Chapter 255

Chapter 255
## Chapter 255

The Zhuge Clan (1)

Yungjung Mountain, Hubei Province.

This region served as the ancestral seat of the Zhuge Clan, a prominent powerhouse within the Jianghu, and it also housed one of the world’s vital Dragon Veins.

Because the placement of Dragon Veins was intrinsically linked to the principles of feng shui, it was a given that the most dominant sects and families established their foundations upon such propitious terrain.

Whether these factions achieved greatness because they claimed a sanctified territory, or if the land itself became hallowed by virtue of their presence, depended entirely on one’s outlook.

Benefiting from this advantageous geography, the Zhuge Clan managed to maintain an island of calm amid the surrounding turmoil, fiercely protecting their boundaries while simultaneously launching campaigns to capture additional Dragon Veins.

Furthermore, the Zhuge Clan was legendary throughout the realm for their mastery of tactical formations and mystical sorcery.

Consequently, the defensive perimeters shielding Yungjung Mountain were widely considered completely impenetrable.

‘…Or so we believed.’

The Second Elder, tasked with overseeing the Zhuge Clan’s external perimeters, tightened his grip on his blade, fixing a fierce stare upon the uninvited intruder.

They stood deep within the Great Luo Forbidden Crushing Formation, which served as the sixth line of defense among the seven grand arrays guarding Yungjung Mountain.

Setting aside the absolute final array, which was reserved exclusively for foes who had already penetrated the inner chambers of the compound, this was effectively their last true barrier against invaders.

Yet their arrays, the very source of their pride and ultimate security… had been broken through.

It was a deeply humiliating reality, though they possessed a valid explanation for the failure.

‘He avoided the arrays by taking to the air… and advanced all the way here?!’

By design, tactical arrays depended heavily on physical markers or natural geographical features, rendering them highly optimized against ground-level assaults.

Naturally, the Zhuge Clan had integrated arcane sorcery into their arrays to counteract threats from above… but they had never envisioned an adversary capable of soaring unhindered through the heavens, effortlessly bypassing the entire mountain range!

‘Even if the peak isn’t extraordinarily high… ’

Initially, they had paid little heed to the trespasser when he was first spotted near the mountain base.

However, the moment he rapidly shattered the first array and advanced into the second, they instantly sounded the alarm for an immediate clan-wide mobilization…

His pace was simply too swift.

‘We must gain more time!’

They needed to delay his advance until the rest of the clan members could organize their defenses.

Gnashng his teeth with a grim expression, the Second Elder spoke out.

“…This is your final warning. State the purpose of your intrusion.”

Even with the augmentations provided by the Great Luo Forbidden Crushing Formation, launching an immediate attack against an unidentified fighter of this caliber was highly risky.

Focusing on delaying tactics and extracting intelligence was the smartest strategy.

Yet, to his surprise, the traveler gave a polite nod and answered.

“Ah, please forgive my intrusion. It is an honor to meet you. My name is Harris. I have traveled here to seek answers to a few inquiries.”

“…Visits without an invitation are formally recognized as trespasses.”

“Oh! Is that how it works? As you can see, I am unfamiliar with the customs of these lands. Hahaha!”

Hearing his relaxed response, the assembled Zhuge Clan fighters traded puzzled looks.

The man was undeniably a foreigner, possessing a remarkably unusual appearance… yet attempting to blame his actions on a lack of cultural awareness was absurd…

‘Wait a moment… Is he truly human?… Could he be a fiend? Is that the reason human etiquette eludes him?’

The Second Elder’s expression twisted in sheer perplexity.

He had initially categorized the interloper as an undeniable foe… but the man’s casual approach made him doubt his own conclusions.

“…If that is indeed the truth, I request that you remain here for a moment. We require an opportunity to properly receive our visitors. Surely you can grant us that small courtesy?”

He chose to adapt to the situation, continuing to string the conversation along.

His primary assignment was to stall, not to engage in mortal combat. The clan leadership would determine the final course of action.

“Oh, my apologies. It appears I have brought about some trouble. Very well, then.”

The newcomer gave a compliant nod, showing an unexpectedly cooperative attitude.

