Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Mei Yingxue kept walking, her hands already forming spells, silently chanting under her breath.

In the field of formations, she was actually a latecomer, but the advantage was that all the formation books obtained from the Mysterious Realm throughout the Lu Country converged here with her, resources the Cultivation World simply couldn't match—no matter how knowledgeable the master, some things were always held back from the disciple. True, unreserved imparting of knowledge was unheard of.

Taking a few steps within the formation, Mei Yingxue quietly transmitted a message to Yan Yu:

"This Five Elements Inversion Array seems to be based on a disruption of the Five Elements, but many of the details are chaotic and devoid of order, truly difficult to discern."

"That's normal, because the formation isn't a real formation but a false construct born from the memories of the Sun True Dullness Sword," Yan Yu analyzed and said, "During the Demon Path's siege of Shushan, the Sun True Dullness Sword probably heard of this formation from somewhere and thus generated it within this dreamscape."

"You can think of passing this dream as a kind of role-playing game with a supreme judge existing in this world. To get through the Five Elements Inversion Array, the key isn't whether you have the ability to break the formation, but how to convince the judge 'you have the ability to break the formation.'"

Mei Yingxue pondered. Although she hadn't played a role-playing game, she had heard the researchers at the base mention it, so she said:

"So the Sun True Dullness Sword is the judge."

"It wants to know if there's a method to save the Shushan Sect," Yan Yu transmitted and concluded, "We just need to convince it that there is."

"Even if we have to deceive it."

The two followed the Wandering Taoist, arriving at a nearby village.

The village was built in a secluded valley, appearing extremely deep and tranquil. About a dozen households, twenty-something villagers; at first glance, nothing seemed amiss, but on closer inspection, their eyes were dull, their faces bloodless, clearly zombies reanimated after death, living normally to deceive the sword-controlling cultivators flying above.

Mei Yingxue frowned slightly. She clearly understood that some Necromancer had slaughtered the entire village to cover up secrets.

But after a moment, she thought, it's an Illusion Realm, so it doesn't matter.

The Wandering Taoist walked ahead, seeing the two of them moving forward indifferently, ignoring the zombie villagers as if they were invisible, confirming further that they were not those hypocritical Orthodox Cultivators—those guys would jump up seeing innocent people turned into zombies.

The three entered a house, finding four cultivators gathered around a table, writing and drawing with chopsticks.

"The formation should be breached by departing directly north, then turning southeast, then southwest, and finally returning north!"

"Nonsense, the north is the water element, did your father teach you to start with the water element when teaching formations?"

"Normal Five Elements wouldn't start with water, but this is Inverted Five Elements!"

The argument was heated, and they seemed on the verge of using chopsticks to fight. The Wandering Taoist quickly intervened, introducing Yan Yu and Mei Yingxue, and said:

"We've just met by chance, forced to cooperate due to being trapped in the formation, so there's no need to reveal real names. Based on the order of joining the alliance, I'm number three, you're six and seven."

"Don't rush to join." Number one called out, "How's your mastery of formations?"

"Better than all of you." Yan Yu laughed.

"Oh, quite the boast." Number three sneered, "Let's test you: what's the specific relationship between the formation's rank and the array setter's cultivation realm?"

"There's no relationship." Mei Yingxue answered, "The formation's rank depends on the ritual materials and the array setter's expertise in magic. Expertise in magic isn't necessarily related to cultivation realm."

The group fell silent as if their minds lagged.

Clearly, in the memory of the Sun True Dullness Sword, Array Masters had the professional habit of testing each other's skills. But the True Obscurity Sword itself didn't understand formations, so the questions it asked seemed too rudimentary for Mei Yingxue.

"Good!" Number one finally spoke, "Certainly an Array Master! I acknowledge you have the qualifications to cooperate with us!"

Yan Yu stifled a laugh as number two spoke:

"What do you think of the route Number one just proposed: north first, then southeast, southwest, and finally back to north?"

