Chapter 55 Yellow Maple Valley! Mechanism Hall Steward! The Great Evolution Technique!

Chapter Fifty-Five: Back to Yellow Maple Valley! A Deacon of the Hundred Machines Hall! The Great Evolution Technique!

Three days later.

Zhou Ding returned to the bamboo grove courtyard.

Inside the pavilion.

Dozens of densely packed drawings were spread out on the stone table, outlining countless intricate rune lines, layer upon layer, interlocking, like a miniature array maze.

Some of the lines are as bold as dragons and snakes, while others are as delicate as strands of hair, intertwining with each other to form a vast and intricate system that is dizzying to look at.

Xin Ruyin sat at the stone table, her pale face showing undisguised exhaustion, and the dark circles under her eyes had deepened.

For the past three days, she has hardly left the house, devoting all her time to the restrictions on that golden treasure chest.

The meals Xiaomei brought her several times were left untouched and cooled to the side; she only occasionally drank a few sips of spiritual tea to refresh herself.

But her clear, watery eyes were exceptionally bright, sparkling with a kind of infatuated and excited light.

Whenever she deduces a key point, a faint smile appears on her lips, as if a child has discovered a beloved toy.

Zhou Ding sat opposite him, waiting quietly.

He didn't urge or disturb her, but occasionally picked up his teacup and took a sip, his gaze lingering on Xin Ruyin's focused profile for a moment before looking away.

In those three days, he witnessed firsthand what it meant to "work day and night without eating or sleeping."

This seemingly frail woman transforms completely once she immerses herself in the formation. Her focus, her obsession, and her heartfelt passion are truly admirable.

He recalled those scholars in his previous life who were devoted to scientific research, and they looked just like that.

"Young Master Zhou."

After an unknown amount of time, Xin Ruyin finally raised her head and gently exhaled.

She rubbed her sore eyes, a relieved smile appearing on her pale face.

"The complete array diagram has been replicated here."

She pushed the thick stack of blueprints in front of Zhou Ding, her voice tired but filled with an undisguised sense of accomplishment.

Zhou Ding took the blueprints and flipped through them page by page.

Although his current mastery of formations was not enough to fully understand those complex rune lines, he could sense the difficulty of the matter from Xin Ruyin's tone.

Being able to completely replicate the restriction is already a huge achievement.

"The complexity of this restriction far exceeds Ru Yin's expectations."

Xin Ruyin picked up her teacup, took a sip to moisten her dry throat, and a hint of awe flashed in her eyes: "The person who set up this restriction has been immersed in the art of formations for at least several hundred years. The shrewdness of their technique and the ingenuity of their layout are unparalleled in my life. Those runes are interlocked, and every part has been carefully calculated. If one thing is pulled, the whole thing will be affected. If it is forcibly broken, it may trigger a self-destruct mechanism."

She paused, then pointed to several key locations on the blueprint: "Especially here, here, and here, these are the core nodes of the entire restriction. These three points are interdependent and echo each other, forming a perfect closed loop. To break it, all three nodes must be dealt with simultaneously; otherwise, any imbalance will cause the restriction to collapse completely."

Zhou Ding was secretly alarmed upon hearing this.

The fact that this restriction could stump even a formation genius like Xin Ruyin shows that its power far exceeded his expectations.

"Thank you for your hard work, Miss Xin."

Seeing Xin Ruyin's increasingly pale face, Zhou Ding hesitated for a moment: "There's no rush to break the formation. With the array diagram here, you can take your time to deduce it. I'm not in a hurry."

Xin Ruyin nodded, about to speak, when she saw Zhou Ding take something out of his storage bag and gently place it on the stone table.

It was a medicinal herb, pure white with intact roots, emitting a faint fragrance.

The herb is about a foot long and has nine crystal-clear leaves, each as thin as a cicada's wing, which gleam with a warm, jade-like luster in the sunlight.

The edges of the leaves have faint, flowing pale golden lines, a feature that only appears after a long period of time.

A rich yet refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly filled the entire pavilion.

Xin Ruyin's gaze fell on the medicinal herb, and her pupils contracted slightly.

"This is... Snow Jade Ginseng?"

Her voice trembled slightly, filled with disbelief.

As someone who constantly needs elixirs to prolong her life, her understanding of various high-grade elixirs far surpasses that of ordinary people.

The appearance of this Snow Jade Ginseng, the number of leaves, and the golden patterns on its edges all indicate that it is quite old.

