The concealment array remained active through the night. By the time dawn approached, three cracked spirit stones lay beside Lu Haotian.
He opened his eyes slowly and looked directly at the formation. It was still there, faint and stable, quietly consuming qi as it continued to function.
He reached out and gently disrupted the core, causing the entire array to collapse instantly as the remaining qi dispersed into the air. Silence returned to the room.
Lu Haotian glanced at the cracked stones briefly before shifting his thoughts. A Tier 1 formation could already be maintained this way, and while the consumption was noticeable, it was something he could handle for now. More importantly, he recognized its potential for future use beyond personal concealment.
He stood up and walked outside. The courtyard was quiet as usual, but his focus had already changed. Instead of thinking about larger formations, his attention moved toward practical applications.
Arrays were not limited to combat or concealment. They could be used for everyday purposes, especially if they were simplified and refined properly.
Lu Haotian sat down again, this time without taking out a jade slip. He decided not to follow any fixed pattern and instead began experimenting on his own.
He raised his hand and formed a node, then another, and then a third. He worked slowly, without forcing a complete formation, keeping everything small and controlled.
Instead of expanding outward, he focused on shaping something compact. A simple structure began to form, one that could later be inscribed onto an array plate once he acquired proper materials.
He placed a low-grade spirit stone at the center and adjusted the flow of qi. The energy did not disperse immediately and instead lingered within the structure.
Lu Haotian observed it carefully and understood its function. While it was not a true storage array, it reduced qi loss from the spirit stone and kept the energy contained longer than usual.
He dismantled it and rebuilt it again, refining the connections and tightening the flow. The result improved slightly.
He nodded faintly and continued.
Next, he experimented with a simpler structure. Using fewer nodes, he created a minimal formation designed to surround a small object.
He placed a cup at the center and adjusted the qi flow around it. The energy wrapped around the object in a thin and stable layer.
After several minutes, he noticed that the water inside remained unchanged.
It was a basic preservation effect. Weak, but functional.
Lu Haotian leaned back slightly as his thoughts became clearer. Instead of pursuing complex or large-scale formations, he focused on smaller ones that were easier to maintain and more efficient.
Over the next few days, his routine gradually shifted.
In the morning, he cultivated and stabilized his 9th layer. In the afternoon, he went to the Array Hall to learn theory and observe. At night, he returned to practice alone in his courtyard.
Failures continued to occur frequently. Structures collapsed, nodes destabilized, and qi control slipped at times. However, his progress was steady.
He could now form basic nodes without needing full concentration and maintain three to five nodes more consistently. While not perfect, his control had clearly improved.
More importantly, he began to understand restraint. Not every formation required strength; many only required balance and proper structure.
By the fifth day, he succeeded in creating a stable small formation. It consisted of six nodes arranged in a circular structure with light connections.
He placed it at the corner of his room and observed its effect.
It did not conceal his presence or provide strong defense, but it formed a thin barrier that slightly reduced the spread of sound.
Sound Barrier Array.
Lu Haotian clapped once and noticed the difference. The sound was slightly contained.
He nodded in acknowledgment.
Looking around his room, he saw several small experimental formations placed in different areas. Some were designed for preservation, others for minor containment or subtle environmental control.
None of them were powerful, but each had a clear function. More importantly, all of them could eventually be inscribed onto array plates once he obtained the proper materials.
Lu Haotian exhaled lightly as he sat down again.
For the first time, he felt a different kind of progress. It was no longer just about increasing strength, but about understanding and shaping his surroundings.
He looked at his hand and slowly closed it.
If he continued like this, he would gain something far more flexible than raw power.
Outside, the night remained quiet. Inside, faint traces of qi lingered from his small formations as Lu Haotian continued to refine his understanding step by step.