A long time passed before Tang Chun Xi and her artifact finally recovered. She received something from the technique, something that surprised her even more. She had awakened three more skills:
[Matrix Condensation]: When casting a spell of a specific element, the practitioner can channel energy from the other four elements in a harmonic proportion (e.g., 25% each). This mini-matrix resonates with the spell and exponentially amplifies its power.
[Elemental Gathering Matrix]: When casting a spell of a specific element, one can use only half the energy the spell requires and achieve the same power as the full spell. It uses 50% (10% of each element) to create a mini-formation that gathers spiritual energy from the environment.
[Matrix Perception]: Increases perception and integration regarding matrices.
And it didn't stop there. Other pieces of information shed new light on the apocalyptic vision she had witnessed. — 'So the technique isn't complete, and this was caused by one of its parts merging?' — The voice of the Lunar Umbrella echoed in her mind, reading the message the Chaotic Harmonic Array had transmitted.
— 'And the vision I just had... it was the array being shattered... And now that part of it is reunited, I've gained new skills?' — she expressed mentally. Recalling the details of the vision left her deeply impressed and fearful.
— 'Master, can you show me the vision?'
Chun Xi was confused: — 'I thought you knew everything I know, since we share all of each other's thoughts...'
Hearing the doubt, he replied: — 'Before I awakened consciousness, yes! But after I awakened, no matter how connected we are, we still have different minds, even though we are theoretically part of each other!' — he clarified, adding: — 'So when we communicate, we are just exchanging superficial thoughts and emotions with each other!'
Hearing this, Chun Xi realized she should have asked sooner. Perhaps she was so happy to have someone always with her that she ignored a situation that would be strange to others—much like the fact that she might be "observed" by the stars at all times.
— 'One moment.' — Her expression shifted constantly as she let her memories flow: — 'That war... those beings of such power, that matrix, the pressure...' — Although they were intense scenes, she reviewed everything and focused on what she could handle now.
— "A lot happened..." — The Umbrella's voice resonated, now filled with a childish pity for his master having endured such a vision. — 'And as for these skills related to matrices! Especially this [Matrix Perception], could it be another name for formations?!' — he concluded after a pause. — 'Based on the matrix in the vision and everything we know about formations, they seem very similar, don't they?!'
Tang Chun Xi nodded in agreement: — 'It's a lot to think about. For now, let's find an exit. My bad feeling is growing.' — Decided, she didn't check the rest of the information in her mind, and the two moved forward into the room. As she approached the stone table, something changed. An ethereal image flickered above the surface.
— "My dear successor, you must be wondering what is happening and why there is a restriction on your mind..."
The Lunar Umbrella turned into light and entered his master's mind before she could react. — 'Master, I'm looking now!'
The image of the man with the goatee continued, his voice full of self-confidence. — "You managed to pass all the tests I left behind, so let me clear up your doubts: Firstly, congratulations on passing the Seven Desires Demonic Formation. It is the most important piece, and when you passed through it, a massive pillar of light emerged and signaled the opening of my tomb..."
At the same time, confirmation came from the Lunar Umbrella, who searched her mind faster than she could. — 'Master, there is no restriction at all! I'm sure of it!!'
But he soon commented in a small, angry voice, noticing the poor taste and the attempt to force his master into doing something. — 'This is a dirty trick!' — he replied as the image continued.
— "You might be thinking it's cruel of me to make you fight all the attracted cultivators after passing the demonic formation while having to go through all the other formations, traps, and tests in the tomb..."
The corner of Chun Xi's mouth twitched in a grimace of disgust. — 'It really was cruel, I almost died in that formation...' — The man's look made her want to punch him in the face.
'But fortunately, I guess?!...' — She really didn't know what face to make seeing him talk about trials she hadn't actually passed, unsure if she felt lucky or unlucky. — 'That illusion was horrible! I never want to go through anything like that again!!!'
Certain questions crossed her mind: 'I hope I didn't cause that much destruction, after all, that flame was no joke either' — but she quickly brushed it aside. Something told her she wouldn't like the answer.
— "In short, since you passed everything, you are extremely talented, lucky, and have a low probability of being corrupted..."
