Chapter 402: Ancient Methods Newly Integrated, the Five Elements Resonance Great Array

Lin Xuan gently stroked the ground of the Gugong, his brow furrowing tighter and tighter. The ley line energy beneath his palm was mixed with ominous black-purple fluctuations, more severe than he had anticipated.

"Xiao Yuan, the Void Pollution in the southeast corner has already seeped into the ley lines," Lin Xuan said, standing up with a grave expression. "Purification by standard Array methods alone likely won't be enough."

Xiao Yuan crouched down, her slender fingers lightly touching the ground. She closed her eyes to sense it for a moment before opening them: "The pollution has already extended to the ley line layer three meters deep. It will take at least ten times the standard amount of Life Essence Energy to purify it completely."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment, then took a small bottle from the bag he was carrying: "This is 'Wood Spirit Essence' I brought from the Five Elements Academy's secret vault. I had intended to use it in an emergency, but it seems I have no choice but to use it ahead of schedule."

The liquid in the small bottle was emerald green, shimmering with vibrant vitality under the moonlight. Lin Xuan carefully poured it into the center point of the pre-designed Array, simultaneously guiding his own Wood Element energy to resonate with it. In an instant, a dense aura of life spread out from the center point, and intricate emerald green patterns emerged on the ground, spreading in all directions like tree roots.

"The ley lines beneath the Taihe Hall have begun to purify," Lin Xuan said, feeling the flow of energy. "But we also need to set up auxiliary Array points for the surrounding building complex, otherwise the purification effect will be greatly diminished."

Xiao Yuan nodded: "I will go set up the outer Array points; you continue to maintain the stability of the central Array."

Just as Lin Xuan was focused on controlling the Array's energy, he suddenly sensed a wave of ancient and pure energy coming from the direction of the Huangjidian to the west, forming a sharp contrast with the Void Pollution.

"Xiao Yuan, change of plans," Lin Xuan said through his communicator. "There is an abnormal energy reaction in the direction of the Huangjidian. I am going to check it out; you finish the work here first."

Lin Xuan cautiously approached the Huangjidian. As the distance shortened, the fluctuations of that pure energy became clearer. After a careful search inside the hall, he discovered that the patterns on one part of the floor were slightly different from the surrounding ones. Touching it lightly with Wood Element energy, the floor slid open silently, revealing a staircase leading downward.

At the end of the staircase was a small underground space, its walls covered in ancient murals. Borrowing the light source in his hand, Lin Xuan saw the content of the murals clearly—five hundred years ago, during the Ming Dynasty, a group of Practitioners wearing Daoist Robes were fighting against an invasion of dark creatures. The scene was shockingly similar to the Void threat Lin Xuan was currently facing.

"This cannot be a coincidence," Lin Xuan muttered to himself, carefully studying the details in the murals. In one corner of the mural, a complex Array diagram was drawn, with a small note in the margin: "Five Elements Resonance Array; can gather the power of heaven and earth to drive demons to the nine heavens."

Lin Xuan quickly took photos of the mural while using his portable recorder to scan the entire space. This discovery might be the key breakthrough—the ancients had faced a similar threat and had found a way to deal with it.

Returning to the main Array point, Xiao Yuan had already finished the purification work. Seeing Lin Xuan's excited expression, she asked curiously: "What did you find?"

Lin Xuan showed her the photos of the mural: "There is a secret Underground Palace beneath the Huangjidian that records scenes of Daoists fighting against a Void Invasion similar to ours five hundred years ago. Most importantly, they used a high-level Array technique called 'Five Elements Resonance,' which theoretically can significantly enhance the effect of the Urban Great Array."

"This is amazing," Xiao Yuan said, looking at the photos in surprise. "The threat the ancients faced was so similar to ours, and they left behind a method to deal with it."

Lin Xuan nodded: "I plan to integrate this ancient method with our modern Array. Combining the wisdom of the ancients with modern technology might create a more powerful defense system."

Just then, the communicator suddenly rang, and a hurried cry for help came through: "Teacher Lin! The Tiantan is under attack! Multiple Black-Clothed Persons are wielding weapons that can interfere with a Practitioner's energy! We—" The communication cut off abruptly.

Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan exchanged a look and immediately rushed toward the Tiantan.

When they arrived at the Tiantan, the battle was already drawing to a close. Several Black-Clothed Persons lay on the ground, and although Lin Xuan's students had successfully set up the Earth Element Array Eye, two team members were seriously injured and were receiving emergency treatment.

"They knew our plan," said Zhou Zhuo, who was in charge of the team, his face pale and one arm hanging limply. "At least ten well-trained attackers, carrying special weapons that can interfere with a Practitioner's energy. Even worse, two of them seem to have already begun to undergo Void-transformation and can directly manipulate low-level Void Energy."

Lin Xuan checked the condition of the wounded and, after confirming their lives were not in danger, immediately contacted the other teams. The situation was not optimistic—the team responsible for the Olympic Sports Center Earth Element Array Eye reported that the ley lines beneath the venue had been artificially sabotaged, causing the energy to be unable to flow stably.

"Xu Feng just used technical equipment to detect it," the captain responsible for the Earth Element Array Eye reported. "Someone has been conducting secret excavations here recently, possibly looking for some kind of underground relic. We need to redesign the Array layout, but that will take at least three extra days."

The Water Element Array Eye at the Zhongyang Dianshitai Dalou and the Metal Element Array Eye at the Jinrong Zhongxin also encountered varying degrees of obstruction. The overall completion rate of the five Array Eyes was only 60%, and there were only nine days left until the Summer Solstice Day.

Lin Xuan immediately convened an emergency meeting of the Core members.

"The situation is more complex than we anticipated," Lin Xuan said in the headquarters' war room. "The enemy clearly already knows our plan and is trying to stop us. The deployment progress of the five Array Eyes is uneven; according to the original plan, we cannot complete the deployment of the Urban Great Array before the Summer Solstice Day."

Xu Feng displayed the latest simulation results: "According to current progress, the protective coverage of the Urban Great Array on the Summer Solstice Day will reach at most 70%, and it will be unable to form a complete barrier."

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment: "Activate the backup plan—sacrifice some of the Array's stability in exchange for faster deployment speed. At the same time, deploy auxiliary Array points around the city to form a wider Energy Network; even if the Urban Great Array is not perfect, it can still act as a buffer at critical moments."

"But if we do that, the duration of the Array will be significantly shortened," Elder Wu Qian raised his concern. "It will last at most four hours, after which it must be recharged."

Lin Xuan said firmly: "Four hours is enough. If we haven't been able to find and destroy Star Technology's central control system by then, humanity will truly be in danger."

After the meeting ended, Lin Xuan returned alone to the secret Underground Palace beneath the Huangjidian to study the ancient mural carefully once more. In the mural, five Practitioners wearing Daoist Robes of different colors stood at the five positions of the Array, their energy intersecting at the center to form a pillar of light that shot into the sky, dispelling the dark power.

"Five Elements Resonance..." Lin Xuan whispered, suddenly realizing something. He quickly contacted Xu Feng: "Immediately investigate all records from the Wanli era of the Ming Dynasty regarding 'celestial anomalies,' especially legends related to Daoists eliminating demons."