[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars":3,"chapter-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-232":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Immortal Path Among the Stars",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2320164,4537,"Chapter 232","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-232",232,"\u003Cp>Beneath the ground cave lay a long stone staircase; the once pitch-black passage was now lit as bright as day by a white orb hovering above Ximen Mei’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Wang Yu descend, she pulled out a white circular disc from her person, fiddled with it briefly, then tossed it toward the cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A sharp *thud*.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the disc hit the ground, a thick white mist erupted, swiftly obscuring the entire entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Ximen Mei speak to Wang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ve temporarily sealed the entrance with a formation disc—so long as no one comes close to inspect, no one will notice anything amiss for now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister’s foresight is admirable,” Wang Yu praised, then recalled the three Bi Shui Formation Banners in his storage pouch and asked, “But I’ve always wondered—the difference between formation discs and formation flags. Both are portable tools for setting up formations, and both seem capable of deploying arrays anywhere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brother Wang asks like that because he's completely clueless about formation arts,\" said Xi Men Mei with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? Why do you say that, Sister?” Wang Yu blinked and asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s simple: formation flags and discs that can be deployed instantly are merely artifacts imbued with minor sealing effects—useful at best for concealment or basic defense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True formations are different. They require specialized “formation tools” from a formation master, and must be set under specific celestial and terrestrial conditions—they’re generally immovable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, true formations possess boundless power, unpredictable transformations, and countless varieties. Once a formation master stands within his own array, he is nearly invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, even I, a Qi Condensation cultivator and mere formation apprentice, would dare face a Foundation Establishment cultivator without fleeing if I were inside my own established formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low-tier formation may not kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but as long as I’m within my own array, he won’t be able to touch me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for your question about the difference between flags and discs—in our eyes, there is a clear distinction. Generally, a single flag cannot establish a complete seal; you need at least three or more as a set.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Discs, however, can establish a seal on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any cultivator can use formation flags—just channel Qi and throw them, and they activate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Discs are more complex; you need at least some knowledge of formation arts to use them effectively. We formation masters and apprentices use them most often, and they yield greater power as a result.” As she spoke, Ximen Mei followed the mechanical dragonfly while giving Wang Yu a general explanation of flags and discs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder formation masters and apprentices rarely leave their sects,” Wang Yu said, suddenly understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. If my master hadn’t left the sect, relying on its formations, he could have trapped a Golden Core elder for a time. How could two mere Foundation Establishment cultivators have ambushed him?” Ximen Mei sighed, clearly recalling the past, then fell silent as she walked steadily down the passage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu rubbed his scalp, remembering the formation notebook he’d acquired—it seemed he really ought to find time to study it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the stone steps descended deeper, he grew wary, silently activating his Hyper-Sense to amplify his senses, while clutching several protective talismans in his hand, ready for any sudden threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his other hand, he still gripped the faint phantom of the Xiao Mi Yun Banner, continuously channeling Qi into it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This spirit artifact was interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Qi flowed into it, the concealment effect would last indefinitely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But once he withdrew his Qi, the phantom banner would dissolve and vanish—only when Ximen Mei summoned another phantom from the artifact could he use it again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, only one phantom could exist at a time; if a second was summoned, the first—even if still fed Qi—would vanish on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These details, however, were told to him by Ximen Mei; whether they were true, he wasn’t certain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the mechanical puppet leading the way and their presence concealed by the Xiao Mi Yun Banner, the two descended safely, walking nearly a hundred zhang deep before faint sounds of flowing water reached their ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both felt a surge of joy and quickened their pace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they followed the mechanical dragonfly around a bend, a damp, misty breeze struck their faces, and ahead, a glow flickered—the sound of water now unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must be just ahead. For caution’s sake, let the puppet go first,” Ximen Mei stopped and turned to Wang Yu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever you decide, Sister.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu nodded in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ximen Mei then pulled another sphere from her robes and tossed it to the ground; in a flash of white light, it reshaped into a second mechanical dragonfly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She flicked her wristband, and the first dragonfly flew toward the glow, while the second hovered before them, its compound eyes flashing white, projecting a small, mirror-sized light screen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen displayed the view from the first dragonfly’s perspective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu’s eyelid twitched twice at the sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moments later, the mechanical puppet reached the glow—and revealed another cave entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dragonfly flapped its wings and flew inside; faintly, they could see a vast underground cavern, its floor shrouded in white mist, suggesting a sizable underground pool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But before they could examine it further, something flashed across the screen—and the display vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu and Ximen Mei exchanged glances; both knew the second dragonfly was likely destroyed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So something really is here?” Ximen Mei shook her wristband—no response came—and her expression darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spiritual springs are pure sources of Qi. After so many years, it’s not surprising some spirit-sensitive beasts from the realm have been drawn here,” Wang Yu said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s just a beast, that’s easier. Our Four Symbols Sect is famed for beast taming—we have many ways to deal with them,” Ximen Mei sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? So Sister already has a plan,” Wang Yu smiled slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Blunt force won’t work—if we anger the beast and it destroys those Blood Yuan Mushrooms, all our effort will be wasted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I happen to have a few special tranquilizing pills for beasts. With some bait and a light dusting, we can easily subdue whatever’s inside.” As she spoke, she pulled a small vial from her robes and withdrew a black pill.\u003C\u002Fp>",1044,"2026-06-20T15:44:32.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","7bc014e7f49d25880fecd10005524a2c967314eae51bef815a04238875b651e7","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-233","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-231",530,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-immortal-path-among-the-stars-cover.jpg"]