Spirit Arrays

Liu Bai's desire to study spirit arrays was not a passing whim. After returning to the Liu Domain, he solemnly brought it up to his father, Liu Qingtian. The very next day, he met the Liu Family's resident Spirit Array Master.

Looking at the old man before him, Liu Bai knew that although he was merely a Level 1 Spirit Array Master, his status was extremely high. Even Liu Qingtian, the Domain Lord of the Liu Domain, treated him with great courtesy.

"This is our Liu Family's resident master, Mr. Wu Yuan. From now on, he will teach you the most basic knowledge of spirit arrays." Liu Qingtian pointed at the old man and smiled at Liu Bai.

"Liu Bai greets Mr. Wu." Liu Bai respectfully clasped his fists in greeting, showing none of the airs of a young lord.

Old Man Wu Yuan merely nodded lightly in response, saying little. There was a trace of pride between his brows.

Liu Bai had no objection to this.

To be honest, he had only sought out a Spirit Array Master to learn the basics of spirit arrays. As for the various array formations, the Liu Domain already had its own collection. If not for the prerequisite conditions, Liu Bai might already have possessed a higher Spirit Array Master rank than this old fellow before him.

"You brat had better study properly. Mr. Wu Yuan is known for being strict. Although you are my son, if he believes you lack the talent, he will never continue teaching you because of your status. Do you understand?"

Liu Qingtian knew that although his eldest son usually appeared mild-mannered and lazy, there was an inexplicable pride in his heart, making him seem naturally superior to everyone else.

Although Wu Yuan's arrogance had not been openly displayed just now, Liu Qingtian believed his son had certainly noticed it. If this brat erupted, he would probably have to step in and clean up the mess. That was why he warned him in advance.

Liu Bai smiled and nodded. "Don't worry, Father. I will work hard."

Northern Spirit Academy offered quite a few courses, but it did not teach anything related to spirit arrays. Moreover, the Northern Spirit Realm itself was remote, resulting in an extremely small number of Spirit Array Masters here.

This meant that even a Level 1 Spirit Array Master like Wu Yuan held a status far above ordinary cultivators. Even a Domain Lord like Liu Qingtian had to give him some respect.

Watching his father leave, Liu Bai's smile remained unchanged as he said to Wu Yuan beside him, "Please sit, Mr. Wu."

Wu Yuan nodded. After sitting down, he stiffly asked, "I heard from Domain Lord Liu that you wish to study array formations. Then let me ask you, what do you know about the Dao of arrays?"

"Nothing at all," Liu Bai said frankly.

Wu Yuan's expression stiffened, and his face immediately darkened.

A fellow who knows absolutely nothing about arrays has come here to make trouble? Is he here to amuse this old man?

Of course, considering the youth's identity, he could only suppress his displeasure. In any case, whether the boy learned anything or not, as long as he taught according to their agreement, Liu Qingtian could not withhold the promised compensation. With that thought, Wu Yuan's expression improved slightly.

"Then let us first discuss what a spirit array is..."

Wu Yuan composed himself and assumed the air of a diligent teacher. "Simply put, a spirit array uses a special method to cause spiritual energy to resonate, thereby drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to achieve offensive and defensive effects."

"However, triggering such resonance is an exceedingly complicated and difficult matter."

"On some lower planes, setting up arrays is easier because the energy there is not as dense and complex as it is in the Great Thousand World. Therefore, in a sense, spirit arrays in the Great Thousand World are far more advanced and complicated than the arrays of most lower planes."

Wu Yuan extended his hand. His fingers were exceptionally slender, completely unlike his aged appearance.

Liu Bai focused on his palm and saw spiritual energy rapidly gathering at his fingertips, eventually forming five delicate, tiny Spirit Seals that floated in the air...

These Spirit Seals appeared extraordinarily complex, yet they emitted a special fluctuation. Around the five seals, even the spiritual energy of heaven and earth seemed to quietly churn.

"These are Spirit Seals, and they are indispensable for setting up spirit arrays."

Liu Bai nodded. Though he had read the original novel, merely reading its descriptions could not teach him much. Nor could he rely entirely on imagination to use his system, so he did not dare let his attention wander at a time like this.

Seeing Liu Bai's serious expression, Wu Yuan revealed a smile as well.

He is only a little brat. How could I fail to handle him?

Then, with a flick of his finger, the five Spirit Seals shot out and vanished as though raindrops had fallen into the sea.

Yet the moment those Spirit Seals disappeared, Liu Bai suddenly felt patches of ice and snow appear out of nowhere. Snowflakes landed on his skin, bringing with them a piercing chill.

