Chapter 4: Array Master Genius

  "The key issue is compatibility!!"

  After carefully examining the formation diagram of the Four Symbol Seal Spirit Formation, Wang Guanlan roughly understood where Fengjiu was stuck.

  The Four Symbol Seal Spirit Formation is indeed extraordinary, just like a military formation, it can amplify the power of several people to an unimaginable extent. However, for the four of them, there is a big problem - the degree of cohesion between the four of them.

  Others say that the way of soldiers is to merge one's inner energy and momentum completely into one furnace, sealing heaven and locking earth.

  But that's the result of decades of hard practice by others, a Taoist soldier, who has been practicing since childhood, eating and living together, practicing the same kung fu, doing the same thing every day, practicing several times a day. Although there are many people, they have long been trained to be as one, but these four are different, temporarily assembled, it's really difficult to say how much tacit understanding they have, it's not bad if they don't bother each other.

  Of course, the Four Symbol Seal Spirit Formation is not a complete military formation, but rather something one level higher than a military formation. Therefore, it does not require that all practitioners cultivate the same method; as long as four people cultivate methods or inner energy states that correspond to the Four Symbols, it will suffice.

  The four symbolic creatures, Xuanwu, Zhuque, Baihu and Qinglong correspond to the internal Qi states of earth, fire, wind and water. The most basic condition is that the internal Qi states of the four array setters have these four attributes.

  Of course, the internal energy of the four properties is only the most basic condition. Let alone the degree of cohesion, there are also factors such as what level the internal energy cultivation of the four people has reached, how they complement each other, and the differences in their personalities, all of which require a long period of practice.

  It's clear that these four can't be as harmonious as the Taoist soldiers who practice together every day, so it depends on the Array Master's skills.

  Just as Fengjiu said, he was just a beginner in the formation method and couldn't complete such a high-difficulty task. As for Wang Guanlan? He was also similar to Fengjiu, who knew his true attainments in the formation method were not stronger than Fengjiu's. However, he had an advantage - he had seen more formations than Fengjiu, including the core law array of the Taoist instrument, and had even personally set up a formation that reached the level of Tian Di Wu Ji. In terms of experience, he was stronger than Fengjiu. Moreover, he still had other trump cards in his hand. Therefore, after disassembling the entire formation method, Wang Guanlan had a general idea in his mind.

  …………………

  ………

  "Hey, what did you say about that kid? Is he any good or not?"

  Three days later, in the Five Elements Formation of Wang Guanlan Temple, a misty atmosphere surrounded it. Two figures, one fat and one thin, were whispering to each other, "I'm telling you, I've been thinking about that formation these past few days. I think even if he set up the formation himself, someone else must have given him the formation diagram. He's too young to have achieved such success with formations, it's just not reasonable!"

  "Even so, one more person means one more way out. Besides, it's not a bad thing to have someone backing him up. Who knows, he might have already given the formation chart to his backer and come up with a solution!"

  "Alas, forget it. You can't reason with him, but you're also to blame. We haven't even done anything yet, and you've already told him about our plan to kill Zhi Tianming. What if he's not up to the task? Are we going to silence him by killing him too? Killing Zhi Tianming is no small matter, we absolutely can't let any unrelated people find out!"

  "It's not that serious, even if he can't do it, he won't say anything, he's not a fool!" Fengjiu chuckled, but suddenly he seemed to sense something was off, his face looked a bit strange. "Don't you feel like we're going around in circles?!"

  "Old brother, it was you who brought me in, I don't understand formations, how would I know?!"

  "Really?!" Fengjiu stopped in her tracks, carefully observing the surroundings for a long time. The young farmer beside her grew impatient, "Fengjiu, what's going on? Should we force our way out?"

  "What are you doing, you want to rush in, if it's too loud, it will definitely attract the attention of the Ning Wang Fu guards, and then everyone in the city will know about it?!" Fengjiu said discontentedly.

  "What's going to happen? We're trapped here!"

  "Hold on, hold on. It seems that Wang Guanlan has modified the formation in this courtyard. We're trapped here, he must know!" Fengjiu scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed.

  "What's the use of knowing if he doesn't want to let us out...!"

  No sooner had the words left his lips than the mist around them suddenly dispersed, revealing a small and exquisite courtyard before the two of them. "You two, come on in! Next time you come, give me a heads up so I can receive you properly!"

  "You little brat, you've been watching jokes in the courtyard for half a day, and now you're blaming us!" Fengjiu was a straightforward person, scolding with a smile, and walked towards the courtyard. The young farmer-like man following behind him looked somewhat helpless, and followed behind him with a bitter smile.

  Wang Guanlan stood at the door of the study, looking at the two people who came in. Fengjiu didn't need to be said, and although the young farmer looked ordinary, his footsteps were steady and calm, exuding an inexplicable sense of stability.

