Chapter 280

Chapter 280: Dragon Suppression Plate

As Lou Yun asked this question, his vision blurred and Chang Xiang actually emerged from within his body, standing opposite him. Chang Xiang’s eyes were also fixed intently on the glowing object.

The object, emitting a faint red light, looked just like a dish used for serving food at a table. It was highly polished and not large in diameter, at most about fifteen centimeters. However, this dish was covered densely with tiny red characters, each the size of an ant, and the red light emanated precisely from these characters.

Upon closer inspection, the characters seemed to be arranged in some special pattern, though both Lou Yun and Chang Xiang couldn’t discern exactly what that pattern was.

"This looks like nothing more than a dish covered in writing!" Lou Yun said with a frown.

Chang Xiang also frowned deeply, staring fixedly at the dish before him. "It really does look like a dish, but that such a thing could seal away the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire… I find that quite hard to fathom."

Lou Yun nodded. "Perhaps it’s the writing on this dish that grants it the power to seal the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire."

"Well then why aren’t you looking at it quickly to see exactly what’s written on it?!" Chang Xiang was now brimming with curiosity about this dish, as he had never heard of anything capable of restraining Heavenly Fire before!

It was the dish’s presence that prevented the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire from moving freely. Therefore, until Lou Yun fully understood the exact mechanism at work, he didn’t dare to pick up the dish. The characters on its surface were extremely tiny. In this dimly lit environment, even with Lou Yun’s excellent eyesight, he had to bend over, lowering his head to scrutinize the characters.

As he looked, Lou Yun’s soul seemed to enter the dish itself. He remained frozen in that bent-over pose, utterly motionless. Beside him, Chang Xiang was scratching his head impatiently, practically hopping with anxiety, yet he didn’t dare to interrupt Lou Yun at this moment. He understood that Lou Yun was currently in a state of selfless absorption. To abruptly startle him might cause harm. Since Lou Yun’s condition was triggered by the characters on the dish, Chang Xiang could only wait helplessly.

After a long while, Lou Yun finally let out a long, astonished sigh and slowly straightened his back. The anxiously waiting Chang Xiang couldn’t hold back any longer. "Stop sighing already! Quickly, tell me, what did those characters say?!" he urged impatiently.

Lou Yun rubbed his slightly sore neck, stiff from being bent for so long. "Formations."

"Formations?" Chang Xiang was taken aback for a moment, then pressed him. "The characters were about formations?"

"You’re half right! I should say, not only did the content of the characters discuss formations, but the characters themselves form a formation. That’s how it was able to seal the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire!"

Chang Xiang blinked twice, clearly still somewhat confused. How could the content be about formations, and the characters themselves also form one?

Lou Yun didn’t keep him in suspense any longer. He came straight to the point: "The eminent master who sealed the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire all those years ago must have been a Formation Grandmaster. Because this text is actually a set of formulas teaching the knowledge of formations. Only at the very end did the master, using concise words, explain that the reason the formation was inscribed on the dish in this form was precisely to seal the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire!"

"This senior master not only carved his understanding of formations onto this dish but also arranged the characters according to the pattern of a special formation. Thus, as the characters were formed, a formation was simultaneously laid down, using it to seal the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire away."

Chang Xiang was beginning to understand now, but a question lingered. "If what seals the Illusory Wolf is this writing, according to you, then why did that master go to the extra trouble of building the Ancient Weapon Academy? And why tell future generations that the Ancient Weapon Academy could seal the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire?"

"Because this sealing formation can confine the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire only within a direct line of five hundred meters. The Illusory Wolf could still wreak havoc during that time. Therefore, another formation was necessary to lull it into sleep. Only under the suppression of this dual formation could the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire be subdued!"

"So, the master later founded the Ancient Weapon Academy. But in reality, the Academy merely induced the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire’s slumber. The true sealing effect came from the formation formed by the characters on this dish. I’ve just finished reading through this set of formulas completely, acquiring some understanding of formation knowledge. Simply put, there are many types of formations. Some for offense, some for defense, some for confusion, some for inducing sleep. The Ancient Weapon Academy is a formation designed to put the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire to sleep. The formation created by the characters on this dish, however, is the true sealing formation."

Chang Xiang thought for a moment, then nodded. "I see. So earlier, when the formation established by the Ancient Weapon Academy was destroyed, it woke the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire up, causing it to burst forth from the underground. However, it still couldn’t escape the sealing formation. That’s why it could only charge upwards into the air but couldn’t move freely any further. And the reason Xiao Huo couldn’t devour it… was also because of this sealing formation?"

