Chapter 69 Level 4 Core Formation Realm

Xia Family

In the serene and secluded Mediation Garden of the Xia Family estate, a small pavilion stood amidst tranquil surroundings. Within this pavilion, Shangguan Yi sat cross-legged, his expression one of deep concentration. The air around him was charged with a palpable core essence as he focused intently on two critical tasks.

It had been over a day since the previous fight, and the City Lord Manor had yet to launch a second wave of attacks. This delay was advantageous for Shangguan Yi, as it provided him with additional time to complete another array.

At present, he divided his attention, focusing half of it on channeling his core essence into the Thunderstrike Offensive Array. The Thunderstrike Offensive Array, a level 3 high-grade array, had its materials prepared long ago. Shangguan Yi had begun infusing his core essence into it previously, but the process was interrupted by Tie Tu's group. He now needed to restart the infusion.

To complete the array, Shangguan Yi needed to pour his core essence continuously for three days. With only one day having passed, he still required two more days to achieve his goal.

During this time, Shangguan Yi also split his focus to absorb and refine the white flame wisps. He currently had a total of 90 wisps left, with three being the most dense. These dense wisps were from the Core Formation Cultivators of the Tang, Song, and Yuan Families. Previously, he had absorbed the white flame wisp of a level 2 Core Formation Cultivator from the City Lord Manor to break through to the level 3 Core Formation Realm.

"After replenishing my core essence, my current state should be sufficient to refine these wisps," Shangguan Yi said to himself. With that, he took out ten of the white flame wisps and began absorbing them.

Each white flame wisp took ten minutes to refine. After an hour and a half, Shangguan Yi had finished refining the first ten wisps, resulting in a 5% increase in his cultivation.

He was not surprised by this result. As his cultivation level increased, the effect of core essence from false Core Formation Cultivators diminished. Despite this, Shangguan Yi remained undeterred. He promptly began absorbing and refining another ten white flame wisps.

Shangguan Yi continued his work methodically, refining each batch of ten white flame wisps in 100 minutes. After each batch, he took a moment to assess the effects.

After refining the second ten wisps, he noted, "The increase in my cultivation is about 5%. This pace is steady and expected."

By the time he finished the third batch of ten, he observed, "The progress remains consistent. Another 5% boost in my cultivation."

As he completed the fourth batch, Shangguan Yi remarked, "The essence is becoming less effective, but the increase is still noticeable."

By the time he reached the fifth batch, his comment was, "The enhancement is slowing down, but the overall growth is substantial."

Upon finishing the sixth batch, he said, "The refinement process is yielding diminishing returns, yet the cumulative effect is significant."

After the seventh batch, he concluded, "Even though each wisp contributes less, the cumulative effect is adding up nicely."

Finally, as he finished refining the last batch of ten wisps, Shangguan Yi noted, "The effects of these wisps are minimal now, but the total increase in my cultivation has been worthwhile."

With all 90 white flame wisps refined, Shangguan Yi felt his cultivation level had been significantly bolstered to around 45%.

Shangguan Yi, now ready to refine the three dense white flame wisps, set aside the remaining wisps. Each of these three wisps was notably more potent, being the core essence of Core Formation Cultivators.

He started with the first dense white flame wisp. As the core essence began to merge with his core, Shangguan Yi focused intently. After an hour, he completed the refinement. With a satisfied nod, he remarked, "The impact of this wisp was significant. My cultivation has increased by 20%, bringing me closer to my goal."

He then moved on to the second dense white flame wisp. As it was absorbed, the process was similar but still demanding. After another hour, Shangguan Yi commented, "This wisp was equally potent, contributing another 20% to my cultivation. The cumulative effect is remarkable."

Finally, he began refining the third dense white flame wisp. The energy was intense, and he could feel the substantial boost it provided. At the end of the hour, Shangguan Yi noted, "The last wisp had the same powerful effect. My cultivation has now advanced by another 20%."

With all three dense white flame wisps refined, Shangguan Yi assessed his progress. The additional 60% increase in his cultivation pushed his overall boost to the threshold of a breakthrough. As a result, he successfully advanced from level 3 to level 4 Core Formation Realm.

As Shangguan Yi advanced to the level 4 Core Formation Realm, the transformation was profound. A new core had formed in his Sixth Sense Realm, signifying his progress. The core's color changed from a vibrant red to a purer, whiter hue, reflecting its enhanced quality and power.

With this breakthrough, Shangguan Yi's core essence had increased significantly. The essence was now denser, giving him a stronger and more refined core essence reservoir. This dense core essence enhanced his offensive and defensive capabilities, making his techniques more potent and his control over them more precise.

