The strange land was shrouded in a hazy white mist, with occasional eerie flashes of fire in the distance that would quickly vanish. A deathly silence hung over the unfamiliar land.
Hiss!
In the silent land, space suddenly distorted, and then two figures, hand in hand, slowly emerged from it. As soon as they appeared, the Dou Qi within both of them circulated almost simultaneously, their gazes cautiously scanning their surroundings.
"Is this the space inside the stone tablet?"
After surveying the area and finding no anomalies, Little Fairy Doctor asked softly, a hint of confusion in her voice.
What met her eyes was a hazy expanse that greatly limited her vision, but she could still discern that it seemed to be an incomparably vast plaza, vastly different from the scene Chen Xiao's consciousness had glimpsed.
"This mist restricts soul perception. This might be the first trial. We need to find the right direction first, or we'll never reach the core."
The importance of direction was undeniable. If the initial direction was wrong, all subsequent efforts would be in vain.
In such a place shrouded in mist, ordinary people would rely on luck to choose a direction, but for Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor, there was a simpler and more direct method.
"Xian'er, use the Netherworld Poison Flame. Two Heavenly Flames can sense each other within a certain distance. It should be able to sense the direction of the Bone Spirit Cold Flame."
Little Fairy Doctor nodded slightly, and with a thought, a ghostly green flame erupted in her palm.
Under their watchful eyes, the flame flickered and tilted towards the northeast, as if kneeling in deference to a superior.
"This way!"
Chen Xiao nodded. "Let's go together!"
Although the High Priest had mentioned that acting together might increase the difficulty of the trial, Chen Xiao wasn't comfortable separating from Little Fairy Doctor in such an unfamiliar place.
After all, if they encountered real danger, he could use his last pre-paid opportunity to escape, whereas Little Fairy Doctor could only fight head-on.
While Dou Zun strength was certainly not weak, the gap was still significant when facing the top expert who had created this small world.
Therefore, acting together was actually safer.
Using his soul perception to probe the surroundings, the two quickly moved towards the northeast.
However, even with their speed, after flying for more than ten minutes, they still hadn't managed to leave the plaza's confines, as if the plaza had no end.
Hiss! Hiss! Hiss!
Just then, a sudden sound echoed from the depths of the mist. Following it, nine puppets with silver limbs emerged stiffly from the mist, surrounding the two.
"Human-grade Heavenly Demon Puppets. Each one should be comparable to a high-level Dou Zong!"
The grade of Heavenly Demon Puppets was easy to identify from their surface color.
Without hesitation, Little Fairy Doctor flicked her finger, sending a stream of Dou Qi that struck a puppet's body squarely.
Instantly, the puppet was sent flying into the mist as if struck by lightning. However, it soon emerged again, its chest significantly caved in.
But strangely, despite suffering such an attack, the group of puppets did not initiate an attack.
"Xian'er, wait a moment."
Seeing Little Fairy Doctor about to attack again, Chen Xiao quickly stopped her.
At this moment, a piece of yellowed parchment floated out from the depths of the mist, flying directly towards the two.
Little Fairy Doctor raised her hand to catch it, glanced at it, and then handed it to Chen Xiao.
"Nine Palaces Returning Formation. It condenses the power of nine high-level Dou Zongs to unleash strength comparable to an ordinary one-star Dou Zun. Using the nine puppets as a base, leaving a Rune Seal within their bodies allows for control. The time limit is three days. Once the period expires, the puppets will go berserk."
"Rune Seal is a special imprint method created by this seat, combining my past inheritance with the characteristics of the Dou Qi Continent. It is condensed using soul power combined with Dou Qi, allowing for puppet control and formation creation with a single thought..."
Reading the introduction on the parchment and the method of condensing the Rune Seal, both Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor felt a sense of wonder.
Chen Xiao, in particular, felt a sense of familiarity.
Before entering here, when he heard the High Priest mention that the expert was skilled in formations and could trap several top experts with a casually set up grand formation, Chen Xiao had thought of the Spirit Array Masters from the Great Thousand World on the Dou Qi Continent!
After all, the application of such formations was fundamentally different from the Dou Qi Continent.
Upon seeing this so-called Rune Seal, Chen Xiao became even more convinced that the expert had inherited knowledge from the Great Thousand World's Spirit Array Masters!
The Dou Qi Continent and the Great Thousand World were vastly different. The Spirit Array Master techniques might not necessarily be applicable on the Dou Qi Continent. Modifying the spirit imprints to become Rune Seals suitable for the Dou Qi Continent was highly probable.
