Tome of Troubled Times
Chapter 799: Four Idols Formation, Second Layer of the Profound Control Realm

Chapter 799: Four Idols Formation, Second Layer of the Profound Control Realm

Zhao Changhe thought that he had been handling himself well. Whether it was with Jiuyou or Ying Five, he had managed to exchange a few lighthearted words before getting to business, and his tone had remained calm.

Yet Ying Five had seen right through him, mercilessly exposing his underlying anxiety. The feeling of knowing that his wife’s fate was in someone else’s hands, while he himself could not even pinpoint her location, was beyond frustrating.

The man was right. Excessive anxiety would not just hinder his breakthrough, it could also make him more vulnerable to falling into traps. He had to force himself to stay calm. However, calming down was not as simple as just deciding to do so.

He withdrew his soul fragment and took several deep breaths before saying, “Ying Five has located a major secret realm in Kunlun. If I can find it, it should make it easier to find Yangyang. We’ve agreed to set out in three days.”

Tang Wanzhuang said, “You should meet with Cui Wenjing first.”

The Cui Clan had a residence in the capital, and Cui Wenjing was staying there for the time being. As usual, he was seated by the clear stream behind the house, watching the flowing water. This was something he had always enjoyed doing.

Seeing Zhao Changhe arrive so suddenly, Cui Wenjing was taken aback.

He had only just spoken to Xia Chichi and the others about him in court that morning. Now, in the afternoon, Zhao Changhe had already traveled from Mobei to the capital? Even if he could fly, he would have had to depart in the morning at the latest. It was clear that he had not rushed to answer some summons but rather had returned before anyone even called for him.

“You just won a major battle. Why not stay a while longer and enjoy your conquest?”

“When I saw Piaomiao’s name appear on the Rankings of Troubled Times, along with the ancient White Tiger, I felt uneasy. The moment my injuries healed, I returned immediately. There was no reason to linger.”

“If you hadn’t mentioned the ancient White Tiger, I might have been more touched.”

“Why would I lie to you?” Zhao Changhe sighed. “Even Yangyang scolded me, saying I talk to you like we’re in a relationship.”

The stern expression on Cui Wenjing’s face finally softened into a rare smile. Then, shaking his head, he added, “Yangyang’s cultivation isn’t advanced enough. She can’t follow you across battlefields like Vermillion Bird and Yue Hongling, so naturally, you two spend less time together. She’s still young and lacks experience. When it comes to important matters, you have to admit that you discuss them more often with me than with her. But that’s not even the problem. She may act like she’s jealous of her own father, but in truth, she’s just resentful that you don’t spend enough time with her. Since your marriage, how many times have you seen her?”

Zhao Changhe was about to answer, but Cui Wenjing waved him off. “Of course, I don’t blame you. You truly haven’t had the time. It’s not a big deal. Wars never end overnight. When everything stabilizes, you’ll naturally have more time at home with your wife. But still, Yangyang always feels she should contribute something, like Vermillion Bird and the others. But I don’t think that’s necessary. Even if she never cultivates another day in her life, it won’t change anything. You are someone who values emotions above all else.”

Zhao Changhe found himself at a loss. Everything that he wanted to say had already been said by his father-in-law. Scratching his head awkwardly, he muttered, “I’m of the same opinion. Yangyang keeps putting pressure on herself, trying to catch up, but it’s really unnecessary. As far as I’m concerned, the only reason she should cultivate is so that she can be by my side as long as possible.”

Cui Wenjing replied, “That may be true for your relationship. But in terms of her personal safety and the tides of this era, keeping up with cultivation is not just advisable, but imperative. Yangyang has already worked incredibly hard. She broke through to the Profound Mysteries Realm at an incredibly young age. In fact, it’s an unprecedented feat. Yet, when she looked around, all she saw were demons and gods, and she realized she still didn’t even have the power to protect herself.”

There was a hint of self-reflection in Cui Wenjing’s words. It was not just Yangyang who was struggling to keep up; even he himself was falling behind.

Yuxu was still recovering from his wounds. Li Shentong had returned gravely injured. With the deaths of Bo’e, Timur, Hai Pinglan, Wang Daoning, and others, the old Ranking of Heaven had become a thing of the past, merely a relic of a bygone era.

Just like their aristocratic families.

Just like the flowing water before him.

Zhao Changhe said, “Father-in-law, don’t worry. I will bring Yangyang back soon.”

