The Yin-Yang Plate

The figures of the cultivator surnamed Chen and Fang Ting vanished outside the grand hall. The people in the hall wore varied expressions. The green-robed man and the other three felt just as the cultivator surnamed Chen did, deeply displeased with Old Daoist Huayang's overbearing conduct. Yet seeing their pavilion master compromise and even Martial Uncle Chen face punishment because of it, none dared say another word. The new disciples, however, had yet to develop any deep attachment to Yanmiao Pavilion. Hearing that Old Daoist Huayang was recruiting disciples on behalf of the Landou Sect, they could not help but be filled with immense anticipation. People climb to higher branches, while water flows downhill. Wealth, companions, methods, and land—no matter which of these prerequisites for cultivation one considered, Yanmiao Pavilion could not hold a candle to the Landou Sect. Old Daoist Huayang watched Fang Ting leave the hall, and when he turned back to look at the crowd, his enthusiasm had waned. His main purpose this time had been aimed at core disciples like Fang Ting. Having failed to snatch Fang Ting away, the chances of anyone else meeting his requirements were virtually nonexistent. At that moment, Pavilion Master Qi's voice sounded once more. "Fellow Daoist Huayang, delay will bring nothing. Let us begin the test. Qi has long wished to witness just how formidable the famous Yin-Yang Plate of your Yin-Yang lineage truly is." "Go set up the formation," Old Daoist Huayang instructed the Daoist boy, then took a round bronze plate from his mustard seed bag. The bronze plate was slightly larger than an adult's palm. Its base and edges gleamed with a deep bronze luster, densely engraved with peculiar runes. Inside the plate lay a black-and-white motif of twin yin-yang fish. The motif did not appear fixed; it slowly revolved without pause, imparting a wave of dizziness to anyone who looked at it, as if their soul would be sucked in. Old Daoist Huayang brought out the Yin-Yang Plate and, hearing Pavilion Master Qi's words, chuckled slyly. "You flatter me! The Yin-Yang Plate is merely an auxiliary magic treasure, and an incomplete one at that. In terms of power, it is far inferior to your pavilion's sect-guarding treasure, the Water Smoke Screen." "Fellow Daoist Huayang, why be so modest? Although our sect's Water Smoke Screen is decent, how could it compare to the supreme treasures of your Yin-Yang lineage? Even this Yin-Yang Plate is surely not as simple as Fellow Daoist claims. These new disciples are only at the Qi Refinement stage. Having them enter the Yin-Yang Plate will not lead to any mishaps, will it?" Pavilion Master Qi's voice held a trace of solemnity. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist!" Old Daoist Huayang was full of confidence as he pointed toward the busy boy. "I will only activate a tiny fraction of its power, and with the calming formation protecting them, they will by no means be lost within the Yin-Yang Plate. Not only will it cause them no harm, but if their comprehension is good, they may even use this opportunity to temper their disposition greatly." Pavilion Master Qi chuckled. "Then Qi thanks Fellow Daoist Huayang in advance." While the two spoke, the Daoist boy had been bustling about the center of the hall. Streamers of light flew from his palms and landed on the floor. Before long, an exceptionally intricate spiritual formation took shape. A faint, milky-white halo radiated from within it, diffusing in all directions. Gasps of admiration arose throughout the hall. Enveloped by the halo, the new disciples unknowingly fell into a reverie, their faces taking on deeply relaxed expressions as an unprecedented peace filled their hearts. "Go!" With a slight smile, Old Daoist Huayang flicked the Yin-Yang Plate into the air above the grand formation, aligning it directly with the center. Then he gave a low shout, waking the entranced crowd: "All of you, enter the spiritual formation and sit quietly..." Scrambling and jostling, the crowd surged into the spiritual formation. His eyes flashing, the incarnation swept into the formation as well, finding a spot to sit down. "Quiet your minds and enter meditation; allow not a single stray thought to arise! Whatever you see shortly, do not fear. With the calming formation protecting you, not a shred of harm will come to you. Remember, you