Chapter 1205: Start of Construction

The Wind Rises in Kyushu

This method of array deployment has its benefits. Since the tasks are distributed among individuals, efficiency will be very high, and the three-month deadline should be sufficient. However, there are also drawbacks. Due to varying levels of expertise in array mastery, the quality of the deployed sections will differ, potentially affecting the overall operation of the grand array.

Furthermore, if the deployed sections cannot seamlessly connect with adjacent areas after completion, redeployment will be necessary, which is both time-consuming and laborious.

Therefore, one person needs to oversee the entire project, manage the overall situation, and then distribute the tasks for each array section to every contributing array master or ghost cultivator.

As for who would take charge, Wuchang was the obvious choice; he possessed both the qualifications and the mastery required.

Array masters and ghost cultivators qualified to contribute to this grand endeavor converged on Haotian City, and their numbers continued to grow. Cultivation level was not a barrier; even those in the pseudo-Cloud River Realm could participate. This was because array deployment involved many minor tasks that required assistance, making it an opportune time for Cloud River Realm cultivators to lend their strength.

Thus, for such a monumental undertaking, the more manpower available, the better.

It wasn't merely due to the pressure of the three-month deadline. For both ghost cultivators and array masters, an array diagram from a powerful Sun-Gazing Realm cultivator was an invaluable treasure, offering immense assistance in elevating their own array mastery.

No one had anticipated that array-mastering cultivators from across Kyushu would gather in such a way. On the very plaza where the celebratory banquet had been held, a large group congregated, intently studying the array diagram and engaging in fervent discussions.

Lu Ye was also present.

Like others, he was quite curious about the specific function of the array diagram and hoped to find answers through study and discussion. Unfortunately, he gained little.

Tianji Lu Ye was an enterprise secretly supported by Senior Four, who held the title of Grand Shopkeeper within it. However, throughout history, no one had ever seen the Grand Shopkeeper's true face.

At one point, Lu Ye's cultivation had been slightly higher than Shangmeng's. However, by the late True Lake Realm, his cultivation began to lag. Now, the disparity was even more absurd: he remained in the True Lake Realm, while Shangmeng had already reached the first layer of the Divine Sea Realm.

Though he knew better, such thoughts were hard to avoid, making him feel that his mental cultivation was insufficient.

A massive amount of materials had already been dispatched. These included contributions from various large and small sects, but even more came from Tianji Lu Ye.

Those with higher cultivation levels flew to Liyuan first. For those whose cultivation was insufficient for fast flight, Haotian City deployed several treasure ships to transport them, a process that would only cause a delay of one or two days.

With the preliminary preparations complete, it was time to begin array deployment, and naturally, it was the turn of the array masters and ghost cultivators to get to work.

When he saw Shangmeng, Shangmeng naturally saw him too.

Although Yue Xin had given a three-month deadline, no one knew if he would return midway to inspect their progress. If he discovered that Kyushu was cutting corners or merely going through the motions, and once enraged, no one would be able to withstand his fury.

This often left him feeling melancholic.

Although Kyushu had a considerable number of array masters and ghost cultivators, in the current circumstances, only cultivators above the Cloud River Realm could fully exert their strength. All ghost cultivators and array masters below the Cloud River Realm could only serve as assistants. Their pace was too slow, and they had not yet arrived. Once they did, Wuchang would assign them to different areas to assist the Cloud River Realm cultivators in setting up the array.

The area Lu Ye was responsible for was the lower right corner of the array diagram. For now, since his assistants hadn't arrived, he had to manage by himself.

Since array deployment had been decided, no one dared to slack off.

During the array deployment, everyone, from Cloud River Realm cultivators like Shangmeng to assistants like Ying Wuji, gained a great deal.

Amber and Yiyi had evidently realized this issue as well. Thus, even the habitually lazy Amber had been diligently cultivating recently. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they had only just advanced to the Divine Sea Realm, and the cultivation gap with Shangmeng remained significant.

Liyuan was a scene of bustling activity. Wuchang patrolled back and forth, occasionally stopping to discuss and research with various Cloud River Realm cultivators.

The amount of materials consumed would undoubtedly be incalculable, and the time expended would certainly be immense.

Fortunately, at that moment, the array masters and ghost cultivators below the Cloud River Realm arrived. Under Wuchang's assignments, they each proceeded to different areas to assist.

Array deployment was a very complex task. While it was simple for Lu Ye to activate arrays using spiritual power in the past, those arrays typically couldn't be maintained for very long. To truly sustain them over an extended period, it required a massive expenditure of manpower and resources, just as was happening now.

Within ten days, the foundation for the grand array had been properly prepared. This was an area spanning several hundred li in circumference.

Ying Wuji straightened his back and strode forward. "So what if he's in the Divine Sea Realm?" he thought. "Since fate dictates I must face him, I should seize this opportunity to overcome this inner demon!"

