Incomplete Array Diagram?

Wendao Peak, Chenxing Pavilion.

Zhou Furui put down the jade slip in his hand, looked at Gu Fan with a solemn gaze, and slowly nodded.

"Indeed, the array diagram has been completed."

After speaking, Zhou Furui gestured for Gu Fan to show the jade ring and transferred one hundred merit points into it without hesitation.

Overjoyed that things were going so smoothly, Gu Fan thanked Zhou Furui and then went into the Chenxing Pavilion to select a new jade slip.

First, he used sixty merit points to exchange for "Introduction to the Way of Weapons", then used twenty merit points to exchange for "Plum Blossom Restriction Technique", and finally turned his attention to the lower shelf of the bookshelf, taking out the jade slip with the incomplete array diagram of "Minor Mystery Array" inscribed in his hand.

Gu Fan had been eagerly anticipating exchanging for the weapon-refining inheritance.

Especially after discovering the function of the Minor Spirit Gathering Array, Gu Fan's need for spirit stones became even more urgent. If he wanted to spend time drawing talismans to earn spirit stones, he would inevitably have to squeeze out the time he spent comprehending the Dao of the Array.

Refining weapons to earn spirit stones is much faster than drawing talismans, so it's naturally the better choice.

Furthermore, he had already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, and his fire control technique was becoming increasingly refined. It was the perfect time for him to delve into weapon crafting.

Gu Fan planned to keep the remaining twenty merit points to exchange for some refining materials.

The resources required for refining weapons far exceed those for talisman paper and ink. It is more cost-effective to exchange them for merit points from the sect. Moreover, Gu Fan can earn merit points by repairing damaged array diagrams.

As the head of the Xuanmen sects in Wei Kingdom, the Lingxiao Sect governs the aristocratic families of Yunzhou. Every year, they are required to pay tribute, which consists of various minerals, spiritual herbs, and spiritual stones.

Therefore, most common spiritual materials are stored in the sect.

In front of Chenxing Pavilion, Gu Fan asked Zhou Furui to copy the jade slip, and then sailed back to the small courtyard in a white jade boat.

It was already late autumn, but Gu Fan felt no cold at all. Sitting under the peach tree, looking at the jade slip in his hand, a sense of satisfaction welled up inside him, as if he had spent the whole night in a game in his previous life grinding for equipment.

After lighting an incense stick, sitting cross-legged on the futon, and regulating his breathing for a while, Gu Fan finally calmed his mind.

Just as he was about to examine the jade slip, perhaps as his excitement subsided, a strange feeling suddenly arose in his heart.

Something seems off.

Gu Fan muttered to himself, then frowned, stroking his chin as he recalled recent events and pondered where things had gone wrong.

After cultivating immortality, Gu Fan's senses were enhanced. In particular, after the "True Technique of Pulling the Mechanism" reached the first level, his five senses became extremely sensitive, and he instinctively sensed something was wrong.

With his finger gently tapping the stone table in front of him, Gu Fan pondered for half an hour before finally realizing the truth.

"Things have gone far too smoothly today!"

Gu Fan took out the jade slip inscribed with "The Minor Maze Array" and began to analyze it with a furrowed brow:

"According to Senior Uncle Zhou, these incomplete array diagrams have been stored in the Chenxing Pavilion for a long time, waiting for disciples with array-building talent to repair them."

"But how can he know that the array diagram I provided is correct without setting it up and verifying it?"

"Senior Uncle Zhou guards the Star Pavilion. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, does he understand the Dao of Arrays? If he does, why doesn't he personally repair the array diagrams instead of spending his days reading mundane stories?"

Upon realizing this, as if the clouds had parted and the fog had cleared, Gu Fan suddenly understood.

"Senior Uncle Zhou only needed to take a look to confirm that the diagram of the Minor Spirit Gathering Array was correct. There is only one answer: he knows what the diagram of the Minor Spirit Gathering Array should look like."

