Chapter 368

Chapter 368: Like Waking a Dreamer

When Lou Yun returned to his room, dawn had broken. Just as he prepared to sit and cultivate, his brow suddenly furrowed. With bitter laughter, he shook his head—the voices of the Three Brothers of the Lu Family bickering already reached his ears.

"What if the island master is cultivating right now? If we disturb him and he gets angry, refusing to discuss formations with us, what then?"

"He probably isn’t cultivating anymore. It’s already daylight. Besides, haven’t you noticed? The island master’s cultivation is likely higher than ours now. What’s there to cultivate? Let’s go, let’s go!"

"No, brothers, let’s wait until later. The island master said he’d discuss it with us in the next couple of days, not specifically today. If we barge in rashly and annoy him, we’ll be in trouble!"

Lou Yun couldn’t help laughing wryly at the exchange between these three old youngsters obsessed with formations. Yet he deeply understood the anguish of a bottleneck period in cultivation, having endured that pain himself for nine long years. So, parting his lips, he called out, "Stop arguing. Now that you’re here, come inside!"

"See? Told you the island master wasn’t cultivating!"

"Indeed! The island master has such a good temper—how would he get mad at us?"

"Enough talk, hurry!"

Lou Yun could only shake his head helplessly—truly, he had no means to deal with these three!

Within moments, the three stood before Lou Yun. Despite their earlier endless debate, now that they actually saw him, none dared to speak—for reasons only Chang Xiang might grasp.

With their king rank cultivation and lifelong study of formations, the Three Brothers of the Lu Family possessed keener perception than most toward worldly energies. They sensed, more palpably than anyone else, that terrifying change radiating from Lou Yun!

Lou Yun regarded them with amusement, teasing, "Weren’t you three quite eloquent earlier? Turned mute now?"

They secretly nudged each other with fingers, silently urging someone to speak first. Finally, Lu Da relented. "Island Master, we’re here to discuss the layout of the Illusionary Sky Formation on Divine Weapon Island!"

Lou Yun gave a hearty laugh and rose. "Very well. Let’s take a look outside."

With joyful expressions, the Three Brothers fell in step behind Lou Yun to the island’s surface.

Lou Yun first led them to the Illusionary Sky Formation’s starting point—the entry channel for worldly energies. "This is where the formation begins its layout?"

"Yes, yes!" they chimed in unison.

Picking up a twig, Lou Yun began sketching in the sand while explaining. "Now observe how the entire Illusionary Sky Formation’s layout extends inward from here, toward Divine Weapon Island."

The twig flawlessly outlined the entire formation in the sand. The brothers watched intently, nodding emphatically until they finally gave Lou Yun a thumbs-up. "Island Master, your insight into formations is incredible! This layout is perfectly accurate!"

Lou Yun had not grasped the formation’s structure through study—he had mapped it solely by sensing the flow of worldly energy within. Naturally, he saw no need to share this with the Lu brothers.

"Save the flattery. Look here." Lou Yun tapped a specific point on the sketch with his twig. "What effect would it have on the entire formation if this point were slightly offset along this angle to reconnect with the subsequent layout?"

The moment he spoke, the brothers froze like statues, all six eyes locked onto the spot his twig indicated, utterly motionless.

Seeing their focused stillness, Lou Yun knew they must have grasped something profound. Smiling faintly, he dropped the twig, seated himself on the ground, and too began examining the diagram he had drawn.

Though his pinpointed challenge struck at the core of their struggle, it wasn’t born of expertise on formations. Rather, he had perceived a subtle stiffness in the energy flow at that location—like a carriage galloping freely upon an open road only to abruptly confront a narrow trail.

Though the carriage could squeeze through, it could no longer race unrestrained. It must inch forward cautiously.

Hence, Lou Yun reasoned shifting that junction slightly would smooth the energy’s passage, erasing the jarring resistance!

