Chapter 1679 Going through in One Smooth Flow
The witch in the very center spoke in a low voice, "A cultivator like Lan'er was bound to incur heavenly punishment; it's normal if she had defects, for she incurred Heaven's jealousy. What I wish to tell you today is this: since Xiaolan chose that Barbarian, it signifies that this Barbarian can provide tremendous aid to the rise of our Witch Clan. In the future, should the opportunity arise, he should be granted some necessary assistance, and never, ever..."
Pausing here, her eyes behind the veil emitted a Phantom Glow as she murmured darkly, "...never entertain the thought of silencing him after his usefulness ends, of kicking away the bridge once you've crossed the river. Such actions would only destroy your own foundations."
The witches in the room all froze momentarily, then responded soberly, "We understand, my Lady."
The witch at the center spoke again, slowly and resolutely, "Inform Wei Niya that the Protective Formation around the Array Formation Legacy area should be activated immediately. No one is allowed to observe. We only need to know the outcome, not the process."
A witch respectfully intoned, "Yes, my Lady."
On her Throne, Wei Niya felt the Blue Orb in her hand vibrate, transmitting a message. Her brows knitted slightly as she murmured, "Why is this?"
The Blue Orb shimmered with a white light – the Mirror Image of the Spirit Array area had been completely cut off.
Germain asked quietly, "Mother, why?"
Wei Niya replied, "Lady Nvli has sealed off the Spirit Array region, forbidding anyone from watching. It's strange… could Gerlane possibly pass even five Spirit Arrays, breaking into the intermediate area? Otherwise, such fuss wouldn't be warranted..."
No sooner had the words left her mouth than a light blue point of radiance blossomed on the Blue Orb like a splendid firework.
Wei Niya brightened, exclaiming, "Xiaolan is fast! She's already cracked the second Spirit Array."
A bitter smile touched Germain's face. "My own current best record is only the third Spirit Array. If Little Sister passes that... wouldn't she match my record?"
Wei Niya chuckled. "Ermang, don't compare yourself to your sister. Remember, your sister requires assistance just to participate in this Array Dao inheritance, while you have navigated everything smoothly all the way to this point. What more could you want?"
Germain scratched his head. "It's just a bit embarrassing, is all. Of course, I'm happy for Little Lan too."
Wei Niya then inquired, "How's the team you've assembled coming along, Ermang? If they are strong enough, you could attempt to cultivate in certain special Lower Realms. That could spur another rapid advancement in your cultivation."
Germain straightened his posture. "In my team, I've recruited two Heroes, five Quasi-Heroes, and several powerful Warriors with Barbarian Tribe royal bloodlines. The roster is nearly complete. The only regret is that both Heroes are only ordinary Golden Ribbon Heroes, not Special Heroes, let alone Golden Ribbon Heroes."
Wei Niya smiled. "Securing even regular Heroes is an achievement. Across all the Myriad Races of Lower Void, fewer than ten emerge every century. And the odds in the Middle Void are even lower. Consider yourself fortunate to have Heroes fighting for you; be content."
Germain nodded. "Yes, well... I'm also just curious about what makes the Golden Ribbon Heroes so formidable. And legends speak of the strongest Heroes bearing Violet-Gold Ribbons. How incredible might one of those Heroes be?"
Wei Niya stared dreamily at the Blue Orb in her hand, as if lost in recollection. After a long pause, she murmured, "A Golden Ribbon Hero can lead many Warriors into a Lower Realm or a Secret Realm. As for the legendary Violet-Gold Ribbon... they say, under certain conditions, it can transport specific elite Warriors from a Lower Realm into different scenarios for battle. Utterly miraculous..."
She was interrupted as the Blue Orb bloomed with a beautiful sapphire firework. Wei Niya startled, then declared loudly, "Excellent! Lan'er is truly remarkable! Going through the third Spirit Array as well in one smooth flow..."
Not long after, Germain cheered, "She did it! She even passed the fourth! Hahaha! To think my sister's Array Dao attainment has already surpassed me! Admirable, truly admirable! Pity she's such a scatterbrain, otherwise I would definitely demand she share her array-breaking experience..."
Shortly thereafter, Wei Niya clapped her hands, laughing joyfully. "Good! She passed the fifth Spirit Array! She actually passed the fifth Spirit Array! Little Lan is incredible! I just don’t know how long she can hold out facing the intermediate Spirit Arrays..."
