Chapter 179: Spirit Gathering
A level 5 array caster meant level 5 spirit arrays. Even so, they could not be underestimated. Not only did they surpass artifact refinement and alchemy by an entire level in complexity and broadness, but they were overall almost as important as psyche cultivators. Their numbers were extremely scarce, and advancement was exceedingly difficult.
A level 6 array caster could even be compared to an artifact refinement grandmaster. Even a force as powerful as the Infinite Star Palace had yet to produce a single level 9 array caster.
Moreover, the smallest spirit-gathering array is only level 4, Yaoguang thought. Though he could already set up a spirit-gathering array even now, that alone was far from sufficient. Over the following days, he steadily digested all the information related to spirit-gathering arrays that had surfaced in his mind.
***
Half a month later, he arrived at his office and casually tossed a jade talisman onto the workbench. Moments later, a spirit-gathering array manifested above it. It was the most commonly used one in the Nine-Cauldron Sect.
Yaoguang examined it while cross-referencing the knowledge he had absorbed. "This section can be improved. This part can be optimized as well. No wonder the efficiency is so low. They don’t even understand the resonance of earth veins. This is another problem. The materials are showing signs of incompatibility..."
In just a single hour, he had identified more than a dozen flaws in one of the most widespread spirit-gathering arrays on the market. If all these flaws were corrected, the array’s operating efficiency could be increased by at least fifty percent.
The result surprised him. "A level 4 spirit-gathering array... This should already be in its third generation. If I improve that by fifty percent, it’ll reach the standard of fourth-generation ones!"
The optimization was achieved purely through theory, without any field studies. If he conducted an actual field study, doubling its effectiveness wouldn’t be impossible
With that thought, he directly tapped his wristband, and Zhao Siliang’s projected figure appeared.
"Chief Yaoguang?" he asked.
"I want to visit the core arrays of the Energy Department," Yaoguang said directly.
The Energy Department was directly under the Logistics Hall, responsible for condensing spirit stones. It was a critical department of any sect, since its development reflected the sect’s growth speed and future potential.
Therefore, only someone of Zhao Siliang’s standing, a side branch's sect master or a main branch's hall master could personally authorize a visit. Even people like the master of Warfare Hall, Zhao He; a deputy hall master like Bai Lu; the lord of Longxiang City, Luo Yunhai; and even Elder Zhang Jianlin would likely still fall short.
"Visiting the core arrays of the Energy Department..." Zhao Siliang considered for only a moment before agreeing. "That's fine! Which site do you want to visit?"
"Hmm?" Yaoguang was slightly surprised. "How many are there in the Nine-Heaven Domain?"
"Two. One in Longxiang City, and another on the outskirts of Nine-Heaven City," replied Zhao Siliang. "However, our current technology can no longer utilize the spiritual power node in Longxiang City. Most arrays there have already ceased operation. Only a few basic spirit-gathering arrays are still running, producing 3-5,000 spirit stones a year just to sustain their own consumption. That is also why the Energy Department was relocated to Nine-Heaven City."
Yaoguang nodded. If spiritual power nodes were likened to mineral deposits, higher-level arrays could mine deeper and yield more. Of course, they also required more manpower and significantly higher costs.
In addition, the array's output was determined by the stability of the spiritual power node. If the node was stable, a level 5 array could yield over a million spirit stones annually. Otherwise, even a level 6 array would fail to reach that output.
The Longxiang City’s node had degraded so badly that even a level 6 spirit-gathering array was useless, so they had been forced to abandon it. By contrast, the node near Nine-Heaven City likely worked well with level 6 and level 5 spirit-gathering arrays.
As he pondered this, Yaoguang asked, "How many spiritual power nodes like Longxiang City’s have been shut down within the sect’s territory?"
"Closed nodes... No fewer than a hundred," Zhao Siliang replied. "The land we inhabit used to belong to the Artifact Sect, which also had considerable expertise in array arts. Since artifacts and arrays are inseparable, nodes compatible with level 4 or 5 spirit-gathering arrays were long depleted.. We still have forty-three usable nodes partly because some aren’t yet exhausted, and partly due to advances in array arts. For example, Infinite Star Palace’s level 6 spirit-gathering arrays have already reached the third generation, while level 7 ones seem to have progressed to the second generation."
Yaoguang was surprised. "Level 7 spirit-gathering arrays have reached the second generation?"
He was stunned by how slow their progress was.
Seemingly able to guess his thoughts, Zhao Siliang smiled wryly. "Psyche cultivation is extremely talent-dependent and focuses on comprehension. With a large enough population, such talents will gradually increase. But when it comes to array arts, you either understand it or you don’t. It has nothing to do with numbers or accumulated experience."
Hearing this, Yaoguang suddenly understood. Array arts were unlike artifact refinement or alchemy, where one could rely on long years of accumulated experience to improve. As such, creating even one or two new generations over several hundred years was a remarkable feat.
"What is the situation with the Nine-Heaven City’s node?" Yaoguang asked.
"We plan to stabilize the node with four level 6 arrays, then use one level 6 spirit-gathering array to drill deep inside, allowing more void spiritual power to manifest. After that, we will deploy six level 5 and thirty-six level 4 spirit-gathering arrays, along with corresponding stabilizing arrays, to achieve an annual output of two million spirit stones," Zhao Siliang said. "However, the Energy Department has just relocated. The three masters capable of setting up level 6 spirit-gathering arrays are currently unavailable. There are not many masters who can set up level 5 ones either. So far, only two level 5 spirit-gathering arrays and twenty level 4 ones have been established."
"Which generation are those spirit-gathering arrays?"
