Array Disk

The Spirit Condensing Formation consisted of two parts: an Array Disk and Array Flags.

Both were Dharma Artifacts. Fortunately, Li Han now had the Artifact Refining Compendium, so making them wouldn't be too troublesome.

"The Array Flags can be made with Lone Bamboo flagpoles, and beast hide can be used for the banners.

"As for the Array Disk, I'll have to go into the city and buy some Iron Essence.

"Luckily, I have money now. Otherwise, these things would cost quite a bit."

Li Han immediately set off for the market in Nuoding City.

Beast hide was easy to buy. He could get it wherever they sold Soul Beast meat, and it wasn't expensive.

The Iron Essence needed for the Array Disk, on the other hand, was quite costly.

Li Han went to a blacksmith shop. The owner's surname was Zhang.

"What can I get you, young man?"

Blacksmith Zhang greeted him warmly.

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

"Iron Essence? That stuff isn't cheap. Two Gold Soul Coins per pound."

Li Han didn't waste words. He pulled two Gold Soul Coins from his robes.

Blacksmith Zhang's eyes lit up at once. He rubbed his hands together, beaming.

"Just a moment, young man. I'll get you the Iron Essence right away!"

Blacksmith Zhang headed into the shop. Li Han followed him with his eyes and spotted someone familiar inside.

"Tang San?"

Seeing Tang San hammering away at raw iron in the blacksmith shop, Li Han was a little surprised.

But he quickly remembered.

The kid did seem to have worked at a blacksmith shop, earning money while gathering materials to make Hidden Weapons.

"Li Han, what brings you here?"

Tang San had noticed Li Han too, and looked astonished.

Although losing to Li Han twice in a row left him unwilling to accept it, they were still roommates living under the same roof. They had no irreconcilable grudge, so they got along fairly well.

"I came to buy a few things. I heard you were working to pay for your studies. I didn't expect you'd be doing it here at a blacksmith shop."

Li Han smiled.

"My father's a blacksmith. This is the craft my family's passed down."

"I see."

Just then, Blacksmith Zhang came back with the Iron Essence.

"Xiao San, do you know this young man?"

Tang San nodded.

"He's my roommate."

"So that's how it is."

Blacksmith Zhang nodded in understanding, then handed the Iron Essence to Li Han.

"Take a look, young man. Is this Iron Essence all right?"

Li Han took it and inspected it, then nodded. "Not bad. It's good quality. Here are two Gold Soul Coins. Is that all right?"

"No problem, no problem. If you need Iron Essence again, just come to me. I'll give you a discount."

Blacksmith Zhang happily accepted the Gold Soul Coins.

"Good. If you have any other better metals here, like Dark Iron or Soul-Forging Silver, have Tang San let me know. I'll come buy them."

"Sure! No problem!"

Li Han glanced at Tang San.

"I'll be going, then."

"Sure..."

Watching Li Han leave, Tang San looked puzzled.

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

"Isn't the Soul Master stipend only one Gold Soul Coin a month?

"And what does he need Iron Essence for?"

Tang San couldn't figure it out. In the end, he stopped thinking about it and went back to hammering the raw iron.

This was an important source of materials for his Hidden Weapons.

Back Mountain Waterfall.

Li Han took out the materials he'd bought and began refining the Dharma Artifacts for the Spirit Condensing Formation.

"First, the Array Disk. I need to carve the formation patterns into it with Divine Sense. It's both the core of the formation and the key to controlling it."

Flames gathered in Li Han's right hand as he heated the Iron Essence.

The flames came from the Fireball Technique. They were a minor improvement Li Han had made to it.

That would make it much easier for him to refine all kinds of pills and Dharma Artifacts. It was extremely useful.

The flames were also much hotter than ordinary mortal fire.

After melting the Iron Essence, Li Han used his Divine Sense to knead it into the shape he needed for the Array Disk.

The process took quite a bit of effort. The disk gradually took shape only after a full hour.

Li Han's Soul Power had long since run dry. He hurriedly swallowed a few Energy Recovery Pills to replenish it before continuing.

"The Array Disk's rough shape is ready. Next, I'll carve the formation patterns with Divine Sense."

This was another laborious task.

After his Soul Power ran dry again, the Array Disk finally began to take shape.

It took another three days of tempering before the Array Disk for the Spirit Condensing Formation was finally complete.

"Next, the Array Flags."

Li Han took out the Lone Bamboo and cut it into flagpole-sized lengths. Then he tempered them with flames and carved in the restrictions and formation patterns.

Several more days passed, and the eight flagpoles were ready.

The final step was to join the flagpoles and banners.

Li Han took out the beast hide, tempered it with flames, then carved formation patterns into it before finally joining it to the flagpoles.

The Array Flags were complete!

Li Han took out the Array Disk and focused his thoughts. The eight Array Flags slid into the small holes in the disk.

"It's done—the Spirit Condensing Formation!"

Li Han was delighted. The Array Disk set in his hands was so exquisitely crafted that it reminded him of putting together LEGO bricks in his previous life.

"I'll find a time to visit the Soul Hunting Forest and test how well this formation works."

Dorm Seven.

"I've reached level ten! Hahaha! I finally broke through to level ten!"

Wang Sheng was so happy he danced around, and everyone else looked on enviously.

Level ten.

It was their ultimate goal at Nuoding Academy.

Break through to level ten, obtain a Soul Ring, become a Soul Master, and join the most revered profession on Douluo Continent.

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

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

Li Han offered his heartfelt congratulations. Wang Sheng was his best friend at Nuoding Academy.

"Thanks, 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 dashed excitedly toward the dean's office.

Watching Wang Sheng leave, Li Han furrowed his brow.

"Given Nuoding Academy's circumstances, they'll probably arrange a white Soul Ring for Wang Sheng.

"Wang Sheng's talent isn't very high to begin with. If his First Soul Ring is a ten-year one, he'll probably struggle to break through to Soul Ancestor in the future."

If it were anyone else, Li Han wouldn't bother getting involved. But Wang Sheng had looked after him quite a bit this past year. Even when he was hungry himself, he'd shared some of his food with Li Han, so Li Han wanted to help him.

"I can't step in openly, but I can help from the shadows.

"I'm going to the Soul Hunting Forest to test the Spirit Condensing Formation anyway. I'll follow behind them and lend a hand without being seen."

The next day.

Wang Sheng followed a teacher from the academy to the Soul Hunting Forest. Li Han disguised himself and followed close behind.

Soul Hunting Forest.

Li Han found a hundred-year-old Red Flame Tiger.

"You're the one. You're a good match for Wang Sheng's Battle Tiger Martial Soul."

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

Before it could react, he unleashed the Azure Origin Sword Ray!

The two-meter-long Azure Origin Sword Ray struck the Red Flame Tiger in an instant, leaving a huge bloody gash.

The Red Flame Tiger let out a pained roar and collapsed in a pool of blood, barely clinging to life.

"I deliberately avoided its vitals. The Red Flame Tiger should stay alive for a little while.

"Now I just have to figure out how to lead Wang Sheng and the others over here."