Spirit-Gathering Array

The moment Li Dalong took hold of the Blood Demon Blade, an evil, icy aura shot through his palm into his meridians, rushing toward his dantian. He reacted immediately, circulating his cultivation technique. His magical power surged from his dantian through his meridians to his arm, enveloping the invading aura. The blade's aura began struggling violently, charging left and right in an attempt to break free of the spiritual power surrounding it. But the spiritual power cultivated through the Righteous Qi Formula was particularly effective at suppressing demonic and evil techniques. Besides, the Blood Demon Blade was no longer at the height of its power as it had been tens of thousands of years ago, and it had no master to control it. Naturally, it was no match for Li Dalong.

Although the Blood Demon Blade was powerful, it did not suit Li Dalong's cultivation technique and was of little use to him. Still, as the Blood Devil Race's supreme treasure, it was worth taking. Perhaps it would prove useful in the future.

After checking that there was nothing else in the cave, he withdrew. Many Devil Race experts had been sealed here back then, so other treasures should still remain. But he had already been out for a long time today and had lost quite a bit of cultivation time. He would leave further exploration for another day.

Li Dalong returned to the entrance of the Ancestral Grounds, then left by the same method he had used to enter.

Ding-dong. Would you like to check in?

The moment he returned to his cave abode, he heard the system notification.

"Check in."

Li Dalong answered out of habit.

Ding-dong. Congratulations! You have received one Yellow Dragon Pill.

"A Yellow Dragon Pill!"

The Yellow Dragon Pill was a pill that increased cultivation.

"The system really delivers! It just gave me a Spirit-Gathering Array, and now it's given me a Yellow Dragon Pill. My cultivation will advance much faster now."

Without wasting any time, he took the Spirit-Gathering Array's jade slip from the system space and quickly examined its information with his divine sense. With his current mastery as a Formation Great Grandmaster, he soon understood how spiritual power circulated through the array, how to set it up, and what spirit stones, magical treasures, and natural treasures it required. Fortunately, years of checking in had left him with an abundant stock of pills, magical treasures, weapons, natural treasures, and spirit stones. Many had been useless to him before, but now they were just what he needed to set up the Spirit-Gathering Array and increase his strength.

The Spirit-Gathering Array was a wondrous formation that gathered spiritual energy and accelerated a cultivator's progress. Its consumption, however, was not something ordinary people could afford. Moreover, it was a closely guarded secret of the major powers, and only such powers could possess it. It was a strategic asset that allowed a major power to surpass small and medium-sized ones.

A Spirit-Gathering Array typically used a formation foundation as its base, formation patterns as its channels, formation stones as its source, and formation flags as its focal points. It consumed spirit stones to gather the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the array. Depending on the grade of the formation flags and stones and the quality of the inscribed patterns, the concentration of spiritual energy could range from onefold to several dozenfold.

Following the annotations on the formation diagram, he soon prepared the formation flags and magical implements he needed. Then, following the setup instructions, he drove the flags, implements, and spirit stones underground and began inscribing the formation patterns. Once the patterns were complete, he only needed to place spirit stones at each node to activate the Spirit-Gathering Array. Naturally, Li Dalong used formation flags refined from top-grade materials, and all his spirit stones were top-grade as well.

With a wave of his hand, Li Dalong sent top-grade spirit stones into each node and activated the Spirit-Gathering Array. In an instant, the spiritual energy within the forbidden grounds seemed to ignite. It came roaring toward him at a speed visible to the naked eye, gathering into a visible vortex of spiritual power that filled the entire array.

Li Dalong's heart filled with excitement and anticipation. He knew the Spirit-Gathering Array would multiply his cultivation speed several times over. Without hesitation, he took out the Yellow Dragon Pill, tossed it into his mouth, and swallowed it in one gulp. The Yellow Dragon Pill was a legendary spiritual pill with extremely potent medicinal power that could accelerate a cultivator's progress.

As the Yellow Dragon Pill entered his body, a searing energy surged through him, as though he were inside a furnace. He sat cross-legged at the center of the Spirit-Gathering Array, closed his eyes, and began cultivating.

He began applying his cultivation method, guiding the spiritual energy in his body into his meridians. It flowed through them like a surging tide, continually nourishing his body and soul. A moment later, he focused his attention on his dantian. He sensed that the spiritual energy there was circulating much faster than usual, and the rate at which he refined it had increased severalfold. Now, no matter how much spiritual energy Li Dalong refined, an equal amount of the array's spiritual energy of heaven and earth rushed into his body. A small vortex of spiritual power gradually formed around him. He immersed his divine sense within it and began guiding and controlling the circulation of spiritual energy.

Time slipped quietly by, and Li Dalong's entire body began radiating a brilliant light. His cultivation steadily increased, and his state of mind grew ever calmer. His divine sense reached much farther, his perceptions became sharper and clearer, and his cultivation realm advanced rapidly.

After two days of cultivation, the Yellow Dragon Pill's medicinal power gradually weakened until it was entirely absorbed. Li Dalong absorbed and refined seventy percent of it, while twenty percent was absorbed by his body, nourishing his flesh. The remaining ten percent dissipated into the world. By then, Li Dalong felt that the spiritual power accumulated within him had reached well beyond the middle stage of the Out-of-Body realm. He was already very close to the late stage.

He stopped circulating the Righteous Qi Formula and slowly brought his cultivation to a close. Gradually opening his eyes, he revealed a flash of keen light in them. He rose to his feet, sensing the powerful aura emanating from his body.

Li Dalong knew this cultivation session marked an important beginning on his path. With the Spirit-Gathering Array, his cultivation would improve tremendously. Breaking through to the Spirit Transformation realm was only a matter of time.

His heart brimmed with emotion and joy. In the Cultivation World, advancing even one minor stage within the Out-of-Body realm required decades or even a century of secluded cultivation. Yet with the Spirit-Gathering Array and the Yellow Dragon Pill, he had taken a mere two days to advance almost all the way from the early stage to the late stage. If word got out, it would surely leave countless jaws on the floor. If news of the Spirit-Gathering Array leaked, it would also whip up a bloody storm throughout the Cultivation World.

Living alone, Li Dalong spent his days either studying formations or cultivating.

One day, Li Dalong sat quietly within the Spirit-Gathering Array in his cave abode, wholly absorbed in cultivation. Although obtaining the Check-In System had set him on the fast track of cultivation, he had never let himself slacken, tirelessly pursuing greater realms and power.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared at the entrance to the forbidden grounds. It was his third junior brother, Zhou Yong, the newly appointed sect master.

"Eldest senior brother, I've come to see you."

As his voice rang out, the restrictions guarding the forbidden grounds opened, and Zhou Yong, sect master of the Righteous Qi Sect, walked in carrying a few small dishes and a flask of fine wine.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Li Dalong went forward to greet him, then bowed to Zhou Yong.

Zhou Yong hurried forward to support Li Dalong and said,

"Eldest senior brother, there's no need for such ceremony between fellow disciples."

Facing Li Dalong, Zhou Yong gave a wry smile.

Li Dalong looked at Zhou Yong. Some time had passed since he had taken over as sect master, and his once slightly youthful face had gained a measure of maturity. Yet Li Dalong saw none of the spirited confidence of a young man at the helm of a sect. Instead, his face bore signs of exhaustion.