Chapter 310: Formation on the Peak, Phoenix Embodiment
Although the scenery in his dream was blurry and indistinct, Lin Tianlu believed he had an excellent memory and wouldn’t mistake it.
The scenery he saw here…
…was definitely the mountaintop garden he had seen in his dream!
Even Mao Ruoyu’s figure sitting under the peach blossom tree in the distance, and the mysterious white-haired person sitting at the stone table, were still vivid in his mind.
Only the figures were gone now, leaving behind this mesmerizing scenery, almost identical to his dream!
“Is this place related to Mount Taiyi within me, or… is it connected to me somehow?”
Lin Tianlu pondered, but his steps quickened as he walked towards the beautiful and vibrant garden.
Mao Ruoyu and the others also calmed themselves and followed closely, gazing at the familiar peach trees, stone table, and the surrounding fallen leaves and petals. A sense of familiarity and nostalgia washed over them, as if they had been sitting here in a dream not long ago, enjoying the beautiful music.
As they walked forward, the mist-like fog gradually dispersed, and the stone table and stools in the center of the peach blossom forest came into clear view.
Lin Tianlu placed his hand on the cold stone table, his fingers gently tracing its slightly rough surface, and frowned: “This isn’t an illusion, but something that truly exists.”
“There’s even… a Go board on the table?”
Cheng Yishi looked at the Go board on the stone table, feeling a sense of surprise and wonder.
And the Go stones were scattered, without any dust, clearly someone had been playing here recently.
“This place is truly strange.”
Youluo, who had initially been calm and frivolous, now had a serious expression on her face.
“The Yin energy lingering in the forest was more noticeable halfway up the mountain. But here on the peak, there’s no Yin energy at all, it’s warm and spring-like.”
A faint warmth permeated the air, not as scorching as sunlight, but still noticeable.
Most importantly—
Ordinary sunlight and heat had no effect on demons and ghosts who had reached the Crimson Demon Realm, they could roam freely day and night.
But now, Youluo could clearly feel her Yin energy being suppressed. Although the faint warmth didn’t harm her, it clearly had a suppressive effect, making her feel slightly uncomfortable.
“But, I don’t see any phoenix on this peak.”
Mao Ruoyu composed herself and looked around curiously.
Although she had never seen any mythical beasts before, phoenixes, true dragons, and such… shouldn’t they be quite large?
“These mountain peaks are clustered together, quite expansive, there seems to be more behind that peak.”
Lin Tianlu pointed towards a towering stone mountain in the distance.
Just like when he had lived alone on Mount Taiyi for half a month, the mountain peaks also had many caves, depressions, and flat areas. It was rare for a mountaintop to be a flat plain.
“Let’s go and have a look together, don’t wander off alone, in case we trigger some strange mechanism or formation—”
Hum!
But before he could finish speaking, ripples like water waves spread through the surroundings.
Everyone was stunned.
Then, Lin Tianlu patted his mouth with a subtle expression:
“My words seem to be particularly effective.”
Youluo gave him a playful glare: “Then you should be more careful with your words, Master Lin.”
Saying this, she raised her hand and pointed, a profound formation pattern formed from Yin energy instantly expanding, as if trying to forcibly dispel the surrounding ripples.
But—
“Eh?”
Youluo quickly exclaimed softly as the Yin technique she had just cast dissipated like a mirage, the swirling Yin energy silently swallowed and absorbed, without a trace.
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi looked on in surprise:
“What was the technique you just used, Miss…?”
“Although it was just a test, these ripples are indeed quite strange and mysterious.” Youluo’s expression turned serious, and she mused: “Don’t use your Yin energy carelessly, this strange formation seems to be able to neutralize and dissipate it.”
Lin Tianlu looked closely and quickly noticed that the surrounding ripples were receding, replaced by exquisite and brilliant red and silver threads that materialized out of thin air. They began to move and intertwine according to a certain pattern, as if forming some kind of wondrous design.
Where the red and silver threads moved, it was like brushstrokes on a canvas, free and elegant, yet also containing a feminine grace and delicacy. Glancing around, he saw that these lines seemed to be forming a landscape painting, just a few strokes creating a profound and exquisite scene.
“Oh?”
Youluo couldn’t help but exclaim: “The person who cast this technique is quite talented.”
“But this doesn’t look very safe.”
Cheng Yishi frowned slightly, a worried look on her face.
Just then, a faint red candle flame appeared within the landscape painting, and they vaguely saw vibrant flowers blooming, incredibly beautiful and captivating. They could even smell a faint and seductive fragrance, complemented by the warm and gentle breeze blowing on the mountaintop, truly like a spring day, making them feel drowsy.
“Wake up!”
A cold voice suddenly rang out beside their ears, it was Yun Yue, in her fox form, warning them.
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi, who had been slightly dazed, immediately snapped out of it, startled.
