Cultivation: I can solidify equipment attributes

Chapter 491 Fangshi Branch

The final stages of the work on the third-tier composite exploration and protection array have begun.

Early in the morning, Li Yuan was squatting in front of a rock wall on the south side of the outpost, burying the last spiritual energy guide wire into the ground along the rock crevice.

Suddenly, a strange movement was detected in my consciousness.

To the northeast, at the location of the Yuan Sect's outpost, two auras of mid-stage Golden Core cultivators surged simultaneously, one of which began to move rapidly in this direction.

This is not the patrol route.

Li Yuan stood up and cast the light towards the northeast.

A moment later, a dark beam of light rose from behind the low hills and swept straight toward the outer edge of the array area. The cultivator in the beam of light made no attempt to conceal his aura; the demonic energy fluctuations of a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator radiated in all directions without any attempt to hide them.

The Golden Core cultivator from Yuanzong stopped about two hundred feet away from the array area and hovered in mid-air.

It was a middle-aged man with a sinister face, wearing a dark gray robe, with his hands behind his back, looking down at the array nodes under construction on the ground.

He neither spoke nor made a move.

He simply stood there, fully releasing the demonic energy fluctuations of his mid-stage Golden Core realm.

Dense demonic energy, like an invisible fog, spread from his body outwards. The demonic energy was not offensive, but it caused extremely noticeable interference with the spiritual energy circulation of the formation.

The spiritual energy transmission speed of the detection and early warning arrays that were in operation suddenly dropped by 20%, and several nodes near the outer perimeter even experienced a brief interruption of spiritual energy flow.

The expressions of the three Foundation Establishment array masters changed simultaneously.

"Lord Li, the spiritual energy circulation of the formation has been disrupted," one of them said urgently.

Li Yuan did not look up at the Yuan Sect cultivator; his gaze remained fixed on the spiritual energy guiding line in his hand.

"Keep working."

The three Foundation Establishment array masters exchanged glances and reluctantly continued their work.

After standing in mid-air for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Golden Core cultivator from Yuanzong slowly withdrew his demonic energy and turned to leave.

The light disappeared behind the hills to the northeast.

Li Yuan carefully placed the guide wire in his hand and stood up.

The intention to interfere was clear. The Yuan Sect didn't want the formation to be completed smoothly, but they were unwilling to directly take action and trigger a full-scale conflict.

Using demonic energy to disrupt the formation process is a pressure tactic that doesn't overstep its bounds.

This interference occurred repeatedly over the next few days.

The effect was definitely there. The deployment process was slowed down by almost half, and the finishing work, which should have been completed in two days, was dragged out until the fifth day.

But nothing more.

With the last auxiliary node embedded in the rock face.

Li Yuan channeled his spiritual energy into the core circuit of the inner protective array. The spiritual energy of the three layers of the array operated simultaneously, forming a complete composite array system around the base of the Dry Bone Ridge.

Li Yuan walked to the core of the array and squatted down.

Blue light shone within a three-foot radius.

[Equipable item detected: Heavenly Stone (Complete)]

[Equipment Attribute Preview: Array Core Spirit Pivot (Blue)]

[Effect: When within a formation set up by oneself, the speed of spiritual energy circulation increases by 50%, the efficiency of spiritual energy conduction in the formation increases by 50%, and one can remotely perceive all changes within the formation's coverage area through the formation's core.]

[Preview of Permanentization Conditions: Set up an array to withstand three full-force attacks from cultivators of the same level]

Blue entries.

The effect is extremely practical.

After replacing the array core, Li Yuan walked to the defensive array and picked up the array core.

This is in accordance with the formation rules. The other two formations have their own entry for the formation's core, but the defensive formation does not.

[Equipable item detected: Spirit Yang Stone (Complete)]

[Equipment Attribute Preview: Defense (Green)]

[Effect: Increases personal defense by 10%. The more body-refining techniques one cultivates, the greater the increase, up to a maximum of 30%.]

[Preview of Permanentization Conditions: Withstand a full-force attack from a cultivator of the same level.]

As the two array cores were stored in his personal space, the system panel popped up again.

[Conditions for permanent green vein pattern achieved]

[Condition: Complete the setup of a mid-grade third-tier formation]

[The clear, green veining has become a permanent entry]

Green light merged into the sea of ​​consciousness.

The hidden message triggered by the permanent effect is very short. The image shows a young cultivator sitting at a stone table, repeatedly practicing the technique of carving array patterns on a patterned panel with a carving knife. The scene repeats dozens of times, with each carving becoming more precise than the last.

