairs. Shangguan Qingcheng and the rest of his men had been rendered unconscious by the blast, and when they’d woken up, they discovered that the jade medallion was gone. He had been foolish enough to believe that it was a means of retribution left by Celestial Master Yuan and that he was not destined to achieve immortality. He truly thought he had angered the Heavens and was condemned to suffer judgment from Heaven, who had destroyed the jade medallion.

He couldn’t believe he’d ever been that naive.

Li Ye gave a small chuckle as he reminisced, then he stretched his arm forward and pointed a finger directly ahead of him.

His finger felt a solid, but invisible, barrier. The spot where his finger came into contact with the magical formation rippled like fretted water on a lake's surface, revealing a gargantuan shimmering screen that enclosed around the main hall, enveloping the massive building in a white, translucent glow.

The sudden appearance of the magical barrier filled Shangguang Qingcheng and her guards with awe, and they began looking at each other.

Shangguan Qingcheng watched Li Ye quietly. With such a barrier barring the way, how could the Heir Apparent advance further? With no powers or mystic arts... this was a fool’s errand.

Nobody could have been able to conjure such a magical defensive formation but a practitioner of Qi techniques, so Shangguang Qingcheng didn’t suspect the bearded priest to be the conjurer of the magical formation. He had shown himself to possess no mastery of Qi techniques or skills, being at most a person with the capabilities of a Warrior Mentor.

The same could be said for the two younger priests who were standing near the buildings beside the main hall. They were clearly as surprised about the magical formation as the guards, looking up at the curtains of white that enshrouded the great structure like a cloak.

By prodding gently with his finger, Li Ye had merely caused the trap to appear; it had not yet been triggered.

But Li Ye's behavior had filled the bearded priest with bewilderment. He frowned as he watched the Heir Apparent standing thoughtfully before the barrier. Why was he not moving up the steps? Did he know about the formation? Impossible!

But he tried his best to calm himself lest he be exposed. Although the formation had been revealed, there was no way Li Ye could reach the scripture without going through it.

The bearded priest stopped feigning his meditation and peered at Li Ye, hoping that he would step upon the stairs without further delay.

But it was a hope that was never to be.

Standing before the stone steps leading upwards, Li Ye observed the gleaming sheet of white light before him. Revealing the form of the formation hadn’t just been for show — he needed to study the properties of the magical formation before undoing its magic.

He noticed an emerald calabash gourd made of jade sitting on the altar within the keep of the main hall. Green strands of spiritual energies in the form of fumes rose sprouted from the gourd and rose lazily into the air, flowing endlessly towards the formation like never-ending sustenance.

The gourd was the instrument maintaining the Xiaoxuan Formation. Li Ye decided to keep it intact, if possible — it would be a useful tool in the future.

Given that his primary goal was to avoid being implicated in this matter, Li Ye would hardly expect Li Yao to have a practitioner of Qi techniques present to hold the formation in place. But what would have normally been considered a shrewd move on his part had instead become a boon to Li Ye.

To be fair, Li Yao had no reason to believe that Li Ye knew anything about magical formations, so the magical trinket being used against him would never have crossed his mind.

Li Ye's eyes shone with a strange glitter. The conjurer of the formation had not included any fortification to strengthen the formation, so destruction of the formation would be possible. He still couldn’t use Qi-techniques, but this was where the power of the jade medallion came into play.

Standing behind Li Ye, Shangguan Qingcheng, watched him for some time and feared that he was at a loss for what to do.

"My lord!" she screamed, not being able to hold back her apprehension any longer. She drew her sword and threw herself forward, sword raised to strike. She would gladly sacrifice herself if it would pave the way for her young master's advancement.

Shocked at Shangguan Qingcheng's sudden outburst, Li Ye quickly pulled her back. Triggering the magical formation could kill her, and him, as well.

"My lord..." Shangguan Qingcheng gasped as she staggered unsteadily after being pulled back by Li Ye. She looked at him, her eyes filled with disappointment and doubt.

But Li Ye smiled at her and said, "Be calm, General Shangguan. I will make short work of this formation — watch."

Her eyes widened with confusion and wonder. "But how do you expect to destroy the formation?"

Not far away, the bearded priest nearly laughed out loud. Clearly, the boy had gone mad.

Li Ye left Shangguang Qingcheng where he had stopped her and marched to the side of the hall where he stopped before a flowerpot.

He was sure that the site of this flowerpot was the eye of the Xiaoxuan Formation, the point where it was the weakest.

His guards watched him, perplexed.

Li Ye removed the jade medallion from its harness and thrust it toward the flowerpot.

But just when the jade medallion was about to hit the flowerpot, it could go no further! There was a brief flash of green light, and a loud screeching noise began to emit from around the flowerpot. The luminous white wall that hindered Li Ye's progress into the main hall started to tremor as the surfaces of the wall began stirring violently like thrashing waters on a river surface.

The gleaming wall of the formation shook continuously, showing no sign of crumbling; instead, it looked as if it was going to explode.

But Li Ye remained unperturbed; he just needed more power.

Even a slight misstep now would not only injure him, but likely cause instantaneous death.

Just as Li Ye was wondering if he’d made a mistake, faint wisps of spiritual energies in the form of golden dragons sprang out from his Elixir Field. The golden silhouettes, as if answering a summons, circled and coiled proudly around him after emitting a raspy roar of thunder.

As they coiled around him, the spiritual energies in the golden dragons emanated powerful currents of air that shone with a golden luster.

The currents of energies curled and slithered around Li Ye, entered his meridian channels from the Elixir Field, and gathered at his hand before concentrating around the jade medallion.

Massive waves of golden brilliance poured forth and blinded everyone.

With the jade medallion held over the flowerpot, the pot began shaking wildly. There was a loud groan, and it exploded, sending dirt and debris flying in all directions.

Cracks began to appear, spreading like spider webs upon the convulsing barriers.

Li Ye's brows sharpened with ferocity as he cried the incantation of command. "Shatter!"

As commanded, the white sheets of light shattered and crumbled like falling ashes, its fragments dissipating into nothingness.

The rest of the people assembled stared at the now empty entrance to the main hall, dumbstruck. It had happened so fast, but there was no questioning the evidence of their own eyes.

The bearded priest, aghast with fear and incomprehension, sprang to his feet and staggered backward, mumbling, "He destroyed the formation! How is this possible?"

The hand holding the Shangguan Qingcheng's saber trembled uncontrollably, and she nearly dropped her weapon. She looked at the main hall and Li Ye, not quite believing what she had just witnessed. Her cheeks were flushed and her mouth agape, unable to put her thoughts into words.