How about we make another bet?

Yan Xinhui and Gu Lingling looked at Lu Feng strangely, unable to understand what he meant by claiming to be an array master.

His Martial Dao cultivation had reached the Five Elements One Qi Realm. Even if he cultivated the array path alongside it, how capable could he really be?

As Lu Feng spoke, he took out several array plates under their astonished gazes. Every one of them was at the level of a high-grade spell array; once deployed, they would be enough to deal with ordinary Five Elements Realm soul masters.

After obtaining the Fu Xun Engraving Knife, Lu Feng's efficiency in engraving array plates had greatly improved. The spiritual energy consumed when engraving array patterns with the Fu Xun Engraving Knife was at least fifty percent less than before, and when his hand felt particularly good, the reduction could even reach seventy percent. With Yunzhi Leaves, Lu Feng could easily recover from such expenditure.

Lu Feng's current Soul Strength was comparable to that of an ordinary Earth Soul Realm soul master. When engraving high-grade spell array plates a realm below his own, the Fu Xun Engraving Knife reduced the Soul Power consumed by sixty to seventy percent. Combined with the powerful recovery of his soul after being cleansed by the Soul Tempering Pill, Lu Feng could recover within one or two days even without relying on medicinal pills.

What he lacked most now were high-grade array materials. As long as he had sufficient materials, he could condense an array plate every two days and turn himself into a monster of the array world.

There were only five high-grade array plates in Lu Feng's Storage Ring, but when he took out the third, Yan Xinhui could no longer hold back his cry.

"Where did you get so many high-grade array plates?!"

"How are we supposed to fight this?"

He had thought that, with Lu Feng being so formidable in Martial Dao, his attainments in the array path could at most be at the Chakra Realm. Never had he expected Lu Feng to casually take out so many high-grade spell array plates.

Every high-grade spell array was extraordinarily valuable. An ordinary array master with Five Elements Realm strength, even with the aid of soul-restoring medicine, could only engrave, condense, and create one over the course of several months.

The few Lu Feng had already brought out amounted to several years' worth of work for an ordinary array master.

Gu Lingling said indignantly, "That's not fair. Can't you fight a proper, upright battle?"

Lu Feng spread his hands and looked at Gu Lingling innocently. "You're asking an array master to fight a Martial Master in a proper, upright battle? Aren't you ashamed to say something like that?"

Gu Lingling stomped her foot in anger. "You clearly possess superb swordsmanship!"

Lu Feng shrugged shamelessly. "If I use a sword, I'm afraid you'll accuse me of secretly learning it again."

As the two spoke, a figure walked straight over from the outer hall.

"Wonderful, Tian Ge is back," Gu Lingling said happily, even raising her brows smugly at Lu Feng.

Looking at the approaching figure in the distance, Lu Feng abandoned the thought of setting up an array in advance. His expression relaxed somewhat, and he laughed teasingly. "He's the Tian Ge you mentioned?"

The newcomer was none other than Ling Tian, whom Lu Feng had fought not long ago.

Ling Tian still wore that cold, proud expression, as though he kept everyone at arm's length.

Lu Feng was somewhat curious how he had come to know someone as lively and cheerful as Gu Lingling.

Gu Lingling hurried over in small steps. "Tian Ge, these two want to seize our courtyard."

Yan Xinhui followed as well. "If they take it, it will damage your prestige, Tian Ge."

Ling Tian gave the two a cold glance before fixing his gaze on Lu Feng. "Why are you here?"

"You know each other?" Gu Lingling and Yan Xinhui froze at the same time.

Fan Linlin also watched with a trace of curiosity.

"Your two friends lost the bet and refuse to honor it," Lu Feng said with a faint smile.

Ling Tian said coldly, "They were only feeding me moves so I could practice my blade."

"What about me?" Lu Feng teased.

Ling Tian fell silent for a while.

Watching Ling Tian's expression, Fan Linlin understood that his relationship with Lu Feng was unusual. At the very least, that flicker of hesitation was enough to reveal the difference between Lu Feng's standing in Ling Tian's heart and that of Gu Lingling and Yan Xinhui.

Understanding this, Fan Linlin quickly explained, "I am the newly appointed prison officer, and I have come to reclaim this Prison Manor."

Ling Tian merely glanced at Fan Linlin, utterly unconcerned by her words. He continued looking at Lu Feng and asked, "Is she with you? Do you want this courtyard too?"

Seeing Ling Tian ask for his opinion, a friendly smile surfaced on Lu Feng's face.

This fellow did not seem as cold-hearted as he appeared.

Lu Feng nodded and explained why he had come, while also making a slight concession. "It's fine if you want to stay here. Just don't interfere with the inner hall."

Fan Linlin frowned at this. This was an important Prison Manor, yet allowing Soul Hunters to come and go freely would damage its reputation if word spread. Still, she did not particularly want to deny Lu Feng face.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, with Ling Tian seemingly having no intention of acting, Gu Lingling and Yan Xinhui immediately grew anxious.

"Tian Ge, teach him a lesson for us."

"We don't want to follow his orders."

Yan Xinhui and Gu Lingling quietly briefed him on what had happened, including the bet.

Ling Tian was not surprised that Gu Lingling and Yan Xinhui had lost to Lu Feng. He knew of Lu Feng's accomplishments in the sword path. Lu Feng had probably not even brought out thirty percent of his strength earlier.

