Chapter 282: Setting Out

Ge Yuan chuckled and said, "Senior, you overestimate the situation. Even if we don’t find the herb garden, I’m aware of a few places in Qiuhong Market where treasures are stored. If we work together to explore, we’re bound to gain something. I wouldn’t let you leave empty-handed."

Wandering Man smiled and nodded, but his response was perfunctory, merely humoring Ge Yuan.

Qin Sang understood in his heart that, like himself, Wandering Man was only interested in healing herbs. Without finding them, their efforts would indeed be in vain.

The three of them each dripped their blood and essence onto the One Heart Pendant, letting it blend together.

After the pendants absorbed the blood and essence, a connection was formed among them.

Each took a piece of the One Heart Pendant. After further discussion, they parted ways, each heading off on their own.

Unless absolutely necessary, they wouldn’t contact one another before entering Qiuhong Market.

...

In a small courtyard, the group stood separately, listening as Yu Kong explained the Guiyuan Array in detail.

The Guiyuan Array’s principles were not overly complex. This array could channel the combined strength of nine individuals into one person, pooling their power to deal with potential crises when breaking through the array.

The array did not strictly require nine participants, but with fewer people, its effectiveness diminished greatly. If only three or two individuals were involved, it might as well not exist, as the restrictions of the array would outweigh its benefits. In such cases, acting independently and adapting to circumstances was preferable.

With nine people, the Guiyuan Array could achieve its full potential.

Within the array, the person receiving the combined power, known as the core of the array, was called the Array Eye. This role could be rotated, but transitions required time, which might not be feasible during emergencies. A replacement would only be considered if the Array Eye was injured and unable to fulfill their responsibilities.

Among the group, Yu Kong was the most advanced in cultivation and had prior experience entering Qiuhong Market, making him the natural choice as the Array Eye.

After carefully learning about the Guiyuan Array, Qin Sang noted that it was significantly different from the Nine Radiant Galaxy Array. The biggest distinction lay in the autonomy of its participants.

Once the Nine Radiant Galaxy Array was established, all participants’ power merged into a galaxy, producing immense force. However, this came at the cost of the participants’ freedom. Their spiritual power would be continuously drawn by the array, leaving them unable to withdraw from it without mutual trust—or under the supervision of a powerful figure, such as during their exploration of the ancient cultivator’s ruins.

Although Sikong Muyue had modified the Nine Radiant Galaxy Array to reduce this flaw, it still existed.

But because of its stability, it would not take long to master the Nine Radiant Galaxy Array.

On the other hand, the Guiyuan Array, while less restrictive, came with its own drawbacks. Participants retained more autonomy, but this increased the array's instability. In times of great danger, each person could act independently without worrying about being dragged to their deaths by the Array Eye.

Qin Sang suspected that Yu Kong’s choice to use the Guiyuan Array was a compromise, as the group was composed of strangers who lacked mutual trust. However, this decision also introduced additional risks.

To address this, Yu Kong issued a stern warning.

"Unless your life is truly at stake, no one is to leave the Guiyuan Array without permission. If your actions bring danger to others, don’t blame me for being ruthless! Let this serve as a preemptive warning—don’t say you weren’t told!"

Yu Kong’s expression turned cold as his gaze swept across the group. His demeanor reminded everyone that he was no mere scholar but a formidable middle-stage Foundation Building cultivator.

Under Yu Kong’s intimidating stare, Qin Sang maintained a solemn expression and nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, he observed the varied reactions of the others, eventually focusing on the three latecomers.

These three individuals were also rogue cultivators recruited by Yu Kong.

One of them was an elderly in a black robe, his gaunt frame and skeletal hands resembling a pair of eagle claws. He went by the name Mu Teng.

His mastery of Wood Elemental Spells was unparalleled.

The second was a short, stout middle-aged man named Wu Chen. Like Qin Sang, he excelled in swordsmanship, but his sword was hidden within the fan he carried. The seven ribs of the fan were, in fact, seven sharp blades.

The last member was a woman dressed in a sheer crimson robe. Her revealing attire and flirtatious demeanor made her stand out. Her eyes shimmered like flowing waves, as if she were constantly casting affectionate glances at everyone. The name that she went by, as enchanting as her presence, was Crescent Moon Fairy.

Though Xiu Zhirui possessed a hint of charm herself, it paled in comparison to Crescent Moon Fairy’s. The two women, drawn by mutual distaste, seemed to eye each other with veiled hostility, their gazes sparking tension.

Crescent Moon Fairy’s artifact was a cluster of red threads, versatile and unpredictable.

Like Wu Chen’s fan, it resembled a concealed weapon more than a conventional tool.

Including Qin Sang, everyone in the group had already demonstrated remarkable strength, standing out even among rogue cultivators.

Yu Kong handed out jade slips to the group, saying, "These jade slips contain the variations of the Guiyuan Array. Memorize them, and we will begin practicing the array. We depart in one month."

Crescent Moon Fairy was visibly surprised by Yu Kong’s decision. She covered her small mouth in a theatrical display of shock.

"Senior Yu, why the rush? Isn’t it at least three months before we can enter Qiuhong Market?"

Her voice was as seductive as her appearance, capable of stirring a fire in the hearts of listeners. Those with weak wills might find themselves enchanted by her voice alone.

Yu Kong, however, remained composed, ignoring her antics. Patiently, he explained, "The protective array of Qiuhong Market is unpredictable, and its weak phase lasts for an extremely short time. We won’t have much time once it appears."

"It’s best for us to arrive early and wait outside the market. Once the weak phase emerges, we can enter the array immediately. Even gaining an extra moment inside might mean obtaining another treasure."

"Furthermore, the distance between Xihuang Town and Qiuhong Market isn’t short. Departing early allows us to travel at a steady pace, train along the way, and become familiar with one another. This will increase our chances of successfully breaking the array."

The group followed Yu Kong’s instructions.

A month passed swiftly as they trained while practicing the Guiyuan Array. By the time their departure arrived, everyone had mastered the array's intricacies. Together, they left Xihuang Town, heading northward.

Equipped with sufficient Cloud Artifacts and spirit pills, they steadily approached Qiuhong Market. Along the way, as they became more accustomed to one another, they occasionally collaborated to hunt Cloud Beasts. The spoils were divided equally, and outwardly, the group’s atmosphere appeared harmonious.

As time passed, they drew closer to Qiuhong Market.

During the journey, aside from Yan Wu, the others had subtly probed Qin Sang about his plans upon entering Qiuhong Market. After some deliberation, Qin Sang had long accepted Yu Kong’s invitation, though he noticed that Yu Kong had extended similar offers to everyone else.

Unlike Qin Sang, who had ulterior motives, most of the others remained hesitant and undecided.

From his observations over the past few days, Qin Sang had found no suspicious behavior in Yu Kong. Yu Kong seemed unbothered by rumors. Whenever the topic arose, he would scoff, reminding everyone that this opportunity only came once every thirty years. To waste it on rumors, he argued, would be foolish. Instead, he urged the group to focus on strategizing how to seize more treasures.

Through Yu Kong’s explanations, they gained a general understanding of Qiuhong Market.