Modern World's Martial Dao Human Immortal

"A Fifth Level Array Master can only set up a Fifth Level Spirit Formation," Alkaid said.

However, one should not underestimate this.

The complexity and scope of formations, compared to artifact refining or alchemy, are a level higher.

Their importance is akin to that of Divine Cultivators within the cultivation system, extremely rare and incredibly hard to advance.

The significance of a Sixth Level Array Master might well equate to that of a Grandmaster of Artifact Sect.

Even the mighty Limitless Star Palace has not had a single Ninth Level Array Master up to this point.

Furthermore...

"The smallest type of Spirit Gathering Array is only a Fourth Level formation," Alkaid thought to himself.

By this time, he already possessed the ability to set up a Spirit Gathering Array.

But, merely having the ability to set up a Spirit Gathering Array was not enough.

In the days that followed, he digested the information about Spirit Gathering Arrays that filled his mind.

Half a month later, he went to his office and threw a jade talisman onto the workbench.

Soon, a Spirit Gathering Array appeared on it.

This was the most common Spirit Gathering Array within the Nine Cauldrons Sect.

After examining it, Alkaid quickly checked against the many pieces of information he had processed in his mind recently...

"This can be improved."

"This spot can also be optimized."

"No wonder the efficiency is so slow; they don't even understand some of the geomantic resonance effects."

"This, too, has an issue; the materials used in the formation even have certain mutual incompatibilities."

Just one hour.

Alkaid had found more than a dozen flaws in this most common Spirit Gathering Array on the market.

If he were to rectify these flaws, he could at least increase the operating efficiency of the formation by fifty percent.

This result surprised him: "A Fourth Level Spirit Gathering Array... has it been studied up to the Third Generation already? If my optimized Spirit Gathering Array can increase its efficiency by another fifty percent on this basis, wouldn't it reach the standard of the Fourth Generation Spirit Gathering Array?"

Moreover, he hadn't conducted any field visits and had managed to optimize the Spirit Gathering Array to this extent merely based on theory.
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If he were to conduct a field visit...

Doubling the effectiveness of the Spirit Gathering Array might not be too extravagant to hope for.

With this thought, he clicked his bracelet.

It wasn't long before the figure of Zhao Siliang was projected.

"Alkaid Chief?"

"I would like to visit the core of the Energy Department's formations," Alkaid stated directly.

The Energy Department, directly governed by the Logistics Hall, is the most important department responsible for condensing spirit stones and almost represents the development speed and potential of any sect.

This place has always been of utmost importance.

Only a person like Zhao Siliang, a Sub-sect Master or a Hall Master of some hall at the Hall Master level, could personally request to visit.

For figures like the Campaign Hall Master Zhao He, Vice Hall Master Bai Lu, City Lord of Dragon Majestic City Luo Yunhai, or Elder Zhang Jianlin of the Sub-sect, they probably wouldn't qualify.

"A visit to the core formation of the Energy Department..."

Zhao Siliang pondered for just a moment before agreeing: "That's possible! Which location would you like to visit?"

"Hmm?"

Alkaid was somewhat surprised: "How many are there in the Nine Heavens Domain?"

"Two, one in Dragon Majestic City, one in the suburbs of Nine Heavens City," Zhao Siliang explained, adding: "However, the spiritual node in Dragon Majestic City can no longer be mined with our current technology. Most formations there have stopped operating, with only some basic Spirit Gathering Arrays still running, producing three to five thousand spirit stones each year to maintain their own consumption. This is also why the Energy Department moved to Nine Heavens City."

Alkaid nodded.

If spiritual nodes were likened to a type of ore, the higher the level of the formation, the deeper it could mine, and the higher the output would be.

But higher-level formations also required more manpower and greater investment.

Moreover, the stability of the spiritual nodes would also pose a serious challenge to the level of the formations.

For the same spiritual node, some stable ones could produce millions with a Fifth Level formation.

If the node was unstable, even a Sixth Level formation might not reach the million-level production of spirit stones.

The node in Dragon Majestic City had clearly reached a state where even a Sixth Level Spirit Gathering Array could not condense it, forcing them to abandon it.

In contrast, the node in Nine Heavens City might manage spirit stone production with a Sixth or even a Fifth Level Spirit Gathering Array.

