Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Ancient Array
Under Elder Kuchen’s astonished gaze, Ye Xuan confidently listed three or four problems in quick succession.
In reality, the moment Ye Xuan took the Array Disc and glanced at it, he had already spotted at least seven or eight issues. This was because the Array Disc hadn’t been dismantled from a complete grand array; it was simply a defective product.
However, many of the problems were far beyond the comprehension of a First Grade Soul Refiner like himself, so he deliberately omitted them, mentioning only the three or four most obvious ones.
He knew these few issues would be more than enough to capture Elder Kuchen’s attention.
Sure enough, Elder Kuchen’s eyes widened with every problem Ye Xuan identified. By the time Ye Xuan had named the fourth issue, the elder’s gaze was filled with utter shock.
After all, the Spirit Transformation and Condensing Profound Array was a Second Level Array. In Elder Kuchen’s opinion, for a mere First Grade Soul Refiner like Ye Xuan to even recognize it was already Heaven-defying, let alone find flaws within it.
He had never imagined that Ye Xuan would not only identify the array to which the Array Disc belonged but also pinpoint its position within the larger formation and identify four problems with it.
In the reception room, Elder Kuchen’s expression flickered between various emotions. The atmosphere grew strange for a moment, then suddenly...
"Hahaha! Good lad! Interesting, very interesting! It was I who was too rigid, too bound by convention. I lost my composure. I apologize for my earlier behavior. I hope you won’t hold it against me."
Ye Xuan’s actions had finally caused Elder Kuchen to change his opinion of him.
’Regardless of Ye Xuan’s reasons for being here,’ he thought, ’the fact that he, a First Grade Soul Refiner, could recognize a Second Level Array and point out its flaws proved that this boy truly possessed considerable skill in the dao of arrays. He had come here because he was confident in his abilities.’
’He wasn’t like some of the Second Grade Soul Refiners from before, who couldn’t even identify a handful of Second Level Arrays, yet still came running to solve his problems. They clearly had ulterior motives.’
"Elder Kuchen, there’s no need for formalities. May I know the specific details of the task now?" Ye Xuan asked with a faint smile.
’This Elder Kuchen might have a foul temper, but at least he understands courtesy. To think he’d actually admit he was wrong to a First Grade Soul Refiner like me.’
"Haha, yes, of course. Please, follow me."
Elder Kuchen laughed heartily and led Ye Xuan into his personal research laboratory.
The laboratory was a world unto itself. Array Discs were arranged everywhere, and array flags were stored in neat rows. The equipment related to the dao of arrays was even more plentiful than that for Soul Refining.
’It seems this Elder Kuchen has a keen interest in the dao of arrays. He could even be considered a master.’
Ye Xuan mused to himself. ’From my past life’s perspective, these Array Discs and flags are nothing special, but here in the Liuyun Kingdom, they must be considered Heaven-defying Level.’
"By the way, I haven’t asked yet. What’s your name, lad?" Elder Kuchen asked as they walked.
"I am Ye Xuan," he replied with a nod, saying no more. He clearly had no intention of putting on a show for Elder Kuchen.
This took Elder Kuchen by surprise. ’After all,’ he thought, ’every other young person who comes to see me does their utmost to show off, hoping to leave a good impression.’
’The moment I ask them a question, they start boasting, eager to spill out every single one of their past achievements at once.’
’But this Ye Xuan... he’s so composed. In the face of my questioning, he remains completely unfazed by honor or disgrace.’
Although Elder Kuchen still didn’t hold out much hope that Ye Xuan could solve his problem, he had become quite interested in the young man himself.
"Ye Xuan, the Array I am trying to craft is called the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array," Elder Kuchen explained as they walked.
"’The Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array?’ Ye Xuan searched his mind, but his past-life memories contained no record of such an Array."
’It sounds like some kind of array for protecting the soul?’ Although Ye Xuan had no recollection of the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array, he didn’t feel the slightest bit of concern.
’In this world, there are tens of thousands of Arrays, diverse and all-encompassing—practically innumerable. No single person could ever claim to have seen them all.’
’But the dao of arrays, much like that of Pills and Soul Refining, followed fundamental principles. No matter the variation, the core remained the same. As long as Ye Xuan could see the Array, he could analyze it to find the problem and identify the key.’
Therefore, Ye Xuan wasn’t in a hurry. He followed leisurely behind Elder Kuchen.
In reality, there was no point in rushing. ’If even I, Ye Xuan, can’t solve Elder Kuchen’s problem, then forget the Liuyun Kingdom—in the entire Celestial Profound Continent, the number of people who could would be few and far between.’
"We’re here, Ye Xuan. This is the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array I am trying to craft. Have a look. What do you think of my Array?" Elder Kuchen said, stopping in front of a large Array Disc.
