Chapter 19: Soul Harvest Formation (3)

Chapter 19: Soul Harvest Formation (3)

It is just before dawn when Lan Xiaohui strikes the final stroke into a piece of stone embedded into the ground. This final part of the diagram is related to the direction Northwest, and Heaven. After more than twelve hours probably closer to fourteen, really she had finally completed the grand formation.

She is so exhausted by the ordeal that, when it is finally over, she sways on her feet and almost falls over. But she is too proud to fall now, so I see her visibly grit her teeth and force one foot in front of the other until she forcefully marches herself the one hundred steps it takes to reach the stone slab.

Unceremoniously she drops onto the ground and leans against the slab. Her expression is so twisted from exhaustion that for a moment I think she will cry again. But I misread the indicators of her non-verbal communication.

She laughs.

She also seems rather pleased with herself and excited just like I am. Though, I am sure our reasons for feeling this sensation is vastly different.

Lan Xiaohui just finished the greatest physical training she will likely ever have to do.

I am about to have the biggest meal I ever had.

This close to completing my grand formation and for my first try at this creative business, I have to say I did pretty well I am beginning to have doubts.

I know what the formation does. I just dont know what it does.

I have thought about this part before, but I had assumed back then that I would eventually find the answer. I still had an Insight into the Dao of Arrays melting in my mind. But its still not enough to understand how this works or what it looks like.This chapter made its debut appearance via N0v3lB1n.

I imagine it is probably like when I consume bodies. Everything will just shrivel away and turn into Blood Points.

The other question on my sentient core is how exactly do I collect my points. Since I wont be physically touching them in the most literal of senses will it still count?

I cannot really direct my [Critical Analysis] ability on an abstract concept like knowledge, so I cant find out the answer directly. My Dao says: consume life and absorb the soul.

Pretty straight forward.

I just dont want all of this to be for nothing.

Are you sure this will protect us? my sentient formation drawer asks.

Just to be safe better safe than sorry I activate my Dimensional Storage Array, and set it to what I consider to be the vacuum mode.

As for Lan Xiaohuis question, I dont know how to answer. How can anyone ever be sure of anything?

Do you see any monkeys? I ask her.

She glances around, then shrugs. I dont think so.

Thats a shame. I really wanted to know what would happen to the monkeys.

Put me on the slab. You can stab me into the stone.

She nods after a moment, and it takes her visible effort to get back on her feet. I forgot. You are the flag.

[ Obtained: Soul Fruit. ]

[ Obtained: Soul Fruit. ]

[ Obtained: Soul Fruit. ]

Several fruits appear inside my internal storage, but I dont even have time to look at them. I am so focused on maintaining my concentration that I dont even notice the bolt of lightning strike me.

[ Obtained: Tribulation Lightning. ]

I dont even notice when Lan Xiaohui screams and throws herself onto the ground. The influx of Qi from the array has my entire attention.

[ Life consumed: +3,626 BP ]

It works! But my excitement is diminished by my decreased lifespan. No matter what, this was not worth it.

That time, I notice the lightning bolt strike me.

[ Obtained: Tribulation Lightning. ]

Strange, I think. I cant really see the sky, but judging from the weather there was no indication that there would be a thunderstorm.

This isnt normal lightning, is it?

[ Obtained: Tribulation Lightning. ]

My cultivation base breaks through into the Late stage of Qi Refining at that moment, and I feel the vast array slowing down in its operations, and the vast river of Qi also slowly dries up.

Then, everything is silent for a long moment.

Looking over my state, I have to admit I have seen worse days. I am cracked and rusted in places, and it will surely take quite a bit to recover my lost Essence, but nothing can replace my lost lifespan.

This really was not worth it.

Lan Xiaohui approaches me slowly. My body shimmers with heat and my blade is red hot from being hit by lightning. I am a conductor, after all.

Are you all right? she asks.

No, I tell her. I am devastated that the formation was nothing at all like what I had expected. I lost three years of my lifespan.

[ After absorbing Tribulation Lightning Qi, your Spiritual Roots improve. ]

[ Spiritual Roots: Mortal Grade -> Heaven Grade. ]

Maybe it wasnt a complete loss.

Lan Xiaohui is in complete disbelief and shock.