“Master Qian…” Gao Ronghua hesitated for a moment, “The one who is still in a coma in the hospital?”
“Yes, he is also our team’s special advisor,” Zhao Zhihua sighed. “Let’s not talk about this and sleep for a while. We will be busy in the next few days.”
Qi Yan was woken up by someone from the Special Task Force. He put on a set of light clothes and walked into the living room. Several other masters were already sitting in the living room. When they saw him coming, some smiled kindly at him. In particular, they were the Taoist nun and priest.
Taoism was on the decline. Qi Yan’s meditating posture clearly showed his Taoist lineage. They were happy to see a descendant, the only regret was that an outstanding young man like him was not their apprentice.
“Now that everyone has arrived, let’s discuss how to break this formation.” Master Zhao put the topographic map on the table. There were also two drawings of the formations. He smiled apologetically, “I don’t know much about formations, so I will need your help.”
Sorcerer Lin shook her head and said, “I know very little about it as well.” She turned her head to look at Abbot Yun, but he was reciting Buddhist scripture with his head lowered and his hands clasped together. She understood that he was also clueless.
The three of them did not have much knowledge in formations, implying that they could not be their leaders. Everyone knew that the Taoists were the most knowledgeable in this area, but even Master Shen and Master Xu looked solems, which showed how difficult this matter was.
Master Shen and Master Xu did not speak, and the remaining three were not as good as the five of them in terms of spells, and they didn’t understand the formation techniques well. Hence, at this moment, they had nothing to add.
Zhao Zhicheng and Gao Ronghua, who were sitting beside them, saw this scene, and they felt chills in their hearts. If these highly skilled masters couldn’t do anything about it, who else could?
Even if there were other hidden masters, where would they find them in such a short amount of time?
“It was rumored that the formations had been used during war. But when the two armies fought, those who used this formation did not end well,” said Master Xu, stroking his beard calmly while concealing his nervousness, “So in our division, the technique has long been banned. I have read a few descriptions of this formation in books at most, but I had never really seen it. This is the first time I have seen such a brutal formation.”
“Brother…,” Master Xu and Master Shen had the same master. When Master Xu said that, it meant that she also did not have any solution.
“It is rumored that to set up the Locked Tiger Formation, not only does one need the right time and place, but also the right people,” Qi Yan noticed that the others were reluctant to speak, so he told them everything he knew, “Look for four instruments filled with the sun energy. Then, rinse them with the blood of the people born on the seventh day of the seventh month and bury them under the sun in the four directions. Finally, recite the mantra for seven days.”
“Master Qi?”
Master Zhao looked at Qi Yan in disbelief. He didn’t expect this young man to know so much about this formation. He said excitedly, “Do you have a way to solve it?”
“If it’s just the Locked Tiger Formation, I do have a way to break it, but there is also the Heavenly Sacrifice Formation.” Qi Yan did not answer Master Zhao’s question directly, “Thousands of years ago, people prayed to God by sacrificing livestock or slaves to in order to have their wishes fulfilled. There are those who seek good weather, longevity, and eternal wealth. Regardless of whether it came true, who dared to touch the offerings?”
“This person is sacrificing human beings! They are completely inhumans!” Master Shen had a bad temper, and slapped the table, “If I caught them, I will make them disappear.”
The teacup on the table bounced, showing how strong the slap was.
“If this is the case, then there is only one way,” Master Xu said in a heavy tone, “First, break the Locked Tiger Formation, and then sacrifice ourselves to calm the anger of the heaven.”
The room suddenly became quiet, and after a while, Abbot Yun whispered a Buddhist scripture and said, “Who should die, if not me? If I can save hundreds of thousands of living beings, I will give up my life. I’m not afraid.”
“I’ve led a good life, and I have many apprentices and grandchildren. I’m not afraid of sacrificing my life,” Master Zhao said, pushing his glasses, “Count me in.”
Master Shen said with a wry smile, “You don’t have to rush to volunteer. If we want to suppress the backlash of the Heavenly Sacrifice Formation, all of us must do it.” She raised her head to look at everyone and her gaze lingered on Qi Yan for a second longer, “If anyone wants to leave, please do so now.”
