Chapter 70: Opening the Talisman Array Dojo

Crack! The final puppet burst into splinters under Jiang Yan's gaze, scattering across the ground. Still, it had held out just long enough to finish its task before collapsing. The Array Pavilion was nearly complete: stone walls encircled the grounds, a central platform stood tall, and around it clustered numerous small research rooms for array studies. On the far side, a large array testing field awaited.

"Ding! Array Pavilion construction task complete. Rewards: ten spirit stones, one basic array master's cultivation method, one attack technique, one Greenwood Spirit Transformation Art." With the pavilion finished, the sect master's system promptly dispensed its rewards.

Jiang Yan walked into the Array Pavilion, vexed, clearing away the splinters left by the wooden puppets. His mind dwelled on how he might finish future construction tasks rather than the rewards now in his hands.

Once the wood chips were swept away, Jiang Yan made his way to the central platform, ready to activate the pavilion's concealment array.

Other special buildings within the sect required breaking restrictions to enter, but the Array Pavilion demanded that only the sect master could activate its concealment array, thereby awakening the functions of its facilities.

A low, resonant hum began as Jiang Yan pressed his palm onto a block of white marble at the center of the platform.

With a muffled grunt, Jiang Yan struggled to move; as soon as his hands touched the white marble, his spiritual power surged out like a burst dam, madly drawn into the stone.

Suddenly, a thin cyan light screen flared atop the pavilion, severing all contact with the outside world. The pavilion's restriction had activated, distinct from any other building.

Jiang Yan, however, could pay no mind to the dome of blue above him—his spiritual power continued to pour into the marble, and in only a short while, nearly all his strength was spent. Were it not for his tenacious will, he might already have collapsed at the foot of the stone.

Perhaps it was the infusion of Greenwood energy, but the white marble began to change—green suffused its surface, spreading as Jiang Yan channeled his power faster and faster, until the stone had transformed entirely from white to green.

He exhaled a ragged breath, weak and depleted. The marble was now green, but he had almost nothing left within him. If the stone continued to draw from him, he would have to surrender his life here today.

Above, the cyan dome had sealed off the sky, isolating the pavilion from the heavens. Its edge slowly extended, reaching to unite with the stone walls below. Each time the light met the structure, a deep hum sounded, and the two fused as one.

Most of the dome had already merged with the pavilion, but the unfused section continued to drift closer.

Jiang Yan's breathing was now faint, his energy nearly spent. He could barely stand, relying on his hands pressed against the marble. The Greenwood energy within him was slowing, weakened by exhaustion. The marble's appetite for his power diminished, yet still it drew from him, if only more slowly.

The fusion of dome and pavilion, too, lost speed. Where a moment ago much of the structure had merged in a flash, now it crawled forward, hampered by Jiang Yan's fading strength.

The only sounds were the hum of merging energy and Jiang Yan's heavy breaths. He could no longer open his eyes, could hear nothing else.

Suddenly, Jiang Yan jolted in alarm.

He felt the marble's pull weakening as his spiritual power ran dry. With great effort, he attempted to wrench his hand free from the green stone, but his body was too depleted; the attempt only made him gasp harder.

A sharp crack echoed from the distant sky, as clear as an eggshell shattering or a bubble bursting. Had Jiang Yan opened his eyes, he would have witnessed the final union: the cyan dome and the Array Pavilion becoming one, the light joining seamlessly with the stone walls.

Jiang Yan let out a long breath and slumped down before the marble platform. The pull on his hand dissipated at last, and he was freed. Bereft of energy and strength, he could hold himself up no longer. He collapsed by the green marble, gasping for breath, his eyelids growing heavy.

The sound of fusion—crackling and clear—echoed in his ears, rousing him from the verge of sleep.

"I must not sleep," Jiang Yan startled himself awake.

If he let himself slip into unconsciousness now, with no spiritual power and no strength, he feared he might never wake again.

Battling the oppressive weight of drowsiness, Jiang Yan forced himself to move. Leaning against the marble behind him, he tried to fold his legs in preparation to circulate the Greenwood Art and restore his strength.

But the attempt nearly exhausted him entirely. Helpless, he continued to lean back, breathing heavily.

Then, with a start, he felt a gentle warmth at his back—a flow of spiritual energy seeping into his withered body through the marble.

Cracking sounds continued in the distance as the cyan dome and pavilion completed their union.

Like rain falling on parched earth, the energy was immediately devoured by his ravenous channels. The previously muffled cracks now rang clear in his ears.

Not daring to waste the marble's gift, Jiang Yan quickly settled into a cross-legged posture, hands on his knees, and began to circulate the Greenwood Art.

"Wood arises in the east, green wood heralds vigorous life. Once the first meridian is opened, the first-rank Greenwood Art forms, allowing for a small circuit of spiritual power within..."

The incantation flowed through his mind as he guided the last thread of energy through his seven meridians, working to restore his strength.

PS: Some readers in the comments have said the story's pace is a bit slow and they're tempted to drop it. Those of you still following, please share your thoughts so I, Hong Yan, have something to reference.