Chapter 116: The Sealing Art

"What do these symbols mean?" Li Yunji noticed the shift in Gu Xian'er's expression and felt a surge of unease.

Gu Xian'er studied them intently for a long moment before murmuring, "These are common runic symbols used in witchcraft, recording an ancient spell."

"What kind of spell?" Li Yunji pressed.

Gu Xian'er shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure of the specifics." She took a deep breath and added, "But just looking at these symbols gives me the feeling of standing on the edge of an abyss."

"That is indeed unsettling."

So mysterious? Li Yunji’s heart skipped a beat. If even Gu Xian'er, a third-rank sorceress, couldn't fathom it, this spell was likely no trivial matter.

Li Yunji furrowed his brows and asked in a low voice, "Can you perform this spell?"

Gu Xian'er hesitated, then gave a faint nod. "I will try."

With that, she took a few deep breaths to steel herself before forming hand seals according to the runes on the cloth strip.

"Wait!" Li Yunji cried out in haste.

Gu Xian'er jumped as if struck by lightning, abruptly stopping her movements. It was clear that even someone as formidable as Gu Xian'er felt a sense of trepidation when faced with this unknown magic.

Li Yunji slowly held up a finger, his expression grave. "Use only ten percent of your power." For some reason, he felt a creeping dread just looking at those runes.

Gu Xian'er gave a slight nod. She let out a long breath to steady her internal energy before channeling it into the runes.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy, and Li Yunji held his breath, watching with extreme caution. As Gu Xian'er’s fingertips trembled, she completed the final seal.

Nothing happened.

The two stared at each other, then darted their eyes around the room. A dead silence hung in the air; there was no movement at all.

Both let out a sigh of relief, their guard slowly lowering.

Gu Xian'er released her hand gesture and muttered, "That shouldn't be right. The steps were correct."

Li Yunji pondered for a moment, reached out, and rotated the cloth strip one hundred and eighty degrees. "Could it be... upside down?"

Gu Xian'er’s eyes widened, a flash of realization crossing her face, though she was unwilling to admit her mistake. She gave a light cough to hide her embarrassment. "Well, this spell is certainly peculiar, isn't it?"

Li Yunji saw through her but kept his peace, nodding in agreement.

Gu Xian'er re-examined the cloth strip, took a deep breath, adjusted her hand gestures, and channeled the runes once more.

After a few heartbeats, the spell activated!

A dark purple glow shimmered at Gu Xian'er's fingertips! A sudden chill swept through the room, and the air filled with an ancient, mysterious aura.

***

Suddenly, the eerie light at Gu Xian'er's fingertips escaped her control like a swimming dragon. After circling in the air, it abruptly formed a formation! The formation rotated slowly, emitting a low, humming drone.

"What is this?" Li Yunji keenly noticed a blurred figure vaguely appearing in the center of the formation!

"It looks like... a person," Gu Xian'er said, her brows tightly knit.

The figure became clearer. He sat with his head bowed, his entire body bound by multiple iron chains, suspended in mid-air. The chains were etched with runes glowing in an icy blue light. Beneath him was a vast sea of fire, and all around lay a dark, swirling fog. The scene looked like hell itself!

Just as the two held their breath, staring intensely, the man seemed to notice their gaze! He began to slowly lift his head!

*Whoosh.*

Just as he was halfway up, the formation suddenly dissipated.

The room returned to calm. The two stared blankly at the empty air, feeling a strange sense of emptiness. It was like watching a movie and having the power go out right at the climax—a hollow, unsatisfied feeling.

After a long silence, Gu Xian'er spoke softly: "A sealing spell..."

"A sealing spell?" Li Yunji mused. "Sealing whom?"

Gu Xian'er shook her head, her eyes complex. "I don't know, but this person is certainly no ordinary figure. Just by looking across the void, I could feel an immense aura. His cultivation is unfathomable—at least second-rank strength."

"So powerful, yet sealed?" Li Yunji couldn't help but be curious. Anyone who could make Gu Xian'er look like that was no mere mortal.

Gu Xian'er’s expression was solemn. "The man is powerful, but this sealing spell is even more so."

"How so?" Li Yunji sensed there was more to this.

"To tell you the truth," Gu Xian'er glanced guiltily at the cloth strip, "I used nearly ninety percent of my power to trigger those runes, and yet I only managed to touch the surface."

Li Yunji gasped. If even Gu Xian'er, the strongest sorceress in the Great Qian, struggled this much, one could only imagine how terrifying the power behind this formation truly was.

"Is this formation a form of witchcraft?" Li Yunji asked.

Gu Xian'er pondered for a moment and nodded slowly. "Judging by the runes, yes, it is."

"But when have those half-baked witches ever produced a sorcerer this capable?"

"Didn't you say this spell was ancient?" Li Yunji offered his own theory. "Could it be that long ago, the witch clans had individuals of great renown?"

"Impossible." Gu Xian'er dismissed the idea immediately, looking disdainful. "I've lived a long time, and I've never heard of the witch clans producing anyone of true caliber."

***

Li Yunji gave a long "Oh" and stopped questioning. Based on Gu Xian'er's demeanor, he likely wouldn't get any more answers.

Packing away the cloth strip, Li Yunji slowly stood up and bowed. "Many thanks for your help today, Physician Gu. It's getting late, so I shall return home. I will pay you another visit soon."

Gu Xian'er nodded slightly, watching Li Yunji depart.

Once the door was closed, Gu Xian'er stood alone in the room and began to curse.

"Yun Zhengxin, you old scoundrel!"

"Is this what you meant by that great catastrophe?"

"Can Li Yunji handle this alone?!"

As she spoke, Gu Xian'er clenched her fists, her eyes resolute. "Whatever. If things get truly dangerous, I'll be the first one to slip away!"

...

When he returned to the Prince's residence, it was already late. Li Yunji stepped into his bedchamber to find Eleven changing his bedsheets.

"My Lord has returned."

Li Yunji nodded faintly.

"Is the young master troubled?" Eleven asked quietly, observing Li Yunji's furrowed brows.

Li Yunji sat on the edge of the bed, looked Eleven up and down, and said in a low voice, "Eleven, let me ask you."

"What kind of sealing spell can trap a second-rank master?"

Eleven was slightly taken aback. After a moment of thought, she said firmly, "A very powerful one."

Li Yunji felt his head spin; he regretted opening his mouth.

"I seem to remember there was indeed a very powerful sorcerer. With his power, he should have been able to do it." Eleven picked up the used sheets and spoke casually.

Li Yunji's eyes sharpened. "Who?"

Eleven rolled her eyes and muttered, "I can't recall the name. I only remember that he once used his own strength to seal a first-rank master."

As she spoke, Eleven’s eyes suddenly turned clear. "The person he sealed was the one who chipped my kitchen knife!"

Li Yunji frowned, sensing that things were getting complicated. "You’ve actually fought a first-rank master?"

Eleven nodded confidently. "Yup!"

Li Yunji was skeptical. After a long pause, he probed, "Do you remember the details of that encounter?"

"Of course," Eleven said with a silly grin. "I don't remember at all."

Li Yunji felt a million horses stampeding through his heart. If you don't remember, what are you grinning about?