Chapter 188: The Grand Drama Begins

On this day, Li Fan received a message from Zhang Zhiliang, asking him to come to the Array Strategy Hall.

Since obtaining the position of Array Repairman, Li Fan had not yet performed any official duties. Presumably, Zhang Zhiliang had been researching the Grand Mountain and River Array on the Reproduction Island, which was why he hadn't contacted Li Fan. This sudden summons prompted Li Fan to not delay. He changed into his black and yellow Daoist robe and, familiar with the route, arrived in front of the Array Strategy Hall.

Now that he had an official identity, when he entered the central core area, the Seven-Colored Immortal-Trapping Array above his head simply ignored Li Fan. After entering the diagonally-standing cuboid building, a smaller cube seemed to recognize Li Fan's identity and automatically began to operate. A moment later, it brought Li Fan to the space where Zhang Zhiliang was. Li Fan was extremely familiar with this place. In his eleventh life, it was here that he had spent several years researching arrays, forgetting sleep and food, and completely focused, thus formally stepping onto the path of arrays.

Looking forward, Zhang Zhiliang was standing motionless with his back to him.

"Greetings, Senior," Li Fan said, bowing.

Zhang Zhiliang seemed not to have heard him, remaining motionless. Seeing this, Li Fan repeated his greeting. As if there was a long delay, it was a while before Zhang Zhiliang turned around.

"Oh... you... you've arrived."

Li Fan immediately realized that the figure before him was likely some kind of clone. Nevertheless, he asked, "Senior, have you finished researching the Grand Mountain and River Array?" After a moment, Zhang Zhiliang's disjointed voice finally sounded.

"Not yet. The Grand Mountain and River Array... the research is at a critical juncture... It's even more complex than imagined... it'll probably take another year or two to finish. Fellow Daoist He seemed to have something urgent, and left in a hurry... I also... suddenly remembered that since you joined, I haven't taught you any array formations yet. Given the current... situation, I can't spare the time. However, it wouldn't be right to delay you for another year or two. Therefore, I will give you the relevant array path materials first. You can study them on your own. If you have any questions, I will answer them one by one when I return." He spoke haltingly; this short speech took him a long time to finish.

After Zhang Zhiliang finished speaking, he handed over a storage ring. Li Fan took the storage ring and swept his spiritual sense over it; he was not unfamiliar with its contents: encrypted jade slips, Heart Ape incense.

"You were able to grasp the basics of arrays entirely through self-study before, so your talent... should be quite good. The encrypted jade slips in this storage ring are a meticulously compiled summary of introductory array paths. Study them carefully and cross-reference them with what you've already learned. After reading them thoroughly, I believe... your array formation level will greatly improve." After the last instruction was given, Zhang Zhiliang's figure became silent.

Li Fan put away the storage ring and returned to the Heavenly Profound Mirror. He took out the encrypted jade slips and read them carefully, finding them to be quite similar to what Zhang Zhiliang had taught him in his previous life. The only difference was the addition of many array examples. For example, the current Myriad Immortals Alliance's island-protection array: the Heavenly Origin Life-Transformation Array. Unlike the Ten Thousand Li Mountain and River Array from three thousand years ago, which focused heavily on defense, the current Heavenly Origin Life-Transformation Array emphasizes both offense and defense, and also has the effect of absorbing the essence of mortals within the array to increase spiritual energy concentration.

Although the jade slips did not contain the core structural data of the Heavenly Origin Life-Transformation Array, they did include structural diagrams for some of the array's easily damaged nodes. From these intricate details, Li Fan could glimpse the vastness and subtlety of the Heavenly Origin Life-Transformation Array. In the jade slips, Zhang Zhiliang also included a reminder: The contents of this grand array were absolute secrets of the Myriad Immortals Alliance and must never be leaked.

Besides the Heavenly Origin Life-Transformation Array, the jade slips also contained analyses of many previously unseen arrays, such as the Azure Wood Spirit Gathering Array and the Soaring Five Thunder Array, which greatly broadened Li Fan's horizons. However, these arrays were profound and extremely complex, so Li Fan only briefly browsed them without delving deeply. Because he had something else to do at the moment.

Putting down the jade slips, Li Fan checked the price of Spirit Mist Grass. Earlier, when Zhang Zhiliang mentioned that He Zhenghao had left in a hurry, even neglecting his research on the Grand Mountain and River Array, Li Fan guessed that the Spirit Mist Grass island had been attacked by the exotic beast Dragon Whale. Calculating the time, it should be about now. As expected, the price of Spirit Mist Grass had risen slightly not long ago. It increased from 18 contribution points per stalk to 19 points. Li Fan currently had a stock of two thousand seven hundred stalks and was not in a hurry to sell them at this moment. After all, there was still some time before the news spread, the event escalated, and the price of Spirit Mist Grass soared to 25 points.

"A price of 25 points is still too low. Perhaps I can stir things up a bit more..."

"However, my main body should not get involved in this matter. It's time to use a clone." Li Fan's eyes gleamed.

The clone, which had been silently running errands on Myriad Immortals Island, barely sustaining itself, activated a Concealment Talisman, hiding its aura and appearance, and arrived at the Thousand Li Hall. The shop was deserted, with not a single customer. Jiao Xiuyuan was lazily lying behind the counter, resting with his eyes closed. The moment Li Fan stepped in, Jiao Xiuyuan sprang up, his face eager: "Finally a customer! What can I do for you? Array talismans, magical artifacts, elixirs—we have everything, and bulk orders get better prices!"

Li Fan chuckled, "I heard Fellow Daoist Jiao has quite a few flawed Concealment Talismans that were discarded from the Talisman Hall?"

Jiao Xiuyuan said with a playful smile, "It's true I have quite a few Concealment Talismans, but where I got them from is inconvenient to disclose. Fellow Daoist, how many do you want?"

"How many? I'd actually like to buy all the Concealment Talismans you have, Fellow Daoist..." Li Fan paused, seeing Jiao Xiuyuan's face light up with wild joy. "But I'm short on funds and don't have that many contribution points!" He sighed, changing his tone.

Jiao Xiuyuan's face darkened, and his tone turned unfriendly: "You scoundrel, are you messing with me?" However, he then frowned, somewhat puzzled: "Why do you need so many Concealment Talismans? A few on hand should be enough."

Li Fan smiled slightly, "That's why I came to see you, Fellow Daoist, this time." Seeing Jiao Xiuyuan's interest, Li Fan, for the moment, kept him in suspense, remaining silent.

Jiao Xiuyuan scoffed, "Still trying to keep me in suspense? Who knows if what you're saying is true or not? If you don't want to say, then fine!"

Li Fan wasn't angry; instead, he smiled and cupped his hands, "In that case, I apologize for disturbing you!" Then, without the slightest hesitation, he turned and left. As he walked, he sighed, "They say Jiao Xiuyuan of Thousand Li Hall never makes a losing deal. I thought his business acumen was extraordinary, but it turns out, it's nothing special." Li Fan shook his head, one foot already stepping out the door of Thousand Li Hall.

"Wait!" Just then, Jiao Xiuyuan called out to him. Enthusiastically, he pulled Li Fan back and closed the shop door. Jiao Xiuyuan rubbed his hands, "Although I know you're using a provocation tactic, I'm still willing to fall for it." A hint of greed appeared in his eyes: "Because I smell a business opportunity."