Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1645 - 1638: Array of Gathering Demons

Chapter 1645: Chapter 1638: Array of Gathering Demons

The East Continent, or more precisely Kyushu, lacks abundant Magic Crystal mines, necessitating cautious use of Magic Crystals.

However, precisely because of this limitation, the people of Kyushu had to optimize the lines of the Magic Array to maximize the efficiency of magical circulation.

The entire Array of Gathering Demons, apart from fixed patterns, also included numerous auxiliary optimization lines, akin to program optimizations, enhancing magic utilization efficiency and minimizing loss during circulation.

Tangmo found this deeply fascinating, avidly observing these auxiliary optimization lines. Baiyue, on the other hand, directly took out her notebook and began recording, after obtaining Huayu Ting’s permission.

"Remember, any breakthrough will draw blood. Especially for someone like you breaking through multiple levels consecutively, the price is unavoidable. Grave injuries could even occur—that’s a cost you must bear." Huayu Ting reminded Feng with a solemn tone.

This warning, though directed at Feng, was equally meant to alert the members of the Advance Team, preventing them from mistakenly thinking Huayu Ting was harming Feng and acting irrationally.

"Understood! Teacher, please proceed!" Feng gritted her teeth and nodded resolutely.

"Very well, then..." Huayu Ting suddenly closed his eyes, ceasing to speak. Then, he slowly extended his arms, channeling the magic within his body to drive the Magic Array.

Majestic magic surged from within him, and those nearby distinctly felt the intense magical fluctuations. True to his reputation, Huayu Ting could unleash perceptible magic.

"The laws of heaven prevail, human fates are unsettled. By this array, ascend in cultivation!"

Huayu Ting chanted this cryptic verse aloud. While it was largely ceremonial and not essential for activating the array, it contributed to the atmosphere, since cultivators didn’t require incantations; they used their freedom to speak as they pleased.

As the incantation concluded, Huayu Ting’s magic erupted forcefully. The Magic Crystals embedded in the surrounding stone pillars began glowing—an unmistakable cold light unique to magic activation.

Soon, the activated Magic Crystals released their stored magic, flowing along the array’s lines, slowly descending the pillars to converge within the array’s patterns below.

The visualized magic radiated light, highlighting the lines it traversed, illuminating them fully.

However, to Tangmo and Baiyue’s surprise, the magic did not flow toward the center of the array as expected, but began connecting along the outer ring instead.

"Huh? Why isn’t it entering? Did something go wrong?" Tangmo, puzzled, couldn’t resist voicing his curiosity.

"Probably not. This magic is likely intended for another purpose. I doubt this small amount of magic could enable Feng to achieve a qualitative breakthrough," Baiyue explained seriously, her brows furrowed slightly.

"So, you mean?" Tangmo turned his gaze toward her.

"It might be some kind of magic initiation ritual," Baiyue gestured, elaborating.

"Like... a starting move?" Tangmo asked tentatively.

"Exactly!" Baiyue nodded affirmatively.

"Then this is..." Tangmo’s focus returned to the Magic Array. Before Baiyue could finish her thought, he noticed an obvious change.

As the outer ring’s patterns lit up, a sudden gust swept through the surrounding area, accompanied by violent magical fluctuations.

Tangmo’s eyes widened, and after analyzing the situation, he exclaimed in delight, "I understand now! This is injecting atmospheric magic instead of relying on the Magic Crystals’ magic. The Magic Crystals’ magic merely serves as an energy source to guide the atmospheric magic!"

Her excitement stemmed from the revelation that Huayu Ting’s array lacked profound secrets; it was simply a basic Array of Gathering Demons.

In the Otherworld, the principles of magic were fundamentally similar. Whether through spells or cultivation, the essence revolved around the manipulation of magic. This convergence allowed even those unfamiliar with the East Continent to understand its magical practices.

Huayu Ting’s ascension ritual was essentially a forbidden curse-level gathering array. Specifically, it utilized Magic Crystal energy to activate the array, directing magic from the atmosphere to condense and ultimately channel it toward the central target within the array.

Mages could perform this as well. Tangmo herself could summon her Magic Wand and replicate the array’s effects on the spot. However, the cost would be substantial, as forbidden-level magic activation inevitably caused severe bodily damage.

The cleverness of the array lay in its ability to manage the forbidden-level magic operation while sparing the initiator from physical harm.

This approach reflected the East Continent’s cultivation practices for gathering magic. Their operational mode involved accumulation methods, whereas magic gathering inherently required circulation techniques. Thus, they resorted to this method to channel large quantities of magic.

It’s vital to note that forbidden curse-level magic operation is no trivial matter. This scale of energy circulation must rely either on a precise array or the Forbidden-Level Mage sacrificing their lifespan to drive the magic.

Of course, there exists a group of individuals capable of effortlessly handling such magical operations—the gods. This group includes both True Gods and Demigods.

The ultimate goal for Otherworlders is unrestricted magic usage. Their gods, in their final forms, largely embody this ideal.

Day by day, cultivators work toward ascension, striving to shed their mortal forms and become pure gods, capable of limitless magic usage, free from the constraints of the flesh.

Regrettably, however, the divine gates have long been sealed shut in this world. No matter how dedicated a cultivator might be, they can at most reach the level of a Demigod. Any attempt to advance to True Godhood would immediately trigger the punishment of Tana—the heavenly will.

The scale of magic driven by Huayu Ting remained under his control. Under his guidance, about fifteen minutes later, a massive vortex formed above the array, the sky shrouded in dark clouds, as though the magic within a hundred-mile radius had been drawn toward him.

Magic, intermingled with air, turned into a fierce gale. As the gathered energy increased, the initially invisible and colorless magic began to materialize. Transparent, viscous liquid magic surrounded the vortex, moving in a spiraling motion.

Tangmo meticulously observed each step of Huayu Ting’s ritual. She noticed that, whether out of caution or limitation, the process seemed excessively prolonged.

If Tangmo disregarded bodily harm to channel such quantities of magic, she could likely complete the gathering within ten minutes, perhaps accumulating even greater amounts of magic.

This efficiency stemmed from Tangmo’s ability to absorb and transfer magic directly via her body. As long as her physical form could withstand the strain, she could absorb immense amounts of magic and release them without restrictions.

However, Huayu Ting was not a mage, nor did he specialize in circulation techniques. As a result, he had to rely purely on external arrays to manipulate magic, which limited his control over the input and output flow of magic.

Nonetheless, when it came to handling such enormous quantities of magic, arrays remained the superior choice.

Even in the Western Continent, whenever high-level spells were required, mages would prioritize arrays if time permitted, avoiding risking their lives to channel vast amounts of magic directly.

The real concern, however, wasn’t Huayu Ting—it was Feng, positioned at the array’s center, as all this magic would undoubtedly act upon her body.

After twenty more minutes of Huayu Ting’s guidance, the magic above the array became increasingly distinct. The viscous, transparent liquid magic distorted the light around it, rendering the sky above the array eerily warped and unsettling.

"Hold your breath, focus!" Huayu Ting inhaled deeply, shouting a warning.

Then, pressing his index and middle fingers together, he raised them above his head toward the sky. Slowly, he lowered them, pointing at Feng at the array’s center, as he shouted, "Channel!"

As if obeying his command, the vortex-like magic in the sky rapidly cascaded downward. In an instant, it activated the array’s inner ring.

The light radiating from the array’s lines momentarily outshone the sun, rendering it impossible to stare directly.