Reflecting on his progress, Shangguan Yi mused to himself, "When I was at level 3, I could melt all of Tie Tu's group techniques in a few seconds. Now, with my enhanced strength, I can accomplish the same feat in just one second."

With his breakthrough to the level 4 Core Formation Realm, Shangguan Yi noticed another significant improvement. The time required to pour his core essence into the Thunderstrike Offensive Array had shortened. While the reduction wasn't substantial, it provided a crucial advantage, especially in his current situation.

Previously, the process of infusing his core essence into the array had taken a considerable amount of time, but now, with his enhanced cultivation, the process was more efficient. This efficiency allowed him to make steady progress toward completing the array, bringing it closer to operational status.

Shangguan Yi appreciated this unexpected benefit, understanding that every bit of time saved could be critical in the ongoing conflict. His increased efficiency in array construction meant that he could better prepare for any impending attacks or challenges.

…

Meanwhile, after a day of preparation, the City Lord Manor and high-grade families finally took action. A group of 16 Core Formation Cultivators and another 20 elite false Core Formation Cultivators appeared not far from the eastern territory of the Xia Family. Leading them was Fu Lan, a level 5 Core Formation Cultivator from the City Lord Manor.

Among the 16 Core Formation Cultivators were several prominent figures, each bringing their unique strengths to the mission. Fu Jun, also from the City Lord Manor and a level 4 Core Formation Cultivator, was renowned for his exceptional skills with arrays. Yuan Dao, representing the Yuan Family, was another level 5 Core Formation Cultivator whose formidable presence added significant weight to the operation. From the Tang Family, Tang Long, another level 5 Core Formation Cultivator, joined with his fierce combat skills. Song Yuan of the Song Family, similarly a level 5 Core Formation Cultivator, was known for his resolute fighting style. Zhao Jian and Jing Ming, both level 2 Core Formation Cultivators from the Zhao and Jing Families respectively, contributed their tactical acumen. Hui Xiong from the Tiger Rage Sect, also a level 2 Core Formation Cultivator, added his brutal strength to the mix. The remaining eight Core Formation Cultivators hailed from various high-grade families in the central area, each chosen for their significant abilities and support roles.

As they gathered, the atmosphere was tense but focused. Fu Lan addressed the group, his voice low to avoid alerting any potential scouts. "Our objective is to not alarm the enemy. We must deduce the enemy's array and find a way to neutralize it."

Fu Jun, the level 4 Core Formation Cultivator and the most proficient Array Master among them, took the lead. He was accompanied by three other Core Formation Cultivators, five false Core Formation Cultivators, and a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Song Family.

"Stay vigilant and follow my lead," Fu Jun instructed. "We need to approach this with precision. One mistake could cost us dearly."

As the group moved closer to the Xia Family's territory, they maintained a tight formation, ensuring that no sound or movement would give away their position. Fu Jun began to assess the array, his senses finely attuned to detecting any fluctuations in the energy field.

The other Core Formation Cultivators supported him, pooling their knowledge and experience to aid in the complex task. The false Core Formation Cultivators and the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Song Family kept a watchful eye on their surroundings.

"This array is more intricate than I expected," Fu Jun muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration. "But we will find its weakness."

Three days passed, their combined efforts slowly unraveling the secrets of the Serpent Embrace Entrapment Array. Fu Jun's expertise and the group's collective strength were formidable, and they made steady progress.

"This section here," Fu Jun pointed out, "is a critical node. If we can disrupt it, the array's power will diminish significantly."

The other Core Formation Cultivators examined the node closely, their eyes narrowing as they focused on the intricate patterns of the array.

"Lord Fu is right," one of the Core Formation Cultivators said, nodding in agreement. "This node is the keystone of the array's structure. Disrupting it will definitely weaken the entire formation."

Another Core Formation Cultivator, an ancestor from one of the high-grade families, chimed in, "As expected of Lord Fu Jun. Your reputation as an array master is well-deserved."

"Indeed," agreed another, "Your insight is unparalleled. Identifying this critical point so quickly is impressive."

Fu Jun acknowledged their praise with a slight nod. "Thank you. But now, let's focus on the task at hand. We must act quickly and precisely."

The group of Core Formation Cultivators and the supporting false Core Formation Cultivators and Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Song Family prepared to execute their plan, their determination evident in their expressions. The atmosphere was tense, but with Fu Jun's leadership and their combined expertise, they felt confident in their ability to disrupt the array and weaken its power.

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