Chapter 139: 134. One Hundred and Eight Springs

134. One Hundred and Eight Springs

"Stop—a Stop Symbol?"

The two were stunned for a moment, looking at Tang Zhao simultaneously. Tang Zhao did not deny it, saying, "In such a dangerous situation, someone has to be in control, right?"

The two were dazed for a moment. Che Sha cried out, "Impossible! Our Rune Formulas are secret transmissions from our master! You don't even recognize them, so how could you create a Stop Symbol?"

There are such things as Stop Symbols among Rune Formulas, but there is no specific formula called "Rune Standstill" or "Ten Thousand Runes End." Theoretically, all Rune Formulas have their corresponding "Stop Symbols"—that is, identifying the formula, analyzing the flow of energy—which is to say, the flow of Origin Stone power—and then using a special formula to cut it off to reach a harmless state of cessation. Otherwise, if forced to stop, the best case is the formula being completely ruined, and the worst case is an immediate explosion.

Therefore, one cannot easily place a Stop Symbol on an unfamiliar formula unless one recognizes all formulas. Moreover, this game does not leave much time for anyone. Tang Zhao never spent more time than others; where would he have found the time to place a Stop Symbol?

Jiang Shenyi said smugly, "An ordinary person can't, but my junior brother can. Although there are many Rune Formulas, they ultimately have unchanging laws. As long as one knows the 'why' behind them, any unfamiliar formula can be seen through at a glance. Your spring water likely cleanses formulas. But the formulas on the Origin Stones are all Thunder Symbols overlaid with Stop Symbols, with the Stop Symbol on the top layer. If it weren't for the Stop Symbol he applied, those Origin Stones would have exploded long ago. As it turned out, that spring water didn't wash away the Thunder Symbols, but instead washed away his Stop Symbols. Originally, even if it were to explode, only the last formula would have exploded, but in the end, they all exploded. If he hadn't blocked the Thunder Light, you all would have met an unimaginable fate."

He spoke with great smugness, as if that maneuver had been his own show.

This explanation actually made sense, and the two believed half of it instantly, though the other half remained skeptical that anyone could have such great ability. Che Sha stared at Tang Zhao, then glared at Jiang Shenyi, saying, "You speak so definitively about 'unchanging laws' and 'seeing through at a glance'—can you do it too?"

Jiang Shenyi said without hesitation, "Of course I can't."

Che Sha sneered, "If you can't do it, what right do you have to vouch for him?"

Jiang Shenyi said, "I can guarantee that a chicken can lay an egg without needing to know how to lay an egg myself."

Tang Zhao hurriedly cut off their argument, saying, "Senior Brother exaggerates too much. How could anyone in the world see through all Rune Formulas? I myself can only understand some simple formulas at most."

Difficult formulas can only be solved with the help of the Glasses.

So, all formulas can still be understood.

However, those formulas you just used were all very simple.

Although he was humble, Che Sha, while unable to see through the few words he kept hidden, understood one layer of meaning and said, "In other words, the formulas we learned with such great difficulty are all very simple to you? So you are just as arrogant as him; he is arrogant on the outside, and you are arrogant on the inside. But I don't believe it. I will write a formula, and if you can immediately write down a Stop Symbol, I will believe you."

Just as Tang Zhao was about to answer, Jiang Shenyi said, "Whatever you say goes? Why should we listen to you?"

Che Sha said, "If you can do it, we will both acknowledge you as our Big Brother, and our alliance will be led by you."

Jiang Shenyi said amusedly, "Not to mention whether the alliance can even be formed, even if it could, you lost just now, and we saved you—shouldn't you be led by us?"

Che Sha was speechless. Wusun Tong said, "You are right. We admit defeat and will be led by you."

Che Sha said, "If you can do it, we will offer a few more gifts. Do you see that spring water? That is a specialty of our sect; there are many other types of such peculiar spring water."

Tang Zhao said, "I remember you come from..."

Che Sha and Wusun Tong said simultaneously, "One Hundred and Eight Springs!"

Jiang Shenyi said, "One Hundred and Eight... you have over a hundred types of this spring water?"

Che Sha said, "Our sect indeed has one hundred and eight springs. Not every one is useful for Rune Formulas, but they are all very magical. Originally, allies should give each other gifts, and we will give you spring water. If you are truly that capable, we will invite you to visit our sect with the etiquette of honored guests. We have even more precious spring water there, all of which can be gifted."

Both Jiang Shenyi and Tang Zhao could not help but be moved. Tang Zhao had vaguely heard the name of the One Hundred and Eight Springs in ancient texts; it was an ancient Demon Cave in Liangzhou, even older than the Li Huo Prison. And because it was located deep in Liangzhou, near Guifang, it was sparsely populated and only recorded in ancient scrolls, becoming a myth. Legend had it that every spring in the One Hundred and Eight Springs had different effects and was incredibly magical, with ethereal treasures like the Age-Old Spring and the Good Luck Spring.

He also wanted to see the magical spring water with his own eyes, so he smiled and said, "Then set your challenge."

This time, Che Sha did not rush for time, but seriously wrote a long string of Rune Formulas. Jiang Shenyi watched from the side and indeed did not recognize them, but just by looking at the length, he knew they were extraordinary, thinking to himself that this woman also had some skill.

As everyone knows, the longer and more complex a single formula is, the more difficult it is. Formulas are all composed of a string of Base Fu; every additional Base Fu raises the difficulty by a level. It involves all sorts of changes, and the Spirit and Inspiration consumed are not even inferior to a formula group consisting of multiple connected formulas.

Che Sha finished writing, pushed it to Tang Zhao, and said, "Just this one."

