Chapter 89 - 57: Yin Yang Cave Profound Array

Chapter 89: Chapter 57: Yin Yang Cave Profound Array

Inside Li Yinsheng’s Bamboo House on Bamboo Forest Peak, he reclined in his lounge chair, staring at the Golden Characters floating before him, lost in thought.

The meaning of these Golden Characters was not difficult to understand. In the coming period, something was definitely going to happen at Huang Bamboo Temple, and there was a high probability that his junior sister would be dragged into it. Although he did not know exactly what this incident would be, the Grotto Heaven would reward her with time to practice Magic after the event concluded, all based on her performance. The better she performed, the more time she would be given.

Unlike the previous "Cultivation Aspiration," which had clear standards and rewarded Cultivation, this mission was called a "Cultivation Tribulation." The reward was time to practice Magic within the Grotto Heaven, but the criteria for earning it were extremely vague.

Li Yinsheng’s mouth twitched. The Grotto Heaven was not even trying to hide it this time.

When the Cultivation Aspiration had previously offered rewards, it had stated it would grant a certain number of years of Cultivation. The first time he saw it, he had been tricked into thinking the Cultivation would be granted directly. After all that anticipation, it turned out he had to cultivate it himself. Now, the reward offered by the Cultivation Tribulation explicitly stated that it would simply let him enter the Grotto Heaven to practice Magic on his own.

In his eyes, however, being rewarded with time to practice Magic was ultimately better than being rewarded with Cultivation. For one, compared to Cultivation, he was in far more desperate need of magical methods. This reward was truly a timely blessing. Secondly, practicing Magic was always more interesting than meditating. Cultivating was dry and boring, whereas practicing Magic offered at least a bit of fun.

While he was reasonably satisfied with the reward, he still found himself scratching his head over the Cultivation Tribulation itself. The criteria were just too vague. He wondered what would even count as "performing well in this Cultivation Tribulation." He could not even be entirely certain what the "Cultivation Tribulation" mentioned in the Golden Characters actually referred to!

Did this Cultivation Tribulation refer to the monsters swarming the mountain—an event that occurred every time Huang Bamboo Temple harvested Cultivation Fruits—or was it some unprecedented accident? If the Cultivation Tribulation only referred to the monsters, then... if he captured some powerful beasts, beat them half to death, and let his junior sister finish them off, would that count toward her "performance"? But if this "tribulation" actually referred to something else, what could it be?

He recalled the difficulty of the Cultivation Aspirations issued by the Grotto Heaven and felt that regardless of what this Cultivation Tribulation was, it certainly would not be easy. None of the previous Cultivation Aspirations had been simple; meeting even the lowest tier of requirements had been extremely difficult. As for the highest tier, it was downright impossible to achieve under normal circumstances.

No matter how he looked at it, a "tribulation" did not seem like it would be any easier than an "aspiration." Since an "aspiration" was already so difficult, it was hard to say what a "tribulation" would truly look like. Regardless, Li Yinsheng did not believe that the Grotto Heaven would be so kind when it came to a Cultivation Tribulation.

Simply thinking about it would not yield any answers, so he decided to test it directly. Besides, his junior sister should be out on patrol right now. If hunting monsters counted as a form of performance, as long as she killed one today, the Golden Characters should react, right? After all, according to the description in the reward column, the final amount of rewards calculated from her performance would be displayed in real time. Currently, this column still read "None," which meant that, in the Grotto Heaven’s current judgment, she had not performed at all yet.

Li Yinsheng stood up and spread his Divine Sense across Bamboo Forest Peak, planning to go directly to where his junior sister was patrolling. He would grab two monsters along the way and have her kill them to see if the Grotto Heaven reacted.

Then, he noticed Meng flying toward his location. He wondered if she had come to teach him chess. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Li Yinsheng’s heart stirred. Although he had some interest in chess, it was merely a casual pastime. Right now, his mind was completely occupied by this newly emerged Cultivation Tribulation. How could he possibly be in the mood to discuss chess?

However, he did not sneak away before Meng Yu arrived. What if Meng was actually here for official business? Li Yinsheng did not know much about Arrays, but he had just sensed the activation of the Array designed to suppress monsters. Given Meng’s identity, she ought to be presiding over the Array. Her arrival at this time might mean she had something important to say.

If it was official business, he certainly had a moment to spare for a quick chat. However, if she really was here to teach him chess, which could easily take two or three hours, he would naturally have to politely decline.

A moment later, Meng Yu landed at his door. Before she could knock, Li Yinsheng called out, "Is that Meng? Please, come in."

Meng Yu pushed the door open and entered, a flash of surprise briefly crossing her eyes. "You have remarkably keen perception, Li."

