Chapter 135: Chapter 134: Tier 3 Grand Array

With the battle decided, there was naturally no need to keep so many Cultivators at Feiyue Lake.

Wei Dao decided to begin a gradual withdrawal of the pioneering army in three days.

The first to leave would naturally be the vast number of Loose Cultivators and Clan Cultivators.

In any case, the rewards for the pioneering war would be made available for exchange after the spoils were sorted. Given the Qingfeng Sect’s reputation, no one would dare object.

More than two-thirds of the Sect’s Elders and over seventy percent of its Elite Disciples were currently gathered here. Leaving them for too long would surely affect other areas, so they would be withdrawn in batches later.

The Array at Feiyue Lake was not yet established, and there was still a risk of a Demon Beast counterattack, so they couldn’t withdraw immediately.

Once the Grand Array was complete, rendering the area impregnable, there would be no need to keep so many hands on deck.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, we’ve collected a total of thirty-five Tier Two Demon Beast corpses and countless Tier One Demon Beast corpses... In addition, a Tier Two Peak thousand-year-old turtle was taken by Ancestor Yangg, who said he plans to raise it as a Spirit Beast. A Tier Two Peak Hundred Poison Golden Toad has been subdued by Senior Brother Liang."

Senior Brother Zhang had fallen, so another Elder took his place, responsible for collecting Demon Beast Materials.

"We’ve made a preliminary survey. Around the waters of Feiyue Lake, there are five hundred mu of Tier Three Spirit Fields and eight thousand mu of Tier Two Spirit Fields suitable for cultivation... I implore the Sect Leader to assign more manpower to the Spirit Plant Hall. Otherwise, with our current disciples, we lack the numbers to manage it all."

The Elder in charge of the Spirit Plant Hall was beaming with joy. The Spirit Plant Hall was finally going to turn its fortunes around.

"Furthermore, we’ve found five types of Tier Three Spirit Plants and seventeen types of Tier Two Spirit Plants, and I’ve assigned disciples to guard them all... The only place left to check is the Lake Heart Island, but we haven’t explored it yet since the two Ancestors are there."

"Approved. Go back and prepare a proposal for me regarding the Spirit Fields... especially the Tier Three Spirit Fields. If you can guarantee an annual harvest of Tier Three Spirit Rice sufficient for the Sect’s Elders, it will be a great contribution!"

Long-term consumption of Tier Three Spirit Rice can effectively improve the physique of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

But within Mizhou, very few factions could consistently produce Tier Three Spirit Rice, and those that could prioritized it for their own members.

In past years, the Qingfeng Sect had to spend a great deal of Spirit Stones to purchase it from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. After supplying the two Core Formation Ancestors, only the leftovers could be distributed among the Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Essentially, once the top leaders of the Sect took their share, it was very difficult for ordinary Elders to get any.

"As for the Spirit Plants, the Alchemy Hall will send people to investigate them alongside the Spirit Plant Hall. Then you can decide whether to harvest them immediately or continue to let them grow."

Wei Dao placed far more importance on the Spirit Fields than on those Spirit Plants.

After all, Spirit Fields could produce a continuous supply of Spirit Rice, whereas Spirit Plants were a finite resource, gone once harvested.

"The Array Hall has already identified the Spiritual Energy Nodes at Feiyue Lake. Once we confirm the path of the Spirit Vein tomorrow, we can begin preparations for the Array Formation... However, the Tier Three Array must be set up by Ancestor Yangg, so the exact date will depend on his decision."

The Elder in charge of the Array Hall reported on their progress. The Qingfeng Sect had prepared a Guardian Array long ago, as soon as they decided on the target for the pioneering war.

Located deep within Black Mountain, how could they protect such an enterprise without a Tier Three Array guarding it?

However, given the Qingfeng Sect’s resources, there was only one Tier Three Array in the Secret Hall suitable for Feiyue Lake.

A Tier Three Mid-Grade Array, the Three Thousand Six Hundred Rings Water Smoke Array.

This Array utilizes the power of water to form three thousand six hundred interconnected water curtains. At the same time, it uses a vast water-mist to conceal the interior of the Grand Array, cutting it off from all forms of scouting.

It excels at defense and has great staying power. An attack from an ordinary Core Formation True Man could break through a hundred layers of water curtains at most.