There was no valuable intelligence, but the technique of engraving array patterns had become an instinctive muscle memory.

In the future, the speed and accuracy of engraving array patterns will be improved.

Li Yuan stood up and glanced at the completed formation.

The security level of the Kugu Ridge outpost has been significantly raised. With this third-order composite formation in place, even if two mid-stage Golden Core cultivators from the Yuan Sect attack simultaneously, the cultivators inside the outpost will have at least a quarter of an hour to prepare.

The task of overseeing the situation has been more than accomplished.

Li Yuan found Chen Qi and briefly explained how to control the formation.

That afternoon, Li Yuan left the Dry Bone Ridge and transformed into a beam of light, flying back to the Misty Forest Market.

It was nearly dusk when we arrived at the market.

As soon as he stepped into the main hall, Ji Wenyuan came to greet him.

"Master, a guest is waiting for you."

"Who?"

"The head of the Wang family, Wang Ting'an."

Li Yuan nodded and walked into the main hall.

In a side hall of the main hall, a middle-aged man was sitting upright on a guest chair.

When Wang Ting'an saw Li Yuan walk in, he immediately stood up and respectfully bowed.

"Master Li, I apologize for disturbing you."

"Sit down." Li Yuan sat down in the main seat. "What is it?"

Wang Ting'an sat down again, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke.

"I heard that Master Li plans to open a branch market in Liangzhou."

"I would like to ask Master Li to build the branch market at the location of Qinghe Market," Wang Ting'an said, his tone calm but with a hint of solemnity.

"The land deeds, buildings, and shops of Qinghe Market will all be transferred to Lord Li free of charge. The Wang family does not want any share; they only ask to be able to arrange for people to continue operating in the new market."

The terms are extremely generous. A market town will be transferred to us free of charge, with no profit sharing required; all we ask is that we reserve a place to operate.

Of course, it is also related to the current poor management of Qinghefang Market.

"I'll think about it."

Wang Ting'an nodded, said nothing more, and got up to take his leave.

After seeing Wang Ting'an off, Li Yuan sat in the main hall for a while.

Footsteps came from outside the door, and Xu Zhang walked in, taking out a map.

Xu Zhang pointed to the markings on the map: "Qinghe Market is what I discussed with Patriarch Wang. It's located in the south-central part of Liangzhou. The market isn't large, but its infrastructure is complete. The layout of the two main streets to the east and west, and the four side alleys to the north and south, is very mature, and there's room for expansion. Most importantly, there are no large resource points near Qinghe Market, so demonic cultivators aren't very interested in it, and its safety is guaranteed."

Xu Zhang paused for a moment: "In addition, I have already had a preliminary discussion with Wang Ting'an. The conditions he offered are indeed very sincere."

Li Yuan stared at the location of Qinghe Market on the map and remained silent for a few moments.

"How is the Wang family doing now?"

Xu Zhang shook his head: "Not good. In the past two years, there have been more and more demonic cultivators in Liangzhou. Several of the Wang family's resource points outside have been destroyed by demonic cultivators, resulting in considerable losses. Fortunately, Qinghe Market itself doesn't have much profit, so the demonic cultivators don't care about it. In addition, the market also has a trading demand for demonic cultivators, and the Wang family has no way to suppress it, so no one has touched it. But the Wang family's source of income has been cut off by more than half, so life is not easy."

Li Yuan carefully put the map away.

"Let's settle on Qinghefang Market."

Xu Zhang responded and got up to go out and arrange the follow-up matters.

For the next two days, Li Yuan did not leave Wulinfang City.

He walked around the market and re-examined the existing spirit-gathering arrays and defensive arrays.

Looking back now at my current level of mastery at the third stage, I can see many areas for improvement.

No major changes are needed, just very minor adjustments.

All adjustments were completed within half a day.

The moment the adjustment was completed, the concentration of spiritual energy in the market showed an extremely subtle change.

The concentration rose slightly.

The change was so subtle that ordinary Qi Refining cultivators could hardly perceive it. However, cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage or above immediately noticed this difference.

An elderly man in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage who ran a pill shop walked out of the shop, looked up at the sky, and then looked down to feel the spiritual energy fluctuations under his feet. A hint of surprise appeared on his face.

"The spiritual energy is stronger?"

Li Yuan withdrew his spiritual power and turned to walk back to the main hall.