Pondering this, Alkaid asked, "How many similar closed spiritual nodes are there within the sect's territory like the one in Dragon Majestic City?"

"Closed nodes... no fewer than a hundred," Zhao Siliang replied: "The place where we live was originally Artifact Sect, and artifact and formation skills were integral. Artifact Sect also had a strong foundation in formations, so those nodes that could condense spirit stones with Fourth or Fifth Level Spirit Gathering Arrays have long been depleted. The reason why we still have 43 operational nodes is partly because some have not yet been exhausted, and partly because the formations have also seen some development, like the Sixth Level Spirit Gathering Arrays, the Limitless Star Palace has even developed up to the Third Generation already, and it seems that the Seventh Level Spirit Gathering Arrays have also developed to the Second Generation."

"The Seventh Level Spirit Gathering Arrays have developed to the Second Generation?"

Alkaid looked somewhat astonished.

It wasn't too high, but rather too low.

Zhao Siliang, as if seeing through Alkaid's thoughts, smiled wryly and said, "Formations are akin to Divine Cultivation within the cultivation system... However, Divine Cultivation only highly demands talent and focuses on perceptiveness. With a larger base of such talents, the numbers will gradually increase, but the cultivation of formations... either you understand it, or you don't, irrespective of the base or experience."

Alkaid listened and suddenly realized.

Formations, unlike artifact refining or alchemy, couldn't be improved over time by accumulating experience.

Several hundred years to develop one or two generations forward was quite an achievement already.

"What's the situation with the spiritual node in Nine Heavens City?"

"The final plan was to stabilize nodes with four sixth-level formations, then break into the nodes using a sixth-level Spirit Gathering Array, allowing more spiritual energy from the void to manifest, followed by laying down six fifth-level Spirit Gathering Arrays and thirty-six fourth-level Spirit Gathering Arrays plus corresponding arrays for stabilization to achieve an annual Spirit Stone production of two million."

Zhao Siliang said, "However, the Energy Department moved here not long ago, and the three masters who can set up the sixth-level Spirit Gathering Array can't spare any time. There are not many masters available to lay the fifth-level one either, currently, only two fifth-level Spirit Gathering Arrays and twenty fourth-level Spirit Gathering Arrays have been established."

"Which generation of Spirit Gathering Array?"

"The fifth-level is second generation, and the fourth-level is third generation."

"The fifth-level has only evolved to the second generation? What about the sixth level? Doesn't the sect have seventh level Array Masters?"

There are Array Masters that can lay seventh-level defensive formations, but those that can lay seventh-level Spirit Gathering Arrays..."

Zhao Siliang shook his head, "None... not even the first generation Formation."

Seeing this, Alkaid asked no more, simply saying, "Go to the Energy Department in Nine Heavens City."

"Alright, when you come, I'll be there to receive you."

"I am heading there now by Flying Boat. The two cities are not far apart; it will take only an hour or two to reach."

Alkaid and Zhao Siliang made a brief appointment, and after stepping out the door, informed Tang Fenghua of his itinerary.

Minutes later, Wang Feng, a third rank Foundation Establishment Sword Cultivator who had ignited True Fire, arrived at Alkaid's residing mountain peak driving a flying boat.

Accompanying were several great cultivators, including Qin Yi, Bai Lu, and Tang Fenghua.

Since it was only a trip to Nine Heavens City, there was no need to mobilize more than a dozen people for protection.

An hour and a half later, Alkaid met with Zhao Siliang.

Also present were Wu Xunzhen, the Sub-sect Master in charge of the Logistics Hall, and Huang Wei, who oversees Formation Setup.

The group met up and headed straight to the Energy Department.

The Energy Department was not located in the center of Nine Heavens City, but on a mountain range outside the city.

At that moment, that mountain range, spanning thousands of miles, was entirely enveloped by formations.

Several fifth and sixth-level defensive formations guarded it tightly.

Not far away, there was also a team of great cultivators responsible for the security of this area.

Within this sprawling range housing the Energy Department formations and building complexes lived over two million Energy Department staff.

