Chapter 317 - 281: Eight Diagram Island Master
The Star Shattering Islands are a large expanse of fragmented islands, arranged in a crescent shape facing the northern outer sea.
Among them are eight large islands, with crisscrossed mountain ranges and dense forests, devoid of any human presence, only some low-level demon beasts roaming.
The size of the other dozen or so small islands varies, with the smallest spanning no more than ten miles, and the largest having hills and forests.
The ship entered Crescent Bay, stopping at the largest island in the center.
It was nighttime, the sky filled with the brilliant Milky Way and the Beidou Seven Stars shining brightly.
Over a hundred disciples from Heavenly Gang Peak disembarked, gathering on the beach.
Crabs bubbled as they scuttled across the feet of the crowd, while monkeys hid among the tree leaves, secretly observing them near coconut trees bearing human-sized coconuts in the distance.
Jiang Yuebai stood at the back of the crowd, her eyes shining as she spotted the enormous coconut leaves.
She turned her head towards the storm-ravaged, perpetually dark outer sea. Her master had headed there as soon as she disembarked to get her the Demon Hunting Elixir.
Such a diligent master!
Zhao Fuyi stood at the forefront with Li Shen Zhi, Master Lingjun, Master Hek Shan, and the two female masters, Master Fuyu and Master Zilan.
Zhao Fuyi stepped forward and said, "You are the elite of Heavenly Gang Peak and the future backbone of the Heavenly Interence Sect. From today onward, for the next five years, these Star Shattering Islands will be your place of cultivation and refuge."
"My purpose for being here is threefold. The first you are already aware of, as I am approaching Divinity Transformation and need to set up the Tribulation Crossing Land in the depths of the outer sea in advance. Secondly, to provide protection for Master Lingjun during his Nascent Soul formation, after which he will temporarily take the position of the head of Heavenly Gang Peak."
"Thirdly, to train you. Behold this map."
Zhao Fuyi waved her hand in the air, creating a Flowing Light Illusion, displaying the full map of the Star Shattering Islands. She pointed her fingers, illuminating several islands one by one.
"You are all Array Dao Disciples, therefore, utilize your array skills to open up the wilderness and build homes on these seven major islands, creating arrays on your own. I hope you do not bring the scheming and calculations from the sect here. This place is only seven thousand seven hundred miles from the boundary of the outer sea, and even the appearance of early-stage Nascent Soul stage demon beasts wouldn’t be unusual."
"Several Golden Core Masters will also enter the outer sea to hunt demons, leaving only two people on guard who won’t help you easily. You will need to figure out how to protect yourself and hunt fierce beasts to exchange for cultivation resources."
"This is the Array Map for the Beidou Seven Stars Great Array. All disciples are divided into seven groups, taking one island each to create forty-nine arrays, finally linking them to form the Beidou Seven Stars Great Array. If you work together to form this array, you will be able to withstand an early-stage Nascent Soul stage fierce beast for a time."
Jiang Yuebai looked up at the sky, realizing that the positions of the Beidou Seven Stars indeed subtly aligned with the seven major islands.
"Shenzhen, distribute the Array Map to everyone. You and your fellow disciples will each lead a group to guard an island."
Zhao Fuyi instructed, and Li Shen Zhi immediately took out a bunch of Jade Scrolls and distributed them to the disciples present.
When he reached Jiang Yuebai, Li Shen Zhi bypassed her directly.
Jiang Yuebai, feeling baffled, thought, am I not considered half a Heavenly Gang Peak disciple?
Zhao Fuyi glanced at Jiang Yuebai, then said, "Your cultivation level is low, and your understanding is limited, so during the Foundation Establishment Stage, you only need to practice arraying as described in the Array Map. There’s no need to delve into the fundamental principles behind it, which requires reading a vast amount of books, understanding numerous rules, and calculating many arts to achieve."
"There are differences in talent and comprehension among people, so there’s no need to blindly compare with others. Instead, focus on doing what is within your current capability to the utmost, and then achieve slight breakthroughs. When you reach Core Formation and have no worries about lifespan, even if it takes a hundred years to supplement the foundational rules of Array Dao, it’s not too late."
Jiang Yuebai chuckled, realizing that True Monarch Fuyi was indirectly praising her extraordinary talent and comprehension.
"Does anyone have any questions? Now is the time to ask."
Everyone looked at each other, feeling that there were no problems.
"I do," Jiang Yuebai spoke up, "I want to ask if I can farm on the island. I found that the Spiritual Soil here is rich in Water Spirit Energy, suitable for cultivating water-loving Spirit Fruits and Spiritual Medicines. It’s a waste to leave it unused."
