Chapter 370: The Ranking Battle Intensifies

"Let me preside over the construction of the core area?"

Inside the Jiaxu Outpost, Li Fan was slightly taken aback as he looked at Xue Mu and the others who had come for a sudden visit.

After a moment of thought, he decisively refused.

"I am not being modest; during the assessment at Langhuan Courtyard, my affinity with the Tianxuan Mirror was merely mediocre."

"Fellow Daoist Xue Mu can testify to this for me."

"I appreciate everyone's good intentions, but my abilities are truly limited, and I cannot shoulder such an important task."

"Senior Jiang's level in the Dao of Formations is far above mine, and he is truly virtuous and respected. I see no one more suitable than him."

Li Fan said sincerely.

The Nascent Soul Formation Master named Daoist Friend Jiang, seeing the somewhat unfriendly gazes of the surrounding Cultivators, hurriedly responded: "Fellow Daoist Li Fan is joking. Everyone has witnessed your contributions; how could I dare to…"

Before he could finish, Li Fan interrupted him with a smile: "Fellow Daoist Jiang, do not misunderstand. Every word I say is sincere."

"As everyone knows, the final construction procedure of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array requires communication with the central array hub, in order to facilitate continuous adjustments in the future."

"This is truly not a field I excel in; I am not intentionally making excuses."

Looking at the somewhat hesitant Daoist Friend Jiang, Li Fan added: "I know your concerns, Senior Jiang. The construction of the outer and inner Formations requires much effort, yet the contribution gained is relatively small."

"Whereas the central core area actually does not require much effort, yet the contribution one can obtain is relatively much higher."

"Taking over the presiding work at this time carries the suspicion of forcibly reaping the fruits of others' labor. You are afraid of being accused by others in the future, are you not?"

Seeing that Li Fan had spoken his inner thoughts without any concealment, Daoist Friend Jiang's old face flushed slightly.

Just as he was about to explain, he heard Li Fan say: "I should let you all know that I am now a person with one foot in the grave."

"As for the so-called ranking on the Golden List of the Grand Competition…"

Li Fan paused, dissolving the slight resentment that welled up in his heart.

He said with a calm expression: "I truly do not care about it at all."

"The only thing I hope for is to make as much contribution as possible before I die."

"What I am considering is simply the most efficient way to build the Formation."

"So, Fellow Daoist Jiang, there is no need to decline."

"For such an important task, if not you, then who?"

After speaking, Li Fan scanned his surroundings to show his sincerity.

After hearing Li Fan's heartfelt words, Daoist Friend Jiang's face turned bright red.

He took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Li Fan.

"Since that is the case, I will not decline!"

"I will certainly not fail your high expectations, Fellow Daoist."

Daoist Friend Jiang said in a deep voice.

Li Fan grasped his hands, very earnestly: "From now on, I will have to trouble you, Fellow Daoist."

Three days later, Huangfu Song, accompanied by two black-robed Cultivators, arrived at the Jiaxu Outpost.

This trip was specifically because they had received the message from Li Fan and the others, and they had come to deliver the Tianxuan Mirror, which was the central array hub.

"Greetings, Senior Huangfu!" Li Fan bowed.

"You brat…" The fat man, Huangfu Song, looked at Li Fan with a complex expression in his eyes.

"Well done!" Patting Li Fan on the shoulder, Huangfu Song did not say anything more.

He took out a broken jade talisman, turned around, and completed the splicing with the jade talismans in the hands of the two black-robed Cultivators.

In the unfolded light screen, countless characters flashed by like a waterfall.

A barely perceptible ripple was emitted from the light screen, sweeping across the surroundings.

It seemed to be performing identity verification.

A moment later, the ripple retracted, and a bronze mirror with an ancient style and a small, exquisite appearance manifested from the light screen.

The characters flowed into the mirror surface, and the light screen disappeared without a trace.

Only the bronze mirror remained, floating in mid-air, emitting a faint, mysterious light.

Huangfu Song's expression was solemn as he cast spells one after another.

He pointed towards the center of the Devouring Yuan White Mist outside the Outpost.

The sea of mist emitted ripples, as if something in the depths of the White Mist was echoing him.

Li Fan narrowed his eyes slightly; that should be the location of the core area of the Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array in the design.

Sure enough, a moment later, a cyan mysterious light pierced through the White Mist.

It came straight towards the Jiaxu Outpost below.

It hit the bronze mirror suspended in the air.

The specks of cyan light were all absorbed by the bronze mirror.

The cyan light coiling around it also slowly retracted and disappeared.

Finally, when not a single trace of mysterious aura was revealed around the bronze mirror, and it looked just like the most ordinary object.

Huangfu Song finally breathed a sigh of relief, took out a vermilion, square wooden box from his bosom, and placed the bronze mirror inside.

And when the bronze mirror entered the wooden box, the wooden box, which had originally existed as a physical entity, under everyone's gaze, first transformed into a red phantom image.

Then it gathered towards the center, turned into a red point of light, flew to Huangfu Song's forehead, and settled there.

Without explaining why he had just done that, Huangfu Song said to everyone in a deep voice: "Before the central array hub is completely installed, it will be under my custody."

"Daoist Friend Jiang, how long will this process take for you all?"

Daoist Friend Jiang did not hesitate at all and replied: "Within seven days, if everyone works together, it can be completed."

Huangfu Song nodded slowly: "There is no time to lose. After the Formation here is completed, I must rush to other places."

After speaking, he looked at Li Fan, his expression softening a little: "Thanks to you working so hard, brat Li Fan, the construction progress of your Formation here is already among the fastest."

"As far as I know, the current first-ranked Tianchen Prefecture has not yet completed the entire Formation and should also be in the process of building the central core area."

"If you all put in more effort, you might even be able to surpass them…"

Just as Huangfu Song was encouraging everyone, a cry of surprise suddenly came from outside the meeting hall, from the direction where the tianxuan mirror was located.

"What is going on? Why did the first place's points suddenly skyrocket so much?"

"Now the gap with the second place has completely widened!"

The words fell into the ears of the Cultivators present, and suddenly, their gazes towards Huangfu Song became somewhat strange.

"Heh… Still one step too slow. However, you still have hope of competing for second place." Huangfu Song had thick skin and spoke as if no one else was there.

"Alright, there is no time to lose, hurry up and set off." He ordered.

Just as everyone was preparing to head to the central area of the Formation to complete the final work.

Another cry of surprise rang out, attracting the attention of Li Fan and the others.

"Huh? Look, that Guo Yezhong, who has always been ranked last, has moved!"

"Indeed, although his points are pitifully low and he is still ranked at the very bottom, he has at least finally started working."

…

Li Fan, Xue Mu, and Daoist Friend Jiang exchanged glances.

They all felt something was suspicious.

This Guo Yezhong obtaining points seems to have happened at the same time as the completion of the first Tianxuan Locking Spirit Array?

Is there any connection in this?

Li Fan turned his gaze towards Huangfu Song, seeking an answer.

The fat man shrugged, looking like he was absolutely clueless.