Array Diagram

At the junction of several great mountains lay a naturally formed small basin. Towering peaks that pierced the clouds surrounded it on all sides. Following the terrain, roads converged from afar, ultimately gathering here.

This was the boundary between the inner and outer regions of the Northern Cang Realm. No powerful Spirit Beasts roamed nearby, so over time, it became a resting place for examinees.

And where there were many people, trade naturally emerged. Trade brought even more activity, turning this area into a remarkably bustling place. Across the broad flatlands within the basin, tents stretched as far as the eye could see, with figures moving everywhere, giving it an almost surreal feeling.

"This is a temporary gathering point. From here, one can advance deeper into the Northern Cang Realm, so many people in our area choose to pass through here."

Beside Liu Bai, An Ran spoke calmly. Though she had tried her best to make her words sound less cold, that was clearly not something she could change overnight.

"Also, this is considered a trading area. Many people sell the things they have here. All kinds of Spiritual Arts, Spirit Beast Cores, and even Spiritual Artifacts can appear. Of course, if you want to obtain them, you need to offer a price they find satisfactory."

An Ran had come here on the first day. After all, among the nearly one hundred thousand examinees in this Northern Cang Realm, not everyone was like Liu Bai and the others from the Northern Spirit Realm, completely ignorant of the Northern Cang Realm.

Many powerful factions and Spiritual Academies had sent more than one student into the Northern Cang Realm, so plenty of people had gathered considerable information about all four Northern Cang Realms.

As that information accumulated, it gave later arrivals a first-mover advantage. Northern Azure Spirit Academy was well aware of this and tacitly allowed it to exist.

Many people who disliked fighting or were not good at it would seek out places like this after entering, then wait peacefully for traders to come to them. As long as they had good items, they would never have to worry about their mark level.

Wasn't the youth who traded Mu Chen the Dragon Elephant Array in the original story exactly like this? He had even stolen his father's array diagram in advance for it...

Naturally, Liu Bai, who had read the original story, knew all this, but he did not show it.

"Oh, right. Spirit Coins can be used here as well, but the hardest currency is this..." An Ran pointed at the golden mark on her forehead before continuing, "If you want to trade for something, you need to draw enough mark spiritual energy from your mark to satisfy the other party."

Liu Bai nodded in realization. "I see!"

"Also, all kinds of information gather here. If you're lucky, you might even hear news about a Heaven Tier Spirit Beast." Finally, An Ran added that.

Liu Bai nodded and did not say much more. The two then entered the basin.

Walking through the trading grounds, Liu Bai found that there truly were quite a few people here. However, most of them were setting up stalls to sell things, while actual transactions were few.

That was normal. Everyone had only entered the Northern Cang Realm a few days ago. How could so many people have excess mark spiritual energy to trade away?

Unless they already had high-level marks and were confident that they could quickly raise their mark levels, no one would be willing to trade it away so early. What if something went wrong later? Were they supposed to sit around and wait to be eliminated?

Because of this, when they saw Liu Bai and An Ran—one bearing a violet-gold Level Seven Mark and the other a golden Level Five Mark—many people's eyes immediately lit up. They knew a big deal was coming!

"Hey, little brother! Freshly acquired Spirit Grade Low Rank Attack Spiritual Art, Eight-Slash Blade Breaker! Powerful attacks and easy cultivation! Only three levels of mark spiritual energy! Don't miss it as you pass by!"

"Little brother, little brother! Take a look at my super rare Spirit Grade Low Rank Movement Spiritual Art, Nine Spiral Shadows! Unpredictable as ghosts and gods, with endless transformations! Only four levels of mark spiritual energy! This is practically a clearance sale at a loss, come on, come on!"

"Low-grade Spiritual Artifact, Thunderflame Sword! With one swing, lightning and fire move together, its power is boundless! Only five levels of mark spiritual energy!"

"..."

The sudden enthusiasm of these people left Liu Bai stunned. He had clearly not expected such a scene.

Seeing this, An Ran, who seemed to have anticipated it long ago, could not help smiling. Seeing the youth before her, who always looked as if everything was under his control, make such an expression seemed to satisfy her greatly.

"Among items of the same Spirit Grade Low Rank, Attack Spiritual Arts are the least valuable, followed by Movement Spiritual Arts, while Cultivation Methods are the most valuable. Spiritual Artifacts are priced far higher by comparison."

Liu Bai could not help sighing. That much was obvious from these people's reactions. The youth selling the Thunderflame Sword was the calmest of them all, carrying an air of, I'm only entertaining you. Buy it or don't.

Of course, that was the truth.

