To comprehend all laws and attain immortality

After preparing the formation, Gu Fan immediately took action.

First, go to Lingxi Peak, find a stubborn rock, and use a flying sword to cut it into a stone slab. Then, prepare to carve array patterns.

In the courtyard, a heavy stone slab hangs suspended in mid-air.

Gu Fan manipulated the gray sword, meticulously carving on the stone slab. Stone dust fell gracefully in the autumn wind, revealing array patterns.

The diagram carved on the stone slab is that of a small spirit-gathering array.

Besides the array patterns, there are three grooves on the stone slab, which are for embedding spirit stones. When the array is activated, the embedded spirit stones will be used as the driving force.

Beside Gu Fan were two other stone slabs, already carved with array diagrams: the Thick Earth Array and the Returning Origin Array.

The Thick Earth Array differs from the Small Spirit Gathering Array in that it does not have grooves for embedding spirit stones. It requires cultivators to activate it with their magic power. Once the array is running, no further intervention is needed.

The Thick Earth Formation is quite demanding, as it draws on the earth's energy to form a defense. If the earth's energy is insufficient, the defensive capabilities of the formation will not be strong.

Conversely, if the area where the formation is located has abundant earth energy, the defensive power can be multiplied.

It took Gu Fan more than half a month to carve all the array patterns neatly on the three stone slabs.

As I finished the last stroke and looked at the three stone slabs laid out before me, a sense of accomplishment welled up within me.

Gu Fan first took out four spirit stones from his storage bag and embedded them into the Small Spirit Gathering Array and the Yuan Returning Array respectively. The Yuan Returning Array only needed one spirit stone to operate, which saved a lot of effort.

After embedding the spirit stones, Gu Fan took the lead in activating the Rejuvenation Array.

The method of arranging the Returning Origin Array is based on the principle of "One Origin". There is only one array pattern hub, located in the center of the array diagram. All the array diagrams spread outwards from the center like blood vessels.

When the Returning Yuan Array was activated, all the array patterns lit up, shimmering with a faint blue glow.

The surrounding spiritual energy seemed to be attracted by a magnetic field, slowly gathering towards the formation.

Gu Fan stepped into the formation, focusing his mind on sensing the changes in spiritual energy within. After leaving the formation's range and repeatedly comparing the results, he estimated that the concentration of spiritual energy in the Returning Origin Formation had increased by about 10%.

Next, Gu Fan stopped the Returning Yuan Formation and started experimenting with the Thick Earth Formation.

As magical power was channeled into the thick earth array, a wave of energy emanated from the center of the array and extended into the ground.

In the blink of an eye, a wisp of earth energy was extracted, and an earth-yellow light screen rose from around the magic array, forming a light shield.

Once the Thick Earth Formation was activated, Gu Fan noticed its inconveniences.

Not to mention the need to draw on the earth's energy, the light barrier formed is effective for both enemies and allies. Enemies cannot enter, and those inside the formation cannot leave, just like a tortoise shell.

As for the defensive power of the light barrier...

With a flick of his sleeve, Gu Fan sent out a three-pronged fork shimmering with azure light, which plunged headfirst into the light screen.

A crisp collision sound rang out, and the trident flew back. The light screen only trembled slightly, rippling out a few waves, before returning to its original state.

Seeing this, Gu Fan nodded, poured more magic power into the trident, and plunged into the light barrier again.

The light curtain trembled even more violently, but it still did not break.

After several repeated experiments, Gu Fan gained a general understanding of the defense of the Thick Earth Formation.

This formation continuously draws upon the earth's energy. If the attack cannot be increased to the formation's maximum capacity in an instant, the light barrier will automatically recover. Unless several mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators work together to launch a powerful attack, it will be extremely difficult to break the formation.

If placed in an area rich in earth energy, the defensive power of the light barrier will be multiplied.

Of course, the weakness of the Thick Earth Formation is also obvious. If someone can cut off the supply of earth energy, the formation will collapse on its own.

Gu Fan was quite satisfied with the effect of the Thick Earth Formation, after all, it was only a first-order formation.

After communicating with the array using his divine sense and stopping the extraction of earth energy, the light screen slowly dissipated, and Gu Fan walked towards the third stone slab.

Compared to the other two formations, the Minor Spirit Gathering Formation was the one Gu Fan valued most, since it was related to whether Gu Fan could earn back 100 merit points.

The Small Spirit Gathering Array has three array points, distributed according to the Three Powers principle.

After the formation was activated, the array patterns lit up with a blue glow, which seemed quite similar to the Returning Origin Array.

But as soon as Gu Fan entered the formation, he immediately noticed the difference.

The concentration of spiritual energy in the small spirit-gathering array actually increased by as much as 30%!

If you can be in the Spirit Gathering Array when you gather Qi every day, it means that your cultivation speed will suddenly increase by 30%!

Of course, while the formation's effects are so outstanding, its consumption is also quite staggering.

The array had only been in operation for a short while when the glowing light on the three spirit stones dimmed slightly.

If the small spirit-gathering array is kept running, it is estimated that the three low-grade spirit stones can only last for a maximum of three hours.

But that's enough for Gu Fan!

He only spends about two hours each morning and evening absorbing Qi, which is equivalent to consuming two low-grade spirit stones per day to increase his cultivation speed by 30%, which is really worthwhile.

For ordinary outer disciples, the monthly offering is only five spirit stones, which is naturally a painful expense.

However, Gu Fan can earn spirit stones by drawing talismans right now. Although it is a bit hard work, it is enough to support his cultivation. In the future, when he learns the art of weapon crafting, he will have even more spirit stones.

Thinking of this, Gu Fan was overjoyed and clenched his fist to celebrate in a low voice.

After a short while, the agitated emotions subsided.

Looking at the small spirit-gathering array, Gu Fan suddenly had a wonderful idea.

The reason why the Small Spirit Gathering Array is so different from the Returning Yuan Array is that the Small Spirit Gathering Array has three array points.

Once the formation begins to operate, spiritual energy shuttles back and forth between the three array points, continuously increasing the speed of the spiritual energy flow, thus forming a vortex. With the help of the vortex's absorption power, the surrounding spiritual energy is gathered together.

The more Gu Fan pondered, the more he felt that the vortex formed by this spiritual energy was somewhat similar to the vortex of magical power in his dantian.

"If we could set up a spirit-gathering array in our dantian, using the meridians as array patterns and mana to drive the array, wouldn't it be possible to achieve the effect of a spirit-gathering array at any time without consuming spirit stones?"

Gu Fan was startled by this idea, but then shook his head in denial.

The dantian and qi sea are extremely important, and once damaged, they are very difficult to repair. The reason why the Lingxiao Sect's superior cultivation techniques are difficult to practice is because there is a risk of damaging the dantian meridians during the cultivation process.

Furthermore, who could possibly carve array patterns in the dantian?

In the world of cultivation, a cultivator's efficiency in absorbing spiritual energy depends entirely on the quality of their spiritual root. The higher the quality of the spiritual root, the faster the cultivator can refine spiritual energy and the fewer bottlenecks there are, given the same concentration of spiritual energy.

If one can improve the efficiency of spiritual energy refining through formations, it is equivalent to improving one's spiritual root aptitude. Gu Fan has never heard of anyone being able to do this.

However, the diagram of the Minor Spirit Gathering Array has been completed, which means that Gu Fan's long-awaited 100 merits are about to be obtained.

Thinking of this, Gu Fan took out a jade slip and carefully inscribed the completed array diagram into it.

A moment later, Gu Fan steered the white jade boat straight towards Wendao Peak.

"One hundred good deeds, here I come!"