Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 565 The Battle Formation Debate Ends: Who is First?
You gazed at the jade-like mirror, your eyes gradually narrowing, a knowing smile appearing on your lips.

After an hour of calculation, this mysterious array of letter mirrors is finally fully revealed before your eyes.

This formation is actually a complex array composed of 3,400 interconnected sub-arrays. Each sub-array is self-contained, yet they resonate with the central mother array through exquisitely crafted runes. Upon closer inspection, it reveals a fusion of the unpredictability of illusionary arrays, the formidable structure of trapping arrays, and the mystique of the Five Elements escape techniques.

Judging from its layout and atmosphere, it was probably not originally intended for competitions, but rather seemed more like a cage to imprison those with extraordinary cultivation.

You lightly traced the edge of the mirror with your fingertips, secretly thinking that even for a Golden Core cultivator, breaking through this arena would not be an easy task.

What's most astonishing is that the craftsman was able to construct such an ingenious array using ordinary iron and common materials, truly turning the mundane into the miraculous.

[The gaze shifted to the edge of the water mirror, where finer runes, more delicate than a strand of hair, were engraved, appearing and disappearing in the flowing light.]

[Four characters slowly appeared—"Imperial Treasury Construction."]

[The Imperial Treasury? That younger brother of the Imperial Village Ancestor, born of the same mother.]

According to records from Fangcun Mountain, this patriarch, besides being an unparalleled grandmaster in cultivation, was also skilled in weapon crafting.

However, now is not the time to delve into this; the competition is the priority.

You composed yourself and turned your gaze back to the water mirror.

The first array diagram is clearly visible—three fire-elemental array patterns are arranged in an interlaced "品" (pin) shape.

This is the "Bright Fire Array," a fundamental skill in the cultivation world. It can be activated with magical power to summon raging flames, and can be used by cultivators in the Body Shaping Realm.

[You have finished writing with your divine sense. The water mirror image shifts to show another array diagram.]

The number in the upper right corner of the mirror subtly changed from "1" to "2".

[The second array diagram slowly unfolds: four water-based array patterns outline the shape of shimmering water waves, and a spirit crystal is marked at the array's core.]

This "Water Gathering Array" is also among the basic arrays. Once activated, it can gather a basin of clear water, and it can be used by cultivators in the Body Shaping Realm.

The number in the upper right corner of the mirror subtly changed from "One" to "Two".

[You were afraid of wasting time, so you sped up. The formation was only partially revealed when you already knew its diagram. You wrote it down with your divine sense, and the next diagram immediately appeared.]

The third, fourth... images were deciphered one after another, flowing smoothly like clouds and water.

[Outside, on the viewing platform.]

Everyone's attention was drawn to the towering jellyfish mirror.

The first line of dazzling gold patterns on the mirror clearly displayed: "Maximum number of array formations: 493."

A young disciple gasped, "Nearly five hundred formations have been identified in just one hour? At this rate, someone will be able to break through the formations in less than four hours!"

A fellow disciple, who had been with the sect for a longer time, shook his head: "Don't jump to conclusions too quickly. These 1300 formations are easy at first but difficult later. The further you go, the more obscure and profound the principles of the formations become, and the speed will inevitably decrease significantly."

"Who do you think will be number one?"

One disciple confidently stated, "It must be Senior Brother Sima Wanli from Dou Shu Peak! He is widely recognized in the sect as a master of both array formations and talismans."

"That's not necessarily true! Kongming from Five-Colored Peak is also attending this time."

"Did Senior Brother Kongming participate too? It's hard to say who it might be."

"Yes, there are quite a few skilled fighters among them, such as Wang Li from Xiaoqi Peak and Lu Zhao from Longya Peak."

"That's going to be really interesting!"

Someone chuckled, "I'm curious who this person with the fewest cultivation levels in breaking the formation is, and from which lineage does he come?"

Just then, a cry of surprise rang out: "Look! Something's changed!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw that the last line of golden patterns on the Mother Mirror was shimmering slightly—the previously silent "Minimum Number of Dao Points for Identifying the Array" had quietly jumped from "zero" to "one".

A few soft laughs came from the spectator stands: "So, this guy's finally made his debut?"

[Someone quipped, "The difference between the top 493 formations and one formation is likely to be recorded in the history of Fangcun Mountain."]

Suddenly, a shrill laugh rang out: "At this speed, they might actually be able to break through three or four formations in four hours. That's quite impressive."

This caused the surrounding disciples to burst into laughter.

[Amidst the laughter and banter, a sharp-eyed person suddenly exclaimed, "Wait! Look at those numbers!"]

