hé zhèng hào yāo gōng de shēng yīn zì líng fú zhōng chuán lái 。
何正浩邀功的声音自灵符中传来。
The voice of He Zhenghao, boasting about his achievements, came from the spirit token.
“ zhāng zhì liáng cǐ rén pí qì gǔ guài ， cǐ fān wèi le shuō fú tā ， wǒ kě shì zhe shí fèi le yī fān gōng fu 。”
“张志良此人脾气古怪，此番为了说服他，我可是着实废了一番功夫。”
"Zhang Ziliang is a peculiar person. To persuade him to join, I really had to exert myself."
“ dāng rán ， suǒ xū yào de gòng xiàn dù ， yě jiù bǐ zhī qián gēn nǐ suǒ shuō ， zài gōng bó yǔ shǒu xià suǒ xū yào yī wàn diǎn ， yào gāo shàng yī xiē 。”
“当然，所需要的贡献度，也就比之前跟你所说，在宫伯羽手下所需要一万点，要高上一些。”
"Of course, the contribution points required this time are higher than what you mentioned before—ten thousand points."
“ yī wàn sān qiān diǎn gòng xiàn dù 。”
“一万三千点贡献度。”
"Ten thousand three hundred points."
“ jī huì nán dé ， ruò shì dào yǒu yǒu yì ， jǐn kuài lián xì wǒ ！”
“机会难得，若是道友有意，尽快联系我！”
"This is a rare opportunity. If Fellow Daoist has any interest, please contact me as soon as possible!"
suí hòu líng fú zhōng biàn méi le shēng yīn 。
随后灵符中便没了声音。
Silence followed.
“ duō le sān qiān diǎn gòng xiàn dù ér yǐ ， méi wèn tí 。 duō xiè dào yǒu le ！” lǐ fán zhǐ sī suǒ le piàn kè ， jiù gěi le hé zhèng hào kěn dìng de dá fù 。
“多了三千点贡献度而已，没问题。多谢道友了！”李凡只思索了片刻，就给了何正浩肯定的答复。
"Three thousand more points? No problem at all. Thank you very much!" Li Fan gave He Zhenghao an affirmative response after a moment's thought.
yì fāng miàn shì wèi le jiē jìn zhāng zhì liáng ， zhī hòu xiǎng bàn fǎ chéng wéi tā de zhèng shì xué tú 。
一方面是为了接近张志良，之后想办法成为他的正式学徒。
On one hand, he wanted to get closer to Zhang Ziliang and find a way to become his official disciple. On the other hand, this was also a good opportunity to join the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
lìng yì fāng miàn zé shì zhèng hǎo chèn zhe zhè ge jī huì ， rù zhí wàn xiān méng 。
另一方面则是正好趁着这个机会，入职万仙盟。
Joining the system had its benefits. Compared to the more than ten thousand points spent in his seclusion, these thirteen thousand points were well worth it.
jiā rù tǐ zhì nèi ， hǎo chù duō duō 。
加入体制内，好处多多。
After sending out the message, He Zhenghao replied almost immediately: "Since that's the case, let's avoid any regrets and have you wait for me at the Teaching Square."
gēn zhè bì guān yī zhǎ yǎn jiù huā diào de yī wàn duō diǎn gòng xiàn dù xiāng bǐ ， zhè yī wàn sān qiān diǎn gòng xiàn dù ， huā de kě tài zhí le 。
跟这闭关一眨眼就花掉的一万多点贡献度相比，这一万三千点贡献度，花的可太值了。
"I'll take you to meet Zhang Ziliang first. Then we can secure your spot quickly."
xiāo xī fā chū ， hé zhèng hào nà biān lì mǎ chuán lái le huí xìn ：“ jì rú cǐ ， bì miǎn yè cháng mèng duō ， dào yǒu sù qù chuán fǎ guǎng chǎng shàng děng wǒ 。”
消息发出，何正浩那边立马传来了回信：“既如此，避免夜长梦多，道友速去传法广场上等我。”
"Keep in mind that although it’s just a minor array repairman position, there are quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators eyeing this spot!"