"Nine Palaces Returning Formation..."
Pushing aside his thoughts, Chen Xiao looked at the nine puppets surrounding them.
The effect of this formation seemed similar to the puppets in the Ancient Ruins in the original timeline.
The difference was that the puppets in the Ancient Ruins were already finished products; one only needed to erase their original markings and leave their own soul imprint to control them and have them form an array to fight.
These puppets, however, were more like unfinished products waiting to be processed.
Or perhaps, test subjects.
If they succeeded, Chen Xiao and Little Fairy Doctor would be able to take the nine puppets under their command, gaining an additional combat force comparable to an ordinary one-star Dou Zun, and also mastering the principles of the Nine Palaces Returning Formation.
Conversely, they would be overwhelmed by them.
"This trial is quite dangerous without Dou Zun level strength. We can only hope to complete the trial. No wonder none of those Saintesses managed to get out," Little Fairy Doctor sighed softly.
Any Dou Zong expert would find facing nine killing machines comparable to high-level Dou Zongs a headache.
Chen Xiao chuckled and shook his head. "It's not necessarily that bad. They were all alone, while we are together. The difficulty should be different. Let's try to condense this Rune Seal first. If we can master it, we'll have another method in the future."
Chen Xiao suspected that this Rune Seal was derived from the Spirit Seals of the Great Thousand World, and his expectations for it instantly soared.
Little Fairy Doctor nodded slightly.
Without further ado, the two sat down close together, closed their eyes, concentrated, and began to try the method of condensing Rune Seals on the parchment.
Using Soul Power as a guide, they gathered their own Dou Qi. In their palms, Dou Qi fluctuations continuously occurred, as if the Dou Qi was taking shape…
In less than ten minutes, Chen Xiao's tightly closed eyes suddenly opened. He extended his slender palm, and Dou Qi surged in his palm. Following that, a strange, ice-blue rune slowly appeared.
"This is the Rune Seal?"
Looking at this rune, Chen Xiao couldn't help but mutter to himself.
As far as he knew, in the Great Thousand World, if a beginner had some talent in the profession of Spirit Array Master, they could condense the first Spirit Seal within half an hour when they first encountered Spirit Seal cultivation. Some with greater talent could do it even faster.
The Dou Qi Continent couldn't compare to the Great Thousand World, and this Rune Seal couldn't be compared to Spirit Seals. However, condensing a Rune Seal so quickly still exceeded Chen Xiao's expectations.
"It should be because my Soul Power is stronger, which makes it easier to get started."
Sensing the rune in his hand, Chen Xiao could feel a strange power surging within it. However, this power was not condensed. If it were detached from his hand or infused into a puppet, it would likely dissipate within ten days to half a month.
Buzz~
Just as Chen Xiao was studying the rune in his hand, Little Fairy Doctor beside him also made progress. A purple rune was condensed in her palm.
"It seems a bit too simple…"
Looking at the rune in her palm, a look of astonishment appeared on Little Fairy Doctor's pretty face.
"The reason might not be it, but us. My Dou Zong strength and Spirit Realm Soul, and you are even a Dou Zun expert. In the Dou Qi Continent, or even higher-level planes, we are not considered weak. In contrast, this Rune Seal is just an introductory item, so it's natural for us to find it simple."
She couldn't think of any other explanation.
At most, it was that both of them had good talent in this area.
But with their strength learning such an introductory item, it was impossible to definitively judge their talent in a short period.
"That makes sense. According to the parchment, the Nine Palaces Returning Formation requires nine Rune Seals. Let's finish them first," Little Fairy Doctor agreed and nodded.
Successfully condensing the first Rune Seal had sparked considerable interest in both of them.
Although with their brute strength, they could handle the nine rampaging puppets and forcibly take them into their possession.
But if they did that, the nine puppets would not be able to form a formation to fight, which would be equivalent to a group of high-level Dou Zongs.
Their value would be greatly reduced.
After all, the gap between Dou Zun and Dou Zong was too vast!
The two exchanged a glance, then closed their eyes again to begin condensing the second Rune Seal.
It was also at this moment that both of them could clearly sense that condensing the second Rune Seal was much more difficult than the first.
Chen Xiao spent a full quarter of an hour before successfully condensing it, while Little Fairy Doctor spent more than twenty minutes.
Moreover, this gap was still gradually widening.
An hour later, Chen Xiao spread his palm open, and six strange runes flickered ceaselessly.
In contrast, Little Fairy Doctor only had four in her hand.