He knew, of course, that cultivators shouldn't compare themselves to others. He might envy those in the Divine Sea Realm, but many more people would envy him.

Moreover, to deploy a grand array of this scale, thorough preliminary preparations were essential.

In Liyuan, under Wuchang's leadership, Shangmeng, along with a group of ghost cultivators and array masters, arrived first. Gazing down from high in the sky, they were all silently awestruck.

"Xiao Ying," Shangmeng said, raising a hand and pointing in a direction, "go get some more materials from over there; we're running a bit low." Tianji Lu Ye's personnel were guarding the supplies in that area, which could be taken and used immediately, and replenished whenever needed, making it very convenient.

What the array-mastering cultivators now had to do was deploy the entire array diagram onto that foundation.

As his cultivation improved, he gradually discovered a problem: his cultivation speed was too fast, so fast that his companions and friends simply couldn't keep up.

The immense disparity was simply heartbreaking.

Fortunately, more people quickly joined in. Under Wuchang's assignments, each Cloud River Realm cultivator had several assistants, which somewhat eased Ying Wuji's awkwardness.

To think that he, Ying Wuji, was also a dragon among men, a genius with talent reaching eighty-eight leaves. Yet, compared to that fellow in the Divine Sea Realm, he was simply unpresentable.

What injustice! With so many array masters and ghost cultivators present, how was it that he alone was assigned to assist that Divine Sea Realm cultivator?

An area spanning hundreds of li—how vast! The Cloud River Realm array masters and ghost cultivators capable of contributing at this time in all of Kyushu barely numbered 700. Divided among them, almost everyone was responsible for an area of one to two li in radius.

Just like building a house, the foundation must first be compacted. The more solid the foundation, the more stable the house built upon it.

This was destined to be an immense project, and certainly not one that any single cultivator could complete alone. Although it was an operation forced upon them by an outside power, it was also a magnificent feast.

Array deployment followed the same principle, especially for grand arrays of this scale. A solid foundation would facilitate the array's future deployment and maximize its effectiveness.

They could only dedicate themselves fully, striving for perfection and pushing their limits at this stage!

Such a colossal array was completely different from any he had deployed before. Every array pattern required the refinement of numerous materials, with different materials chosen for different positions. It couldn't be casually constructed by merely activating spiritual power, making it very troublesome.

Ten days later, a vast stream of light set off from Haotian City.

Shangmeng had never intended to bother him, neither before nor now.

They exchanged glances; Shangmeng offered a faint smile, while Ying Wuji's face was flushed with embarrassment.

Ultimately, a very real situation had to be confronted: Shangmeng would be the first to advance to the Star Realm, leave Kyushu, and step into the starry sky. When that time came, they would inevitably part ways.

With further contact, Ying Wuji noticed that the Divine Sea Realm cultivator, perhaps due to his improved cultivation or a broadening of his mind, no longer seemed intent on troubling him. This allowed Ying Wuji to finally feel at ease.

On the vast foundation, within each section, the array diagram's patterns began to expand and extend. Based on their current progress, although the three-month deadline was tight, it was barely sufficient.

Shangmeng, without ceremony, simply said, "Enough talk, go quickly!"

Ying Wuji subconsciously replied, "Oh, alright," and walked a few steps before suddenly turning back to glare at Shangmeng. "Don't call me Xiao Ying!"

His companions and friends were like this, and so were his former enemies.

Ying Wuji was also among them. Following Wuchang's assignment, he arrived at the lower right corner of the foundation. One glance, and he nearly turned to leave.

Behind him, figures transformed into streams of light, descending to their assigned positions according to the earlier divisions.

Across the entire Kyushu, among countless cultivators, Shangmeng was the person Ying Wuji least wanted to see. In the past, he had been tormented severely by him. Now, seeing him again, he couldn't help but feel inferior.

It was as if they were very familiar.

The matter of this grand array concerned all of Kyushu, and Tianji Lu Ye could not remain uninvolved. Thus, under Senior Four's discreet arrangements, the materials stored within Tianji Lu Ye significantly decreased overnight.

While assisting Shangmeng with the other cultivators, Ying Wuji would sometimes pose questions, and Shangmeng would do his best to answer them.

After a long silence, Wuchang finally spoke. "Everyone, I entrust the rest to you." With that, he waved his hand. "Begin!"

Lu Ye was busy there for a full day, only managing to complete an area of the array diagram the size of a desktop, which demonstrated its profound complexity.

The three-month deadline seemed generous, but if any errors occurred midway, it might not actually be enough.

Although Liyuan had been chosen as the location for array deployment, Liyuan was too vast, so a suitable area still needed to be identified within it.

Ying Wuji immediately became dejected, thinking that he would have to assist under Shangmeng in the future. Those days would truly be difficult to endure.

That meant his time with his companions and friends would become increasingly scarce. He would encounter new friends and enemies, and all the past would eventually fade into memories.