Peerless: I Became Huo Yuhao's Dark Personality

Chapter 102 Old Guan: Who is the teacher between us? (Two chapters combined)

The three types of magic arrays overlapped, a field that Huo Yumiao had never explored before, and a great question arose in her mind.

The three magic arrays overlapped and their patterns intertwined, which was inevitable. How could these intersecting patterns be identified and activated? They couldn't possibly be activated simultaneously, could they? The basic charging magic array hadn't even finished executing, and there was no soul power to support the acceleration and compression.

"Good observation skills." Old Guan cast an approving glance at Huo Yumiao, quite pleased with her quick reaction.

Let alone the overlap of three types of core magic arrays, it is difficult to detect even two types. The interference caused by the intersection of patterns is extremely large. People with poor observation skills cannot even analyze a basic magic array.

"Teacher, how do so many overlapping magic arrays work together? How is the priority execution route of soul power controlled?"

Hearing Huo Yumiao's question, Elder Guan nodded in satisfaction and explained, "This is an overlapping magic array. In the world of soul masters, this technique is called an embedded magic array, which means that multiple magic arrays are nested together. Tell me, what is the magic array required for a soul tool?"

"Charging array or energy storage array," Huo Yumiao answered subconsciously, this was the most basic knowledge about soul tools.

The charging array, also called the absorption array, like the energy storage array, can serve as a medium for transmitting soul power between various arrays.

The difference is that the charging array is activated instantly, meaning that once it receives soul power, it will transfer the soul power to other connected arrays, while the energy storage array is different.

It not only has the same effect as a charging array, but it can also store some soul power inside the metal. After being fully charged in advance, it only requires injecting a wisp of soul power to guide its use, and there is no other consumption.

According to this theory, energy storage arrays can completely replace energy charging arrays, which is theoretically true, but in reality, problems have made this theory impossible to realize.

The first thing to consider is the difficulty of inscribing the energy storage array. Whether it is a basic core array or an advanced core array, the energy storage array has always been the most difficult, as can be seen from the status of the milk bottle.

High-level Soul Masters have an almost 100% success rate in creating low-level Soul Tools, but the Milk Bottle, a collection of numerous energy storage arrays, is an exception.

A level 3 milk bottle would take a normal level 3 Soul Master at least half a month to complete. Even a level 4 Soul Master could easily make a mistake if they weren't careful. The difficulty of making milk bottles increases with each higher level.

Due to the difficulty of energy storage arrays, Soul Masters generally do not choose to make milk bottles of the same level as their Soul Masters, as it is time-consuming, laborious, and does not accumulate much experience.

For a soul tool, if it involves an energy storage array, the difficulty increases by about 30% above the baseline, and there are actually more mistakes. This is the first reason.

The second issue is the release array. Most soul tools do not require a release array. For example, soul guide rays and shock cannons consume a fixed amount of soul power, so you only need to inject soul power.

However, all soul tools involving energy storage arrays have a problem: controlling the output. Take a milk bottle; a level 3 milk bottle is enough for a Soul Master to replenish their soul power to its peak.

But here's the problem: with the soul power stored in a level three milk bottle, if it were to erupt instantly, not to mention a Soul Venerable, even a Soul Sect wouldn't be able to withstand it. At most, those with good physical fitness would suffer damage to their meridians and need to recuperate for a period of time.

It wouldn't be surprising if those with weak constitutions were struck by such a massive amount of soul power, resulting in their meridians ruptured, their internal organs broken, and death. At this point, it would be necessary to release a magic array to control the output of soul power.

Release-type magic arrays are a broad category, and each type of magic array has a corresponding approximate soul power output. When combined with energy storage magic arrays, the effect is excellent.

The problem then arises: the soul power output of the energy storage array needs to be controlled by the release array, and the release array is no simple matter either. Although it is not as difficult as the energy storage array, it is still one of the most difficult.

Therefore, if you want to replace the charging array with the energy storage array, you actually need to inscribe at least one energy storage array and one energy release array, which directly increases the difficulty of production by half.

Theoretically, it increases the value by half, but in reality, it brings more difficulty and more mistakes. Although this can increase the value of the soul tool, the increased price is not proportional to the effort and time spent on its production, so few soul tool masters choose this option.

"That's right. The limitation of energy storage arrays is that they cannot control the amount of soul power output, so they need to be controlled by release arrays."

Similar to energy storage, embedded magic arrays have limitations. When this technique was first created, the order in which the magic arrays were activated could not be controlled, a problem that has only been solved in recent years.

Huo Yumiao didn't interrupt, listening quietly. Elder Guan paused for a moment, then continued:
"The depth of the array's patterns determines the order in which the soul power controlled by the array completely permeates the array."

