Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Five Elements Crystal
When it was time to begin, Elder Kuchun took out a quaintly-styled Spirit Pattern Pen.
Previously, when attempting to inscribe the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array, he had always used the master-level Spirit Pattern Pen he was most proficient with. This time, however, he brought out an antique-style, ancient Spirit Pattern Pen.
This type of Spirit Pattern Pen offered extremely flexible control over the pressure of the stroke and the concentration of the array fluid.
After drawing the array fluid into the Spirit Pattern Pen, Elder Kuchun activated his Third Grade Soul Power and began to slowly inscribe upon the Array Base.
He was meticulous with every step, controlling the pressure of the Spirit Pattern Pen and the concentration of the fluid, all while infusing it with Soul Power to gradually form a Soul Power Array.
Watching this, a thoughtful look crossed Ye Xuan’s face. ’It seems Elder Kuchun’s talent in inscribing Arrays isn’t particularly outstanding. Ancient Array inscription certainly requires some control over pressure and concentration, but the most important thing is a feeling of merging with nature, of effortless creation. Controlling it meticulously like Elder Kuchun is a lesser approach, but this is also a result of technical limitations.’
Ye Xuan silently observed Elder Kuchun’s crafting process, gaining a clear understanding of the skill level of Soul Refiners in the Liuyun Kingdom.
Ancient Arrays might seem complex and lacking the consistent, flowing elegance of modern Arrays. In reality, this is only because the essence of ancient Arrays was lost in the river of time and not passed down.
A true ancient Array Pattern Master inscribed an Array like a master painter with a brush. There was no need to meticulously check the specific concentration or pressure; instead, they merged with the process, resonated with the Array, and could often complete it with a wave of the hand. The entire process was far more wondrous than that of modern Array Masters.
But all these techniques were lost in the river of time, never to be passed down.
Gradually, for the sake of simplicity, modern Array Formation came to value consistency, making the inscription process rigid and monotonous.
Time passed, second by second, as Ye Xuan gently extended his Soul Sense to carefully observe Elder Kuchun’s entire crafting process.
Under his cautious hand, every step was taken with extreme care. Although there were still some minor errors in places, they were all trivial flaws. Ye Xuan had a feeling that Elder Kuchun’s attempt this time would be a success.
And indeed, as Elder Kuchun continued to inscribe, the Array Disc gradually seemed to blossom with life.
This vitality grew stronger and stronger, as if a new life was slowly taking form.
A mixture of joy and gravity appeared in Elder Kuchun’s eyes. He sensed that this attempt was different from any before.
With every stroke, he felt as if he was on the right path.
Finally, when Elder Kuchun laid down the final stroke, connecting the head and tail of the array diagram, the entire Array Disc suddenly burst forth with a dense light.
A gentle aura spread out, causing both Ye Xuan and Elder Kuchun to feel a sense of warmth and peace.
As the final stroke fell, Elder Kuchun slumped to the ground, utterly exhausted, but his face bloomed with a smile as innocent as a baby’s.
After struggling and studying for so long, the joy and satisfaction of finally completing this task surged ceaselessly through Elder Kuchun’s heart.
To the side, Ye Xuan was also marveling inwardly. ’These ancient Arrays really are something else. It’s just a Third Level soul array, but its effects are comparable to a modern Fourth Level Array.’
"Congratulations, Elder Kuchun," Ye Xuan said with a smile from the side.
"HAHAHAHA, young Ye Xuan, you’re the main reason I was able to craft this Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array! If it weren’t for you, this old man wouldn’t have known when in a blue moon I’d finally craft an Array like this."
Elder Kuchun laughed heartily, in an exceptionally good mood.
He wasn’t just trying to flatter Ye Xuan. For years, he had been struggling with and researching the steps and process for crafting the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array. Even the other Soul Refiners who had accepted the task were the same. Yet, not a single one of them could be as detached as Ye Xuan, observing and discovering from a different perspective.
If he had really continued researching the way he had been, he, Kuchen, probably still wouldn’t have been able to craft the true Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array in another ten or twenty years, because the direction of his research was fundamentally wrong.
If the direction is wrong, how can one ever reach the destination?!
So at this moment, aside from joy, what filled Elder Kuchun’s heart was endless gratitude toward Ye Xuan.
"Not at all. The successful crafting of the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array is entirely due to your own profound strength, Elder Kuchun. All I offered were a few insignificant hints."
"Hey, little friend Ye Xuan, you’re being too modest! Without your hints, this old man would have never been able to craft this Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array in my entire life. Plenty of Soul Refiners have come and gone from this old man’s place, the lowest of them being Second Grade. But those Soul Refiners, they’re all arrogant peacocks on the outside, and when it comes time to actually solve a problem, they all wilt. Utterly useless, all flash and no substance. Compared to you, little friend, they’re not even in the same league."
Elder Kuchun’s spirits were so high, he had even started calling him ’little friend Ye Xuan’.
Seeing Elder Kuchun so satisfied, Ye Xuan knew his task was complete. His main concern now was the reward.
