"This is the Three Calamities Heart-Devouring Formation," Zhao Yan warned them. "It is said an almighty figure created this formation based on the heavenly tribulations. Not only does it manifest the Three Calamities, but it also confounds the mind and breeds inner demons. Even a Core Formation cultivator trapped within would have to expend considerable effort to escape.
"Drive the Four Clouds Divine Restriction with all your strength and summon the power left by the sect master in the cloud banners to protect us, and we will make it through unscathed. Once we fall into the formation, there will be no chance of getting out. Even if we do not die at the hands of the Three Calamities, we will remain trapped until our vitality is completely drained. Once inside, we share honor and ruin alike; no one can afford to be careless."
Hearing the effects of the Three Calamities Heart-Devouring Formation, Qin Sang's heart skipped a beat. He wondered whether the jade Buddha could help him resist inner demons.
Keeping his face impassive, he channeled the cloud banner with all his strength just as Zhao Yan had instructed. The five took their respective positions, and the four-colored clouds grew denser and denser.
Next, Qin Sang saw the faint silhouette of the sect master within the cloud banner raise a hand and point upward. Four streaks of spiritual power broke through the cloud banners and struck the transparent jade in Zhao Yan's hand.
The transparent jade flared with brilliant radiance. As the light touched the drifting clouds around them, it instantly solidified into a firm barrier of light that shielded the five of them beneath it.
Once they entered the Three Calamities Heart-Devouring Formation, the surrounding scenery shifted drastically. In a flash of thunder and lightning, they found themselves standing in a marsh of thunder. Boundless lightning coursed overhead. The doomsday-like spectacle drained the color from several faces. Such terrifying thunder and lightning was something no ordinary cultivator could ever brave.
Seeing the thick bolts of lightning densely packed and relentlessly striking across the marsh, Zhao Yan was also shaken. After a moment's hesitation, he barked in a low voice, "Move!"
Stepping into the thunder marsh, dozens of lightning serpents instantly lunged toward them. Panic seized the group in their terror. Zhao Yan hastily held the transparent jade aloft, and its light blazed forth, projecting Sect Master Yi's phantom. When those terrifying bolts of lightning crashed before the sect master's phantom, they shattered and dispersed on the spot.
"Hurry!"
Overjoyed, Zhao Yan shouted urgently. Under the protection of the sect master's phantom, they advanced swiftly. At last, they crossed the thunder marsh, only to be met by a boundless sea of fire. Beyond the sea of fire lay endless, howling gales, stretching on as if the trial would never end.
Qin Sang was secretly terrified. Even if the jade Buddha could help him resist inner demons, he could never withstand the terrifying Three Calamities. This might have been his only chance to escape; was he truly resigned to his fate?
Advancing with great difficulty, speeding up and slowing down as the hazards demanded, Zhao Yan's face suddenly brightened with delight. They had finally made it through the Three Calamities unharmed.
The grand formation fell tranquil once more, veiled in endless grayish-white mist. Everyone knew this grayish-white vapor would confound the mind, and to be trapped and die here would be far more agonizing than perishing under the Three Calamities. Still not daring to let down their guard, they walked a bit further, until their field of vision suddenly opened wide.
They had finally emerged from the Three Calamities Heart-Devouring Formation.
Immediately after, suppressed gasps of wonder escaped their lips. Everyone, including Qin Sang, stared straight ahead, their eyes filled with deep awe.
At the center of the massive cavern lay a square pond. The water within was crystal clear and unrippled, sending up faint, curling vapors. In the very middle of the pond floated a peculiar orchid.
The orchid drifted serenely upon the surface. Its tangled root cluster was pure and unblemished, while its leaves—some submerged, some floating on the water—were a lush, dripping green.
It possessed seven petals in total, all deep purple and as translucent as amethyst, gleaming with shimmering light. In form, it bore a striking resemblance to a spirit medicine Qin Sang had seen in Huiyang Valley called the Snow-Covered Ink Orchid, differing only in color.
