N-M Chapter 587 - 239: Simplified Spirit Gathering Array (6)
Chapter 587 - 239: Simplified Spirit Gathering Array (6)
"This time we need the help of Array Dao."
Shen Yuan said, as he took a jade scroll from beside him and handed it to Zhao Tuan.
"You can take this jade scroll to Yunzhong County city and seek help from Elder Jiang Xiuqi."
"If this endeavor succeeds, you will have a chance to reach the Fetal Breathing Realm."
Upon hearing this, a hint of joy flashed across Zhao Tuan’s face, but just as he was about to express his gratitude, Shen Yuan solemnly said, "I must remind you."
"This method carries great risks; if it fails, at best you’ll lose all your cultivation, at worst it will disrupt your Inner Five Elements and threaten your life."
"You must think it over carefully."
Zhao Tuan’s expression stiffened, his extended hand hesitated slightly.
Then he resolutely accepted the jade scroll, saying, "With Celestial Fur already breaking through Fetal Breathing, some of the descendants of the Zhao Family have also begun to stand out."
"I’ve been cautious and careful my whole life, and now it’s truly time to take a gamble."
Shen Yuan nodded in appreciation.
Cultivators must indeed possess a certain sharpness; if one only seeks caution and stability and loses the heart to strive, it is hard to achieve greatness.
"Go ahead."
"Do not carry any burdens in your heart, with the Shen Family around, the Anyang Zhao Family will be fine."
This was a guarantee personally given by Shen Yuan, which dispelled the last lingering doubt in Zhao Tuan’s heart.
Zhao Tuan showed gratitude with his eyes, stood up, and solemnly cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Grandmaster Shen."
...
Yunzhong County City.
On the seventh story of the tower, Shen Xiubai sat alone cross-legged on a meditation cushion, cautiously channeling the weak spiritual power within his body to his fingertips, carefully inscribing on the jade plate before him.
Accompanied by the array patterns he inscribed, the array plate gradually emitted a faint spirit light.
Yet, the closer he got to the end, the more serious Shen Xiubai’s expression became, sweat beads forming densely on his forehead and nose.
"I can do it!"
"It must succeed this way!"
Shen Xiubai’s body trembled slightly, but internally he was steadfast in his belief that he would definitely succeed.
As the spiritual power in his hand grew weaker and weaker, the inscription on the array plate approached its final stage.
Buzz!
Once the final array pattern was completed, the array plate in front of Shen Xiubai suddenly emitted a dazzling light and began to tremble slightly.
However, this radiance only lasted for a few breaths before the entire jade plate thunderously shattered into over ten pieces.
Seeing this situation, Shen Xiubai’s face didn’t show any sign of dejection; on the contrary, he became more excited.
He immediately grabbed the paper and pen beside him and recorded his insights from earlier.
The commotion naturally alarmed Jiang Xiuqi.
A streak of spirit light flew in through the window, and upon seeing the scattered diagrams and shattered jade plate on the ground, Jiang Xiuqi felt a headache coming on.
"Kid, what are you tinkering with again?"
Shen Xiubai didn’t respond to him; he quickly drew an array pattern sketch on paper and then got up and handed it to Jiang Xiuqi, saying, "Please have a look, Elder!"
Jiang Xiuqi took the paper, glanced at the array map on it, and frowned, saying, "This is..."
"This is the simplified Spirit Gathering Array from this junior."
Shen Xiubai grinned.
Simplified Spirit Gathering Array!?
Jiang Xiuqi’s eyes widened instantly upon hearing this.
It’s known that after obtaining the incomplete array map of the Spirit Gathering Array back in the day, he studied it for so many years without any breakthrough.
But Shen Xiubai had only gotten that array map for a few months.
"Was the noise just now caused by you inscribing the Spirit Gathering Array?"
Jiang Xiuqi quickly asked.
