Chapter 2117: The Beauty's Wager
Lin Feng stepped through that door, and immediately before him appeared an independent space. Countless patterns interwove together, and ahead lay a diagram of array formations.
"This Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion is quite interesting. To step inside, one must first knock open the Heavenly Array Stele, then break through nine hundred and ninety-nine formations before truly becoming a member of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion," Lin Feng mused to himself. He had already learned about the path ahead from the few people imprisoned in his martial soul world. The Heavenly Array Stele tested a person's insight into formations. If one lacked even the simplest insight, they were unworthy of entering the array gate.
Behind the Heavenly Array Stele were set nine hundred and ninety-nine formations, nine hundred and ninety-nine doors. The first ones guided you into the basics of formations, while the later ones gradually led you to break formations, increasing the difficulty. By the time you could break nine hundred and ninety formations, even if you had never touched formations before coming, you would have become a master of the array dao with a very solid foundation.
This was the entry requirement of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion. If one could not step through these nine hundred and ninety-nine doors, cultivating formations would be useless. Without talent in the array dao, they should leave on their own.
Of course, many who entered the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion already possessed considerable skill in formations, some even being quite powerful. This allowed them to pass through the nine hundred and ninety-nine doors without much effort. Thus, it became common for people in the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion to gauge a newcomer's formation skill or talent based on the time they took to complete the entry.
Lin Feng strode forward directly. Beneath his feet, array patterns interwove, and in moments, a complete set of formation patterns fully took shape. The door ahead opened.
Stepping into the second door, it was still an entry-level formation. Lin Feng advanced with ease, as if walking on flat ground. Soon, he had passed through ninety-nine basic formation doors and began moving from simple to complex.
Half an hour later, Lin Feng had already passed through six hundred formation doors. His speed was extremely fast. For each formation door, he passed through in just a few breaths. One could imagine how terrifying his efficiency was.
However, at this point, the formations finally began to grow complex. Now, thousands upon thousands of threads surged from all directions, enveloping Lin Feng and converging into something like a maze, making it difficult to see the path forward.
"Even I need some time to think before I can step through this formation. If a complete newcomer came to the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, I wonder how long it would take them to pass through these nine hundred and ninety-nine formation doors," Lin Feng murmured to himself as he continued forward. Two hours later, he arrived at the eight hundredth door.
At this moment, within the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, there was a giant peak. On this peak, nine hundred and ninety light points flickered and lit up continuously. Now, it seemed that over eight hundred light points had already lit up, meaning someone had passed through eight hundred formation doors.
This giant peak could be seen by everyone in the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, as long as they stood in a good vantage point. At this moment, many gazes were simultaneously cast toward it.
"This person hasn't been in the formation doors for long, has he?" At this moment, someone in the void spoke doubtfully, saying loudly, "I wonder if anyone noticed the time when the first light point lit up."
"Two hours and a bit. I noticed. He definitely hasn't been in the formation doors for more than three hours," someone in the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion said, standing in the void and speaking slowly.
"What did you say? He passed through over eight hundred formation doors in two hours? Yao Qingshan, are you sure you didn't misremember?" A voice of doubt arose.
"Yes, passing through eight hundred formation doors in two hours means he has a chance to break the record for the shortest time. How is that possible?"
"I, Yao Qingshan, am not one to speak nonsense. Three hours ago, I definitely did not see the formation light lit up."
"The first time I saw a light point lit up, the specific time was about two hours ago. At that time, exactly nine lights had lit up. I didn't pay attention at all," another person said at this moment. Everyone's hearts tightened. This person was a very formidable figure. There was absolutely no way he would lie. And with two people able to testify, there was no need for doubt.
"For someone who can pass through eight hundred formation doors in two hours, the first nine formation doors can be ignored. This person passed through over eight hundred formation doors in two hours. He will likely pass the test of nine hundred and ninety-nine formation doors within five hours and step into the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion. Five hours, in the history of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, can rank in the top five hundred."
"Haha, it seems our Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion is about to produce another extremely formidable figure in the array dao." Loud voices rolled out. Ranking in the top one hundred in the long river of history was absolutely terrifying. The Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion had been passed down for who knows how many years.
"En, indeed formidable. Even I, right now, cannot pass the test of those nine hundred and ninety-nine formation doors within five hours," a powerful figure admitted. Many people nodded in agreement. The yet-to-enter powerful figure's formation ability might already surpass theirs.
"Already eight hundred and thirty lights lit up. It might not take five hours," someone said. Everyone looked there again, their pupils contracting slightly. Indeed, the speed was very fast.
"Interesting." At this moment, a figure descended onto a towering peak in front of the giant peak. The peak could only accommodate one person. That person stood there, looking at the lights on the giant peak ahead.
"It's Qian Mo. He's been attracted over too." Seeing this person, everyone's expressions tightened.
