172: The second level, engraving array patterns, 3D printer?

After completing the first challenge, everyone arrived at the second level of the tower.

As usual, Meng Ze began to explain the rules for the second level to everyone.

The rules for the second challenge were also very simple.

On the second, third, and fourth levels of the tower,

There was a complex Formation on each, with difficulty increasing progressively.

The second level had a defensive Formation with 36 Formation patterns.

The third level had a trapping Formation with 72 Formation patterns.

The fourth level had a killing Formation with 108 Formation patterns.

To pass, one needed to successfully engrave all the Formation patterns on each level.

The final score would be determined by the completeness of the engraved Formation patterns and the time taken.

"Alright, this challenge is worth a total of 300 points.

Everyone has a Formation Plate in front of them; successful engraving will activate the Formation Plate.

The prerequisite for activating the Formation Plate is a 90% accuracy rate for the engraved Formation patterns. The higher the accuracy, the higher the score.

Of course, the score is also related to the time you take to complete it; the shorter the time, the higher the score.

If there are no questions, let's begin!"

Meng Ze patiently explained the relevant matters to everyone.

Just then, Wang Tao's voice rang out again:

"Instructor Meng, can I skip this challenge and go directly to the third challenge? I'm completely clueless when it comes to engraving Formation patterns."

Wang Tao looked at Meng Ze with a grin.

Meng Ze nodded:

"Go ahead. The staff upstairs will tell you the specific rules."

Meng Ze thought that Wang Tao was just joining in on a whim anyway.

There was no need to be too strict; a relaxed approach was fine.

Seeing Meng Ze agree, Wang Tao happily walked towards the upper levels of the tower.

At this moment, Little Blood's voice, as if relieved, came from Jiang Fan's mind:

"Finally, I feel a bit more comfortable. I don't know why, but I've been very irritable just now."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fan casually offered a few words of comfort and didn't think much of it.

After being disheartened in the first challenge, Qiao Han had gradually adjusted his state.

Only the first challenge had passed, and his score was only 5 points behind. It would be very easy to catch up those 5 points.

Thus, his confidence returned.

Qiao Han looked at Jiang Fan's profile, gathered his courage, and said:

"You won't have such good luck in this challenge. I will surpass you!"

Although he was still speaking harshly, he was clearly much more subdued compared to when he first started.

Jiang Fan raised an eyebrow, smiled faintly, and said nothing.

Qiao Han felt ignored and no longer engaged in verbal sparring.

He secretly encouraged himself, determined to redeem himself and turn the tables in this challenge.

Che Xiaomeng, who was on Jiang Fan's other side, saw this and blinked her big eyes:

"You'd best not treat Fan Gege as a competitor, or you'll get anxious and depressed."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Han felt a knot in his heart. He didn't argue, silently adjusting his state.

The audience outside the tower grew excited, seeing that the competition was about to begin.

"Damn! Look, Wang Tao is at it again! He actually skipped this challenge and went straight to the third one!"

"Hah! He's just joining in for fun, you guys are taking it too seriously."

"By the way, what do you think Jiang Fan's score will be in this challenge?"

"Uh... I'm just guessing, okay? I think Jiang Shen can get around 250 points this time."

"You're doing it on purpose, aren't you? Why that number, 250? Are you dissatisfied with Jiang Shen?"

"The record for this challenge was set by Guanhai Titan 150 years ago, 290 points! Besides the last challenge being too difficult, where he failed to engrave four Formation patterns, Guanhai Titan only took 2 hours and 54 minutes to complete the challenge!"

"Damn! Even the record holder had to spend three hours? He must be exhausted after this round."

"The fastest record seems to be 2 hours and 08 minutes, but the accuracy rate of the Formation patterns engraved by that person was only 91%, so the score wasn't high."

"When you put it that way, I guess 250 isn't entirely unacceptable."

...

Mo Fei listened to the discussions around him and nudged Luo Yun, who was sitting upright beside him:

"Old Luo, how many points do you think Jiang Fan can get in this challenge?"

The two had run some errands in the morning and had only just arrived to watch Jiang Fan's competition.

Luo Yun pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses:

"Below 300."

Upon hearing this, Mo Fei's face twitched:

"You're just stating the obvious, aren't you? The full score is 300; if he doesn't get below 300, can he get above 300?"

"If he performs well, with some bonus points or extra credit, it's still possible to Break through 300."

Luo Yun spoke nonsense with a straight face.

Mo Fei: "Get lost!"

Xie Chen watched Wang Tao walk up the tower, his heart pounding.

He knew Wang Tao was preparing to make his move. If he successfully killed Jiang Fan,

Then the power he gained by selling his Lifespan would be useless.

Thinking of this, Xie Chen clenched his fists so hard that water could be squeezed out.

Inside the tower.

As the timer was pressed,

Everyone's challenge began again.

Five people sat around the central tower pillar, each with a basin-sized Formation Plate in front of them.

The Formation Plate was covered with intricate patterns, emanating mysterious Divine Power.

Everyone closed their eyes,

Feeling the profundity and mystery, the Dao and the Law within the Formation patterns.

Each Formation pattern varied in width and depth.

Engraving the Formation patterns required first understanding the profound mysteries within each one.

Only by fully comprehending them,

Could one complete the engraving of the Formation patterns in one go.

During this time,

One also had to control the size and form of their Mental Energy,

It had to be perfectly consistent with the Formation patterns to resonate with them.

Thereby successfully activating the power of the Formation.

At this moment,

The scene everyone saw in their Sea of Consciousness was different.

Some saw a vast ocean, some an endless desert, and others towering snow-capped mountains.

At this time,

In Jiang Fan's Sea of Consciousness,

The scene constantly transformed, shattered,

Then transformed again, and shattered again.

???

What's going on?

Jiang Fan was a bit speechless,

How am I supposed to play this, no, how am I supposed to compete?

After a short while,

The Formation patterns became what they should be.

The Formation patterns in Jiang Fan's Sea of Consciousness seemed to have been directly imprinted.

In his Sea of Consciousness, a three-dimensional transparent Formation pattern floated above a great river.

Then, a mysterious gentle breeze arose in his Sea of Consciousness.

On the now robustly growing little sapling, leaves continuously emitted wisps of mist,

The mist drifted towards the Formation patterns,

Forming small Mental Energy anchor points within the Formation patterns.

Like a three-dimensional deconstruction, the framework of the Formation patterns was constructed.

Jiang Fan knew that these mists were atomized Mental Energy.

10 points,

50 points,

100 points,

500 points,

...

Approximately close to 1000 anchor points were formed.

Then the anchor points stopped increasing, and a large amount of mist rushed into the space formed by the anchor points, instantly filling the entire Formation pattern.

It was as simple as building the framework of a house first, then filling it with bricks.

Jiang Fan pondered deeply.

Finally, he focused his gaze on this Good Fortune Tree sapling.

It seems everything was its doing.

Jiang Fan recalled what the Tree of Creation had said earlier: each seed has its own personality and mission, just let nature take its course.

Could it be that this Good Fortune Tree sapling had some unique ability in the Mental Energy Domain?

It must be so.

If that were truly the case, wouldn't Formation-type martial arts be a piece of cake for him in the future?

While others painstakingly studied the profound mysteries of Formation patterns, he would only need to batch construct anchor points in his mind.

Then, with a 'bang,' it would be done, as if 3D printed.