Chapter 292: Research Went Astray

If Lu Ye were to research a method for breaking arrays, the major forces of Wanmoling would have nowhere to turn. Shenyin Palace was currently giving Lu Ye its full support, and if he succeeded, Shenyin Palace would be the first to benefit, securing the prime advantage.

Attacking their own protective array? What did it matter? Even if the array was destroyed, it was inconsequential. In fact, Gu Canyang was eager to witness that very scene.

Seeing Gu Canyang's attitude, Lu Ye understood immediately what he was thinking.

"Then thank you, Brother Gu."

Gu Canyang laughed heartily. "It's nothing, Brother Yi Ye, don't mention it."

"Who controls your sect's grand array?" Lu Ye asked.

Gu Canyang pointed to the white-robed youth beside him. "Junior Brother Wei Li is in charge of the array."

Wei Li immediately stepped forward. "Daoist Lu, do you have any requests?"

"I wouldn't presume. Please, Daoist Wei, adjust the array back to its previous state." Lu Ye had stopped because Wei Li had activated the array to its maximum, and his blade strike no longer had the same effect as before.

He was just beginning to research how to break defensive arrays, so naturally, he needed to start with the simplest settings. Once he understood the mechanisms, there would be plenty of time to increase the difficulty.

Hearing this, Wei Li quickly activated the jade pendant in his hand, and the humming array slowly subsided.

Gu Canyang exchanged a few more words with Lu Ye, then left with his people.

Researching array-breaking methods wouldn't be achieved in a short time, so there was no need to gather there and watch the spectacle. However, it was clear that in the coming days, their protective array would likely be put through its paces. Gu Canyang, far from complaining, even felt a slight anticipation, instructing Wei Li to fully assist Lu Ye with any requests he might have.

After the Shenyin Palace members departed, Lu Ye once again activated the Insight Spirit Mark to his eyes, focusing on the array's nodes.

His earlier test had shown him that even with the array running at its lowest setting, and even if he could see the nodes, it was impossible to break the array with brute force. Of course, if the array didn't strengthen its defenses, with the power of his previous attack, he might have had a chance to break it. But this clearly wouldn't happen; when attacking an enemy stronghold, once an assault began, the enemy would definitely bolster their array.

Since brute force was unfeasible, he could only rely on the principles of Spirit Marks.

He observed the flowing changes of the Yin-Yang elements at the nodes, mentally devising a method of破解. He raised his hand and pressed it against the array's energy barrier. As spirit power surged, using the area covered by his hand as the source, spirit power diffused in all directions, and Yin-Yang elements rapidly spread out, instantly covering an area of three zhang.

In the past, Lu Ye couldn't have achieved this. Even as a Spirit Mark Master, with stronger control over his spirit power than cultivators of the same realm, he couldn't instantly construct Yin-Yang elements covering such a large area. But after cleansing his soul in the Soul Cleansing Pond in Xianyuan City, his control over his spirit power had greatly improved, allowing him to break through his previous limits.

Breaking an array operated on the same principle as opening a storage bag's prohibitory seal, because an array itself was a vast seal. The difference was that breaking an array had stricter requirements. Lu Ye could take his time opening a storage bag's prohibitory seal; he just needed to activate spirit power to construct fundamental elements that countered those seals to break it.

Breaking an array couldn't be done slowly, because the array was constantly operating, and if he was too slow, he wouldn't be able to break it at all. This was an array that was unattended. If someone were actively controlling it, the array would change even more, and then breaking it would truly require seizing fleeting opportunities.

For Lu Ye to break the array now, first, he needed to clearly see the interlocking and connections of the Yin-Yang elements near the nodes. Second, he needed to construct perfectly counteracting fundamental elements in a very short time and perfectly align them. In this way, the fundamental elements he constructed could dissolve that section of the array's energy barrier, allowing him to bypass the node and penetrate the array.

With the Insight Spirit Mark's enhancement, the first point was not difficult for him. The difficult part was the second.

After a short rest, Lu Ye made his second attempt. Even with his strong control over his spirit power, achieving this was not easy, because in those mere few breaths, he needed to construct hundreds, thousands, or even more fundamental elements, and not a single one could be wrong, or it would be useless.

In the following days, Shenyin Palace cultivators often saw a solitary figure sitting beside the array, and occasionally their protective array would suddenly hum and vibrate. Initially, the cultivators were somewhat uncomfortable, but as the occurrences increased, they stopped finding it strange. Wei Li, who was responsible for controlling the array, would also occasionally receive messages from Lu Ye, making corresponding adjustments to the array.

With the full cooperation from Shenyin Palace, Lu Ye's progress in breaking the array gradually improved. He summarized lessons from each failure and adjusted his approach. The books brought from Lady Yun helped greatly at this time; many perplexing questions found inspiration or even answers in those books.

Time passed swiftly, and a month later.

At the same node's location as before, Gu Canyang and Wei Li stood inside the array, and Lu Ye stood outside, facing each other across the array's energy barrier.