Cui Wenjing smiled faintly. “What I wanted to say is that if things become impossible, you should prioritize your own safety above all else.”

“Huh?” Zhao Changhe was dumbfounded.

Cui Wenjing finally withdrew his gaze from the water and looked at Zhao Changhe. “Your safety carries immense weight. You can’t afford to be reckless like you were in your younger days, throwing everything aside to fight to the death.”

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment before murmuring, “Then I wouldn’t be myself.”

Cui Wenjing replied, “What you choose to do is up to you. I’m just making my stance clear. If it can be done, do it. If it can’t, then even as her father, I will not blame you. Just do your best.”

Zhao Changhe did not know how to respond.

He understood that Cui Wenjing was trying to ease his burden, but he really felt that there was no need for that. No matter what, he could not bring himself to retreat.

After a brief pause, he unexpectedly asked, “Do you not want to get involved?”

Cui Wenjing was momentarily taken aback before answering, “I haven’t reached the Profound Control Realm. In battles among those at the first layer of Profound Control, I might still be of some use. But against beings like Jiuyou and Piaomiao, who clearly stand at the pinnacle of even demon gods, the difference between a peak Profound Mystery cultivator and an ant is negligible. There would be no point in me participating.”

Zhao Changhe glanced at the strands of white in Cui Wenjing’s hair, then cautiously said, “To be fair, father-in-law, you’re not that old. You’re not even fifty yet. That’s certainly old for the Profound Gate Realm, but in terms of hopes of reaching Profound Control, you’re still in your prime. As long as the will remains, breaking through in today’s world is not that difficult. But ever since your last injury, I feel like you’ve lost the drive to advance further. Is it because being bedridden for two months made you feel your age?”

Cui Wenjing continued gazing at the flowing water and said in a low voice, “That’s part of the reason. But the real issue lies in your new political reforms.”

“...”

“People are different. You and Her Majesty... you two can’t truly understand the kind of disillusionment that Old Yang and I feel, having watched our lifelong beliefs collapse.” Cui Wenjing sighed. “For instance... In the past, everything I did—cultivation, governance, all of it—was for my clan. But now that aristocratic families no longer fit into the world’s design, I find myself wondering... What am I cultivating for?”

Zhao Changhe asked curiously, “Isn’t cultivation for oneself?”

“If it were for myself, then why would I even enjoy cultivation in the first place?”

Zhao Changhe was momentarily stunned.

Cui Wenjing smiled. “To be honest, I never liked martial arts. My true passion has always been in governance and scholarship. But in this world, one cannot stand firmly without strength. A powerless scholar is just an empty talker, so I had no choice but to cultivate and fight.”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “And before you knew it, you made it onto the Ranking of Heaven.”

Cui Wenjing said curiously, “You accept my reasoning quite quickly. Most people struggle to understand when I tell them this.”

“Your son-in-law is quick to adapt.”

Cui Wenjing rolled his eyes in mild exasperation. “Anyway, this discussion doesn’t really matter now. Even if I no longer fight for the Cui Clan, I can at least fight to ensure my children and grandchildren aren’t bullied. I may not be able to contend with Jiuyou and Piaomiao, but I should at least be able to handle other Profound Control Realm cultivators.”

“Indeed.”

Without hesitation, Cui Wenjing stretched out his hand. “Then hand it over.”

Zhao Changhe obediently fished out a few medicinal pills he had conveniently found in Tngri’s secret realm. “These should be useful for your condition.”

“I knew it. You’ve gotten annoyingly sentimental. You’re far from being as straightforward as you were before.” Cui Wenjing tucked the pills into his sleeve. “Go on. Whether I’ll be able to keep up or not, I can’t say, but I’ll do my best.”

“Old fox,” Zhao Changhe muttered before turning to leave. The oppressive weight he had felt before had lightened considerably.

By the time he returned to the palace, Xia Chichi and Yue Hongling, who had been absent earlier, had both arrived.

Seeing Zhao Changhe’s noticeably calmer demeanor, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. As much as they wanted to say something to ease his burden, as “rivals in love,” they were not the right people to do so. Only Cui Wenjing could, and as always, he had lived up to expectations.

Zhao Changhe even had the mood to ask Yue Hongling, “How’s your reading of the White Tiger’s texts coming along?”