Liu Bai gave a surprised cry, narrowing his eyes. Only then did he vaguely see that the cold air before him seemed slightly distorted. Lines too faint for the naked eye intertwined with one another, and at the ends of those lines were the five tiny Spirit Seals...

"Spirit Seals are the foundation of an array, while an array diagram is the set of rules governing a spirit array's operation. Only by combining the two can one unleash a spirit array's full power."

Wu Yuan continued, "To set up a spirit array, you must possess absolute control over the Spirit Seals!

"Any minute fluctuation or abnormal resonance can cause an array to fail. Sometimes, once an array fails, the user will also suffer backlash from spiritual energy...

"In serious cases, you may even lose your life. So if you have not laid a solid foundation, never force yourself. That will only harm you."

Liu Bai nodded. It seemed that although Wu Yuan was somewhat arrogant, he still had professional integrity. At the very least, he understood the principle of doing his job after taking payment.

"Generally speaking, the more powerful a spirit array is, the more Spirit Seals it requires, and the more difficult they are to control simultaneously..."

Wu Yuan paused before saying, "I am a Level 1 Spirit Array Master. My limit is controlling twenty Spirit Seals at once. Any more, and I will lose control.

"As far as I know, Spirit Array Masters above Level 5 can control hundreds or even thousands of Spirit Seals with a wave of their hands. Before such power, even Divine Soul Realm experts can only be reduced to ashes."

Liu Bai merely smiled at those final words.

When it came to the ranks and combat power of Spirit Array Masters, he probably understood them better than Wu Yuan did.

A Level 5 spirit array could suppress even experts who had passed the Three Minor Tribulations of Supreme, let alone someone in the Divine Soul Realm. Clearly, Mr. Wu Yuan had only heard that Level 5 spirit arrays existed and had never actually seen one.

"As I said before, Spirit Seals are the foundation, while array diagrams are the operational rules..."

"The formation of an array is extremely complex. Simply put, it is like a massive construction project. Spirit Seals are the foundation stones and the source of energy, while the array diagram is the blueprint for the channels through which that energy flows. Without a complete blueprint to provide a standard, there can be no construction at all."

At this point, Wu Yuan glanced at Liu Bai before handing him a Jade Slip. "This contains some basic knowledge concerning spirit arrays, including a method for cultivating Spirit Seals. Try and see whether you can cultivate them...

"In a sense, this is the most basic test for beginners.

"If you feel clumsy and sluggish while cultivating, you may stop. That would mean your perception of Spirit Seals is not sensitive enough, which means you lack this talent."

Wu Yuan did not mention array diagrams. Liu Bai did not know whether he felt it was too early to pass them on, or whether that had not been included in his deal with Liu Qingtian.

Liu Bai did not care. He immediately took the Jade Slip and began reading it.

Wu Yuan showed no reaction, merely watching silently. In his view, Liu Bai's interest was nothing more than a young master's fantasy. Perhaps his enthusiasm would last for only a few minutes before he gave up.

Things indeed seemed to develop as he expected. In only two or three minutes, the young lord of the Liu Domain had already opened his eyes, seemingly ending his cultivation.

With a cold laugh in his heart, Wu Yuan calmly said, "Did you find the circulation of spiritual energy sluggish? It seems this old man's guess was correct. Your perception of Spirit Seals is not sensitive enough, and you do not possess this talen—"

Before he could finish, Wu Yuan could no longer continue.

Because Liu Bai had raised his hand. Crimson spiritual energy surged in his palm, and one Spirit Seal after another floated a foot above it like swimming fish.

"One, two, three... seven... ten..."

"Ten Spirit Seals? How is that possible?!"

Wu Yuan was completely dumbfounded.

How much time had passed? An ordinary person would have only just finished reading the method for condensing Spirit Seals. Yet this boy had already mastered it and condensed ten at once?!

Liu Bai's expression remained calm, as though this were perfectly normal.

"Mr. Wu, would you say my talent in spirit arrays is passable? Do you think I can become a Spirit Array Master?"

Wu Yuan's mouth twitched. He suspected that this brat was doing it on purpose!

"Uh... yes, yes. Young Domain Lord, your talent is exceptional. You will surely become a powerful Spirit Array Master in the future."

"Well... since Young Domain Lord has already grasped the method of Spirit Seals, you should practice it diligently from now on. I recall Domain Lord Liu saying he had something else to discuss with me, so I will take my leave first..."

The moment he finished speaking, Wu Yuan fled Liu Bai's small courtyard in utter embarrassment.

Liu Bai did not continue making things difficult for him. He merely watched the man's retreating figure, unable to stop a mischievous smile from curling his lips.

Retracting his gaze, Liu Bai waved his hand, and a Light Screen visible only to him appeared before his eyes.