"I just have a slight advantage when it comes to Divine Sense," Li Yinsheng said, shaking his head modestly before getting straight to the point. "May I ask what brings you here so early in the morning, Meng?"

Meng Yu took out a book from her Qiankun Bag with a cover that looked somewhat like a chess manual. Li Yinsheng stared blankly. He wondered if she really was here to talk about chess. Just as he was about to politely decline, Meng Yu spoke up.

"I’ve noticed that you are fascinated by the way of chess, Li. This *Yin Yang Cave Profound Array* is a piece of Magic in the collection of my Jade Altar Temple that uses chess pieces to form Arrays. It might be very suitable for you." Meng Yu handed the book over.

"Magic? Forming an Array?" Li Yinsheng was somewhat confused. "Meng, is this an Array or Magic?"

"It is both," Meng Yu said. "This technique allows a Cultivator to transform their own Magical Power into black and white chess pieces, and then use those pieces for Array Formation. It can be used to confront enemies, engage in Magical Combat, or temporarily set up an Array with auxiliary uses."

She paused, then added, "If we must classify it as either Magic or an Array, it leans slightly more toward Magic." As she spoke, she pushed the book directly into his hands. "Take a look, Fellow Daoist, and you will understand."

Li Yinsheng did not stand on ceremony and accepted the book. Although the various Daoist Temples maintained independent lineages and never easily revealed their secrets to outsiders, it was not uncommon for them to exchange resources and share Cultivation Techniques and Magic that did not involve their core, fundamental legacies. On the Third Layer of Xuanzhen Temple’s Scripture Pavilion, there were quite a few Cultivation Techniques and Magic methods that had been acquired through exchanges with other Daoist Temples.

Of course, only a Temple Master or a Daoist could conduct exchanges of that caliber. Stewards and Direct Disciples could, at most, exchange ordinary Magic with disciples from other Daoist Temples. Given Meng’s status as the Temple Master’s Direct Lineage, she absolutely had the authority to show him some Minor Magic.

Therefore, he merely treated it as an ordinary spell that Meng Yu was sharing with him, looking down to flip through its pages.

However, after reading for only a brief moment, Li Yinsheng immediately snapped the book shut, his expression turning solemn. This Magic could technically fall under the category of "exchanging resources," but it was absolutely not something a Direct Disciple had the qualifications to hand over on a whim.

The book recorded over a dozen Arrays that required no physical materials and could be set up directly using one’s own Magical Power. Furthermore, it included a comprehensive selection of Trapping Arrays, Illusion Arrays, and Killing Arrays. Although this Magic formed a system of its own and was likely not part of Jade Altar Temple’s core lineage, it was unquestionably a profound and highly practical technique in its own right. Xuanzhen Temple did not have many spells of this tier either; it was entirely qualified to be placed on the Third Layer of their Scripture Pavilion.

If he could thoroughly master this single piece of Magic, he would practically never need to learn any other ordinary Magic again. The dozen or so Arrays contained within were enough to handle all common situations.

"Meng, this is too precious." Fighting the urge to keep it, Li Yinsheng handed the book back. "I cannot accept a reward I haven’t earned. I can’t take this."

"I brought this specifically for you. Do you not like it?" Meng Yu took the book back, a trace of confusion flashing through her eyes.

Li Yinsheng shook his head. "Magic of this tier is incredibly precious. If you teach it to me in secret and word gets out, even if you are the Temple Master’s Direct Lineage, you will face severe punishment. Your Cultivation will definitely be crippled."

Although he did not know why Meng would gift him something so valuable, Li Yinsheng could not simply accept it. Otherwise, if it were exposed, Jade Altar Temple would definitely punish Meng Yu heavily. At best, her Cultivation would be crippled; at worst, she would be executed to cleanse the sect. When that time came, let alone whether her status as the Temple Master’s Direct Lineage could absolve her of the crime, there was a good chance that she would face an even harsher punishment precisely *because* of that status, just to make an example of her.

However, he had already made up his mind. Later, he would discuss the matter with his Martial Uncle and select a piece of Magic from the Third Layer of Xuanzhen Temple’s Scripture Pavilion to openly and legitimately exchange with Jade Altar Temple for this manual. It would be inappropriate for him to accept it as a private gift from Meng, but he did not need to learn it in secret anyway.

Jade Altar Temple would have absolutely no reason to refuse if a young Daoist with immense potential—who also happened to be on good terms with their Temple Master’s Direct Lineage—came knocking in person to exchange a piece of Magic that did not involve their core lineage, especially if he offered a generous trade.

Li Yinsheng wouldn’t even mind paying a premium to exchange for this Magic because he truly coveted it. It wasn’t just practical; it was practically tailor-made for him. He was determined to get his hands on it!