Once everyone's mark levels gradually rose, the Thunderflame Sword would certainly not lack buyers.

Unfortunately, although the Thunderflame Sword could greatly improve Liu Bai's combat power, it was still somewhat insufficient for his upcoming challenge against a Heaven Tier Spirit Beast. What Liu Bai truly hoped to find was a powerful spirit array.

A Third-Grade Spirit Array would be best, but it was practically impossible to obtain something like that from these examinees. Thus, his true targets were top-tier Second-Grade Spirit Arrays!

After looking through several stalls and failing to find anything suitable, Liu Bai could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.

Then, he simply stopped searching and shouted loudly, "I need array diagrams, at least Second Grade! Who has one?!"

His shout quieted the surrounding area for a moment. In the next instant, the entire area erupted...

"An array diagram, and Second Grade at that? Could this guy be a Second-Grade Spirit Array Master?"

"So what if he's a Second-Grade Spirit Array Master? Look at that violet-gold mark on his forehead. Anyone who can raise their mark to Level Seven in such a short time is definitely no ordinary person!"

"Yeah, yeah! And look at the beautiful girl following him. He definitely isn't ordinary..."

In an instant, the two people who had been discussing turned to look at the third...

We're having a serious discussion here. Why the hell are you bringing up women?

"Hey, you're right, though. That girl really is beautiful, and she's strong too. She's just a little cold."

"..."

Watching the group chatter endlessly without getting anywhere near the point, Liu Bai was speechless. Just as he was preparing to look elsewhere, a figure suddenly blocked his path.

"You need an array diagram?"

A clear voice rang beside him, and Liu Bai even found it somewhat familiar.

Turning around, he saw the familiar black training outfit, the curvaceous figure, and especially that exquisite face carrying a trace of allure. Liu Bai could not help blurting out, "Li Jing?"

That was right. The person before him was the Bear-Slaying Maiden from before.

And Li Jing clearly had not expected that the person shouting for array diagrams would be an acquaintance she had met only once.

"Your name?"

"Liu Bai."

Only then did Liu Bai realize that he had never introduced himself.

Li Jing nodded. "Come on. Let's find somewhere quiet to talk."

Clearly, Li Jing was not like the others present, hoping to trade an array diagram for mark spiritual energy.

Liu Bai could see that as well. After all, this girl already had a Level Seven Mark herself, so there was no need for her to trade for mark spiritual energy.

The three arrived at a secluded place. Liu Bai directly asked, "Miss Li Jing has an array diagram? How does Miss Li Jing intend to trade it?"

The moment he finished speaking, the black-clothed girl before him raised her hand and tossed something over.

With a sweep of his hand, a Green Scroll appeared in Liu Bai's palm.

"Ding! A damaged Third-Grade Spirit Array, Demon Vine Strangling Array, has been detected. Record it?"

Liu Bai's eyes twitched.

Wouldn't it be a little inappropriate if he recorded it directly and then refused to honor the deal...

"But unfortunately, it's incomplete..."

"Record!"

"Ding! Recording complete. A damaged spirit array has been detected. Spend 5,000 Experience Points to deduce and restore it?"

"What the hell?!"

Liu Bai immediately revealed a startled expression.

Seeing the surprised looks the two girls cast at him, Liu Bai's expression shifted, and he hurriedly went along with it. "You actually have a Third-Grade Spirit Array?"

The words "Third-Grade Spirit Array" immediately startled An Ran as well, though her gaze was now directed at Li Jing.

"It's only an incomplete array. Its power can at most reach the level of a Second-Grade Spirit Array. If you want it, you need to agree to one condition." Li Jing spoke calmly.

Liu Bai frowned. "Tell me your condition first."

Li Jing looked deeply at Liu Bai. Seeing his attitude, she immediately began to wonder whether her bargaining chip was too weak.

Taking a deep breath in secret, Li Jing finally said, "My condition is that you must agree to make a move once and help me kill a Heaven Tier Spirit Beast!"

Liu Bai was dazed. Why had news of Heaven Tier Spirit Beasts suddenly become so common? Since when had Heaven Tier Spirit Beasts become cabbages in the Northern Cang Realm?

Still, it was not a major matter...

"Fine, but it will have to be in a few days. I came looking for an array diagram this time because I need to deal with a Spirit Beast as well. I can only help you after I settle my own matter first."

Li Jing pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Fine. I still need to find some other people anyway. Then three days from now, we'll gather here again. How about it?"

"Fine!" Liu Bai nodded directly in agreement.

After making the arrangement, Li Jing simply turned and left.

This left Liu Bai somewhat speechless. Was this girl trusting him a little too much? She had handed over her bargaining chip after nothing more than a verbal agreement. Was she not afraid that he would go back on his word?

