Chapter 116: The Natural Formation

The Great Virtue Contract?!

Gu Weiyu forced herself to calm down. Following the little book’s reminder, she stood still and slowly closed her eyes…

She carefully sensed the Great Virtue Contract between her and Xiaoya.

For some unknown reason, the once clear and perceptible connection between Xiaoya and herself now felt as if it was separated by a hazy veil.

Her spiritual senses seemed to be disturbed, as if viewing flowers through fog—everything appeared vague and unreal.

Time passed bit by bit. Drops of sweat slowly formed on Gu Weiyu’s fair and smooth forehead and the tip of her nose…

She seemed unaware, her brows unconsciously furrowing slightly.

After a full fifteen minutes, she finally opened her eyes slowly:

She could only faintly sense that Xiaoya was to her right!

Gu Weiyu’s spiritual senses swiftly expanded to the right:

Before her eyes stood towering ancient trees, one after another, stretching endlessly, with no sign of an exit.

Without wasting time pondering, Gu Weiyu followed the vague direction she sensed and hurried to the right.

Sure enough, as she moved rightward, though the connection with Xiaoya remained faint, it gradually strengthened.

A wave of joy surged within Gu Weiyu; it seemed her chosen direction was correct!

She quickened her pace, eager to find Xiaoya soon.

After another fifteen minutes, Gu Weiyu could no longer hold back and stopped, her gaze fixed on a massive tree with a crooked trunk.

Something was off!

She clearly remembered having been here before!

Her memory was thanks to this crooked-neck tree.

Amidst a sea of straight forest, encountering a crooked-neck tree was rare, so she had taken a closer look at it then.

If she recalled correctly, she had circled around this crooked tree at least three times!

Could it be that there was an illusion formation here?

Gu Weiyu immediately dismissed this idea. This was the Beast Sea; no sane cultivator would come here to set up an illusion formation.

As for demon cultivators, setting up an illusion formation required at least a high-level shapeshifting demon cultivator, right?

But this was merely the outer border of the Beast Sea—what would prompt a demon cultivator to expend so much effort setting up a formation here?

As Gu Weiyu pondered in confusion, the little book, which had been lazily drifting in her sea of consciousness, suddenly spoke up smugly:

“Fool, this is a natural formation!”

A natural formation?! Gu Weiyu had never heard of such a thing.

Though the little book’s tone was grating, she had to admit that having such a broad-minded companion really helped her a lot.

“What is a natural formation?” Being curious and eager to learn, Gu Weiyu asked immediately.

The little book lazily began to show off, “A natural formation is a formation that forms naturally in certain places of the cultivation world due to coincidences…”

Gu Weiyu listened with wide-eyed wonder. The world truly had no end to its mysteries!

This illusion formation seemed somewhat advanced; at least, for a beginner like her in formation arts, it was incomprehensible!

“Now what you need to do is find the formation’s core.”

The little book said this in Gu Weiyu’s deep and mysterious sea of consciousness.

Suddenly, Gu Weiyu’s eyes brightened. “Little book, do you know where the formation core is?”

“Well…” The little book, who had been acting so aloof, suddenly stammered, “If I told you everything, what would you need me for?”

Gu Weiyu was somewhat annoyed by this evasive tone but couldn’t help but laugh silently. Just pretend then!

Relying on others is unreliable; relying on water, it flows away; relying on people, they all age!

In the end, relying on oneself is the most trustworthy!

Gu Weiyu said no more and began carefully contemplating where the formation core might be.

She walked slowly, observing everything around her once again.

In the end, her gaze inevitably returned to the crooked-neck tree. No matter how she looked, she felt this crooked tree was far too conspicuous!

At some moment, the Thunder Hidden Sword silently appeared in Gu Weiyu’s hand.

She swung the Thunder Hidden Sword at the crooked-neck tree with a mighty chop. With a tremendous crash, the tree vanished into smoke and mist the moment it was struck.

Gu Weiyu widened her eyes, staring down at the spot where the tree had stood. The crooked-neck tree was also an illusion created by the formation. Now that the formation core was broken, not a single branch or leaf remained.

As the core was destroyed, the place revealed its true form:

She was standing before a cave wall, with the forest behind her.

“Xiaoya, come out for me—”

Having been unable to sense Xiaoya all this time, after breaking the illusion, Gu Weiyu finally reconnected with her presence.

At Gu Weiyu’s call, Xiaoya swiftly darted out from the cave wall.

Xiaoya had grown new tender leaves and climbed up, nearly reaching Gu Weiyu’s legs.

Her tender leaves danced excitedly, looking eager and impatient. “A Yu, A Yu, quickly follow me!”

“Xiaoya, how did you get here?”

Gu Weiyu suppressed the anger in her heart, her face darkening.

Only then did Xiaoya realize something was wrong. “A Yu, why are you angry?”

“You tell me!” Gu Weiyu’s temper flared uncontrollably. “Do you know how worried I was when I suddenly lost connection with you?”

Hearing this, Xiaoya’s once lively leaves drooped instantly, and she meekly said, “A Yu, I won’t do it again. Please don’t be angry, okay?”

Seeing Xiaoya admit her fault, Gu Weiyu’s expression softened.

Xiaoya quietly raised a leaf, peeking to see if Gu Weiyu was no longer angry, then couldn’t help but speak again, “A Yu…”

“Speak. What did you see this time?” Gu Weiyu replied with a hint of helplessness.

“A Yu, hurry and follow me!” Xiaoya’s leaves danced joyfully again, pointing at the cave wall ahead.

Gu Weiyu understood she was meant to enter there. “Let’s go!”

Together, woman and sprout slipped into the cave wall. At first, the passage was narrow; Gu Weiyu had to bend low to squeeze through.

The deeper they went, the wider the cave became, but the light grew dimmer and darker.

“Xiaoya, where are you taking me?” Walking through the underground cave, Gu Weiyu couldn’t help but ask.

Xiaoya kept her head down, moving forward happily. “A Yu, I found something really delicious. Come quickly and have a look!”

Gu Weiyu: “…”

Though a good opportunity, the risks were great.

She really only wanted to “pass through” the Beast Sea, not stir up trouble!

“Xiaoya, is that place you mentioned safe?…”

Just as Gu Weiyu was about to suggest turning back, the once quiet underground suddenly shook. Above their heads, sand and stones began to fall repeatedly…

What?!