Chapter 177

First, test the array plates. Only after confirming that every single plate is free of issues will they be arranged at the various junction points across Mount Fanghe according to the previous plan, followed by the final debugging of the grand array.

Liu Xiaolou's plan was to exploit the time difference to swap the array plates. He would find a way to muddle through during the inspection, then use the time before the actual installation to re-refine a reliable Jingyun Talisman array plate, so he could pull a switcheroo when the time came.

There were many points in this process where he could intervene, utilizing his status as Tang Song's errand boy. For instance, when setting up the arrays, he could find a way to make Tang Song designate the Northern Profound Water Array as the final one to be installed, and given the ordering of the Li Nine Palace array plates, it would likely fall at the very end.

In this way, according to Tang Song's previous planning, there would be a gap of seven or eight days. If he could find another opportunity to meddle and create some minor trouble, he might even be able to win another two or three days.

Zhao Yongchun nodded in agreement, so Tang Song made a gesture toward the array plates in the large wooden crate... but he didn't summon one; instead, he was blocked by Liu Xiaolou, who was already holding an array plate, bowing as he presented it to Tang Song.

Tang Song didn't mind, took the array plate, glanced at it, and said to Zhao Yongchun, "This is the Ten Thousand Flower Array of the Eastern Azure Wood Array, it is..."

Liu Xiaolou reported, "The Single Calyx array plate."

Tang Song then activated the array plate, and before everyone's eyes, large patches of fresh flowers immediately grew, such as roses, peonies, anthuriums, sunflowers, and so on, each one budding and blooming, a magnificent sight.

Next, Liu Xiaolou handed over the Three-Calyx array plate and the Five-Calyx array plate, both of which were activated and inspected by Tang Song one by one. For a time, the foot of Mount Fanghe was filled with spring colors, ten thousand flowers competing in beauty, a riot of seven colors.

But these flowers weren't just for show; once nested with other array plates, they became deadly weapons, one by one.

Tang Song adjusted the array incantations, and ten thousand flowers bloomed at once, or ten thousand flowers withered at once; it was truly breathtaking.

After the three array plates were inspected, Liu Xiaolou handed over the Sparrow Feather array plate, which was one of the Vermilion Bird array plates of the Western Four Spirits Array.

The Ten Thousand Flower Array was refined under the supervision of Fu Conglin, who had truly put in hard work on it. There were five array plates in total: Single Calyx, Three-Calyx, Five-Calyx, Seven-Calyx, and Cluster Calyx. The first three had been inspected, but the last two were suddenly skipped. He felt uncomfortable and stepped forward to remind them, "There are still the Seven-Calyx and Cluster Calyx plates that haven't been inspected."

Liu Xiaolou patted his head and buried his head in the crate to search, "Ah... they were at the bottom. Let me look... here, the Seven-Calyx is here... Cluster Calyx... where is the Cluster Calyx?"

Tang Song had no patience to wait for him to find it and directly activated the Sparrow Feather array plate. Suddenly, patches of sparrow feathers rose outside the mountain, and countless sharp arrows shot out from the feathers, flying across the sky.

Several elders of the Zhao clan praised it, and Zhao Yongchun also stroked his beard and nodded, indicating his satisfaction.

Once the Sparrow Feather array plate inspection was finished, Liu Xiaolou presented the Seven-Calyx array plate that had been skipped earlier, followed immediately by the two array plates for the Qian-One formation of the Northern Profound Water Array, and only then did he find the Cluster Calyx array plate for the Ten Thousand Flower Array, which finally settled a worry for Fu Conglin.

But from this point on, the order of inspecting the array plates was completely disrupted, and everyone slowly accepted this method of inspection. In fact, it was originally just an inspection of items one by one, not an actual array setup, so what did it matter if the order was chaotic?

Only Liu Daoran was most concerned about the order, keeping his eyes fixed on Liu Xiaolou's hands as he rummaged through the crate to take out the array plates. Seeing Liu Xiaolou operate this way, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief, regained his senses, and smiled at Diao Daoyi and the others, only then realizing his back was soaked with sweat.

Diao Daoyi also nodded, suddenly beckoning him over, and asked with concern, "Liu Xiaolou has a deep understanding of array techniques. The questions he raised when I first arrived were very good. You must have gained something during these days, right?"

