Chapter 850
"The Absolute Array"
What is it that attracts me?
Song Changsheng paused his forward steps, a mixture of doubt and joy welling up in his heart.
The elder guarding the pavilion, whose strength was unfathomable, had already made his point very clear: the scriptures in the Star-Picking Pavilion are waiting for someone who can truly understand them.
What does this mean? It's like refining a magical artifact; just as a person chooses a treasure, a magical artifact also chooses its master.
He climbed hundreds of floors, and although he only glimpsed each floor briefly, he had already come into contact with more than 100 million books. This intense attraction was something he had never experienced before.
"where?"
Song Changsheng stopped insisting on continuing to climb and instead stopped to find the answer in his heart.
Compared to the first floor, this floor undoubtedly contains far fewer books, but that's only relatively fewer; there are still hundreds of thousands.
Faced with a vast number of books that seemed to have no discernible pattern, he could only rely on the vague guidance in his mind to use his divine sense to search among the towering bookshelves.
In a typical library, each floor is staffed with one or more stewards who are responsible for answering questions and guiding monks to find the most suitable or needed scriptures in the shortest amount of time.
Logically speaking, the larger the library, the more staff it should have. After all, with so many books, not everyone can accurately locate them, and most people don't even know what they need.
Therefore, someone must guide them and help them make choices.
However, the Star-Picking Tower completely overturned this rule. From the moment he entered the tower until now, apart from the unfathomable elder guarding the tower, he has not seen any other cultivators related to this tower. Everyone he saw along the way was aimlessly searching among the vast collection of books.
Fortunately, his divine sense was strong enough, and he had some vague guidance in his heart. Soon, he focused his gaze on an ebony bookshelf in a corner.
That powerful attraction emanates from here.
"buzz"
Song Changsheng pointed his fingers like a sword, and gently hooked his fingertips in his direction. His divine sense condensed into thousands of crystal-clear threads, which gently wrapped around all the books and jade slips on the bookshelf.
"crash"
In an instant, all the books came off the shelves and were fully unfolded in front of him, surrounding him in layers upon layers.
"open!"
He focused his magical power on his eyes and began to rapidly browse the contents of these ancient texts.
It took him about fifteen minutes to reach out and grasp a blue jade slip with perfect precision.
The moment he got his hands on the jade slip, a chilling aura of killing intent surged into his body.
At the same time, a passionate voice rang in his ears: "I, Juntian, voluntarily hide the Ten Absolute Dao Formations in the Star-Picking Tower to solidify the foundation of the human race and benefit all generations."
May the flame of humanity burn eternally, and may every person be like a dragon!
Perhaps drawn by this energy, more and more ancient texts around him resonated, and voices rang in Song Changsheng's ears one after another, all of them saying the same thing:
May the flame of humanity burn eternally, and may every person be like a dragon!
May the flame of humanity burn eternally, and may every person be like a dragon!
Song Changsheng's thoughts were suddenly pulled into a strange space. In this space, the Star-Picking Tower still stood on a majestic peak on the ground, and it was not yet fully completed. One after another, powerful array masters came from all directions, summarizing their unique skills and insights into books and putting them into the Star-Picking Tower.
In fact, not all of them were powerful beings. There were also some cultivators with relatively low cultivation levels who traveled thousands of miles to come and contribute all their knowledge without reservation, and then turned around and left without any regrets.
Some people left their names, but many more didn't even leave their names.
And ahead of him, countless other cultivators followed in quick succession.
Song Changsheng was deeply shocked by what he saw.
In the cultivation world, where even breathing was strictly controlled during cultivation, there was a group of people in that distant era who selflessly contributed all their life's knowledge simply because of a slogan.
He could sense that it was more than just a simple slogan; it contained a fearless spirit of daring to die, as if they were about to step onto a battlefield where there was no chance of survival.
Why did they do this? What exactly happened back then?
Song Changsheng was filled with endless doubts, but before he could fully understand them, those images shattered like bubbles, and his thoughts were freed again. What appeared before him was a blue jade slip with the words "The First Volume of the Ten Absolute Dao Formations" written on it in a flamboyant style.
It was this that had previously deeply attracted him.
"The Ten Absolute Dao Formations, by Supreme Tianjun..."
In those scenes just now, he had seen a majestic figure throw three scrolls of cyan jade into the Star-Picking Tower, and then transform into a beam of light that shot straight up to the heavens.
Therefore, the scroll in his hand is one of them.
Song Changsheng fell silent for a moment. He suddenly realized that his previous understanding of the Array Dao Academy might have been wrong.
The reason why the Array Dao Academy is known as the holy land of array masters in the world may not be because of its profound heritage or powerful strength.
Perhaps it is because this Star-Picking Tower was built up by the collective contributions and support of countless array masters of that era.
This is a treasure left to future generations by the array masters of that era, belonging to all array masters and even all human cultivators.
This pavilion embodies a spirit, a spirit worthy of study by all array masters in the world, a spirit far more precious than the scriptures within.
The books can be plundered, but the spirit cannot be transferred, much less replicated.