“ wǒ xiān dài nǐ qù jiàn guò zhāng zhì liáng 。 rán hòu xùn sù jiāng míng é ná xià 。”
“我先带你去见过张志良。然后迅速将名额拿下。”
Li Fan replied: "Thank you very much for your trouble!"
“ xū zhī ， suī shuō zhǐ shì gè xiǎo xiǎo de zhèn fǎ xiū shàn yuán ， dàn shì dīng zhe zhè ge wèi zhì de zhù jī xiū shì ， hái zhēn shì bù shǎo ne ！”
“须知，虽说只是个小小的阵法修缮员，但是盯着这个位置的筑基修士，还真是不少呢！”
He then left the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror and headed to the Teaching Square to wait for He Zhenghao.
lǐ fán yě huí fù dào ：“ rú cǐ ， láo fán dào yǒu le ！”
李凡也回复道：“如此，劳烦道友了！”
Just as he arrived, he saw that He Zhenghao was already there.
suí hòu lí kāi le tiān xuán jìng ， qián wǎng chuán fǎ guǎng chǎng shàng děng dài hé zhèng hào 。
随后离开了天玄镜，前往传法广场上等待何正浩。
"Thank you for all your efforts!" Li Fan said to He Zhenghao.
gāng dào ， biàn kàn dào tā yǐ jīng zài děng zhe le 。
刚到，便看到他已经在等着了。
"Haha, no need to be formal. Since I introduced you into the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, it's only natural that I should take care of you."
“ dào yǒu fèi xīn le ！” lǐ fán duì hé zhèng hào shuō dào 。
“道友费心了！”李凡对何正浩说道。
"And mutual benefits—maybe one day, I might need your help with something!"
“ hē hē ， bù bì jiàn wài 。 nǐ jì shì wǒ yǐn jiàn jìn wàn xiān méng de ， wǒ zì rán yào duì nǐ duō yǒu zhào gù 。”
“呵呵，不必见外。你既是我引荐进万仙盟的，我自然要对你多有照顾。”
He Zhenghao waved his hand dismissively and continued: "Zhang Ziliang is not on Ten Thousand Immortals Island right now. Recently, a new island suddenly emerged from the seabed in the western part of Cunyun Sea. Zhang Ziliang and Gong Beiyu are there."
“ ér qiě ， hù huì hù lì ma 。 zhǐ bù dìng rì hòu wǒ jiù yǒu shén me shì ， xū yào láo fán dào yǒu ！”
“而且，互惠互利嘛。指不定日后我就有什么事，需要劳烦道友！”
"Who knows how long it will take for them to return—possibly a year or two."
hé zhèng hào bǎi le bǎi shǒu ， bù yǐ wéi yì 。
何正浩摆了摆手，不以为意。
"We'll go see them first and secure your spot before we head over."
suí hòu yòu shuō dào ：“ zhāng zhì liáng cǐ shí bù zài wàn xiān dǎo shàng 。 zuì jìn ， cóng yún hǎi xī bù hǎi yù tū rán cóng hǎi dǐ mào chū lái yī zuò dǎo yǔ 。 zhāng zhì liáng hái yǒu gōng bó yǔ tā men ， xiàn zài dōu zài nà ge dǎo shàng ne 。”
随后又说道：“张志良此时不在万仙岛上。最近，丛云海西部海域突然从海底冒出来一座岛屿。张志良还有宫伯羽他们，现在都在那个岛上呢。”
Li Fan nodded.
“ děng tā men huí lái ， shuō bù dìng yào yī nián bàn zǎi zhī hòu le 。”
“等他们回来，说不定要一年半载之后了。”
"A new island rising from the seabed? The array masters in the Strategy Array Hall are all on that island? Did they discover some ancient sect ruins?" Li Fan asked as he followed He Zhenghao towards a tree-like teleportation array.