The previously casual gaze froze instantly. The last line of golden lines in the water mirror now pulsed wildly as if bewitched—

The numbers "two," "three," and "four" rose rapidly, reaching "twelve" in the blink of an eye. The shimmering golden light, in the astonished eyes of the crowd, then transformed into "fourteen."

【"this……!?"】

"What's going on?"

The disciples were incredulous. "Is there something wrong with the arena?"

"He wasn't incapable of breaking through the formation even once, so how did he break through it so quickly?"

The changes here naturally attracted the attention of the elders on the second-floor viewing platform.

An elder from Dou Shu Peak frowned and said, "Isn't the speed at which these formations are being broken too fast? Three formations have been broken in just a few breaths."

An elder beside him chimed in, "Of these 1,300 array diagrams, the first few are basic and should be simple. The later ones will naturally become more difficult, which is why it's impossible to complete them so quickly."

"Moreover, the gap is simply too large; it's likely to be impossible to catch up."

"Yes, the person who has identified the most formations is also quite fast, and has now broken through two formations in succession."

"Strange," an elder said, a hint of doubt in his eyes, "If you have the ability to form multiple formations in a single breath, why couldn't you break through the previous one?"

On the second-floor viewing platform, the elders, though surprised, didn't seem to care much.

Looking at the mirror, Nian Wubei muttered, "This behavior is a bit like Jing Xiaozi's."

[Kousen, watching from below the stage, narrowed his eyes, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.]

[A moment later.]

Even some of the previously composed second-level elders were losing their composure.

[Because the "minimum number of steps to identify the formation" has already climbed to "129" in a short period of time.]

"How could it be so fast!"

They were certain that the person debating the formation was someone who hadn't broken through the previous formation; otherwise, the speed above couldn't have been maintained at such a high level.

The crowd below the viewing platform was already in an uproar, with the young disciples unable to contain themselves any longer: "The speed at which this formation was broken is simply unbelievable!"

"At this speed, catching up with the leader isn't impossible."

"Was this person holding back, or is there something wrong with the arena?"

A stern voice rang out, "Silence!"

The disciples below fell silent, their eyes fixed on the "Minimum Number of Dao Points for Array Identification" displayed on the mother mirror, which neither stopped nor changed.

The elder presiding over the Punishment Hall was also puzzled. Who was the person who broke the formation so quickly? However, this Mother-Child Mirror was the sect leader's magic weapon, so he naturally couldn't see through it and could only wait for the final revelation.

[After half an incense stick has burned.]

[After "Minimum number of steps to identify the formation: 293", this number will no longer change.]

"Look, it's not changing anymore, it's stopped, it's stopped. It hasn't changed since the beginning." The speaker's tone was inexplicably smug.

[Some of those who had initially scoffed now beamed with pride, their expressions returning to mockery. "I knew it! Even if he breaks formations quickly, it's just a basic formation. Against intermediate formations, he'll be exposed for what he's made of."] ["Breaking formations quickly? What's so great about that?"]

Someone frowned and said in a deep voice, "Is it possible that this person isn't the last one?"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent once more.

[This mother mirror only displays the highest and lowest number of breakthroughs in the formation.]

There's one possibility: this person has already surpassed the last-place person!

You gaze at the new array slowly unfolding in the water mirror. The array before you is several times more complex than before: hundreds of array patterns crisscross, and all five elements are inscribed.

[It's still an incomplete battle formation, revealing only a portion of its true form.]

[You only glanced at the patterns that subtly corresponded to the nine palaces, and you've already identified it as: "Spirit-Attracting Array."]

This array is a fundamental technique of the Yin Soul Path, specifically designed to gather and summon the souls of the dead. Any mortal who has died within the last twelve hours can use this array to summon their three souls and six spirits. It is a spell array that only cultivators at the Solidified Spirit Realm can use, but identifying it in its incomplete state is far more difficult than before.

The number displayed on the water mirror is now "Four Hundred and Sixty-Seven."

The next array diagram has appeared; it's only half of the diagram, and even the array patterns aren't from modern or ancient methods, but rather ancient texts.

You glanced at it and couldn't help but smile. "How come Fangcun Mountain even brought this array diagram?"

"The Bewitching Childbirth Array."

This is an ancient array diagram, originally created by ancient cultivators to promote the mating of spirits—those proud celestial birds and auspicious beasts often disdain reproduction, so this array is used to stimulate their desires.

After you wrote the words with your divine sense, another array diagram appeared.

The subsequent battle formation diagrams are mostly fragments from ancient times and some relatively obscure ones.