It was an Array Disc as large as a millstone, emanating a hazy aura of Soul Power. The fundamental substance used to inscribe this Array was clearly a Soul Refiner’s Soul Power, making it what was known as a soul array.
"Hmm? This is... an Array from the Ancient Era?"
Ye Xuan’s eyes lit up the moment he saw the Array Disc.
Under his Soul Sense, he observed that the array patterns on the disc looped at very strange angles, and the way they fit together was extraordinary. It wasn’t the classic method taught in modern Array Pattern Study; rather, it had an ancient, retro feel.
This was a style generally only found in Arrays from the Ancient Era.
Ye Xuan hadn’t expected that Elder Kuchen would be attempting to inscribe a soul array from the Ancient Era.
Legend told that during the Ancient Era, civilization on the Celestial Profound Continent had flourished. The great races rose to prominence, and the clash of their cultures ignited tremendous sparks of wisdom, pushing civilization to its zenith.
However, as time passed, the ancient civilization gradually declined for unknown reasons, eventually vanishing into the river of history. But the fragmented information that survived was enough to give people a sense of the Ancient Era’s glory.
So it was perfectly normal that Ye Xuan had never heard of the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array before.
Originally, Ye Xuan had only come for the Five Elements Crystal, but now, he was genuinely intrigued by this Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array.
He strode forward and began to examine it closely.
He knew that since Elder Kuchen was able to inscribe this Array, he must possess the diagram and relevant information for the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array.
However, an array diagram, much like a pill formula, could not be shown to others lightly. Once seen, it would lose its value, as the knowledge could be easily stolen.
That was why Elder Kuchen had only shown Ye Xuan the completed Array Disc, not the diagram itself.
"Elder Kuchen, this Array of yours is dead." Ye Xuan studied the Array Disc for a full fifteen minutes before looking up, his eyes glinting. "If I’m not mistaken, the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array should be for both offense and defense. It can protect a Soul Refiner during their cultivation, enhance the effects of their Soul Power, and it also possesses some form of attack."
"Its primary liquid components should be Purple Mansion Clear Liquid, Profound Thorn Flower, Mengluo Thousand-Layered Sand, and Purple Light Soul Stone. Using the Wood Heart of an Ancient Iron Crystal Wood as the Array Base, you channel Soul Power to guide the array liquid, leaving behind the array pattern imprints."
"On the surface, your array patterns are complete. However, upon completion, they failed to activate and resonate with the Array Base. That’s why it’s a dead array."
Ye Xuan spoke with casual eloquence.
In truth, he had seen far more than he let on. But some of his insights were so profound that if he revealed them all at once, he would seem too monstrously talented, which wouldn’t be ideal.
He also knew that what he had revealed was enough to make the elder trust him completely.
Sure enough, the moment he finished speaking, Elder Kuchen’s eyes lit up, his expression full of excitement. "Lad, do you know why my array patterns and the Array Base failed to resonate? I followed the array diagram’s requirements to the letter, without a single mistake! Logically, this Array Disc should be considered complete."
This problem had plagued Elder Kuchen for a long time, and he had never found a solution.
After obtaining the diagram for the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array, Elder Kuchen had studied it for many years. It wasn’t until a few years ago that he finally felt confident enough to begin attempting to craft it.
But over the last few years, he had tried and failed several times. Each time, he had meticulously followed the method on the array diagram—the path of the array patterns, the materials, everything.
To his disappointment, however, each time he reached the final step, the array patterns on the Array Disc would be perfect and flawless, yet the Array as a whole could never be activated, resulting in a failed, dead array.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to keep trying, but even though the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array was only a Third Level Array, its required materials were incredibly precious. Collecting each one consumed a great deal of his energy.
He also knew that his previous failures, despite following the array diagram perfectly, were definitely due to some crucial step he had failed to grasp. If he couldn’t identify that step, he could try a hundred more times and the result would be the same.
That was why he had finally posted a task in the Task Pavilion. In the past year or two since then, a few Soul Refiners with some knowledge of arrays had accepted the task, but the vast majority couldn’t even describe the Array’s function. The few who could glean some details were nothing like Ye Xuan, who had clearly identified several of the primary materials.
Thus, seeing Ye Xuan describe the function and materials of the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array with such clarity, a powerful surge of hope ignited in Elder Kuchen’s heart.
Seeing the eager look in Elder Kuchen’s eyes, Ye Xuan didn’t speak immediately. He had already discerned some clues from the array patterns, but they weren’t enough for him to be certain of the cause.
After a moment of thought, he spoke. "Elder Kuchen, there is a limit to what I can glean from the Array Disc alone. To truly understand why your crafting process is failing, I’m afraid I would need to see the array diagram, or watch you perform the process once myself. However, doing so would inevitably expose the secrets of the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array to me. Therefore, whether or not to let me view the diagram is a decision you must make for yourself."
