Feng Shui Chapter 145: A Sudden Breakthrough

Chen Xiao put down his brush and turned to Shen Yanxing with a smile. “This is a test your teacher has prepared for you. Take a look, can you tell what kind of Feng Shui formation this is?”

Shen Yanxing frowned, troubled. “It’s just three circles, how am I supposed to tell anything from that?”

Chen Xiao explained, “You should know, most Feng Shui formations rely on symbolic resemblance. Their names are often derived from shapes that resemble mountains, rivers, or natural features. This question is no different. Let me make it a little more obvious.”

With that, Brother Chen Xiaopped his brush in tea and drew a number of small squares within the largest circle, representing buildings that would be rebuilt after being demolished. The image was now much clearer. Shen Yanxing understood at once. “Stars Encircling the Moon!”

Chen Xiao looked at him approvingly. “Exactly. This is the ‘Stars Encircling the Moon’ Feng Shui formation.”

Under Chen Xiao’s supervision, the pit was reinforced over three days, and refilled in just one. In his previous life, backfilling a pit of this size would have required trucks making multiple trips to transport soil from elsewhere. But with cultivators handling the task, it was much simpler, just a few spells, and the collapsed ground was flattened and stabilized.

The construction of the plaza also progressed at astonishing speed. The Capital Prefecture had prepared bluestone tiles and mortar in advance. By the next morning, the ground was compacted, and by afternoon, stone tiles had been laid. That night, work continued by lamplight, and by dawn, the plaza was complete.

Commander Long of the City Guard strictly followed Chen Xiao’s instructions: not a single person was allowed into the area during those five days. Only on the sixth morning, after the guards withdrew, did local residents swarm back in to pack up and move out. Initially, most had been too afraid to stay in the area. But once word spread that the entire place would be demolished and rebuilt by cultivators into some kind of grand formation, everyone became excited.

Ordinary folk held blind reverence for cultivators, believing them to be omnipotent. Anyone who had the slightest connection to cultivation was considered blessed by their neighbors. So when they heard this, nearly all the residents happily emptied out their homes, eagerly waiting to return once the cultivators had rebuilt them.

The streets were full of carts being pulled by man or beast, people hustling in and out. Only the site of the former pit was carefully avoided, people gave it a wide berth. After all, something terrible had happened there, and the bad luck still felt heavy in the air.

But Chen Xiao remained unaffected by the outside world. He sat quietly in meditation, adjusting his state of mind. Xi Yunqing stood closest, guarding him. Meanwhile, Tong Nuonuo explained the wonders of Feng Shui to Tang Ru, who was witnessing Chen Xiao’s layout process for the first time.

Shen Yanxing accompanied Shen Yonghe and Shen Yongqing, who had come quietly after receiving notice. To avoid drawing attention, the two had come in plain clothes and brought no entourage.

The pit had created a vent for the baleful energy, and within a few days, it had gathered heavily in the open space. Fortunately, the backfilling was done in time. Otherwise, people and animals nearby would have started suffering injuries or worse.

The baleful energy’s influence was greater than Chen Xiao had expected. For a while, he couldn’t find the optimal point to suppress it. But he didn’t lose heart. He stood up and said to Xi Yunqing, “Brother, I need your help.”

Xi Yunqing had thought there was nothing he could contribute to Feng Shui work, but hearing this, he replied at once, “Just tell me, how can I help?”

Chen Xiao considered for a moment before saying, “Do you remember back in the venomous viper’s cave, when you were able to mimic the attacks of evil cultivators?”

Xi Yunqing hesitated. “I remember.” It was a unique ability of his, one he’d never fully explained to Chen Xiao.

Fortunately, Brother Chen Xiao don't press him today. He simply said, “Then, can you try using the exact opposite of that ability, to disperse the energy instead?”

Xi Yunqing was taken aback. Until now, he had only ever worked on controlling misfortune. He had never thought to reverse the process. A hint of frustration flickered in his obsidian-like eyes. “I’ve never tried. I don’t know if I can.”

Chen Xiao smiled. “You definitely can.” Xi Yunqing had never realized that his own aura could be consciously manipulated. But even without trying, his mere presence had a suppressive effect when auras clashed, proof that he had the ability. “Brother, your innate aura is one of righteous energy. No evil can invade it. It’s capable of dispersing all forms of baleful and ominous energy. I’d like you to stir up the field’s aura, so I can pinpoint the best location to place the Feng Shui stones.”

