Guiguzi  

On the tenth day, outside the Flaming Mountain formation, Master Yichuan paced nervously. Compound formations were notoriously dangerous, and a single misstep could lead to fatalities. His initial plan to punish Fan Li had inadvertently put everyone at risk.

"How could I have offended the Great Ming, Wei, Han, Wu, and the Brahma Sound Pure Land all at once?" he lamented, finally realizing the gravity of his actions. "Oh, heavens! I only pray for their safety. I dare not act recklessly again!"

He fidgeted anxiously, praying silently for their well-being. As half a day passed without any sign of them emerging, panic set in.

He clutched a talisman in his sweaty palm, his face contorted with indecision. "With Master's talisman, I could destroy this formation and ensure their safe return," he thought, "But how do I explain this to Master afterward? If I anger him and get expelled from the sect... Confucianism values filial piety above all else. Disrespecting one's master is unfilial. How could I ever hold my head high in the world again?"

Torn between saving lives and his own future, he hesitated.

Finally, he gave in to his fear. "What if everyone else is fine, and only Fan Li perishes?" He decided to gamble.

Suddenly, a violent sandstorm erupted within the formation, sending sand and dust swirling through the air. Yichuan knew this meant someone had successfully crossed the Flaming Mountain. He widened his eyes, eager to see who had emerged victorious.

To his astonishment, it was a group of people, led by a familiar figure.

"How could it be Fan Li?!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "He was the first to cross the Flaming Mountain???"

Yichuan rubbed his eyes, unable to comprehend what he was seeing. Fan Li and the others, though covered in dust, appeared full of energy and vitality. How could their journey through the Flaming Mountain have been so effortless, like a leisurely stroll?

"Everyone, we have passed," Fan Li announced with a smile.

"Hahaha, thanks to Duke Jin," Zhuge Liang replied.

"We are deeply grateful for Duke Jin's care," Zhou Yu added.

"Fan Li, thankfully we had you!" Lu Fubao chimed in.

The group expressed their gratitude towards Fan Li, their voices overlapping. Only Sage Ruler Jin De remained silent, her expression grim but no longer defiant.

Yichuan sighed inwardly. 'Well, at least everyone is out,' he thought, 'It saves me from further trouble.'

As he was thinking this, the wind died down, the sand settled, and the Flaming Mountain formation returned to its peaceful state. However, two people were still missing.

"May I ask... where are the two from the Great Ming?" Yichuan inquired cautiously, sensing something was amiss.

"You mean Zhang Juzheng and Crown Prince Wanli?" Fan Li replied casually. "They're probably dead."

Yichuan's body trembled, his eyes rolled back, and he nearly fainted on the spot.

Fan Li was alive, but the Crown Prince of the Great Ming and the youngest Grand Secretary were dead? This was akin to extinguishing the Great Ming's lineage!

Yichuan felt tears welling up in his eyes. He could already envision the scene of the Jiajing Emperor, known as the world's strongest cultivator, personally descending upon Mount Yunmeng and tearing him limb from limb.

"No!" he thought, "I must save them!"

No longer hesitating, he activated the talisman bestowed by Guiguzi and sent it into the formation.

A thunderous rumble echoed through the air, shaking the entire mountain. The once mystical sandy expanse instantly lost its spiritual energy, becoming ordinary sand.

Two figures lay side by side on the sand, their fates unknown.

"Dead?" Lu Fubao muttered under her breath.

"Hopefully," Fan Li replied.

Unfortunately, Wanli and Zhang Juzheng were only unconscious. As soon as they were freed from the formation's suppression, their cultivation recovered, and their physical condition rapidly improved.

Their faces, once pale and gaunt, regained their healthy color, and their cracked lips became rosy and smooth.

"Cough...!"

Zhang Juzheng was the first to awaken. He looked around and quickly grasped the situation. They had failed.

With his abilities, Zhang Juzheng could have crossed the Flaming Mountain alone. However, Crown Prince Wanli had become a burden, collapsing just four days into the journey. For the remaining six days, Zhang Juzheng had carried him on his back.

Despite his efforts, they hadn't even covered half the distance in ten days.

"I'm dying of thirst!" Crown Prince Wanli cried out, finally regaining consciousness.

His cry was followed by a moment of confusion. He no longer felt thirsty, and his hunger had also disappeared. His spiritual energy had returned, allowing him to enter a state of fasting, where he no longer needed food or water.

"What happened?!" he demanded.

"Your Highness..." Zhang Juzheng forced a smile, "We failed. We must return."

"What?!" Wanli suddenly remembered something and glared at Fan Li. He recalled how Fan Li had left him and Zhang Juzheng behind in the desert.

"You actually passed?!" he accused.

Fan Li simply smiled without saying a word. His silence spoke volumes.

Wanli clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He wanted to lash out, but with Sage Ruler Jin De's Great Vehicle Realm cultivation present, he knew he couldn't afford to lose his composure.

Failure? He was the Crown Prince of the Great Ming, the future Emperor. He could never admit defeat.

"I will remember you all. One day, I will personally lead the Great Ming's iron cavalry to exact my revenge…"

Even Zhang Juzheng, standing beside him, felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at his student inf fear.

Fan Li remained unfazed by the threat. They were enemies, after all. Such empty threats were merely a sign of Wanli's inability to accept defeat. Emperors, he thought, were the most prideful creatures on earth.

"Yichuan."

A voice, ethereal and androgynous, suddenly echoed from Mount Yunmeng. It sent shivers down everyone's spines.

Yichuan's body jolted. He immediately turned towards the mountain peak, dropped to his knees, and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your disciple is here!" he cried out. "Please, Master, give your instructions!"

Everyone realized it was Guiguzi speaking. The most enigmatic Confucian cultivator in the world, even his voice was shrouded in mystery.

"Yichuan, how dare you destroy the Flaming Mountain formation?! The Flaming Mountain is a compound formation of fire and earth. When did I ever instruct you to use it to test those who enter the mountain?"

Yichuan trembled uncontrollably. He could feel several hostile gazes upon him, the most intense one undoubtedly belonging to Crown Prince Wanli.

"I have sinned!" he confessed. "I was momentarily blinded by my own desires! Please forgive me, Master. I will never dare to do such a thing again!"

He continued to kowtow, his forehead striking the stony ground with such force that he cracked several rocks.

"Everyone," Guiguzi's voice addressed the group, ignoring Yichuan's pleas.

"I apologize for the trouble caused by my incompetent disciple. The Five Elements Formation test is hereby canceled. Please continue your ascent. As long as you can pass the final formation before the summit, you will be able to meet with me."

Crown Prince Wanli's face lit up with joy. "Master Guiguzi, are you serious?!" he exclaimed.

"Rest assured, Crown Prince of the Great Ming. I always keep my word..." Guiguzi's voice gradually faded away. No matter how Wanli called out, he received no further response.

"Hahaha! Teacher, let us quickly ascend the mountain and break through the final formation!" Wanli exclaimed excitedly.

He couldn't bear the thought of failure. It would diminish the Emperor's favor and jeopardize his position as Crown Prince. Now that he had another chance, he didn't even bother to hold Yichuan accountable.

"Yes," Zhang Juzheng replied. He wasn't the only one who felt something was amiss. Fan Li shared the same sentiment.

The Five Elements Formation test was supposed to be a tradition of the Guigu lineage. Why would Guiguzi disregard his own rules?

Unless... he was also eager to meet them?