On the surface, moving from a single-function array to a composite array seemed like a single step forward in her learning progress.
In terms of difficulty, however, it was a world-shaking shift.
For example, combining a fireball array pattern with a gold needle array pattern to create a dual-attack array of fireballs and gold needles.
This kind of dual-attack could be further enhanced with a control array pattern, allowing the array's owner to control whether it unleashed a single fireball attack, a single gold needle attack, alternated between the two, or fired both simultaneously.
This added layer of complexity was actually nothing major; she just had to follow the explained steps.
The real difficulty lay in the array patterns themselves.
Different array patterns had entirely different attributes, structures, and vibrational amplitudes and frequencies when resonating with the outside world.
To draw these vastly different array patterns onto a single array plate and have them coexist harmoniously and function properly...
Aside from having an exceptionally thorough and precise understanding of the array patterns and control over one's own spirit energy, the creator also had to grasp a mysterious, profound, and ethereal feeling—a sense of balance.
Only when this sense of balance was achieved could the two patterns temporarily coexist on the array plate.
Once both array patterns were successfully drawn, a balancing array pattern could be added between them to completely link them together.
With that, the most critical part of this composite fireball and gold needle attack array was complete.
Of course, one could also draw one of the array patterns and the balancing array pattern first.
By the time the second array pattern was drawn, the balancing array pattern would automatically link the two.
To the naked eye, the structures drawn by both methods looked identical.
But once spirit energy was channeled into them, one would find that the array patterns drawn using the first method allowed for smooth energy flow and a stable, effective array.
The array patterns drawn using the second method, however, were hollow and superficial; the moment spirit energy touched them, they would fall apart.
In severe cases, the array patterns might even explode, destroying the array plate along with them.
Now, how did Gu Ningyun know about this exploding business?
Cough, experience is the best teacher.
As a cautious array apprentice, since she had a question, why not test it out herself?
And if she was going to challenge herself, she might as well try the hardest one with the most obvious reaction.
She drew a fireball array pattern, a balancing array pattern, and an ice spike array pattern in that exact order, and then channeled spirit energy into them.
One was extremely hot while the other was extremely cold, leaving the balancing array pattern in the middle like an incompetent third wheel.
With a loud "boom," it blew up completely.
Fortunately, she had learned 《Wind-Gathering Screen》, which saved her from taking the exploding shrapnel straight to the face.
After cleaning up Cultivation Chamber 666, Gu Ningyun, having learned her lesson from the attempt, became well-behaved and began drawing according to the correct steps.
Searching for the feeling, drawing, failure.
Searching for the feeling again, drawing again, failure.
...
After failing for an entire morning, the next morning, she carried her array plate drawing tools and ran off to Array Peak to find Mu Chenze.
Hearing her dilemma, Mu Chenze was even more perplexed than she was.
“You actually have to look for that feeling? Isn't it just picking up the pen, finding the balance in the vibrations of the two, and drawing it directly?”
Gu Ningyun gritted her teeth. “I can't compete with you and your Natural Array Body!”
She sent a transmission to her master to ask, and only then did she find a solution.
“It's still a matter of practice,” her master transmitted back.
“Come to the array room on the second floor of the Peak Master's hall.”
In the array room, yellow-rank blank array plates were piled up into two small hills.
Suppressing his cultivation to the early Foundation Establishment stage, her master took a blank array plate and began to demonstrate.
First, he combined the fireball and gold needle array patterns, then the fireball and water arrow array patterns, followed by the gold needle and water arrow array patterns...
Her master demonstrated hundreds of these dual-function composite array patterns, pairing them up based on the eight elements of gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, and ice.
For the sake of the demonstration, her master drew the array patterns slowly.
Gu Ningyun sat beside her master, observing with both her naked eyes and her divine sense.
After watching fifty composite array patterns, she was still a bit lost.
After watching a hundred, she began to grasp a faint clue.
By the time she had watched a thousand composite array patterns, she arranged, categorized, summarized, and reviewed all the ones she had seen according to the eight elements of gold, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, and ice.
The intricate array patterns played in turn inside her mind like dancing musical notes.
Each array pattern seemed like a living entity, possessing its own unique characteristics.
Following their natural flow, she casually drew on a blank array plate.
By the time she snapped out of it, the fireball and ice spike array patterns seemed to have come to life, vividly displayed upon the array plate.
Without any external aid, the two coexisted harmoniously on a single blank array plate.
She added a balancing array pattern and channeled spirit energy.
The three array patterns behaved as if they were naturally a single whole, running smoothly and seamlessly without the slightest hitch.
She had actually mastered dual-function composite array patterns!
Only after she stepped out of the Peak Master's hall did she realize that three months had passed during this demonstration.
The harvest was immense.
The greatest difficulty of composite arrays was transitioning from a single array pattern to a dual array pattern.
Having mastered dual-function array patterns, it would be much easier to add third or fourth array patterns to the array plate in the future, whether based on requirements or her own designs.
In the days that followed, she studied these in Cultivation Chamber 666 every morning.
Up to this day, she was already able to craft various mysterious-rank low-grade composite array plates.
For example, five-element attack plates, concealment-defense plates, spirit-gathering defense plates, and so on.
From this day forward, she had officially crossed the threshold of arrays and got on the right track.
From now on, she would only need to study them in her spare time, just like talismans.
...
The meeting was held in the side hall of Governing Peak.
When she walked in, there were barely any people inside.
There was a platform at the very front of the hall, and the area below it was divided into three sections.
According to the explanation of the guiding disciple in the hall, these three sections from left to right corresponded to the New Disciple Training Department, new disciples who had established their foundations, and new disciples who had not yet established their foundations.
"New disciples" referred to their Class 11,680.
Based on her cultivation, Gu Ningyun found a spot in the third row of the middle section and sat down cross-legged.
Wen Xuan and the other three arrived one after another and sat next to her.
Once everyone had arrived, the First Senior Sister of Governing Peak, True Monarch Chanxi, appeared on the platform at the very front.
Listening to her first senior sister, Gu Ningyun finally understood the reason why they had all been gathered here today.
“Everyone sitting here possesses single or dual spirit root aptitude.
“You are the most outstanding group selected by Xiaoyao from the new disciples of your class.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, once you grow stronger, you will eventually succeed your seniors to take on positions such as Peak Masters and elders across Xiaoyao's various peaks.
“Even if you do not hold office, with your future cultivation levels, there will always be situations where you will need to make the final call.
“However, leading a faction requires capability; it is not something that can be achieved through cultivation alone.
“To cultivate these abilities, the sect has specially arranged a training system for you.”
Senior Sister Chanxi's voice was steady and clear. “Xiaoyao has thirty-two outer peaks. Each peak has twelve pavilions, and each pavilion manages twenty external abodes.”
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