“The person that sealed the array must be well-versed in reading transcriptions.” Cheng Sheng said as he read the transcription of spells in the array. “If I had something against the Youxiwang Sect, I could also tamper with this array.” He said.

“‘tamper’?” an elder said. “We thought it was sealed?” he asked. He is an elder that is not from either of the two families – Wu and Chen. Right now, the elders of the Wu and Chen family were away to do a wide-search in the West for Wu Fan. This is one of the reasons why the demonic cultivators attacked the Youxiwang Sect. There were only few elders left, including Ming Ye and Luo Shi – who were also neither from the Wu and Chen Clan.

Cheng Sheng nodded and turned to them. “An array is like the talisman. They were both transcribed.” He said and stood up from squatting. “However, their difference is that an array is large-scale while the talisman isn’t. One factor is their space and medium. The talisman uses paper while the array uses the ground or a wall, a flat area, which is wider than the talisman paper. Next is their scope. The talisman is a one-time and personal use. The array can be used by many people.” He explained. “So, like talisman, an array can be copied and recreated.” He said. “However, it can only be imitated.”

“But – ” another elder said. ” – your Cleansing Talisman was recreated by us.” He said.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. “And this is the reason why the array was only tampered and not sealed.” He said. “Unless the essence was given, the array can never be sealed.” He answered. The reason why his Cleansing Talisman was perfectly recreated is because he gave them its essence. However, the demonic cultivators naturally didn’t have the essence of the Youxiwang Sect’s array. Thus, they only tampered with it.

“Then, where was the array tampered?” Luo Shi asked as they looked at the array beneath their feet. No matter how they looked at it, they cannot see it was changed.

“You should first know how it was tampered.” Cheng Sheng said as he walked around the array, the transcription of spells beneath his feet.

“Then, how?” Wu Yuan asked.

Cheng Sheng raised his head from reading the transcriptions and he looked at Wu Yuan. Then, he looked at Sun Yi and Chen Han. “May I ask Wu-shixiong and Chen-shixiong to join me.” He said and stopped walking.

“What are we going to do, Ah Sheng?” Chen Han asked as the two of them walked towards Cheng Sheng.

Without a warning, Cheng Sheng transformed his jade pendant to a sword. Their eyes went wide, surprised. However, Cheng Sheng didn’t attack them. “May I ask for Wu-shixiong and Chen-shixiong drop their blood on the array?” he asked. He didn’t wait for them to answer and immediately made a cut on Chen Han and Wu Yuan’s arm. They didn’t see a wound until blood seeped out from it. Cheng Sheng then grabbed Chen Han and Wu Yuan’s arm and made their blood drop on the same spot. They were now standing at the heart of the array. Chen Han and Wu Yuan’s blood dropped on the ground at the same time. They watched as the blood mixed, then dried on the ground. However, after a minute and they saw the blood disappeared like it was absorbed by the ground. Suddenly, the transcriptions of the array lit up. However, it glowed scarlet.

Their eyes went wide and looked at the array in shock. “What happened?!” they asked, alarmed.

“Sheng-er. What did you do?” Chen Jing calmly asked as he looked at the array. Then, his eyes narrowed as he understood. “You want to awaken the array?” he asked.

“What?!” they exclaimed.

Cheng Sheng nodded as he looked around, the scarlet light bathed his figure. “The Youxiwang Sect was founded by the cultivators of both from the Wu Clan and the Chen Clan.” He said. “Father is here, but sect leader Wu isn’t around. Thus, I borrowed brother and Wu-shixiong.” He explained.

“Won’t it be possible with my blood then?” Chen Jing asked.

Cheng Sheng shook his head. “Brother and Wu-shixiong are in the same generation.” He said. “Furthermore, they are both the inheritor of their clan.” He explained.

Chen Jing fell silent. They looked at Chen Han and Wu Yuan who were still stunned of what happened. They are true-blooded Chen and Wu, and both dedicated to the Youxiwang Sect. “Ah Sheng, this…” Chen Han said as he looked at the array that’s still glowing.

“Yeah.” Cheng Sheng said as he walked around. He hovered his hand above the scarlet light coming from the array. A few seconds later and the ground started to shake.

“Now, what?” the elders asked.

“Xiao Sheng. What’s happening?” Xie Lan asked as he looked at Cheng Sheng.

“I’ve said that the array was tampered earlier.” Cheng Sheng said as he started to walk around the array despite the shaking ground.

“Then, what does this mean?” Sun Yi asked.

Cheng Sheng stopped and raised his sword. “The array’s consciousness is struggling.” He said.

“Struggling?”

“Blood for a blood.” Cheng Sheng said as he pointed his sword to a group of words in the transcription. It was glowing brighter than the other words. “The array doesn’t like being spilled by blood, more especially if it was a demonic cultivator’s blood.” He said as he looked at a group of words floated in the air from the transcriptions. The words were written in blood. However, it was even more scarlet than the light coming from the array. “This is the demonic cultivator’s blood.” He said. They gasped and looked at the glaring words in blood. “Eliminate this and the array will return to normal.” He told them.

Chen Jing raised his hand and the blood gathered together. Then, he took out a vial. He took the blood and put it there. As soon as the lid was placed in the vial, the ground started shake slowly. Then, the light from the array changed to a crimson color – the color of their sect. The ground shook for the last time, as if it hummed. Then, it finally stopped and the light from the array disappeared.

“Second young master saved us again – “

“Yes. This is the third time.”

“First, the Cleansing Talisman. Second, that strange blanket that purified the demonic qi. And now, this – “

Cheng Sheng heard them and he frowned, displeased. Chen Han and Wu Yuan saw his expression and their brows knit. They looked at the elders who were whispering. Even just Wu Yuan, he can see that Cheng Sheng doesn’t like the spotlight. From when he first met him until now, he figured Cheng Sheng’s attitude. Cheng Sheng is a genius, but he doesn’t want to credit himself even if he really should be credited. He is low-key, and he wanted a peaceful environment. This is the reason why no one aside from them knew that he is the one created the Cleansing Talisman. Cheng Sheng has a carefree and lazy attitude like a cat. Once people recognize him, they will flock to him. Cheng Sheng’s carefree life will be disrupted and he will be forced to deal with his fame, which contradicts his lazy nature.

Xie Lan, Chen Jing, Minge Ye, Luo Shi, Fei Yin and Sun Yi also noticed Cheng Sheng’s ugly expression. “Silence!” Chen Jing yelled. Immediately, the elders shut up. “Now that the problem in the array was solved, there’s only the remaining problem – ” he said, his face serious. “We have to find our sect leader.”

“Has there been no news from the elders sent to search for the sect leader?”

“None.”

“It’s already been days. Now that we were attacked, the news of sect leader missing will be spread. More sects will attack us.”

Chen Jing’s face darkened. Ming Ye and Luo Shi lowered their head. This is one but big problem. They can’t go on without their sect leader.

Sun Yi walked towards Wu Yuan and helped him treat his wound. Chen Han had to deal it himself. How he wished Li Tian was here, but he cannot endanger his sweetheart. He bitterly swallowed his resentment towards Sun Yi and Wu Yuan who was displaying their affection in front of him. “Xiao Sheng.” Xie Lan called as he went back to their group. “I remembered you said about tracing the qi before?” he asked.

Chen Han, Sun Yi and Wu Yuan turned to them. They also heard what Cheng Sheng said since they went to the Xinfaxian Sect. “What’s tracing qi?” Luo Shi asked as he, Ming Ye and Chen Jing walked towards them.