After another two hours, Chen Xiao finally succeeded in condensing nine Rune Seals, meeting the basic requirements for the Nine Palaces Returning Formation.
Looking at the nine flickering runes in his palm, Chen Xiao inexplicably felt as if he had grasped a new kind of power.
"The Rune Seals get harder and harder as you progress. Fortunately, we had enough time."
Little Fairy Doctor had also successfully condensed seven Rune Seals and had many feelings.
As she condensed more Rune Seals, she could sense that the consumption of Soul Power was increasing.
"It's more energy-consuming for us to grope around blindly. If there were no mistakes midway, we could actually condense them faster," Chen Xiao replied with a light smile.
During these few hours, both of them had made several mistakes. At that moment, the Rune Seal they were condensing was completely ruined, and they had to start over.
Fortunately, they finally succeeded.
Little Fairy Doctor nodded with a smile, showing some anticipation.
"Quick, try the Nine Palaces Returning Formation."
Hearing this, Chen Xiao also looked at the nine puppets waiting in formation around them.
Without much hesitation, Chen Xiao flicked his fingers, and one Rune Seal after another shot out from his palm, directly landing on these puppets.
Strangely, the moment the Rune Seals touched the puppets, they penetrated them, quickly erasing the residual imprints within their bodies, and then occupied their place.
At this moment, Chen Xiao immediately felt an indescribable connection with these nine puppets.
"Form up!"
As Chen Xiao's thought arose, the nine puppets moved with a roar, positioning themselves in various directions.
At the same time, he could clearly sense that these nine puppets had gained a subtle bond. Their powers continuously flowed and converged, as if any one of them could simultaneously unleash the full power of all nine puppets!
"Xian'er, try it."
Little Fairy Doctor smiled and nodded, then lightly flicked her palm, using only the power of a one-star Dou Zun.
Chen Xiao immediately controlled his puppets to meet the attack, confronting her head-on.
Boom!
After a low muffled sound, the nine puppets were sent flying back several hundred feet before they stabilized their forms. Though disheveled, they were completely unharmed.
"Their strength, compared to a regular one-star Dou Zun, should be slightly weaker, but this gap can be bridged by the advantage of their bodies. It's not an exaggeration to say they are comparable to an ordinary one-star Dou Zun."
After personally verifying it, Little Fairy Doctor's feelings became even more profound.
Chen Xiao nodded slightly. The combined strength of the nine Human-grade Heavenly Demon Puppets was already sufficient.
"Including them, we now have twelve puppets. If we collect six more, we can form another formation. However, these Rune Seals are not condensed enough and will likely only last for half a month. They need to be continuously refined."
Calculating his gains during this period, Chen Xiao was very satisfied.
These puppets combined were no small force, and even in the current Central State, they couldn't be underestimated.
If Little Fairy Doctor were added, the strength Chen Xiao could mobilize at any time would be no less than any of the Four Chamber Pavilions, enough to truly establish a foothold in the Central State!
"Let's continue deeper. I'm becoming more and more excited about the trials ahead."
After storing the puppets in his Storage Ring, the two walked forward hand in hand.
About fifteen minutes later, a familiar sound of wind breaking through the air came from the depths of the mist.
To his surprise, this time, what flew towards them was a jade slip emitting a blue light.
"Flame Ice Array. According to this diagram, eighteen Rune Seals are needed to set it up. Upon completion, ice and fire will arrive simultaneously, with a time limit of five days."
This time, the jade slip only contained information about the Flame Ice Array and its diagram, without mentioning the consequences of failure.
"This kind of power is truly mysterious. Just by arranging it according to the diagram, without needing to prepare anything else, one can summon the power of both ice and fire," Little Fairy Doctor murmured in admiration.
On the Dou Qi Continent, individuals of different attributes have distinct characteristics. One could even roughly identify them from the color of their Dou Qi. It was rare for someone who was clearly Ice Attribute to be able to wield Fire Attribute power, or for someone who was Fire Attribute to display Ice Attribute characteristics.
However, these Rune Seals and diagrams could effortlessly mobilize the power of two attributes. From the perspective of the Dou Qi Continent, this was truly inconceivable.
Chen Xiao was also examining the diagram in his mind, becoming even more convinced that the powerful individual who created this small world had definitely inherited the legacy of a Spirit Array Master from the Great Thousand World!
The Nine Palaces Returning Formation still belonged to the scope of the Dou Qi Continent and could still be explained.
But this Flame Ice Array and its diagram already belonged to an entirely new system!
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Read 999+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------