Liu Daoran felt deeply moved, "Indeed, spending a month with him, I have gained a great deal. Brother Liu is especially skilled in illusion arrays..." He suddenly realized his mistake and dared not continue.

But he realized it a bit too late. Diao Daoyi became interested, "Isn't the Li Nine Palace array plate you refined together an illusion array? I'll have to see it for myself later."

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Liu Daoran opened his mouth, forced a smile, and said, "How could it possibly be worthy of your attention..." He felt bitter inside and found an excuse to leave, hoping that Diao Daoyi was just being polite.

Inspecting over a hundred array plates one by one was also a tiring task. As they reached the later stages, the progress gradually accelerated. Often, an array plate would be looked at for the time it takes to burn a stick of incense before being put away to switch to the next one.

Seeing that the timing was about right, Liu Xiaolou presented the Li-Scatter True Fire Talisman array plate. After Tang Song activated it and inspected it briefly, he deemed that all key points met the requirements, so he withdrew. Liu Xiaolou hurriedly presented the other array plate for the Central Thick Earth Array.

The saying goes that experts watch the technique, while laymen watch the excitement, but if the excitement never ends, it becomes a nuisance. The Zhao clan members had been watching for a full two hours, turning from initial amazement to current numbness. Among them, some became impatient and found excuses to withdraw.

Zhao Yongchun was relatively amiable and didn't deliberately make things difficult; he nodded in agreement to anyone who wanted to leave. With each person who left, Liu Daoran felt a bit more relaxed, his mood turning much better, while he hoped that the inspection time for each subsequent array plate would be even shorter.

The process was indeed as he had hoped. After more than a hundred were inspected, not a single array plate was found that needed rework. Even Tang Song, Long Shi, and the others were more or less relaxed. The inspection time continued to shorten, from a stick of incense to the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The frequency at which Liu Xiaolou presented the array plates also accelerated, invisibly urging Tang Song to speed up the progress.

Diao Daoyi suddenly walked over and said, "Xiaolou, I heard you are skilled in illusion arrays. What about the Li Nine Palace you refined? I only saw one just now..."

Liu Xiaolou was startled inside, smiled, and said, "Master Diao is too kind. In front of so many seniors, how can I talk about being skilled... Didn't we just see the Li-Scatter True Fire Talisman plate? It was just average, nothing extraordinary... Ah, right, there is also a Three-Treasure True Origin Talisman... It's here..."

Tang Song took it and activated it. The illusions inside were standard and had nothing unusual. Diao Daoyi felt slightly disappointed, smiled, and said nothing more.

So Liu Xiaolou accelerated the presentation of the array plates again, and Tang Song also unconsciously followed along, speeding up the inspection.

One cup of tea, half a cup of tea, a quarter cup of tea, faster and faster.

By the last few pieces, it was almost just activating them, taking a few glances, and asking the refiner, "No problems, right?"

The refiner naturally replied, "No problems."

And so, passed...

That was how the Jingyun Talisman array plate was presented, and that was how it was inspected. Everyone was too busy to walk into the stone pavilion by the ferry, and naturally, they couldn't see the high cliff at the corner. Amidst the short Q&A of "No problems, right?" and "None" between Tang Song and Liu Xiaolou, they withdrew from the illusion.

All array plates were inspected, and next, it was time to set up the grand array.

Tang Song said to Zhao Yongchun, "We will start tomorrow, beginning with the main peak of Mount Fanghe. First, we will set up the Central Thick Earth Array, which will take about one to two days. Please do not return to Mount Jin Ting tomorrow."

Zhao Yongchun shook his head, "Let's just leave it at that. My family has already collected the array plates, so we won't trouble you, Master Tang, with the setup."

Tang Song was stunned, "This..."

Zhao Yongchun explained with a smile, "A good friend of mine from the Pingdu Eight Array Sect has arrived. You know, they are also experts in this field. My friend took the initiative to offer to help me with this, and I really couldn't refuse. Haha, let's just leave it to him. You all have worked hard for so long, it's just right to go back and rest early. It can be considered a win-win situation."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "Don't worry, the remuneration will not be a penny less; it will be exactly what it should be."

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