’The Array has been successfully crafted. It should be time for my reward, right?’
Elder Kuchun was indeed a perceptive man, and very straightforward. Before Ye Xuan could even speak, he asked, "Little friend Ye Xuan, you get the primary credit for my success in crafting the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array. Go on, tell me what treasure or reward you want. Don’t hesitate to ask."
Ye Xuan smiled faintly. "Elder Kuchun, there is indeed something I need: the Crystal of Five Elements."
"The Crystal of Five Elements? No problem." Elder Kuchun immediately shouted to those outside, "Someone, check if we have a Crystal of Five Elements in the Soul Master Tower’s treasury. If we do, bring it here at once."
"Yes!" an attendant replied.
A moment later, an attendant walked into Elder Kuchun’s research lab carrying a wooden box.
"Little friend Ye Xuan, this is the Crystal of Five Elements you asked for."
Ye Xuan took the wooden box and opened it. Inside, a Crystal Stone flashing with a five-colored rainbow lay quietly, emitting dense fluctuations of Profound Power.
Ye Xuan finally relaxed. ’After all this hard work, I’ve finally found the Crystal of Five Elements. I can finally begin cultivating my Nine Revolutions Saintly Body.’
"Little friend Ye Xuan, besides this Crystal of Five Elements, is there anything else you need? Feel free to ask. As long as it’s within this old man’s power, I will not refuse."
Even after giving him the Crystal of Five Elements, Elder Kuchun was asking again.
"Elder Kuchun, the Crystal of Five Elements is a Tier Five treasure. A single one is worth at least a million Profound Coins. I’m already very happy with this reward. How could I dare ask for anything else?"
Ye Xuan shook his head with a smile. His goal had been the Crystal of Five Elements; having obtained it, he had no other requests.
"Haha, little friend Ye Xuan, you probably don’t know this, but the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array has extraordinary effects. This old man has been a Third Grade Soul Refiner for decades, yet I’ve never been able to take another step forward. This Array is the opportunity I need to break through to the Fourth Grade. So how could a mere Crystal of Five Elements possibly express the depth of this old man’s gratitude?"
Elder Kuchun was a straightforward man; he would give a reward proportional to the help he received.
It might have seemed like Ye Xuan didn’t do much, but enabling him to craft the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array was a monumental contribution. If he really did break through to the Fourth Grade because of this Array’s effects, how could a single Crystal of Five Elements ever be enough repayment?
Seeing how generous Elder Kuchun was, Ye Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. He could also see that the Elder was a man of genuine character.
"Since that’s the case, I have an impertinent request. Elder Kuchun, could you perhaps give me some of the leftover array fluid and array base materials?"
Ye Xuan was also quite interested in the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array, but gathering the materials was very troublesome. Now that Elder Kuchun had some leftover materials, Ye Xuan decided not to stand on ceremony.
"Haha, little friend Ye Xuan, are you planning to go back and study it yourself?" Elder Kuchun laughed. "No problem. If you want them, take them all."
With the Array complete, these leftover materials were just junk to Elder Kuchun. Since Ye Xuan wanted to study them, Elder Kuchun naturally had no reason to be attached.
Besides, in his view, Ye Xuan was only taking these leftover materials back to study. After all, as a mere First Grade Soul Refiner, even if he had seen the diagram and knew the crafting steps and methods, it was absolutely impossible for him to craft a Third Level Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array.
"Little friend Ye Xuan, I wonder where you are currently employed? This old man felt an instant connection with you, as if we were old friends. What do you say? Are you interested in coming here to be my assistant?"
Elder Kuchun rarely left his lab, dedicating himself to research, but his status in the Soul Master Tower was firmly in the top five. To be his assistant was something countless Second Grade Soul Refiners dreamed of.
Even some newly promoted Third Grade Soul Refiners longed to receive his guidance.
At this moment, the attendants to the side were all looking at Ye Xuan with burning gazes, their hearts filled with envy.
However, when they thought about how Ye Xuan had helped Elder Kuchun solve the problem of the Ten Directions Soul Guarding Array, their envy didn’t turn into jealousy.
Dozens of Soul Refiners had come and gone from Elder Kuchun’s research lab over time, but Ye Xuan was the first and only one to solve the Elder’s problem.
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Ye Xuan simply smiled and shook his head. "Thank you for your kind offer, Elder Kuchun, but I am used to being idle and have other matters to attend to. I’m afraid I am not up to the great responsibility of being your assistant."
Elder Kuchun was stunned. He hadn’t expected Ye Xuan to actually refuse his offer.
His eyes traveled up and down, carefully sizing up Ye Xuan for a long moment. When he saw that Ye Xuan’s gaze was frank and not just a case of feigned modesty, Elder Kuchun suddenly burst out laughing. "HAHAHA, you kid! In this entire Soul Master Tower, you’re the first junior to dare refuse this old man’s offer. You’ve got character, real character! No wonder you were the one who could find the flaws in the Array for me."
