C7 Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array!

After a quarter-hour of kneeling passed in a flash, Daoist Qianhe commanded all the disciples to rise, and they did so orderly, eagerly anticipating the next part of the ceremony.

"We now come to the final element of the ceremony: the activation of the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array. Do not miss this golden opportunity!" Daoist Qianhe announced, his voice softening, yet the name of the array resonated powerfully, igniting excitement among all the disciples.

The Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array was a legendary protective array in the academy's annals, co-created by the Spirit Cloud Ancestor and Fairy Yuyun. It was the linchpin of the academy's tranquility. Moreover, the array was designed to collect the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, enhancing its flow upon activation, which in turn would bolster the disciples' own strength.

Spirit Feather Academy's enduring presence over the millennia was no mere boast, and Daoist Qianhe was inwardly delighted to see the students brimming with enthusiasm. Yet, in a quiet corner, Ye Tian found himself reflecting once more. The Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array was among the formations he had imparted to his disciples. Seeing it now enriching the lives of countless students at Spirit Feather Academy, he felt his past efforts had been worthwhile.

"Take heed, everyone. This monthly opportunity is not to be taken lightly," Daoist Qianhe cautioned the students and teachers. They all settled into a cross-legged position, ready to embrace the array's emanations. Ye Tian joined them, taking his seat.

With a series of intricate hand gestures, Daoist Qianhe initiated the array, and a comforting warmth enveloped the sacred grounds. The array's activation, indicated by the rising warmth, signaled the accelerated flow of spiritual energy. Students and teachers alike opened their hearts and minds, eagerly absorbing the copious spiritual essence.

However, Ye Tian, from his secluded vantage point, detected a subtle discrepancy and his brow furrowed. The symbols Daoist Qianhe had invoked were not fully unlocking the array's potential—achieving merely a fraction of its intended power.

The stewardship of the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array traditionally fell to the academy's headmasters. Daoist Qianhe's oversight was puzzling. "I'm curious to see why the current headmaster has faltered," Ye Tian mused, sensing an anomaly. He resolved to investigate the inner workings of the array.

To inspect the array, Ye Tian needed to project a thread of his soul force into its core and observe from within. Soul force, like cultivation, was categorized into four major realms: Mortal, Spirit, Heaven, and Emperor. Each realm was further divided into early, middle, late, and perfection stages, with the transformations at each level being truly awe-inspiring.

Only upon reaching the Spirit Stage could one externalize their soul force. Though reborn with only Mortal Stage soul force, Ye Tian was confident in his ability to release it with ease, thanks to his previous life's mastery at the Emperor level.

Seated inconspicuously in a corner, Ye Tian discreetly unleashed a strand of his soul force, directing it beneath the sacred land toward the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array.

Upon nearing the array, its thousand-meter expanse enveloped every nook of the Spirit Feather Academy, a testament to the meticulous effort invested in its creation. Ye Tian felt a surge of pride for his two disciples who had brought the array to such formidable strength, capable of withstanding most attacks. The academy was indeed as impregnable as a fortress.

To examine the array's interior, Ye Tian adeptly maneuvered his soul force deeper inside. The Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array was his own creation; had it been anyone else, the peripheral defenses would have incinerated their soul force before they could penetrate further, potentially harming their physical form as well. But for Ye Tian, entry was effortless and unimpeded.

What truly astounded him was the sight within. Millennia of accumulation had resulted in a vast reservoir of spiritual energy at the heart of the array. This energy had become tangible, even forming streams that meandered and occasionally crested into small waves.

As Ye Tian expanded his soul awareness, he finally discerned the subtle signs of deterioration in certain areas of the array. Despite this, the combined might of the Spirit Cloud Ancestor and Fairy Yuyun ensured the array's endurance for thousands more years.

Daoist Qianhe, the academy's principal, lacked the requisite soul power to mend the array, which was the crux of why its full potential remained untapped. Ye Tian himself was eager to witness such a majestic concentration of spiritual energy. Harnessing the array's reserves could significantly hasten the restoration of his peak strength.

Witnessing such a magnificent accumulation of spiritual energy, even Ye Tian, with his discerning eye, couldn't help but feel excited. If he could harness all the spiritual energy within the array for himself, he would significantly shorten the time needed to return to his peak strength!

"With the power of the Spirit Stage soul, I could easily mend this array with my techniques, and all of its spiritual energy would be mine to command!" Ye Tian's fervent prediction was that if he could repair the array, he might even seize control of it. In that case, even Daoist Qianhe would be reduced to a mere onlooker.

The thought of claiming the array's millennia of spiritual energy for himself was thrilling beyond measure!

As Ye Tian's soul power began to stir, a stealthy thread of consciousness arrived, exuding a formidable pressure as if to caution him.

This consciousness belonged to Daoist Qianhe, who, while manipulating the array, naturally infused his consciousness into the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array.

Caught up in his excitement, Ye Tian's soul power fluctuations alerted Daoist Qianhe. For the safety of the academy, he felt compelled to intervene and prevent any threat. Should any trouble arise, Daoist Qianhe was ready to join forces with the array and eliminate the intruder.

Realizing he'd been detected, Ye Tian chose not to entangle further. He dissipated his soul power and effortlessly transitioned from meditation back to a normal state, a maneuver that went unnoticed even by Zi Hanyue.

Once Daoist Qianhe sensed the disappearance of the unknown soul power, he ceased pursuit. The array remained unaffected, and with the intruder's identity still a mystery, he preferred not to complicate matters unnecessarily.

Yet, what truly astonished Daoist Qianhe was the presence of another soul force that could navigate the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array with ease—a feat not to be underestimated.

Within Spirit Feather Academy, he alone possessed such skill, and that was by virtue of his position as the principal. The unknown soul force, however, put Daoist Qianhe on high alert.

The Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array had been active for an hour, and now Daoist Qianhe shut it down. Students and teachers alike emerged from their meditative states, each having made varying degrees of progress. Ye Tian, who had not absorbed any spiritual energy from the array, appeared to have squandered this chance.

But from Ye Tian's perspective, it was far from a waste. He had uncovered the vast reserves of spiritual energy within the array—a treasure beyond measure.

From Ye Tian's perspective, this was far from a waste of time. He had discovered an immeasurable treasure within the vast spiritual power accumulated by the Burning Heaven Spirit Gathering Array.

After Daoist Qianhe concluded his final remarks, he dismissed the gathering. The teachers led their respective classes back to the classrooms.

Settling back into her seat, Murong Xue propped her chin in her hands and turned to Ye Tian with a questioning gaze.

"Ye Tian, the month is drawing to a close, and the end-of-term exams are right around the corner. How confident are you about your performance?" she inquired.

Murong Xue's long lashes fluttered gently, giving her the appearance of an enchanting sprite misplaced from the heavens. Such a sight could captivate countless hearts if witnessed by others.

Meanwhile, Ye Tian seemed lost in a distant trance, his gaze fixed ahead as if he were asleep with his eyes open, utterly oblivious to Murong Xue's alluring presence.

"You blockhead!" Murong Xue exclaimed, nudging Ye Tian sharply. This jolted him from his stupor, and he finally turned to face his charming classmate.