"Hmm, wouldn't that just take us back to the starting point?" Yan Yu curiously asked.

The group fell silent again. After a moment, number one shouted:

"Then what's your suggestion?"

"Mr. Mei, provide a 'sounds incomprehensible but seems competent' solution," Yan Yu quietly transmitted the message.

"I think we can do this." Mei Yingxue picked up a chopstick and poked it into the table, "Moving from Qian to Kun, then from Kun back to Qian; before heaven negates, afterward earth affirms; without flatness, no hills, no departure, no return; perseverance without blame, don't worry about the truth either."

She used a wooden chopstick like a sword, piercing and marking on the table, engraving detailed and precise patterns that appeared as a path with geometric beauty.

The group stared at her dazedly and after a while, they said:

"That's the correct answer, that's the right solution! Quickly, break out of the formation!"

The five quickly scattered like birds and beasts, disappearing instantly.

Mei Yingxue sighed with relief, only to hear Yan Yu transmit and ask:

"Was that truly the solution to the Five Elements Inversion Array?"

"Of course not." Mei Yingxue replied with a smile, "It's a common solution, akin to someone asking how to solve a polyequation and you respond 'eliminate variables,' actually needing a specific analysis based on the actual problem."

"Then be cautious." Yan Yu said worriedly, suddenly transmitting, "I've just realized, there's no cultivator skilled in formations at the Shangqing Sect of Shushan. Which means even if we can navigate this path, it doesn't mean the original Shushan had the chance to escape and call for help, effectively failing to resolve the Sun True Dullness Sword's issue."

"If that's the case, what should we do then?" Mei Yingxue appeared puzzled.

The next moment, the surroundings abruptly distorted.

Moments later, the two found themselves back at the summit of San-E Mountain, as if their progress had been reset.

"It seems the path of seeking external aid isn't viable either," Yan Yu transmitted with a smile, "No one at Shushan knows formations, so the Sun True Dullness Sword didn't endorse our actions."

"If all around Shushan is covered by formations, external aid isn't feasible," Mei Yingxue pondered, "Could it be just like in historical records, we should find a place to hide and wait for the siege to end before emerging?"

If so, it meant the two couldn't leave this dreamscape. Because allowing the Shangqing Sect at Shushan to fall would certainly not gain the approval of the Sun True Dullness Sword.

The two continued controlling the sword and flying, following the original plot to the Ancestor Hall, listening to the elder's debates, then Sect Leader Chen Yanwei seeking their opinion.

"Excuse me," Yan Yu suddenly looked at the fourth elder who hadn't spoken, respectfully asking, "I noticed you haven't spoken a word, is there perhaps a strategy you find difficult to disclose?"

"There's no strategy," the elder smiled and said, "I just find the situation unsolvable, so I kept silent."

"If you were here alone, bearing the sect's inheritance, what would you choose to do?" Yan Yu continued to inquire.

"Of course, fight my way out." The elder paused, then sighed, "For the simple reason: besides fighting, I know nothing else."

These words moved Mei Yingxue. Sword Immortals were such individuals, dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to sword practice, wandering infinitely towards greater heights in the Sword Dao, ultimately achieving the capability to turn defeat into victory, to overcome the strong by being weak.

But the cost was extremely limited combat methods. Faced with outright overwhelming odds, with no chance of triumph by being weak, escape was hardly possible.

"Is there no Magic Treasure within the sect?" She couldn't help asking, "For us Sword Immortals, aside from the Palm-sized Immortal Sword, don't we still need some spoils from the enemies?"

"If we had a Magic Treasure that could turn the tide, we would've already used it," the voice came from Sect Leader Chen Yanwei, sighing, "Unless I could wield the full power of the Sun True Dullness Sword. Alas! I'm not skilled enough, and now the sect suffers because of me!"

"I've got it!" Yan Yu suddenly had an epiphany, "Sect Leader, you might not be strong enough, but I am!"

"Let me wield the Sun True Dullness Sword"

"""