Chapter 106: Achieving the Goal through Integration
TL: Etude
Ye Tian opened the information; all related contents about the Shanghe Array Tower were displayed one by one. The Shanghe Array Tower was established by King Shanghe, who was once a renowned figure in the Demon Sea Base. Not only was he a king-level powerhouse, but he was also a top-tier array master. He was one of the few with the highest attainments in array skills in the Demon Sea Base and was also one of the contributors in the construction of the base's defensive array. Unfortunately, due to an accident, King Shanghe returned to the Demon Sea Base with serious injuries. He hastily constructed the Array Tower and left behind his legacy.
Anyone with high-tier array talents was eligible to challenge the Shanghe Array Tower. Clearing each floor would reward one with an array design diagram. Once someone cleared the ninth floor, they could become the successor of King Shanghe. However, no one had become his successor to date. The reason was unknown. Many who had high-tier array talents had given up after reaching the eighth floor.
What couldn't be ignored was that the Array Tower offered numerous array diagrams and benefits. But it was also fraught with dangers, mainly consisting of death traps. Therefore, only Grandmasters were allowed to take on this mission; otherwise, ordinary warriors might easily perish within the Shanghe Array Tower.
Having understood the situation of the Shanghe Array Tower, Ye Tian proceeded to visit it.
"This is the place!"
Ye Tian arrived in an old town area, one of the earliest constructed neighborhoods, which was now located on the periphery of the Demon Sea Base. Although it had few residents, it was tranquil, making it a chosen place for many retired warriors to reside.
The Shanghe Array Tower was situated in this area and was protected by the Array Master Association. They had hired a group of soldiers to guard it day and night, prohibiting ordinary people from approaching.
Ye Tian presented his mission credentials and identification card and successfully entered the Shanghe Array Tower.
Inside the tower.
Ye Tian walked into the first array.
Boom!
The world changed dramatically, as countless flames surged out, making Ye Tian feel as though he was in a world of fire.
"A fire-based offensive array!" Ye Tian was intrigued.
The attack power of these flames was very strong; ordinary warriors would find it hard to survive. Only a few specialized warriors could manage to save themselves.
Ye Tian tested whether he could break the array with his strong power.
"Pseudo-Mystic-Level Strength Talent—Green Wind Slash!"
Ye Tian's strongest attack descended upon the array, but it was quickly deflected by an unknown force.
"As expected, there's no easy way out. Unless my strength reaches the king-level, any attack will be deflected by an unknown force," Ye Tian mused, frowning.
To break the array, one needed to rely on array talents.
Thus, Ye Tian activated his high-tier array talents.
In an instant, the realm of fire transformed into an array space, and a large number of array marks appeared before Ye Tian.
He saw that these array marks were interconnected, forming bursts of fire that attacked him.
Upon understanding the composition of the fire array, Ye Tian gradually developed a strategy.
"Destroy the array nodes!"
After some attempts, with the assistance of his high-tier array talents, Ye Tian quickly located an array node—the connection point between array marks.
"Break!"
Focusing his energy into his finger, Ye Tian shattered the node.
Ye Tian focused his energy into a single finger and struck down one of the nodes. Forced back, the fire array began to destabilize. Soon after, Ye Tian identified one node after another, shattering them one by one. When more than ten nodes had been broken, the array imploded with a bang, fragmenting into pieces. The first layer of the array was broken!
"Whoa!"
A scroll appeared in Ye Tian's hand out of thin air.
"Basic Defensive Array Blueprint: Rain Curtain!"
Ye Tian pocketed the basic array blueprint and immediately started on the second layer. The second layer was more complex, an ice array. It took Ye Tian several hours to break the array. Fortunately, his strength was significant; he was able to endure in the array space for a long time. Had an average Grandmaster come, they would not have been able to withstand the attack from the ice array before breaking it.
The third layer of the array was the Green Wood Array, a wood-element offensive array. It took Ye Tian nearly a whole day to break the array. His yuan force was almost exhausted, and he was also physically worn out. Reluctantly, Ye Tian chose to abandon continuing the assessment.
"I've broken through three layers, obtained one Basic Defensive Array Blueprint: Rain Curtain, one Basic Fire Array Blueprint: Fire Dragon Ascending Sky, and one Stealth Array Blueprint: Concealment. That's three blueprints in total—a decent haul. I just don't know how many points I can get."
Carrying the three blueprints, Ye Tian left the Shanghe Array Tower. After resting for one night, Ye Tian visited the Array Master Association the next day.
"I'm here to claim my mission!"
Ye Tian arrived at the mission office to claim the Shanghe Array Tower mission. The staff took Ye Tian's identification card, checked it, and then confirmed, "We received word from the Shanghe Array Tower that you did indeed complete the mission and even broke through the third layer. You're rewarded 900 points—100 points for the first layer, 200 for the second, and 400 for the third. Reminder, Ye Tian, you can take on this mission again next time, but if you don't break through the fourth layer, there won't be any reward."
"Understood!" Ye Tian nodded.
The staff credited Ye Tian with 900 points and asked, "Ye Tian, you must have obtained three array blueprints from the Shanghe Array Tower, right? If you have blueprints that our Array Master Association doesn't possess, you can exchange them for certain points. Would you like to do that?"
"Sure!"
Ye Tian took out the three blueprints. Unfortunately, only the Stealth Array Blueprint: Concealment was something the Array Master Association didn't have. The other two blueprints they already had in their collection and couldn't be exchanged. However, just with that one blueprint, Ye Tian earned 500 points, significantly boosting his point total.
After doing some calculations, Ye Tian found that he now had 3300 points, enough to purchase a Qi Gathering Array Blueprint with a 6-fold amplification. Although the blueprints were not expensive—the Array Master Association had plenty—this specific one was valuable because they didn't have it yet. Normally, an basic array blueprint would only cost dozens of points. However, the Qi Gathering Array Blueprint, although a mid-level array, was priced as expensively as high-level arrays, costing 2000 points.
Without any hesitation, Ye Tian bought a Qi Gathering Array Blueprint capable of 6-fold yuan force amplification, and he also spent 1000 points to buy some high-level array disks. After all, unused points were a waste.
Once the Qi Gathering Array Blueprint and array disks were purchased, almost everything was ready. Next, he needed to study the array patterns to attain the proficiency necessary for setting up the Qi Gathering Array. Once that was done, he could proceed to establish the array.
Once the Qi Gathering Array was completed, Ye Tian would be able to step into the ultimate realm of Grandmasters within a short period.