"You're also an array master?" Upon learning that Lu Feng possessed quite a few high-grade spell array plates, Ling Tian looked at him as though he were a monster. "You made all these high-grade array plates yourself?"

Lu Feng raised the two high-grade spell array plates in his hand. "These two? I made them in my spare time. Why?"

Hearing Lu Feng's confirmation, Ling Tian was filled with shock. He knew that after an array master created an array plate, their soul would enter a weakened state for a long time. Did that mean that in their perilous battle last time... Lu Feng had fought while weakened?

A smile hung on Fan Linlin's lips as she secretly glanced at Lu Feng standing before her. For some reason, she felt a surge of delight. He's so strong in the array path too.

For some reason, the more powerful Lu Feng appeared, the happier she felt, even carrying a faint sense of pride.

Although Gu Lingling and Yan Xinhui were equally astonished, they still harbored some doubts. They believed the array plates in Lu Feng's hands had not been made by him personally, but had been given to him by an elder, a master, or someone similar.

To verify this further, Gu Lingling said, "I don't believe you made all these yourself. If you have the ability, use one and let us see."

Every soul master knew how to use array plates. Whether one had made an array plate personally would be obvious upon use. An array plate made by its user could unleash one hundred percent of its potential, while someone else's array plate could only display eighty or ninety percent of its might. A Martial Master using an array plate could at most bring out seventy or eighty percent.

Lu Feng refused solemnly, "Every array plate costs a great deal and is not easy to make. They aren't for you to admire."

Gu Lingling also knew that once an array plate was used, even if it was recovered immediately without the slightest damage, its power would still weaken by ten or twenty percent. It would require array materials to repair, so she was indeed making an unreasonable demand.

After giving it some thought, Gu Lingling spoke again. "How about this? I have some array materials I robbed... no, picked up. Their grades aren't high, but they should barely be enough to make a low-grade spell array. Prove it on the spot. Do you dare?"

"Why should I prove anything? What does it have to do with me whether you believe it or not?" Lu Feng said calmly.

"Coward. Those array plates were obviously bought, or given to you by your elders," Gu Lingling mocked, trying to force Lu Feng into action.

Thinking of Gu Lingling's identity, Lu Feng figured she might hold a decent position within the Azure Peak Sword Sect and could perhaps have soul-related pills on hand. As his thoughts turned, he answered, "Take out those materials and let me have a look."

"I was waiting for you to say that," Gu Lingling thought delightedly. She immediately took out several dozen materials, all at the level of low-grade spell arrays. There were jade stones, array flags, beast cores, array weapons, and all sorts of other items.

She had snatched all of these from targets while completing Soul Hunting Missions over the past half year. She had originally planned to exchange them for money after returning to the sect, but at the moment, she was more eager to see Lu Feng make a fool of himself.

Lu Feng's gaze settled on a puppet among the many materials. Looking at the several palm-sized little figures on the ground, he could not help thinking of a fitting array.

"None of your materials are very high-grade," Lu Feng said. Even the puppet array weapons that had caught his eye were merely low-grade spell array materials.

Gu Lingling said speechlessly, "I'm not asking you to make some high-grade spell array. As long as you can make a low-grade spell array plate, all these materials will be yours."

Lu Feng deliberately put on a troubled expression, pretending to be exhausted. "But... making an array plate consumes a great deal of Soul Power..."

"Why do you have so much nonsense?" Gu Lingling casually took out a Pill Bottle and poured out a pill. "If you truly manage to make one, I'll give you this Soul Warming Pill to restore your soul. Is that enough?"

Yan Xinhui said anxiously, "Junior Sister, no! This Soul Warming Pill is priceless. How can you—"

"It's fine. At such a young age, he's already no weaker than us in Martial Dao. Do you really think he can make a spell array plate in the array path too? He's merely putting on a bold front," Gu Lingling said softly.

As a Five Elements Realm pill, the Soul Warming Pill had outstanding effects in restoring the soul. Its value was no less than that of a mid-grade spell array plate.

Lu Feng was delighted inside, but his expression remained somewhat troubled. "The Soul Warming Pill is good, but I'm afraid one pill alone won't be enough."

Gu Lingling said unhappily, "Don't be so greedy. One Soul Warming Pill is enough for you to recover in a short time after making an elementary spell array plate."

"But it won't be enough if it's a mid-grade spell array plate."

"Heh." Gu Lingling could not help laughing. "You still dream of making a mid-grade spell array plate?"

"How about we make another bet?"

"What are we betting on?"

Lu Feng smiled craftily. "If I make a low-grade spell array plate, you give me one Soul Warming Pill. If it's a mid-grade spell array plate, you give me two. And so on."

"Fine. What if you lose?"

"If I lose, our previous bet will be wiped clean. You won't need to follow our orders anymore."

Gu Lingling frowned in dissatisfaction. "That's not fair. If you lose, give me one of those high-grade array plates you took out earlier!"

Lu Feng hesitated before agreeing. Soul-restoring pills were already exceedingly rare, and Soul Warming Pills were things money could not buy. This bet was quite worthwhile.

Watching Gu Lingling persist in having her way, Yan Xinhui felt somewhat worried. The only two Soul Warming Pills in her possession had been accumulated over many years. If the sect master learned that she had lost one because of a bet, the punishment would likely be severe.

Ling Tian sat off to the side with great interest, a trace of curiosity appearing on his cold, proud face.