Chapter 673: Entry into the Tower

When Lu Ye arrived before the Hundred Array Pagoda, the cultivator surnamed Yu, whom he had previously injured, was trapped within a complex array formation.

A massive, hideous wound gaped across his chest and abdomen, flesh ripped open, bleeding profusely.

For a Level Six Law Cultivator, such an injury was severe but not yet enough to cause despair.

Even as a Law Cultivator, reaching this cultivation level meant his physique, though not comparable to Sword Cultivators or Body Cultivators, was far superior to that of ordinary mortals.

With proper healing and rest, he would eventually recover.

What truly filled him with despair was his current predicament.

Earlier, Lu Ye's blade had opened a safe passage, causing him to fall into the array. Fearing Lu Ye would pursue him, he had fled headlong forward the moment he landed, only to completely lose his bearings in the process.

Although he was certain he wasn't far from the safe passage, he was utterly unable to discern its direction.

Throughout history, countless array masters had left behind various array formations here. Coupled with the mysterious influence of the Hundred Array Pagoda, the arrays in this area seemed to have undergone peculiar, unknown transformations.

Without sufficiently high mastery, anyone falling into such a zone could not hope to leave alive.

Nearby lay a pile of dry bones, long dead, so brittle they crumbled at a touch. Staring at them, the cultivator surnamed Yu seemed to see his own future demise.

Furthermore, a vague, immense danger enveloped him. Though he couldn't discern much, he understood he had likely fallen into an extremely perilous array.

Annoyance, regret, and a myriad of other emotions surged within him. He couldn't comprehend why a Level Five Sword Cultivator could unleash such powerful strength under a joint sneak attack from him and another Level Seven Sword Cultivator, killing his companion instantly and forcing him into such a desperate situation.

Nevertheless, healing and recovering were paramount. Once his injuries stabilized, he could attempt to break out of the array; perhaps there was still a sliver of hope.

But before that, he needed to transmit the news of Lu Yiye's appearance at the Hundred Array Pagoda. After suffering such a heavy loss, how could he possibly accept it willingly?

If he was suffering, Lu Yiye wouldn't have an easy time either!

He raised his hand, tapped his battle insignia, and sent out a message.

Outside the Hundred Array Pagoda, Lu Ye looked up, counting the levels. He found that this Hundred Array Pagoda, like the one at Tianyan Sect, also had thirty-three levels.

This implied that the final section of the Hundred Array Pagoda had thirty-four levels, forming its uppermost part. However, no one knew the whereabouts of this section yet.

At the very bottom of the Hundred Array Pagoda was an entrance. As Lu Ye watched, an array master enthusiastically walked in and then disappeared.

Suddenly, another array master appeared before the entrance, his face deathly pale as if he had suffered a severe blow. His body swayed unsteadily, and he coughed up a mist of blood before collapsing to the ground, his fate unknown.

A cultivator who recognized him cried out in alarm and rushed forward to help him to the side, feeding him healing elixirs.

Challenging the Hundred Array Pagoda carried significant risks.

Having challenged the Hundred Array Pagoda at Tianyan Sect, Lu Ye was perfectly aware of this.

Each level within the pagoda presented a different trial, but generally, there were three types: breaking arrays, setting up arrays, and completing arrays.

Breaking arrays involved deciphering and dismantling the formations inside the Hundred Array Pagoda.

Setting up arrays meant constructing formations that met the Hundred Array Pagoda's specifications.

Completing arrays, an extension of setting up arrays, involved perfecting an incomplete or flawed formation found within the Hundred Array Pagoda.

One should not assume that completing arrays is simple. Among array masters, a saying circulated: "Better to set ten arrays than complete one!"

This is because setting up an array from scratch involves personally handling every detail, with everything clear in one's mind, executed entirely according to one's own design.

Completing an array, however, was different. Heaven knew how many hidden flaws and weaknesses those half-finished arrays contained. Repairing these imperfections demanded far more time and effort than setting up a new array. One had to align with the original array's various concepts without destroying the existing structure, making it significantly more difficult than simply establishing a formation.

If the Hundred Array Pagoda's trial involved setting up arrays, there was generally little danger, as failure merely meant not passing the test and being sent out by the pagoda.

But if the trial was breaking or completing arrays, then danger was present.

One wrong move, and the array would activate, leaving one injured, if not dead!

Every year, numerous array masters came to challenge the Hundred Array Pagoda, and many who boasted great skill died within.

This danger was not limited to the trials themselves; even passing a trial carried risks. After completing a trial, the Hundred Array Pagoda would bestow a reward, a kind of "enlightenment" that allowed cultivators to rapidly absorb a vast amount of array-related information.

Its effect was akin to Lu Ye accessing information stored on the leaves of his talent tree, but far more intense.

When a flood of information surged into one's mind in an instant, one's entire spiritual consciousness felt as if it were being torn apart. The better one performed in the Hundred Array Pagoda, the greater the reward, and the more intense this tearing pain became.

Last time, Lu Ye had endured it by relying on Soul Water.

