C4 Soul Deriving Array

What secrets does the Divine Picture conceal that those men in black would go to such lengths to seize it? Or is the Divine Picture merely a pretext?

From which faction do these enigmatic men in black hail?

Lu Feng mulled over these puzzles one by one.

Atop Night Crow Ridge, he had ascertained that the thirteen men in black were not the genuine Hidden Edge Thirteen-killing from the Ice Spring Sect of the Snow Domain. Yet, the fact that their leader wielded the Ice Cold Qi, a technique unique to the Ice Spring Sect, left Lu Feng with lingering doubts.

At the very least, there was a definite connection between the leader and the Ice Spring Sect.

Lu Feng had initially suspected that the 'Young Lord' referred to by the men in black was someone he had wronged in the past. However, after witnessing Yu Yihan being held hostage and used as leverage against the Clear River Sect, he reconsidered. None of those he had previously offended possessed the audacity and capability for such a scheme.

Who, or which power, was orchestrating all this? The men in black were clearly mere pawns; the true threat lay with the unseen force behind them. It was one thing to plot his demise, but to target his sect was another matter entirely. What was their ultimate goal?

Lu Feng was eager to uncover the truth, yet he was immobilized.

Darkness rendered time indistinct, and Lu Feng found himself in an extraordinary state, acutely aware of time's passage—three years, five years, or perhaps as many as ten or twenty years, or it could have been mere days...

In the darkness, Lu Feng's thoughts spanned a vast array of topics—from power struggles and deceit, to the cultivation of life, various techniques, and numerous battle scenarios. He revisited and contemplated each subject repeatedly as time inexorably slipped by.

Suddenly, amidst his contemplation in the dark, Lu Feng was startled by a piercing brightness. As if emerging from a dream, he seemed to glimpse a light. Focusing intently, he realized that, though still within the Soul Sea, he was now acutely aware of his surroundings.

"What's happening?"

Startled, Lu Feng quickly directed his gaze toward the location of the Heaven Rushing Soul within the Soul Sea. To his amazement, he discovered that the Heaven Rushing Soul, situated at the crown of the Life Soul, was radiating a brilliantly intense light.

Could he really control the Heaven Rushing Soul now?

Reflecting on his previous experiences, Lu Feng was certain that he had finally connected his first Spirit Soul.

The journey of Soul Cultivation required one to connect the Seven Souls first, in order to gather Heaven Earth Spiritual Energy, evolve the Chakra, and condense it into a Core.

Lu Feng had once again taken this initial step.

The Life Soul sat like a miniature black silhouette in the midst of the Soul Sea, with the Heaven Rushing Soul positioned at the center above it, influencing a person's Soul Strength. The more powerful the Heaven Rushing Soul, the more refined the soul would become, paving a longer path for a Soul Cultivator.

"Wasn't it said that each of the seven Spirit Souls is enhanced by a formation? Could it be that by contemplating in the darkness, I've stumbled upon control of the first formation?" Lu Feng mused, puzzled.

"This is..." Without intending to, Lu Feng tried to glimpse the outside world, only to be greeted by a series of vivid images.

"Projecting Soul Sense? Isn't that a technique only mastered after reaching the Core Formation Stage?" Lu Feng was filled with astonishment. He was currently at the One-soul Stage, which was quite a ways from the Spirit Gathering Stage. Beyond that lay the Chakra Stage, and only after that, the Core Formation Stage.

Had he really leaped across three major stages?

Details of the Heaven Rushing Soul Array began to emerge in Lu Feng's mind.

"Could it be due to this array?" Lu Feng pondered. The Heaven Rushing Soul Array had seemingly boosted his Soul Strength across three levels, a feat that seemed almost too miraculous.

"Perhaps it's not solely the array's doing," Lu Feng reflected on how he had previously broken through to the Celestial Soul Stage by sacrificing the Seven Souls. Even though his cultivation had been utterly depleted, his Soul Strength had been retained. It was merely his current lack of strength that prevented him from fully utilizing it.

The Heaven Rushing Soul Array acted like a key, unlocking some of that dormant Soul Power.

After a bit of self-reassurance, Lu Feng extended his Soul Sense outward, eager to discover the identity of the formidable person who had revived him. Who could possess such incredible ability to bring back someone whose Seven Souls had been destroyed and who had been pecked at by a murder of crows?

Lu Feng truly wished to encounter such an astonishing Almighty, yet he found no one within his vicinity.

He began to scrutinize his surroundings meticulously, seeking clues.

The first thing to catch his eye was a dark red stone bed, upon which a handsome 'stranger' lay in repose, his back swathed in white gauze that bore witness to his serious injuries.

Hold on...

A realization dawned on Lu Feng as he took another look at the 'stranger' and astonishingly recognized himself. He was bemused by the revelation.

The Seven Souls, being the cornerstone of Soul Cultivation as well as the essence of a person, had transformed significantly in Lu Feng, resulting in a drastic change in his appearance. Confronted with the unfamiliar reflection on the stone bed, he swiftly came to terms with his new reality.