“ nǐ gēn wǒ qù jiàn tā men ， xiān bǎ míng é dìng xià lái zài shuō 。”
“你跟我去见他们，先把名额定下来再说。”
He Zhenghao shook his head: "Not exactly. It's just an ordinary island."
lǐ fán diǎn diǎn tóu 。
李凡点点头。
"About three thousand years ago, the entire island sank into the ocean for unknown reasons. Now it has resurfaced."
“ hǎi dǐ mào chū de dǎo yǔ ？ cè zhèn táng jǐ wèi zhèn fǎ dà shī dōu zài dǎo shàng ？ shì fā xiàn le shén me zōng mén yí jì me ？” lǐ fán gēn zhe hé zhèng hào ， cháo zhe yī zuò shù mù shì de chuán sòng zhèn zǒu qù ， tóng shí wèn dào 。
“海底冒出的岛屿？策阵堂几位阵法大师都在岛上？是发现了什么宗门遗迹么？”李凡跟着何正浩，朝着一座树木似的传送阵走去，同时问道。
"What’s strange is that this island seems to have been under Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's guard all along, yet there are no records of its existence. The island's protective array was reactivated after it surfaced."
hé zhèng hào yáo yáo tóu ：“ dào bú shì shén me zōng mén yí jì ， jiù shì yī zuò pǔ tōng de dǎo yǔ 。”
何正浩摇摇头：“倒不是什么宗门遗迹，就是一座普通的岛屿。”
"Back then, the protective array had significant differences from what we see now. That's why the array masters in the Strategy Array Hall rushed over to take a look."
“ zài sān qiān duō nián qián bù zhī wèi hé ， zhěng zuò dǎo yǔ chén rù le hǎi yáng 。 xiàn rú jīn ， yòu chóng xīn fú chū hǎi miàn 。”
“在三千多年前不知为何，整座岛屿沉入了海洋。现如今，又重新浮出海面。”
He Zhenghao explained.
“ qí guài de shì ， zhè ge dǎo yǔ sì hū yuán běn jiù shì wàn xiān méng de zhèn shǒu dǎo yǔ ， dàn què chá bú dào rèn hé guān yú zhè zuò dǎo yǔ de jì lù 。 dǎo shàng de hù dǎo dà zhèn zài dǎo yǔ fú shàng lái zhī hòu ， chóng xīn jī fā 。”
“奇怪的是，这个岛屿似乎原本就是万仙盟的镇守岛屿，但却查不到任何关于这座岛屿的记录。岛上的护岛大阵在岛屿浮上来之后，重新激发。”
Through the teleportation array, they arrived at an enormous island that seemed like a primitive forest, filled with various trees.
“ ér nà shí hòu de hù dǎo dà zhèn ， gēn xiàn rú jīn yǒu le hěn dà de qū bié 。 suǒ yǐ cè zhèn táng de jǐ wèi zhèn fǎ shī men ， dōu pǎo guò qù kàn rè nào le 。”
“而那时候的护岛大阵，跟现如今有了很大的区别。所以策阵堂的几位阵法师们，都跑过去看热闹了。”
This island was ten times larger than Lustrous Isle. "Spirit Wood Island is about five hundred miles west of here," Li Fan said as he and He Zhenghao flew towards their destination.
hé zhèng hào jiě shì dào 。
何正浩解释道。
"Why would the array masters be so interested in this place? Could ancient arrays be more powerful than modern ones?" Li Fan asked, puzzled.
tōng guò chuán sòng zhèn ， liǎng rén lái dào le yī zuò páng fó yuán shǐ sēn lín bān ， chōng mǎn le gè zhǒng shù mù de jù dà dǎo yǔ 。
通过传送阵，两人来到了一座彷佛原始森林般，充满了各种树木的巨大岛屿。
"Haha, Fellow Daoist doesn't know. The protective arrays used throughout our alliance are not static."
