Chapter 344: Spiritual Restriction? The Mystery of the Incomplete Array

Before arriving, Cang Fengheng's heart had been tense.

Now, his mind finally relaxed slightly, and a relieved, peaceful smile appeared on his face. "In that case, I can rest easy.

There are still trivial matters to handle in the clan, so it is inconvenient to stay long. I will take my leave now."

"Take care, Daoist Friend Cang. Elder Chen, please see Daoist Friend Cang out on my behalf." Xu Chuan stood up to see him off.

"Yes, Family Head."

Cang Fengheng cupped his hands in farewell and gracefully departed, accompanied by Chen Changge.

Inside the Main Hall.

Xu Mingxian examined the two items and suddenly asked, "Father, now that the Cang family has also submitted, out of the former Four Top Aristocratic Families of Heavenly Azure Prefecture, only the Xi family remains.

When do we plan to make a move against the Heavenly Azure Sect?"

And the Liu clan and other aristocratic families attached to the Heavenly Azure Sect would probably switch sides right before the battle."

"When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter," Xu Chuan said calmly.

"As for when to eliminate them, there is no rush. Even a cornered rabbit will bite, let alone a severely injured Nascent Soul stage powerhouse whose lifespan is nearing its end.

Such a person, if left with nothing to lose, will be utterly terrifying!"

"You are right, Father." Xu Mingxian nodded slightly. "The Xi family is currently Xi Daoyun's weakness and soft spot. As long as they are around, Xi Daoyun will not dare to act recklessly.

But Xi Daoyun knows he is about to die, and he is fully aware of the situations of the Heavenly Azure Sect and the Xi family.

Will he really not go mad?"

"He will," Xu Chuan confirmed. "After he finds a way out for the Xi family, that should be the time he comes knocking on our Xu family's door."

"That will be the funeral he prepares for himself!"

Xu Mingxian paused slightly, revealing a puzzled expression.

Seeing this, Xu Chuan chuckled softly. "If it were you who had dominated for a thousand years, would you allow yourself to pass away in obscurity within a grotto-residence due to injury and illness?"

"He wants to die in battle!" Xu Mingxian realized. "And he hopes to heavily injure our Xu family in the process?!"

"If Moyue is heavily injured, or if you are, Father, those previously allied aristocratic families might harbor ulterior motives.

Heavenly Azure Prefecture would fall into chaos for at least another dozen years.

Then the Xi family would have a chance to catch their breath!"

Soon after, Xu Mingxian laughed lightly. "However, Xi Daoyun thinks too highly of himself. The Five Elements Heavenly Dipper Array that I set up is not something a half-crippled Early-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator can break!"

"I only fear that we will have no choice but to fight!"

"Why?"

"You also know that a dying man will go mad. If it were me, and I could not breach the City Protection Great Formation of Cloudstream City, I would definitely guard the gates. Anyone who entered or exited would be killed!"

Xu Mingxian's expression changed upon hearing this.

"If our Xu family hid away for a few years and simply waited for him to die, I am afraid it would be very difficult for us to truly control Heavenly Azure Prefecture in the future.

Moreover, we do not have that kind of time."

With Xu Chuan and the others returning soon, running into Xi Daoyun blocking the city would be a terrible situation.

"Therefore, Xi Daoyun must be killed by our Xu family. Only then can we truly complete the transition of power from the old to the new!"

Xu Mingxian pondered for a moment and said, "If Xi Daoyun fights to the death, his strength should be able to reach its peak, perhaps even stronger. Can Moyue defeat him?"

"No, but a fourth-tier Flood Dragon's physique is no ordinary thing. Heavily injuring him will be no easy task, so I estimate his target will be me."

"Father, you are going to fight too?!" Xu Mingxian exclaimed, his face turning pale. "No, Father! You are tied to the very survival of our Xu family. How can you easily put yourself in danger!"

"Silly child." Xu Chuan smiled and gently rapped his head. "Do you think I am some delicate flower raised in a greenhouse?

