Chapter 433: Chapter 151: Aggressiveness
In the retreat room, Jiang Li sat cross-legged, twiddling Primordial Qi with his fingers, forming arrays with Qi, transforming them into array plates of various sizes, interconnected in a complex fashion, Eight Trigrams, Eight Gates, Nine Stars, Eight Gods—the Qimen Formation gradually took shape.
Within the four divisions of the Wind Queen’ Strange Gate, Jiang Li was truly proficient in using only the Eight Trigrams and Eight Gates. However, this did not mean he could not use the Nine Stars and Eight Gods divisions.
Under the premise of following a model, it was not impossible to lay out the corresponding arrays.
As time passed, faint ripples emerged, causing the space to fluctuate and then...
The ripples collapsed.
The spreading waves disrupted the Qi mechanism, a single thread leading to the unraveling of the whole; the Qimen Array Plate also collapsed in an instant.
"The required calculation power is too great," Jiang Li saw the intricate array plate vanish in a flash and could not help but frown.
The previous changes could be copied, but when space began to twist, there would be thousands of variables in every instant, and it was at this time that Jiang Li needed to calculate and evolve them personally and manipulate them in time, only then could he control the ripples of space.
This required an extremely strong calculation power and an exceptionally agile Divine Sense; otherwise, one could only hope to have enough power to manage.
The truth that "great strength can send bricks flying" applied in many aspects; if one’s power was sufficient, space itself would be at your command, to be rounded or flattened at will.
Unfortunately, Jiang Li lacked such power; with his current strength, if not relying on Wind Queen’ Strange Gate, he couldn’t even produce that ripple.
Qimen Dunjia allowed Jiang Li to find the leverage point for manipulating spatial changes, to twist space with minimal force, and the price was an exceedingly complex process. The preliminary array setup alone took about fifteen minutes for Jiang Li to arrange; if it had been an ordinary person, even by following the records, they would find it difficult to succeed.
’However, I possess the ability to solidify reality from imagination, and after becoming proficient, I need not worry about the complexity of the array, nor the manipulation of the array plate; the only concern is the calculation power,’ Jiang Li thought.
The Moluo Sword Manual matched quite well with the Wind Queen’ Strange Gate; as long as all the variations were kept in mind, the array plate could take form with just a thought.
Without delay, Jiang Li started meditation, and the array plate he had just outlined by hand appeared in his mind.
Consequently, in reality, an array plate gradually took shape.
With continuous use, he began to deeply understand the essence of the sword manual granted by the Demon Realm, and now he was clear on the nature of the "Moluo Sword Manual".
——Visualization.
By projecting the visualization in the mind into reality and then using Divine Sense, True Qi, and even Essence Element to evolve it, achieving the concretization of the abstract, this was the essence and foundation of the "Moluo Sword Manual".
At least, it was the foundation of the part of the cultivation technique that Jiang Li had obtained.
As for other parts, or what a complete version would be like, that was beyond what Jiang Li knew.
The collapsed array re-emerged; the time from start to finish was only a few breaths, still indicating Jiang Li’s lack of proficiency.
Then, the array began to operate again, the ripples appeared... and then collapsed.
Jiang Li silently started constructing and evolving again, racking up experience.
Theoretically, with his ability to solidify Karma, the thing he feared the least was the effort that could be made, unless no progress was achieved no matter how much he practiced.
...
[After the ten thousandth time, Jiang Li had to admit that his calculation power had reached its current limit.]
Looking at the refreshed text on the Karma Collection, Jiang Li sighed.
The preliminary variations of the array had become very familiar, but with his current power, he could only manage to shift space three times consecutively, each no more than a step away.
It was almost as if he had made no progress at all.
However, if he did not attempt to control the direction and let it happen as fate would have it, Jiang Li could manage to shift about ten steps.
[I can only turn it inwards now.]
After sighing, Jiang Li no longer applied the array externally but instead carried the Wind Queen’ Strange Gate within his body shaped by the Eight Trigrams Image, performing Internal Movement.
The outer space was not under Jiang Li’s control, but his own physical body had been merged with intention since the moment of "Three Flowers Gathering at the Top", not requiring excessive computing. Outside, Jiang Li could not achieve great strength sending bricks flying; but inside, he could.
