Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now! Chapter 1174 - 350: [Newly Established Cave Residence]

Deep within the back mountain, Chen Yan strode through the dense forest for approximately thirty minutes, eventually arriving at a serene lake. Having been in this mountain range before, particularly during the last Nether Marriage ceremony when Gu Qingyi was present, Chen Yan had already meticulously explored its entirety. This very lake was once the domain of the ancient turtle, Gui Geng, prior to its subjugation by Gu Qingyi. Though Gui Geng was a wild demon whose cultivation in the Domain Realm was unremarkable, possibly not even enough to defeat a lesser rogue cultivator, it was more than sufficient to command authority in this region. Consequently, the lake it chose as its habitat was situated in the area boasting the most potent primordial qi. Standing at the water's edge, Chen Yan unfurled his divine sense, which rapidly expanded to encompass and thoroughly scrutinize both the lakeside surroundings and the depths below. This wild lake spanned several square kilometers, its depth varying; the shallows measured a mere two to three meters, while the deepest points reached only about seven to eight meters. After a moment of contemplation beside the lake, Chen Yan extended a finger, channeling his mana. Uprooted from the surrounding wilderness, several trees began to levitate, swirling in mid-air above his head. From within his spatial jade pendant, he retrieved a jade carving knife. Gripping it, he made a few swift motions in the air. The ambient primordial qi responded, flowing and gradually solidifying into tangible runes. This exquisite jade carving knife, a gift from Golden Blade, was not intended for combat but served as a specialized tool for crafting magical artifacts. With a subtle beckoning gesture, Chen Yan brought a large tree floating before him. He pointed a finger, and a precisely carved rune was embedded into the tree's trunk. The process continued with a second tree, then a third, and so on. Once seven trees had been adorned with these runes, Chen Yan paused, consolidating the floating trees into a cohesive group before him. He drew a deep breath and intoned a spell, followed by expelling a stream of true fire from his mouth and nose. This subtle flame was no ordinary combustion; it was true fire, a manifestation of condensed mana, integral to artifact refining. Chen Yan's foundational knowledge stemmed from his brief tenure as an outer disciple in the artifact refining hall of the Celestial Demon Yin Yang Joyful Sect, where he learned rudimentary artifact creation techniques. The spell he employed, channeling one's own mana to 'refine with true fire,' represented one of the most basic methods in the craft. This true fire refinement process did not scorch the wood but instead purged internal impurities, enhancing the material's resilience and purity. Following this treatment, the trunks of the seven trees acquired a faint, jade-like luminescence. Chen Yan examined them with a critical eye and nodded in satisfaction, quite pleased with his inaugural personal attempt at setting up such formations. With a final manipulation of his mana, the cluster of seven refined trees was guided back into the forest lining the lakeshore, precisely positioned. This formation was known as the Star Circulation Array, structured in groups of seven, with each set of seven trees forming an integral part of the array. In total, forty-nine ordinary trees were uprooted by Chen Yan, each inscribed with runes and refined by true fire to serve as components for the array setup. These materials, sourced from common trees, would likely be dismissed with disdain by cultivators in the Domain Realm or even ridiculed by those familiar with advanced techniques. However, within this particular world, they were considered valuable for array construction. Chen Yan had deliberately selected the Star Circulation Array after careful deliberation. It wasn't an exceptionally advanced formation; in the Domain Realm, it was commonplace, often employed by numerous minor sects and families as a basic defensive measure. Some smaller sects even utilized it for their mountain-guarding arrays, albeit with superior materials. The Star Circulation Array's appeal lay in its accessibility and remarkable potential, functioning as a versatile array capable of providing warnings, disorienting enemies, concealing presence, and repelling intruders. With high-quality materials, it could even be transformed into a potent killing formation. Chen Yan, however, had no intention of overcomplicating matters. Utilizing only ordinary wild trees as his base materials meant the array's capabilities would be limited. Consequently, the modified version of the Star Circulation Array he established possessed two primary functions. The first was its warning system: any intrusion into the array's designated area would trigger an alert to the array's master. The second function was that of an enemy-confusing array, a moderately sophisticated illusionary technique. Upon entering the array's perimeter, intruders would experience an effect akin to navigating a phantom wall, subtly led astray and eventually guided out of the array's boundaries, rendering them unable to re-enter the protected zone. For the present, these two functions sufficed, as the limitations of the ordinary tree materials precluded the implementation of more complex capabilities.Even though Chen Yan had acquired numerous valuable treasures from the Black Wood Tribe, particularly the abundance of high-quality materials for crafting magical artifacts bestowed by the Golden Blade Master, good things are inherently finite and advanced materials suitable for the Domain Realm are nonexistent in this particular world. Given the exceedingly low level of cultivation prevalent in this realm, the probability of encountering formidable adversaries is negligible. Even if any cultivators were to appear, they would likely be mere "weakling cultivators." The Star Circulation Array, which Chen Yan meticulously established, primarily serves as a safeguard to prevent ordinary individuals from stumbling into this secluded mountain lake. Should anyone inadvertently intrude, the blinding technique incorporated into the array would serve to redirect them. Should a cultivator genuinely breach the perimeter, this array possesses the capability to handle the "weakling cultivators" of this world, or at the very least, provide a timely warning.