Chapter 368: Contesting the Rankings Intensifies

"You want me to oversee the construction of the core area?"

Inside the Jiaxu Outpost, Li Fan was slightly taken aback as he looked at Xue Mu and the others, who had suddenly come to visit.

After a moment's thought, he decisively refused.

"I'm not being modest," he said. "During the Langhuan Villa assessment, my affinity with the Heavenly Mirror was only mediocre."

"Fellow Daoist Xue Mu can vouch for that."

"I appreciate your good intentions, everyone. However, my capabilities are truly limited, and I cannot undertake such a crucial task."

"Senior Jiang's mastery of formations is far superior to mine; he is highly respected. I can see no one more suitable than him."

Li Fan stated earnestly.

Jiang Qigui, the Nascent Soul formation master, seeing the somewhat unfriendly glances from the surrounding cultivators, quickly replied, "Fellow Daoist Li Fan, you jest. Everyone has witnessed your contributions; how could I dare..."

Before he could finish, Li Fan smiled and interrupted him. "Fellow Daoist Jiang, don't misunderstand; every word I've spoken is sincere."

"As everyone knows, the final construction phase of the Heavenly Mystic Spirit-Locking Array requires communication with the central array core for continuous adjustments in the future."

"This is truly not my area of expertise, nor am I intentionally trying to decline."

Seeing Jiang Qigui's hesitation, Li Fan added, "I understand your concerns, Senior Jiang. Constructing the outer and inner arrays involves a lot of effort but yields relatively little contribution."

"The central core area, however, doesn't require much effort, yet it brings significantly more contribution."

"Taking over the leadership at this point might be seen as unfairly claiming credit. You're afraid of being criticized later, aren't you?"

Seeing Li Fan openly articulate his thoughts, Jiang Qigui's old face flushed slightly.

Just as he was about to explain, he heard Li Fan say, "Let me tell you all, I already have one foot in the grave."

"As for the so-called Golden List ranking in the Grand Competition..."

Li Fan paused, dispelling the slight resentment that had welled up within him.

His expression calm, he continued, "I simply don't care at all."

"My only hope is to contribute as much as possible before my demise."

"My sole consideration is finding the most efficient way to construct the array."

"Therefore, Fellow Daoist Jiang, you don't need to decline."

"Who else but you could handle such a crucial responsibility?"

With that, Li Fan scanned the surroundings to convey his sincerity.

After listening to Li Fan's heartfelt words, Jiang Qigui's face turned beet red.

He took a deep breath and bowed deeply towards Li Fan.

"In that case, I shall not be modest and accept!"

"I will certainly live up to your high expectations, Fellow Daoist."

Jiang Qigui stated solemnly.

Li Fan grasped his hands, speaking with utmost sincerity, "From now on, I'm afraid you'll have quite a lot of work, Fellow Daoist."

Three days later, Huangfu Song arrived at the Jiaxu Outpost, accompanied by two black-robed cultivators.

They had come after receiving a message from Li Fan and the others, bringing the Heavenly Mystic Mirror—the central array core—with them.

"Greetings, Senior Huangfu!" Li Fan saluted.

"You brat..." The stout Huangfu Song looked at Li Fan with a somewhat complex expression.

"Well done!" He patted Li Fan's shoulder, saying nothing more.

He took out a fragmented jade talisman, turned around, and completed the linkage with the jade talismans held by the two black-robed cultivators.

Within the unfolding light screen, countless characters flashed like a waterfall.

A faint, almost imperceptible ripple emanated from the light screen, sweeping over the surroundings.

It seemed to be performing an identity verification.

A moment later, the ripple retracted, and an ancient, exquisite bronze mirror materialized from within the light screen.

The characters flowed into the mirror's surface, and the light screen vanished without a trace.

Only the bronze mirror remained, floating in mid-air, emitting a serene, mystic glow.

Huangfu Song's expression was solemn as he continuously performed hand seals.

He pointed towards the center of the Soul-Devouring White Mist outside the outpost.

Ripples spread across the sea of mist, as if something deep within the white fog was responding to him.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly; that must be the intended location for the core area of the Heavenly Mystic Spirit-Locking Array.

Sure enough, a moment later, a beam of azure mystic light pierced through the white mist.

It flew directly towards the Jiaxu Outpost below.

It accurately struck the bronze mirror floating in the air.

All the specks of azure light were absorbed by the bronze mirror.

The azure glow swirling around it also gradually receded and vanished.

Finally, when the bronze mirror no longer displayed any mystical aura, appearing just like an ordinary object,

Huangfu Song finally breathed a sigh of relief. He took out a vermilion, square wooden box from his robes and placed the bronze mirror inside.

However, once the bronze mirror was inside the wooden box, the box itself, which had previously been a solid object, transformed into a red ethereal image under everyone's gaze.

It then converged towards its center, becoming a red dot of light that flew to Huangfu Song's forehead and settled there.

Without explaining his recent actions, Huangfu Song stated solemnly to everyone, "The central array core will remain under my safekeeping until its installation is complete."

"Jiang Qigui, how long do you estimate this process will take?"

Without a moment's hesitation, Jiang Qigui replied, "With everyone's combined effort, it can be completed within seven days."

Huangfu Song nodded slowly. "No time to lose. Once this array is finished, I still have other places to go."

With that, he looked at Li Fan, his expression softening somewhat. "Thanks to Li Fan's diligent efforts, the construction progress of your array is already among the fastest."

"To my knowledge, Tianchen Province, currently ranked first in progress, hasn't yet completed its entire array; they should also be in the process of constructing the central core area."

"If you all put in a bit more effort, you might even surpass them..."

Just as Huangfu Song was encouraging everyone, a sudden exclamation came from outside the council hall, from the direction where the Heavenly Mystic Mirror was located.

"What's going on? How did the first-place team's points suddenly skyrocket so much?"

"Now they've completely pulled ahead of the second-place team!"

As these words reached the cultivators present, their gazes instantly turned to Huangfu Song with a strange look.

"Heh... still a step too slow. But there's still hope for you all to contend for second place," Huangfu Song said nonchalantly, his face remarkably thick-skinned.

"Alright, no time to lose, let's get going," he instructed.

Just as everyone was preparing to head to the central area of the array to complete the final work,

another exclamation rang out, drawing Li Fan's and the others' attention.

"Huh? Look, Guo Yezhong, who has always been last, has made a move!"

"Indeed, although his points are pitifully low, and he's still at the very bottom, he's at least finally started working."

Li Fan, Xue Mu, and Jiang Qigui exchanged glances.

They instantly felt that something was amiss.

It seemed that Guo Yezhong's acquisition of points occurred simultaneously with the completion of the first Heavenly Mystic Spirit-Locking Array.

Was there some connection between these events?

Li Fan turned his gaze to Huangfu Song, seeking an answer.

The stout man, however, merely shrugged, feigning complete ignorance.