CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: STUDYING ARRAYS

The group’s expressions turned grim, realizing that the snow lotus was not something that could be easily picked.

With one slip, one might lose their life here.

Once again, Chen Xian led the way. He attempted to take a few steps toward the cliff where the snow lotus was, and suddenly the wind howled louder around them.

A wild, bone-chilling wind enveloped the group.

"It’s not safe here."

Chen Xian quickly retreated and chose another direction to advance.

After walking about a hundred feet, the ground suddenly jutted out with ice spikes, shooting toward Chen Xian.

A flash of dark energy flickered around him as he crushed the incoming ice spikes with his bare hands.

Li Yuanning swung the feather fan in his hand, creating a whirlwind to divert the ice spikes.

Shen Wang maneuvered to dodge, while the others either dodged or defended, avoiding the first wave of ice spikes, then took a few steps back to preempt further attacks.

"Venturing blindly is indeed dangerous."

Chen Xian’s expression was serious: "Unfortunately, the array here is too advanced, and we don’t fully understand it. We can only try different approaches to get closer."

He said this to explain to Shen Wang that following the wrong path inevitably led through dangerous areas. Thankfully, they had the stone talisman for protection, preventing any retreatless danger.

Shen Wang frowned: "The last time you were here, did you get any ancient texts related to the arrays?"

"No, even if there were, it wouldn’t record the arrays here. No one would casually show the details of their home arrays to outsiders."

Li Yuanning explained with a smile: "Don’t worry, Shen. This method might be clumsy, but as long as it works, it’s enough."

"No, I’m just curious about the underlying principles of the arrays here."

Shen Wang shook his head: "Up till now, we haven’t encountered any array traces."

"The person who set up this array was quite skilled, and the array is probably quite large, so it’s impossible to easily discover its traces."

Li Yuanning sighed.

Shen Wang, not convinced that there were no traces at all, continued to observe his surroundings.

If he could find some fundamental aspects of the array, he wouldn’t have to rely on this clumsy method anymore.

Over the past ten days, he had also studied a few basic array texts from the storage pouch of Black Water Stream’s Three Evils.

With the system’s experience, he wasn’t completely ignorant.

Arrays and talismans are essentially the same, both using the power of heaven and earth for one’s own use.

However, array patterns are relatively more complex and varied, mobilizing more power, whereas talismans are somewhat inferior.

One could say that an array is an enlarged talisman, and at this moment, they were traversing within it.

If they went the right way, they were fine. Going the wrong way would activate the corresponding talismans, leading to a deadly disaster, or being trapped, blocked, unable to move forward would actually be preferable.

An array is not like a talisman drawn on paper that can be seen directly; it can be hidden underground or in various items, and its route of operation is not visible, making it hard to break.

Holding the stone talisman, he looked puzzled.

Arrays never stray from the yin and yang five elements. Even wind, thunder, rain, and lightning are within the five elements, merely variations of them evolved into extraordinary five elements.

This stone, according to the five elements, should be of the balanced earth attribute. Why would this material be used as a key?

He had studied the array patterns on the stone talisman, but it had no specific attribute, just basic sensing and guiding functions, marking it as the simplest key that did not control the array.

Nonetheless, it was still a key for the array. Why would they choose an earth attribute material for this purpose?

There must be something significant here.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

As he pondered, the clouds above changed, and massive hailstones began to fall.

This time, there was nowhere to hide, and Shen Wang and the others could only brace themselves as large egg-sized hailstones struck them.

Shen Wang slapped a Silver Radiance Talisman on himself, the protective light shield continuously warping under the impact, forcing him to apply another one.

The others were also prepared, with Chen Xian and Li Jian’an, the two martial artists, each releasing black innate true qi and yellow true qi, forming protective shields around them to deflect the oncoming hailstones.

Others mostly used talismans to defend, and Li Yuanning used a magical artifact to whip up a whirlwind, deflecting some of the hailstones.

The power of the hailstones was immense, forcing the group into a disheveled retreat for several meters before the bombardment finally ceased.

Shen Wang carefully observed the details of the hailstone incident, noting similarities to previous encounters, particularly the airflow changes.

"We’re the key to triggering the array’s attacks. What’s the exact trigger?"

He pondered over this crucial point, assured that something specific triggered the array.

"It shouldn’t be the sensing arrays detecting us and then attacking. So many years have passed, and this is just the perimeter. Any detection objects should have malfunctioned by now. Let’s take another look."

While looking at the sky, ever since entering here, the cloud layer above had been thick, exuding a somber heaviness.

He examined the safe paths they had discovered, and there seemed to be nothing special.

No, the areas they passed safely through were relatively open; perhaps that’s why they hadn’t activated the arrays.

He examined the spots where hailstones occurred, noting several large stones, each over thirty feet high.

Could it be that moving through narrow spaces triggered airflow changes, drawing hail and wind attacks?

Shen Wang recalled some knowledge.

"Chen, maybe you should try walking through more open spaces."

Shen Wang suggested.

Initially, Chen Xian’s instinct was to go where there was cover, to have something to hide behind in case of danger. But hearing Shen Wang’s suggestion, he asked, "Explain your reasoning."

"In areas where we haven’t been attacked, there are generally no obstacles."

Shen Wang explained.

"You think areas with obstacles are more likely to house attack arrays, hidden attack arrays?"

Chen Xian was taken aback.

"Not sure."

Shen Wang shook his head: "Let’s try it. I think these attacks are within our tolerance range."

"Alright."

Chen Xian did not refuse; though the attacks they faced were dangerous, they hadn’t been lethal.

This gave everyone more confidence in obtaining the snow lotus.

Chen Xian advanced through open areas, walking over a hundred yards without encountering any attacks.

Hou Shangcai couldn’t help but exclaim: "Shen observes so keenly, discovering the secret of the arrays here so quickly."

"We can’t say for sure yet."

Shen Wang looked at the nearer cliff: "Besides, the base of the cliff is very rocky, hardly an open area."

"Every time we avoid an attack, it spares us some energy."

Ning Xia smiled.

"Shen, you know arrays?" Li Yuanning was surprised. Arrays are very complex, and few people, especially young qi cultivation cultivators, choose to study them.

At this stage, the focus is usually on cultivation, striving to achieve foundation establishment and longevity. Few dare to waste time on such auxiliary paths.

Even among those who do, most opt for alchemy, talisman making, or artifact refining, which are relatively simpler and more practical, with few studying arrays.

"I know a little, but I’m not skilled. Don’t count on me."

Shen Wang clarified upfront to prevent any blame.

"That’s already impressive. I love reading, but I dare not delve too deeply into array studies either."

Li Yuanning showed some admiration.

Not only him but the others also began to change their perception of Shen Wang.

Their greatest fear was having Shen Wang become a burden, but he had now proven his usefulness, and everyone was grateful.

Walking along the open, level ground, the group surprisingly didn’t encounter any more attacks and proceeded several miles to the base of the cliff where the snow lotus grew.