Disscuss and Persuasion

(TN: really sick these days please tell me is there is grammar issues or if I missed something)

.......

Liu Ping stared at the small figure before him, his expression frozen in disbelief.

This little girl... she was a truly terrifying existence!

And what was this "Devil" she spoke of?

Liu Ping had encountered many types of ghosts in his life: Demonic Wraths, Evil Wraths, Yin Wraths, Rejecting Wraths, Hungry Wraths, Water Wraths, and even the ferocious Vicious Wraths. The Wrath realm was vast and diverse, each Wrath unique in its nature. But never before had he heard of something called a "Devil."

Could it be a new type of Wrath? Something unique to this world of death?

"I remember the First Act didn't have the means to reach the Western Desolate Great Camp—yet here you are, already taking action," the little girl said, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Yes. Did you sense it? Something's about to happen, isn't it?" Liu Ping asked cautiously.

"Of course. When the plot begins to collapse, something always emerges to intervene," the girl replied, her tone almost gleeful. "That's why I came to find you."

As she spoke, dozens of glowing, dull-green tails unfurled behind her like a peacock's radiant display. The tails shimmered with an otherworldly light, occasionally swaying in the wind.

Liu Ping instinctively gripped the formation plate in his hand, his eyes fixed on the ominous appendages.

"Don't worry, they won't hurt you," the girl said casually, waving her hand. "These are just my pets. Without my command, they won't sting anyone."

At her gesture, the tails burrowed into the ground, disappearing from view.

'So they are not part of her body'

"They're obedient. Seems like you've trained them well," Liu Ping said with a faint smile.

The girl grinned. "Naturally. But you've been making some significant changes to the plot. Hasn't that caused trouble for you?"

"Of course. By the way, who is this 'Lady Agony'?" Liu Ping asked.

"She's the master of this place. Everything here belongs to her," the girl replied.

"She sent a monster to hunt me down," Liu Ping said.

"Really? I thought you already dealt with one of her Pursuers." The girl licked her lips as she spoke, her excitement palpable.

"This time, it's different. The creature has Gold Core-level strength. And in this camp, I can't act recklessly. If I kill it, I'll be apprehended almost immediately by the law enforcement cultivators. It's... complicated."

The girl frowned. "That's troublesome. This place is protected by a grand formation. I can't break through it myself, so you'll have to handle this on your own."

Grand formations were one of the six great arts—a pinnacle achievement of cultivation civilization. A large-scale war formation could concentrate the power of tens of thousands of cultivators into a single devastating attack. Breaking through one was no simple feat.

Liu Ping considered this. "What if I lure the creature out? I have ways to do it, but I'll need your help to handle it once it's outside."

The girl's eyes widened in disbelief. "You can lure it out?"

"I can," Liu Ping confirmed.

In the past, he had dealt with many demons and formed alliances with beings of all kinds. Negotiating with them was something he was well-versed in.

But dealing with a death monster... that was uncharted territory.

"So long as you can get it outside the formation, leave the rest to me," the girl said confidently.

Liu Ping muttered to himself, "Alright... let me think..."

The formation plate in his hand began to glow.

Liu Ping retreated toward the rear grand formation, his movements calm and calculated.

The little girl watched him leave, her face glowing with an expression of hope.

In a flash, Liu Ping's figure disappeared into the grand formation, vanishing from the little girl's view.

Once he stepped back into the range of the Western Desolate Great Camp, Liu Ping exhaled deeply, as though releasing a great burden.

"This time, i need to work hard" he muttered, his expression tense.

Suddenly, a faint cracking sound came from nearby.

Liu Ping turned his head slowly.

Standing not far away was a woman, her hands lightly resting on a zither. She had appeared once more, her figure emerging as the surrounding Illusion Formation shattered like glass.

"An Illusion Formation? How simple. Did you throw the match on purpose?" the woman said softly, her tone calm yet mocking. "If this is your best, it's hardly impressive."

Liu Ping said nothing, his face unreadable.

"Speak, Fellow Daoist Liu" she urged, a sweet smile on her lips and no trace of killing intent in her demeanor.

Liu Ping looked at her and smiled faintly in return.

'If she wanted to attack me, she would've done so by now,' he thought. 'This game she's playing... does she want to test me? Gauge my capabilities?'

After all, they hadn't yet confirmed whether he was simply an anomaly disrupting the plot or the result of some "Sir" manipulating events behind the scenes.

Then...

A spark of inspiration flickered in Liu Ping's mind. With a composed smile, he said, "Elder Sister, your strength is remarkable. I can't even begin to comprehend the fluctuations in your spiritual power. Yet, you've come to study formations with someone like me?"

The woman chuckled, her amusement genuine. "The Six Arts are deeply profound. Mastery isn't about cultivation level alone. I may stand above you in cultivation, but in the realm of formations, I'm merely a novice."

Liu Ping cupped his fists respectfully. "I am Liu Ping, a disciple of the Grand Profundity Palace. May I ask for Elder Sister's honored name?"

"Lian Yu," she replied with a faint smile.

Liu Ping struck his chest proudly. "Elder Sister Lian Yu, I'll tell you the truth. When it comes to formations, there are few in this world who can rival me."

Lian Yu raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "Bold words."

Liu Ping shook his head and corrected himself. "No, if I must be honest, there is no one who can compare with me."

"Is that so?" Lian Yu's expression shifted to one of intrigue. "Then why don't you prove it?"

"Of course. I can demonstrate my skill by guiding you through the formation directly, allowing you to appear outside the grand formation," Liu Ping said confidently.

Lian Yu's gaze grew cold, her voice turning icy. "That's impossible. You're merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator. You cannot control a grand formation unless someone gives you the formation's central control plate."