[This shouldn't stump you. You've seen these formations before, whether it's the library at Fangcun Mountain or the collection of books at the Imperial Hometown Ancestor.]

Furthermore, by innovating, some of the effects can be deduced from these array patterns.

[After "865," the battle formations began to change, almost all of them being ancient formations, with no modern or contemporary formations appearing.]

"The Three Yin Mystic Water Formation!"

"The Great Five Elements Reversal Formation."

"The Dipper Gathering Yang Formation."

"The Three Bright Fire Formation."

[You're quite amusing. These array diagrams, whether incomplete or obscure, are exquisitely designed—often, just a few core array patterns are enough to reveal the secrets of the entire array. The person who set up the array has reached a level of profound understanding of the principles of arrays, a state of returning to simplicity.]

"One thousand one hundred and twenty-three."

[From this point onward, the focus shifted from identifying formations to breaking them, and these formations were all ancient ones.]

You become increasingly convinced that this competition was tailor-made by Fangcun Mountain for exploring the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault, and that the legendary secret realm was originally an ancient blessed land.

[You're not in a hurry. From this formation, it's clear that whoever set it up had a teaching intention.]

[Furthermore, you have already deciphered the formation of this arena, and can roughly deduce that the person who broke the formation the fastest has already reached that level.]

Three hours have passed on the viewing platform outside.

[The jellyfish mirror shimmers with golden light:]

[“Minimum number of moves required to identify the formation: 647”]

["Maximum number of moves in the formation: 1290"]

The person who breaks through the formation the fastest is only ten steps away from stepping off the arena.

However, these ten array diagrams seem to be quite complex; after half a cup of tea's time, the number hasn't changed an inch.

[On the viewing platform, discussions were rife: "It gets increasingly difficult as it progresses; I've heard that the final battles involve ancient, lost, and mysterious formations."]

"However, there's still an hour left; we should be able to make it." Before the words were finished, the Mother Mirror suddenly shone with golden light: "Look! Another attack has been broken!"

"1291! Only nine rounds left!"

"I'm curious, how far has that person gotten from breaking through over three hundred arrays in one go?"

Nie Qingzhu's gaze swept over the ninety arenas suspended in mid-air, enveloped in a mist of spiritual light. The swirling spiritual energy obscured the view within.

She didn't seem worried; she didn't have high expectations for Zhou Jing's ranking among the disciples.

Just as she had said to Zhou Jing, "Just do your best."

Standing behind Nie Qingzhu, Qi Ling felt that this Senior Brother Zhou Jing, even if he couldn't be number one, certainly wouldn't be ranked too low.

[On the first-floor observation deck.]

The disciples of Xiaoqing Peak looked relaxed. After all, only Zhou Jing was participating this time, so they hadn't had high expectations.

Just thinking about that glaringly poor performance in the previous "zero formation" still made many disciples break out in a cold sweat—if they really ended up at the bottom without breaking through, Little Green Peak would truly be unable to hold their heads high.

[Nowadays, "the fewest number of formations to identify is 649," which isn't shameful.]

[Lu Qingyu thought to herself, "It's quite good that Junior Brother Zhou made it into the top ten."]

[Kousen looked grim; it seemed Zhou Jing was about to lose face this time.]

The Xue sisters, along with Shen Qingxue and others, silently prayed that Senior Brother Zhou would come in first place this time.

[Beside him, Qin Shi asked with a smile, "Senior Sister Chen Yao, who do you think will come in first this time?"]

Chen Yao shook her head. "It's hard to say. Among these ninety people, there are some outstanding individuals from various factions. It's difficult to be certain."

However, her gaze fell upon Yuan Shujian. "Senior Brother Yuan, what do you think?"

Yuan Shujian smiled without saying a word, but looked at the water mirror, which showed another change: "The maximum number of Dao points for identifying the array is 1,294."

Only six formations remain unbroken.

Half an hour later, the entire audience held their breath.

[Just one last push!]

All eyes were fixed on the ninety suspended arenas; even the elders on the second floor instinctively leaned forward.

The air seemed to be taut with an invisible string, awaiting the moment the first ray of light to break through the formation would appear.

【Sudden--】

The golden patterns on the mother mirror shone brightly: "Maximum number of array formations: 1300!"

[Someone has identified 1,300 formations; who is the best? All eyes turn to the arena.]

Strangely, two arenas enveloped in a clear light simultaneously began to slowly descend!

Everyone was astonished, and their confusion deepened upon closer inspection of the two individuals.

Who are these two people?

The young disciple of Qingfeng couldn't help but stand up.

(End of this chapter)