Chapter 563 - 549: Brute Force Works Wonders, Opening a Blind Box

Hall Master Xu stood at one of the formation points of the Seven-Section Snake Array and drew the Big Iron Hammer he carried on his back. This was a tool used by the Artifact Refining Hall to forge weapons, but it also served as a weapon itself.

Most people from the Artifact Refining Hall were like this. Yang Chan had seen it many times, so he didn’t find it strange. In fact, it would have been stranger if they used other weapons.

Practice makes perfect. Since they normally used big iron hammers for Artifact Refining, their skill with them far surpassed that of ordinary people, and they made excellent progress in their use.

The Cyan Yuan Sect had plenty of Hammer Skills, such as the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Skill, the Eighteen Iron-Striking Techniques, and the Wandering Dragon Nine Hammers. Yang Chan had seen these cultivation techniques before but had never been interested in them.

Ever since he had chosen the Light Body Technique, Swordsmanship, and Hidden Weapons as his methods of self-defense, he had no intention of trying to master everything. It would simply take too much time.

As long as his Cultivation had yet to reach an invincible level, he needed to keep improving his strength to protect himself. Naturally, he wouldn’t waste time learning to use other weapons.

His Swordsmanship Cultivation was progressing rapidly. His Sword Master class was already far along the path of Tier Two Entry, with the next step being Tier Three. At that point, the Sword Master class would undergo another transformation, and the power of his Swordsmanship would increase yet again.

Even now, at Tier Two, his Sword Master abilities far surpassed others at the same level. If he advanced to Tier Three, he might be able to replicate Ouyang Qingtian’s legendary feat of slaying a Blood Exchange Martial Saint as a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster.

Though he wasn’t some chosen one destined for greatness, he had built a sufficient foundation to make it possible. This was especially true given the exceptional and deadly power of Swordsmanship.

Furthermore, upon reaching Tier Three, his Sword Master class would give birth to a Sword Domain—an area-of-effect ability that would grant a massive boost to his Combat Power.

BOOM!

Just then, Hall Master Xu lifted his Big Iron Hammer. With a sound like his very bones and sinews were singing in unison, he brought it smashing down. The resulting boom was so powerful it made the very earth tremble.

Yang Chan and the others standing closest felt the impact most acutely. It was the most direct and brutal method imaginable. Yet, after the hammer strike, the Seven-Section Snake Array showed little reaction.

Hall Master Xu observed this, hefted his iron hammer, and smashed it down once more.

At that moment, Hall Master Xu was treating the Magic Array like a block of iron, hammering it relentlessly.

The ground shuddered with each blow.

This was what it meant to break an array with brute force—wild, powerful, and hoping for a miracle born of sheer strength.

Hall Master Xu hammered away for a quarter of an hour. Seeing that the Magic Array remained largely unchanged, he finally stopped.

"This must not be the node," Hall Master Xu said, shaking his head as he looked at the Seven-Section Snake Array. "According to the principles in the Array Foundation, with the kind of power I’m using, the Array should at least be showing signs of instability by now!"

’One wrong answer eliminated, six to go. We’ll just have to keep trying them one by one.’

"Sprinkle some realgar powder on this spot. You three, try attacking it for a while!"

"Keep an eye on what’s happening inside the Magic Array. Hold some of your strength in reserve so you can react. Don’t let any Exotic Beasts inside ambush you!"

While Hall Master Xu recovered his stamina, he had the three Elite Disciples continue the brute-force assault on the array.

At this rate, it wouldn’t be long before they discovered the Magic Array’s weak point. Once they did, they could concentrate their attacks and break it. This was the standard method for dealing with small arrays like this one: simple and brutal.

As the three Elite Disciples began their assault, the ground began to shake again. The tremors were much fainter, but they were also more sustained.

Yang Chan joined in the process as well, carefully controlling his power so it wouldn’t exceed the level of External Refining Steel.

The level of Cultivation he was currently displaying already placed him among the top tier of Elite Disciples. Any more, and he would be on par with a Direct Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect.

Among all the Cyan Yuan Sect Disciples who had entered this Secret Realm, his Martial Arts Cultivation was considered exceptional.

Hall Master Xu had invited him to help break the array not only because of his status as Chief Pharmacist, but also for his Martial Arts Cultivation at the External Refining Steel level, which was certainly impressive.

As for Yang Chan’s true Cultivation, no one knew of it aside from himself and the Black Dragon within the Profound Yin Hanging Bead.

"This is the node!"

Then, at a certain moment, the light of the Magic Array began to flicker erratically. A look of immense joy spread across Hall Master Xu’s face.

Suddenly, several black shadows shot out from the Magic Array. "I was waiting for you!" Hall Master Xu roared, brandishing his Big Iron Hammer and smashing them to a pulp.

At the same time, Yang Chan’s Long Sword flashed, severing another of the charging shadows.

A Two-headed Strange Snake fell to the ground, its fangs still bared menacingly. Seeing this, Yang Chan finished it off with another strike.

’So they really are snake-type Exotic Beasts.’

Meanwhile, the Strange Snakes under Hall Master Xu’s hammer had been pulverized into a meaty paste. Such was the effect of overwhelming strength.

The group’s luck hadn’t been the best—the array’s weak point was the fifth node they had tested. Still, now that they had found it, the rest would be much easier.

Everyone had been prepared for the Strange Snakes to rush out, so they dealt with the ambush without anyone getting injured. This was the advantage of having some knowledge of arrays; a general understanding of the situation allowed for better preparation, which naturally reduced the danger they faced.

"Next, we all attack this node together."

"Stay sharp. We killed those Strange Snakes, but we can’t be sure if there are more inside the Magic Array. Everyone keep some strength in reserve to handle any surprises!"

Hall Master Xu continued to command.

He remained unhurried, continuing to make logical arrangements. Retrieving the treasures from within the Magic Array was now just a matter of time. The priority was to minimize casualties for the Cyan Yuan Sect.

The Cyan Yuan Sect was currently short on disciples of all kinds, so they valued each one greatly and were unwilling to suffer unnecessary losses.

This was especially true for Elite Disciples and Direct Disciples, who took even longer to train.

Each one had distinguished themselves from the masses and required a great deal of time to be cultivated into an Elite Disciple. Nurturing a Direct Disciple was even more difficult.

Those who reached the level of Inner Master were rarer still, the result of a lifetime of accumulation.

The only reason they seemed more numerous was that Inner Masters had a much longer Lifespan than External Cultivation Disciples.

"Yes, Hall Master!" the External Cultivation Disciples replied in unison, their faces alight with excitement.

Now that they had found the right spot, breaking the Magic Array was only a matter of time. Barring any accidents, they would have it open before the day was out, and another nice haul would be theirs.

Cracking open these small Magic Arrays was like opening a blind box. You never knew what treasures were inside, but there was always a guaranteed prize. They were certain to find aged Spirit Medicines, and it was possible they might also find the remains of a predecessor, a Cultivation Technique inheritance, or something similar—it all came down to luck.

Before the Magic Array was opened, they could only guess at the treasures within; they would have to wait until it was broken to see for themselves.

As they all struck together, the vibrations in the ground intensified. The light curtain of the Seven-Section Snake Array began to fade, a sign that it was nearing its limit.

These arrays all had a damage threshold. Once it was surpassed, the array would shatter, and they would be able to enter and claim its treasures.

BANG!

Then, after one final, erratic flicker, the light of the Seven-Section Snake Array shattered completely.