Bai Yuhan was slightly stunned, then sighed with a wry smile.
When she was still a disciple, she had also participated in the Sect-wide Tournament, so she understood the weight of the Doubles Match.
That was a grand competition where the top talents from various peaks, True Disciples and Personal Disciples alike, gathered together.
Three years ago, Xiao Qingxuan and Ye Luqing achieved first place in the Golden Core vs. Nascent Soul Doubles Match, which was already considered a miracle.
Moreover, the two were the strongest combination of Sword Cultivator and Formation Cultivator at the time. If it had been a duo of two Formation Cultivators instead, the chance of even making it to the top four, let alone winning, would have been extremely slim.
But seeing her own disciples so determined, as a Master, Bai Yuhan could only support them.
“Senior Sister…”
Ying Qianqian was deeply moved, her eyes brimming with tears as she looked at Ye Luqing.
Seeing this, Ye Luqing smiled and patted Ying Qianqian’s small head.
The pink hair carried a fragrance like early cherry blossoms, and it felt pleasantly soft to the touch.
“With Senior Sister here, don’t worry.”
The reward was only one aspect.
Abandoning her own adorable junior sister was not her style.
“Mm.”
Ying Qianqian closed her eyes, tears streaming down from the corners.
At this moment, it felt as if she had gained the recognition of someone she admired.
She pulled Ye Luqing’s hand and placed it on her own cheek.
“Senior Sister Ye, you’re so kind…”
Ying Qianqian gently rubbed her face against Ye Luqing’s hand, her affection nearly overflowing.
Feeling the strange warmth in her palm, Ye Luqing didn’t know why her heart was a bit flustered.
This should be the bond between fellow sisters of the same sect.
Right?
Even Bai Yuhan beside them was watching with a smile, murmuring something about how “youth is wonderful.”
Don’t be too wonderful, Master!
If Xiao Qingxuan sees this, your precious Personal Disciple might be diced into bits!
After a while, Bai Yuhan cleared her throat softly.
“Even if you’re both Formation Cultivators, you need to decide who is the main attacker and who will support.”
“If you don’t divide roles and each fight separately, your combat strength will be greatly reduced.”
Whether it’s a lineup with one attacker and one support, or double attackers, the person responsible for the main assault must be clear.
With two Formation Cultivators, it’s easy to end up both huddling in the formation, just taking hits together.
“Xiao Ying, do you know any offensive formations?”
Ye Luqing asked.
Currently, the only one she could readily use was the Supreme Array Subduing Art. Most of her other techniques were for support.
Ying Qianqian hesitated and nodded slightly.
“I do know a few, but they’re all large-scale formations that require a long preparation time.”
Large formations required array artifacts, array patterns, and array cores—none could be missing.
They were rigorous and needed thorough preparation.
Strictly speaking, Ye Luqing’s Supreme Array Subduing Art wasn’t a formation, but a spell art that simulated array artifacts with spiritual power and array cores with Xuanhuang Qi.
However, if prepared in advance with higher-grade materials and better spiritual power, the power of the Supreme Array Subduing Art could rise to another level.
Correspondingly, the preparation time would also increase.
“For example, the Zhenhuo Tun Yun Array and the Liuying Fentian Array, though they are only mid-grade Mysterious-class formations, once fully charged they can defeat a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator.”
“But… both require over half an hour to set up…”
“Even if a Formation Cultivator can carry one array artifact, the setup time can only be compressed to less than half an hour at best.”
Just as Sword Cultivators could carry Life-Bound Spirit Swords and Spell Cultivators could carry Fayi, Formation Cultivators could carry one array artifact.
However, whether weapons or Fayi, there were always restrictions.
Unlike battles in the upper four realms where one could draw on the power of Heaven and Earth, for lower four realm cultivators, good equipment made a huge difference.
Without limitations, it would turn the Sect-wide Tournament into a contest of wealth and equipment, losing its original meaning.
Hearing Ying Qianqian’s preparation times, Ye Luqing fell silent for a moment.
“It is a bit too long.”
Battles at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul Realms often ended in less than a quarter of an hour.
Let alone half an hour—lasting even that long was considered lengthy.
Bai Yuhan nodded slightly and looked at Ye Luqing.
“Then we can only have Xiao Qing take the main attack role.”
Ye Luqing’s array casting speed was exceptionally fast, surpassing even some Transformation God Realm Formation Cultivators.
On the arena, even a split-second reaction could decide victory or defeat.
Ye Luqing nodded.
“At least I know a few attack formations that can be quickly deployed. Taking the main role should be no problem.”
The Supreme Array Subduing Art worked well against Golden Core Realm cultivators, but as shown in the fight with Ruyi Pei, it was already a bit strained against Nascent Soul cultivators.
Furthermore, the Doubles Match required facing two opponents simultaneously. With the amount of Xuanhuang Qi she could currently wield, it was difficult for her formations to cover both enemies at once.
“Supreme Array Subduing Art… I thought this array technique was lost.”
Bai Yuhan said with some depth.
At these words, Ye Luqing froze, her expression tense.
After all, when she used this technique yesterday, no one on Biluofeng recognized it.
She hadn’t even demonstrated it in front of Bai Yuhan, yet this Master had already seen through her.
A Combined Dao Realm Daoist Venerable Array Master—terrifying indeed.
“I don’t really know how I learned it…”
Ye Luqing lowered her head, relying on her memory-loss persona.
Bai Yuhan simply patted her head and spoke:
“You probably obtained it when you were still at the Nascent Soul Realm, doing a mission with Xiao Qingxuan outside.”
“To comprehend this Earth-class array art, you’d need to be at least at the Nascent Soul Realm.”
Just like the self-created spell arts on Myriad Arts Peak, normally a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator could only master the fourth technique, while a rare genius could reach the fifth.
But to say a Golden Core Realm could master the fifth—might as well call yourself the First Emperor of the Heaven Qin Empire and send me 50 spirit stones to make you Grand Commander of the Imperial Army.
Ye Luqing nodded innocently, inwardly relieved.
Master Bai was too kind, not even needing her to make up excuses—she would just rationalize it herself.
No wonder she was toyed with by Sect Master Feng Linyi, tricked into all sorts of plays…
Unaware of Ye Luqing’s wandering thoughts, Bai Yuhan continued:
“The power of the Supreme Array Subduing Art is indeed formidable, but with Xiao Qing’s current cultivation, she cannot use it continuously.”
Ye Luqing nodded. Whether it was the extremely difficult-to-condense Xuanhuang Qi or the backlash from channeling the force of Earth, neither was something her Golden Core Realm body could endure.
After taking the Xuanhuang Dan, Ye Luqing had gained sixty strands of Xuanhuang Qi.
She used ten against Ruyi Pei, so fifty remained.
With her current body, she could at most release ten strands at once—any more and she’d be paralyzed from backlash like last night.
Such a desperate move—if it defeated the enemy, fine; but if the enemy still had strength left, defeat in the arena was almost certain.
She could use ten strands of Xuanhuang Qi to overcome an early-stage Nascent Soul like Ruyi Pei, but against mid-stage, late-stage, or even peak Nascent Soul cultivators, who knew how effective it would be.
Not to mention the True Disciples and Personal Disciples, each harboring hidden trump cards.
To rely solely on the Supreme Array Subduing Art to win the competition, claim the reward, and complete the System Mission would be a fool’s dream.
At this thought, a spark flashed in Ye Luqing’s mind.
She immediately grabbed Ying Qianqian and bowed to Bai Yuhan.
“Please bestow the art, Master!”
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