Tang Zhao took a look and said, "This is a Beast Taming Symbol?"

Che Sha's heart sank, and her arrogance immediately deflated by three parts.

Tang Zhao took it, and the more he looked, the more interesting it became. This Beast Taming Symbol seemed capable of driving the Soul, with extremely strong suppression power, far more powerful than those Thunder Symbols that seemed obscure but were actually variations on a theme.

While admiring it, he picked up his brush and drew the Stop Symbol, then had the Glasses record it and stored it in his private collection.

The two from Liangzhou felt that he hadn't even thought about it; his movements were effortless, his speed was like flowing water, and the formula was already stopped. Finally, they were completely convinced and said, "We submit. We acknowledge you as our Big Brother."

Jiang Shenyi said amusedly, "According to the customs of your Liangzhou, is there any ceremony for acknowledging a Big Brother?"

Che Sha and the other looked at each other, and together they drew the small knives at their waists and cut their hands.

Tang Zhao hurriedly grabbed one with each hand and said, "This is Yunzhou territory; let's follow Yunzhou customs."

The two were held by him and felt as if their hands were clamped by iron hoops, unable to move at all. They could not help but be even more astonished; it turned out this youth's martial arts were also above theirs.

Both were surprised and could not help but feel ashamed, thinking: This youth is even younger than us, yet he is stronger than us in every way. We thought ourselves the proud children of heaven in Liangzhou, but upon meeting two peers on the road, they are this powerful. Who knows how many dazzling figures there are at the Rune Assembly? Indeed, Master was right; the Central Plains is truly a place of outstanding people and divine spirits, where geniuses emerge in succession. It seems we were just arrogant frogs in a well.

Yunzhou has no traditional ceremony for acknowledging a Big Brother. As for burning incense on the ground or the eight-bows brotherhood, it didn't seem necessary. Tang Zhao thought of one on the spot: he took out an Origin Stone, and all four of them wrote their most proud Rune Formulas on it, then performed a formula connection to form a new formula group.

"Let's name this formula the Jade Spring Symbol as a witness to our alliance. The four of us will each transcribe a copy for identification. The original will be kept by Senior Brother."

Tang Zhao easily connected four completely different formulas into a group, which again revealed his powerful attainments in Rune Formulas. Jiang Shenyi thought: I still felt my junior brother's talent was similar to mine. It turns out his aptitude for martial arts is similar to mine, but his Rune Formula skills are far beyond mine, I don't know how far. It seems I won't be able to catch up to him for a while; I might as well focus more on learning martial arts in the future. For now, his martial arts are still not as good as mine. Every trade has its master; in the future, whoever compares Rune Formulas with me, I will smash their head in and see if they still want to compare!

Having thought this through, Jiang Shenyi handed the Jade Spring Symbol to Tang Zhao and said, "Everyone acknowledges you as Big Brother, why are you giving it to me?"

Tang Zhao smiled and said, "That's fine. In the future, I'll call you Senior Brother, and you call me Big Brother. Let's each go by our own terms."

After some joking, the alliance was set. Although Tang Zhao and the others did not know what the use of an alliance was, it was said that there were already phenomena of forming cliques and excluding others at the Rune Assembly. To prevent others from ganging up to bully people, forming an alliance first was not bad.

The two from Liangzhou were straightforward. Once the ally status was confirmed, they directly opened their packs and took out the spring water they carried for their new allies to choose from.

"These spring waters of ours are not the most precious, but they are all very magical. Big Brother, feel free to take whatever you want."

At this time, Tang Zhao suddenly asked curiously, "Is there any spring water that turns a man into a woman when touched?"

The kind that turns back when touched by hot water?

The three looked at him together. Even Jiang Shenyi thought: So Junior Brother has this hobby?

It seemed there was none; Tang Zhao was a little disappointed.

Fearing he would ask something even more off-the-wall, Che Sha hurriedly introduced them one by one, saying, "This is the Termination Spring, Floating Spring, Reminder Spring, Good Luck Spring, Lion Spring..."

Tang Zhao was surprised: Is there really a Good Luck Spring?

Jiang Shenyi heard her introduction and said, "Can this Reminder Spring remind you of danger?"

Che Sha explained, "No, it's for when you have something to do in the future. For example, if you have something to do in three days, you drink a certain amount of spring water, and in three days, the spring water will boil in your stomach and make a noise to remind you not to forget."

... What kind of useless spring water is this?

Later, Tang Zhao and the others realized that "magical" was a very subtle word.

Useful ones like the Floating Spring, after drinking, one's body becomes light and nimble; when encountering strong winds, one can rise with the wind and drift in the air. Mysterious ones like the Good Luck Spring, drinking it can bring a person good luck, but no one has ever confirmed just how good the luck is, as luck is, after all, an ethereal and elusive thing. Peculiar ones like the Cock-Crowing Spring, after drinking, one's voice becomes shrill, just like a chicken crowing.

There are also useless ones like the Run-Run Spring, which causes diarrhea after drinking; Jiang Shenyi feels that taking two gulps of water from a roadside ditch would have the same effect.

In the end, the fellow disciples who had intended to have their eyes opened all felt that they had been deceived.

Although the disappointment was a bit great, Tang Zhao and the other person still symbolically accepted the gifts of alliance. Tang Zhao chose the Floating Spring and the Lion Spring, while Jiang Shenyi took the Termination Spring and the Good Luck Spring. The two then gifted back the specialty jade of Zhuoyu Villa to each other and acknowledged one another as friends.

The four of them happened to be going the same way, so they headed south together; the young people were not far apart in age, and having company on the road added to the liveliness.