The shallower the patterns in the magic circle, the faster it is covered by soul power; the deeper the patterns, the longer it takes, thus achieving the goal of controlling the order. What do you think of this method?

Upon hearing Elder Guan's question, Huo Yumiao frowned. "It's a bit too simple, like... an expected answer."

Frankly speaking, regarding the principle of embedded magic arrays, Huo Yumiao felt that the depth of the patterns should be the simplest and easiest method to come up with, and it shouldn't have been proposed in recent years to solve the control sequence.

"Haha, you're right, this method is indeed very simple, and it was the first solution proposed at the time."

Old Guan laughed heartily. Most people would have ridiculed Huo Yumiao for her hindsight-based remarks, but Old Guan did not.

"Then why did you say it was only resolved in recent years?" Huo Yumiao's eyes were full of confusion. If it was raised so early, the problem should have been solved long ago, unless...

Huo Yumiao's eyes suddenly lit up, "Could it be the depth ratio of each core magic array pattern?"

"Huh?" Boss Guan was taken aback. He didn't expect Huo Yumiao to figure out the secret so quickly. Her comprehension was simply terrifying.

"I didn't expect you to grasp its mysteries so quickly, Yu Miao. Your talent as a Soul Master is truly outstanding; you were practically born for Soul Tools."

Hearing Elder Guan's undisguised praise, Huo Yumiao remained silent. He didn't consider himself exceptionally gifted; "well-informed" would be a more fitting description.

For modern machines, precision is of utmost importance. The saying "a miss is as good as a mile" is true. Whenever Huo Yumiao hears words like "depth" or "depth," which require extremely high accuracy, she can't help but think of the issue of proportion.

"You guessed right, it is indeed a matter of proportion. However, when the embedded magic array technique first appeared, although the Soul Masters thought it was related to depth, they did not realize the importance of proportion."

When the Soul Masters discovered that the depth of their attacks couldn't solve the problem, they quickly changed their approach. They tried adding something similar to a release-type magic circle in hopes of controlling the order, or artificially modifying the magic circle, but all of these attempts failed.

Until the appearance of a Soul Master, who realized the crucial importance of proportion, and after numerous experiments, finally determined the depth ratio of the embedded magic array to control the sequential execution, namely 1:4:9…

Seeing Guan Lao's proud expression, Huo Yumiao couldn't help but ask, "Teacher, could this person be you?"

"That's right, it is indeed your teacher." Elder Guan nodded slightly, revealing the demeanor of a master.

"Teacher, I have a question," Huo Yumiao suddenly spoke up, a bold idea popping into her mind.

"Go ahead," Elder Guan said with a smile upon hearing Huo Yumiao's words. As a teacher, he was naturally happy to answer his student's questions. "Do you mean the depth of the engraved patterns in this proportion?" Elder Guan replied without hesitation, "Of course, it's the depth."

"Have you tried controlling the depth of the patterns to be the same, and controlling the priority of the magic array by changing the ratio of the width of the magic array patterns?"

The smile on Guan Lao's face froze, then gradually disappeared as he began to think seriously. The more he thought about it, the more alarmed he became. It seemed to be really feasible, and he immediately began to take action.

For Elder Guan, a level nine Soul Master, overlapping two or three basic magic arrays was a piece of cake. In just ten minutes, he created three Soul Guidance Cores, which were embedded magic arrays of two, three, and four different quantities.

After the soul power was injected one after another, without any surprises, all three soul cores were successfully lit up, emitting a soft and stable glow.

Upon seeing this, Elder Guan was initially stunned, then cast an incredulous glance at Huo Yumiao, who had an expression that said, "I knew it." He felt a mix of emotions.

No, which of us is the teacher?

Looking back on the short time it took Huo Yumiao to become his disciple, first he pioneered the auxiliary structure magic array, and now he has another method of controlling the embedded magic array. Although there is a bit of trickery involved, the results are real.

For a moment, Guan Lao couldn't tell whether Huo Yumiao was becoming his disciple or he was becoming Huo Yumiao's disciple. Why was it that Huo Yumiao brought him new knowledge both times they met?

Master Guan was naturally pleased to see the student's exceptional talent, but this student was simply too talented!

At this moment, Elder Guan was somewhat glad that Huo Yumiao had come to the Sun Moon Empire. With such talent, even if she were in the Douluo Continent, she would one day become a level nine Soul Master.

This is not your average level nine Soul Master; this is the kind of level nine Soul Master who can bring a strong impact to the Sun Moon Empire.

The name Kong Deming suddenly popped into Guan Lao's mind. Huo Yumiao in front of him was no less talented than him, and he didn't think she was much worse in terms of soul mastery.

