What a coincidence!

  PS: Two updates on weekends

  It is often said: boils are afraid of being famous, illnesses are afraid of being nameless.

  Suppose one day you unfortunately contract psoriasis or vitiligo, there is no need to rush around seeking medical treatment. Ordinary doctors can't do much about these world-class stubborn diseases anyway.

  What's even more frightening than the previous situation is that if you suddenly feel unwell and go to the hospital for a check-up, the doctor tells you there's good news and bad news. The bad news is that you've contracted an unprecedented disease, and the doctors haven't figured out how to treat it yet. The good news is that they've already decided to name this new terminal illness after your name. Well! You have to admit that a life of misfortune has reached the level of being upgraded to a tea table.

  All things and phenomena, though differing in their paths, converge on the same ultimate goal; those that conform to the Way survive, while those that do not perish. In fact, when it comes to tactics, the principle is the same, with no great difference.

  Traditional drama actors have a saying that "ten minutes on stage, ten years of work off stage". From this, it can be inferred that behind the brief moment of brilliance, there is often long-term preparation and planning that ordinary people cannot detect. If one knows the principle of setting up a large formation and makes thorough preparations, then even a young and inexperienced person can break through the formation step by step. On the other hand, if one does not understand the origin and principle of the formation, even a master-level figure who has spent their whole life studying formations will find it difficult to break through an opponent's pre-arranged layout, even if the opponent's actual level is far inferior.

  The golden sign of the Yin-Yang family was forged over a thousand years, and Sima Changkong had grown old and wise. He didn't want his own sign to be smashed by his own hands. After hesitating for a moment, his cautious thinking took over, and Sima Changkong smiled apologetically at Huang Shiren, who had come from afar:

  "To be honest with you, our sect is currently discussing a major matter and it's not convenient for us to send someone to Huo Mountain at the moment."

  When he bluntly rejected the request of Huang Shiren, the Landlord, this move was somewhat disrespectful to his old friend Zhuge You. Sima Zhangkong thought that the reason he gave was irrefutable. Because he didn't lie at all, he just slightly exaggerated the existing difficulties.

  Who would have thought that upon hearing these words, old landlord Huang Shiren instead stroked his beard and smiled, saying with a raised eyebrow and twinkling eyes:

  "Something big? Could it be that Da Shi is discussing with his fellow disciples how to deal with the fusion of the realms?"

  At the sound, it was as if he had been punched in the chest by someone, Sima Changkong's breathing became rapid, and he immediately leaned close to Huang Shiran and said in a low voice:

  "What? Does the Honored God also know of this matter?"

  An old god-like figure with a majestic appearance, Huang Shiren nodded his head and said:

  "Such a great matter, how could I, a humble villager, know about it? It was my good friend, Lin, the god of Mount Huo, who informed me of this before dawn. If you want to inquire about the details, I'm afraid you'll have to ask that Lin gentleman yourself."

  After hearing this, Sima Changkong couldn't help but feel a sense of being stuck between advance and retreat. He really wanted to pry some inside information out of Huang Shiren's mouth, but looking at it now, the other party had made up his mind not to reveal the truth.

  After some deliberation, Sima Changkong suddenly had an epiphany and executed the "Tuo" character technique, saying:

  "This matter is of great importance, and I don't dare to make a decision on my own. It still needs to be discussed with the elders in our sect before it can be settled. Can you two please wait quietly at our place for a few days until we get the result?"

  At the sound, Huang Shiren turned his head to look at Zhuge You, seeing him smile but not speak. Immediately, Huang Shiren understood the meaning of this guide, coughed and said to the donkey on the slope:

  "It doesn't matter, I'm just in charge of a small town, taking a few days off won't affect any major events, Master Da Jiu, please do as you wish."

  Seeing this, Sima Chang let out a sigh of relief and bowed his hands to Huang Shiren and Zhuge You, saying:

  "In that case, I'll take my leave for now. Huisheng, please arrange for the two noble guests to rest in the pavilion and treat them with utmost hospitality, do not be negligent or slow."

  After settling the two guests, Sima Changkong walked towards the hall with a worried heart. Before he reached the main hall, he had already heard a loud quarrel and the sound of palms slapping against the table. Sima Changkong was taken aback at first, then furrowed his brow and quickened his pace.

  Since ancient times, it's been said that only death is difficult! In the face of this life-and-death catastrophe, even a hermit from a bygone era would be unable to remain aloof. Just now, in the brief moment when Sima Changkong was absent, the hall of the Yin-Yang family had already erupted into chaos.

  When the crowd at the meeting saw Sima Changkong's dark face appear at the door, the chaotic arguing voices in the room suddenly stopped. Gao Tiancheng, who had just lost an argument with someone, immediately rushed forward to complain to Sima Changkong, saying maliciously:

  "Master brother, you're back. These juniors are too much, they actually dared to say I'm an old fool."

  Upon hearing this, Sima Zhang almost got so angry that he fell over backwards. However, he then thought of the more important matters at hand and didn't bother to dwell on such a trivial matter.

  Simachen Changkong made a gesture with both hands pressing down, indicating that the people in the meeting would calm down, and then he opened his mouth to say:

  "Alright, you all calm down and listen to me. Who among you knows what the Nine Heavens Ten Earths Eight Wastes Million Demons Array is?"

  As soon as Sima Changkong's words came out, the venue where dozens of core members of the Yin and Yang family gathered fell silent. Everyone looked at each other in dismay, their faces filled with surprise and doubt. It was common knowledge that the Yin and Yang family was the most familiar with array techniques among all cultivation sects. If they acknowledged themselves as second-best, no one would dare claim to be first. However, it was precisely because of this that hearing an unfamiliar array name suddenly brought a psychological shock to these proud professionals, far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

  The scene had been silent for a long time, and a timid voice broke the silence, saying:

  "This... this formation, I know."