"An 800-year-old Snow Jade Ginseng!"

Xin Ruyin's voice completely changed.

She instinctively reached out, wanting to touch it, but then stopped in mid-air.

Her breathing became rapid, and an unnatural flush appeared on her pale face.

An elixir aged eight hundred years!

The medicinal power of this herb is enough to suppress her illness for at least two years!

This would allow her to focus more on deducing formations and finding a cure, instead of worrying about life-extending spirit stones every few months as she does now.

Xiao Mei covered her mouth, her eyes filled with unbelievable joy.

She looked at the medicinal herb, then at Zhou Ding, and then at her young mistress, and was so excited that she couldn't speak.

Only one thought echoed repeatedly in her mind: With this miraculous herb, the young lady will suffer much less!

No more suffering excruciating pain every month, secretly shedding tears in the middle of the night, forcing a smile to comfort yourself and saying "it's okay"!

Her eyes reddened, and she almost burst into tears.

Zhou Ding pushed the elixir in front of Xin Ruyin, his tone calm:

"Miss Xin, consider this herb as advance payment for breaking the ancient restriction."

Xin Ruyin was taken aback, then quickly waved her hand, "Fellow Daoist Zhou, this...this is too precious! I haven't even finished breaking the restriction yet, how can I accept such a valuable gift?"

Her voice carried a hint of panic.

She knew the value of this medicinal herb better than anyone else.

An 800-year-old Snow Jade Ginseng is absolutely priceless and unavailable in the market!

In the past few years, she has earned spirit stones by explaining formations and customizing formation diagrams, but the total amount of spirit stones she has earned is not enough to buy this spiritual herb.

Zhou Ding shook his head and looked at her honestly.

"Miss Xin, you must be aware of your own health condition, so please don't refuse."

The complexity of this ancient prohibition will likely take a long time to decipher.

What if Xin Ruyin dies before the restrictions are lifted?

Then his plan would fall through.

Xin Ruyin gave Zhou Ding a deep look.

She stood up and bowed deeply to Zhou Ding.

"Thank you for the medicine, Young Master Zhou."

Xiaomei hurriedly followed suit, her face full of gratitude, her eyes red and brimming with tears.

Her impression of Zhou Ding had risen from "generous sugar daddy" to "Miss's savior".

Zhou Ding waved his hand, indicating that the two did not need to be so polite.

He then took out a talisman from his storage bag and handed it to Xin Ruyin.

It was a light blue talisman, about the size of a palm, with flowing runes on its surface and faint spatial fluctuations emanating from it.

"This is a spirit communication talisman, capable of long-distance communication."

He explained, "If Miss Xin encounters danger in the future, or if a way to break the restriction is found, she can use this talisman to notify me. If I am in Yue, I will come as soon as I receive the message."

Xin Ruyin took the spirit talisman and carefully put it into her bosom.

"Rest assured, Young Master Zhou, Ruyin will do her utmost to break the restriction as soon as possible."

She paused, then added, "If there is any progress, Ruyin will inform you immediately, young master."

Zhou Ding nodded, stood up, and took his leave.

Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei saw them off at the gate of the courtyard.

Zhou Ding turned around and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards the two of them.

"Miss Xin, Miss Xiaomei, take care."

As soon as he finished speaking, his cloud-stepping boots flashed with a faint blue light, and his figure transformed into a streak of light, soaring into the sky and disappearing into the air above the bamboo forest in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Mei looked up at the receding light until it was completely out of sight before turning her gaze away.

"Miss, will Young Master Zhou come back?" she asked softly, her voice tinged with reluctance.

For the past year, Zhou Ding has come every afternoon to discuss formations with Miss, listen to her explain the principles of formations, and occasionally bring her some trinkets.

She's used to it.

Xin Ruyin withdrew her gaze and nodded gently.

"Yes."

She looked down at the snow jade ginseng in her hand, feeling the immense medicinal power and life force contained within it, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"With the array diagram there, he will definitely come back."

……

Taiyue Mountains.

A white streak of light pierced the sky at an astonishing speed, like a white lightning bolt, and in the blink of an eye, it passed through layers of clouds and landed in a hidden valley.

It was Zhou Ding.

He put away the Divine Wind Boat, stood at the entrance of the cave, and looked at the ever-flowing five-colored light curtain, feeling a sense of homecoming welled up in his heart.

After a year away, I'm finally back.