Shen Xiubai nodded, looking at the shattered jade plate, "This junior only attempted a simple trial; however, this simplified Spirit Gathering Array cannot be inscribed on the Array Jade Plate."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuqi became somewhat excited and immediately said, "What material do you need, old man has plenty here; let’s try it now."
Shen Xiubai gently shook his head, "This simplified Spirit Gathering Array doesn’t require other materials either."
This made Jiang Xiuqi even more puzzled.
If it can’t be inscribed on the array plate and doesn’t use materials, what kind of array is this?
Meeting his gaze, Shen Xiubai smiled faintly and said, "This junior intends to set up this simplified Spirit Gathering Array here."
He pointed at his lower abdomen, the dantian.
Jiang Xiuqi was first stunned, then his expression turned serious, "You plan to set up the array inside your body?"
Just as Shen Xiubai nodded, Jiang Xiuqi waved his hand to cast a restriction.
"Elder!"
Feeling his body thoroughly confined, Shen Xiubai exclaimed in confusion.
But Jiang Xiuqi showed no sign of letting him go.
"Kid, old man thinks you’ve fallen into demon with your array studies."
"Considering such a reckless move on your life, have you thought about your family?"
Shen Xiubai shouted urgently, "What do you mean by this, Elder?"
"This matter has been carefully considered by this junior and poses no danger!"
But Jiang Xiuqi shook his head upon hearing this.
"Throughout history, old man has seen many array Dao madmen, all with ideas like yours."
"Some wanted to inscribe arrays on their bodies or set up arrays within their flesh."
"But without exception, they all met a tragic end."
"And you, kid, are even more insane, daring to arrange an array within your dantian..."
Jiang Xiuqi looked at him with a complex expression.
After a moment of thought, he said, "You should know how much hope the Shen Family has placed on you."
"If anything happens to you, how could you face Fellow Daoist Fu Yang, how could you face your uncle and the others?"
Upon hearing these words, Shen Xiubai’s eyes remained resolute, "Elder, this is not a whimsical act by this junior but a decision made after thorough consideration."
"Moreover, this junior has already verified, there’s a seventy percent chance of success!"
He paused slightly, then added, "The Spirit Gathering Array is not an attacking array, even if it fails, it won’t harm the junior’s life."
"Elder, please just let this junior try."
Shen Xiubai pleaded bitterly, but Jiang Xiuqi’s expression showed no sign of relenting.
"Uncle Master, someone from the Anyang Zhao Family has come, saying they are here by order of the Shen Family’s Elder Patriarch to see you."
Just as the two were in deadlock, Luo Yao suddenly appeared in the tower.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xiuqi frowned slightly, then said, "Watch this kid, do not release his restriction until old man returns."
Hearing this, Luo Yao was somewhat puzzled but did not ask further, nodding in agreement.
As soon as Jiang Xiuqi left, she curiously looked at Shen Xiubai.
"Little fellow, how did you make the Elder so angry?"
Shen Xiubai smiled wryly and recounted what happened.
Upon hearing this, Luo Yao’s beautiful eyes widened.
"You’ve lost your mind; you little fellow really are insane."
"How can you inscribe an array in your dantian?"
"Isn’t that courting death?"
After hearing this, Shen Xiubai still wanted to explain, but Luo Yao was unwilling to listen further; she found a meditation cushion, sat cross-legged beside him, waiting for Jiang Xiuqi to return.
...
"Insane!"
"The entire Shen Family is insane!"
In the sect hall at Luoxia Mountain, Jiang Xiuqi felt speechless after looking at the jade scroll Zhao Tuan handed over.
Beside him, Zhao Tuan was startled by his sudden words and stood up carefully, saying, "Elder... is there any difficulty with the Old Ancestor’s method?"
"If it’s difficult, junior... junior will..."
"The old guy wants the old man to inscribe a Five Elements Array on each of your Five Viscera to replace the Innate Spiritual Qi."
"This idea is even more insane than that kid’s!"
Jiang Xiuqi spoke indignantly.