However, Liu Bai had no intention of reneging. He directly said to An Ran beside him, "We'll rest here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll set off for the Underground Cave!"

"Tomorrow? You only just obtained this array diagram. Can you master it in a single night?" An Ran was somewhat bewildered. Why was this so different from the Spirit Array Masters she knew?

"Heh, you don't need to worry about that." Liu Bai merely smiled without explaining. He found a place for himself and sat down cross-legged.

An Ran: "..."

Time quickly passed, and night fell.

Liu Bai remained seated cross-legged. After studying the array diagram briefly at the beginning, he directly put it away.

"Ding! 5,000 Experience Points consumed. Complete spirit array acquired: Demon Vine Strangling Array."

For a Third-Grade Spirit Array, Initiation required 150 Experience Points, Minor Accomplishment required 2,000, and Great Accomplishment required 5,000. After Liu Bai spent 5,000 Experience Points to restore the array and another 7,150 Experience Points afterward, the nearly ten thousand Experience Points he had gained from killing the Northern Nether Golden Patterned Eagle had been mostly spent. He had immediately used nine thousand to upgrade the Mountain God Art, leaving him with less than twenty thousand Experience Points.

Looks like I really need to kill a few more Heavenly Beasts to replenish my reserves...

A Heavenly Beast was worth nearly ten thousand Experience Points. Due to the Experience Point bonus for Level-Skipping kills, a single Heavenly Beast provided several times the Experience Points of a high-level Spirit Beast. Though they were difficult to hunt and scarce in number, the rewards were enough to outweigh everything, so Liu Bai still hoped to hunt more Heavenly Beasts.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Bai also upgraded his Hundred Scrolls of Array Dao to Minor Accomplishment.

Player: Liu Bai

Realm: Divine Soul Realm Middle Stage

Class: Spirit Array Master (Level 3 Spirit Array Master)

Spirit Veins: Three Earth Veins (50/1000)

Physique: Spirit Muscle Jade Bone

Cultivation Methods: Blazing Sun Art (Seventh Layer 150/4500); Hundred Scrolls of Array Dao: Upper Volume (Minor Accomplishment · Heart Array Intermediate 0/3000); Low Grade Body Tempering Divine Art · Ice Muscle Jade Bone Art (Great Accomplishment 200/30000); Mountain God Art (Fourth Layer 0/18000)

Skills:

...Spirit Grade Low Rank Star Shattering Fist · Shatter (Perfect); Spirit Grade Low Rank Blazing Step · Fire Illusion Body (Perfect); Spirit-grade High-tier Great Sun Sea Burning Palm (Minor Accomplishment 0/1200); Spirit-grade High-tier Mountain Shaking Divine Fist (Minor Accomplishment 0/1200)

Arrays:

...Demon Vine Strangling Array (Great Accomplishment)

Experience Points: 19580

Beast Soul Points: 92

A Level 3 Spirit Array Master, with an intermediate Heart Array Array Dao Realm. Although the Demon Vine Strangling Array was more of a trapping and killing array and could only be considered average among Third-Grade Spirit Arrays, it still proved that Liu Bai now possessed the qualifications to face Heaven Fusion Realm opponents head-on.

This gave him some confidence in hunting Heavenly Beasts again.

Nothing happened that night. Early the next morning, Liu Bai and An Ran finished preparing and, under An Ran's lead, headed toward the Underground Cave.

This was a barren desert. The entrance to the Underground Cave was located deep within a massive canyon in the desert. The cave entrance was over ten feet tall and indeed bore smooth traces of friction.

Moreover, Liu Bai could sense a terrifying aura lurking deep within the cave entrance, as if it could erupt like a volcano at any moment.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Bai could not help feeling nervous, even though he had already become a Level 3 Spirit Array Master.

After all, this was different from the Northern Nether Golden Patterned Eagle. Back then, Zhou Fan had led several hundred powerful people to besiege it, while Liu Bai had merely stayed to the side and reaped the benefits.

"Let's go. Be careful. The thing down there won't be easy to deal with!" Liu Bai said solemnly to the girl beside him.

An Ran silently nodded. In truth, she was even more nervous.

However, after fusing with the Spirit Beast Core, her strength had grown rapidly, giving her some confidence as well.

Before long, the two continued deeper inside. Their surroundings gradually darkened, while a cold, fishy stench continuously entered their noses, making both Liu Bai and An Ran frown.

This cold sensation should be unique to serpent-type Spirit Beasts. Snakes were inherently cold creatures, and regardless of their attributes, such conditions would inevitably appear wherever they lived.