A complex mix of emotions stirred in Xi Yunqing’s heart. He had always believed his presence brought misfortune to others and never realized he might also have the power to dispel it. Thinking back, he felt a pang of guilt for all the people who had suffered because of his influence, they had been truly undeserving.

This misunderstanding had taken root when he was young. From the beginning, he had feared and shunned this strange ability. Even when he tried to control it, it was always with the goal of suppression. But now, for the first time, Xi Yunqing truly confronted his unique gift and began to grasp how to harness it fully.

He stepped away and drew his heavy sword, Xuefeng, then focused on sensing the force that was the complete opposite of misfortune. Though it was his first attempt, his experience with suppressing ill fate helped guide him. Soon, he successfully channeled the energy that Chen Xiao had called "righteous aura" into his sword.

With a sharp jolt, Xuefeng moved as if weightless in Xi Yunqing’s grip. He began to perform a sweeping and majestic heavy sword technique right in the center of the square.

“What magnificent swordsmanship!” Shen Yongqing exclaimed in admiration.

Chen Xiao was captivated, eyes glued to every movement. Xi Yunqing’s figure twisted and turned like a dragon in flight, his sword leading the way. It seemed he danced through mist and fog, yet in truth, he was cleaving through dense, lingering malevolent energy. Chen Xiao locked the image firmly in his mind before rushing forward onto the plaza. He had to seize this moment, while Xi Yunqing was stirring and weakening the malicious aura, to place the feng shui stone.

There was only one chance to place the stone correctly. It had to completely suppress the malevolent energy in a single strike, or the backlash would be even worse, possibly beyond repair.

The deeper he went, the heavier the pressure became. Fortunately, Xi Yunqing’s efforts had already eased much of it. Chen Xiao advanced one cautious step at a time until he finally reached the ideal spot. Without hesitation, he released the feng shui stone from his storage box.

Boom! A thunderous crash rang out, like distant thunder rolling across the sky or massive boulders tumbling from a mountaintop. The sheer force of the sound shook the ground, making the earth tremble beneath everyone’s feet, it felt as if an earthquake had struck.

But the tremor didn’t last long. Within moments, it stopped.

A colossal stone landed at the heart of the plaza, kicking up clouds of dust that swept in all directions. The heavy oppressive aura that had gathered was instantly and completely dispersed. Everyone present felt a lightness in their bodies, and even the air seemed suddenly fresher.

Shen Yonghe, both amazed and delighted, hurried over to the stone and asked, “Master Chen, is it done?”

Chen Xiao wiped the sweat from his brow and replied, “The feng shui anchor for the plaza has been completed. All that remains is to rebuild the surrounding homes in a formation resembling ‘Stars Encircling the Moon’. This single stone might not be able to hold the malevolent energy indefinitely. The surrounding houses must be built according to strict specifications, one hundred and eight in total, divided into nine blocks with twelve households in each. Together, they’ll support the stone and form a protective formation.”

Shen Yonghe nodded vigorously. “Excellent. I’ll give immediate orders to the Capital Prefecture to begin construction as soon as possible.”

Chen Xiao continued, “With the feng shui stone suppressing the aura, the onset of disaster will be greatly delayed. But it won’t last forever, two or three years at most.”

Shen Yonghe’s expression turned serious. “Two or three years is more than enough.”

As the ruler of the kingdom, Shen Yonghe had little time to linger. After confirming the stone had been placed successfully, he and Shen Yongqing took their leave.

Meanwhile, Chen Xiao noticed Xi Yunqing had remained standing in one spot for a long while without moving. Curious, he walked over.

Xi Yunqing had one hand resting on the hilt of Xuefeng slung across his back, and the other clenched tightly at his side. His eyes were half-lidded, his expression enigmatic, serene and otherworldly, as if he had just glimpsed a profound truth or unraveled a great mystery.

Tang Ru and Tong Nuonuo soon joined them. Tang Ru looked at Xi Yunqing and said, “Congratulations, Daoist Xi. You’ve had a moment of enlightenment. If you enter seclusion soon, you’ll surely break through to the next level.”

Only then did Chen Xiao understand, asking for Xi Yunqing’s help had unexpectedly brought him to the edge of a breakthrough.

Xi Yunqing glanced at Chen Xiao’s face, clearly surprised by the turn of events, and gave a bitter smile. “I need to go into seclusion immediately.”