56 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Banxia Novel Chapter 56 Previous Chapter: Chapter 55 Next Chapter: Chapter 57 "The Barrier Wind Formation?" Yan Zhuguang was somewhat puzzled. Is this another element the original author added on their own? The system, excited to finally know something its host didn't, was eager to share its knowledge. However, it turned out that even the senior sister knew about it... Suddenly, the system quieted down, understanding that its host would prefer to hear about the formation from her senior sister. Yun Moxue nodded. "Indeed, the Barrier Wind Formation. It's a secret formation unique to the Fenghua Immortal Sect, usually used to safeguard important treasures. The person who created this formation must have been at least in the late Gold Core stage. It seems likely that upon entering the secret realm, the former sect leader, whose power was suppressed to the late Gold Core stage, is the one responsible." Given that the formation employs techniques from the Fenghua Immortal Sect and the symbols on the silk fabric are related, it stands to reason that the one who set up the formation is the former sect leader, and the owner of the silk fabric is also the former leader, right? Curious, Yan Zhuguang asked, "How can this Barrier Wind Formation be broken?" "There are two methods, one easy and one difficult." Yan Zhuguang assumed an attentive posture, ready to listen. "The first," Yun Moxue explained, "is to agree to the request set by the person who arranged the formation. This is the simplest method. Once the request is accepted, the formation will deactivate accordingly." Yan Zhuguang questioned, "Just agree? Is there no other requirement?" Shaking her head, Yun Moxue replied, "It's naturally not as simple as a verbal agreement. Only upon taking an oath can it be successful." For cultivators, an oath to the Heavenly Dao must be fulfilled, or the consequences vowed will come to fruition. Even if there are crafty ways to temporarily evade the oath, during the final tribulation, the Heavenly Dao will settle all accounts. Taking an oath is a very serious and grave matter for cultivators. Unless absolutely necessary, no cultivator would frivolously make such vows. Yan Zhuguang understood, realizing that while it seemed easy, the true challenge lay hidden beneath the surface. If the one who set up the formation purposely posed difficult requests, choosing between fulfilling that request or obtaining the treasure would become a tough decision. "And the difficult method?" "Forcefully dismantling the formation," Yun Moxue said. "The Barrier Wind Formation has thirty-six different variations, and nobody knows which one the creator chose. Breaking the formation requires careful and meticulous deconstruction, piece by piece. A single mistake, and the formation could immediately destroy itself along with the treasures it protects." Not only must one correctly guess which of the thirty-six variations was used, but also dismantle it without any error, or it ends in futility. Indeed, the so-called "easy" is truly easy, and the "difficult," truly difficult. After contemplating, Yan Zhuguang decided that having already found the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals, regardless of its cost, she was determined to claim it for herself. If it were left here unclaimed, wouldn't that be wasteful? Just the thought made her feel it would be a pity. "Senior sister," Yan Zhuguang suggested, "we might as well listen to what the creator of the formation demands. Simply hearing the request won't trigger the self-destruction of the formation, right?" "It won't," Yun Moxue looked towards the formation. "Very well, if the request isn't excessive, we can fulfill it for him." If the formation were indeed set by the previous sect leader, as the leader of the immortal sect, his request might be seen as a last wish. Yun Moxue drew an ice-white symbol in the air with her finger, gently lifting her hand. The symbol floated into her palm, and she stepped forward, pressing it against where the formation light had previously shone. Yan Zhuguang followed her to the forefront of the light, watching as Yun Moxue's hand touched the surface, causing ripples of light to spread. Soon, the formation enveloping the area of the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals revealed itself completely. A voice emanated within the stone cave. "To whoever comes after, grant me a single wish, and I will allow you to take the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals." Yan Zhuguang exchanged a glance with Yun Moxue. Yun Moxue replied, "It is indeed the former sect leader." Then she addressed the formation, "Senior, please state your request." The continuous flow of light on the formation paused, and the voice spoke again, "I have a beloved daughter, born with defects, frail and sickly, beyond the help of medicine. I searched high and low and finally found the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals here, hoping it could reverse fate for her. Alas, fate is cruel." "When I found the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals, it was still ten years from maturity. However, the secret realm could only be accessed for one year, and I could not wait here for ten years. To prevent others from obtaining it, I had no choice but to set up this formation, awaiting a later heir." "To whoever comes after, if you agree to give one seed of the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals to my daughter to help remedy her defects, and swear not to harm her in any way due to the seed, I will grant you the other two seeds as compensation." "If you agree and take an oath, the formation will immediately disband, and you can take the Lotus seeds as you wish." Yun Moxue and Yan Zhuguang exchanged looks of uncertainty. "This formation was set at least ten years ago..." "The former sect leader has a frail and sick daughter?" Yan Zhuguang's attention was piqued in a different direction. She'd only heard that the former sect leader had a son, a weakling who was involved with Yun Changyue. There was no mention of a daughter. Yun Moxue also seemed puzzled. She shook her head. "The former sect leader had no daughter, especially not one frail and untreatable by medicine." This was quite strange. Either this wasn't truly the former leader of the Fenghua Immortal Sect, but someone using his identity, or there was an