CHAPTER 420: THE SHAMANIC GU FORMATION (1)

One must be extremely cautious when handling the Shamanic Gu Formation.

In ancient times.

It was devised directly by a monarch who was the descendant of the Zhenyun Clan and mighty heir of Taotie1, one of the Four Perils.

Those who follow his teachings must treat the monarch’s finger as if holding it when preparing the formation.

Long life to Taotie—may he live a thousand years, ten thousand years.

The offerings required for the Shamanic Gu Formation vary depending on its range and scale.

When targeting a single village, roughly the following are needed.

Ten living people—excluding the old and sick. Children under five years old are most suitable.

Three chickens.

One pig.

If the scale increases tenfold, the number of offerings also increases tenfold.

However, if one secures an ancient person ideal for sacrifice, that individual can replace one hundred young men.

A completed Shamanic Gu Formation possesses several characteristics.

First.

The Shamanic Gu Formation is accompanied by the Red Cloud Barrier (赤雲結界).

The Red Cloud Barrier cannot be destroyed from within.

Those trapped inside the barrier, that is, inside the Shamanic Gu Formation, cannot exit before the formation’s purpose is fulfilled.

If the barrier is damaged by extremely powerful means, it will immediately restore itself.

Second.

The Shamanic Gu Formation requires a long time to set up.

Time segmentation can occur between the inside and outside of the Red Cloud Barrier.

The degree of this distortion is proportional to the amount of offerings and time spent on the formation.

Third.

Both self-repair and time segmentation require a powerful energy source.

The Shamanic Gu Formation collects such energy within the formation’s interior…

* 『The Book of Ghost Servant Formations』, author unknown.

Baek Ryu-san received a report.

His complexion grew grave.

“Yes, internal power… is being lost.”

About three days have passed since eighty thousand people were trapped inside the barrier and the war stopped.

Though somewhat absurd, the war has stopped nonetheless.

And above all, his two sons, thought dead, have returned alive.

Baek Ryu-san’s expression could have brightened, but the wrinkles shaped like the character for river (川) were etched between his brows.

“It seems the Demon Cult side is the same. Somehow…”

“It must be because of this dreadful Mysterious Gate Formation.”

Baek Ryu-san had sensed it long ago.

As a master of qigong, there was no reason he couldn’t detect the flow of internal energy.

Every time he circulated energy, he felt emptiness in his lower dantian.

The firmly rooted internal power was subtly dispersing.

It was like water in a cup evaporating and diminishing.

“The Mysterious Gate Formation is absorbing the martial artists’ True Qi.”

No matter how transcendent the masters’ feats, without internal power, it is impossible.

Even the Absolute masters’ qigong could not completely block the loss of True Qi.

So how about the other martial artists?

“People are trembling with anxiety.”

Yi-gang murmured quietly.

Energy circulation is the method of guiding True Qi along the meridians inside the body while inhaling natural energy through breath to accumulate it in the dantian.

But inside the Crouching Dragon Basin, there was no longer any natural energy from the Kunlun Mountains.

Only the scent of people’s anxiety and fear filled the air.

Heaven’s Secret Scholar, former chief military officer of the Murim Alliance, spoke solemnly.

“Our supplies are insufficient. They will run out in four days.”

“…If we halve the current ration distribution, how long can it last?”

“We have already halved the amount. We are collecting supplies from the corpses… but at best, we can last about seven days and nights.”

There were practical problems as well.

A battle is a contest of strength against strength.

In other words, it is an all-out war fought in a short time, so ample supplies were not prepared.

They thought three days’ worth per person would suffice.

“This is troublesome.”

“…The formation?”

Yi-gang interjected.

“The formation can only be dismantled from the outside. It seems to be a cursed barrier that requires the killing of the caster to lift.”

“Eighty thousand people are trapped without escape.”

It is impossible to dismantle the barrier from inside.

This was discovered after three days of intense deliberation.

They hoped that if it was made by Mysterious Gate Formation, there would be a life gate somewhere, and if a barrier, it could be broken.