"Or rather, the complete diagram of the Lesser Spirit Gathering Array was never lost!"

Gu Fan suddenly stood up and slowly moved around in the courtyard, pondering the possibilities hidden behind it.

"If the Lesser Spirit Gathering Array hasn't been lost, then why is it displayed in the Star Pavilion? Especially since exchanging it only requires one point of merit, while even ordinary spells require five points of merit to exchange!"

"Not to mention, there's a reward of one hundred merit points after completing the incomplete array diagram."

Gu Fan's mind raced, and an answer slowly emerged: This is very likely a test.

In the world of cultivation, everyone knows how precious array formations are.

As a profession even rarer than alchemist, array masters have extremely high barriers to entry, yet people still flock to try their hand at it.

Of course, the vast majority of people were unable to comprehend the formation, and their merits for exchanging for the inheritance were wasted.

However, over time, a few people will still be able to enter the realm of array formations.

Moreover, the Lingxiao Sect's cultivation methods emphasize comprehension. All Lingxi Peak disciples must study the "Morning Glow Qi Gathering Technique" before entering the outer sect, relying on their own comprehension to understand the true meaning of the Dao.

This requirement resulted in the Lingxiao Sect, despite being the strongest sect in the Wei Kingdom, having fewer disciples compared to the other two sects.

This matter is also mentioned in "Lingxiao Baijie", which also mentions that among the three sects of Wei, the sect with the most disciples is Hualingmen, but Hualingmen is actually the weakest of the three sects, which is quite ironic.

"In the next level of array inheritance, there's a bunch of incomplete array diagrams. You can get 100 merit points for completing one. I doubt any disciple would be unmoved!" Gu Fan chuckled and shook his head.

"If this is truly an assessment, then it means... there's a secret hidden behind it!"

A glint of light flashed in Gu Fan's eyes, and he revealed a confident smile.

Whether in his past life or this one, Gu Fan had experienced exams, and he was very clear about the significance of them.

The purpose of exams has always been singular: selection!

As for the purpose of selecting disciples in the Star Pavilion, Gu Fan knew too little information to confirm it, but with the Myriad Manifestations Eye, he was confident that he was not afraid of this array test.

After figuring out the cause and effect, Gu Fan felt refreshed and picked up the jade slip of "Minor Maze" again to examine it carefully.

He was really looking forward to the day he passed the test.

......

Shenji Peak, Tiangong Pavilion.

Although Gu Fan really wanted to complete the diagram of the Minor Maze Array, after examining it with his Myriad Manifestations Eye, he confirmed that the Minor Maze Array should have five array points, but the incomplete diagram only showed three.

Based on past experience, given the complexity of the small maze array, repairing the array diagram would take at least six months.

With few spirit stones left in his storage bag, and needing to use the small spirit gathering array for cultivation, which would cost two spirit stones every day, Gu Fan had no choice but to prioritize earning more spirit stones.

At the same time, it was announced that the talisman drawing business had reopened.

Having only been in seclusion for half a year, there weren't many orders at the moment, so I decided to learn weapon crafting first.

As Gu Fan entered the Tiangong Pavilion, he immediately spotted Tang Yuan.

There's nothing we can do; after so long, Tang Yuan seems to have gotten even rounder.

Logically speaking, cultivators should be able to abstain from grains after practicing Qi cultivation, but Tang Yuan is able to maintain this large physique and even grow larger. I don't know how he does it.

Tang Yuan was also quite surprised to see Gu Fan, and greeted him with a smile, "It's been so long since I've seen Junior Brother Gu! I was truly impressed to hear that you defeated all your opponents and seized the jade slip!"

"You flatter me, senior brother." Gu Fan bowed respectfully.

Tang Yuan squinted and looked Gu Fan over, noticing that Gu Fan had already reached the fourth level of Qi Refining, and guessed, "Junior Brother, are you here today to forge a weapon?"

"Senior brother has discerning eyes." Gu Fan nodded and handed over a list: "Please help me exchange these spiritual materials."