Without hesitation, Liu Ping pressed his hands firmly onto the formation plate. The plate emitted a burst of spiritual light, illuminating the area around him.

"I can prove it," he said, his voice steady. "Take this formation plate and go outside. If I'm lying, may Heavenly Dao strike me down."

"You swear on the Heavenly Dao?" Lian Yu asked skeptically, her disbelief evident.

'This boy...'

'Does he truly not know who I am? Does he think I'm merely a student from the Heavenly Sound Pavilion?'

'So, he's merely showing off his abilities... but...'

Her thoughts trailed off, a realization beginning to form in her mind.

'Wait...'

'Could he really achieve this?'

Lian Yu's thoughts raced as she watched Liu Ping extend the formation plate toward her.

"Here," Liu Ping said with a calm smile. "Your zither looks too heavy. Let me hold it for you. You take the formation plate and step outside."

She hesitated, accepting the formation plate. Her gaze fell upon its intricate engravings, marveling at the delicate craftsmanship.

'This formation plate is so exquisite... Could it actually control the grand formation?'

"Go on," Liu Ping said lightly, cradling the zither in his hands. "Give it a try. It really works."

Lian Yu glanced at the plate, then back at Liu Ping. After a moment's hesitation, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Alright," she said. "I'll try."

It seemed harmless enough. If it worked, the implications would be extraordinary. If it didn't, she wouldn't lose much.

'Besides...'

This was far too important to ignore.

A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator capable of manipulating a high-level war grand formation? The very idea shattered the foundational understanding of cultivation practices.

If he could truly accomplish this, her plans would need to be rewritten.

With that thought, Lian Yu tightened her grip on the formation plate and moved toward the translucent barrier of the grand formation. She stopped just short of the shimmering wall, her steps halting abruptly.

'Wait.'

The cultivation civilization wasn't like others. Within the six arts, traps and deceptions were everywhere.

'If this boy could craft such a formation plate at the Foundation Establishment stage, then he must be hiding something.'

Her suspicions solidified.

Lian Yu turned back, her expression soft but calculating.

"I've changed my mind," she said with a faint smile. "I don't want to go out anymore."

"Why not?" Liu Ping asked his tone still calm.

"I'm worried," she replied smoothly. "What if there's a monster waiting for me outside?"

"In that case, give the plate back," Liu Ping said, extending his hand. "I'll demonstrate it myself."

Instead of returning the plate, Lian Yu hugged it close to her chest, her playful smile tinged with mischief.

"Fellow Daoist Liu," she said, tilting her head, "I have a question for you."

"What is it?"

"How does a Formation Master fight without a formation plate?" she asked, her tone sweet yet laced with challenges.

"And how does a musician fight without their instrument?" Liu Ping countered smoothly.

"I don't need a zither to kill," Lian Yu replied, her smile charming yet dangerous. "What about you?"

Liu Ping chuckled softly. "First of all, I don't kill inside the camp—it's too troublesome. Secondly..." He paused, his smile growing. "You've overlooked something important."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"You don't have your zither," Liu Ping said lightly. "But I do."

Before she could react, Liu Ping's fingers danced across the zither strings like a blur. Notes poured out in a mesmerizing cascade, crisp and resonant, weaving an intricate melody that seemed to echo the essence of nature itself.

The music filled the air with an almost tangible presence: the rushing streams of high mountains, the song of birds in flight, and the soaring call of a phoenix.

As he played, Liu Ping began to sing softly, his voice low and enchanting:

"Silver candlelight paints autumn's chill,

Green rivers flow as clouds grow still.

Far cries of geese echo Xiaoxiang skies,

The moon shines clear through twelve towers high."

Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!!!!

The third strike of the zither strings resonated, the sound sharp and piercing. The melody came to an abrupt end.

Liu Ping exhaled deeply and commanded in a low voice:

"Go out."

The woman's expression flickered, disbelief clouding her features. Slowly, her sharp gaze softened, her eyes dimming as though veiled in mist. Her head dipped slightly as she replied in a faint voice:

"Yes."

She stepped forward, one deliberate stride toward the translucent barrier.

The formation plate in her hands pulsed with brilliant light, a surge of energy radiating from it. In an instant, a gap appeared in the shimmering formation wall, the barrier parting like rippling water.

She passed through.

The hazy glow of the formation enveloped her momentarily before fading away.

She was outside.

Liu Ping stood still for a moment, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His breath came uneven, the strain of precision evident.

"Still rusty," he muttered, shaking his head. "That last note felt like a ball tumbling off course."

This was '''Resonance War Art: Secret Melody · Mindless Soul'''—a skill typically used for support in combat. Liu Ping, however, had compressed the zither's resonance to its minimum range, ensuring the effect wouldn't attract unnecessary attention.

The technique demanded an exceptional mastery of musical timing and precision; a single misstep could lead to failure.

Thankfully, it had worked.

Taking a moment to steady his breath, Liu Ping retrieved his formation plate. With a slight adjustment, the plate emitted a faint hum as it opened another breach in the defensive grand formation.

In a flash, Liu Ping stepped through the gap, reappearing within the grand formation's inner sanctum.

Before him stood the little girl, her delicate hands dabbing at her lips with a pristine white handkerchief.

"What a pleasant surprise," she said with a grin, her voice bright with satisfaction. "This one was delicious."

Her expression radiated pure joy, though the scene behind her painted a far grimmer picture. Long, venomous stingers bristled behind her, their tips dripping with scarlet blood. In the air around her, the faint scent of decay mingled with the metallic tang of blood.

The Void itself seemed to writhe behind her, thick with shadows that swirled like a violent wind stirring the remains of her prey.