But even after striking the barrier and cavalry charges, it did not budge.

Yi-gang, Dam Hyun, and capable talents who did not distinguish between orthodox, unorthodox and demonic factions pondered, but no life gate to escape was found.

“Is our fate to starve or die fighting in this basin?”

In any case, the war has stopped.

But that did not mean the problem was solved.

The red sky endlessly provoked people’s murderous intent.

Though sane masters control them, how long can it last?

Just this dawn, several demon warriors rampaged, killing dozens.

“Aren’t you devising a method?”

“…Yes. It is worth trying.”

Baek Ryu-san stood up at Yi-gang’s words.

But he did not give up.

Now, Absolute masters have gathered outside the basin.

Do Cheon and Wi Se-ryeong were also there.

“The horses are prepared, Alliance Leader.”

Outside, two fine horses were ready.

Next to them, Ha-jun was already mounted and waiting.

Baek Ryu-san sighed deeply upon seeing his youngest son.

His aura and appearance were no different from a demon’s.

“Even heaven is cruel…”

Yi-gang cleared his throat.

It was natural for Baek Ryu-san to be nearly despairing.

It was like a bolt from the blue for him.

“Zhang Sanfeng and the Heavenly Demon… are they still watching here?”

He spoke softly so only Yi-gang could hear.

Baek Ryu-san had heard the past circumstances from Yi-gang.

“Yes, that’s right.”

What Yi-gang wore at his waist was the Heavenly Demon Plaque.

And within that plaque resided the spirits of Zhang Sanfeng and the Heavenly Demon.

The Heavenly Demon, a figure from over 300 years ago, had torn his own soul to seal himself and was stopped by Yi-gang when trying to resurrect.

Since then, a strange companionship continued among the Heavenly Demon, Zhang Sanfeng, and Yi-gang.

The Heavenly Demon’s goal was to destroy the Evil Cult, so he cooperated with Yi-gang.

Demon Brain, the Evil Cult’s Cardinal who infiltrated the Demon Cult, conducted experiments on Ha-jun and the prodigies of the younger generation.

The Heavenly Demon saved Ha-jun, who was near death, by imparting his demonic arts.

In other words, the young master of the Baek Family in Xi’an inevitably learned the Heavenly Demon’s demonic arts.

Baek Ryu-san accepted this.

If he valued family honor above all, he might never accept it.

He might have urged Ha-jun to commit suicide as a family disgrace.

But a father who had lost and regained his child only muttered bitterly.

“Yes, as long as he survived, that is what matters.”

“I think so too, Father.”

“Your younger brother’s heart must be very troubled.”

Yi-gang nodded.

「Few have such aptitude for demonic arts as that guy. Look at his unchanged expression. He looks very calm.」

The Heavenly Demon sneered.

As he said, Ha-jun did not seem to despair over his situation.

Though a renowned prodigy of the orthodox faction and the Baek Family’s legitimate heir had become a demon, he paid no mind to the pity and scorn.

「It’s fortunate that the priest’s father is open-minded.」

Zhang Sanfeng offered a consolation that was not really consolation.

Yi-gang and Baek Ryu-san rode horses toward the outskirts of Crouching Dragon Basin.

It was a valley terrain where the ridge sank downward.

A flash of light appeared there.

Boom—

A heavy noise spread to this place.

The group roughly knew what was happening.

“Let’s hurry.”

The group increased their speed.

They soon arrived where the absolute masters had gathered.

The Four Heaven Palace Master, whose face was slightly swollen, was sitting down.

He glared at Yi-gang’s group with displeasure.

But soon he lowered his head silently.

The first to greet Yi-gang was none other than the True Demon Palace Master, Yo Dae-soon.

He bowed with great politeness.

“Have you arrived?”

With Chief Commander Demon Brain gone, and considering martial arts and power scale, Yo Dae-soon was the Demon Cult’s top leader.

He was excessively polite to Yi-gang and Ha-jun.

