Chapter 205 : The System Acts Again

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍complete formation—if a high-level Formation Master had been present—might have been largely deciphered simply by observation, identifying the direction of most nodes through patterns and experience. Unfortunately, the three Golden Core–level cultivators here were not particularly proficient in formations, so they still had to go door to door, knocking and extracting information bit by bit.

But… ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍after roughly calculating things, Long Tao realized that the number of doors he and True Person Mingzhu could still knock on was already quite limited. If time dragged on any longer, other people’s Door-Knocking Opportunities would also be squeezed out by the continuously issued System Tasks. By then… someone might truly be forced to knock on a door a second time, or grit their teeth and have their Divine Soul forcibly extracted, ultimately degenerating into a muddle-headed Drifter.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍at the moment there was no other method. The work that needed to be done still had to be done. That day, following the route he had planned, Long Tao knocked on the door of a household at the northern end of The Village.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍door creaked open. When he looked up, he could not help but freeze for a moment.

This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was not an ordinary farming household but a pharmacy. The walls were lined with medicine cabinets, and the air was filled with the smell of herbs. The one who opened the door was a middle-aged man wearing a blue cloth shirt, and an unpleasant scent of traditional medicine wafted from his clothes.

Long ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Tao immediately realized—this must be the home of Physician Xu. He spoke at once.

“Physician Xu, right?”

“That’s me. And you are…?” Physician Xu narrowed his eyes and looked him over. Suddenly he revealed a meaningful smile. “Hehe, you’re the husband from that newly arrived Young Couple, aren’t you?”

Long Tao was momentarily stunned. “You… how do you recognize me?”

During these days of knocking on so many doors, this was the first time he had encountered a villager who recognized him at a glance.

“If you don’t want others to know, don’t do it in the first place.” Physician Xu stroked his goat beard and chuckled. “The original Young Couple in the village, hehe… the husband was useless. As a doctor, I knew that long ago. It’s just that the man had a bad temper, so I never told him. But recently that household’s pretty wife ended up pregnant. Stop pretending to be an honest man.”

Long Tao was completely speechless. This doctor not only treated patients but also acted as the village’s information broker. He had said nothing about key matters, yet had rambled on about this kind of gossip. And besides… what did that woman’s pregnancy have to do with him? During that period, he had only been with Mingzhu.

“Doctor, don’t make wild accusations. There are so many men in the village—why suspect me?”

“Hmph. I’ve practiced medicine for so many years—do you think I lack that kind of judgment?” Physician Xu stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Your wife is a celestial beauty, yet you’re still thinking about other men’s wives. Young man, if you’re too greedy, you won’t be able to chew it all.”

You’re a doctor, not a paternity testing center! And besides, Long Tao had done absolutely nothing wrong.

But he had no desire to get entangled with these strange villagers. He quickly asked several questions about the formation. Physician Xu did provide a few vague answers, which at least counted as useful clues.

Back on the village road, Long Tao thought about the gossip the man had just mentioned. He also recalled that suspicious wife who seemed capable of using Spirit Speech—the one who had secretly mouthed the word “Husband” to him earlier.

A chill ran down his spine.

There were already enough troubles. He had no intention of creating more complications. From now on, he absolutely had to avoid further contact with that strange and dangerous woman.

…

Soon, the first formation node was found.

It turned out to be a fallen and broken roadside stele between the village and the town.

After discovering this node, everyone’s expressions became rather grim. It wasn’t because there was a problem with the formation. Rather, if they continued searching in this manner, by the time all the nodes were found, Mingzhu’s child might already be born.

At that moment, Shi Wenyuan—who had been mostly silent—suddenly stepped forward with his companions.

“Big Brother Xin, we scholars of Mo Palace are also proficient in formations. If you trust us, then once you find the second node, with the positions of the formation eye and two nodes, we might be able to calculate the remaining nodes.”

As he spoke, the several young people behind him also nodded. During these past days they had contributed little of substance, and they had long been itching to prove themselves.

Xin Wushe and True Person Mingzhu both adopted the mindset of trying anything at this point. They nodded at the same time.

…

Soon, the second node was discovered.

It was none other than the well at the center of the village that everyone passed almost every day.

With three key points now identified, Shi Wenyuan and the others immediately began drawing diagrams and performing calculations. In less than half a day, the sandy ground was filled with densely packed formation diagrams. They quickly identified several locations that were likely candidates.

And Shi Wenyuan’s group did not disappoint.

The third and fourth nodes were soon found. One was the village ancestral hall, which had always seemed useless because no one lived there and no one worshiped there. Everyone had thought it was merely decorative, but it turned out to conceal hidden mysteries.

The other node was outside the village—a broken carriage abandoned by the roadside.

Careful observation revealed that these nodes were actually connected by either obvious or subtle links: river channels, small paths, even the roots of plants protruding from the ground.

However, some objects blocked these pathways. Shi Wenyuan’s group showed no hesitation—after removing the obstacles, they simply dug trenches directly into the ground, forcibly ensuring that the formation’s pathways remained unobstructed.

As the formation gradually awakened, the two Golden Core cultivators and Du Yiluo clearly sensed that the invisible force suppressing their cultivation was beginning to loosen.

“So the formation truly works. Quickly find the last few nodes—we still have a chance.”

Even Xin Wushe showed a rare hint of a smile. Meanwhile, the skin on Du Yiluo’s body began to faintly flush red, as if some power within her was about to erupt.

Clearly, the one behind the scenes was growing increasingly anxious. The rhythm of day and night became even more chaotic and irregular. Daytime had been compressed almost to its limit—barely around one hour—but Mingzhu’s belly continued to grow according to real time.

After several more chaotic cycles of day and night, when only the final node remained before the formation could be completed, Mingzhu—her belly now large with pregnancy—suddenly felt something was wrong.

It was not abdominal pain, nor the baby kicking.

Instead, it felt as though some force was attempting to forcibly peel the fetus out of her body.

Fortunately, the sensation vanished almost instantly, but it still left her terrified.

At the same time, Long Tao—who was helping Shi Wenyuan’s group connect the formation—suddenly saw the System Interface Panel appear before him.

Before he could make sense of it, the familiar mechanical voice spoke, delivering a message that made his heart pound.

【An ancient surviving Great Power, “Old Weaver of Destiny,” just attempted to seize the fetus within True Person Mingzhu’s womb. Because the fetus is connected to the Host’s bloodline, in order to prevent Old Weaver of Destiny from using his Authority to harm the Host through the fetus, the System has already intervened to stop it.】

This…

While shocked, Long Tao was also momentarily confused.

What the hell… what kind of existence was this Old Weaver of Destiny?

An ancient Great Power. If even the System referred to it as an ancient Great Power, how terrifying must that be?

But what the System said next made his blood run cold.

【However, this System exists within the Host’s body and cannot protect True Person Mingzhu and her fetus for an extended period. Please leave this anomalous area as soon as possible and return to the original world.】