Chun Xi noticed a detail in his speech. — 'Wasn't that formation supposed to test the cultivator's mind?! Because it seems to me, by the name and this speech, that it can induce corruption?' — She had previously thought it was her own fault she was in that state.
— 'Hard to say, Master. He might just be someone ruthless in his methods!' — the artifact commented in her mind, while her caution increased.
— "Finally, as you've noticed by the restriction, take the Book of Ten Thousand Formations to my family within 100 years. If not, you will never be able to level up again! and I imagine a genius like you won't want to be bound for the rest of your life to an oath!" — the man completed, with the arrogance of a superior.
— 'Master, I want to hit him!' — The Lunar Umbrella spoke, indignant at the person's lack of shame.
Tang Chun Xi clenched her fists and thought the same as the Lunar Umbrella. 'Calm down, it's just a message, he isn't here!' — Luckily, she didn't have that restriction, and therefore didn't have to go through everything. Besides, what was this? A forced sale? And she had to accept it?
— 'So this fragment of the Chaotic Harmonic Array is called that? And the content is a collection of formations, not matrices?!' — as she completed this mental thought, the information she received flooded her mind...
— "Don't worry, it won't be in vain. You may consult the book as long as you meet the conditions for it... and there is a one-time use teleportation formation that will send you randomly within 10,000 kilometers. So, no need to thank me!"
Hearing him say this as he faded from her mind, without being able to assimilate the information yet, Tang Chun Xi noticed that behind the table, one of the walls disappeared, revealing a teleportation formation!
The message vanished after completing: — "The Book of Ten Thousand Formations is on the table along with the information you need." — hearing this, she looked at the table and saw there were a few items.
She was about to approach: — "Wait, I think it's better not to even touch it, who knows if he left another trap!" — she heard the little guy agree, so she ignored it and went to the most urgent matter.
She truly had neither the time nor the inclination, and she analyzed the structure in front of her as she approached.
It was a disk-shaped structure on the floor, crystalline and filled with formation symbols, being powered by a spiritual stone whose name she didn't know...
She noticed something very strange and pleasant. It was as if her senses were expanded!
As she approached the formation, she felt what could only be described as the subtleties of the formation: energy flows like currents, the "eyes" of the formation that guided the flow... It was as if she were visualizing—no, that isn't the right word. She didn't know how to describe it, but for lack of a better term, she was sensing the internal structure, and as she let herself go, the feeling became clearer, and more of the structure seemed to reveal itself!
— "Master, this really is a one-time use random teleportation formation! And I don't think there's a problem!" — he added excitedly while transmitting information to her mind, pulling her out of that state.
What came to her mind was a diagram along with several specifications of a formation... it was the formation in front of her! The source of information came precisely from her technique, which had absorbed what she believed to be the Book of Ten Thousand Formations! But now the most important thing was to get out!!
— 'Did you feel that?' — she asked, and looking again, the feeling was still there, only weak, and she could tell she could "feel" it more deeply again if she wanted!
— 'I only felt that your mind was becoming very focused,' — he added, turning serious. Analyzing what was passing through her superficial thoughts, he said: — 'Master, that must be because of the [Matrix Perception] skill!'
Hearing this, she nodded to him and said: — 'This skill is not simple... I think it works on other formations, and that would also confirm that matrices are related to formations,' — she concluded, and once again, threw that problem to her future self.
She felt a weight lift: — "With this formation, Lin Xu will be able to get out, and so I feel relieved to be able to leave him here." — She concluded this sentence with unusual ease because although her anxiety was growing, she didn't want to abandon him there.
Perhaps it was a slight guilt, perhaps it was the familiar vulnerability he had shown... whatever it was, she would use the Lunar Umbrella's [Emergency Teleport] to leave.
Lunar Umbrella realized and said: — "Okay, ready, Master? If so, I'll start the teleportation!~"
Tang Chun Xi thought of something, took out some clothes: 'I hope they fit!' — and some supplies. She took a piece of cloth, wrote something on it, and placed it near Lin Xu. After that, she added: — "Ready."
With her confirmation, the Lunar Umbrella in her hand expanded and the void around it undulated, and her figure was sucked in...
But something that none of the three noticed happened at the exact moment the skill was activated!! Perhaps only the stars noticed—something unusual, almost unprecedented even for them...