Array Disk

The Spirit Condensing Formation consists of two parts: the Array Disk and the Array Flags.

These are both considered magical artifacts, but fortunately, Li Han now possesses the Artifact Refining Compendium, so crafting them shouldn't be too much trouble.

"The Array Flags can have their poles crafted from Lone Bamboo, while the flags themselves can be made from beast hide."

"As for the Array Disk, I'll need to make a trip into the city to buy some Iron Essence."

"It's a good thing I have money now, otherwise these materials would be quite expensive to purchase."

Li Han immediately stood up and headed toward the Nuoding City market.

Beast hide is easy to buy; it can be found wherever soul beast meat is sold, and it isn't expensive.

However, the refined iron required for the Array Disk is much pricier.

Li Han arrived at a blacksmith shop owned by Blacksmith Zhang.

"Little brother, what can I get for you?"

Blacksmith Zhang greeted him enthusiastically.

"I'm here to buy some Iron Essence."

"Iron Essence? That stuff isn't cheap. It's two Gold Soul Coin per jin."

Li Han didn't waste words and took two Gold Soul Coin out from his robes.

Blacksmith Zhang's eyes lit up instantly; he rubbed his hands together, his face beaming with a smile.

"Wait just a moment, little brother, I'll go get that Iron Essence for you right now!"

As Blacksmith Zhang walked into the back of the shop, Li Han followed his figure with his gaze and caught sight of an acquaintance.

"Tang San?"

Li Han was somewhat surprised to see Tang San hammering raw iron inside the blacksmith shop.

But he quickly remembered.

This kid did indeed have experience working in a blacksmith shop, earning money while simultaneously gathering materials to forge his hidden weapons.

"Li Han, what brings you here?"

Tang San had also spotted Li Han by now, his face full of surprise.

Although losing to Li Han twice in a row left him feeling unwilling to accept it, they were roommates living under the same roof after all, and there was no deep-seated enmity between them, so they got along reasonably well.

"I came to buy some things. I heard you were a work-study student, but I didn't expect you to be working at this blacksmith shop."

Li Han smiled.

"My father was a blacksmith; this is my family's trade."

"I see."

Just then, Blacksmith Zhang returned with the Iron Essence.

"Xiao San, do you know this little brother?"

Tang San nodded.

"He is my roommate."

"So that's how it is."

Blacksmith Zhang realized, then handed the Iron Essence to Li Han.

"Little brother, take a look and see if this Iron Essence is to your satisfaction?"

Li Han took it to inspect it and nodded, saying, "Not bad, the quality is excellent. Here are two Gold Soul Coin, is that correct?"

"Yes, yes. Little brother, if you need more Iron Essence in the future, just come find me, and I'll give you a discount."

Blacksmith Zhang accepted the Gold Soul Coin with satisfaction.

"Alright. If you happen to come across any other superior metals, like Dark Iron or Soul-Forging Silver, just have Tang San let me know, and I'll come by to purchase them."

"Done! No problem!"

Li Han glanced at Tang San.

"I'll be heading off then."

"Right..."

Watching Li Han's retreating back, Tang San was filled with confusion.

How does he have so much money? He spent two Gold Soul Coin without even blinking.

Isn't the soul master subsidy only one Gold Soul Coin per month?

And what is he buying Iron Essence for?

Tang San couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it and continued hammering his raw iron.

This was his primary source of materials for his hidden weapons.

Back Mountain Waterfall.

Li Han took out the materials he had purchased and began to refine the magical artifacts for the Spirit Condensing Formation.

"First is the Array Disk. I need to use my divine sense to carve array patterns onto it; it is both the core of the formation and the key to controlling it."

Li Han condensed flames in his right hand to smelt the Iron Essence.

This flame was an extension of the Fireball Technique, a slight improvement Li Han had made to the spell.

This made it much more convenient for him to refine various pills and magical artifacts, making it extremely practical.

The temperature of the flame was also significantly higher than that of ordinary mundane fire.

After melting the Iron Essence, Li Han channeled his divine sense to mold it into the shape of the Array Disk he required.

This process was quite time-consuming, and it took a full hour before the Array Disk gradually took shape.

Li Han's soul power had long since been exhausted, so he hurriedly popped a few Energy Recovery Pills to replenish it before continuing.

"The prototype of the Array Disk is ready; next is carving the array patterns with my divine sense."

This was also a laborious task.

After exhausting his soul power once more, the Array Disk finally began to look like the finished product.

After another three days of tempering, the Array Disk for the Spirit Condensing Formation was finally complete.

"Next are the Array Flags."

Li Han took out the Lone Bamboo, cut it into the size of flagpoles, and then tempered them with flames, carving restrictions and array patterns into them.

After several more days, the eight flagpoles were formed.

The final step was to fuse the flagpoles with the flag faces.

Li Han took out beast hides, first tempering them with flames, then carving array patterns onto them, and finally fusing them with the flagpoles.

The Array Flags were complete!

Li Han took out the Array Disk, and with a thought, the eight Array Flags slotted into the small holes on the disk.

"It's finished, the Spirit Condensing Formation!"

Li Han was filled with joy, feeling that the Array Disk set in his hand was incredibly exquisite, somewhat reminiscent of playing with Legos in his past life.

"I'll find a time to go to the Soul Hunting Forest and test the quality of this formation."

Dorm Seven.

"I've broken through to level ten! Hahaha! I've finally broken through to level ten!"

Wang Sheng was dancing with joy, and the others looked on with envy.

Level ten.

That was their ultimate goal here at Nuoding Academy.

Breaking through to level ten, obtaining a soul ring, and becoming a Soul Master—the most noble profession on this Douluo Continent.

By then, even if they were commoners, they could obtain power and wealth and never have to go hungry again.

"Congratulations, Wang Sheng. You've finally made it."

Li Han offered his sincere congratulations, as Wang Sheng was his best friend at Nuoding Academy.

"Thank you, Li Han. I'm going to tell the Dean right now and ask him to arrange for someone to help me hunt a soul beast."

Wang Sheng ran toward the Dean's office, brimming with excitement.

Li Han watched Wang Sheng's retreating back and frowned slightly.

"Given the situation at Nuoding Academy, they'll probably just arrange a white soul ring for Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng's talent isn't high to begin with; if his first soul ring is a ten-year one, I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to even reach the level of a Soul Ancestor in the future."

If it were anyone else, Li Han wouldn't bother, but Wang Sheng had taken good care of him over the past year, even sharing his own food with Li Han when he was hungry, so he wanted to help him.

"I definitely can't intervene openly, but I can help from the shadows.

Since I need to go to the Soul Hunting Forest to test the Spirit Condensing Formation anyway, I'll follow behind them and provide secret assistance."

The next day.

Wang Sheng went to the Soul Hunting Forest with an academy teacher, and Li Han, having disguised himself, followed closely behind.

Soul Hunting Forest.

Li Han found a century-old Red Flame Tiger.

"You'll do; you're a perfect match for Wang Sheng's Battle Tiger Martial Soul."

Li Han stepped into his Smoke-Drifting Steps, instantly closing the distance to the Red Flame Tiger.

Before the Red Flame Tiger could react, he unleashed a strike of the Azure Origin Sword Ray!

The two-meter-long Azure Origin Sword Ray slashed across the Red Flame Tiger's body, leaving a massive, bleeding gash.

The Red Flame Tiger let out a mournful howl and collapsed into a pool of blood, gasping for its final breaths.

"I specifically avoided the vital organs; this Red Flame Tiger should stay alive for a while longer.

Now, I need to find a way to lure Wang Sheng and the others over here."