"Gu Shanqiu, how long do you think he'll take to pass through all the formation doors?" Qian Mo looked to the side, where another person was strolling over. It was none other than Gu Shanqiu.
"About five hours. He must already be skilled in formations, so the earlier ones are easier for him. But the later ones won't be so simple."
"Maybe it will exceed five hours."
"Perhaps four hours will be enough."
Two consecutive voices came, and this time they were women's voices.
"Yue Qingsha and Xue Luo. It seems this newly arrived formation master has attracted quite a few people out." The crowd thought to themselves. These few people were all very formidable figures in the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion.
"When Ye Que entered the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, he took five hours. He was the most recent person to enter within five hours. Before Ye Que, the only ones who did it and are still in the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion are probably those two fellows. For this person to do it within five hours, I'm afraid it won't be easy," Xue Luo said.
"Nothing is impossible. Which era doesn't produce formidable figures? Can you be sure we're not witnessing one right now?" Yue Qingsha said with a faint smile. "I believe this person might enter the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion within four hours."
"Haha, the two beauties are starting to compete again," Qian Mo said heartily. Xue Luo and Yue Qingsha had always liked to compete, and their strength and formation ability were both quite impressive, placing them at the upper echelons of the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion.
"None of your business," Yue Qingsha said disdainfully.
"How about a bet? If it's as you say, and he does it within four hours, you win. If not, I win," Xue Luo said.
"The wager. When does the time start?" Yue Qingsha responded.
"Let's say exactly two hours from now. If you lose, I want you to let Qian Mo kiss you," Xue Luo said coldly. Qian Mo's eyes flashed with a gleam, while others cursed inwardly. This Xue Luo was ruthless. She had always known that Qian Mo was interested in Yue Qingsha, and Yue Qingsha had always ignored him. She came up with such a damaging move.
Yue Qingsha's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. She looked up at the giant peak, then a strange light flashed in her eyes. "If you lose, you take the initiative to kiss the person who comes out, no matter who he is."
"This Yue Qingsha really dares to think. Someone with such formation talent could be an old man."
The Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion accepted those with ability, regardless of age.
"Agree to her. If that person really does it, I'll help you kill him," Qian Mo transmitted to Xue Luo. Xue Luo's beautiful eyes narrowed, then she smiled. With Qian Mo's status in the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, even if he killed a newly arrived genius, the higher-ups would only scold him. They couldn't do much to him. His talent and strength were right there. But this guy was indeed ruthless. No wonder he was called Poison Hand Qian Mo. No wonder Yue Qingsha had always detested him. But this suited her intentions.
"I agree," Xue Luo said.
"Then let's wait." Everyone's gazes turned to the giant peak. As the bet between the two beauties spread, more and more people came out, their eyes fixed on the giant peak. Four hours was too difficult. It would rank in the top one hundred in history.
Lin Feng had no idea how lively it was outside. In the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion, one could see the time others took to pass through the formation doors. He hadn't asked about this, so he simply walked through the doors calmly and unhurriedly, very casually.
"What's going on? Still this fast?" Outside, everyone's pupils contracted. Nine hundred and thirty formation doors, and only three hours had passed. There were only a little over sixty doors left. His speed had slowed, but not by much.
"It seems five hours is no longer in doubt. The question is whether he can do it in four hours," everyone thought, looking at the two beauties.
Qian Mo also stared at the peak. This time, Yue Qingsha, he would definitely kiss this girl, make her act so arrogantly in front of him.
Time passed slowly. Everyone involuntarily grew tense. More and more lights flickered.
"Nine hundred and eighty doors," the crowd swallowed their saliva. It was less than three and a half hours. However, the last few formation doors were even harder.
Even the two beauties couldn't help but feel a bit nervous, staring at the light points.
"Good fellow. I'm fighting for a kiss for you. You'd better work hard," Yue Qingsha said lightly. Meanwhile, Xue Luo's gaze held a hint of coldness. This guy had better not come out too fast.
When the nine hundred and ninetieth door was passed, many people seemed to feel their hearts beat. It seemed this was a very formidable figure in formations, likely at the master level.
"Two doors left. The four-hour mark is almost here. But as long as he hurries, it'll be fine."
"This moment will decide which of the two beauties gives a kiss."
"Nine hundred and ninety-eight. One last door," the crowd's hearts pounded.
"Half an incense stick of time left," Xue Luo said lightly. Yue Qingsha nodded slightly. That should be fine.
The heartbeats grew faster and faster. Everyone thought to themselves, no matter which beauty won or lost, the person entering the Heavenly Array Mysterious Mansion was an extraordinary figure.
"It lit up."
An exclamation rang out, making Xue Luo's heart sink. Qian Mo's expression turned cold. The other party had passed within four hours.
Yue Qingsha's beautiful eyes revealed a faint smile. She said, "You lost."