Naturally, if it was inside the body, then space could not be twisted, that would be completely suicidal.
The Qi Sea was arranged accordingly, Innate Qi operated, consolidated by a single intent; using the physical body as the array, then—
The inner Qimen Array began to operate, leveraging the Three Elements, Jiang Li’s body functions sped up, and his figure suddenly flickered, appearing three steps away as if he had shrunk the ground beneath him.
"Not shifting space, but using formations that control space to control the body..."
Jiang Li’s figure flickered as if real yet illusionary, his speed having far surpassed that of the past and was nearly catching up to that of Xiao Tian, the Sky Dog; moreover, he could still accelerate.
"It does drain life a bit," thought Jiang Li, yet the speed of his deduction did not slow.
As his physical body became increasingly in tune with formations, his speed also gradually increased.
...
...
Several days later, the door to the Retreat Room quietly opened, and Jiang Li stepped out, floating above the ground, and arrived outside the building.
"Six days."
He calculated with his fingers, determining the time, realizing he had stayed in the Retreat Room for a full six days, almost forgetting the passage of time.
"I must feel too safe," he reflected.
Having an Old Demon by his side provided an overwhelming sense of security.
She would block any danger for him, and any danger she could not block, Jiang Li himself would have no solution for either; he might as well lie flat.
With this mindset, Jiang Li focused intently on studying formations, without any need to worry about safety.
Only when he felt that the newly created Magic Door was nearly complete did he emerge from seclusion.
Nether City, as usual, was devoid of sun and moon. It wasn’t the time for them to shine, making it impossible to witness their luminance, but judging from the darkness beyond the light, it seemed to be night.
Gongsun Yuanxi was standing on the cliff behind the small building, overlooking the abyss, her gaze fixed on the darkness ahead, as if observing some presence.
Following her line of sight, the colossal mountain form entered Jiang Li’s view. In the night, Wushan only revealed a vague outline, lacking the Dragon Shadow seen before, but in Jiang Li’s eyes, it seemed even more real.
"Do you see it?"
The sudden question rang out, and as Jiang Li shifted his gaze, Gongsun Yuanxi had already turned around, wearing a half-smile as she looked at Jiang Li, with a particular interest in his eyes as if trying to see the reflection of some presence therein.
"See what?" Jiang Li asked.
"Wushan."
Gongsun Yuanxi took two steps closer, shortening the distance between them to just an arm’s length, her stunning visage clearly reflected in Jiang Li’s eyes.
It had to be said, the Old Demon’s aura was genuinely compelling—even though her current appearance was not as grand as her true form, that noble and ethereal quality still managed to capture Jiang Li’s attention.
"Wushan remains hidden in the past, and even if one goes there in person, it is impossible to ascend or even observe the mountain. I am no exception," admitted Gongsun Yuanxi, maintaining her half-smile.
"I’m actually just pretending, but you are different. From the day you arrived in Nether City, you gazed in Wushan’s direction, lost in a momentary trance, and today is no different. My guess is not wrong; you can truly see Wushan."
Her smile carried a teasing tone, as if she enjoyed the feeling of having Jiang Li within her grasp. Her figure leaned in close, and Jiang Li could feel her breath—an intimacy that Tianxuan would never show him.
[Lu Xun was indeed not wrong: sometimes putting on a mask is equivalent to taking one off.]
[I feel like she’s letting herself go a bit.]
Karma Collection displayed the mutterings within Jiang Li’s mind, while he himself took a step back, solemnly saying, "Mistress, please conduct yourself with dignity."
"What if I choose not to?"
Gongsun Yuanxi exhibited an aggressive stance and took another step forward.
She pressed on step by step, like a cat chasing a mouse, and now, it seemed this cat was about to corner the mouse.
However, the mouse today was also particularly aggressive.
Instead of backing away, Jiang Li advanced a small step forward, nearly face to face with Gongsun Yuanxi.
Gongsun Yuanxi’s famously disliked muscular chest was almost touching Jiang Li’s, indicating how close they were.
Their eyes met, and both could see their own reflection in the other’s pupils, as well as feeling the slightly quickened pace of their breaths.