Chapter 393: Seven Star Spirit-Locking Formation

One, another, and yet another…… there are seven in total.

Each of the seven paintings has seven stars.

And the seven stars correspond to seven points inside the canyon.

I memorized each point, formed them in my mind, then outlined them with lines.

When those seven points connected into a surface, I stood dazed before the rear window, my heart thumping wildly in my chest.

I seem to have discovered something!

I couldn't quite believe it, so I picked up those paintings again for a second comparison.

Sure enough, it's still the same as before.

The points corresponding to the seven stars in the canyon, when linked, formed a formation—the Seven Star Spirit-Locking Formation!

This is an ancient formation recorded in the Great Witch's witchcraft notes, and I remember it very clearly.

The so-called Seven Star Spirit-Locking Formation uses the pattern of the Big Dipper Seven Stars to set up an array, sealing all power within the formation, including spiritual qi, souls, and even dragon veins……

Song Mountain, a place of outstanding people and spiritual energy, actually hides such a great ancient formation in a canyon next to the Great Dharma King Temple—what exactly did the person who set it conceal in this canyon?

And who set this formation?

Could it be Dahui Chan Master Liu Xingyi?

These paintings were drawn by him, and the clues were also provided by him; logically, this formation must have been set by him.

But the problem is, I once saw him in the high tower within the canyon.

For such an important formation, at such a crucial moment, he shouldn't have given me not even a hint, should he?

Or perhaps he did give a hint, but I failed to grasp it?

I carefully reconsidered what happened back then, turning it over in my mind, and finally confirmed that there was none.

Suppose…… suppose this ancient formation was not set by Liu Xingyi; he merely noticed the clues and figured out the mystery hidden in this canyon.

If that supposition holds, problems come flooding in.

The foremost point is…… did Liu Xingyi, after figuring this out, personally verify it himself?

Dahui Chan Master ultimately entered final nirvana, also at this point—does that count as verification?

According to my former nature, upon discovering such a great secret, I would certainly rush into the canyon to verify my speculation.

But this time I did not.

Because I know that an ancient formation is not something to be touched lightly; it involves far too much.

Even many things hidden within formations are left for specific fated ones.

It's obvious I am not that fated one; otherwise, when I saw Dahui Chan Master's mummified body in the high tower last time, I would have already discovered what ought to be found.

Then, could that fated one be Liu Junyan?

Or perhaps…… the Copper Coin Person?

Liu Junyan returned close to midnight; it was apparent he was somewhat fatigued, his body stained with a strong incense smell.

He saw me still sitting by the window, then glanced at the seven paintings spread on the bed, and exclaimed in surprise: 'Xiao Jiu, why aren't you asleep yet? There's a wind at night; Song Mountain isn't as warm as Wufu Town—beware of catching a chill.'

He said this while walking over, reaching out to close the window.

I grabbed his hand and shook my head at him: 'Don't close it yet, Āyàn—I have something to say to you.'

I related my findings to him exactly as they were.

Finally, Liu Junyan first draped a coat over me, then, following my analysis, took those paintings and compared them again.

In the end, his result matched mine exactly.

"You mean I might be that fated one?" Liu Junyan pondered, "Did this formation really leave something for me?"

Moonlight poured in through the rear window; I stared fixedly at Liu Junyan's shadow cast on the ground, not answering but asking instead: 'Āyàn, what about the eighth po?'

On the ground there was only one shadow—his own.

Liu Junyan said: 'I have temporarily left him in the meditation hall; Empty Silence Abbott will personally perform his initiation.'

I asked: 'Āyàn, do you say Empty Silence Abbott knows about this ancient formation?'

Liu Junyan startled: 'Xiao Jiu, why are you asking that?'

I just felt something was odd.

After pondering for a long time, I then said: 'Every time we come, Empty Silence Abbott lets us stay in this stone house; the stone house is often cleaned, yet its contents are always put back exactly as they were, without the slightest disorder.'

Liu Junyan didn't understand: 'Perhaps the little novice monk responsible for cleaning this stone house is just a very orderly person.'

Especially someone with obsessive-compulsive tendencies.

I nodded to show understanding, but continued to question: 'Everyone says Dahui Chan Master entered final nirvana in the Great Dharma King Temple, yet he actually did so in this canyon, inside a high tower unknown to outsiders; Āyàn, before we tell Empty Silence Abbott about this, did he know?'

Liu Junyan's face changed slightly; he keenly sensed something: 'Xiao Jiu, are you suspecting Empty Silence Abbott?'

I shook my head: 'I don't even know what I'm thinking myself, Āyàn; my mind is in turmoil, I really want to grasp something, but I just can't—perhaps I'm overthinking.'

Liu Junyan reached out and embraced me: 'Xiao Jiu, it's late; go to bed first, we'll talk about everything tomorrow.'

I indeed feel somewhat uncomfortable…… my stomach is empty.

But before we set out from Dang Pu, I had only taken three whiffs of sandalwood; today at the Great Dharma King Temple I also inhaled plenty of incense, so I shouldn't be hungry.

Then this overwhelming surge of hunger hit; I hastily poured out the medicinal pills from the small porcelain bottle Li Qingying had prepared for me and ate them.

After eating, I felt much better.

Lying in bed, as I was gradually falling asleep, I still wondered: should it be that overusing my mind caused too rapid consumption?

No.

If it were my own overthinking, at most I'd have a headache rather than hunger, right?

Could it be because of the little guy in my belly that I managed to analyze all this at once?

Exactly!

Little Guy needs to absorb Spiritual Qi; its sensitivity to the Seven-Star Spirit-Sealing Formation should be greater than anyone's, right?

So, I really owe it to it that a sudden inspiration led me to discover the Seven-Star Spirit-Sealing Formation?

Somewhat far-fetched, yet inexplicably somewhat reasonable.

I drifted off to sleep in a daze.

But Liu Junyan beside me didn't sleep all night.

Early the next morning, when I woke up, I saw Liu Junyan standing silently at the back window, gazing at that canyon.

I got up, walked over to him, and was about to say something when he patted my arm, smiling and saying: "Xiao Jiu, you're up? Go wash up first; we'll still need to go to the Great Dharma King Temple later, Empty Silence Abbott is waiting for me…"

As he spoke, a young novice monk entered carrying a food box.

The food box contained our breakfast.

He laid out our breakfast item by item on the table, smiling and telling us: "Venerable Monk, no need to rush; this morning the temple has received distinguished guests, the Abbott himself is receiving them, and he specifically instructed me to tell you to come a little later."

My heart skipped a beat.

Liu Junyan patted my hand again without a trace, signaling me to stay calm, and asked the young novice: "Oh, the temple has received distinguished guests? May I ask where they come from?"