"Master Gong, with your skills, setting up this Seven-Colored Immortal-Felling Array shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"
"Of course not! Master Gong is one of the top array masters in the entire Congyun Sea!"
"Exactly, don’t you know that Master Gong always personally attends the annual maintenance of the arrays?"
The group of young cultivators chattered noisily, their voices blending into a clamor.
Master Gong stood to the side, stroking his beard with a pleased smile.
As Li Fan observed the scene, a thought struck him. He had nearly forgotten a certain someone's final request.
An array master, huh.
His expression turning serious, he called out from a distance, "Senior, are you Master Gong?"
The long-bearded cultivator started slightly, turning to look at Li Fan. Surprise flickered in his eyes, there and gone in an instant, expertly concealed.
He smiled and replied, "I am Gong Boyu. And you are?"
Li Fan feigned excitement. "I am Li Fan. Master Gong, I've finally found you! It’s been so difficult to meet you!"
Gong Boyu looked somewhat embarrassed but asked patiently, "Might I ask why you were seeking me, young friend?"
Li Fan sighed, his face full of emotion. "I am acting on someone else's behalf. My friend, He Zhenghao, left behind a jade slip titled Detailed Explanations of the Hundred Veins Array Diagram
Before Li Fan could finish, Gong Boyu’s eyes widened, and he interrupted him. "What? You were a friend of Daoist He? He left a written work on arrays with you?"
Gong Boyu's expression turned peculiar, a mix of disbelief and what seemed like pleasant surprise. His figure blurred, and he suddenly appeared right beside Li Fan.
Li Fan felt a hand grasp his shoulder, and the scenery before his eyes instantly changed.
By the time he regained his bearings, he found himself standing before a tilted, cube-shaped structure. The entire building seemed forged from some kind of metal, gleaming with a cold, clear light under the sun.
"Follow me," Gong Boyu said to Li Fan before walking inside the structure.
Li Fan followed him in.
Despite its imposing exterior, the inside was dark, cramped, and small.
Just as Li Fan was starting to wonder what was going on, he felt a sudden tremor beneath his feet. The perfectly square space they were in seemed to be moving.
A moment later, the walls and floor turned transparent, and Li Fan realized the interior of the structure was divided into countless independent small cubes. Each cube moved rapidly along a specific trajectory, and he could vaguely make out the busy figures of cultivators within each cube.
After some time, their own small cube came to a stop as if it had bumped into something.
A seamless connection formed instantly, and the surroundings transformed abruptly. The space they were occupying expanded several times over. A few tables and chairs were arranged inside, suggesting it was a reception area.
Motioning for Li Fan to take a seat, Gong Boyu asked with a broad smile, "Young friend, might I take a look at the Detailed Explanations of the Hundred Veins Array Diagram you mentioned?"
Li Fan had no objection. He had long since deleted He Zhenghao's final message from the original jade slip and made several copies for situations just like this. He retrieved one copy from his storage ring and handed it over.
He said emotionally, "Before Daoist He departed to explore the cave dwelling, he feared he might meet with misfortune and that his life's work would be lost. Therefore, he entrusted the Detailed Explanations of the Hundred Veins Array Diagram to me. He instructed that if he were to perish, I should deliver it to you, Master Gong. He hoped you could complete the unfinished array diagram compilation on his behalf."
Gong Boyu carefully read the jade slip, his expression shifting between astonishment and confusion.
After a long while, he finally stored the jade slip away with great care and said to Li Fan, "Ah, Fellow Daoist He's cultivation might have been modest, but his talent in arrays is truly admirable. What a pity... It's always the brilliant ones who are taken too soon.
Then, he spoke to Li Fan with utmost seriousness, "Rest assured, I will spare no effort to complete it. I will definitely not let Fellow Daoist He’s work be forgotten or left to gather dust."
Next, he handed Li Fan a communication spirit talisman: "Once it is completed, I will notify you immediately. I will also provide you with a copy."
After pondering for a moment, Gong Boyu added, "This Detailed Explanations of the Hundred Veins Array Diagram will be of great help to our Strategy Array Hall. Some of the novel insights within are enlightening even for me.
"You went through the trouble of delivering it to me, which counts as a meritorious deed. Later, I will transfer twenty thousand contribution points to you."
Li Fan, who hadn't expected this additional reward, hurriedly expressed his thanks.
Seeing that Gong Boyu had once again immersed himself in He Zhenghao's work, Li Fan intended to take his leave but encountered an awkward problem—he didn't know how to leave. Thus, he had no choice but to disturb Gong Boyu again.
"Do you not know anything about array cultivation?" Gong Boyu asked in surprise.
Then, he pulled out another jade slip: "This contains the foundational course for beginners by our Strategy Array Hall. You can study it in your spare time while cultivating. That way, when Fellow Daoist He's work is completed, you won't be completely in the dark.
"Remember, do not share it with others. You may go now!" With that, he waved his hand.
Li Fan felt the ground beneath his feet tremble, and the surrounding space detached, reforming into a three-dimensional small cube.
It swiftly moved in the direction from which he had come. Soon, it returned him to the entrance of the Strategy Array Hall.
After exiting the building, Li Fan glanced up at the architecturally distinctive structure once more.
There are still over ten years; I hope you can complete it in time.
Returning to the Tianxuan Mirror, Li Fan took out the jade slip gifted by Gong Boyu and examined it, unable to suppress a delighted smile.
Compared to the various introductory books on array cultivation available on the market, the content taught within this jade slip progressed step by step from simple and surface-level knowledge to complex and deep concepts.
Moreover, it was logically clear and exceptionally detailed. From basic theory to practical array deployment, it felt as if it were holding his hand and guiding him the entire way.
In his previous life on Tai’an Island, Li Fan had once attempted to set up a seawater purification array. But even for such a rudimentary array that could hardly be more basic, Li Fan had spent nearly half a month on it.
The path of array cultivation was truly vast and complex. Relying solely on self-study made it genuinely difficult to get started. However, with this jade slip, things would be much easier.
In the ancient cultivation world, this would have been considered half a true inheritance. After all, the content within this jade slip couldn't be bought even with contribution points.
Excellent! Fellow Daoist He, even in death, your light and warmth endure!
This matter had greatly lifted Li Fan’s spirits.
Not long after, he settled his mind and began studying with the hunger of a starving man. Enthralled by the profundities of arrays, Li Fan lost all track of time.
Some unknown length of time later, his spiritual sense stirred faintly, startling him awake.
Checking the date, Li Fan found it was already Anchor Year 18.
Studying arrays is even more time-consuming than cultivation itself. Li Fan couldn't help but click his tongue in silent amazement. In his perception, it felt as if only a few days had passed.
But why did I suddenly wake up?
Li Fan frowned, and fragments of the past flickered through his mind.
.....
"Three years ago, an Immortal Master passing by took a liking to her and brought her away. At first, she’d still send messages through people to let us know she was safe. But later... we never heard from her again."
.....
So it was this matter!
Understanding dawned on Li Fan immediately.