"What exactly happened that made you leave behind your legacy in this way, and then leave so resolutely?" Song Changsheng murmured softly. As his cultivation level increased, the doubts in his heart also increased.
He didn't even know if he would ever get a definitive answer to these questions in his lifetime.
A dark cloud called "history" seemed to have completely enveloped him.
"call……"
He took a deep breath, clearing his mind of all distractions, and refocused his gaze on the cyan jade slip in his hand.
A master of array formations who has reached the Nascent Soul stage must have at least a sixth-level mastery of array formations. This "Ten Absolute Array Formations" must be an extraordinary inheritance, but unfortunately, he only has a part of it.
Slowly unfold the jade slip, calm your mind, and savor its contents word by word.
He had previously read thousands of jade slips at once, swallowing them whole. Although he had memorized them all, he had no time to organize them. He only vaguely remembered that this jade slip contained several array diagrams.
After a long while, he put down the blue jade slip in his hand, and a deep respect for the wisdom of the ancients appeared on his face.
As the name suggests, the "Ten Absolute Formations" are ten Dao formations that the Supreme Being of the Heavenly Realm summarized and created after breaking through to the sixth-order formation master realm, using half a lifetime of effort.
As we all know, formation is just a general term, and it actually contains many branches. For example, the "method of battle formation" that Song Changsheng studied before is one of these branches.
The same applies to Dao formations, and there is a high degree of similarity between the two.
However, this is a rather old-fashioned term. Nowadays, people prefer to categorize this formation as a "combined attack technique."
It uses the power of formations to link the strength of multiple people together, achieving an effect far greater than the sum of its parts. In addition to enhancing individual strength, it also retains the killing, suppressing, and exorcising characteristics of formations.
For example, the Five Elements Imprisoning Heaven Formation used by Song Changsheng and others when they surrounded and killed the Silver Moon Wolf King was a type of Dao formation.
Speaking of which, the array diagram of the Five Elements Imprisoning Heaven Array was obtained by the Heavenly Vein Sect from the Array Dao Academy.
The biggest difference between Dao formations and battle formations is that Dao formations value quality over quantity, and they don't have strict restrictions on cultivation methods. Battle formations are often used in large-scale battlefields with many participants. As long as they cultivate the same method, the more people who form the formation, the stronger the power it gathers. Moreover, it doesn't discriminate based on cultivation level; anyone can become a part of it and contribute their own strength.
Dao formations are more suitable for small-scale battles, where several cultivators of similar cultivation levels form an array according to the array diagram. The power of the array depends on the power of the person forming the array. In comparison, it is more flexible and applicable to a wider range of scenarios.
Back then, Song Changsheng and four other cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Purple Mansion realm jointly formed the Five Elements Imprisoning Heaven Formation, successfully suppressing the Silver Moon Wolf King, who was a demon king, and ultimately achieving the feat of the underdog overthrowing the superior.
Formations are adept at creating miracles, and Daoist formations are even more so.
Compared to traditional formations, Dao formations only require a diagram to be formed. Even if you are completely ignorant about formations, you can still unleash considerable power.
Sometimes, a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators at the Great Perfection stage with similar cultivation levels can defeat a Purple Mansion cultivator. This is a skill that is almost essential for cultivators of major sects and families.
For example, Song Changsheng once obtained a scroll of the "Three Talents Celestial Star Formation," which is a three-person combined attack formation. It is a Dao formation improved from a battle formation, and the Song family cultivators still use it to this day, playing a crucial role in several major battles. (See Chapter 13 of Volume 5 for details)
It was this formation that sparked Song Changsheng's keen interest in battle formations.
The jade scroll in his hand contained a total of five array diagrams.
They are the "One Yuan Returning to the Void Formation", the "Two Elements Yin Yang Formation", the "Three Talents Without Form Formation", the "Four Phases Locking the Void Formation", and the "Five Elements Heavenly Annihilation Formation".
The five formation diagrams correspond to one, two, three, four, and five people in the formation.
Logically, there should be five more array diagrams following, numbered one to ten, forming the "Ten Absolutes," but I don't know why they weren't placed together.
However, according to the logic of the Star-Picking Tower, if the other two jade slips are not on this floor, it means that the array diagrams behind them are beyond his reach in terms of array formation skills.
Although it was only half, Song Changsheng was very satisfied, as it was already applicable to most scenarios.
Each of these formation diagrams has its own unique characteristics.
Both the "One Yuan Returning to the Void Array" and the "Two Elements Yin Yang Array" are typical amplification arrays that can greatly enhance the strength and speed of the cultivators who form the array.
The Three Talents Formation is well-rounded in both offense and defense, with almost no weaknesses, but it also doesn't have any particularly obvious strengths.
The Four Phases Locking Void Array is a pure trapping array, similar in concept to the original Five Elements Imprisoning Heaven Array. However, the former is more sophisticated and only requires four people to form the array, making it suitable even for Golden Core cultivators.
The Five Elements Absolute Heaven Formation is more defensive in nature. It involves five people forming a formation, which aligns with the principles of the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water, circulating endlessly and continuously.
If all the cultivators of the Song clan could learn these five array diagrams, then no matter when, whether there are many or few people, they could unite their strength using the array diagrams.