Rest assured, I would never do something I am not confident in!

His time of death is not far off."

"I believe you, Father," Xu Mingxian said. "However, please be careful in all things. Our Xu family cannot do without your guidance in the future!"

"I know. Powerful sects and aristocratic families also have their own drawbacks. Over time, factions will inevitably emerge, and in families like ours, divisions are usually based on bloodlines.

Even if I were not here, with all of you around, the Xu family would still be able to prosper.

But hundreds of years from now, it would be destined to go astray, perhaps even parting ways and splitting into several independent branches!"

Xu Mingxian remained silent.

Seeing this, Xu Chuan patted his shoulder and grinned. "My goal is the Immortal Dao and longevity. I have no intention of seeking my own death.

If there were truly a life-and-death crisis, I would rather hide out in a single city. The mockery and insults of others would not affect me in the slightest.

I would wait until I am invincible in the world before coming out to slaughter my enemies."

Xu Mingxian chuckled, but then said solemnly, "Father, as long as you are here, we are here, and our Xu family will not fall apart."

Xu Chuan nodded slightly. "Go on then. These two items should be of great use to you. Comprehend them well."

"I will take my leave."

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

In a certain Quiet Room.

Almost every day, Xu Mingxian spent several hours immersing his mind into the Jade Box gifted by the Cang family.

The Jade Box hovered silently above the array-reinforced altar table. The ancient restriction markings flowing across its surface drifted slowly, as if possessing a life of their own.

They formed a perfectly natural and near-flawless restriction loop.

'A spiritual restriction?!'

Xu Mingxian was shocked inwardly.

He attempted to analyze it.

However, the profundity of this restriction far exceeded his expectations. Layers upon layers were nested together, holding endless variations. It seemed to have a discernible pattern, but upon closer inspection, it was like looking at flowers through a dense fog.

Whenever he felt he was about to touch its core, the array pattern trajectories would shift subtly, leaving him completely at a loss on where to even begin.

'What a formidable restriction!'

'The Cang family founder's attainments in the Dao of restrictions must have reached perfection, far beyond the level of ordinary fourth-tier array masters.'

Xu Mingxian felt a chill of awe in his heart.

With nowhere to start, Xu Mingxian began studying the incomplete four-tier array inside the Cyan Jade Slip.

The patterns of the incomplete array were extraordinarily complex, with many missing parts. The circulation paths of spirit power were frequently interrupted, making it a truly difficult ancient array diagram to restore.

Yet, Xu Mingxian could not shake off a lingering sense of dissonance.

He began to forcibly deduce the array, wanting to catch a glimpse of its complete form.

'Hmm? The way this broken spirit power loop connects... and the underlying logic of this cluster of incomplete array patterns...'

Xu Mingxian's brows furrowed slightly.

His fingertips subconsciously traced lines in the empty air, mentally linking certain partial structures of the incomplete array with some of the pattern variations on the surface of the Jade Box's restriction.

'It feels familiar... Could this actually contain the hidden methodology and essence of the Jade Box's restriction?'

This discovery reinvigorated his spirit.

He stopped trying to restore the array and shifted his perspective, treating the incomplete four-tier array as another form of cipher or blueprint to decode.

He focused heavily on scrutinizing its structure and variations for any hidden laws connected to the Jade Box's restriction.

As his deductions deepened, more and more clues began to emerge and verify each other.

Those points where the array seemed broken and impassable could actually form an entirely different, logically consistent pathway when viewed through the concepts of restriction methodology.

Those inexplicable redundancies or bizarre arrangements of array patterns, when placed within a restriction framework, corresponded directly to critical trigger points or defensive mechanisms.

'So that is it!'

A brilliant light shone in Xu Mingxian's eyes, his mind suddenly enlightened. 'This is not a genuine incomplete four-tier array at all!

Or rather, its surface is an array diagram impossible to restore, but its true core cleverly uses the format of an array...