No one spoke.
They had status, wealth and fame. It was a lie to say that they were really not afraid of death. But this fear seemed insignificant when hundreds of thousands of people’s lives were at risk.
If it was possible, who didn’t want to get the glorious achievement of resolving this matter?
“It’s hard for us to meet each other. It’s fate to be able to get together now,” A master of about sixty years old said with a smile, “Why leave when fate has brought exactly nine of us together.”
“Saving hundreds of thousands of people is a big merit, and it will also protect our wealth and safety in the next life,” Master Zhao said with a smile, “I have had enough hardships when I was young, and it would be nice to be born into a rich family in my next life and not have to worry about money.”
Zhao Zhicheng watched these masters joke about life and death. He felt a sudden dryness in his throat and he blinked a few times to dilute the sourness in his eyes.
He felt guilty, because it was they who invited these masters over. He did this for the people at the expense of the masters.
“There might be another way.”
Everyone in the room looked at the speaker, only to realize that it was the young Qi Yan.
“Master Qi, do you really have a solution?” Master Zhao hesitated for a few seconds, “Will there be any accidents?”
“If it’s just the nine of us, it’s a 50% chance of success, but if one person is willing to help, the success rate should reach 90%,” Qi Yan said, “I wonder if you’ve heard about the legend of the nine cauldrons?”
In Chinese legends, there was a very powerful man who conquered the world, but when he became the emperor of the world, he found that the evil spirits were doing harm to the common people. After receiving advice from a master, he forged nine bronze cauldrons and placed them in different locations. From then on, the demons dared not run rampant again, and the land regained its prosperity.
Although this was just a legend, the number nine does have a special meaning in Taoism.
“But where can we find nine cauldrons as offerings in such a short amount of time?” Xu Daochang shook his head, “Even if there is enough time, we won’t be able to find such cauldrons.”
“No, you misunderstood what I meant, what I meant was…” Qi Yan’s tone became serious, “We are the cauldrons. The spiritual energy in our body can be used as an offering to heaven.”
Master Zhao understood what Qi Yan meant. He looked at Master Xu and Master Shen. The two were contemplative, thinking about whether Qi Yan’s solution was feasible. Although he didn’t know much about the method, he knew that there were many risks. If there was an accident, not only would their lives be lost, but they would also cause a backlash.
“Actually, after seeing the two formations this morning, I have a feeling that the people behind this are not targeting the local people, but us,” Qi Yan frowned slightly, “They want us to sacrifice ourselves.”
“They don’t care whether the formation is successful or not, but whether we will live.“
“Someone is plotting against us.”
Zhao Zhicheng and Gao Ronghua were shocked when they heard that. If this was the case, how many people were involved?
“Master Qi, you said that we need someone’s help,” Zhao Zhicheng asked, “Please tell me who this person is, and we will try our best to contact him.”
“Cen Qiusheng’s fifth son Cen Baihe.”
Zhao Zhicheng: Can he take back what he said?
He knew how high the Cen family’s status was. With his status, he couldn’t ask the Cen family’s help at all. Not to mention that Fifth Master Cen was frail and had outstanding abilities. Ordinary people couldn’t even get close to him. How could they ask him to go to such a dangerous place.
“Master Qi, must it be Fifth Master Cen?” Zhao Zhicheng felt that his throat was a little dry.
“It must be him, no one else can help,” Qi Yan lowered his eyelids and said calmly, “Why don’t you think about what you can do to convince the Cen family.”
When Zhao Zhicheng heard this, he turned to make a call to the higher-ups and came back after 10 minutes. He said in a low voice, “They did not agree.”
“What conditions did you offer?” Qi Yan raised his eyebrows.
Zhao Zhicheng did not suspect anything and mentioned the general conditions. They were indeed very favorable. If it was someone else, they would have agreed without hesitation. However, the Cen family valued their descendants. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to reject his offer.
“If you are willing to sell the land in the east of the city directly to Cen Baihe’s company,” Qi Yan stretched out his hand to Zhao Zhicheng, “Give me your phone, and I will talk to the Cen family.”