He cast a spell, and a portal opened in the light barrier, through which he flashed.

Everything inside the cave remained the same.

The Spirit Eye Spring continues to gush forth, its spiritual energy permeating the cave as a faint mist.

The medicinal herbs in the herb garden are growing well, and the thousand-year-old Golden Scale Fruit has grown even larger, with golden fruits hanging on the branches, faintly emitting a fragrance.

Sitting cross-legged beside the Spirit Eye Spring, Zhou Ding began to take stock of the year's achievements.

I've successfully mastered the basics of formations.

Now he can understand most of the contents of "Qingyang Formation Manual" and has a deep understanding of various basic formations.

Although there is still a long way to go before he becomes a true master of array formations, at least he is no longer a novice.

Given time, with Xin Ruyin's guidance and the complete inheritance of the "Qingyang Array Manual," he is confident that he can go further in the art of array formations.

The materials from the black dragon brought out from the forbidden area were all refined into top-tier magical artifacts.

Xin Ruyin has already replicated the ancient restriction on the golden treasure chest; with her expertise in array formations, breaking it is only a matter of time.

In addition, during that year, he also acquired a lot of unique spiritual materials and array tools from the Yuanwu Kingdom in the Tianxing Sect Market, as well as some precious alchemy materials.

These things are rare in the Yue Kingdom, and they might come in very useful in the future.

It was a worthwhile trip.

"Next, it's time to focus on breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment."

Zhou Ding took out several bottles of pills from his storage bag.

These are spiritual herbs he bought at the Tianxing Sect market. He refined them into the Purple Essence Pill, which is enough for him to cultivate for a while.

He swallowed a Purple Essence Pill, closed his eyes, and began to refine the medicinal power.

The elixir entered the stomach and transformed into a warm current, flowing slowly along the meridians.

Zhou Ding guided the medicinal power to merge with the azure true essence in his dantian, repeatedly cleansing his meridians and nourishing his flesh and blood.

The days of cultivation were peaceful and fulfilling.

……

A month later.

Inside the quiet room, Zhou Ding sat cross-legged, surrounded by spiritual energy, and was cultivating.

He had already refined most of the medicinal power of the Purple Essence Pill, and the azure true essence in his dantian had become even more solid.

At this rate, he could attempt to break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment in less than two years.

Suddenly, he frowned and opened his eyes.

In his mind, Xiao Jin's Earth Hearing Technique provided clear feedback.

An unfamiliar presence was rapidly approaching his cave!

And it's very fast.

Zhou Ding's expression changed slightly.

His cave dwelling was located in an extremely secluded location, with no other cultivators' cave dwellings within a radius of dozens of miles.

He chose this place because it was remote and safe.

He was about to get up to check when he sensed that the Five Elements Mystic Light Array at the entrance of the cave had been attacked!

"boom!"

A muffled thud traveled through the formation into the cave, causing the entire cavern to tremble slightly, and several pieces of gravel fell from the cave ceiling.

Zhou Ding's face immediately darkened.

In the world of cultivation, attacking another's cave dwelling formation without cause is a grave taboo!

At best, it's seen as a provocation; at worst, it's tantamount to a declaration of war!

If it were a hot-tempered cultivator, they would immediately come out and fight to the death!

He didn't rush out immediately, but took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

Let's find out the situation first.

He spared a sliver of his attention to control Little Gold, which was lurking underground, and quietly approached that aura.

Xiao Jin moved silently underground, and after a moment, the Earth Listening Technique transmitted clearer information.

The newcomer was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. However, his breathing was extremely disordered, indicating that he was severely injured and on the verge of death.

The man was currently struggling to attack the Five Elements Profound Light Array, panting and whispering:

"Quick...let me in...save me..."

His voice was hoarse and weak, filled with a desperate plea.

Zhou Ding frowned.

A seriously injured Foundation Establishment cultivator, instead of seeking a place to heal, came to attack his cave.

Not right.

He carefully observed the man's face, and after a moment, his pupils contracted slightly.

He knows this person!

The steward of the Hundred Machines Hall in Huangfeng Valley, surnamed Lin, is at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

When Zhou Ding first joined the sect, he had seen him from afar at a sect conference.

"How did he end up here?"

Zhou Ding was puzzled.

But the next moment, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he remembered a classic scene from the original work.

In the original story, this Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Lin was originally the son of the previous leader of the Thousand Bamboo Sect. Because he possessed the "Great Evolution Technique", he was coveted and hunted down by his former fellow disciples.