"Precisely. The method to break the formation is written on the back of the dish. So, if we want to lift this seal now, we must pick up this dish."

"Then why aren’t you looking at it?!" Chang Xiang exclaimed.

Lou Yun hesitated, concerned that picking up the dish might inadvertently destroy the formation. However, considering the master had clearly stated on the front that the breaking method was on the back, he must have prepared for someone needing to lift it. Finally, Lou Yun reached out and picked the dish up from the ground.

Held in his hand, the dish was incredibly light, completely indistinguishable in weight from an ordinary plate. As Lou Yun lifted it, he took great care not to significantly alter the dish’s orientation. The characters inscribed on the front still faced directly towards the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire.

He looked up. Seeing the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire still motionless in the air, he breathed a sigh of relief. Then, he brought the dish’s bottom closer to his eyes to carefully examine it.

This time, Lou Yun read very quickly, finishing within moments.

"This master’s name was Nan Qu Xing. This dish is called the Dragon Suppression Plate. He created it after the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire appeared, following deep contemplation. The dish itself is actually the most ordinary kind of dish. However, Senior Nan used his own blood as ink to carve the formation characters onto it. This imbued the dish with sealing power. We can consider it a treasure too."

"As for breaking the formation, the method is simple: just use weapon spirit power to conceal the characters on the Dragon Suppression Plate. Then the formation will break, and the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire sealed inside will immediately gain its freedom."

Chang Xiang listened while muttering to himself, "Nan Qu Xing… Nan Qu Xing… Never heard of that surname. Seems he was likely a magical weapons master from the Spirit Weapon Star."

Once Lou Yun finished, Chang Xiang continued his questions. "So what are you going to do now? Break this formation?"

Lou Yun looked up at the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire and Xiao Huo in the sky and nodded. "I’ll signal Xiao Huo first, tell him to keep a close watch on the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. Then, I’ll try to break this formation."

"En," Chang Xiang nodded. "This is your business now. You decide." As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished, disappearing back into Lou Yun’s body.

Lou Yun immediately sent a mental sound transmission to Xiao Huo. Xiao Huo, hearing Lou Yun’s message, responded with a long, drawn-out howl, signaling that he understood.

With that, Lou Yun gripped the dish with both hands. Spiritual energy flowed from within his body, transformed into weapon spirit power through his palms, and channeled into the Dragon Suppression Plate.

Indeed, as weapon spirit power poured in, the characters on the Dragon Suppression Plate, which had originally emitted a faint red light, gradually lost their glow. In the instant the last character’s light winked out, a cry suddenly came from the sky — the cry of the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire.

This cry was strangely odd. Excitement mingled with a hint of despair. And it ended abruptly, cut off halfway. Almost instantly after that, Xiao Huo’s triumphant howl rang out.

Lou Yun didn’t need to look. He knew: the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire, realizing it had gained true freedom, let out a joyful howl. But before it could finish its cry, Xiao Huo, lurking ready beside it, must have snatched it down his throat. The only puzzle was how Xiao Huo managed to swallow such an immense creature.

Lifting his head, Lou Yun saw a streak of red shadow hurtling down from the sky straight towards him. It was Xiao Huo, letting out continuous, happy cries. He was clearly excited about having feasted again.

Xiao Huo landed lightly on Lou Yun’s shoulder, rubbing his furry face affectionately against Lou Yun’s cheek. It felt like both a gesture of thanks and a boast about his achievement.

Lou Yun laughed and patted the creature’s head. "Hand some great luck your way this time, didn’t it? Well then, all full and satisfied now? Ready to head back for some rest and training?"

Xiao Huo nodded repeatedly. Lou Yun gave him a couple more affectionate strokes before sending him directly back into the Chaos Golden Cauldron. As for the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire — he had no concerns whatsoever. It was safely inside Xiao Huo’s belly now, the most secure place possible.

Just then, voices reached Lou Yun from the air above: "Lou Yun! Lou Yun! Are you alright?!" It was Xia Guanqiu and others calling down.

That’s when Lou Yun remembered. Although the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire was dealt with, Tang Qianqiu and those evil weapons masters were still alive! Their entire purpose here was for the Illusory Wolf Heavenly Fire. Seeing it devoured by Xiao Huo, they would never simply surrender peacefully. What if they flew into a rage and attacked Xia Guanqiu and his companions? With their levels of cultivation, Xia Guanqiu and the rest stood no chance against them!

Thinking of this, Lou Yun hastily stuffed the Dragon Suppression Plate into his spatial ring. Then, he summoned the Dream Emperor Sword, poured power into it, and shot straight up, leaving the subterranean depths far below.