Player: Liu Bai

Realm: Spirit Movement Realm Peak

Profession: Spirit Array Master

Spirit Veins: None

Cultivation Method: Blazing Sun Art (Fourth Layer 0/2000); Basic Spirit Array Manual (Great Accomplishment 0/500)

Skills:

Mortal Grade High Rank Wind Breaking Finger (Great Accomplishment); Spirit Grade Low Rank Blazing Step (Great Accomplishment 0/1500); Spirit-grade High-tier Great Sun Sea Burning Palm (Minor Accomplishment 0/1200)

Arrays:

None

Experience Points: 620

Beast Soul Points: 11

The Basic Spirit Array Manual was the content of the Jade Slip Wu Yuan had given him earlier. Perhaps because it contained only basic knowledge, its system rating was not high. Initiation required only 10 Experience Points, Minor Accomplishment required 50, and Great Accomplishment required 100.

After raising it to Great Accomplishment, Liu Bai could already condense twenty-five Spirit Seals. What restricted him from improving further was not his realm, but the spiritual energy within his body.

With his current Spirit Movement Realm cultivation, twenty-five Spirit Seals were already the maximum he could condense. After all, arrays primarily used one's own spiritual energy to amplify external spiritual energy, thereby achieving offensive or defensive effects.

This also placed high demands on the array master's own spiritual energy. Otherwise, as Wu Yuan had said, the array could very likely lose control.

According to Liu Bai's estimate, if he raised his cultivation to the Spirit Wheel Realm, he should be able to condense thirty Spirit Seals.

According to the Basic Spirit Array Manual, a First-Grade Spirit Array required at least fifteen Spirit Seals, while a Second-Grade Spirit Array generally required more than twenty. The exact number depended on the requirements of the array diagram.

In other words, as long as Liu Bai had an array diagram, he was now capable of setting up a Second-Grade Spirit Array.

Of course, that was on the condition that he had an array diagram...

With that thought, he flipped his hand and took out a crimson Jade Slip, like a piece of fire jade, from his Mustard Seed Bracelet.

This was a First-Grade Spirit Array diagram he had found in advance among the Liu Family's collection: the Flame Serpent Spirit Breaking Array!

"Ding. A First-Grade Spirit Array diagram has been discovered. Would you like to record it?"

"Record it!"

"Ding. Recording complete. Please check the system interface."

Player: Liu Bai

Realm: Spirit Movement Realm Peak

Profession: Spirit Array Master

Spirit Veins: None

Cultivation Method: Blazing Sun Art (Fourth Layer 0/2000); Basic Spirit Array Manual (Great Accomplishment 0/500)

Skills:

Mortal Grade High Rank Wind Breaking Finger (Great Accomplishment); Spirit Grade Low Rank Blazing Step (Great Accomplishment 0/1500); Spirit-grade High-tier Great Sun Sea Burning Palm (Minor Accomplishment 0/1200)

Arrays:

Flame Serpent Spirit Breaking Array (Not Initiated 0/50)

Experience Points: 620

Beast Soul Points: 11

He had not expected that initiation into this First-Grade Spirit Array would require only 50 Experience Points. That was quite a bit more than the Basic Spirit Array Manual, but far cheaper than raising his cultivation. What was there to hesitate over? Liu Bai immediately raised it to Great Accomplishment, its highest level.

Player: Liu Bai

Realm: Spirit Movement Realm Peak

Profession: Spirit Array Master (Level 1 Spirit Array Master)

Spirit Veins: None

Cultivation Method: Blazing Sun Art (Fourth Layer 0/2000); Basic Spirit Array Manual (Great Accomplishment 0/500)

Skills:

Mortal Grade High Rank Wind Breaking Finger (Great Accomplishment); Spirit Grade Low Rank Blazing Step (Great Accomplishment 0/1500); Spirit-grade High-tier Great Sun Sea Burning Palm (Minor Accomplishment 0/1200)

Arrays:

Flame Serpent Spirit Breaking Array (Great Accomplishment)

Experience Points: 170

Beast Soul Points: 11

Initiation into the First-Grade Flame Serpent Spirit Breaking Array required 50 Experience Points, Minor Accomplishment required 100, and Great Accomplishment required 300. This was an array whose power could rival the initial stage of the Spirit Wheel Realm, yet it required so little experience to master. For the current Liu Bai, it was extremely cost-effective.

"However, this array requires only the most basic fifteen Spirit Seals, and its power merely reaches the initial stage of the Spirit Wheel Realm. Furthermore, setting it up takes time during battle. Overall, its power is sufficient, but it has quite a few flaws. Unless I can raise my Array Dao Realm to the level of a Heart Array, its practical use will be a problem."

Looking at the figures on the status panel before him, Liu Bai shook his head with a sigh.

"There is still too little experience..."