Chapter 137: The Array Rises, Laid to Rest

Early the next morning.

Zhou Changwang resumed his routine body-refining practice.

That is to say, performing the Eight Forms of Heavenly Origin several times a day.

This body-refining martial art truly possessed unique qualities; its difficulty did not decrease with the increase of his proficiency points.

On the contrary, the higher his cultivation realm, the greater the difficulty of practicing it.

Even though his current body-refining realm had already reached the fourth level of body refining, he would still be drenched in sweat after each session.

Of course, the tangible growth in his physical strength was something he could clearly witness.

Precisely because of this, he diligently practiced it every day without fail.

After finishing three rounds of the Eight Forms of Heavenly Origin,

and casting a single Cleansing Spell, he heard some commotion outside his door.

Guessing that the array master he had arranged to meet might have arrived, Zhou Changwang hurriedly walked toward the entrance of the valley.

However, what appeared before his eyes was not Chen Yuanfang, the array master, but Ma Tiansheng accompanied by a short, plump cultivator whose head had an elliptical bulge on top.

With a brief glance, Zhou Changwang estimated the man's cultivation to be at the seventh level of Qi refining.

He readily guessed the other's identity; this should be his nominal neighbor, Li Pengfei, the spirit planter.

"You are Zhou Changwang? The new spirit planter?"

The short, plump cultivator looked Zhou Changwang up and down and asked with a frown.

"And you are?"

Although Zhou Changwang had already guessed the newcomer's identity, he posed the question.

"Li Pengfei. Whether in terms of spirit planting or cultivation realm, I should be a bit higher than you. You can address me as Senior Li."

Li Pengfei raised his chin and said.

"What is the matter?"

Ignoring him, Zhou Changwang asked.

"You and I are both spirit-planting retainers of the Water Cloud Pavilion. Logically speaking, I shouldn't have come over.

However, this brother of mine rented the spirit field before you, and now that you've driven him away the moment you arrived, it's a bit unreasonable."

Li Pengfei looked at Zhou Changwang and said in a cold voice.

"If I remember correctly, I gave him ten days.

When the time was up, he stubbornly refused to leave, so he has only himself to blame.

Or perhaps, did he think I was an easy target?"

Zhou Changwang sneered, then cast his gaze toward Ma Tiansheng.

Hearing this and meeting Zhou Changwang's seemingly calm gaze, Ma Tiansheng's pupils constricted. He hurriedly shook his head and stammered, "No, no, not at all..."

He was truly somewhat terrified.

Who else would casually pull out talisman papers to blast apart a mountain-guarding array at the slightest disagreement?

The moment that immensely thick thunderbolt struck down and shattered the entire array, his soul had nearly frightened out of his body, instantly recalling the despair he felt when encountering that terrifying demonic beast in the wilderness.

Therefore, facing Zhou Changwang directly once again, profound fear gripped his heart.

"That... that was indeed my brother's fault.

However, my brother left in a hurry and left many of his belongings behind in the spirit field.

Therefore, Changwang, we need you to open the array and let us in."

Li Pengfei's expression faltered for a moment, but he quickly spoke up again.

As he spoke, he glanced at Ma Tiansheng, a trace of reproach flashing in his eyes: What is the meaning of this? I am standing up for you at the front, while you are dragging me down from behind?

"Left things behind?

Friend Ma, I wonder what exactly you left behind?"

Zhou Changwang's expression remained unchanged as he once again looked at Ma Tiansheng.

"No, nothing... I didn't leave anything behind."

Ma Tiansheng shook his head vigorously again, then pulled on Li Pengfei's sleeve and said in a low voice, "Let's go."

"Go?"

Li Pengfei looked at him in disbelief.

But Ma Tiansheng simply pulled him along, offering a ingratiating smile to Zhou Changwang as he said, "We'll leave right now, right now."

With that, the two of them slowly walked away in another direction.

"Oh?"

A trace of confusion inevitably surfaced on Zhou Changwang's face.

These two had arrived aggressively early in the morning, only for it to end like this? Just fizzle out?

As for the true intention behind Li Pengfei's words, he was naturally well aware.

Was it not for those spiritual plants inside the spirit field? Had the two of them spoken reasonably, he was not an unreasonable person, and he had long since prepared himself to start everything afresh.

...

"Old Ma? What is wrong with you?

