Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

While repairing the artifact, Zhou Yi patiently explained, "Master, please look. The connection between the 'Gathering Spirit' rune and the 'Illusion' rune here is too abrupt, causing the flow of spiritual energy to become sluggish. It needs to be transitioned with the 'Flowing Cloud Pattern' to allow the spiritual energy to flow smoothly..."

"And this array base is located three inches away from the earth vein node. It needs to be slightly offset to draw upon the earth vein's power and achieve twice the result with half the effort..."

He explained things in a simple and easy-to-understand way, using the most basic language to explain the complex principles of array formations.

Master Yunhe listened with rapt attention, nodding repeatedly, as many long-standing doubts in his heart suddenly became clear. His young disciples behind him stared wide-eyed, desperately trying to memorize the information; for them, this was nothing short of a stroke of luck!

The restoration work lasted for several days. Zhou Yi and Lin Xiaoyue traversed almost every corner of Cloud Mist Mountain, re-examining the spiritual veins and adjusting the nodes.

During this period, Zhou Yi not only repaired the main formation, but also, at the request of Daoist Yunhe, added several simple early warning and protective formations at several key locations.

On the last day, when Zhou Yi embedded the last full mid-grade spirit stone into the core array eye, the entire Cloud Mist Mountain trembled slightly!

In an instant, clouds and mist suddenly appeared inside and outside the mountain, rolling and condensing, becoming several times denser than before, completely enveloping the entire mountain peak, making it impossible for divine sense to penetrate.

Even more remarkably, the spiritual energy in the mountains began to slowly converge towards the temple, with a noticeable increase in concentration.

"It's done! The great formation has been repaired!" The audience and disciples of Suoyun cheered with joy.

Feeling the rich spiritual energy and the solid array barrier around him, Daoist Yunhe was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He bowed deeply to Zhou Yi, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhou! No, Master Zhou! Please accept this bow from Yunhe! This kindness is like being reborn! The entire Suoyun Temple will never forget the kindness of the Qingyun Array Hall!"

Zhou Yi quickly helped him up and said sincerely, "Master, you flatter me. The essence of array formations lies in protection. Helping your temple to live in peace and prosperity is a meritorious deed. This is the repaired array diagram, along with some basic array principle notes, for your temple's reference. If you have any questions in the future, you can contact me through the alliance channels."

He handed over a jade slip. Daoist Yunhe accepted it with trembling hands, as if holding a priceless treasure.

Meanwhile, on the edge of the Blackwater Marsh, a small village called "Reef Village," where people make a living by fishing, hunting, and gathering spiritual herbs from the marsh, also welcomed disciples of the Array Hall.

This place is often plagued by miasma from the marsh and low-level water demons, and the stockade walls are simple and the defenses are weak.

Leading the team was another expert from the Formation Hall, Wu Tong, who was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

Wu Tong had a cheerful personality, unlike Zhou Yi who was quiet. When he arrived at the village, he didn't rest. Instead, he pulled the village chief, an old cultivator at the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, Shi Meng, along to begin surveying the terrain.

"Chief Shi, you've chosen a tricky location for your stronghold. It's surrounded by water on three sides, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. However, the high humidity makes it easy for miasma to accumulate, so ordinary earthen and wooden defensive formations are much less effective here!" Wu Tong said, standing on the stronghold wall and pointing at the Blackwater Marsh.

Shi Meng, a dark-skinned, lean, and wiry old man, smiled wryly upon hearing this, "Fellow Daoist Wu is right. We also want to set up an array, but in this godforsaken place, ordinary array plates simply cannot withstand the corrosion of the moisture. As for anything slightly more complex, no one in our village knows how to do it!"

"It's alright!" Wu Tong patted his chest. "Watch me! We'll adapt to the situation and set up a 'Black Water Tortoise Formation' for you! We'll use the water vapor in this swamp for our own purposes!"