As long as it’s built upon a Tier Three Spirit Vein, it can draw upon Spiritual Qi to replenish the water curtains in an instant.

Unless one could shatter all three thousand six hundred water curtains in a single blow, the Grand Array would be unshakable.

"I will speak with Ancestor Yangg about the Array tomorrow. The rest of you, finish the preliminary work first."

Wei Dao waved his hand, dismissing him. A Tier Three Array was a serious matter. Other than Master Yangg, who was a Tier Three Array Master, no one else had the confidence to deploy an array of this caliber.

After hearing reports from a few more Elders, Wei Dao gave them each their instructions.

"You’ve all worked hard, my brothers. Get some rest tonight... By taking Feiyue Lake, the Sect has risen to a new level of power. Once we spend a few years consolidating these gains, everyone will reap the rewards."

Wei Dao dismissed the meeting, and the various Elders left in small groups.

Everyone’s face was alight with excitement and joy. The center of Feiyue Lake held a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Vein. Apart from being slightly smaller, it was on par with the Sect’s main mountain.

Once they had completely secured the area, it wouldn’t just be about the obvious gains; it would effectively open a direct path from Feiyue Lake to the Sect’s Mountain Gate.

It was foreseeable that countless resources would now fall into the Sect’s hands.

As Elders of the Qingfeng Sect, they knew that when the Sect profited, they would be the first to see the benefits.

Bai Zichen was about to leave when his expression flickered, and he slowed his steps.

"Ancestor Yangg wants to see you. Come with me."

When only the Sect Leader and a few Hall Masters remained, Liang Yu approached. He was the one who had just used Sound Transmission to tell Bai Zichen to stay.

’So suddenly!’

Bai Zichen’s heart leaped. Liang Yu had mentioned this before, but he never expected it to be today.

Wei Dao loosened his Daoist Robe, leaned back casually in his chair, and said with a smile, "Opportunities to meet the Ancestor are rare, Junior Brother Bai. Don’t miss this one... After we old-timers are gone, the Sect will have to rely on your generation to hold it up."

Bai Zichen pursed his lips, bowed in salute to the remaining leaders, and followed Liang Yu out.

"I never expected someone like Bai Zichen to emerge from nowhere. Liang Yu really found a treasure... Sect Leader, will this person affect our plans?"

When only the two of them remained, Luoo Qiuzhen sighed deeply. His own closed-door disciple, Su Li, possessed a Talisman Spirit Body and was considered a genius in her own right.

But compared to Bai Zichen, she was still a long way off.

Fortunately, she had finally overcome her Heart Demon. She successfully reached Foundation Establishment as a Tier Two Talisman Master last month, managing to arrive just before the battle for Feiyue Lake began.

During the day’s battle, her Magical Power was still unstable from her recent breakthrough, and she sustained minor injuries while fighting a Tier Two Demon Beast.

Fearing it might damage her foundation, he had already sent her into seclusion to recover.

"It’s fine. I’ve already spoken with Senior Brother Liang in private... He supports my plan to promote Gu Xisheng. The Law Enforcement Hall can accept a weaker Sect Leader. In exchange, he wants to groom Bai Zichen to be the next Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, and he asked for my cooperation. I’ve already agreed."

Wei Dao spoke in a calm, unhurried manner, taking out a Gourd and occasionally taking a sip of the Spirit Wine within.

"The Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall? How old is Bai Zichen? Has Liang Yu lost his mind?!"

Luoo Qiuzhen asked, dumbfounded and incredulous.

"Age?"

Wei Dao scoffed and set down his Gourd. "An Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator in his twenties whose strength is comparable to a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. He’s also said to be a genius of the Sword Dao... Once he reaches Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, I fear few in the Sect will be a match for him. For someone like that, what does age matter?"

"He has Three Spiritual Roots. It could take him an eternity to reach Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. He might even get stuck at the Early Stage forever, who’s to say?"

"Brother Luoo, why delude yourself? How could someone with ordinary Three Spiritual Roots reach Foundation Establishment at his age? This boy’s Spiritual Root attributes are synergistic, which is considered a superior type among those with Three Spiritual Roots."

Wei Dao sighed. He knew Luoo Qiuzhen was having a hard time accepting reality and needed him to spell it out.