The veiled witches glanced at each other, their hearts itching with curiosity about what was happening in the Array Formation Legacy zone. Little Lan was only a mid-stage Divine Transformation Cultivator, wasn’t she? And she’d already overcome five Spirit Arrays, breaking into the intermediate zone? How was that even possible?
If nothing else, the sheer spiritual energy drain should have been insurmountable for a Deity Transformation Cultivator.
The central witch, Lady Nvli herself, gently spun a Blue Orb in her hand. Though she refrained from peering into the Spirit Array area's present state, she murmured thoughtfully to herself, "This Spirit Array Orb in my hand gives me the feeling... this is just the beginning. Perhaps... perhaps Xiaolan might break through even the intermediate Spirit Arrays too?"
The witches exchanged uncertain looks. One ventured, "But my Lady, in the intermediate Spirit Array region, the Arrays become corporeal and attack! Given Little Lan's cultivation level, she’d be doing well to last even a single joss stick's burning time, wouldn't she? That’s nowhere near enough time to break an array!"
Lady Nvli replied softly, "Little Lan isn’t alone. She has that Barbarian with her."
Another witch remarked, "Jiang Xiaoshan doesn’t seem particularly strong; I doubt he could be much help?"
From behind her veil, Lady Nvli offered an enigmatic smile. "Just watch, and you shall see."
Sun Hao, carrying Gerlane on his back, emerged from the fifth Spirit Array. Before them stretched a scene utterly different from the previous arrays.
Gerlane spoke softly into Sun Hao's ear, "Past the five primary Spirit Arrays comes the intermediate level. Xiaoshan, be careful; Intermediate Spirit Arrays can materialize attacks..."
Her words were barely out when a huge Golden Eagle swooped down from above. Its massive talons, whistling through the air, raked viciously towards them.
Sun Hao whipped his left hand up. The Xingtian Axe-Shield materialized instantly. CLANG! The talons struck the shield. "Little Lan," he called out firmly, "I'll hold it off. Break the Array!"
The Eagle was powerful, yet it couldn’t penetrate Sun Hao's Shield. Gerlane started slightly tense, but steadied as Sun Hao, while fighting, began analyzing the array's flaws. Working together swiftly, they deciphered the way to dismantle it. Pursued by the eagle, they traversed the winding, maze-like passage at an impressive pace, breaking free once more.
First Intermediate Spirit Array passed.
A Foundation for Witches was array mastery. And yet, Little Lan, only at Mid-stage Divine Transformation, had just overcome an Intermediate Spirit Array! Such talent was... monstrous.
But the surprises were far from over.
Like a hot knife through butter, Sun Hao propelled Gerlane forward, advancing fiercely and consecutively dismantling five Intermediate Spirit Arrays, each requiring a unique solution.
The second featured a small rabbit. Sun Hao didn’t attack or defend. Gerlane happily cradled it, her Blue Orb morphing into a carrot which the rabbit ate, allowing them passage.
The third presented a lumbering Great Bear. They outpaced it through sheer calculation speed, moving past before it could catch them.
...
By shattering the five Intermediate Spirit Arrays, Sun Hao gained immense insight while also feeling profound awe at the esoteric depth of Array Dao. The Witch Clan's mastery of formations was truly peerless. The methods to breach each array tested not only computational skill but also ingenious, practical application of array knowledge.
Turning the Orb into a carrot, for instance – without condensing an Array Pill, Sun Hao knew he couldn't have replicated it.
They had charged through the Intermediate Spirit Array Legacy zone.
This outcome not only shocked Wei Niya utterly.
Even the veiled Lady Nvli revealed a flicker of disbelief. Could Little Lan's talent be this exceptional? This surpassed description as mere talent; such innate aptitude practically made her a born Witch, a natural-born Array Dao Master!
After clearing the five Intermediate Spirit Arrays, Gerlane remained exhilarated, her interest soaring. "Continue! Xiaoshan, let's continue! I want to see what can possibly halt our momentum!"
Around Sun Hao's head, hidden beneath the mysterious Violet-Gold Ribbon, lay his advantage. Long had its precise function eluded him, but during this array-breaking ordeal, Sun Hao felt its potent communication power. Were it not for his own immense Divine Soul, Gerlane would surely have collapsed long ago from exhaustion.
But with his strength, augmented by the Violet-Gold Ribbon, and sustained by the miraculous essence from the Origin Cask within his Sea of Consciousness, this expenditure of energy posed no significant obstacle.
Determined, they pressed forward. The flow continued unbroken.