Harris, the golden-haired, green-eyed outsider with elongated, tapered ears, let a subtle smile grace his features.

—

‘My objective is to secure leverage, not to make enemies out of every local faction. The mountain bandits were worthless, but the Zhuge Clan does not appear to be mistreating the local populace.’

He had deliberately stirred up trouble to display his might and mark his arrival… but that was merely a standard public relations strategy.

Furthermore, though he kept his face impassive, he felt a genuine admiration for the array that had compelled him to descend from the skies.

‘So, this represents a genuine tactical formation. Fascinating.’

To be more precise, he found himself captivated by the current of Ki that bound the terrain, the defending martial artists, and even his own being into a singular network.

The carefully calculated movement of environmental energy resembled a masterpiece of art.

Coincidentally, that very same sense of wonder was being experienced in an entirely separate realm—.

By the Immortal King residing within the Immortal Fortress.

[Hmm, this truly captures the imagination. To place such a heavy weight of suppression upon a powerhouse like Harris… Moreover, the five prior arrays he traversed are all linked directly to this current node, magnifying its potency. Can structural formations truly exert this much control?]

Hans, who had been analyzing his findings in isolation inside his private quarters, tilted his head slightly, speaking his thoughts aloud.

He had adopted the concepts of ‘formations’ into his personal toolkit after discovering their existence during his time on Earth, and they had proven to be remarkably adaptable.

Simply merging a handful of formation principles into his arcane circles or sacrificial altars yielded an immense boost to their overall capabilities. It was a methodology he simply could not disregard.

Yet, even with his vast understanding, unravelling the Zhuge Clan’s premier array through standard means was a feat beyond reach.

Harris had managed to advance this deep only because he took advantage of the structural blind spot regarding aerial movement.

[They undoubtedly possess a few closely guarded methodologies, given their status… I find myself quite envious.]

True comprehension brought true power.

While Hans burned with a craving to acquire these unfamiliar methods,

Harris remained entirely absorbed in tracing the paths of Ki running through the array.

‘The framework aligns with the eight trigrams utilized in the Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art.’

Having already possessed an innate sensitivity to energy currents, Harris had grown even more profoundly connected to the world’s natural Ki after mastering that specific style.

Thus, this array, which guided environmental Ki to blend perfectly with the natural world, offered an ideal classroom for his growth.

‘The essence of Ki, its trajectories, the fundamental constraints of this reality, and the internal cultivation method that binds them all together… ’

Sensing a peculiar warmth spreading through him, he began to guide the flow of his personal Ki, calling upon the core concepts of the Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art.

Simultaneously, Hubert, who remained linked to his sensory perceptions, turned his focus toward the phenomenon, assisting him in breaking down the mechanics.

‘There is no obligation to follow the traditional path if our fundamental nature is different.’

The combat styles of this reality had originally been developed by mortals seeking to replicate the traits of naturally dominant creatures.

They looked to everything from the apex predators that imperiled their existences to the swift and nimble prey animals.

In time, they began incorporating environmental forces such as roaring currents and bolts of thunder, eventually expanding into metaphysical constructs like the celestial bodies, passing away, and rebirth.

‘And the core of the Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art demands a state of oneness with all external elements… with nature itself. That is a trait I already possess in overwhelming quantities.’

Therefore, that particular phase of the process was redundant. He could simply cast it aside.

He set about altering the unfinished Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art, discarding the requirement to seek oneness with the environment and replacing it with his own absolute communion derived from traits like “Assimilation with Nature” and “Call of Nature”.

Rumble—

A colossal torrent of environmental energy surged forward, shattering the equilibrium of the defensive array.

He caught the distant sound of the defense commander screaming out commands, but he paid no attention to the noise.

He had bypassed the redundant procedures, retaining only the vital components.

Since Hubert had already finalized the comprehensive breakdown of the system, there was no danger in moving forward.

‘Oneness. Balancing flaws with assets and evolving as a cohesive whole.’

The cascading tides of energy rushed directly into Harris’s physical vessel, condensing into a miniature vortex within his lower dantian.

His physical frame tensed under the abrupt weight of this newfound power, but Harris, an advanced entity possessing a refined soul, rapidly brought the energy under control.