  "Could it be that you are Xia Dongyuan, the second-ranked on the Profound Abyss Ranking? Forgive me for my rudeness, I hope you can forgive me!"

  "It's not your fault, it's Fengjiu who is too arrogant and got himself trapped. If anyone should apologize, it should be him!"

  Feng Jiu rolled his eyes and seemed to want to defend himself, but swallowed the words that had reached the tip of his tongue.

  "You two don't have to pretend anymore. How about it? Did you figure out any clues from the array diagram I gave you last time?"

  "Just a little trouble!" Wang Guanlan smiled confidently and gestured with his hand, "Please, both of you!"

  Xia Dongyuan and Feng Jiu exchanged a glance, Xia Dongyuan clearly saw the unexpected surprise in Feng Jiu's eyes, and couldn't help but smile inwardly as he walked into the house first.

  After inviting the two to sit down, Wang Guanlan took out the formation map and spread it in front of them.

  "Kid, did you really understand the diagram in just three days? And what's more, you're being a bit of a nuisance, why don't you tell me, what's the trouble?" Feng Jiu was clearly somewhat disgruntled. He had spent a long time studying this diagram since he got it, and only managed to grasp a tiny thread of understanding, but there were still some knots that couldn't be solved. But Wang Guanlan, this kid, had only had it for three days and yet was acting so nonchalantly, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable in his heart, and his tone also carried a hint of displeasure.

  "The biggest trouble lies in the compatibility, a four-person formation, I have no way to solve the problem of compatibility, we can only change our thinking!"

  "Change your mind? What mind?" Fengjiu raised his head, with a hint of provocation in his eyes, making Xia Dongyuan's face flush red on the side, feeling that sitting together with this out-of-tune fat man was really a shameful thing.

  "Transformation!" Wang Guanlan said with confidence, "You know I'm good at the Five Elements Array Method, and I'm proficient in the technique of transforming the original energy of the Five Elements. This is a type of array method similar to a military formation. If we add a small Five-Element Flag to the array and transform our inner energy into balance, it will be easy!" As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper with a simple Five-Element Array diagram drawn on it. Wang Guanlan handed it to Fengjiu's face, "Fengjiu brother is an expert in array methods, what do you think of this array diagram?"

  A "formation master" almost made Xia Dongyuan laugh out loud, but Fengjiu's face turned red as he carefully savored the formation diagram for a good half an hour before furrowing his brow. "The idea isn't bad, but is it appropriate to make the wind attribute inner energy the core of this diagram? Wind doesn't belong to the five elements, and you're making the wind attribute inner energy the key point in this five-element formation. If one isn't proficient in formation techniques, it's likely to be very difficult to succeed!!!"

  "Feng brother has good eyesight, so I'll take the position of White Tiger and make this formation!"

  " You? Your inner energy isn't true fire of earth tomb, is it?" Fengjiu was shocked.

  "The true fire of the earth evil is just one of my inner qi's actual states, my inner qi also has the attribute of wind!" As he spoke, Wang Guanlan casually waved his hand, and a formless air blade cut out, cutting off a corner of the desk and revealing a smooth cut surface.

  "It's indeed a Wind attribute!" Fengjiu hadn't even spoken yet, but Xia Dongyuan's eyes lit up, "Fengjiu, is what Wang Gongzi said feasible?!"

  "It's feasible, but he was originally supposed to occupy the Vermilion Bird position. Now that he's occupying the White Tiger position, I'm afraid..."

  "It's nothing major, I'll just exchange with him. My internal energy also has the fire attribute, but it's not the true fire of the earth!" Xia Dongyuan waved his hand and said, "Is there anything else troublesome besides this?!"

  "It's over!" Fengjiu hesitated for a moment, and had to admit that Wang Guanlan's solution was successful. However, what made him feel uncomfortable was that he hadn't thought of it himself. The five-element array used by Wang Guanlan was clever yet simple, and he believed that if he had thought of it at the time, he could have also come up with a similar array.

  "I still have some ideas!" Wang Guanlan said.

  "Come on, let's hear it!"

  "If I can determine the location in advance, I think I can at least increase the power of this spell by three to four times!"

  "This is impossible!" Before the words had even fallen, Fengjiu jumped up, "This formation diagram has already been perfected to an extreme degree. Even if it were Array King Zhuge Wuyi who came, he wouldn't be able to increase its power!"

  "Did I say the formation was the problem?!" Wang Guanlan looked at the fatty with disdain, "Even if we use the five elements transformation method to deploy this Four Symbol Seal Spirit Formation, without a long period of cooperation, it's impossible to bring out even one-tenth of its maximum power. What I meant by increasing power is that our combined strength as four people would increase three to four times, not the formation!!"

  "How foolish!!" Xia Dongyuan glared at Baozi fiercely, and smiled at Wang Guanlan, "Brother Wang doesn't need to bother with him, this guy likes to make a big fuss over nothing!!"