Given time, Huo Yumiao will surely become the second pillar of the Sun Moon Empire!
Guan Lao gave Huo Yumiao a complicated look, and a burning desire welled up in his heart. To cultivate an even more outstanding Soul Tool God was a great thing.

"Yu Miao, you are really excellent, and you have given me new inspiration."

"Teacher, I was just using a trick, just changing my way of thinking." Hearing Master Guan's praise, Huo Yumiao was a little surprised. This could be called inspiration? The proportions were already given, so isn't it normal to change the depth to the width?

“Thinking skills cannot be achieved through shortcuts. The current achievements of soul tools are the culmination of the thinking of every soul tool master over the years.”

Old Guan shook his head. Things like thinking and creativity are invisible and intangible, black and white, with only a difference between zero and one. Some ideas seem simple and crude, but in reality, no one has thought of them.

"I remember you don't have your own carving knife yet, do you?" Hearing Guan Lao's words, Huo Yumiao was taken aback, then nodded. She had been using Huo Yuhao's carving knife that morning.

"A Soul Master can't function without a carving knife." Elder Guan smiled slightly, and a blue-gold rectangular jade box appeared out of thin air in his hand, hovering in front of Huo Yumiao.

Huo Yumiao curiously took the jade box, and after opening the lid, a carving knife lay quietly in the center.

The carving knife was about half a foot long, with a layer of cold light interwoven with gold and blue flowing around its blade. The blade was as thin as a cicada's wing, but it could not hide its sharp edge. Just one glance made Huo Yumiao feel a slight stinging pain in her eyes.

On the spine of the blade, fine silver patterns meander and turn, resembling the texture created by the cracking of solid ice, or some kind of ancient and profound runes.

At the end of the hilt is inlaid a crystal-clear ice crystal, inside which a misty haze seems to emanate, and under the light it sparkles like stars.

At the same time, wisps of white mist rose, condensing into tiny ice crystals upon contact with the air, which fell around the carving knife, adding a touch of brilliance.

Even with the naked eye, one could sense the extraordinary nature of this carving knife. Huo Yumiao couldn't wait to pick it up, and her expression immediately changed slightly. The carving knife was not only icy cold to the touch, but also quite heavy.

He is the ultimate ice, and even he feels the biting cold. You can imagine the ice attribute energy contained in the material of this carving knife. Compared to Huo Yuhao's carving knife this morning, this carving knife is at least three times heavier.

As soul power was injected, Huo Yumiao instantly felt an unknown connection between him and the carving knife. When he stared at it, the stinging pain disappeared, and the bone-chilling temperature slowly vanished.

Huo Yumiao played with the carving knife in her hand, liking it more and more as she looked at it. "Thank you, teacher."

"I'm glad you like it. This carving knife is called Ice Phoenix. It ranks fifty-first on the carving knife list. Soul tools made with it will have ice and sharpness attributes."

"Sharpness?" Huo Yumiao asked with a hint of confusion, clearly not understanding what the "sharpness" attribute meant.

"Sharpness attribute: When injured by a soul tool with sharpness attribute, the wound will be imbued with a sharp force."

Simply put, it not only doubles the pain at the wound site but also hinders healing. If attached to a high-level soul tool, it can even directly shred internal organs.

Looking at the Ice Phoenix Carving Knife in her hand, Huo Yumiao was shocked. As expected of a ranked carving knife, it actually possessed such strong attributes.

Huo Yumiao wasn't particularly concerned about the ice attribute bonus; rather, he was very interested in the sharpness attribute.

In his view, sharpness is not an attribute, but more like a state. The target that is hit will enter the sharpness state and be attacked by the power of sharpness.

After being wounded, the sharp force enters the body through the wound, tearing apart the opponent's flesh and internal organs from the inside, thus causing the greatest damage.

Huo Yumiao was already preparing to go back and study this sharp power carefully, compared to attribute bonuses, his special state.

"From now on, come find me after your classes every day. You can also take a look at the resource room inside Mingde Hall. Don't bother with the more advanced content; it won't benefit you right now."

As Guan Lao spoke, a stack of books appeared on the long table in front of him. He pointed to these books and looked at Huo Yumiao.
"These are all basic theories. No matter how powerful a soul tool is, it is derived from these basics. These are especially crucial."

"As for rare metals, go ahead and spend as much as you want; there's plenty in the testing zone. Take as much as you need."

After giving his instructions, Elder Guan waved his hand, and Huo Yumiao bowed before turning to leave. He did not return to his dormitory but instead went to the experimental area. It was still early, so he could conduct some experiments on soul tools.

(End of this chapter)