Therefore, ever since entering the Cloud River Battlefield, he had been looking for treasures that could restore spiritual consciousness. Unfortunately, he had found nothing until he unexpectedly entered Immortal Yuan City again, where he obtained a large quantity of Soul Water, which finally enabled this trip to the Hundred Array Pagoda.

Naturally, the benefits array masters typically gained in the Hundred Array Pagoda were not as exaggerated. Lu Ye's case was primarily due to his exceptionally outstanding performance last time, which resulted in an overwhelming reward and an unprecedented amount of pressure to endure.

Under normal circumstances, cultivators who passed the trials could safely assimilate the benefits received, thereby improving their array mastery.

The array master who had suddenly fainted showed no external injuries, only a pale complexion, indicating that his mental energy had been severely depleted.

This person had undoubtedly gained much inside the Hundred Array Pagoda, and the benefits received had slightly exceeded his endurance limit, leading to his sudden collapse and blood expulsion.

However, once he awakened, his mastery of array arts would undoubtedly improve significantly, which was a good outcome.

As these thoughts surged through his mind, Lu Ye was about to step into the Hundred Array Pagoda when a peculiar resonance suddenly rippled outward. This invisible, ethereal pulsation spread like an unseen wind, radiating in all directions, swiftly covering dozens of miles.

Outside the Hundred Array Pagoda, everyone stopped their actions, their eyes wide with pleasant surprise as they gazed at the pagoda.

Someone exclaimed, "It's resonating! It's resonating!"

It was as if treasure was falling from the sky.

Although no treasure actually fell from the sky, the Hundred Array Pagoda's resonance was a heaven-sent blessing for all array masters who frequented the area.

Under this resonance, array masters could more easily comprehend the mysteries of array arts. Many concepts that were previously elusive might suddenly become clear at this moment, thereby enhancing their array mastery.

Triggering the Hundred Array Pagoda's resonance was no simple feat; it required achieving excellent results in its trials.

At Tianyan Sect, Lu Ye had successively triggered the Hundred Array Pagoda's resonance multiple times, granting the sect's array masters numerous benefits.

It could be said that after Lu Ye completed his challenges in the Hundred Array Pagoda, the array mastery of Tianyan Sect's lower-level disciples generally improved by a significant margin. It was foreseeable that the sect's foundational strength would considerably increase over the next ten to twenty years.

It was precisely because of the Hundred Array Pagoda's resonance that many array masters permanently stationed themselves here. Firstly, they prepared for their next challenge, and secondly, they awaited such resonances, which could appear at any time, to gain benefits.

However, the Hundred Array Pagoda's resonance was not easily triggered. Although many array masters entered and exited the pagoda daily, such a resonance typically occurred only once every three to five months. For all array masters gathered here, the Hundred Array Pagoda's resonance was an extremely rare and sought-after experience.

Thus, upon sensing the Hundred Array Pagoda's peculiar pulsation, all array masters closed their eyes, silently immersing themselves in its profound mysteries.

Even Lu Ye stood still. At that instant, he distinctly felt his mind become much clearer. Various array-related knowledge surged within his spiritual sea, and concepts he previously thought he had fully grasped now yielded new insights upon reconsideration.

The resonance continued, and all array masters were deeply immersed, unable to pull themselves away.

Only after a full incense stick of time did the peculiar resonance gradually fade. The array masters, still yearning for more, slowly recovered, carefully savoring and pondering their gains.

Laughter erupted, clearly from someone who had gained significantly, drawing envious glances from nearby array masters.

Although Lu Ye also gained something, his gains weren't substantial. His current mastery of array arts, much like his spiritual consciousness, far surpassed cultivators of the same level, rendering such resonance of little practical use to him.

To further enhance his array mastery, he still needed to personally challenge the pagoda and achieve excellent results.

At the base of Tianyan Sect's Hundred Array Pagoda, there was a stone tablet. According to the sect's Grand Elder Bai Qian's conjecture, this tablet was likely for challengers to leave their names, with outstanding performers being recorded for future generations to revere.

However, because the Hundred Array Pagoda was divided into three sections, and the one at Tianyan Sect was only one of them, the stone tablet had never served its intended purpose.

This second section in the Cloud River Battlefield was the middle part of the Hundred Array Pagoda, and naturally, no such stone tablet existed here. At its very bottom was a simple, dark entrance that seemed to connect to an unknown space.

Lu Ye took a few steps and arrived before the entrance. Without hesitation, he walked straight in.

His vision blurred, a sensation similar to being transported by a Heavenly Mechanism Pillar. When Lu Ye regained his senses, he found himself in a small space.

He looked around, noting that the situation was no different from his previous challenges in the pagoda.

The small space was no larger than a single room, surrounded by an expanse of whiteness, utterly empty.

On a nearby wall, there was a protruding stone brick.

Following his experience and memories from his last challenge, Lu Ye stepped forward, raised his hand, and pressed lightly on the stone brick. It immediately recessed into the wall.