The process of getting to know each other will undoubtedly greatly increase the unity among the clan members.
Of all these array diagrams, the one that surprised Song Changsheng the most was the "One Yuan Returns to the Void Array".
This was the first time he had ever seen a Dao array that could be formed by a single person. According to the description, once formed, it could create a special area around the user, similar to a "law domain." Any spell that passed through this area would have its power dissipated and be banished.
To break the formation, one must use absolute power exceeding the formation's limit at once. If the two sides are evenly matched, there is almost no possibility of breaking it without external assistance.
Of course, it's not without its drawbacks. The person forming the array must have at least the cultivation level of Purple Mansion, and must be able to control the [Laws of Space]. Moreover, it requires a considerable amount of magical power, which most people might not be able to withstand.
Each of these points is not particularly demanding, but very few people can meet them all at the same time, making it completely unlike the other array diagrams in terms of wide adaptability.
However, in Song Changsheng's eyes, its value far exceeded that of the other array diagrams, because it was a groundbreaking product with amazing development potential.
However, until now he still doesn't know why this jade scroll is attracting him.
Fortunately, he never gets stuck on things he can't figure out. He chose to follow his heart, no longer obsessing over climbing higher, and instead focused on studying Dao formations...
At the same time, Zhuang Yuechan also followed the elegant young girl who was leading the way to the Valley of Absolute Sound.
It looked like an ordinary, unremarkable pit, nestled among verdant mountains and shrouded in a protective array, with nothing particularly special about it.
"There is a special formation set up in the valley that cannot be detected from the outside. You must enter it to feel it. Please, guest."
Zhuang Yuechan followed her instructions and entered the valley. As soon as she stepped in, she noticed the difference between this place and the outside world.
Quiet.
The silence was indescribable. With her perception, she couldn't hear a single sound, not even the slightest movement of air or the sound of dust falling. It was as if she were in an absolutely closed, absolute vacuum.
However, she is not yet clear about the significance of the Array Dao Academy creating such an environment.
Before she could figure it out, melodious piano music came from underground. The moment the music entered her ears, her pupils involuntarily dilated.
She had never heard it so clearly before, without the slightest interference from any other noise; it was the purest sound of the piano in the world.
When the song ended, Zhuang Yuechan closed her eyes and savored the memory in her heart.
She took out her zither and tried playing a tune. As she played, her delicate eyebrows gradually furrowed. She had thought her performance was perfect, but it turned out to have so many subtle flaws.
In a normal environment, such a tiny flaw would go unnoticed, but in this Silent Valley, it was magnified dozens of times, making it unbearable.
The contrast with the previous sounds of music coming from underground made the difference even more striking.
In the art of music, precision is of paramount importance; sometimes even the slightest flaw can affect the final outcome.
She suddenly understood the significance of the existence of this Valley of Absolute Sound.
So she began to make some changes, such as adjusting the force with which she plucked the strings and her breathing while playing, striving to make everything perfect.
Right after she finished playing the piece, the formation hidden beneath the ground emitted the exact same melody, even more perfect than hers, though the difference was no longer particularly noticeable.
"There's still room for improvement," Zhuang Yuechan said softly with a faint smile.
Song Changsheng mastered all five array diagrams in just three days, and it must be said that he gained a great deal.
Through this analogy, he gained a completely new understanding of the art of battle.
Although the Supreme Being of the Heavenly Realm was an ancient person, his understanding of the Dao of Array Formations was extremely advanced. Even among sixth-order array masters, he must have been among the most advanced.
What puzzled him was that he had never heard of such a master of formations before.
"Speaking of which, the Immortal Dynasty was a time of great intellectual ferment and flourishing of various arts and crafts. Many brilliant masters and experts emerged in alchemy, talismanic arts, and other fields. However, the array arts were somewhat dormant, and even the weapon arts masters left behind few names."
However, the largest proportion of the array formation inheritance in the Star-Picking Tower comes from the Immortal Dynasty. Why is that?
"I hope True Monarch Yingyue can answer my questions then..." Song Changsheng suppressed his doubts and began to search for the remaining two parts of the "Ten Absolute Dao Formations".
Unfortunately, just as he thought, the other two parts were simply beyond his current level of array formation mastery. Not only was this layer missing, but the layers above it were also missing.
After searching for two days, Song Changsheng had no choice but to give up when the elder guarding the pavilion told him that True Lord Yingyue had returned from outside the palace.
"Greetings, Elder Guardian."
"The law should not be kept secret, but it should not be passed on lightly either. I hope you will keep this in mind, young friend." The elder guarding the pavilion said calmly, his hands behind his back.
"Junior understands."
After hesitating for a moment, Song Changsheng finally asked the question that had been bothering him: "May I ask Elder Guardian, why did Supreme Juntian and the others willingly offer up their inheritance back then?"
……
P.S.: I originally planned to add extra chapters in the last few days of the National Day holiday, but something came up and I had to return to work two days early. I've been incredibly busy every day. I'll update 5,000 words today, and I'll start adding monthly ticket updates tomorrow. I'll definitely stick to it this time! (End of Chapter)