"The level 5 ones are second generation, and the level 4 ones are third generation."
"Level 5 spirit-gathering arrays have only evolved to the second generation? What about level 6? Does the sect not have any level 7 array casters?".
"There are array casters who can set up level 7 defensive arrays, but as for level 7 spirit-gathering arrays..." Zhao Siliang shook his head.. "There are none. Not even first-generation ones."
Seeing this, Yaoguang stopped asking further questions. "Let’s go to the Energy Department in Nine-Heaven City."
"Alright. When are you coming? I’ll go pick you up."
"I'll head over now. I'll take a flying vessel. I’m not that far, so I’ll be there in an hour or two."
After briefly agreeing on a time with Zhao Siliang, Yaoguang left the residence and informed Tang Fenghua of his itinerary. A few minutes later, a flying vessel arrived at the mountain peak where Yaoguang resided. It was piloted by Wang Feng, a third-tier Foundation Building sword cultivator who had ignited his Truefire. Accompanying him were Qin Yi, Bai Lu, Tang Fenghua, and several other great cultivators.
Since they were only heading to Nine-Heaven City, a dozen people were enough for protection. An hour and a half later, Yaoguang met Zhao Siliang. With him were Wu Xunzhen, the side branch's sect master overseeing the Logistics Hall; and Huang Wei, who was responsible for array deployment.
After exchanging brief greetings, the group heading straight for the Energy Department. It wasn’t in the center of Nine-Heaven City, but in a mountain range beyond it.
Moreover, the entire mountain range was enveloped by layers of level 5 and 6 defensive arrays. Not far away, a combat unit composed of great cultivators stood guard, specifically tasked with ensuring the security of this area.
Within the vast complex of the Energy Department, stretching across more than 500 kilometers, over two million Energy Department personnel lived and worked. Each person functioned like a small node of a level 4 or 5 spirit-gathering array. Through faint strands of psychic consciousness, they fed into the meticulously designed arrays, working together to operate them. From void nodes rich in energy, the arrays continuously drew spiritual qi and condensed it into spirit stones..
Yaoguang stopped to observe and study a level 4 spirit-gathering array. Zhao Siliang, Wu Xunzhen, Huang Wei, the Energy Department head, and the other accompanying officials did not quite understand what he was doing, but they patiently followed him nonetheless.
That turned into several hours. Those by his side were essentially chief-level figures from their respective departments, and each was burdened with countless daily responsibilities. They only accompanied Yaoguang because of his distinguished status.
After seeing him wander about aimlessly for so long, Wu Xunzhen could not help but ask, "Sect Master, what exactly is Chief Yaoguang doing? Observing a spirit-gathering array... Is he trying to figure out a way to further reduce flying sword spiritual energy consumption? Or perhaps to allow flying swords to automatically draw spiritual energy from the void to replenish their daily expenditure?"
"I’m not sure either, but he wouldn’t have rushed all the way here for no reason," Zhao Siliang replied.
Yaoguang suddenly asked, "Is there a third-generation level 4 spirit-gathering array currently being set up?"
"Yes." The Energy Department's head stepped forward. "Do you want to have a look?"
"Mhm. Take me there," Yaoguang replied.
"Alright. Please follow me."
The department head quickly led Yaoguang to a valley fifty kilometers away.
There, an array master was guiding his team in calibrating the force of the earth veins and the distortive influence of the sun, moon, and stars on the void.
"This is Master Feng Yugong," said the department head. "A 3-star level 4 array master."
Feng Yugong paused briefly, then quickly set aside his work and stepped forward. "Hello."
His gaze shifted to Zhao Siliang and the others. "Sect Master, Hall Master Wu, Hall Master Huang, what brings all of you here?"
The moment his eyes fell on Yaoguang, and his expression immediately. "Is this Chief Yaoguang? I’ve long heard of you."
"Master Feng, you should know that artifacts and arrays are inseparable," Yaoguang said. "Recently, I’ve been thinking about some new ideas for third-generation level 4 spirit-gathering arrays. I’d like some insights from you, if you don’t mind."
"Spirit-gathering arrays..." Aware of Yaoguang’s standing, Feng Yugong readily nodded. "Please, go ahead."
To the side, Huang Wei, the master of the Profound Array Hall, stepped closer with curiosity. "I know a bit about level 4 spirit-gathering arrays. Mind if I join?"
She was a level 6, 1-star array caster herself, though her expertise lay primarily in amplification and enhancement-type arrays.
"Of course," Yaoguang nodded before turning to the others. "For those interested, you’re free to listen."
Rather than the spirit-gathering arrays, Zhao Siliang and the others were more interested in what he had come to accomplish with such fanfare.
.
As Yaoguang and Feng Yugong began discussing spirit-gathering arrays, the former’s solid foundational understanding quickly earned the unanimous recognition of both Feng Yugong and Huang Wei.
Then, Yaoguang began offering suggestions. Feng Yugong and Huang Wei treated them rather casually at first, but as Yaoguang went deeper and deeper into the subject, their expressions gradually grew serious. When Yaoguang reached certain optimization points, Feng Yugong could not help but take out a jade talisman to record them.
Once Zhao Siliang, Wu Xunzhen, and the others partially grasped what was being discussed, they held their breath, no longer daring to voice even the slightest complaint. Zhao Siliang even issued an order to seal off the area and instructed the Energy Department's head to summon other array masters to join the discussion.
In the end, the discussion lasted a full three days.
When that was over, under Yaoguang’s careful guidance, an entirely new spirit-gathering array was constructed. As its various performance parameters were revealed one by one, all those who had participated in the discussion, including Feng Yugong and Huang Wei, were rendered speechless..