Yue Hongling glanced at Xia Chichi, who maintained a stiff expression and said nothing. The two of them had noticed that whenever they appeared together, they never actually ended up arguing. It was an odd sort of fate. Every time, the sparks of conflict simply failed to ignite.

So, Yue Hongling shifted her gaze away and spoke directly, “It does suit my cultivation well. It complements me in a very beneficial way. Hmm... The metal element aligns with my cultivation. After all, I’ve dedicated my life to the sword...”

Xia Chichi muttered something under her breath, but no one could quite catch it. Deep down, she knew the truth. Her duties in state affairs meant that she could no longer split her focus between two elemental paths like in her younger days. Managing to master the Azure Dragon’s system was already a feat in itself, and it was simply too difficult for her to continue holding onto the White Tiger’s system. Eventually, she would have to pass it on to someone else.... Still, she could not help but feel it to be a pity. Back when she roamed the jianghu, she had always worn a White Tiger mask...

What a loss, what a loss...

She had never imagined that the one who she would eventually come to pass it to would be Yue Hongling.

And this country bumpkin actually dared to accept it... Forget it. She can eat my leftovers if she really wants to.

While Xia Chichi brooded, Lady Three and Huangfu Qing wouldn’t bother with such convoluted thoughts. Lady Three simply asked, “Since that’s the case, should we start practicing the Four Idols Formation?”

Huangfu Qing hesitated. “Which version?”

Everyone immediately understood what she meant.

The Four Idols Formation had two variations. One was a basic formation, consisting solely of the Four Idols themselves, while the other variation was the true, ancient formation. The true Four Idols Formation was one where the Night Emperor was at its center, leading the formation.

In theory, the latter was vastly superior and better suited for their current training, but the problem was that while their pillar of support was the Night Emperor, one of their enemies was... the Night Emperor.

Leaving aside the awkwardness of how the cultists might react if this got out, the bigger issue was whether using the Night Emperor’s own formation against her would result in something akin to Yuxu fighting the Dao Lord—a meaningless endeavor that would ultimately fail.

Zhao Changhe remained calm. “We’ll practice both. The true Four Idols Formation will be the primary one, while the standard version will serve as a backup for when I’m not around. Honestly, there’s no need to overthink it. Whether the Night Emperor is at the center of the formation doesn’t really mean much to her; she will be able to break it either way.”

Everyone exchanged glances before saying, “Just how well do you know the original Night Emperor, exactly?”

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. “I am her successor, no? You’ve been telling me that for years. Anyway, it’s not really an issue. Let me put it this way, my succession as the Night Emperor is something she actually wants to see happen. Qing’er, you once worried whether my modified interpretation of the Night Emperor’s will still counted as the Night Emperor’s will, but there’s really no need for such worries... because the Night Emperor herself acknowledges it.”

Huangfu Qing: “...”

“Well, if there is one thing she didn’t anticipate, it’s that all Four Idols ended up becoming my wives...”

Other than Yue Hongling, who had yet to fully embrace herself as the White Tiger, the other three all turned their heads away—not in embarrassment or anger, but because they were trying to stifle laughter.

Frankly, it was hilarious.

If the Night Emperor had any grand designs behind Zhao Changhe inheriting her legacy, she most certainly had not planned for all four of the Four Idols to end up as his wives.

There was a world of difference between having four powerful subordinates and having four powerful wives. One could only wonder what the Night Emperor’s reaction would be. In fact, this unexpected development might just throw a fatal wrench into her entire plan.

If a real battle were to break out, and the Four Idols Formation were merely a formation of subordinates, then the moment the true Night Emperor descended, the entire formation would crumble without even needing to be attacked. There might even be defectors. But now, who cared who or what the original Night Emperor was supposed to be?

“I still don’t understand... Why did she guide me down the path of the Night Emperor?” Zhao Changhe muttered to himself. “Was it just to make me easier to control? Or... was she trying to observe the differences in how different people interpret the will and essence of the Night Emperor?”

Tang Wanzhuang, who had been standing off to the side with her arms crossed, watching this spectacle unfold, finally spoke, “Regardless of what the Night Emperor is planning, at least for this battle, she’s not our opponent. We can still use this formation against Jiuyou and Piaomiao. Go ahead and train. I’ll keep watch.”

“Mm.” Zhao Changhe straightened his posture, his fighting spirit reigniting. “Whatever the Night Emperor’s schemes, we simply do what we must. Sooner or later, I’m going to spank her ass.”