Considering the background, it was understandable…

“Representative of the Heavenly Demon, may I now call you Cult Leader?”

He said this while gazing deeply at Yi-gang and the Heavenly Demon Plaque at his waist, making Yi-gang uncomfortable.

Baek Ryu-san’s face turned pale, and Yi-gang grimaced.

“Please absolutely do not.”

“Ah, then it must be the successor of the true teachings…”

Then he looked at Ha-jun.

“That guy, no, my younger brother also has no intention of taking the Cult Leader position. Let True Demon Palace Master have it as he pleases.”

“How could I…”

They did not come here to discuss the Demon Cult’s leadership.

Baek Ryu-san interjected.

“Let’s first figure out how to get out of here.”

If all eighty thousand are trapped and die, it means nothing.

Yo Dae-soon nodded.

Several absolute masters stood before the barrier here.

Two Demon Cult Palace Masters.

Sword Pavilion Lord, Unorthodox Union Leader, Nine Spear King, Crimson Moon Demoness.

They were all sweating profusely.

It looked as if they had been sparring.

“We’ll die like this.”

Nine Spear King grumbled.

They had not fought.

“It’s the first time I’ve used my Supreme Ultimate Technique consecutively like this.”

Under Do Cheon’s command, they repeatedly used their Supreme Ultimate Technique on the barrier.

Yi-gang examined the points they had ‘struck.’

Then he flinched and opened his eyes wide.

“Senior uncle Do Cheon!”

“Yi-gang.”

Do Cheon smiled wearily.

He and Wi Se-ryeong also exerted their Power Borrowing without reserve.

What was strange was that their condition was better than expected.

Considering the side effects of Power Borrowing, they looked healthier than the Absolute masters.

“…Did it succeed?”

“Yes, it succeeded.”

One point of the barrier attacked by the Absolute masters had turned pure white.

However, red slowly spread over the white spot, as if self-repairing.

“By overlapping five Supreme Ultimate Techniques, we succeeded in making a vent in the barrier.”

“But it immediately self-repairs.”

“Indeed, it’s impossible for everyone here to escape.”

The barrier cannot be destroyed, even with bombs or sword strikes.

But the Supreme Ultimate Technique is a power that bends reality.

After Do Cheon and Dam Hyun deliberated, the experiment began.

“However, if seven Absolute masters simultaneously use their Supreme Ultimate Technique focused on one point, it might temporarily create a passage for a few people to pass through.”

“The one who goes out must kill the caster and dismantle the barrier from outside.”

That was the core of the plan.

Send a small group outside to attack the formation from the outside.

The important question is who will go out…

“One person, or if possible two or three, will have a chance to escape.”

We’ll see, but that seems to be the maximum.

This assumes all Absolute masters, including Yi-gang, use their strongest techniques.

Do Cheon glanced at the Absolute masters.

Whether from the Demon Cult or the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, none were alone.

All led their own forces.

None among them would refuse to go out.

“Yi-gang, you are the top priority.”

Do Cheon said.

Seeing others silent, it seemed somewhat agreed upon.

Yi-gang was not surprised.

“Is it because I have both martial arts and sorcery knowledge?”

Do Cheon replied.

“The other Absolute masters won’t go out. They have responsibilities here.”

That was true.

Would Baek Ryu-san, the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance’s leader, abandon people and leave alone?

Or would the True Demon Palace Master Yo Dae-soon abandon his followers and leave?

“If more Absolute masters go out and fail, hope will vanish entirely.”

If several Absolute masters go out and fail, the hope to dismantle the barrier will be lost.

“Next in line are Dam Hyun, your younger brother, and the two of us.”

Do Cheon and Wi Se-ryeong surprisingly placed themselves last.

“Since you’re here, it’s good to practice once.”

Yi-gang drew his sword.

All the Absolute masters stood and prepared their Supreme Ultimate Techniques again.

1. TL/N: an ancient Chinese mythological creature that four malevolent beings that exist in Chinese mythology, alongside the Hundun, Qiongqi, and Taowu. ️