...to covertly record an incredibly brilliant set of restriction techniques.

And this set of techniques is highly likely the key to opening the Jade Box!'

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He could not help but sigh in admiration. 'What a genius the Cang family founder was! To hide the solution to the restriction in such an obscure manner within an incomplete four-tier array.'

The restriction on the Jade Box was profound and flawless. Without the proper solution, even the Ancestor of Profound Moon would struggle to crack it.

And if opened without the correct method, the contents of the Jade Box would certainly self-destruct.

This was a common contingency plan used by Array Masters.

Many of the grand arrays in the Xu Residence had self-destruct restrictions. Activating just a single crucial node would trigger a chain reaction.

Given the current scale of the arrays protecting the Xu Residence.

If they were to self-destruct, anyone below the level of a Great Nascent Soul Cultivator would face certain death!

Even top-tier defensive magic treasures could be torn to shreds!

'The Cang family founder truly went to great lengths. Afraid of attracting greedy eyes after his death, he left behind his inheritance in such a hidden way.

It is just a pity that all of his descendants misunderstood his intentions, focusing solely on repairing the incomplete four-tier array.

They wasted over a thousand years to no avail.

Had they discovered the secret within, even if one generation failed to grasp it...

...over a millennium, they might have actually deciphered the solution to the Jade Box's restriction.

And obtained the legacy he left behind!'

"I wonder what kind of restriction inheritance it is to make the Cang family founder act so cautiously," Xu Mingxian muttered to himself. "This is the first time I have seen a spiritual restriction."

However, even though he had discovered the secret, deducing the incomplete four-tier array would be no easy feat.

Although Xu Mingxian was confident he could deduce the restriction's solution, it would take a considerable amount of time—at least half a year or more.

Xu Chuan was either comprehending a divine ability or on his way to comprehending a new one.

He did not have a moment of free time.

The same applied to Xu Mingxian.

The Dao of Formations was endless and boundless, and the Dao of Restrictions was filled with infinite variations.

They required years and months of continuous study to fully master.

In the entire Xu family, the two of them were arguably the busiest.

Following closely behind was Xu Deling.

Xu Mingxian calmed his mind, took out several blank jade slips, and began recording, deconstructing, and reorganizing his deductions step by step.

This required a massive amount of calculation, simulation, and trial-and-error.

He could only advance steadily, one step at a time.

Several days later.

Xu Chuan sent a message to Xu Mingxian, informing him of his plan to head to Greedy Wolf Prefecture.

Inside the Xu Residence's Underground Teleportation Plaza.

Xu Mingxian shared his findings regarding the connection between the Jade Box and the incomplete four-tier array.

Xu Chuan was quite surprised. "To think there was such a connection!"

"It seems the item inside might be the core inheritance that led to the Cang family founder's rise to power!"

Xu Mingxian nodded. "I thought the same. Once I finish the task you assigned me, Father, I will go into full seclusion to deduce the restriction methods and crack the Jade Box."

"I believe you can do it, but do not neglect your daily cultivation."

"I understand," Xu Mingxian smiled. "But thanks to the sublimation of my talent when I advanced to the Golden Core stage, my cultivation speed is not slow.

Even without intentionally activating it, my body continuously absorbs the surrounding spiritual qi to aid my cultivation.

As of now, I have already stepped into the third layer of the Golden Core stage."

"That speed is indeed absurd. As expected of a talent originally meant to assist cultivation; it is only now truly showing its power."

Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Who knows, you might even surpass Deling and me in the future."

Half an incense stick of time later.

The magnificent teleportation array beneath the Xu Residence flared with blinding light, and spatial forces violently surged.

Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian stood within the formation. Following a flash of intense light, the two vanished from where they stood.

Greedy Wolf Prefecture.

Within a desolate, rugged mountain forest.

The space suddenly warped and rippled before two figures stumbled slightly as they appeared.

It was Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian, arriving via long-distance teleportation.