Why did you lose your nerve right at the crucial moment?"

On the way back, Li Pengfei immediately complained in a disgruntled tone.

"It's not that I lost my nerve; this whole matter was our fault to begin with.

If we press the issue, we have no grounds."

Ma Tiansheng merely shook his head, unable to resist refuting.

Naturally, he would not admit that he was terrified of Zhou Changwang.

And indeed, how could a mere spirit planter like him dare to offend someone who could casually pull out so many high-grade tier-one talismans and blast apart a mountain-guarding array?

Who knew what kind of backing the other person had behind them?

"You, Old Ma, are not usually someone who cares so much about reason."

Li Pengfei glanced sideways at Ma Tiansheng, then continued, "Besides, those spiritual plants you previously planted in the spirit field.

The Qingyun Grass and Linyun Flowers aside, the Ziqing Flowers were entirely cultivated by yourself—over three hundred stalks, and the spiritual seeds alone cost hundreds of low-grade spiritual stones. Now that they are on the verge of ripening, you're just handing them over so cheaply?"

"What else can be done?

Those Ziqing Flowers are extremely delicate and require at least a tier-two spirit field to survive.

Once transplanted, they must be replanted in a suitable spirit field within three hours, otherwise, they will wither and die.

Even if I demanded those Ziqing Flowers back, where would I suddenly find a suitable place to transplant them?

Old Li, are you willing to clear out an acre of your spirit field to help me cultivate spiritual plants?"

As Ma Tiansheng spoke, he looked at Li Pengfei with expectant eyes.

"That won't do."

Li Pengfei hurriedly shook his head.

His own spirit field was already fully planted; naturally, he could not spare any empty land for Ma Tiansheng.

"If I had known earlier, I shouldn't have listened to you.

If we had honestly handed it over and used the vacant time to nurture and ripen the Ziqing Flowers, how wonderful that would have been. We wouldn't have suffered such a huge loss."

Having anticipated this response, Ma Tiansheng could not help but grumble aloud.

"Are you blaming me, then?

Weren't I trying to help you out?"

Li Pengfei snorted coldly.

"I wouldn't dare.

However, if you truly want to help me, you shouldn't have taken those two thousand low-grade spiritual stones from me a few days ago.

Now that nothing has been accomplished, you've kept the spiritual stones.

I don't have a single low-grade spiritual stone left right now, nor do I even have a place to stay.

Therefore, you must return those spiritual stones to me."

Thinking of the two thousand low-grade spiritual stones he had handed over a few days prior, Ma Tiansheng felt a pang in his heart and quickly pressed the issue.

"I can return them, but unluckily I spent them all a few days ago."

Hearing this, Li Pengfei's expression stiffened, yet he offered this excuse.

"I don't care, you must get those spiritual stones back, otherwise I'm going to freeload at your place.

Besides, don't say I didn't warn you, this Zhou Changwang is not someone to be trifled with.

When you introduced me here earlier, wasn't it because you had your eyes on that spiritual spring? After I rented the place, I directly diverted that spiritual spring away.

Now that someone else has taken over the spirit field, it probably won't be long before they discover that the spring was diverted. When that time comes, they will definitely redirect it back..."

Ma Tiansheng said with a hint of gloating schadenfreude.

"Hmph! He wouldn't dare!"

Li Pengfei's complexion instantly turned gloomy.

This was precisely the issue that had been worrying him all along, and the very reason he had been willing to stand up for Ma Tiansheng and confront Zhou Changwang today.

He had wanted to test the newcomer's mettle, to see if he was as easily manipulated as Ma Tiansheng.

Unfortunately.

He had been interrupted by Ma Tiansheng... and judging by the other's demeanor earlier, he did not seem like someone easily dismissed.

...

"Friend Chen, I'll have to trouble you with the rest."

Not long after Li Pengfei and the others departed, Chen Yuanfang, the array master, arrived.

Zhou Changwang promptly welcomed him inside.

Chen Yuanfang appeared as a middle-aged man with a slender build and unkempt, flowing hair, giving him a somewhat slovenly appearance. However, his eyes were bright, and his expression carried a trace of confidence. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all; after all, I've accepted your spiritual stones."

"However, are those two arrays at the entrance set up by you?"

Seeing Zhou Changwang nod, he praised unreservedly, "They indeed possess quite a bit of spiritual flair.