"It's starting," Wei Li muttered, taking out the jade pendant controlling the array. Under his manipulation, the protective array was instantly activated to its maximum, and the energy barrier covering the stronghold became much more solid, with a luminous aura swirling on its surface.

Across from him, Lu Ye's eyes, enhanced by the Insight Spirit Mark, intently watched the various changes at the array's node. He watched for the duration of an incense stick, then suddenly stepped forward. A flash of light appeared on his legs, empowered by the Windwalk Spirit Mark. Lu Ye's speed instantly increased to its maximum. At the same time, spirit power surged around his body, and hundreds of Yin-Yang elements interlocked and formed on his body's surface, making it seem as if he had put on a spiritual cloak woven from fundamental elements.

Then he collided with the protective array, his entire body embedding within it. Under the stunned gazes of Gu Canyang and Wei Li, his embedded body broke free from the array's restraints. It felt as if he was pulling himself out of the array, even emitting a soft 'pop' sound.

"It's done."

Lu Ye calmed his spirit power. He had walked from outside the array to inside, now standing before Gu Canyang and Wei Li.

His initial research direction was how to break arrays, but as his research progressed, his direction changed. Mainly, Lu Ye discovered that his current cultivation was still too low; even if he could forcefully break open an array's node, he couldn't sustain the breach.

If the protective array was compared to a water ripple, then the principle of breaking it was to open a gap in this water ripple. In this way, when attacking an enemy stronghold, their forces could rush into the enemy's stronghold through this gap to engage the enemy directly, without being obstructed by the protective array.

Lu Ye's current ability couldn't open a long-lasting gap in the water ripple; at most, he could break a fissure in it. But this was meaningless because the array had self-repairing capabilities, and the fissure would quickly heal.

Realizing that his previous idea was difficult to achieve, Lu Ye almost gave up. But after seeing something in a book, Lu Ye had some new, novel insights. The next half month was spent on experiments, which culminated in this success.

Gu Canyang and Wei Li stared blankly at Lu Ye, speechless for a long time.

"How did you do it?" Gu Canyang was utterly bewildered. The array was clearly still functioning, yet Lu Ye bypassed its defenses and easily walked from outside to inside the array. This was truly incredible.

"Arrays have nodes, and the nodes are vulnerable points. Find the node, clearly see the interlocking and connection of the fundamental elements at the node, then use spirit power to generate perfectly identical fundamental elements and insert them into the node. In this way, you can pass through the array's node, integrate yourself with the array, and then enter it."

Gu Canyang thoughtfully murmured, "I see." He wailed inwardly, *I don't understand!*

"Simply put, it's disguise, deception," Lu Ye explained again. "I cover my entire body with spirit power, constructing fundamental elements exactly identical to those at the array's node, disguising myself. By inserting myself through the node, the array mistakenly believes I am part of it, thus accepting my presence."

Now Gu Canyang vaguely understood some, but he truly couldn't figure out how an array could be deceived.

"Senior Brother, it's similar to a fly not landing on a seamless egg," Wei Li suddenly interjected.

Gu Canyang realized, "The protective array is an egg, and Brother Yi Ye is..."

"If you insist on thinking that way... it's not impossible."

"But this doesn't have much practical use," Gu Canyang frowned.

Although Lu Ye had demonstrated in front of them how to infiltrate the array through disguise and deception, this indeed didn't help much in capturing enemy strongholds. If the array wasn't broken, the stronghold would be difficult to capture.

"This is what I'm thinking..." Lu Ye began to explain in detail, and Gu Canyang and Wei Li's eyes gradually lit up as they listened.

When Lu Ye finished speaking, the two exchanged glances, seeing the excitement in each other's eyes. If this matter succeeded, it would certainly be a great achievement, and both of them would undoubtedly be handsomely rewarded by the sect.

So, almost without hesitation, Gu Canyang declared, "It's rare for Brother Yi Ye to be willing to take such a risk. Shenyin Palace has no reason to shrink back!"

"Then shall I wait for your news?"

"I'll arrange the rest."

A short while later, at Lingyun Hall's stronghold, Zhou Pei, who was meditating and cultivating, received a message. Upon checking, he found it was from Gu Canyang, so he replied, "Is there something you need, Brother Gu?"

"Good news!"

"Oh? What's the good news?"

"Interested in conquering Fenghua Courtyard's stronghold, Brother Zhou?"

Zhou Pei immediately jolted, his eyes clearing considerably.

Half a day later, at the border where Shenyin Palace and Fenghua Courtyard's territories met, several cultivators fought. However, one side was quickly overwhelmed and fled after being injured. The victors did not recklessly pursue, as it was difficult to ascertain if the other party was luring them deeper. Such incidents had occurred many times before.

The injured ones were from Shenyin Palace. One of them, a feisty young girl, was clearly not reconciled. After escaping to a safe distance, she turned around and shouted at the Fenghua Courtyard cultivators, "You just wait, I'll have Senior Brother Gu come and wipe you all out!"

The leader of Fenghua Courtyard sneered, "Useless barking! Come if you dare!"

The girl screamed in frustration, raising her sword and about to charge forward. Fortunately, her companions were still sensible and quickly stopped her.