The flickering campfire cast dancing shadows upon the ancient cliff face. The previously boisterous atmosphere suddenly sank into a solemn silence. Everyone held their breath, their unblinking eyes fixed upon the hazy carvings on the stone slab. The night wind of the Nameless Stone Wasteland blew past, carrying a biting chill, yet no one felt it. It was as if another kind of fire had been ignited within each person's chest.
"Heavens... Truly unbelievable..." Van Tam Thong muttered. The voice of the weather-beaten, seasoned merchant now trembled like a child seeing the vast ocean for the first time. He stepped forward, his trembling hand gently touching the rough surface of the stone slab, as if fearing that even a slightly forceful touch would cause this grand relic to crumble into dust.
"Lac Viet Heavenly Cycle Array..." He repeated the name, every single syllable carrying the weight of a thousand years of history. "Legends say that this is a supreme array, created by the ancestral founders of an ancient Lac Viet sect, drawing inspiration from the symbols on the surface of the Dong Son bronze drums. It is not merely a combat array, but the very crystallization of our ancestors' worldview and philosophy of life!"
Tran Kien did not fully understand Van Tam Thong's words, but when he looked at those carvings, an incredibly bizarre sense of familiarity and intimacy surged from deep within his bloodline. It was as if he could hear the heroic beating of war drums echoing from ancient times, as if he could see the illusory figures of ancestors clad in beast skins, wielding bronze weapons, fighting side by side against heaven and earth, against demons and monsters.
He stepped closer, his eyes burning brightly as he meticulously observed every detail. At the very center was a resplendent sixteen-pointed star, radiating invisible lines of energy. Enveloping the star were concentric circles, upon which were carved images of people pounding rice, singing, dancing, and rowing boats. The outermost ring depicted Lac birds spreading their wings, flying in flocks toward a single direction.
"Patriarch Van, what is the meaning of these figures?" Tran Kien asked, his voice also trembling slightly with emotion.
Van Tam Thong took a deep breath to compose himself, then began to explain, his voice filled with reverence: "According to the few ancient records that remain, the Lac Viet Heavenly Cycle Array is based on two primary principles. This star in the center," he pointed at the sixteen-pointed star, "symbolizes the Sun. It is the nucleus of the array, representing the principle of 'Heaven — Myriad Manifestations of One Heart'. It means that this array operates on the boundless spiritual qi of the cosmos, gathering the power of all creation for offense or defense."
"As for these circles with the figures of people and Lac birds," he continued, "they represent the principle of 'Earth — The Hundred Clans of One Heart'. The power of the array does not come solely from the caster, but is amplified by the faith, willpower, and unity of an entire people. This is precisely the most terrifying, yet also the most magnificent aspect of this array!"
Tran Kien stood frozen in awe. He finally understood why he felt such a profound connection. The Iron Thrust mnemonic tempered his body from the roots, teaching him to be "firm from the earth". This array, however, taught him how to connect with heaven, with earth, and with humanity. This... this was the complete cultivation path of the Lac Viet people!
Unable to restrain himself, he raised his hand, his ore-crushing calloused fingers gently tracing the carved lines on the stone. A wondrous sensation spread throughout his body. He was not using his eyes to look; he was using his very body, whose meridians had been opened by the Iron Thrust mnemonic, to feel. He could sense the "momentum" and "form" hidden within every stroke. He could feel the unshakeable stability of the Core Layer: Solar Essence Guardian; the unpredictable, rustic yet killing-intent-filled Middle Layer: Hundred Viet Coral; and the terrifying speed and breakthrough power of the Outer Layer: Unhindered Lac Feathers.
But...
"That's not right," Tran Kien suddenly frowned. "Something is missing."
"Missing?" Van Tam Thong asked in surprise. "What is missing?"
"It lacks 'Qi'," Tran Kien replied, his gaze fixed intensely on the center of the array diagram. "It has 'form' and 'momentum', but it lacks the most crucial method: how to guide the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, how to connect the will of the hundred clans. This diagram... is merely an empty shell."
Hearing Tran Kien's words, Van Tam Thong was also struck by a sudden realization. This was just a schematic of its structure and principles; the core mnemonic heart-method had completely vanished. This discovery left everyone feeling a mix of joy and deep regret. They had found a magnificent treasure, yet they lacked the key to unlock it.
However, for Tran Kien, this ignited a new flame in his heart. His path now had an additional, clear objective: to find the lost mnemonic and completely restore the supreme array of his ancestors.
"We must leave this place immediately," Van Tam Thong suddenly said, his voice filled with urgency. "This legacy of the predecessors is a stroke of karmic fortune, but it is also a fatal disaster! If news of this were to leak, let alone the Black Dragon Stronghold, even massive sects like the Azure Cloud Sect would spare no cost to obtain it."
Everyone understood the gravity of the situation. Van Tam Thong and Tran Kien worked together to meticulously memorize every single detail of the array diagram. Half a shichen later, Van Tam Thong looked at Tran Kien, his gaze solemn.
"Tran Kien, this legacy, I am entrusting it to you. Only you, one who walks the Dao of Body Tempering, are the most suitable person to inherit it. Promise me, you must protect this secret with your very life."
"I swear it," Tran Kien replied, his voice resolute and unyielding.
Once they were absolutely certain they had memorized everything, Van Tam Thong did something that shocked everyone. He drew his saber, channeled every ounce of his strength, and fiercely slashed at the cliff face.
BOOM!
Rocks and dirt exploded outward. The entirety of the ancient carvings—the sole remaining legacy of a glorious era—was destroyed by the old merchant's own hands, reduced to countless shards of rubble, forever buried beneath the dust and sand of the Nameless Stone Wasteland.
It was better to destroy it than to let it fall into the hands of villains. Van Tam Thong's decisiveness only deepened Tran Kien's respect for him. That night, no one could sleep soundly.
Early the next morning, the Myriad Treasures Merchant Caravan quietly set off, heading towards Thanh Chau City. The Nameless Stone Wasteland returned to its inherent silence, carrying with it a heaven-shaking secret that had been buried forever. But within the heart of a young man, the seed of a grand, sweeping legend had truly begun to sprout.