zhè lǐ bǐ liú lí dǎo yào dà shàng le shí bèi bù zhǐ 。“ líng mù dǎo wǎng xī wǔ bǎi duō lǐ ， jiù shì nà zuò dǎo yǔ suǒ chù de wèi zhì le 。”
这里比琉璃岛要大上了十倍不止。“灵木岛往西五百多里，就是那座岛屿所处的位置了。”
"Our alliance has never gotten along with the Five Elders Alliance. If a fixed array remained unchanged for over a hundred years, it would inevitably leak and be easily cracked by large-scale attacks."
lǐ fán hé hé zhèng hào yī biān wǎng mù dì dì fēi qù ， yī biān jiāo tán 。
李凡和何正浩一边往目的地飞去，一边交谈。
"So, we change the protective arrays every two hundred years or so, and make major changes every thousand years."
“ nán bù chéng qiān nián qián de zhèn fǎ huì bǐ xiàn rú jīn hái yào lì hài ？ wèi shén me jǐ wèi zhèn fǎ shī huì wèi cǐ tè dì guò qù guān kàn ？” lǐ fán wèn chū le xīn zhōng de yí huò 。
“难不成千年前的阵法会比现如今还要厉害？为什么几位阵法师会为此特地过去观看？”李凡问出了心中的疑惑。
"Minor changes involve adjusting only the fine details of the array's layout without altering its core logic."
“ hē hē ， dào yǒu yǒu suǒ bù zhī 。 wǒ wàn xiān méng nèi tōng yòng de fáng hù dà zhèn ， kě bú shì yī chén bù biàn de 。”
“呵呵，道友有所不知。我万仙盟内通用的防护大阵，可不是一尘不变的。”
"Major changes mean completely rebuilding a new array."
“ wàn xiān méng yì zhí hé wǔ lǎo huì bú duì fù 。 ruò shì yī tào gù dìng zhèn fǎ ， bǎi yú nián bù biàn de huà 。 nán miǎn huì yǒu xiè mì yǐ jí bèi dà guī mó qīng yì pò jiě de kě néng 。”
“万仙盟一直和五老会不对付。若是一套固定阵法，百余年不变的话。难免会有泄密以及被大规模轻易破解的可能。”
"The old array would then be sealed and no longer used," He Zhenghao explained slowly.
“ suǒ yǐ ， fáng hù dà zhèn ， dōu shì liǎng bǎi nián yī xiǎo biàn ， qiān nián yī dà biàn 。”
“所以，防护大阵，都是两百年一小变，千年一大变。”
"So, this three-thousand-year-old protective array on that island is quite rare. Its power may not be impressive, but for those skilled in arrays, it can reveal the secrets of our True Ten Thousand Immortals Array."
“ xiǎo biàn zé shì zhǐ zhèn fǎ de dǐ bù luó jí bù biàn ， zhǐ zài zhèn fǎ de xì wēi bù jú shàng diào zhěng 。”
“小变则是指阵法的底部逻辑不变，只在阵法的细微布局上调整。”
Li Fan was stunned: "The True Ten Thousand Immortals Array?"
“ ér dà biàn zé shì chè dǐ chóng xīn jiàn zào yī tào quán xīn de zhèn fǎ 。”
“而大变则是彻底重新建造一套全新的阵法。”
He Zhenghao hesitated before whispering: "This True Ten Thousand Immortals Array is not referring to the array on Ten Thousand Immortals Island. It refers to a true Ten Thousand Immortals Array formed by connecting all city and island protective arrays within a region, with the central island orascend to heaven City's Ten Thousand Immortals Array as its core."
“ zhī qián de nà tào zhèn fǎ ， jiù huì bèi fēng cún 。 bù zài shǐ yòng 。”
“之前的那套阵法，就会被封存。不再使用。”
"When fully activated, this True Ten Thousand Immortals Array covers an entire region, with unimaginable power. It is said to have killed a Convergence Sage once."
hé zhèng hào huǎn huǎn jiě shì dào 。
何正浩缓缓解释道。
"But it requires immense resources and can only be activated with permission from the alliance headquarters. It’s used only during major conflicts with the Five Elders Alliance," He Zhenghao continued.