In terms of positioning, the Four Idols Formation was one of the simplest formations to execute. Everyone simply took their respective positions—east, south, west, and north—according to the idols they represented, while Zhao Changhe stood at the center. No matter how they moved during battle, as long as they maintained their orientation, the formation would remain intact.

However, the real challenge was not the formation itself but the circulation and fusion of energy. The central figure had to coordinate and guide the energies, a task of immense difficulty. Only someone with deep understanding of all four elements could accomplish it.

This was why, in its early days, the Four Idols Cult required its cult master to be proficient in the systems of all four idols. But that had always been an absurd requirement. Finding someone who could master all four elements was practically impossible. Even Xia Chichi, a once-in-a-generation genius, could only handle two. Her own master was this generation’s Vermillion Bird, yet she had never managed to learn fire-element techniques.

But now, they had Zhao Changhe. He was not proficient in the systems of all four idols, nor did he have control over both fire and water like some omnipotent being. However, he had cultivated alongside every single one of those who now represented the Four Idols. While he was not a master of all, he was compatible with all.

And this was only possible because of Zhao Changhe’s unparalleled martial arts talent. Even if someone else forcefully cultivated the systems of the Four Idols, they would not necessarily achieve the same level of harmony.

As she observed, Tang Wanzhuang could clearly see the constellations of the Four Idols manifest in the sky above them. The colors of the Four idols spread across the sky, each holding dominion over its quadrant. The energies surged and intertwined—sometimes clashing, sometimes merging. It was an intricate dance of opposition and unity.

There was no way the Four Idols could consciously unify themselves, so all four forces naturally gravitated toward the center of the sky.

Clang!

Dragon Bird suddenly emerged, casting a crimson glow like the setting sun over the western frontier.

Immediately after, River of Stars emerged, its cold radiance like the rising moon in the distant east.

Should the heavens be void of sun and moon, I shall take their place.

The sun and moon formed the foundation of duality.

Tang Wanzhuang felt an inexplicable tremor in her heart. She had not anticipated that Zhao Changhe’s sword and saber intent could manifest so clearly. More than that, she sensed traces of the Heaven, Earth, and Man Formation they had developed before through the sun, moon, and stars, laying the groundwork for this new formation.

The more predestined it all seemed, the more unsettling it became. Had the Night Emperor foreseen all of this?

The sun and moon converged upon the Four Idols, and yet, they stalled. The energy refused to flow.

Zhao Changhe pondered for a moment before suddenly tossing something into the air.

Yuxu’s Taiji Diagram... Li Shentong had left it behind when he departed, and no one had taken it back.

An image of the Taiji symbol hovered in the sky, and soon, the Four Idols were drawn into its orbit. Their power converged into the two polarities, the two forces merging into one before flowing into Zhao Changhe’s body. From there, he redistributed the energies outward, allowing the four systems to pass through everyone present. The conflicting forces circulated within them, gradually dissolving their opposition, leaving behind only harmony.

Zhao Changhe lifted his head to glance at the sky.

They had begun practicing at dusk, yet before he knew it, the night sky had already deepened into its darkest hour.

The formation had started with the setting sun. Now, with what should it conclude?

A thought stirred in his heart. He said softly, “Wanzhuang.”

Tang Wanzhuang, understanding his intent without the need for further words, unsheathed her Spring Water Sword with a crisp clang.

A glimmer of celestial light rose from the rippling water and ascended into the firmament. The myriad hues of the Four Idols faded, leaving behind only the purest radiance—brilliant and boundless, illuminating the world.

Dawn had broken.

Zhao Changhe withdrew his power and silently turned his focus inward.

The group of women stared at him with wide, incredulous eyes.

The surging tide of his cultivation roared like a great river, unceasing and unstoppable. A clarity beyond mortal comprehension flooded his mind. Where once his divine sense had been limited to a certain range without the support of the subterranean sky, now it spanned a thousand li. He could already see Li Boping once again...

Indeed, there was no need for him to master everything. He only needed to coordinate what everyone else had mastered.

The formation had not even been fully activated. This was merely a practice run to synchronize their energy flows. Yet, without even trying, Zhao Changhe had stepped into the second layer of the Profound Control Realm.

He had advanced so quickly that even Lady Three, who had only just been declared the strongest in the world, was left utterly speechless. She stared at him, her mind utterly shaken.

For the first time in her life, she began to truly question her sanity.

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