Chapter 209: Zhao Ru

A night passed without any gains. Zhao Ru quietly emerged from the rocks and returned to the dilapidated pavilion. Suddenly, he heard Liu Xiaolou let out an "Ah" from inside, so he stepped in quickly.

He saw Liu Xiaolou holding the jade pendant, his face full of regret.

"What happened?"

"Zhao Zhishi, I am truly sorry. I carved a jade pendant to waste... Ah, Zhao Zhishi, please do not be angry. This is a common occurrence. It is quite normal for us array masters to waste a few jade pendants when crafting an array plate! That is why I asked Zhao Zhishi to prepare three. I will rest for a moment, and after that, I will start again."

"You had better be quick!"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

After Liu Xiaolou sat cross-legged and closed his eyes, Zhao Ru stepped out. He circled the Huashou Terrace and went down to Qingxia Valley to patrol for half an hour. Upon returning, he saw that Liu Xiaolou had already resumed carving the jade pendant, so he found a hidden spot to wait quietly.

He was at the Qi Refinement Perfection stage and could no longer cultivate further; he could only wait for an opportunity. If he could obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill from his sect, he might be able to cross this threshold, truly enter the path of cultivation, and become an inner sect disciple.

However, it was not easy to enter the inner sect of the Luo Fu Sect. Being at the Qi Refinement Perfection stage like him was truly too ordinary.

He waited for three days like this. Apart from delivering a meal to Liu Xiaolou every evening, he did not disturb him at all. He simply hid in the distance, waiting patiently, watching Liu Xiaolou craft the array plate, and also seeing if he would take the opportunity to escape.

So far, this young array master had been quite honest, or perhaps he was just timid. He had been given several chances, yet he had not chosen to flee. This made people feel much more at ease.

By the fifth day, Zhao Ru crossed the Huang Long Ravine, descended Yuge Peak from the other side, and headed straight for the Shangjie Peak in the northwest.

Just as the Luo Fushan was divided into Luo Mountain and Fushan, the Luo Fu Sect was also divided into the Northern and Southern branches, and Shangjie Peak was the main peak of the Southern branch. From the foot of the mountain to the summit, layers of halls stood among the green pines and cypresses, solemn and dignified.

Zhao Ru arrived at the large warehouse halfway up the mountain and asked the deacon in charge, "Brother Zhuo, has that batch of spiritual materials been counted? Do you have them?"

Deacon Zhuo said, "The second batch on the list has been gathered. The lotus seeds and spring essence jade in the third batch are not in the warehouse. Either you think of a way yourself and buy them at the market, or wait for me to issue a letter to transfer the goods."

Zhao Ru asked, "How long will it take?"

Deacon Zhuo said, "Elder Lu has spoken for you; how could I not be diligent? But they are truly not in the warehouse. Look, am I not writing the transfer list right now? But such things are hard to say for sure, especially that kind of giant lotus seed; one has to go to Wu and Yue to purchase them. Ten days or half a month at the earliest, or a month at the latest, is normal."

Zhao Ru had no choice but to bow in thanks and leave with the second batch of spiritual materials. Returning to Yuge Peak, he saw Liu Xiaolou concentrating on etching array runes by the earth-fire well, and he nodded inwardly. This kid was truly honest!

Two days later, after Liu Xiaolou etched the third jade pendant, he finally succeeded. He tilted his head back and fell into a deep sleep.

This was his first time etching a killing array rune. If not for the reference of Xing Bujiu's original array, and without the Heavenly Origin Beginning Art and the Zhu Ming Cave Fire, Liu Xiaolou would never have passed this hurdle so easily. But now that he had passed it, he had gained experience and confidence for etching killing array runes in the future.

Seeing how exhausted he was, Zhao Ru took out two spirit stones and placed them beside him, then turned and left to continue patrolling the mountain.

Liu Xiaolou rested for two days. After using the spirit stones Zhao Ru gave him to recover, he began to refine the first batch of spiritual materials. He refined six materials—black gold, mother tin, Gengchen sand, purple-yellow saltpeter, empty green, and black salt—separately, fused them according to the formula to refine the Array Profound Spiritual Liquid, and then fused them with the jade pendant a second time.

The Array Profound, covering the outside of the array pendant, is the gate of the Qiong Feather, the king of the fetal life, communicating with the nature and spirit of heaven and earth, so as not to be isolated.

Five days later, this step was completed. Liu Xiaolou fell into a deep sleep again, sleeping for three days. When he woke up, he saw two more spirit stones beside him, which were sent by Zhao Ru, though Zhao Ru himself did not know where he had gone.

Placed together with the two spirit stones was the second batch of spirit materials, which were also the spirit materials for the "Kill" aspect of the main killing array. Each item needed to be refined into spirit liquid, with impurities removed and the essence preserved, before being filled into the seal etched onto the jade pendant.

