Lu Haotian's room had quietly changed. At first glance, nothing seemed different. The same table, the same bed, and the same still air filled the space.
But a closer look revealed small adjustments. Pebbles were placed near the corners, a chipped cup sat slightly off-center, and a broken piece of wood rested near the wall. Each item had a purpose. They were anchors arranged with intent.
Lu Haotian sat cross-legged with three pebbles laid out before him. He picked one up, set it down carefully, and guided a thin strand of qi into it.
The pebble trembled as a faint fluctuation appeared, but it collapsed moments later.
"…Still not stable."
He no longer tried forming nodes in empty air. That approach had already proven unreliable. Without a proper base, qi could not hold its shape.
He picked up another pebble and placed it a short distance away. This time, he slowed his movements. Instead of forcing qi into it, he let the energy settle gradually, wrapping around the material before sinking in.
The pebble warmed slightly as a small, stable point formed within it.
Lu Haotian observed it without moving.
"…Better."
He reached for the second pebble and repeated the process. The second node formed, but it was weaker than the first.
"…Not balanced."
He allowed it to collapse and started over.
Later that day, he returned to the Array Hall. More disciples had gathered, and the room carried a quiet, focused atmosphere.
Lu Haotian took his usual position near the back.
After a short while, Shen Yuan entered. His movements were calm, his presence steady. Conversations faded as attention shifted toward him.
Without introduction, he spoke.
"Demonstrate."
Several disciples immediately began forming nodes. Some used stones, others used small metal fragments. A few still attempted to form them in the air, but their results collapsed quickly.
Shen Yuan walked among them, observing without interruption.
When he passed by Lu Haotian, his gaze paused briefly. Lu Haotian had already formed two nodes using pebbles, both stable and controlled. The flow of qi was slower than others, but noticeably more refined.
Shen Yuan said nothing and moved on.
After observing enough attempts, he returned to the front.
"This is sufficient."
He raised his hand and took out a small metal disk, placing it on the platform. With a controlled motion, he guided qi into it, forming a stable node. Then he added a second disk and connected the two smoothly.
The structure held without fluctuation.
He let it disperse and then brought out a rectangular metal plate etched with faint lines.
"This is an array plate."
He placed it down flat and channeled qi into it. The engraved lines lit up as multiple nodes formed simultaneously, fixed at specific points.
"The structure is already defined. You only supply qi."
He gestured toward one of the disciples.
"Attack."
The disciple stepped forward and released a basic qi strike toward the platform.
The moment the attack approached, the array plate activated. A thin barrier appeared instantly, intercepting the strike and dispersing it without instability.
Shen Yuan remained calm.
"This is the difference between constructing and using."
He lifted the plate slightly.
"Formations built in real time require control and time. Plates allow immediate activation."
He set it down again and let the light fade.
"In combat, speed matters. If you cannot form a structure before an attack reaches you, it has no value."
He demonstrated once more, this time activating the plate faster. The barrier appeared the moment qi entered the structure, showing how little delay there was.
"Preparation reduces burden. Activation determines outcome."
The disciples watched closely.
Lu Haotian's gaze remained steady as he studied the plate. The fixed nodes, the engraved paths, and the stability they provided were far beyond what he could achieve manually at his current level.
When the lecture ended, he returned to his courtyard without delay.
This time, his preparation was more deliberate.
He arranged several pebbles, a metal fragment, and a piece of wood on the ground with measured spacing. Each position was chosen carefully.
He began again.
Qi flowed into the first pebble. It resisted briefly before settling, forming a stable node.
The second followed with slightly less stability, but it held.
He connected them, and the line formed with a brief flicker before stabilizing.
Lu Haotian adjusted his output as he added a third anchor. The structure trembled at first, but instead of forcing it, he reduced the flow and corrected the imbalance.
The formation held for a short time before collapsing.
He looked at the materials on the ground, his understanding clearer than before.
Without hesitation, he reset the arrangement and started again, refining the placement of each anchor and the flow of qi with each attempt.