The Shattered Array Core

The two combatants were startled. The masked man’s expression twisted in fury.

“How dare you destroy my spirit insects! You’ll die for this!” he roared.

He swiftly formed a hand seal, uttering a sharp “Attack!” The word resonated with powerful force.

Immediately, spiritual energy coalesced on the formation wall, and fireballs began to rain down relentlessly.

Although Luo Yingkong’s spiritual energy was restricted, her movement technique remained. Employing her Cloud-Treading Steps, she effortlessly dodged the slow-moving fireballs.

However, the sheer number of fireballs overhead forced her to concentrate entirely on evasion. The explosive power of these fireballs was considerable; a mortal struck by one would surely perish.

“Bang!”

Seizing an opportune moment, Luo Yingkong fired her gun at the masked man. Yet, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was not so easily dealt with. With a flick of his sleeve, an invisible force repelled the bullet, sending it hurtling back with undiminished speed.

This reflection caught Luo Yingkong completely off guard. She could barely evade it, but two descending fireballs confined her movement. In the blink of an eye, the bullet struck her abdomen.

Luo Yingkong was forced back two steps by the impact, her stomach numb from the shock. Fortunately, she wore protective gear beneath her clothes; otherwise, she would have sustained severe injuries.

The masked man attempted to pursue her further but was entangled by the old man.

“Little friend, this old man cannot spare a hand! Do you still have that magic artifact from before? The flaw in this formation lies at its very top! Attacking the array core there will break it!” the old man shouted as he fought.

“The very top?” Luo Yingkong dodged another fireball and gazed towards the apex of the formation, where faint spiritual energy fluctuations were visible.

“Bang!”

A bullet precisely struck the array core. The entire formation wavered several times but did not shatter, and the fireballs overhead paused for a second.

The masked man was startled. Although the old man could use spiritual power, he was partially suppressed. If this intruding girl managed to break the formation, he would undoubtedly suffer defeat!

“Junior! Stop right there!” In a fit of urgency, the masked man cast aside the old man and lunged towards her.

“Hmph! Where do you think you’re going!” The old man flicked his mosquito whip, and its white bristles suddenly elongated, coiling around the masked man.

“Little friend, quickly break the formation! This old man will hold this fellow back!”

Luo Yingkong did not hesitate. She retrieved her sniper rifle and chambered a round. These two were Foundation Establishment cultivators; she could not easily contend with them.

“Bang!” The twenty-fold power bullet numbed Luo Yingkong’s arm. The thumb-thick warhead slammed into the array core, and the surrounding fireballs abruptly vanished.

The white formation wall dispersed downwards from the top, revealing the trees outside. The struck array core was a bronze mirror, now shattered by the bullet!

The masked man violently spat out a mouthful of blood, declaring with a resentful tone, “Little girl, how dare you destroy my vital magic artifact! You will remember this!”

Having spoken, he tapped his foot on the ground, soaring into the sky on a flying sword and escaping. The three disciples, their spiritual energy restored, also scrambled to their feet, intending to give chase.

“Stop, don’t pursue them. Let us head to Autumn Leaf Valley first…”

“I must thank this little friend for their timely assistance. May I ask which sect you belong to? This old man would like to visit afterward to offer some gratitude,” the old man said to Luo Yingkong.

“Senior, you are too kind,” Luo Yingkong replied. “I am without sect or school; I merely acted to protect myself. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave…” She continued walking towards Autumn Leaf Valley.

“Little friend, wait. With your capabilities, joining our sect would be more than sufficient. Would you consider it?”

Luo Yingkong paused, then turned around. “Your sect is?”

“Lin Yinshan. We are considered a major sect in this region. If the little friend is willing, I can personally guide you through the entrance.”

She mused for a moment. To join a major sect usually required an assessment, and while she had some confidence, the offer to be directly admitted seemed much more secure.

The old man did not rush her, allowing her time to consider. The three disciples, two men and one woman, had faces swollen like pig heads, their original features unrecognizable.

“Are there any conditions for entry?” Luo Yingkong inquired.

“As long as your aptitude is not too poor, little friend, you may enter with me,” the old man said patiently, seeing a glimmer of hope.

“I am inexperienced. How is aptitude verified?”