After all, his appearance had altered, but it seemed to have improved considerably.

Upon closer inspection, he noticed his eyebrows were now thick and sword-like, slightly longer than before, adding a sharper edge to his visage. His mouth now bore a subtle curve, absent previously, giving him the appearance of a perpetual cold smirk that was somewhat mesmerizing.

His long black hair was loosely splayed, conveying a sense of languor, yet when paired with his refined and aloof features, it created a distinct aura of wild, untamed pride.

Lu Feng nodded in approval.

His consciousness began to expand further...

A short distance from the stone bed stood a bamboo table, surrounded by four neatly arranged chairs, all immaculately clean. Four cups were also orderly placed on the table.

The moderately sized room surprisingly lacked any other furniture or adornments, which Lu Feng found peculiar. His consciousness continued to extend, attempting to pass through the closed Bamboo Gate in the distance, only to be shocked to discover that, despite his efforts, he was unable to penetrate it.

A multitude of questions haunted Lu Feng's thoughts, yet he was unable to find anyone to resolve them.

As time slipped by, Lu Feng remained in this state for nearly half a month. At last, the slumbering Lu Feng felt a connection to his body. His fingertips twitched slightly, his eyes rolled, and then he opened them.

Blinding light assaulted his eyes. Lu Feng squinted, and after adjusting to the brightness, he slowly rose, ready to leave the stone bed and explore beyond the Bamboo House.

"It's half a month earlier than anticipated," came an aged voice from outside the door.

Lu Feng rose and leaned on the edge of the bed. Gazing at the elder approaching the Bamboo House's entrance, he felt an instant kinship.

The elder exuded an aura of wisdom, with shoulder-length white hair and piercing brows. Despite his advanced years, he appeared robust. His flowing white beard added an ethereal quality to his presence. As the elder moved forward, Lu Feng noticed with surprise that his left leg was slightly lame, hinting at a severe past injury.

As Lu Feng appraised the elder, the elder scrutinized him in return. The elder was visibly startled by what he saw.

He had assumed Lu Feng's early awakening was a mere half-month ahead of schedule, a reasonable outcome given the time needed for the Seven-soul Array to integrate. But upon closer inspection, the elder was astounded to discover that not only had Lu Feng awakened, but he had also mastered the Heaven Rushing Soul Array, leaving the elder utterly bewildered.

The elder had devoted years to barely grasping the Soul Deriving Array, and now he couldn't help but envy Lu Feng's natural aptitude.

"How did you manage to master the Soul Deriving Array?" the elder asked, still incredulous.

"I was pondering some things, and it just came to me. It's quite peculiar," Lu Feng replied, recounting the extraordinary state he had experienced in the darkness.

The elder, hearing this effortless response, felt a twinge of frustration, as if he were being outshone. He went on to explain, "The array placed upon the Heaven Rushing Soul is known as the Soul Deriving Array. I obtained it through a life-threatening ordeal that nearly cost me my Celestial Soul. Its power extends far beyond what you've seen so far. I hope you won't let its potential go to waste." The elder's voice trailed off as he was lost in memories.

Lu Feng had already sensed the formidable nature of the Soul Deriving Array. The enhancement to his Soul Strength alone had proven immensely beneficial.

Listening to the elder, Lu Feng became contemplative. The capabilities of the Soul Deriving Array seemed to surpass his initial expectations by leaps and bounds.

The elder produced a gray Stone Crystal and handed it to Lu Feng. "Give it a try and see just how much strength you possess at the One-soul Stage."

The Stone Crystal is a device used on the Profound Heaven Continent to gauge a Cultivator's strength. It features a special array that can display a Cultivator's power clearly and accurately.

However, the readings from the Stone Crystal should only serve as a reference. Soul Masters can be influenced by various factors, which means their power can fluctuate and the Stone Crystal's readings may not be entirely reliable.

For instance, a Soul Master who is angry might unleash power that far surpasses their usual capabilities.

Lu Feng grasped the Stone Crystal firmly, channeled his Spiritual Energy into it, and waited for it to react.

In the Soul Cultivation Dao, the Seven Souls are fundamental. Untrained individuals typically possess a mere five Stone Power, but a Cultivator gains an additional ten Stone Power with each One-soul they awaken and connect with. Should someone connect all Seven Souls and reach the Spirit Gathering Stage, they would wield a hundred Stone Power, easily lifting a cauldron weighing a thousand kilograms.

A typical Soul Master at the One-soul Stage would have about fifteen Stone Power, which is the continental average for all Soul Masters.

This average is used as a benchmark by various families and sects to identify and cultivate those with greater potential.

Lu Feng remembered having nineteen Stone Power at his initial One-soul Stage, which was exceptional for his level. Now, with his Seven Souls reconstructed, he anticipated that his power at the One-soul Stage would be even more formidable.