Chapter 18: Spirit Gathering Array

Su Wuji’s words left Su Yunhu and Su Jin staring in shock.

“Really?” Su Jin asked quickly.

“True. I heard it from a senior brother who’s close to me,” Su Wuji said. “I just ran into him at the clan school’s main gate today.”

“He pulled me aside to tell me this news. He also said someone in his class got the news yesterday.”

“They’re really giving out first-rank superior Spirit Gathering Arrays? That’s too lucky!” Su Yunhu exclaimed in delight. “I’ve never even touched a first-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Array. Our clan school is being way too generous.”

“The Spirit Gathering Arrays are for our use, but ownership stays with the clan school—we’re only borrowing them,” Su Wuji said. “So don’t get too excited. When we no longer need them, we must return them to the school. Don’t damage the one you’re given—you’ll have to pay for it. Besides, what’s this? The top ten students in the classes above us got second-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Arrays.” Su Wuji spoke coolly.

“What?” Su Yunhu lost his composure. “They gave out second-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Arrays?”

Su Wuji nodded. “Correct. Hongtong Secret Realm is a resource-rich secret realm. Too many people want to go. I heard there’s a spiritual liquid lake formed from pooled spiritual fluid—just bring any container inside and you can fill it with several jin of spiritual liquid.”

Can you imagine such a thing?

Normally, our friends and family buy spiritual liquid by drops. Ten drops of first-rank inferior spiritual liquid cost three spirit stones.

There are also all kinds of rare and precious spiritual items inside. I heard someone even brought out a piece of geng metal the size of a human fist!

That’s excellent material for forging a life-bound flying sword.

The only downside is it’s not safe—there are many low-rank demonic beasts.

To gather resources inside, you must first kill the low-rank demonic beasts guarding those resources.

That’s why the clan school is giving us Spirit Gathering Arrays—to help us raise our cultivation base and combat strength as quickly as possible.

Also, the number of slots to enter the secret realm is limited.

Only the top ten students in each class from second year and above qualify.

For first-year students like us, we can barely qualify if we break through to Qi Refining Level Two after a year.

Now the clan school is giving first-rank superior Spirit Gathering Arrays to those of us who’ve already broken through to Qi Refining Level One, likely hoping we’ll reach Qi Refining Level Two sooner.

If too many students break through to Qi Refining Level Two within this year, further selection will be needed.

We might even be tested. Only the top ten students in each class will earn entry slots.

My senior brother told me the resources in Hongtong Secret Realm are so abundant that even some spiritual herbs for forging Foundation Establishment Elixirs are there.

If we can just find one or two such herbs and bring them out, we’ll make a fortune.”

“Absolutely not—if you see Foundation Establishment herbs, stay far away. That’s suicide,” Su Yunhu said, turning pale. “My father told me that outside, even spouses, fathers and sons, brothers will kill each other over one or two Foundation Establishment herbs.”

If we enter Hongtong Secret Realm, we won’t just be facing clan members—we’ll also be competing against sect disciples and outside cultivators.

We’re young and our cultivation base is low. Fighting them for Foundation Establishment herbs is asking for death.

Su Wuji, don’t be greedy. Or we’ll end up having to collect your corpse.”

Su Wuji shot him an irritated glare at once.

“We’re already among the earliest to break through Qi Refining Level One. With the Spirit Gathering Array to aid our cultivation, by next year, I think we might even reach Qi Refining Level Three.”

If we’re all at Qi Refining Level Three, do we still have to take the same test as classmates who only broke through to Qi Refining Level Two?” Su Jin asked, puzzled.

“I doubt it. The school must have rules for those who break through to Qi Refining Level Three,” Su Wuji said.

“What kind of rules?” Su Yunhu asked eagerly.

“Cough, cough—just ask Master Liu when she announces it,” Su Wuji dodged.

“I never thought entering Hongtong Secret Realm would be this hard?” Su Yunhu said in astonishment.

“What’s hard about it?” Su Wuji sneered. “It’s just that we enrolled late and got the short end. The seniors in other years got second-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Arrays. Their arrays are better, so their cultivation speed is definitely faster than ours.”

When he first heard his senior brother say they’d received second-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Arrays, he’d been furious and envious.

“Now that you say that, I don’t find the first-rank superior Spirit Gathering Array so appealing anymore,” Su Yunhu sighed.

None of them were fools—second-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Arrays were clearly more powerful and gathered more spiritual energy than first-rank superior ones.

“I think you’re the fools—your eyes must be blinded by greed.”

With our current cultivation level, even using a second-rank inferior Spirit Gathering Array would be a waste. Using a first-rank superior one is already excessive.

Most likely, the array draws in a large mass of spiritual energy, but we can only absorb a tiny fraction. The rest, not absorbed in time, just drifts away.

Most importantly, I heard from my older brother that a first-rank medium Spirit Gathering Array consumes three spirit stones per activation.

A first-rank superior one must consume even more per activation.

A second-rank inferior one? Forget it.

While you’re fixated on higher-rank arrays, can you at least consider whether your family’s resources can even sustain the cost of using high-rank arrays long-term?

Without enough spirit stones, you can’t use any array at all.

Even if you all have enough spirit stones, think about whether you’ll just be wasting them.

Our spirit stones aren’t blown in by the wind.

They’re earned through hard work by our closest family members.”

Su Jin calmly analyzed for the two.

Su Wuji and Su Yunhu, who had been feverish with excitement, instantly cooled down.

Spirit Gathering Arrays are good—but only if they suit you.

Otherwise, what you gain isn’t benefit—it’s burden.

“Then what should we do?” Su Yunhu fretted again.

“If we’re really given a first-rank superior Spirit Gathering Array, take it straight to Master Liu and see if we can exchange it for a first-rank inferior one. I think that’s enough for us,” Su Jin said.

The key is: sufficient and low-consumption.

Even for a family like mine, it’s affordable.