Watching the Mountain

Chapter 412: Chapter 216: Combined Attack Array

In the end, after fighting for half a day, neither side managed to defeat the other.

Both the group of seven and Ye Qingyue broke into smiles of pleasant surprise at this outcome.

They had fought several times before, and Ye Qingyue had emerged victorious every time.

As Xu Ran refined the Array again and again, they were now able to fight to a draw. This was a remarkable improvement.

”Master, why do you look unhappy?”

Ye Qingyue asked with concern, studying the expression on Xu Ran’s face.

At her words, Qing Qing and the other six also looked at Xu Ran curiously. They, for their part, were quite satisfied with the day’s result.

Being able to fight a Golden Core Stage Cultivator to a draw while only at the Purple Mansion Stage was a feat worth boasting about, even if it took all seven of them.

Xu Ran looked at their reactions, shook his head, and let out a soft sigh.

”While this result isn’t bad, it still falls far short of the effect I’m aiming for.”

Ye Qingyue gave him a somewhat surprised look, then spoke softly.

”Master, aren’t you being too hard on yourself? The reason Arrays can unleash power that transcends one’s Realm is that they borrow the Power of Heaven and Earth.”

”A simple Combined Attack Array like this, one that doesn’t rely on the Power of Heaven and Earth, enabling seven Purple Mansion Stage Cultivators to fight me—suppressed to the Core Formation Stage—to a draw... it can absolutely be considered a first-class Array.”

”Besides, they are only at the Purple Mansion Middle Stage. And while I may have suppressed my Cultivation, my actual Realm is the Nascent Soul Stage, so my combat strength is far greater than that of an ordinary Core Formation Stage Cultivator.”

As she spoke, she gave Xu Ran a sweet, girlish smile, her eyes crinkling as she said:

”In short, from my perspective, the Combined Attack Array you created is incredibly powerful, Master. You can afford to be happy for a little while. As for improvements, we can worry about that after you’re done being proud of yourself.”

”Hehe, don’t you think so?”

Xu Ran was slightly taken aback by the smile on her face. ’Looks like my disciple has been truly happy lately,’ he thought. ’She’s even learned how to praise and comfort people.’

’She must feel so happy that she wants to share some of that joy with others.’

At this thought, a smile spread across Xu Ran’s face. He nodded slightly. ”You have a point. In that case, I’ll allow myself to be proud for a little while.”

He then turned to Qing Qing and the other six. ”You all, too. Go on and be proud for a bit.”

He was growing more and more fond of his disciple, Ye Qingyue. ’To think of others even after finding her own happiness... that’s a wonderful quality.’

’I’m really looking forward to seeing how her life with Shen Wuchen unfolds.’

”Hehe, that’s more like it! Master, you’re the best.” A happy smile blossomed on Ye Qingyue’s face. She then turned to Qing Qing and the other six, beckoning them over with a magnanimous air.

”Come on. As a reward for fighting me to a draw, I’ll treat you all to a meal of Spirit Medicine Cuisine at the dining hall—the kind you can’t normally get.”

”Thank you, Elder Qingyue!” The faces of the seven lit up, and they burst into cheers.

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Xu Ran didn’t just create the Combined Attack Array for that group of seven. In the process, he also created Combined Attack Arrays for groups of two, three... all the way up to several hundred people.

Among these creations were simple Combined Attack Arrays, as well as Attack Arrays that combined the cultivators’ own power with the Power of Heaven and Earth.

Once he created them, he handed them over to his martial nephew, Li Daoyi. The Sect’s Array Masters had been working hard to improve them ever since.

Five years passed after Qing Qing and her six companions first fought Ye Qingyue to a draw with the Combined Attack Array. During that time, Xu Ran had also been continuously improving the Array.

Then, one day, inspiration finally struck. He produced a version of the Array he was truly satisfied with, believing it could finally achieve the goal he had in mind.

However, after he taught this new version of the Array to Qing Qing and the other six, he didn’t receive any immediate feedback.

The reason was that as soon as they learned the new version of the Array, they were dispatched from the sect.

A large number of Tribulation Cultivators had recently appeared in Changqing County, throwing its entire Cultivation Realm into turmoil.

As the most powerful Sect in Changqing County, the Profound Pure Sect had a duty to maintain stability in the region.

Thus, Qing Qing and the other six accepted a mission to combat the Tribulation Cultivators.

As it turned out, they made a name for themselves in their very first battle after leaving the sect.

Through several years of battle, they forged a reputation for themselves and were recognized by their fellow cultivators in Changqing County, earning the title ”Eight Heroes of Profound Pure.”

As for why a group of seven was called the ”Eight Heroes”...

It was because a reckless, rampaging Body Cultivator had joined their ranks: Li Shaobai.