He led several disciples from the Array Hall to cut down the unique "Iron-Bone Reed" and "Black Jade Stone" found in the swamp as materials for the array base, and personally inscribed runes. While setting up the array, he spoke in a loud voice, teaching as he worked:

"Old Shi, watch closely! This 'Water Control Talisman' needs to be carved this way to draw upon the power of living water, not stagnant water! And this 'Miasma Dissolving Pattern' needs to connect with the earth's energy to slowly transform and dilute the miasma accumulated at the bottom of the swamp..."

He shared his knowledge without reservation, even having several young men from the village who had some understanding of runes assist him, teaching them step by step. Shi Meng and the villagers had never seen anything like this before. In the past, when they invited someone to set up an array, they were always secretive, afraid that others would learn it.

This immortal master from Qingyun Sect is incredibly generous!

Several days later, a pale black light curtain rose, enveloping the entire village. Water rippled on the curtain, faintly forming the shape of a black tortoise, keeping out the miasma that permeated the swamp, and even drawing in wisps of aquatic energy. The villagers felt that their breathing became much easier.

Shi Meng was so excited he didn't know what to say. He slaughtered the "Spirit Horned Sheep" that the village had raised for many years to treat Wu Tong and the others. As the wine flowed freely and the atmosphere warmed, he took Wu Tong's hand:

"Brother Wu, I am deeply grateful! From now on, the first batch of good products from Blackwater Marsh will be sent to your Array Hall! If you need anything, just send a message, and Reef Village will have no objections!"

Similar scenes were playing out simultaneously at several smaller sects and gathering points that had sought help from the alliance. Wherever the disciples of the Formation Hall went, they not only solved practical defensive problems, but also won heartfelt gratitude and respect with their superb skills, pragmatic attitude, and unreserved guidance.

When the news reached Qingyun Mountain, Han Lin stroked his beard and smiled, reporting to Shen Mo: "Sect Leader, Junior Sister Qingyan's actions have been incredibly subtle and effective. As a result, seven smaller sects, including Suoyun Temple and Jiaoshi Village, have clearly stated their willingness to completely entrust their sect's defensive array system to our Array Hall and allow us to set up communication and early warning sub-arrays in their respective locations."

"This is tantamount to completely binding their safety to Qingyun Mountain."

Shen Mo stood on the cloud platform outside the Flowing Cloud Palace, gazing southeast. His gaze seemed to pierce through the sea of ​​clouds, revealing the fortified mountain gates and the renewed hope on the faces of the minor sect cultivators. He murmured:

"The Way of Arrays is the Way of Defense, and also the Way of Connection. Qingyan's method may seem like giving people fish, but it actually teaches them how to fish, and it connects them with sincerity. These small sects, though weak in strength, are rooted in various places, like the ends of a neural network."

"By protecting them and connecting them, our alliance's perception can reach every corner of the Southern Region, and our foundation can be as solid as a rock."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Moreover, the array reinforced by the disciples of the Array Hall, its core principles and spiritual energy pathways all originate from my Qingyun Sect. Normally, it serves as a protective barrier for them, and when necessary... it can also become their most reliable eyes and ears and an ally."

"This connection of personal relationships and practical benefits is stronger than any covenant."

Su Xiao stood quietly behind him, a hint of understanding flashing in her clear, cold eyes. The sect leader's plan was intricately linked, seemingly a generous act of assistance, but in reality, it had extended the alliance's reach in the gentlest yet most effective way.

The formations work together to protect not only the land and rivers, but also the hearts and minds of the people.

On Yunji Peak, Zhao Qingyan sat in a quiet room, her fingertips tracing patterns in the air, strands of spiritual light weaving into intricate arrays. She received reports of victory from the various teams, her expression calm, though a hint of relief flickered deep in her eyes.

For her, enabling the array to protect more people in need is the best way to inherit the legacy of her ancestors.

Inside the Suoyun Temple, Daoist Yunhe was studying the jade slip left by Zhou Yi with great eagerness, while several disciples were practicing the newly learned method of setting up simple array flags.

In the rocky village, the "Black Water Tortoise Formation" left by Wu Tong slowly began to operate, and the villagers' faces were filled with relieved smiles...