The five types of spiritual liquid had to pass through the same tiny rune separately without interfering with each other. This was the greatest test of an array master's technique. Liu Xiaolou was highly focused, gradually entering a state of self-forgetfulness while outlining.

Half a month later, Liu Xiaolou prepared to etch the runes of the "Three Wonders"—sun, moon, and stars—in the heavenly plate, and at the same time asked Zhao Ru to gather the third batch of spiritual materials as soon as possible.

"Zhao Zhishi, the giant lotus seeds and spring essence jade are very important and cannot be missing. They need to be etched and fused at the same time to keep the timing consistent with the Earth Gate Array."

"I know, but these two things are indeed hard to find. I am trying my best..."

"Zhao Zhishi, this is the Luo Fu Sect. Does the Luo Fu Sect actually not have them? These two spiritual materials are not rare items. To be honest, even if I were to look for them, I could find them within a month."

"In any case, rest assured. I will definitely find them for you within seven days. Can you work on other things for these seven days?"

"Ah... how about this? Please ask Zhao Zhishi to bring the pine essence jade and my array plate. I will take advantage of these few days to compare them and see if there is anything that can be improved."

After asking this question, he waited anxiously for Zhao Ru's reply. After a long time, just when he thought he would have to endure Zhao Ru's anger, Zhao Ru said, "Wait."

Not long after, Zhao Ru returned, carrying the basket that Liu Xiaolou had carried up the mountain. Everything in the basket was complete, including a gourd of miasma and a leather bag of beehives. The queen bee in the beehive had laid three eggs, and the previously small bee pupae had changed color slightly, with a vague figure faintly visible inside.

There was even the fourth batch of spiritual materials on Liu Xiaolou's list, such as tiger whip, deer antler, and cinnamon. Liu Xiaolou had requested this fourth batch for the Illusory Fragrance Tendon. Zhao Ru did not ask anything and put them directly into the basket.

"This..." Liu Xiaolou was greatly surprised. He did not expect Zhao Ru to bring everything. Did he really trust himself that much? Was he not afraid that he would pack up and leave?

Throwing the basket down, Zhao Ru instructed, "I am going to find the spiritual materials. You should rest well these few days. Didn't you want to compare and verify? Your array plate is also inside. Compare it yourself."

Leaving the dilapidated pavilion, he took a detour and returned to the large rock in the hidden spot by the ravine. He guarded it for three full days, then quietly descended the peak and returned to the Shangjie Peak of Fushan.

On the edge of a cliff southeast of Shangjie Peak, there was an exquisite small courtyard almost suspended in mid-air. Zhao Ru arrived at night, knocked on the door, and entered. He knelt before the stone steps in the courtyard: "Elder Lu."

A voice sounded from inside the room, carrying a bit of vicissitudes: "Still nothing?"

Zhao Ru replied, "No one has come up to Yuge Peak. I also gave Li Mu a chance, but he did not escape."

A moment later, the voice in the room sounded again: "What is being compared is patience."

Zhao Ru bowed again: "Understood!"

Bidding farewell to Elder Lu, Zhao Ru continued to the large warehouse to urge for the spiritual materials. Deacon Zhuo said, "Wait a few more days. The people who went to Wu and Yue will be back soon. Zhao Zhishi, please do not urge me anymore. Even if you urge me, I cannot conjure up what you want."

Zhao Ru sighed, "It is my duty, Brother Zhuo, please understand."

Deacon Zhuo laughed, "Understood, understood. Brother Zhao, stop saying 'understood', it's giving me a headache! By the way, there is a rumor outside that you, brother, brought an array master to Yuge Peak to craft an array plate. Why? Did something go wrong with the Earth Gate Array on Yuge Peak?"

Zhao Ru explained, "It can't be considered going wrong, just a little bit of unsmooth operation. That array master is not bad; he found the crux of the problem, so he needs to rush to craft an array plate to fill the loopholes."

He also jokingly complained, "If Brother Zhuo gives me the spiritual materials a day earlier, I can leave that place a day earlier. Being stuck in one place for several months is truly unbearable; it's no different from being imprisoned in the Youju Cave! I beg Brother Zhuo to save me. Once I regain my freedom, I will definitely reward you... understood!"

Deacon Zhuo laughed, "It's better to keep you locked on Yuge Peak. I haven't seen you here for several months, and everyone's ears are clean."

Zhao Ru returned to Yuge Peak and saw Liu Xiaolou starting to craft the array plate on the Zhu Ming Cave Fire again. Suddenly, he felt a bit worried: "Are all array masters so simple and honest? Do they really not want to escape?" ===== CHAPTER 210 =====