Most people who study the path of formations only know how to follow directions mechanically, without considering the terrain or the flow of spiritual veins and spiritual energy, blindly following the requirements of the array diagrams.

Those are the so-called 'surface' arrays—empty shells whose true power is less than half of the array itself.

To be blunt, such array masters haven't even crossed the threshold of the Dao of Formations.

Friend Zhou's two arrays, although inevitably carrying a touch of artificial craftsmanship, are both integrated with the terrain and the flow of spiritual veins.

Even if their positions deviate slightly from the array diagrams, they still prioritize the flow of earth energy.

To put it frankly, you have truly crossed the threshold of the Dao of Formations and genuinely understand arrays."

"Friend Chen flatters me. I only understand the superficial basics."

Zhou Changwang waved his hand modestly and said.

"I am not flattering you.

The crucial point is that Friend Zhou is also a spirit planter, which truly surprised me somewhat."

With these words, Chen Yuanfang cast his gaze toward the several plots of spirit fields.

Every single spiritual plant was growing vigorously, and more importantly, their numbers were vast—all nine plots of spirit fields were fully planted. Such a state was something ordinary spirit planters could never achieve.

At the very least, one had to be a seasoned farming veteran with decades of experience.

"Friend Chen is mistaken.

These were all the work of my predecessor.

I have only recently moved into this spirit field,

so I suppose I've taken advantage of his efforts."

Zhou Changwang said with a smile.

"That is true indeed."

Hearing this, Chen Yuanfang finally withdrew his surprise. Not forgetting the purpose of this trip, he promptly began walking back and forth across the spirit field to survey it.

Employing the Qi-Observing Technique, he inspected back and forth, missing virtually not a single corner.

It wasn't until an hour later that he finally stopped.

"Friend Zhou's spirit field is indeed exceptional.

Although the grade of the spiritual vein is only at the initial tier-two level, the spiritual energy is dense and the nodes are densely distributed. In terms of spiritual energy concentration, it is not much inferior to a mid-tier-two spiritual vein.

However, if I am not mistaken, with the upward surge of earth energy and the abundance of water spiritual energy in this land, there should be a spiritual spring here. Nourished and moistened by a spiritual spring, this land has been brought to life, stimulating the potential of the spiritual vein through the momentum of gushing spiritual water.

Over the long term, there is every possibility that this spirit field could evolve into a mid-tier-two spirit field.

Yet I know not why, this spiritual spring has been diverted, causing earth energy to leak outward, thereby destabilizing the grade of the spirit field with the risk of a slow decline."

After a brief pause, Chen Yuanfang spoke up.

"Oh?

A spiritual spring?

Earth energy leaking outward? The spiritual vein grade declining?"

Zhou Changwang's expression shifted, and he instantly recalled the dried-up water reservoir beside the courtyard.

Above the reservoir, there indeed existed an upward-extending water channel.

He had originally intended to trace the source upstream when he had time to investigate the cause of the spring's flow cessation, which had left his reservoir dry.

He had never expected that it was actually a spiritual spring.

Moreover, judging by the array master's words, this spiritual spring had not dried up, but had been 'diverted'. Most importantly, the consequence of the spring's diversion would actually affect the spiritual vein grade of his own spirit field...

Zhou Changwang could no longer sit still. He immediately followed the original spring channel all the way up to the uppermost spirit field, then looked toward a five-zhang-tall giant boulder looming above the field. With a light leap and a push of his feet, he vaulted to the top.

He had walked only a few steps.

Not far from the boulder, he spotted a concealment array.

This concealment array was quite crude—essentially what Chen Yuanfang had referred to earlier as a 'surface array,' completely devoid of integration with the earth energy. A single scan with his Spirit Eye Technique revealed four or five flaws within it.

With a flick of his Gengjin Finger, he struck one of the vulnerable spots.

Bang!

The array shattered, and instantly, a depressed spring-eye with an outlet merely three inches wide appeared before his eyes.

Along with the appearance of the spiritual spring came a layer of dense heaven and earth spiritual energy.

"It truly is a spiritual spring."

Zhou Changwang's pupils constricted.

He instantly saw that once the spiritual spring accumulated to a certain level, it would flow directly toward his spirit field along a carved groove.

Yet at some point, someone had tampered with it, chiseling out a lower gap on the other side of the groove so that whenever the spiritual spring overflowed, it automatically flowed toward the other side.