Each individual was equivalent to a minor node in a fourth or fifth-level Spirit Gathering Array, and through faint Divine Sense, they layered their input into the specifically designed formations, collaboratively driving the operation of the formations, continuously absorbing spiritual energy from the rich void nodes to condense into Spirit Stones.

Alkaid stopped at a fourth-level Spirit Gathering Array, constantly scrutinizing and observing.

Zhao Siliang, Wu Xunzhen, Huang Wei, and other accompanying staff from the Energy Department had no idea what he was doing, but still patiently followed along.

This following went on for several hours.

Every individual at the scene was generally a chief-level figure from their respective departments, heavily responsible for daily operations.

It was because of Alkaid's esteemed identity that they accompanied him throughout, but Wu Xunzhen could no longer hold back after seeing Alkaid aimlessly wandering for so long and said, "Sect Master, what exactly is Chief Alkaid doing? Observing the Spirit Gathering Array... is he trying to find a way to reduce Flying Sword Spirit consumption, or perhaps enable the Flying Sword to automatically draw in spiritual energy from the void to replenish daily usage?"

"I am not informed either, but if it weren't something urgent, he wouldn't have rushed to Nine Heavens City."

Zhao Siliang said.

At this moment, Alkaid suddenly exclaimed, "Is there a fourth-level third generation Spirit Gathering Array currently being set up?"

"Yes."

The Energy Department Director stepped forward, "Chief Alkaid, would you like to visit it?"

"Hmm, take me there."

"Sure, please follow me."

Saying this, the director quickly led Alkaid to a valley a hundred miles away.

Here, a Grandmaster with his team was adjusting for the mountain and river currents and the impact of the sun, moon, and stars on the void's distortion.

"This is Grandmaster Feng Yugong, a fourth-level three-star master capable of setting up a fourth-level third generation Spirit Gathering Array."

The director said, calling over.

Feng Yugong was startled for a moment, but he quickly put down what he was doing and came forward, "Director."

He nodded before turning to Zhao Siliang and others, "Sect Master, Master Wu, Master Huang, what brings you here?"

Then his gaze landed on Alkaid, and his face immediately lit up, "Is this Chief Alkaid? I have long admired you."

"Grandmaster Feng, you should know the connection between Artifacts and Formations. Recently, I've had some new ideas about the fourth-level third generation Spirit Gathering Array, and I have a few suggestions. May I ask for your opinion on them?"

"Spirit Gathering Array..."

Feng Yugong, aware of Alkaid's caliber, readily nodded, "Please speak."

Seeing this, Elder of Profound Formations, Huang Wei, also moved closer, curious, "I also have some knowledge about fourth-level Spirit Gathering Arrays; may I listen as well?"

She too was a sixth-level one-star Array Master but specialized in amplifying and strengthening types of formations.

"Of course."

Alkaid nodded and also turned to Zhao Siliang, including Tang Fenghua, Bai Lu, Wang Feng, and others, "Those of you interested in Spirit Gathering Arrays might also want to listen."

While Zhao Siliang and others were not particularly interested in Spirit Gathering Arrays, they were very curious about what Chief Alkaid, who had brought such a large group to the Energy Department, was up to.

As Alkaid and Feng Yugong discussed the Spirit Gathering Arrays, he quickly gained the approval of both Feng Yugong and Huang Wei through his profound knowledge of Spirit Gathering Arrays.

It was then that he started making suggestions.

Initially, Feng Yugong and Huang Wei took these suggestions somewhat casually.

But as Alkaid delved deeper, the expressions of Feng Yugong and Huang Wei started to grow serious.

Especially when Alkaid got to some optimization projects, Feng Yugong even couldn't resist pulling out a Jade Talisman to record them.

Zhao Siliang, Wu Xunzhen, and others, who had slightly understood what the trio was discussing, held their breath even more, not daring to complain at all.

Moreover, Zhao Siliang even ordered to seal off the area and asked the Energy Department Director to summon other Grandmasters to join the discussion.

This discussion went on for three full days.

Three days later, a completely new kind of Spirit Gathering Array, consciously guided by Alkaid, was gradually perfected.

And as the various aspects of this new Spirit Gathering Array slowly came together...

Whether it was Feng Yugong или Huang Wei, all the Array Masters who participated in the discussion of this Spirit Gathering Array were astonished.