“ suǒ yǐ ， nà zuò dǎo yǔ shàng yùn xíng de sān qiān nián qián de fáng hù fǎ zhèn ， kě shì gè xī hǎn wán yì 。 wēi lì yì bān bān ， dàn shì jīng tōng zhèn fǎ zhě ， jiàn wēi zhī zhe ， néng gòu fǎn tuī yǔ zhī pèi tào de wàn xiān dà zhèn 。”
“所以，那座岛屿上运行的三千年前的防护法阵，可是个稀罕玩意。威力一般般，但是精通阵法者，见微知着，能够反推与之配套的万仙大阵。”
Li Fan, having some understanding of arrays, was left speechless as he imagined that scene.
lǐ fán wén yán lèng le lèng ：“ pèi tào de wàn xiān dà zhèn ？”
李凡闻言愣了愣：“配套的万仙大阵？”
"No wonder the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance built so many protective arrays in their territories."
hé zhèng hào lüè wēi yóu yù le yī huì ， hái shì qiǎo shēng jiě shì dào ：“ zhè ge wàn xiān dà zhèn ， bú shì zhǐ de wàn xiān dǎo shàng de nà ge wàn xiān zhèn 。 ér shì zhǐ nà yī zhōu zhī dì nèi ， yǐ suǒ yǒu chéng chí 、 dǎo yǔ de fáng hù fǎ zhèn wèi jié diǎn ， yǐ zhōng xīn dǎo yǔ huò zhě líng tiān chéng de wàn xiān zhèn wèi hé xīn ， zēng fú xíng chéng de zhēn zhèng de wàn xiān dà zhèn 。”
何正浩略微犹豫了一会，还是悄声解释道：“这个万仙大阵，不是指的万仙岛上的那个万仙阵。而是指那一州之地内，以所有城池、岛屿的防护法阵为节点，以中心岛屿或者凌天城的万仙阵为核心，增幅形成的真正的万仙大阵。”
"There must be more to it than just protection."
“ zhè ge wàn xiān dà zhèn ， bèi zhēn zhèng wán quán jī huó zhī hòu 。 fù gài yī zhōu zhī dì ， wēi néng nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng 。 jù shuō yǒu guò zhū shā hé dào xiān zūn de zhàn jì 。”
“这个万仙大阵，被真正完全激活之后。覆盖一州之地，威能难以想象。据说有过诛杀合道仙尊的战绩。”
Just then, He Zhenghao said happily: "We've speculated privately. This might not be the complete form of the True Ten Thousand Immortals Array. The vast array covering all the alliance's territories with fully activated arrays from each region is its true form."
“ dàn shì qí suǒ xiāo hào de zī yuán yě shì jí qí páng dà ， zhǐ yǒu jīng guò wàn xiān méng zǒng bù yǔn xǔ ， cái néng kāi qǐ 。”
“但是其所消耗的资源也是极其庞大，只有经过万仙盟总部允许，才能开启。”
"But this is just our idle speculation. Such an array would be too terrifying to activate; it could destroy the entire cultivation world," He Zhenghao added.
“ yì bān zhǐ yǒu zài wǔ lǎo huì rù qīn ， fā shēng dà zhàn de shí hòu ， cái huì shǐ yòng 。”
“一般只有在五老会入侵，发生大战的时候，才会使用。”
Li Fan remained silent after hearing that.
lǐ fán duì zhèn fǎ yě shì chū kuī mén jìng le ， cǐ shí zài nǎo hǎi zhōng xiǎng xiàng le yī fān nà ge huà miàn ， bù yóu dì dào xī le yī kǒu liáng qì 。
李凡对阵法也是初窥门径了，此时在脑海中想象了一番那个画面，不由地倒吸了一口凉气。
"Considering the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s operational style, such a final form of the True Ten Thousand Immortals Array must exist."