  At the sound, everyone's attention in the room focused on this speaker. He was not a big shot qualified to attend the meeting, but a junior apprentice responsible for serving tea and water. If no one had spoken up at the meeting, he probably wouldn't have dared to speak up in front of so many seniors from his school.

  At this time, Sima Chang's piercing eyes fell on this disciple whom he couldn't even remember the name of, and said in a deep voice:

  "Oh, what's your name, and how did you know about this formation?"

  "I humbly report to the Grand Master, my disciple Liu Deming. Last month, during early morning class, he was late and received punishment by sweeping the scripture storage room. Unintentionally, he saw a damaged ancient book, which mentioned this very array."

  It was learned that the source of intelligence was actually in the Zangjing Pavilion inside the gate of the Yin and Yang family. Sima Changkong's facial nerves, which had been tense all along, relaxed slightly, and he said in a warm tone:

  "Where is that book now?"

  "Reported back to Da Jiu, the book is in my younger brother's room."

  Before Sima Changkong could speak, Gao Tiancheng, who was sitting beside him, suddenly slammed his hand on the table and loudly scolded:

  "Damn it, what's wrong with you little rabbit, hurry up and bring it over."

  Those who are used to relying on their age and playing tricks, Gao Tiancheng is undoubtedly a more intimidating presence than Sima Changkong, who rarely contacts his younger disciples.

  Liu Deming, this lucky young man who suddenly appeared in front of many big shots, was immediately frightened and stuttered:

  "Yes! Yes! Disciple will go and get it."

  Having said that, Liu Deming ran out of the hall in a hurry. Although he was so angry, Gao Tiancheng still wouldn't give up. He puffed out his chest and said:

  "Hmph, they've actually learned to smuggle and hoard for themselves. These young people are too outrageous, unlike when we first started out, who would have thought of such shameful behavior?"

  Seeing this scene, Sima Changkong, who didn't want to say much, couldn't help but speak slowly:

  "Junior brother, be careful with your words! Even if young people make mistakes due to ignorance, we are their elders after all. How can we not ask for the reason and easily blame them?"

  Upon hearing Sima Changkong's words, Gao Tiancheng puffed out his chest and refuted with a stern expression:

  "Senior brother, you always spoil the younger generation like this. In my opinion, they are all being spoiled rotten and none of them have any discipline."

  Simarongkong, who was distracted, did not refute Gaotiancheng's words and only smiled ambiguously, and after Gaotiancheng mumbled a few more sentences, he didn't say anything else.

  Not long after, the poor kid who was stared at by Gao Tiancheng ran into the hall and bowed his head in front of Sima Changkong, presenting him with a few yellowed sheets of paper. Before Sima Changkong could speak, Gao Tiancheng, who had followed over with a thick face, exclaimed and said:

  "Oh no, just one book is so little, what did you do?"

  In front of the two masters, Liu Daming's expression was tense, and he didn't even know where to put his hands and feet. He felt so unlucky that he wanted to speak but hesitated, saying in a voice as thin as a mosquito:

  "Yes, this book only has these few pages left, so I dared to bring it back to my room and check its origin."

  Upon hearing this, Sima Changkong raised his hand to stop Gao Tiancheng from launching into a lengthy critique of the young disciple's disobedience and said:

  "Alas, never mind then. De Ming, remember this lesson well and don't let it happen again!"

  At the sound, Liu Deming was like a great amnesty, he nodded and said:

  "The disciples respectfully remember the teachings and thank the great chief for his kindness in not punishing them."

  Motioning for the poor child to withdraw, Sima Longkong carefully flipped through these few pages of yellowed paper that seemed like they would disintegrate into dust with just a bit more force. He muttered to himself:

  "How strange! In my youth, I spent ten years in the Scripture Pavilion, why have I never seen this book before?"

  Books as a kind of information carrier invented by humans are not advanced, but it's interesting that the lifespan of various information carriers is inversely proportional to their technical advancement.

  Humans living in prehistoric times painted symbolic pictures on cave walls with mineral pigments, which could last for tens of thousands of years if not intentionally destroyed or eroded by natural wind and rain. Technologically more advanced bamboo and wood slips can also be preserved for thousands of years in a dry environment. Paper, which appeared later, is notoriously flammable and fragile, but can still maintain a lifespan of over a thousand years if properly preserved. Finally, the most rubbish information storage method must be counted as various high-tech information carriers widely used in modern society.

  For example, the average lifespan of modern information carriers that people are most familiar with, such as CDs, hard drives and U-disks, is only a few years to a decade or so. Once they expire, the internally stored information will become inaccessible without any external damage.

  In other words, in human inventions, the more awkward information storage methods are, the higher the probability of being preserved over a long period of time. On the contrary, those seemingly advanced and convenient technologies are more likely to cause trouble, I don't know if this paradox also verifies some unbelievable theories.

  Simachangkong stared at the yellowed papers for a long time, deep in thought, but unfortunately still couldn't get to the bottom of it. Suddenly, he let out a loud cry. Immediately afterwards, Simachangkong became excited and said:

  "So that's how it is, no wonder I couldn't figure out where it came from."

  Preliminary judgment of the origin of these paper scraps, Sima Changkong was happy for a moment, and soon his face fell again, clutching his wrist and sighing:

  "Each profession has its own specialization, and I'm afraid my knowledge is still not up to par!"