Even more wondrous was the flower's pistil, above which hovered a wisp of vapor. Within that vapor manifested the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, lakes, strange beasts, immortal herbs, carriages, horses, and passersby...
In the span of just a few breaths, countless illusions flashed across the orchid one after another, each vivid and lifelike, appearing completely real. It was as though a mysterious miniature world resided within the orchid, revealing only the tip of its iceberg to the outside world.
"What spirit medicine is this?"
Enchanted by the orchid, Ruan Nanfeng could not help but ask. Qin Sang was equally curious. Compared to this orchid, all the spirit herbs in Huiyang Valley's medicinal garden paled into insignificance, no different from common weeds.
Zhao Yan stared fanatically at the orchid, his breathing growing slightly heavy. Paying no heed to Ruan Nanfeng and showing no intention of explaining, he barked, "Form the array! Channel the lightning arts!"
A flicker of resentment crossed Ruan Nanfeng's face, but he did not dare disobey Zhao Yan's order. The four of them shifted their positions once more and channeled the clouds.
Thunder rumbled as lightning flashed within the clouds pouring from the banners, exuding an aura of supreme yang and unyielding vigor.
Zhao Yan held the jade aloft. All the lightning suddenly surged violently, pouring frantically into the jade. The transparent jade was soon saturated with the power of thunder and lightning, turning the entire stone into a ball of lightning so dazzling that none dared look directly at it.
One could not help but worry whether the wild lightning would burst the jade apart.
Sensing the terrifying energy gathering within the jade, Qin Sang and the others felt their hearts tremble with dread. If that transparent jade exploded here, none of them would survive.
Just then, Zhao Yan suddenly darted to the edge of the pond. Aiming the jade at the water, he roared, "Break!"
The transparent jade flared with electric light, and the sect master's phantom pointed a finger forward, unleashing a massive bolt of lightning.
Boom!
A blinding silver glare erupted. Qin Sang squinted, entirely unable to see what was happening at the pond's edge. Only when the silver glare subsided slightly did he realize a barrier had materialized over the pond where none had been before.
Even under the impact of the Four Clouds Divine Restriction, the barrier remained unscathed.
Zhao Yan shouted harshly, "Channel the Four Clouds Divine Restriction with everything you have!"
Not daring to disobey, the four poured out their full strength. Bolts of lightning struck the barrier repeatedly until a faint crack finally opened.
Wild with joy, Zhao Yan flickered and appeared before the fissure. Staring at the mysterious orchid in the pond, he laughed uncontrollably.
Just then, the barrier over the pond began to close slowly. Zhao Yan's expression shifted slightly. He hastily commanded Qin Sang and the others to drive the Four Clouds Divine Restriction at full power, continuing to fuel the jade to release divine lightning to suppress the barrier and keep the crack from shutting.
Zhao Yan then retrieved a jade box from his mustard seed bag and sat cross-legged at the pond's edge. A surge of spiritual power welled from his hands, condensing into a giant hand that reached through the barrier. It carefully dipped into the water and seized the orchid's roots.
Astonishingly, as if endowed with awareness, the mysterious orchid began to struggle violently the moment Zhao Yan grabbed it, nearly slipping from his grasp.
Zhao Yan glared at the orchid in exasperation, his face flushing red. Spiritual power surged furiously into his palm, barely holding it in place as he pulled upward with all his might.
The four behind him could only watch with envious faces as Zhao Yan harvested the spirit herb. Yet they also understood that a miracle herb such as this was not something Zhao Yan could ever claim for himself; it would ultimately end up in the hands of Kuiyin Sect's sect master or one of the Golden Core Masters.
The so-called assault on Yuanzhao Sect was very likely just a diversion, and their true objective was this spirit herb.
For a Golden Core Master to take such pains, scheming for years just to steal it, the value of this mysterious orchid was readily apparent. One could only wonder which immortal herb of legend it truly was.
Chapter 93