“ nán guài wàn xiān méng huì dà fèi zhōu zhāng ， zài lǐng dì nèi jué dà duō shù chéng chí nèi dōu jiàn zào fáng hù dà zhèn ne 。”
“难怪万仙盟会大费周章，在领地内绝大多数城池内都建造防护大阵呢。”
"And in the face of almost complete division by the Ten Thousand Immortals and Five Elders Alliances, the existence of this ultimate array is likely an important factor," Li Fan thought.
“ yuán lái hái yǒu zhè me yī céng kǎo lǜ 。”
“原来还有这么一层考虑。”
The two fell into silence as they continued their journey. Not long after, the island that had sunk and resurfaced was visible from a distance.
zhèng zài zhè shí ， yòu tīng hé zhèng hào lè hē hē de shuō dào ：“ wǒ men sī xià lǐ hái yǒu guò cāi cè 。 kǒng pà zhè hái bú shì wàn xiān dà zhèn de wán quán tǐ 。 yǐ měi gè zhōu wán quán bèi jī fā de wàn xiān dà zhèn wèi jié diǎn ， fù gài wàn xiān méng suǒ yǒu lǐng dì de nà ge páng dà fǎ zhèn ， cái shì wàn xiān dà zhèn de zhēn zhèng xíng tài 。”
正在这时，又听何正浩乐呵呵的说道：“我们私下里还有过猜测。恐怕这还不是万仙大阵的完全体。以每个州完全被激发的万仙大阵为节点，覆盖万仙盟所有领地的那个庞大法阵，才是万仙大阵的真正形态。”
From afar, Li Fan could sense that the dampness on the island hadn't dissipated yet. Most of the buildings were intact but covered in seaweed and moss due to being submerged for a thousand years. Fishes, having been separated from the sea, struggled on the streets. Beyond the island, he faintly saw a golden array barrier.
“ bù guò zhè chún shǔ wǒ men jǐ wèi xián xiá shí de cāi xiǎng le 。 nà zhǒng zhèn fǎ ， tài guò kě bù 。 yí dàn jī fā ， kǒng pà zhěng gè xiū xiān jiè dū huì zāo dào jù dà de pò huài 。”
“不过这纯属我们几位闲暇时的猜想了。那种阵法，太过可怖。一旦激发，恐怕整个修仙界都会遭到巨大的破坏。”
"I wonder why this island sank three thousand years ago."
lǐ fán tīng wán chén mò le 。
李凡听完沉默了。
"Why did it suddenly resurface now?"
The voice of He Zhenghao, boasting about his achievements, came from the spirit token.
"Zhang Ziliang is a peculiar person. To persuade him to join, I really had to exert myself."
"Of course, the contribution points required this time are higher than what you mentioned before—ten thousand points."
"Ten thousand three hundred points."
"This is a rare opportunity. If Fellow Daoist has any interest, please contact me as soon as possible!"
Silence followed.
"Three thousand more points? No problem at all. Thank you very much!" Li Fan gave He Zhenghao an affirmative response after a moment's thought.
On one hand, he wanted to get closer to Zhang Ziliang and find a way to become his official disciple. On the other hand, this was also a good opportunity to join the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Joining the system had its benefits. Compared to the more than ten thousand points spent in his seclusion, these thirteen thousand points were well worth it.
After sending out the message, He Zhenghao replied almost immediately: "Since that's the case, let's avoid any regrets and have you wait for me at the Teaching Square."
"I'll take you to meet Zhang Ziliang first. Then we can secure your spot quickly."
"Keep in mind that although it’s just a minor array repairman position, there are quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators eyeing this spot!"
Li Fan replied: "Thank you very much for your trouble!"
He then left the Ten Thousand Immortals Mirror and headed to the Teaching Square to wait for He Zhenghao.
Just as he arrived, he saw that He Zhenghao was already there.
"Thank you for all your efforts!" Li Fan said to He Zhenghao.
"Haha, no need to be formal. Since I introduced you into the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, it's only natural that I should take care of you."
"And mutual benefits—maybe one day, I might need your help with something!"