Lin Tianlu looked back at their slightly pale faces and then turned his gaze back to the landscape painting with the flickering red flames.
Whoosh—!
Suddenly, a red flame shot towards them.
Youluo’s eyes narrowed, and she flicked her finger, but the Yin energy she had condensed was instantly incinerated and swallowed by the red flame without even causing a ripple.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she was about to use other methods when a large hand suddenly reached out from the side and “grabbed” the flying flame.
Pfft!
With a squeeze of his fingers, the red flame was crushed, scattering into countless brilliant sparks.
“Husband, are you injured?!”
Mao Ruoyu cried out in alarm from behind him.
“I’m fine.”
Lin Tianlu casually waved his hand, clenching and unclenching his fingers: “This fire seems more like a delicate work of art than a deadly attack, it feels quite warm to the touch.”
“Uh—”
Youluo’s eye twitched upon hearing this.
Although the contact had been brief, the power contained within the flame had surprised her, it was definitely not something that could be resisted by ordinary means.
“You scholar, you truly have thick skin and are impervious to fire and water.”
“It’s a natural gift, I suppose.”
Lin Tianlu chuckled and glanced around sharply: “I’ll handle this, you stay here and don’t move.”
Youluo covered her face with her fan and took two steps back, chuckling: “Be careful, Master Lin, I might not be able to protect your two little wives against this formation.”
“Just protect yourself, Miss.”
Lin Tianlu quickly stepped forward, focusing his mind, his eyes and ears clearly perceiving the slightest movements around him. Clusters of faint red candle flames appeared within the surrounding landscape, forming a sea of vibrant flowers. Looking closely, he could even see a profound meaning within the scenery.
Trying to break this formation with brute force would be too crude and barbaric, a waste of the caster’s artistry.
He pondered and observed carefully, vaguely sensing a deeper meaning within the landscape painting. The mountain peaks were like stars, connected to form the shape of a vivid dragon.
As his thoughts stirred, facing the rapidly approaching red flames, Lin Tianlu dodged and weaved nimbly, flicking his fingers repeatedly, sending precise bursts of energy towards those star-like points.
Ding!
As the last star-like peak was hit, the landscape trembled, and the attacking flames dissipated.
Within moments, this profound formation was easily broken.
“—It seems my guess was correct.”
After confirming that the traces of the formation had completely disappeared, Lin Tianlu turned around and waved towards Mao Ruoyu and the others: “Let’s go, let’s check out other parts of this peak.”
“Husband, you’re truly amazing!” Cheng Yishi quickly walked over, her face filled with admiration.
“It was just a lucky guess.”
Lin Tianlu looked towards the area behind the stone mountain, his gaze sharp: “And the methods used by the master of this place are truly different from ordinary demons and ghosts. Remember to be extra careful later, they might have other strange tricks.”
As Youluo followed, she glanced in the direction where the landscape had disappeared, a serious look in her eyes.
This technique wasn’t as simple and casual as that scholar had made it sound.
Although it had form, it lacked substance, a mix of illusion and reality, even she couldn’t figure out a way to break it in a short time.
As for how he had broken it—
“Not only does one need to be free of Yin energy and possess extraordinary martial arts skills, but also have extensive knowledge, wisdom, and experience to react correctly in the face of danger and easily break this technique.”
A single wrong move could have led to an unimaginable counterattack, ruining everything.
The caster of this formation was truly extraordinary.
“However, that scholar is even more of a monster.”
…
After walking along the stone mountain for a while, Lin Tianlu and the others suddenly noticed that the surrounding mist was getting thicker, and the temperature was rising, becoming quite warm and comfortable.
“Why is there so much mist?”
Mao Ruoyu waved her sleeve to disperse the mist in front of her, frowning and murmuring: “Looking at the scenery ahead… it seems the terrain behind this stone mountain is a depression, I can hear the sound of flowing water, is there a pond or lake?”
“Indeed.”
Lin Tianlu narrowed his eyes slightly, vaguely seeing a wide pond through the mist, a stream of clear water seemingly flowing out from a crack in another rock and into the pond.
Until—
“I didn’t expect anyone to break through my two formations and reach this place.”
A faint and ethereal female voice, filled with a hint of laughter, suddenly came from behind the mist.
“No Yin energy cultivation, no Yin techniques, no killing intent, no evil habits… and also skilled in both literary and martial arts, wise and courageous, when did such a wondrous person appear in this world?”
A woman’s voice?
Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi exchanged glances, both surprised and curious.
The legend said that a phoenix lived on this mountain peak, why was there a woman’s voice?
And it was so seductive and soft, making their bodies tingle, a faint sense of allure rising in their hearts.
Or could it be that this Immortal Phoenix could speak in a woman’s voice?
But Youluo’s expression was serious and cold, her folding fan tightly closed in her hand.
“Something’s not right, there’s no aura around this pond.”
“The two formations set up by the Immortal are truly ingenious and profound. It was partly due to luck that we were able to break them.”