Hearing this, Hee Wangchen laughed, "Senior Sister Jiang, you truly are born to be a Spiritual Cultivation Master, always thinking of farming wherever you go, haha..."
Zhao Fuyi’s gaze swept over, causing Hee Wangchen’s laughter to cease instantly as he hurriedly lowered his head and fidgeted with his clothing.
"You, will guard this island alone."
Zhao Fuyi raised her hand to point at a slightly farther location at the back of the crescent-shaped islands, the eighth major island in the Star Shattering Islands, surrounded by several very small islands, resembling a small sun.
"This place is suitable for forming the array eye of the Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array. There’s only one mountain range on the island, and the terrain is flat, so you can plant whatever you like. However, the location is crucial."
"It is the rear for everyone. If anyone intends to raid the main islands, they must pass through this island first. You should understand the kind of danger you will face. Originally, I intended for Shenzhi to guard it..."
Li Shen Zhi shook his head secretly beside her, Jiang Yuebai quickly said, "Then please assign me to a different place, smaller is fine, as long as it’s safe."
Zhao Fuyi’s hand halted in mid-air.
"That’s settled! For supplies and purchases, find Shenzhi and Fuyu. You have three days to cut wood and build houses; the next Xun Wind is less than two months away. See to it yourselves."
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone felt the pressure, immediately urging each other to action, partnering up and proceeding to the nearby major islands as per Li Shen Zhi’s grouping.
Surveying potential array eyes, marking array points, choosing residencies, cutting wood, building houses—truly opening up wasteland.
Many of them had never done anything besides researching Array Dao in their cultivation until now.
Though there were blueprints for house construction in the Jade Scrolls given by Li Shen Zhi, actually putting them into practice was full of errors and misses.
Master Fuyu and Li Shen Zhi stayed back to oversee while Master Lingjun, Master Hek Shan, and Master Zilan set off first to the outer sea, finding a suitable place for Master Lingjun’s Tribulation Crossing.
The Nascent Soul Thunder Tribulation is tremendously powerful, easily injuring innocents in the mainland, so most Golden Core Perfect Cultivators arrange their Tribulation Crossing Land in major sea areas beforehand.
Li Shen Zhi gave Jiang Yuebai a look that implied she should fend for herself, then called upon Master Fuyu to distribute basic supplies and arraying devices to the Heavenly Gang Peak disciples across the islands.
"Follow me."
A talisman-covered cloth strip flew from Zhao Fuyi’s sleeve, wrapping around Jiang Yuebai and pulling her abruptly into the sky.
Accompanying Zhao Fuyi, they flew above the major island at the rear.
"What do you think the island and the surrounding small islands resemble?" Zhao Fuyi asked.
Jiang Yuebai looked closely, "Eight Trigrams?"
The central major island is almost round, with a mountain range stretching from the northeast to the southwest, just like the line in the middle of a Tai Chi. The surrounding small islands, with some transformations like moving mountains or filling seas, could form the Eight Diagrams.
Without needing further words from Zhao Fuyi, Jiang Yuebai had already begun observing the stars, her hands swiftly calculating techniques at her sides.
In recent years, although Jiang Yuebai seldom used arrays, she’d always take out the Array Dao Jade Scrolls and books given by Zhao Fuyi to read during leisure, treating it as relaxation.
Especially the ’Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array Map’ inherited from the ancestor she found at the top of the Heavenly Interence Sect Library, which Jiang Yuebai had half understood with Zhao Fuyi’s assistance.
Zhao Fuyi said, "You are not a cultivator mainly practicing Array Dao and will follow the path of the ancestral master’s lineage in the future. Therefore, you needn’t exert too much effort on Array Dao. As long as you’re able to recognize arrays and know which spots to attack to break through with force, like your master breaking my Heavenly Gang Peak’s Ninety-Nine Linked Array back then, it’s enough."
"If you have extra effort, learn one or two major arrays as trump cards. More will only become a burden. The Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array is vast and profound, complementing the Eight Arrays Plate I modified for you. If you delve into this array, it will serve you a lifetime."
Jiang Yuebai slowly nodded, agreeing with Zhao Fuyi’s reasoning.
"Celestial phenomena are ever-changing. Compared to the Beidou Seven Stars Great Array, the Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array is more encompassing, difficult, and powerful. You must constantly adjust the array according to the celestial changes. This island is the perfect place to study this array."
"As long as you maintain the Four Symbols Eight Trigrams Array without it breaking for three years, you can reach the Great Success Realm in this array. At that point, the phrase ’holding the fort alone against ten thousand men’ won’t just be empty talk. Before I embark on Divinity Transformation, this is all I can teach you."
Jiang Yuebai was moved, gazing eagerly at the isolated island below.
"Very well, from today, I am the Island Master of this Eight Trigrams Island!"