He Zhenghao waved his hand dismissively and continued: "Zhang Ziliang is not on Ten Thousand Immortals Island right now. Recently, a new island suddenly emerged from the seabed in the western part of Cunyun Sea. Zhang Ziliang and Gong Beiyu are there."
"Who knows how long it will take for them to return—possibly a year or two."
"We'll go see them first and secure your spot before we head over."
Li Fan nodded.
"A new island rising from the seabed? The array masters in the Strategy Array Hall are all on that island? Did they discover some ancient sect ruins?" Li Fan asked as he followed He Zhenghao towards a tree-like teleportation array.
He Zhenghao shook his head: "Not exactly. It's just an ordinary island."
"About three thousand years ago, the entire island sank into the ocean for unknown reasons. Now it has resurfaced."
"What’s strange is that this island seems to have been under Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's guard all along, yet there are no records of its existence. The island's protective array was reactivated after it surfaced."
"Back then, the protective array had significant differences from what we see now. That's why the array masters in the Strategy Array Hall rushed over to take a look."
He Zhenghao explained.
Through the teleportation array, they arrived at an enormous island that seemed like a primitive forest, filled with various trees.
This island was ten times larger than Lustrous Isle. "Spirit Wood Island is about five hundred miles west of here," Li Fan said as he and He Zhenghao flew towards their destination.
"Why would the array masters be so interested in this place? Could ancient arrays be more powerful than modern ones?" Li Fan asked, puzzled.
"Haha, Fellow Daoist doesn't know. The protective arrays used throughout our alliance are not static."
"Our alliance has never gotten along with the Five Elders Alliance. If a fixed array remained unchanged for over a hundred years, it would inevitably leak and be easily cracked by large-scale attacks."
"So, we change the protective arrays every two hundred years or so, and make major changes every thousand years."
"Minor changes involve adjusting only the fine details of the array's layout without altering its core logic."
"Major changes mean completely rebuilding a new array."
"The old array would then be sealed and no longer used," He Zhenghao explained slowly.
"So, this three-thousand-year-old protective array on that island is quite rare. Its power may not be impressive, but for those skilled in arrays, it can reveal the secrets of our True Ten Thousand Immortals Array."
Li Fan was stunned: "The True Ten Thousand Immortals Array?"
He Zhenghao hesitated before whispering: "This True Ten Thousand Immortals Array is not referring to the array on Ten Thousand Immortals Island. It refers to a true Ten Thousand Immortals Array formed by connecting all city and island protective arrays within a region, with the central island orascend to heaven City's Ten Thousand Immortals Array as its core."
"When fully activated, this True Ten Thousand Immortals Array covers an entire region, with unimaginable power. It is said to have killed a Convergence Sage once."
"But it requires immense resources and can only be activated with permission from the alliance headquarters. It’s used only during major conflicts with the Five Elders Alliance," He Zhenghao continued.
Li Fan, having some understanding of arrays, was left speechless as he imagined that scene.
"No wonder the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance built so many protective arrays in their territories."
"There must be more to it than just protection."
Just then, He Zhenghao said happily: "We've speculated privately. This might not be the complete form of the True Ten Thousand Immortals Array. The vast array covering all the alliance's territories with fully activated arrays from each region is its true form."
"But this is just our idle speculation. Such an array would be too terrifying to activate; it could destroy the entire cultivation world," He Zhenghao added.
Li Fan remained silent after hearing that.
"Considering the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s operational style, such a final form of the True Ten Thousand Immortals Array must exist."
"And in the face of almost complete division by the Ten Thousand Immortals and Five Elders Alliances, the existence of this ultimate array is likely an important factor," Li Fan thought.
The two fell into silence as they continued their journey. Not long after, the island that had sunk and resurfaced was visible from a distance.
From afar, Li Fan could sense that the dampness on the island hadn't dissipated yet. Most of the buildings were intact but covered in seaweed and moss due to being submerged for a thousand years. Fishes, having been separated from the sea, struggled on the streets. Beyond the island, he faintly saw a golden array barrier.
"I wonder why this island sank three thousand years ago."
"Why did it suddenly resurface now?"