Lin Tianlu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said in a loud voice: “We’ve trespassed onto this Immortal Phoenix Mountain peak, we have no intention of disturbing your cultivation, Immortal. We just want to search for something that can—”
“Since you were able to break through two formations, it proves that you’re somewhat ‘qualified’.”
Before he could finish speaking, the soft and gentle female voice echoed again, seductive and alluring: “If you have anything to say, come and talk to me in person. Standing outside is a bit too formal. As for the women accompanying you—”
The delicate voice chuckled softly: “They can stay here, don’t go anywhere.”
Clang—!
Mao Ruoyu and the others froze, as if their bodies had been frozen.
Youluo snorted coldly, forcibly dispelling the strange aura that had suddenly enveloped them.
“What other tricks do you have?”
“Hu~ To have a demon with such cultivation come up the mountain is truly disgusting.”
The woman’s seductive voice seemed to carry a hint of displeasure, and she snorted coldly: “I don’t need you to chatter and interrupt while I’m talking to this person.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a muffled thunderclap suddenly echoed from the sky above the mountaintop, as if exploding within their souls.
Lin Tianlu’s expression changed slightly, and he looked up.
Red lightning intertwined and coiled, seemingly tearing open numerous black voids in the sky, a strange and terrifying sight.
But after a brief moment, the oppressive aura gradually dissipated, returning to calmness.
“…Forget it, since you’ve come this far, it would be rude of me not to show some hospitality.”
A warm breeze suddenly blew, forcibly pushing Mao Ruoyu and Cheng Yishi away. With a scream, they disappeared into the mist.
Lin Tianlu frowned: “What do you mean by this, Immortal?”
“I just sent them outside to wait for a while. After all, it’s a bit too noisy with so many people.”
“But you kept me here?” Youluo chuckled with interest.
“You’re quite interesting, woman, it’s fine to let you stay and chat for a bit.”
As the voice fell, the dense mist in front of them dissipated quite a bit.
Soon, they could clearly see the figure of a woman sitting in the shallow pond.
Although they couldn’t see her face clearly, they could see her long, dark red hair, like seductive flames, spread out in the water.
Her hand gently stroked her hair, revealing her delicate shoulders and neck, droplets of water sliding down her skin without leaving a trace, smooth and flawless like jade.
The curves of her back were perfect and alluring, perhaps the most beautiful thing in the world, making one even more curious about her stunning figure hidden in the mist.
Lin Tianlu was stunned for a moment, but he quickly averted his gaze, not wanting to be rude.
Youluo’s eyes flickered, and she chuckled: “Do you know where the Immortal Phoenix is hiding, Miss?”
“Hu~ Are you here for the phoenix, demon?”
“I’m just curious.” Youluo smiled seductively: “Or could it be that you, sitting in the pond, Miss, are the embodiment of the Immortal Phoenix from the legends of hundreds of years ago?”
“Indeed.”
The red-haired woman casually brushed the water beside her without turning around: “I thought I could scare you, but it seems you’re all quite prepared.”
So it was true!
Youluo’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Although she couldn’t sense any Yin energy or aura fluctuations from this woman, looking at her back, she felt an incredibly vibrant life force, making it difficult to look away, as if she were the most dazzling and radiant being in the world.
“Why don’t you two come closer? Standing so far away, do you intend to shout at me?”
Lin Tianlu coughed lightly: “Although you are the venerable Immortal Phoenix, you are currently in a woman’s body. It would be disrespectful for me to look directly—”
“I’ve been cultivating on this mountain for hundreds of years, barely interacting with outsiders, I almost forgot about these worldly customs.”
The red-haired woman chuckled and shook her head.
Then, she stood up from the clear and clean pond. As the water slid down her body, a delicate and seemingly sculpted figure was revealed in the lingering mist, her curves exquisite, her legs as white as ivory, her slender waist forming a breathtaking curve.
With a flash of dark red light, a shimmering red silk robe wrapped around her alluring figure, and she moved like a phantom, appearing on the shore as if teleporting.
Seeing her long, beautiful legs beneath her skirt as she walked towards them, Youluo was about to speak, but as soon as she looked up and saw her face clearly, she couldn’t help but frown in surprise and uncertainty.
This woman’s appearance was actually—
“You can turn around now.”
The red-haired woman brushed her hair lazily and seductively, her breasts swaying enticingly, her every movement captivating, making one’s heart itch.
Her soft and seductive voice carried a charm that could intoxicate any ordinary man, yet there was also a hint of girlish innocence and sweetness, a strange contradiction.
Lin Tianlu, seeing that Youluo beside him had suddenly fallen silent, felt curious and turned around as instructed.
But after seeing the woman’s face clearly, he was also stunned, exclaiming in surprise: “How could it be you… Xuanling!?”
The appearance of this Immortal Phoenix embodiment, her features and outline, was exactly like Yu Xuanling!