have only the time it takes an incense stick to burn. You must give your all to seize whatever you see..." Old Daoist Huayang's voice drifted in, but those final words left everyone baffled. Then, Huayang's expression grew solemn as he pointed toward the Yin-Yang Plate. With a low hum, the yin-yang motif in the center of the Yin-Yang Plate spun rapidly. The two streams of yin and yang qi whirled faster and faster, finally transforming into two pillars of light—one black and one white—that abruptly shot into the grand formation. Yet just as they were about to touch the new disciples, they softened into a gentle, tranquil flow. In the next moment, the black and white qi merged into a mass of gray mist, enveloping the new disciples until their silhouettes flickered in and out of view. Thereafter, the grand hall quieted once more. Old Daoist Huayang controlled both the spiritual formation and the Yin-Yang Plate at once, observing the new disciples and waiting for the outcome. At this moment, the incarnation felt as though he had plunged into a boundless sea of white mist. Vigilance rose in his heart; his greatest concern was the state of the Heavenly Eye Butterfly. It was enveloped by the power of the Yin-Yang Plate as well. If it were forced to reveal itself, that would be dangerous. "Fortunately, Old Daoist Huayang was worried about harming these new disciples and only activated a small fraction of the magic treasure's power. It isn't enough to affect the Heavenly Eye Butterfly..." The incarnation relaxed slightly and began examining his surroundings. Right now, he was like a lone, wandering ghost drifting through the void. Below was utter emptiness with no solid ground in sight, and all around was enveloped by faint white qi. "Seize whatever you see..." Recalling Old Daoist Huayang's words, the incarnation had a thought and reached out to grasp a wisp of white mist. When he opened his hand, the white mist had vanished without a trace. From this, it was evident that the surrounding scenery was not real; it was entirely illusory. A sweep of his gaze confirmed it: everything was illusion. This was truly having no way to ascend to heaven and no door into the earth. Yet not a trace of anxiety appeared on the incarnation's face. He slowly looked around, taking in everything in his surroundings, and gradually seemed to understand something. If an ordinary Qi Refinement cultivator were in this situation, they would naturally be at their wit's end, with no choice but to wait until Old Daoist Huayang withdrew the Yin-Yang Plate. However, while the incarnation was only at the ninth level of the Qi Refinement stage in cultivation, he possessed the vision and perspective of a Core Formation cultivator. Old Daoist Huayang's cultivation was merely comparable to that of his true body. With only a tiny fraction of the magic treasure's power activated, and it being an illusion realm to boot, there was no way it could cause the incarnation to sink into oblivion. "Something to seize? The only real thing in here is the yin-yang qi from the Yin-Yang Plate!" The incarnation grasped the essence of this test. "Low-level cultivators lack the ability to see through illusions. Searching aimlessly across such a vast space, it would be impossible to catch the yin-yang qi. Only someone naturally sensitive to yin and yang qi who, even after their five senses are occluded, can locate where the yin-yang qi resides through an inexplicable intuition could succeed. The Yin-Yang lineage's requirements for innate talent truly are exacting..." Having deduced the reason, the incarnation grew confident. Standing motionless in the void, he half-closed his eyes and carefully sensed the shifts in the flow of the white mist. Before long, a flicker of delight crossed his face. He abruptly opened his eyes, locked onto a direction, and shot forward. Outside the spiritual formation. Silence reigned in the grand hall. Time drifted by, and soon more than half the time of an incense stick had elapsed. The disciples within the spiritual formation bore varied expressions—some anxious, some helpless—yet not one had awakened. Old Daoist Huayang fixed his gaze on the youth with three spiritual roots, holding a glimmer of hope for him. Yet seeing the youth's flustered, panic-stricken look, he could not help but shake his head, a trace of disappointment flickering in the depths of his eyes.