"I wonder how many days Senior Brother Yang has been attempting to break the Array now?" Xu Xing maintained his composure while continuing to gather information.
"It should be the ninth day now."
"I heard that he already broke through the 12-Layer Heavenly Gate Array. The 12-Layer Heavenly Gate Array is already considered quite an achievement for someone in the Immortal Foundation Realm with exceptional array talent. He certainly didn't waste his years studying array techniques. But... to be accepted as a disciple by the Kuimen Daoist Lord, he'd have to at least break through the 15-Layer Heavenly Gate Array..."
"To break through all thirty-six layers of the Heavenly Gate Array, one would have to be at the Returning Core Realm."
Upon reaching this point, Minister Zheng could not help but sigh, "The first nine Heavenly Gate Arrays are first-level arrays. However, starting from the tenth Heavenly Gate Array, it becomes... a second-level array. From the tenth Heavenly Gate Array onwards, the difficulty of breaking through the arrays multiplies by stacking up multiple Arrays. It's difficult! Difficult! Difficult!"
Minister Zheng didn't hold much hope for Yang Shao.
If effort were sufficient, what would be the need for geniuses?
Of course, Yang Shao did have some array talent that set him apart from ordinary people, but it wouldn't be an easy task for him to stand out among the numerous geniuses in the Flying Feather Immortal Palace.
Based on his keen eyesight as a Deacon, he could see it at a glance.
The probability of Yang Shao's failure this time was as high as ninety percent!
"Senior Brother Zheng..."
"Here are 2,000 Spirit Shells. I want to try breaking through the 36-Layer Heavenly Gate Array as well!"
Xu Xing took out a Storage Bag from his robes and handed it to the counter beside Minister Zheng.
"You want to sign up too?"
Minister Zheng looked at Xu Xing in astonishment.
For each attempt to break the 36-Layer Heavenly Gate Array, the disciple attempting it must pay 2,000 Spirit Shells. These 2,000 Spirit Shells are just enough to cover the cost of operating the arrays for the first few challenges.
Ultimately, the Heavenly Gate Array is a method used by the Sect to select disciples. The fee of 2,000 Spirit Shells is merely to discourage disciples who lack self-awareness from attempting it and wasting the Sect's resources.
"Junior Brother Xu, you've only studied array techniques for a few years..." Minister Zheng couldn't help but advise Xu Xing.
Given his experience, he shouldn't interfere with the disciples' decisions. However, Xu Xing attempting the 36-Layer Heavenly Gate Array truly seemed unfathomable to him. His advice was only to save Xu Xing from wasting money. It might also help him build a good relationship with Xu Xing. After all, Xu Xing was a disciple who understood interpersonal relationships. Over the past ten years, Minister Zheng had also earned some Spirit Shells from their dealings; the two had developed a shallow friendship.
"Senior Brother Yang has taught me well..."
"He has taught me all his experience in breaking through the initial arrays," Xu Xing casually offered an excuse, lying.
In fact, he hadn't wanted to expose his own expertise in array techniques. His main goal was to cultivate the Withered Wood Sword Scripture and gain the favor of the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch. But alas, he held grudges. Whether or not Yang Shao had the fated opportunity to pass through this Heavenly Gate Array, Xu Xing was now determined to seize that chance for himself!
"This is the Token. Go to the Heavenly Gate Palace and hand it over to the Deacon inside."
Seeing that Xu Xing was determined, Minister Zheng no longer dissuaded him. Advising once was a way to build goodwill. However, saying more might cause Xu Xing to become impatient, creating hostility instead—an undesirable outcome.
「Sealed Demon Pan Palace.」
「Heavenly Gate Palace.」
The 36-Layer Heavenly Gate Array had now opened up to the thirteenth layer.
Through the layers of elaborate golden Heavenly Gates carved with dragons and phoenixes, one could see Yang Shao, sitting between the Twelfth and Third Gates, deducing the Thirteenth Formation with Calculation Chips.
His face was pale, and his Magic Power was running at full force, the center of his brow faintly bulging. Occasionally, he would take a pill from his Storage Bag and swallow it to forcibly continue his analysis.
This time, I must not fail... Xu Xing's closed-door cultivation will end soon. With Xu Xing's intelligence, he's probably already figured out that I secretly allied with the Sea Bandits to kill him. That sound transmission Conch was a deliberate test from him. Although I have the strength of the Immortal Foundation Fifth Layer, I've spent many years focused on studying array techniques and am not skilled in combat. Since even Jingming was killed by him, I don't think I'm a match for him. And with such strength, Xu Xing must not be as simple as he appears on the surface... Unfortunately, I've used all my Spirit Shells to buy Spirit Materials for practicing the Yan Shen Art. Otherwise, hiring a Sea Bandit with Late Immortal Foundation Stage strength would have guaranteed a successful assassination.
As Yang Shao was deducing the Formation, he was momentarily entranced by the Bewitching Heart Array, and the thoughts weighing heavily on him surged into his mind.
Yang Shao bit his tongue, forcibly waking himself from the Bewitching Heart Array.
Though his eyes were bloodshot, they revealed an extremely calm demeanor. Immediately after, the veins on his brow bulged even more, and the speed at which he manipulated the Calculation Chips suddenly nearly doubled.
The Bewitching Heart Array before him was instantly shattered.
With this, all thirteen Formations were broken through.
Yang Shao got up, dusted off his robes, and prepared to step into the Fourteenth Heavenly Gate.
As long as he could break through the Formation within the Fourteenth Heavenly Gate, he could soar to great heights and become a disciple of the Kuimen Daoist Lord. Even if he couldn't become a disciple of the Kuimen Daoist Lord, perhaps some True Monarch might take a liking to him and accept him as their disciple.
Yang Shao looked back, his heart filled with pride. Being able to reach the Fourteenth Heavenly Gate in the Sealed Demon Pan Palace was enough to establish his dominance in array techniques within the Western Sea Area's Immortal Foundation Realm.
However, in the next moment, Yang Shao saw someone he did not want to see.
He was taken aback, a wave of unease washing over him.
If Xu Xing were to expose his misdeeds at this moment... When he had sent the Black-robed Cultivators to assassinate Xu Xing, Yang Shao had been confident that the Punishing Law Bureau wouldn't easily deal with him. But Xu Xing, despite his apparent weaker strength, had managed to turn the tables. His true identity clearly wasn't simple, at least not that of an ordinary cultivator. Yang Shao had lost that confidence.