"Besides, given his abnormal cultivation speed and the fact that he triggered a phenomenon at the Inheritance Stele, he must have a hidden Spirit Body, just like Su Li and Chen Wei. I can’t say for sure about Core Formation, but I estimate Junior Brother Bai will reach Late-Stage Foundation Establishment sooner or later."

"A Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator’s combat strength is comparable to the Foundation Establishment Perfection stage... Senior Brother Liang isn’t planning to promote Junior Brother Bai immediately, either. There needs to be a transitional period for people to accept it. But given the strength Junior Brother Bai displayed during the pioneering war, the Elders of the Law Enforcement Hall’s faction won’t possibly reject such a high-potential candidate."

"Fine, fine. This is a matter for the younger generation, anyway. It has nothing to do with an old man like me..."

Luoo Qiuzhen waved his hand dismissively, letting go of his unrealistic hopes.

Once the dust settled here at Feiyue Lake, he would return to the Sect to focus on the Talisman Dao and charge toward the realm of a true Tier Three Talisman Master.

...

"The Ancestor is most magnanimous toward talented youths. You don’t need to be so nervous."

Liang Yu offered a word of comfort, lest Bai Zichen lose his composure in front of the Core Formation True Man.

Bai Zichen nodded, calming his emotions.

It was less nervousness and more excitement.

A Core Formation True Man—a being whose might awed an entire region, with a lifespan of five hundred years.

Possessing a mysterious Spirit Body, Bai Zichen naturally dreamed of reaching the Core Formation and Nascent Soul realms himself.

But this was the first time he had ever been in close contact with a Core Formation True Man.

The two of them landed on the Lake Heart Island. The island was a mess, covered in giant boulders and a few towering water cypresses whose roots plunged deep into the lakebed.

The island was the Flood Dragon’s lair. It was a Demon Beast, after all. Even with its rudimentary Spiritual Wisdom, it was impossible to expect it to keep its home tidy and exquisite.

Such pure Spiritual Qi!

This was Bai Zichen’s first impression upon stepping onto the island. A wave of Spiritual Qi, brimming with vitality and mixed with dampness, washed over him.

’This is the core of a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Vein! With a simple Gathering Spirit Array, it could become a Tier Three Top-Grade Spirit Land!’

Bai Zichen cried out in his heart. The Spirit Land in the central Quiet Chamber of Moon-Locking Pool was already excellent.

But compared to the Lake Heart Island of Feiyue Lake, it was still a world apart.

It was even a bit of a waste for an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator like Bai Zichen to practice here; he couldn’t possibly make full use of such high-grade Spiritual Qi.

Following the path worn by the Flood Dragon’s daily movements, the two walked to the center of the island and finally saw Ancestor Yangg.

"Greetings, Ancestor."

The two bowed in salute at the same time. The gaunt, plainly dressed old man before them, squatting down to study a Spirit Grass, was none other than Ancestor Yangg, the guardian of the Qingfeng Sect for centuries.

"Both of you, rise. You must be the Bai Zichen that Liang Yu was telling me about?"

Ancestor Yangg sized him up, then let out a soft sound of surprise and flicked his left sleeve.

Bai Zichen’s vision went black as a sharp pain lanced through his Sea of Consciousness. Two divine dragons coiled within, bracing themselves against the sudden Spiritual Sense Attack.

However, the Spiritual Sense Attack came and went in a flash. When it touched the two divine dragons, it felt like a gentle breeze, dissipating into nothingness with no intention of pressing the assault.

"To have such powerful Innate Divine Sense! Its strength already surpasses that of a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator... Boy, are you interested in Arrays? How would you like to learn the Array Dao?"

Of all the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, the path of an Array Master has the highest barrier to entry.

One must possess Divine Sense just to start, or it’s impossible to comprehend an Array Map. Relying purely on some profound, esoteric insight leads to excruciatingly slow progress.

The strength of one’s Divine Sense also largely determines an Array Master’s ultimate potential.

For a Tier Three Array like the Three Thousand Six Hundred Rings Water Smoke Array, one must consider tens of thousands of Spiritual Energy Nodes during its formation, all while simultaneously monitoring the Spirit Vein.

One has to figure out how to integrate with the Spirit Vein to the greatest possible extent without disrupting it, so as to unleash the full might of the Tier Three Array.

If one’s Divine Sense is even slightly weak, it simply cannot support that level of mental calculation.