Thus, Lou Yun sat observing the ground—watching the sun rise and then set. The brothers remained petrified. People occasionally sought Lou Yun during this time, but he shooed them away beyond a hundred paces. He recognized this was a pivotal moment for the Lu brothers. Not even the slightest disturbance could be allowed. He would stand guard himself, awaiting their return to awareness.

Only when the moon hung high at midnight did the brothers finally awaken from their trance. Each face bloomed with dawning insight and euphoria. Before uttering a word, all three burst into loud laughter.

Remaining seated, Lou Yun watched their unrestrained joy, heart swelling with happiness. Clearly, each brother had gained profound insight into the Illusionary Sky Formation!

Their laughter subsided abruptly. Suddenly, simultaneously, all three knelt before Lou Yun with heavy thuds. They moved with startling speed—their kneeling shockingly swift. At king rank cultivation, even Lou Yun’s present strength couldn’t prevent it—he could only stare as they kneeled before him.

"Island Master, thank you! Like waking a dreamer with a word!"

"Island Master, thank you! That one point shattered my bottleneck!"

"Island Master, I understand now!"

They spoke these declarations and bowed together before Lou Yun. Flustered, he scrambled to help them up. "What are you doing? Get up now!"

Lou Yun didn’t fully grasp how he had helped them overcome their bottleneck. But he understood bottlenecks to be akin to dams blocking a current—seemingly solid and impenetrable. Yet a single pinhole-sized breach could rupture the entire wall completely.

His minor adjustment to the Illusionary Sky Formation had pierced a tiny aperture into each brother’s dam. What followed—the collapse—derived solely from their own accumulated expertise over centuries.

Once finally he got them upright, Lu Da declared passionately, "Island Master! Let us rework the Illusionary Sky Formation right now! Afterward, we’ll cultivate peacefully on Divine Weapon Island, striving for greater heights!"

Lu Da’s words thrilled Lou Yun. Logically, settling scores was simple: They crafted the formation to safeguard Divine Weapon Island and the Lou Family; he helped them break their bottleneck. Their debt was settled. They could leave now without reproach.

Yet not only did they intend no departure, they wished first to repair the formation’s flaw and then vowed to cultivate here. Plainly, they had chosen to follow Lou Yun steadfastly.

Having these three formation masters remain suited Lou Yun perfectly. He’d welcome it wholeheartedly!

As the brothers prepared for the formation modification, Lou Yun flicked his wrist. A circular plate materialized in his hand as he said cheerfully, "Hold on. I have a gift for the three of you!"

This plate was none other than the Dragon Suppression Plate—obtained beneath Ancient Weapon Academy—inscribed with the ancient masterwork of formations: the Formation Path Expansion Decision!

Though Lou Yun always intended to give the manual to the Lu brothers, had they requested leave after their breakthrough, he might have reconsidered. Yet since they stayed, he honored his original intent, bestowing upon them this priceless treasure for dedicated formation researchers.

The brothers exchanged bewildered glances, perplexed by Lou Yun’s timing and meaning in presenting a plate.

Lou Yun grinned, handing the plate to Lu Da. All three immediately focused on it.

They say experts recognize skill instantly. Earlier, Lou Yun required reading to understand the script’s significance. But for the brothers—immensely experienced across centuries with formations—a few glances sufficed to discern its import!

Their breaths hitched, eyes rapidly scanning the plate, clearly yearning to absorb every detail instantly.

Lou Yun, knowing the Formation Path Expansion Decision’s oceanic depth couldn’t be grasped so quickly even by masters, chuckled. "It’s yours now. Plenty of time to study later! No need to rush. Well… I’ll leave you to it!"

His words snapped them to alertness, faces flushing. Hastily shifting their gaze, they began to bow once more. Loathe to endure their kneeling again, Lou Yun vanished in a flicker of his figure.

For a long while, the brothers stared at where Lou Yun had stood—then silently knelt again. They understood: The plate gifted was beyond priceless; it defied valuation!

Upon kneeling, all three willingly resolved—from now on, they’d follow Lou Yun without regret, unto death!