Severely injured, he fled into the Taiyue Mountains, broke into Han Li's cave, and eventually died from the poison, allowing Han Li to obtain that cultivation technique.

At this moment, he actually ran to his own cave!

"The Great Evolution Technique!"

Zhou Ding was startled.

He was deeply impressed by this technique.

The Great Evolution Technique is a secret art of refining immortality created by the ancient cultivator "Great Evolution True Man". After cultivation, it can greatly enhance the strength of divine sense and is of great help to puppetry, weapon control and breaking restrictions.

In the original story, Han Li's spiritual sense far surpassed that of his peers because he obtained this technique, enabling him to repeatedly achieve extraordinary feats.

If I could obtain this skill...

A glint of light flashed in Zhou Ding's eyes.

But he did not act immediately. Instead, he continued to control Xiao Jin to lurk underground and observe silently.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Lin attacked the formation several more times, but he was still unable to break through the defenses of the Five Elements Profound Light Formation. His breath grew weaker and weaker, and his body swayed precariously. Finally, he could no longer hold on and collapsed at the entrance of the cave.

"Help...help me..." he cried weakly, his voice barely a whisper.

Zhou Ding watched this scene expressionlessly, without making any move.

He is waiting.

Waiting for the right opportunity.

A moment later, the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Lin finally exhausted his last bit of strength, his body went limp, and he fell completely silent.

Zhou Ding remained motionless.

After another incense stick's time, he slowly got up, activated the formation, and walked to the side of the corpse.

He was about to bend down to check—

"call out!"

An almost imperceptible phantom suddenly shot out from between the corpse's eyebrows, moving at an astonishing speed, like an arrow released from a bow, heading straight for Zhou Ding's face!

That was a remnant soul!

Zhou Ding's pupils contracted slightly, but he did not panic.

He was prepared!

"Hahaha! Kid, your body is mine now!"

A wild yet weak divine thought resounded in Zhou Ding's sea of ​​consciousness, filled with undisguised pride and greed.

"It's your good fortune to become my body! Although this body is severely injured, once I possess you, I can..."

Before the words were finished, the voice of the remnant soul abruptly stopped.

A powerful divine sense, far beyond his imagination, surged in from all directions like a raging sea, instantly suppressing his remnant soul!

That divine sense was vast and boundless, like a blazing sun, radiating a suffocating pressure!

The remnant soul struggled, twisted, and screamed within, but was like an ant trapped in a swamp, unable to move!

"How is that possible!"

The remnant soul let out an incredulous scream, its voice filled with terror: "Your divine sense... how can your divine sense be so powerful! This is definitely not the strength of a divine sense that should exist in the early stage of Foundation Establishment! This is clearly... the late stage of Foundation Establishment! No!"

"Hmph, I've been on guard against you for a long time." Zhou Ding's cold voice rang out, exploding in the remnant soul's ears like a thunderclap.

In the original story, this Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Lin wanted to possess Han Li's body.

How could he not be on guard?

He was on guard from the first moment he saw this person.

The fact that a severely wounded and dying cultivator would not seek a place to heal his wounds but instead come to attack someone else's cave is itself quite strange.

"Fellow Daoist, spare my life! Fellow Daoist, spare my life!"

The remnant soul begged for mercy in terror, all traces of its previous arrogance gone: "I am willing to offer up my peerless cultivation technique! The 'Great Evolution Technique' I cultivate is an ancient secret art of spiritual refinement that can greatly enhance divine sense! If you spare me, I am willing to offer this technique with both hands!"

Zhou Ding sneered.

"Kill you, and the cultivation technique will naturally be mine."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Foundation Establishment True Fire transformed into a raging inferno, completely engulfing that wisp of remnant soul.

"No--!"

After a piercing scream, the remnant soul vanished into nothingness, completely dissipating.

Zhou Ding opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

He bent down and took the storage bag of the Lin family member who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, then probed it with his divine sense.

There were many spirit stones, pills, magical artifacts, and some miscellaneous materials inside.

But he wasn't interested in any of that; he had only one goal.

A moment later, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

An ancient jade slip lay quietly in the corner of the storage bag.

The jade slip is light blue, warm to the touch, and has a faint shimmering light on its surface.

He gently picked it up and probed it with his divine sense—

The Great Evolution Formula.

Three ancient and simple characters came into view.