Following that gap, Zhou Changwang gazed into the distance; a full thousand meters away lay another spirit field enveloped by a grand array.

"So that's how it is."

A thoughtful expression immediately surfaced on his face.

"I figured there ought to be a spiritual spring somewhere nearby."

At that moment, Chen Yuanfang rushed up as well. Seeing the scene before him, he could not help uttering a remark, then turned to Zhou Changwang and asked, "How does Friend Zhou plan to handle this?"

He naturally understood that this spiritual spring had clearly been intercepted by another cultivator.

And that person, much like Zhou Changwang, should belong to the Water Cloud Pavilion, since it was common knowledge that the entire Xiaofeng Mountain was the property of the pavilion.

Until Zhou Changwang spoke, he naturally could not say too much.

"Redirect it back.

In addition, I must ask Friend Chen to incorporate this spiritual spring into the array as well."

Zhou Changwang was not particularly angered.

After all, he was merely a latecomer.

Whatever had transpired before had nothing to do with him.

However, now that this spiritual spring rightfully belonged to him, he would naturally not allow others to usurp it.

Since the array needed to be re-laid anyway, it was only natural to include the spring under the protection of the mountain-guarding array.

"That is certainly not a problem."

Chen Yuanfang smiled and nodded, then immediately cast a spell, using the Petrochemical Art to seal up the gap that had been diverting the spiritual spring elsewhere.

One breath, two breaths, three breaths...

Dozens of breaths later, the spiritual spring filled up, and bubbling spiritual spring water began surging along the alternative groove toward the spirit field where Zhou Changwang resided.

Along the way, Zhou Changwang cast Cleansing Spells to clear the channel of debris and dust.

Watching the spiritual spring merge and finally flow into the reservoir pond, a spark of delight arose in his heart.

By this time, Chen Yuanfang had officially begun setting up the array.

As he surveyed the land, array flags were driven into their proper positions one by one.

Following closely behind, Zhou Changwang listened attentively to the detailed explanations, verifying what he had learned. He could distinctly feel his understanding of the Dao of Formations deepening progressively.

Time slipped away.

In the blink of an eye, three hours had passed.

"All right.

Next, we only lack an array core.

The array core is the fundamental element that determines the power of this Flying Star River Array.

If we merely use a common array disc as the array core, its power will at best be at the ordinary high-grade tier-one level, relying solely on the power of the spirit field's spiritual vein. Its power will be limited, and it will require more than three months of nourishment to withstand the siege of three to five cultivators at the seventh level of Qi refining.

If we place a mid-grade magical instrument there, the stability will increase, capable of defending against cultivators at the eighth level of Qi refining.

However, if a top-grade magical instrument is used, the array's power will reach its peak.

Three to five cultivators at the ninth level of Qi refining will find it difficult to breach it in a short time.

Furthermore, as the center of the array, the array core serves to stabilize earth energy and regulate spiritual energy.

It is constantly nourished and nurtured by spiritual energy; using a magical instrument as the array core also has the effect of moderately enhancing the magical instrument's own power."

Chen Yuanfang finally let out a long sigh of relief and spoke.

"Additionally, since this array ultimately needs to be controlled by you,

this control array disc must be refined and controlled by yourself yourself.

It is also best for you to initiate the array using your own spiritual energy.

In this way, you can save the time required to refine the array."

Immediately following that, Chen Yuanfang added.

"I understand. Thank you, Friend Chen."

Zhou Changwang cupped his hands gratefully.

He knew that a new array required someone to control it.

The control array disc was the foundation.

To familiarize oneself with and control the array in the shortest possible time, initiating the array with one's own spiritual energy was undoubtedly the best method.

Because the moment the array was activated, it would begin operating, passing through each spiritual vein node, following every path of earth energy, and connecting every array flag...

And this process was precisely the optimal moment for a cultivator to quickly familiarize themselves with the operation of the grand array.

Otherwise, trying to become familiar with it after the array had already been activated would take ten or a hundred times longer than right now.

With that, Zhou Changwang retrieved a mid-grade magical instrument flying sword, directly pressing it onto the array core. Then, his spiritual sense surged into the control array disc, refining it and establishing a connection.

Finally, he controlled his spiritual energy and tapped it against the magical instrument resting upon the array core.

Hum~!

In an instant, a massive amount of spiritual energy within the valley was drawn forth, circulating through each array flag node.