unknown daughter belonging to the sect leader. To Yan Zhuguang, the latter seemed more plausible. "Senior sister... Could it be that Su Qian'er is the sect leader's daughter?" Yun Moxue furrowed her brows, hesitantly shaking her head. "I doubt it. Miss Su, though frail, is the daughter of Cultivator Su and a member of the Qiao family. How could she be related to the sect leader?" Yan Zhuguang wasn't convinced. "Miss Su's parents passed away early. Is she truly their biological child?" Who knows if Cultivator Su made some agreement with the former sect leader to somehow make Su Qian'er appear as a granddaughter of the Qiao family? To obscure Su Qian'er's true identity, having her assume the identity of an unrecorded child would be the safest option. Yun Moxue shook her head. "The Qiao family is a major family and not easily deceived. How could they not discover a simple issue of lineage?" "Miss Su, with her frail constitution unable to cultivate the methods of the cultivation world, has no claim to the Qiao family’s legacy, so there’s no need to concern themselves with her bloodline." After a moment of silence, Yun Moxue continued, "Even if the sect leader had a daughter, she would receive the best care within the sect. Why go through the trouble of placing her with the Qiao family under such circumstances?" "Perhaps to hide her from the sect, given her inability to cultivate, or maybe," Yan Zhuguang looked intently into Yun Moxue's eyes, "there’s something questionable about her origins." Yan Zhuguang laid out her speculations openly before Yun Moxue, as she promised earlier that once confirmed trustworthy, she would show her true self to Yun Moxue. Though reluctant, Yun Moxue had to admit that Yan Zhuguang’s reasoning was quite possibly true. Witness accounts of the sect leader’s disputes with Cultivator Su, as well as the silk fabric suspected to have originated from the sect leader, were handed to the frail Miss Su through Cultivator Su's involvement. Yan Zhuguang's theory was entirely plausible and logical. Yet, if Miss Su truly were the sect leader's daughter, regardless of the leader's reasonings for delivering her to the Qiao family, it would severely tarnish the former sect leader's reputation. Taking a deep breath, Yun Moxue stated, "I must acknowledge, Zhuguang's guess might indeed be possible." Yan Zhuguang relaxed her previously serious demeanor and grasped Yun Moxue's wrist. "Senior sister, don't be upset. This is just my assumption, perhaps incorrect? Let's decide whether to accept his terms." Yun Moxue gently touched Yan Zhuguang's head. "This secret realm was discovered by you, and the silk fabric with the markings was also yours. Whether to agree is entirely up to you." Although this Heart's Lotus of Five Petals was first discovered by the former sect leader, since he couldn't stay until maturity, it indicates a lack of fate with the treasure, the former sect leader’s entrapping formation being quite a rogue act. If she had discovered this secret realm, she might have agreed to fulfill the sect leader's wish. But since Yan Zhuguang was the one who found it, Yun Moxue believed it wasn't her place to decide. Yan Zhuguang rubbed against Yun Moxue's palm. In a world without her, might her senior sister have chosen to agree? Otherwise, how else could the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals be brought back to the Fenghua Immortal Sect? Her senior sister harbored no covetous intentions for it and certainly wouldn't have chosen to destroy the formation. Now, as her turn to decide came, Yan Zhuguang said, "Destroying the formation is too difficult, and we risk losing everything. A single seed—let's accept the former sect leader's request." Yun Moxue couldn't help but smile at this. "Zhuguang speaks so plainly. I thought you'd say, 'After all, he was the former sect leader of our sect, so fulfilling his wish would be best.'" Yan Zhuguang blinked with a hint of mischief and said, “To outsiders, that's certainly the story I'd stick with. But with you, my senior sister, there's no need for such formalities.” She continued, “We really should thank the former sect leader. If his formation's aura hadn't drawn us here, we might never have found the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals. Agreeing to his request can be considered our way of repaying him.” As for the other two lotus seeds, she intended to split them between herself and her senior sister. There was no way she would be as carefree as her senior sister and simply hand them over to the sect. And her senior sister's share must be held by her to prevent it from being accidentally coaxed away. Yun Moxue nodded in agreement, “Very well, then we shall take the vow.” “Wait!” Yan Zhuguang interjected, “It's enough if I make the vow. Senior sister, you don't need to.” Yun Moxue was puzzled, “Is there really a difference?” Of course, there's a huge difference. Taking a vow and not taking one could never be the same. Yan Zhuguang had always wanted Su Qian'er to keep her distance from her senior sister. If the sect leader's daughter truly was Su Qian'er, there was no way Yan Zhuguang would let her senior sister be bound to Su Qian'er through a vow. “It's all the same, isn't it? Once I take the vow, my senior sister would naturally help me fulfill it, right?” “Of course.” “In that case, why bother making an additional vow? Do you find making vows entertaining?” Yan Zhuguang gave her a pointed look. Unwilling to let Yun Moxue take a vow, Yan Zhuguang insisted on making the promise herself. Reluctantly, Yun Moxue had to compromise, watching as Yan Zhuguang made her vow. The light from the formation contracted, concentrating on the Heart's Lotus of Five Petals at its center. "When the vow is fulfilled, the function of the formation will completely dissipate," Yun Moxue explained, "This is also to prevent any loopholes." If the person who vowed unlocked the formation, and yet the treasures inside were seized by someone else, wouldn't the Barrier Wind Formation have been set up in vain? With this limitation, even if the treasures were taken by others, they must inherit the vow to fully open the formation. And as the formation unlocked, Yan Zhuguang also learned the truth about the former sect leader's daughter. She turned to Yun Moxue, “The former sect leader’s daughter truly is Miss Su.” Once the confirmation settled in, Yun Moxue surprisingly found herself free of worry.