As soon as they materialized, Xu Chuan's powerful divine sense silently unfurled like spilling mercury, instantaneously covering a radius of nearly fifty kilometers.

"Where are we?"

Although Xu Chuan had once traveled through Greedy Wolf Prefecture under the alias of Daoist White Brow, he had mostly stuck to populated areas.

He genuinely did not recognize this particular mountain range.

However, about thirty-five to forty kilometers to the east, seven or eight chaotic spiritual power fluctuations were clashing violently, accompanied by faint shouts.

"There's a fight going on to the east," Xu Chuan chuckled lightly. "Perfect timing to ask for directions."

With a mere thought, subtle cracks echoed from his facial bones. His muscle contours shifted, and in the blink of an eye, he transformed into an ordinary-looking middle-aged man with slightly sinister eyes.

Xu Mingxian was already used to this sight.

Xu Chuan looked at him and smiled. "Let me help you disguise yourself as well."

After speaking, he reached out and lightly pressed his hand onto Xu Mingxian's shoulder, transferring his Withered Glory Spiritual Power into his son's body.

Xu Mingxian felt his life force being rapidly drained, condensing into a Green Orb at his dantian.

Immediately after, wrinkles and faint age spots appeared on his skin. His head of black hair turned snow-white inch by inch, and a foot-long gray beard grew from his chin out of thin air.

Coupled with his naturally calm demeanor, he looked exactly like an old cultivator bearing an immortal aura, yet exuding a trace of unfathomable mystery.

"If you want to return to normal, you only need to use your mana to shatter the sphere of life force in your dantian."

"Your methods are truly becoming more and more profound, Father."

Xu Mingxian looked at his own hands, noting the fine wrinkles that had appeared.

"Manipulating life force can only go this far. But I recently obtained the Thousand Faces Art, which can completely alter one's appearance—turning them entirely into another person, just like I did.

When cultivated to Great Accomplishment, even your aura, divine sense, and dantian can be disguised, perfectly mimicking someone else.

If you are interested, I can teach it to you."

"There is no need, Father. Comprehending divine abilities is difficult enough, and my Dao of Formations gives me plenty to study," Xu Mingxian pondered. "However, this Secret Art would be incredibly suitable for the family's Shadow Division."

"You caught on fast. I had that exact intention when I acquired this Secret Art. However, it is comparable to a divine ability in grade, making it exceptionally difficult to cultivate.

Once I cultivate it to Great Accomplishment, I will simplify it so that even Qi Refining cultivators can learn it.

Otherwise, at minimum, one needs to be in the Late Foundation Establishment stage, or even the Golden Core stage to practice it.

Moreover, reaching Great Accomplishment or Perfection with it is something not even every Golden Core cultivator can achieve."

"To be so impressive... where did you get it, Father?" Xu Mingxian asked curiously.

"The Other Shore assassin organization. I took control of a Golden Core True Monarch-level assassin who had joined The Other Shore, which allowed me to learn quite a few of their cultivation methods and secret arts."

Xu Mingxian was startled upon hearing this.

"We will talk more about this when we have the chance. Let's head over and take a look first."

"Yes, Father," Xu Mingxian nodded in agreement.

Xu Chuan took the lead, flying toward the source of the spellcasting fluctuations, with Xu Mingxian following closely behind.

A distance of thirty-five to forty kilometers.

The two arrived in mere moments.

In a relatively sheltered mountain col, two groups were at each other's throats. Spiritual light flashed chaotically as magic treasures bombarded one another in a fiercely contested battle.

In the center of the col, a bizarre plant about a meter tall stood out conspicuously. It was as blood-red as crimson, with tiny flames dancing along the edges of its petals.

"Oh? A third-tier spirit medicine, the Blood Flame Flower. Quite rare. Judging by its age, it has reached a thousand years."

"Mingxian, our luck is quite good."

Xu Chuan's gaze fell on the Blood Flame Flower as he transmitted his voice with a faint smile.