“Simple. Give me your hand.”

The old man stepped forward, reaching for her hand. Luo Yingkong cautiously retreated a step. The old man paused slightly, then chuckled. “Little friend is truly careful. Rest assured, my spiritual power is nearly depleted. How could I possibly threaten you?”

Luo Yingkong glanced at the old man, then at the three individuals behind him, before finally extending her hand, her other hand tightly gripping her jade pendant artifact.

The old man observed these small actions but paid them no mind. If a rogue cultivator lacked such caution, they would have died countless times over. It was precisely such cultivators, born of the wilderness, who were most likely to survive.

The old man held her slender wrist, closing his eyes in contemplation. Luo Yingkong felt only a cool stream of spiritual energy flow into her arm, with no other unusual sensations.

“Golden, blue… Dual spiritual roots of metal and water—excellent!” The old man nodded and opened his eyes.

“How is it?” Luo Yingkong asked eagerly.

“Your aptitude is superior; joining the sect will absolutely not be a problem. If the little friend is willing, let us journey to Autumn Leaf Valley together.”

Luo Yingkong nodded. The three disciples behind them rejoiced at the prospect of a beautiful junior sister and wanted to approach her for a chat, but their unsightly appearance made them too embarrassed to speak.

The four of them briefly adjusted their spiritual energy before setting off for Autumn Leaf Valley.

“Senior, how is aptitude categorized?”

“Aptitude primarily depends on spiritual roots. A single spiritual root is the purest, offering the fastest cultivation speed, marking a top-tier genius—only one in ten thousand cultivators possesses such. Next are dual spiritual roots, which is your current aptitude.

Following this logic, five spiritual roots signify the worst aptitude. Cultivating a single layer of cultivation might take them thirty to fifty years, making Foundation Establishment utterly hopeless.

Besides the five elemental spiritual roots, there are also special variant spiritual roots. These individuals generally possess exceptional aptitude and unique cultivation techniques, though some can be inferior.”

Luo Yingkong listened attentively. The old man nodded. “You possess dual spiritual roots of metal and water, which means you’ll be more proficient in handling magic artifacts than others and are suited for cultivating lightning-type techniques.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I wonder if any cultivation techniques will be available for sale at this gathering?” Luo Yingkong indeed lacked an offensive spell. She had the Berserk Soul Art for enhancing divine sense, and the Qi Gathering Art merely boosted cultivation speed.

“There will certainly be some, but they are mostly common goods. If you were to take me as your master, how about I gift you one?”

Noticing Luo Yingkong’s slight hesitation, the old man continued, “You can take your time to consider. I am responsible for bringing you into the sect as an outer disciple, where you can exchange resources by performing miscellaneous tasks.”

“However, if you acknowledge me as your master, you can consult me whenever you encounter difficulties in cultivation, and I will also look after you with resources.”

****

“Senior, please allow me some time to consider,” Luo Yingkong replied. While the conditions were appealing, blindly acknowledging a master upon a first meeting seemed ill-advised. At the very least, she needed to know the other party’s background.

“That is for the little friend to decide. My surname is Li; you can find me anytime once you’ve made up your mind.”

****

After traveling for half an hour, the old man stopped at a mountainside.

“We have arrived.”

Luo Yingkong was puzzled. Not a single cultivator was in sight; this hardly looked like a gathering place.

The old man pointed with one hand, striking a ball of spiritual energy into the void ahead. A small, circular hole appeared before them. Luo Yingkong immediately understood: it was an illusion formation!

Passing through the formation, the scene shifted, and she felt as though she had entered a bustling market. Numerous wooden tables were laid out on the flat ground in the distance, surrounded by temporary shops.

The streets, though not overly crowded, were filled entirely with cultivators! Luo Yingkong attempted to probe with her divine sense but was stopped by the old man.

“Little friend, do not be reckless. Some ill-tempered cultivators strongly resent being probed. When traveling, it is best not to stir up trouble.”

“I see, thank you for your guidance, Senior.” Seeing so many cultivators for the first time, Luo Yingkong’s eyes were filled with curiosity, as if she had discovered a new continent.

The street stalls displayed magic artifacts, elixirs, spiritual herbs, talismans, and various items she had never encountered before.