Until it completed a full cycle.

The array harmonized with the earth veins.

The grand array activated!

Slowly, a layer of mist rose up.

Enveloping the entire valley spirit field, including the location of the spring-eye.

The array was complete!

"Friend Zhou, how does it look?"

At that moment, Chen Yuanfang looked at Zhou Changwang with a smile and asked.

"There are no issues with the array.

Here is the remaining balance of three thousand low-grade spiritual stones I promised you. Take them!"

Zhou Changwang was straightforward, directly producing the spiritual stones.

Naturally, Chen Yuanfang did not stand on ceremony, storing the spiritual stones into his own storage bag.

Thus, the transaction was concluded.

Without lingering further, Chen Yuanfang bid farewell and departed.

Controlling the control array disc, Zhou Changwang opened the array entrance and, after confirming that the other party had truly left, returned to the location of the array core.

With a reach and a grasp, he retrieved the mid-grade magical instrument flying sword, smoothly placing a person-tall giant tripod directly onto the array core.

Hum~!

The moment the giant tripod was placed into the array core.

The entire array trembled slightly.

The surrounding heaven and earth spiritual energy converged at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Then, feeding back into the array, it made the defensive spiritual shield that originally enveloped the entire array appear noticeably much thicker.

This giant tripod was precisely the top-grade magical instrument pill-furnace he had acquired after slaying the insect king Xue Tong and sneaking into his manor.

For now, he had not yet mastered the art of alchemy.

Since he had no use for this pill-furnace in the short term, it was better to use it as an array core to suppress this grand array.

It could also enhance the power of the Flying Star River Array by a few notches.

"At last, I can rest easy."

Only then did Zhou Changwang feel a genuine sense of relief.

A sense of stability and peace of mind washed over him.

Indeed.

The world of immortal cultivation was far too perilous.

He had always walked on thin ice, never daring to relax for even a moment.

Back at the Fengming Wharf marketplace, he had only experienced a brief period of stability.

Yet the conflict and great battle between the two major immortal cultivation families in that marketplace were like a tightening spell, constantly reminding him that even within the market, safety was not guaranteed.

Consequently, he could only strive unceasingly, cultivating desperately to elevate his strength as much as possible in the shortest time.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly.

He had safely arrived at the Shenfeng Valley marketplace and, by joining the Water Cloud Pavilion, successfully secured a tier-two spirit field... Everything was developing in a favorable direction.

He truly felt a sense of ease.

After a long while.

Zhou Changwang finally recovered from this relaxed state.

Noticing that the spiritual spring water in the reservoir was still just a shallow layer, he didn't mind.

The outlet of the spring was only that large, yielding a limited amount of spiritual spring water each day.

He estimated it would take at least ten days to fill the entire reservoir.

To this, he was already quite satisfied.

For him, this spiritual spring held immense utility; not only could it be used to irrigate spiritual plants and replenish spiritual energy, but it could also serve his daily dietary needs.

It was far superior to ordinary water.

Not to mention, as long as this spiritual spring water kept accumulating here, it would promote the elevation of the spiritual veins throughout the valley and increase the heaven and earth spiritual energy within the entire spirit field.

"Countless benefits!"

Zhou Changwang nodded in satisfaction, then made his way to the uppermost acre of spirit field.

"I must clear out a space as quickly as possible.

My three-tier spiritual plant, the century-old red-leaf spirit tea tree, cannot hold out for much longer."

Zhou Changwang had expended a tremendous amount of effort back then to cultivate that century-old red-leaf spirit tea tree.

Although he had managed to seal its vitality using sealing talismans so that it could barely sustain itself, more than twenty days had already passed since he transplanted it.

Had he not continually applied additional sealing talismans in the later stages to prevent its spiritual energy and vitality from leaking outward, it probably would have withered and died long ago.

Now that he possessed an initial-tier-two spirit field boasting nine acres of tier-two spirit fields, he naturally wished to 'lay it to rest in the soil' once more as soon as possible.

And this uppermost high-grade tier-two spirit field was the optimal growing location for that three-tier spiritual plant, the century-old red-leaf spirit tea tree.

"Just in time, those Ziqing Flowers are also nearing maturity.

I mustn't let them go to waste either."

Thinking this to himself, Zhou Changwang immediately executed an Annual Rings Spell.