A Disturbance

It was the little tree in the great array, and it was now chanting scriptures.

As the chanting rang out, a light flickered before the massive boulder, now bright, now dim. Not even the heavenly eye could see it clearly.

Swish!

Lei Chong opened his grotto-heaven, and a spirit body stepped out.

Hum!

The spirit body reached out to grab the orb of light within the great array, but the array erupted with golden light and tore Lei Chong's spirit body to pieces.

Pfft!

When the array shredded his spirit body, Lei Chong was affected as well. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he could not help spraying out a mouthful of blood.

"This is a little troublesome. It looks like I'll have to plan this carefully." Lei Chong thought for a moment and decided to study the matter thoroughly first.

He would first study the array here, then find a way to take out the orb of light.

Not only that, he also intended to study the arrays and carve the strongest one here into his own body, breaking through to the extreme limit of the Array Formation Realm.

Lei Chong opened his heavenly eye and looked toward the deepest part, where the Heaven-Opening Third Killing Array and the Heaven-Opening Ninth Killing Array lay.

The array patterns within were far too complex, and they were constantly changing.

Wait, that array diagram looks familiar? Lei Chong wondered in surprise.

Almost without needing to think, he took out an array diagram.

He had obtained it from Han Ming, and even then he had thought it was exceptionally formidable.

Now that he compared them, he found that it was a copy of one corner of the great array.

The difference lay in the array patterns within. Every pattern in the great array was like a star in the sky, so intricate and profound that it was difficult to memorize.

These array patterns were far too complex, and they held a special, mysterious power.

After looking at just a few of them, he felt a sharp pain in his eyes. Staring at the intricate patterns for too long had nearly injured his heavenly eye.

By contrast, the patterns on the array diagram in his hand were more like those of the outer array, and even they had been simplified.

Lei Chong hurriedly closed his eyes and recalled the array patterns in his mind.

Fortunately, though the patterns were complex, they could not be forgotten. While studying them just now, Lei Chong had forced himself to commit them to memory.

After memorizing the first array pattern, he began carving it into his flesh.

As for the array diagram, he would use the one from the Flame Fish Clan.

It just so happened that he had used this same diagram when carving array patterns before.

Pfft!

The moment he finished carving the first rune, that mass of flesh could not withstand it. The rune blasted it apart, and the flesh exploded into a bloody mist inside his body.

Lei Chong's face turned pale, and he could not help spraying out a mouthful of blood.

Although he had known this would be difficult, he had not expected the very first rune to leave him so badly injured.

Lei Chong gritted his teeth. He thought that if Cao Yusheng could do it, why couldn't he, even if there was no one to help him now?

He opened his spatial bag and took out a stalk of spirit medicine.

He took a big bite of the spirit medicine and swallowed it in two or three mouthfuls.

The instant it entered his stomach, its medicinal power spread throughout his body. The part blasted apart by the rune in particular was healed by the spirit medicine.

The part that had exploded inside his body healed, and Lei Chong noticed some faint traces in the restored flesh.

They were traces of the rune. After the flesh had exploded, they had not immediately vanished, but had instead remained in his flesh.

"So that's how it works." Lei Chong's eyes lit up at once.

Since this method worked, it meant he was on the right path.

Following the same method as before, he once again carved the array pattern into his body.

Pfft!

As soon as he finished carving the pattern, the flesh inside his body exploded again. This time, however, the affected area was much smaller than before.

After restoring his flesh, Lei Chong continued examining the spot. Sure enough, the traces were clearer, and he could even make out some of the lines.

Good, that's it. Lei Chong felt increasingly certain.

After he carved and repaired it again and again, the first rune in Lei Chong's body finally appeared in full.

After the rune was carved into that patch of flesh, its strength increased noticeably.

If he kept carving like this, Lei Chong believed that one day, the strength of his physical body would surpass that of every cultivator at the same level.

Crucially, while cultivating atop the massive boulder, he could occasionally hear the chanting, which spread the true meaning of the Great Dao and made it easy for people to comprehend the Dao.

When the chanting came from within, it was somewhat easier for Lei Chong to carve the array patterns, and his chances of success were higher.

Lei Chong knew full well that the source of the chanting was the little tree in the great array.

The little tree had an extraordinary background and was not something he could afford to provoke as he was now.

Of course, the most important purpose of his trip was merely to study the arrays, not to scheme for the little tree, so there should be no problem.

Sure enough, it was very peaceful here, and he was rarely disturbed.

But for safety's sake, he still summoned a spirit body.

Seven days passed quickly. Lei Chong had more runes in his body, and he had successfully advanced from the Early Array Formation Stage to the Middle Array Formation Stage.

In the Medicine Capital, beneath the Medicine God Ancient Tree, a group of people were discussing something.

At their head was a green-haired man with pupils as black as ink. An icy presence emanated from him.

Facing the green-haired man stood a middle-aged man dressed in white, the fragrance of medicine wafting from his body.

Those who often came to the Medicine Capital knew the middle-aged man's identity. He was the master of the Divine Medicine Sect, an important figure in the city.

Yet such an important figure was bowing and scraping before the green-haired man.

Everyone immediately grew curious about the green-haired man's identity.

"I'll leave the matter we discussed earlier to your Divine Medicine Sect," the green-haired man said.

"Rest assured, senior of Demon Spirit Lake. People from all clans come and go in our Medicine Capital. Surely finding one person is a simple matter?" Lin Feng said with a slight bow.

"Good." The green-haired man nodded in satisfaction.

Lin Feng quickly turned around, summoned several people, and hurriedly gave them orders.

After instructing his subordinates, Lin Feng returned to the green-haired man's side.

"Sect Master Lin, I hear there is a strange sight outside the Medicine Capital. It wasn't easy for me to come here today. Could you show it to me?" the green-haired man asked with a smile.

"What could be easier? This way, senior." Smiling, Lin Feng led the way.

The group flew out of the Medicine Capital and eventually landed outside the Divine Medicine Valley.

"Senior, the strange sight is in the valley. Back then, the Medicine God discovered this place and built the Medicine Capital," Lin Feng explained in detail.

"I heard about it long ago, but I've never seen it with my own eyes." The green-haired man nodded.

As they spoke, they entered the valley.

But as soon as they entered the Divine Medicine Valley, they saw Lei Chong.

Lei Chong's eyes were tightly shut, and he had clearly entered a state of Dao comprehension.

His spirit body stood guard silently beside him, watching the group in silence.

"You... go wake him and tell him an important figure has arrived. Have him leave for now," Lin Feng barked at one of the men.

"Yes," the disciple answered.

The disciple hurried forward and stood before the massive boulder, staring at Lei Chong. "Friend, please leave. An important figure has come here."

The spirit body sensed the situation for a moment. His true body was at a critical point and could not move for the time being, so he certainly could not leave this place.

"Sorry, please wait a moment. My true body cannot move yet." The spirit body cupped his fists slightly and did not pick a fight with them.

"I show you a little courtesy, and you take a mile when given an inch! On my Divine Medicine Valley's territory, who are you to bargain? Get out of this Divine Medicine Valley at once!" The disciple's hot temper flared up at once.

As he spoke, he raised a hand and grabbed straight at Lei Chong.

Sizzle!

Lei Chong pointed a finger, sending a streak of lightning slashing toward the man like a ray of heavenly light.