Ning Zhuo sat cross-legged on the ground, slowly closing his eyes.
The cultivators of the Xuan Armor Cave found this scene strange.
During the recent battle, Ning Zhuo had not been injured. He also had not practiced with the newly acquired bronze spear; shouldn’t he be using this time to fight and strive to acquire the seventh Mysterious Armor?
The more Mysterious Armors a cultivator mastered, the greater their advantage in the third challenge.
Although the cultivators did not understand, they refrained from expressing their doubts.
Ning Zhuo was learning and experimenting simultaneously. Though he started a bit late, he caught up later and secured the qualification for advancement. This made everyone realize that Ning Zhuo was not ordinary, and they dared not comment recklessly.
The cultivators could not see the Life Hanging Thread. It was through this Divine Skill that Ning Zhuo was in close communication with Sun Lingtong at the distant Shuyu Pavilion.
"Boss, the shield is effective! I want to hold the shield in my hands at all times for protection." Ning Zhuo suggested.
Sun Lingtong said, "That’s right. The sixth spear can use ’No Move Beats a Move’; without a protective object, you could suffer a great loss."
"And this aligns with your nature — steady and cautious."
"The battle formation we created this time is for you; it must naturally suit your character."
Ning Zhuo continued, "With defense as the main focus and attack as the secondary. The remaining Mysterious Armors should initiate offensives."
Sun Lingtong pondered, "Then what weapon should we focus on?"
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment and then said, "Let’s focus on swords and sabers. Firstly, these weapons are the most common. In the third challenge, I might be able to seize others’ swords and sabers for use. Secondly, we previously designed the Three-Form Blade–Sword Combined Strike, which can be employed in the battle formation and continue to retain these elements."
Sun Lingtong nodded, "Makes sense!"
The two quickly finalized the design objective: using Ning Zhuo’s shield as the Array Base, the remaining Mysterious Armor as the Array Eye, focusing on offense with defense as a secondary.
The design steps were thus outlined.
Design the Array Base first, then the Array Eye, and eventually coordinate and optimize.
Sun Lingtong said, "Little Zhuo, stand up and practice the shield once."
Ning Zhuo opened his eyes decisively, wielded the shield, and performed a set of techniques on the spot.
The shield was his fourth Mysterious Armor, with basic techniques, continuous techniques, and routines, and it could take advantage of opportunities, wielding a certain Spirit Movement.
"Ning Zhuo is indeed practicing again."
"At this moment, he’s probably sure he has advanced to the third challenge. Hence, no hurry."
"So, he was indeed resting just now..."
As the cultivators had just finished discussing, they saw Ning Zhuo sitting cross-legged again, closing his eyes to meditate.
"Uh."
"Only practicing once?"
"Why practice the shield when the bronze spear is the newly acquired Mysterious Armor?"
The cultivators were a bit baffled by Ning Zhuo.
Sun Lingtong surpassed Ning Zhuo in perception, had outstanding memory, and his Martial Arts foundation was deeper than Ning Zhuo’s.
Just by observing once, it was enough for him.
Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong continued their discussions; under Luoshu’s blessing, every calculation they made was swift and invariably correct.
This greatly enhanced efficiency.
In half a tea’s time, Sun Ning had designed three tenths of the battle formation and temporarily completed the Array Base’s part.
They began designing the Array Eye.
Dynamic Formations are often used in group battles. In the army, the Array Eye of a Dynamic Formation is often assumed by the general.
Therefore, often if the general perishes, the loss of the Dynamic Formation is great. If the sole Main General is lost, it would greatly damage the entire army’s combat strength.
Despite such significant shortcomings, the responsibility of the Dynamic Formation’s Array Eye still falls on the general’s shoulders. Because a Dynamic Formation is active, the requirements for the Array Eye are much higher than for a Static Array.
However, Sun Ning designed the Array Eye using Mysterious Armor.
Mysterious Armor is not an ordinary weapon. It is crafted with special methods, using unique materials that embody Martial Arts principles, and can even counter enemies independently.
Using them as the Array Eye for a Dynamic Formation, it turns out to be quite fitting.
Sun Ning had already decided on focusing on swords and sabers, so Ning Zhuo controlled with his Divine Sense, performing the sword and saber techniques once in mid-air around him.
Then, the turn came for the long spear and gloves.
Subsequently, these several bronze artifacts floated around Ning Zhuo, sometimes merging into a sword-saber combination, other times with the spear in front, saber behind, at times gloves on either side.
The positions of the four Mysterious Armors kept adjusting, periodically displaying techniques for intermittent practice.
The cultivators were even more puzzled.
"What on earth is Ning Zhuo doing?"
"He... seems to be contemplating something."
"Could he be designing a battle formation?"
For a moment, everyone was shocked.
"Is he trying to design a battle formation on the spot, or a Dynamic Formation?"
"How deep is his Array Dao expertise to have such confidence?"
"It seems like he intends to design a Dynamic Formation. That’s not just limited to Array Dao, there’s also the Military Family involved."
If it were someone else, the cultivators would have long scoffed in disdain.
But having just seen Ning Zhuo’s performance, they wisely stayed silent, watching Ning Zhuo’s actions with keen interest.
Sun Ning had already come up with six methods, but none were satisfactory.
With limited time, Ning Zhuo was about to choose one.
"Wait, wait, I have an idea!" Sun Lingtong suddenly said, capturing a sudden flash of inspiration in the Divine Sea, "Yes! Rotation! Let’s alternate. When one blade has just passed, the sword follows; before the sword ends, the blade rises again!"
He spoke excitedly, faster and faster, his right hand unconsciously gesturing in the air.
Ning Zhuo patiently listened to Sun Lingtong’s explanation, a gleam flashing in his eyes as well, "Great idea! Boss, did you expand from the Water Dividing Moon Raising Technique?"
Sun Lingtong laughed heartily, "Little brother, you really understand me."