At long last,

《The subject has fulfilled the necessary parameters, unlocking latent capabilities. You have successfully unlocked the unique trait “Natural Body”.》

《The subject has attained higher comprehension through continuous application. You have successfully unlocked the style “Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art (Modified)”.》

He had anticipated a far more drawn-out process, yet he had secured a major breakthrough much faster than he ever hoped.

Furthermore, Harris grasped the implications instinctively.

With the acquisition of “Natural Body”, he was now capable of forging contracts with an entirely new spectrum of elemental entities.

‘…I am eager to return to Auterica.’

A gentle grin broke across Harris’s face as he reined in his radiating power.

With this advancement, it might even be possible for him to call forth a Spirit King, a being of near-deity status.

“Ah!”

Suddenly, his awareness snapped back to his immediate environment.

Glancing around with a slightly sheepish look, he encountered the intense gazes of the defending martial artists, who were staring back at him with pale complexions and bodies drenched in perspiration.

“Ugh, what… what madness just occurred…?”

“Pant… Pant…”

The outcome was unavoidable.

While he was completely lost in his internal enlightenment, the protective barrier… or rather, the tactical array, failing to endure the sudden pressure of the energy storm, had completely collapsed.

‘This turns out to be quite uncomfortable. I truly did not mean for this to happen.’

He had unintentionally dismantled their prized defense system while ostensibly agreeing to pause his advance.

Such an act was virtually equivalent to an open declaration of hostilities.

‘Perhaps I should simply assume control through sheer might and demand their submission… ’

Just as his musings drifted toward a more confrontational solution,

“…The Gentle Eight Trigrams Secret Art. Is it possible… that you are a practitioner originating from the Heavenly Ki Sect?”

A deep, seasoned voice cut through the heavy silence.

Harris, who had already detected the approaching group of individuals, shifted his gaze toward the newcomer.

An elderly man, his eyes closed, stabilizing himself with a walking staff, walked unhurriedly toward the scene, flanked by a cohort of skilled martial artists.

“Ah! Grand Elder?!”

The commander who had been blocking Harris’s path cried out in utter astonishment, but the senior figure paid him no mind, maintaining his serious delivery.

“The esoteric method of reshaping environmental energy to command physical forces… a discipline uniquely suited to unraveling our tactical arrays. It directly interferes with the precise circulation of Ki that serves as the bedrock of our formations.”

Harris checked his movements.

The legendary reputation of the Zhuge Clan was well-deserved.

The old man clearly recognized the identity and specific properties of the martial art.

“Hahaha… What an incredible twist of fortune. I was under the impression that this tradition had vanished entirely when the Immortal Master and his sole follower met their ends… And judging by this display… you have stepped into the Mysterious Realm.”

The air surrounding the gathering turned incredibly taut in an instant.

They had already recognized his staggering might, but the declaration from the Grand Elder carried an entirely different level of gravity.

Even when facing a master of the Mysterious Realm, they maintained faith that they could prevail by utilizing their absolute final array… however, their current adversary wielded an ability that directly nullified their greatest strength.

Engaging him in an open conflict meant looking at a certain rout.

“I have kept you listening to my musings for far too long. I welcome you, esteemed visitor. Pray tell, what purpose guides you to our humble domain?”

The Grand Elder faced Harris, who was currently rubbing his jaw in deep contemplation, and extended his words.

An individual holding immense sway within the hierarchy of the family was formally designating him as an ‘esteemed visitor’ while offering an open gesture of peace.

The situation was unfolding far more smoothly than he had initially projected.

“Ahaha, I merely seek clarity on a few matters… and require a certain concession. Therefore…”

Given the current balance of power, his words carried the weight of an ultimatum rather than a simple plea.

Naturally, he understood the value of moderation if he intended to foster a cooperative partnership moving forward.

“Shall we take this conversation into the inner pavilions? It would be quite unseemly to leave our guest waiting in the open elements for so long. Our family’s hospitality…”

Harris’s posture shifted entirely, his delivery taking on a haughty edge.

He had successfully seized the momentum to dictate the terms of their interaction.