Chapter 202 Nine Nether Spirit Guiding Array
Immortal Spirit City.
In the afternoon, a light rain drifted through Ping'an Square. Chen Chang'an slowly walked back to his fortune-telling stall.
Rainwater dripped from the eaves, wetting the hem of his clothes, but he seemed not to notice, his brow slightly furrowed as if pondering something.
Ah Li sat in front of the general store stall, holding a cup of hot tea. Seeing him return, she glanced up and said faintly, "What, you failed?"
Chen Chang'an sighed, leaned against the side of the stall, and pulled over a stool to sit down: "Don't mention it. I was as careful as I could be, but they still got away."
Ah Li poured a cup of tea and handed it to him: "Tell me about it?"
Chen Chang'an took the tea, warmed his hands, and then recounted the entire story—how he went to the Gale Pavilion, how he discovered Wang Shouzhi's feigned death, and how he sensed something was wrong, but in the end, the other party still escaped like a cicada shedding its shell.
After listening, Ah Li nodded lightly: "That's quite normal."
"Normal?" Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow, "I, a great... cough, I personally made a move, and I still let him get away?"
Ah Li glanced at him: "You shouldn't underestimate them. The Heavenly Sound Palace is a top-tier power even in the Upper Realm. Isn't it common for them to have some tricks up their sleeve?"
Chen Chang'an pouted but didn't argue.
After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "By the way, have you ever heard of the 'Nine Nether Spirit Guiding Array'?"
Ah Li paused her tea-drinking motion, looked up at him, and said with a smile, "It seems your trip wasn't a complete waste after all."
Chen Chang'an gave a dry laugh: "You could say that."
He was too embarrassed to say this was his junior brother's achievement.
If he said it, wouldn't it just show how useless he was!?
Ah Li put down her teacup, her expression rarely serious: "I have indeed heard of this array."
Chen Chang'an's face lit up with joy: "Please enlighten me, Miss Ah Li."
"I can't really call it enlightenment. I've only heard about it from others." Ah Li said while recalling, "But what's certain is that once this array is formed, it will connect to a dark space within it—the Nine Nethers."
"The Nine Nethers?"
"Mm." Ah Li nodded, "That place is neither in the Lower Realm nor the Upper Realm, but an independent space left over from ancient times. It is a desolate land of primordial chaos, filled with the aura of death.
Once the array connects, the death aura of the Nine Nethers will pour into the mortal world. Any living creature tainted by this death aura will, at best, suffer from mental confusion, and at worst, their flesh will wither and rot, turning into a walking corpse."
Chen Chang'an frowned: "That sinister?"
Ah Li sneered: "What did you think? The aura of the Nine Nethers is different from ordinary yin energy; it can even corrode spiritual energy. If the array is completed, within a radius of a thousand li, vegetation will wither, birds and beasts will vanish, mortals will die upon contact, and even cultivators will find it hard to resist."
Chen Chang'an's eyes sharpened: "So... this is their true purpose?"
Ah Li nodded: "I'm afraid what they truly want to do is open this door to the Nine Nethers."
...
After digesting what Miss Ah Li had said, Chen Chang'an suddenly stared at Ah Li, his expression serious: "Since we know they are setting up the 'Nine Nether Spirit Guiding Array,' how do we break it?"
Ah Li slowly took a sip of tea, then looked up at him: "Do you really want to know?"
"Of course." Chen Chang'an said eagerly, "Why else would I ask you?"
Ah Li sighed: "Actually, I was going to say—this array is beyond your capabilities."
Chen Chang'an frowned: "Why?"
Ah Li shook her head: "For no particular reason, but because once this array is formed, not even a Saint Venerable could necessarily break it easily."
Chen Chang'an was silent for a moment, then suddenly mustered his courage.
It seemed it was time to tell Miss Ah Li the whole truth!
He took a deep breath: "Miss Ah Li, actually..."
"But I've decided to tell you anyway." Ah Li glanced at him, the corners of her mouth suddenly turning up slightly: "Because someone once told me that human potential is limitless."
"Is, is that so?"
"Of course. By the way, what did you mean by 'actually' just now?"
"It was nothing." Chen Chang'an said flatly, swallowing all the courage he had just mustered.
Ah Li looked at him, her eyes flickering slightly.
Chen Chang'an quickly changed the subject: "So? What is the method to break the array?"
Ah Li put down her teacup and said with a serious expression: "The 'Nine Nether Spirit Guiding Array' has three array cores and one array eye. Once it is formed, you must first destroy the three array cores, then find the array eye to completely dismantle this array."
"What are the array cores and the array eye, respectively?"
"The array cores are usually three extremely yin objects, such as thousand-year yin wood, netherworld cold iron, or..." Ah Li paused, "other yin-attribute things, even cultivators who practice yin-attribute techniques can be used."
Chen Chang'an's eyes turned cold: "Even a living person?"
Ah Li nodded: "Yes, but it must be a cultivator above the Guiyuan Realm, using their flesh, blood, and soul as a guide to stabilize the array."
"Truly worthy of those bald donkeys, ruthless enough." Chen Chang'an pressed, "What about the array eye?"
"The array eye is the core of the array. It seems to be the most important part, but on the contrary, it doesn't need to be personally guarded by the array's casters." Ah Li said thoughtfully.
"Why?"
"Because once the array is activated, the array eye directly connects to the Nine Nethers, making it the most dangerous and terrifying place."
Chen Chang'an thought for a moment, then asked: "Are there any specific requirements for destroying the array cores? Must it be done in a certain order?"
"No, there isn't." Ah Li shook her head, "As long as all three array cores are destroyed, the array eye will be exposed. Then you can destroy it in one fell swoop."
Chen Chang'an stroked his chin: "It sounds... like it's not particularly difficult?"
Ah Li sneered: "Not difficult? Do you know where the array cores might be hidden? Do you know how to find them before the array is activated? Do you know what you will encounter when destroying the array cores?"
Chen Chang'an spread his hands: "Isn't that why I have you?"
Ah Li gave him a look: "I'm not all-knowing and all-powerful."
"But didn't you just say my potential is limitless?" Chen Chang'an leaned closer with a smile, "If you're going to help someone, you should help them all the way."
"I said the potential of 'humans' is limitless..." Ah Li gave him a disgusted glare: "Cut that out."
Chen Chang'an laughed twice, but soon his smile faded, and he said seriously: "In any case, thank you."
Ah Li let out a soft snort and said no more, merely lowering her head to drink her tea, though a complex look flashed in her eyes.
She didn't know whether it was right or wrong to tell this naive and somewhat foolish young man before her all this knowledge.
She hoped it wouldn't get him killed.
In fact, there was one more thing she hadn't said. She had roughly guessed the location of the other party's array eye and had made preparations to respond to any eventuality.
...
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