Chapter 1537: The True Grand Protective Array
As the array in Half-Moon Island's central plaza erupted with a white beam of light, arrays also appeared one after another on Great Night's other islands. Some arrays formed in conspicuous plazas, while others materialized in desolate, uninhabited areas. Though their locations differed, they all shared one commonality: each unleashed a white beam of light.
The white light beams erupting from Great Night's other islands were a size smaller than the one from Half-Moon Island. Within these light beams, countless tiny, densely packed runes flowed, imbued with a sense of mystery. Each rune emanated a considerable power fluctuation, and when combined, the immense quantity of runes released an astonishing surge of power.
These heaven-reaching light beams, with Half-Moon Island's as the primary and the other islands' as secondary, established a connection across the void, echoing each other to form another colossal array. This array not only enveloped Half-Moon Island but also extended its embrace to Great Night's other populated islands.
This array was precisely the Grand Protective Array, meticulously improved by Ma Ling over many years and with immense effort, in accordance with Yang Haoran's requirements.
Strictly speaking, Great Night's original Grand Protective Array barely qualified as one, because it could only cover Half-Moon Island. If Half-Moon Island had been Great Night's sole territory, then calling that array a Grand Protective Array would have been perfectly fine.
However, as Great Night's territory expanded and the number of populated islands under its dominion grew, with this array only able to protect Half-Moon Island, calling it a Grand Protective Array became somewhat strained.
Nevertheless, after Ma Ling spent years and vast resources refining it, this array could truly be called a Grand Protective Array. For once activated, all populated islands of Great Night would be enveloped within the grand array, receiving its protection, making it indeed a Grand Protective Array worthy of its name.
This Grand Protective Array was a combined formation made up of multiple major arrays. Though its construction demanded a tremendous amount of time and resources, its might far surpassed that of the original Grand Protective Array. Furthermore, these arrays could be combined or separated; united, they formed the Grand Protective Array, but individually, they could still be activated. While their power could not compare to the complete Grand Protective Array, they could certainly match the power of the original Grand Protective Array that only enveloped Half-Moon Island.
While Ma Ling spent years refining Great Night's Grand Protective Array, this amount of time was negligible for such a vast undertaking. From a professional perspective, Ma Ling's time spent on improving the Grand Protective Array was, in fact, remarkably short.
This timeframe not only exceeded Yang Haoran's expectations but also Ma Ling's own. According to their initial estimations, it should have taken even longer, and success wasn't guaranteed.
The reason Ma Ling was able to successfully refine Great Night's Grand Protective Array in such a short period, aside from her own abilities and diligence, was the immense contribution of the God Xuan Society she led. Without the tireless, round-the-clock efforts of the other array masters and numerous array master apprentices, even if the Grand Protective Array's improvement had succeeded, the time required would have doubled.
Furthermore, for the Grand Protective Array to operate successfully and unleash its full power, Ma Ling alone could not achieve it. It also required the participation of other array masters from the God Xuan Society. After all, this Grand Protective Array was a composite array, not a singular formation; no matter how capable one person might be, they couldn't control it all by themselves.
Just now, upon receiving Old Master Wu's Communication Talisman, Ma Ling immediately ordered her trusted subordinates to activate the Grand Protective Array. She, too, had witnessed the drastic changes above the Night God Palace, though unlike other high-ranking officials of Great Night, she hadn't appeared directly above the Night God Palace to observe. Instead, she was in an inconspicuous corner below, and even from that humble spot, she had clearly seen the Apotheosis Platform's manifestation.
Before joining Yang Haoran, Ma Ling didn't know much about the Apotheosis Platform, as she hadn't participated in the Apotheosis War during the Tongyin Chaos. However, ever since she followed Yang Haoran, many aspects of his actions had piqued her strong curiosity. After some investigation, she learned that these matters were related to achieving godhood, thus expanding her understanding of divinity. The Apotheosis Platform happened to fall within her newfound knowledge.
Precisely because she understood the Apotheosis Platform, she also recognized the gravity of its appearance above the Night God Palace. Furthermore, she had just seen Yang Haoran with Old Master Wu, knowing it was Yang Haoran's command. Therefore, she chose to immediately execute Old Master Wu's order, without even asking further questions.
The God Xuan Society, led by Ma Ling, possessed strong executive capabilities. As Ma Ling's order was issued, the array masters of the God Xuan Society responsible for the Grand Protective Array immediately moved to activate the formations. Because it was unknown when Great Night might come under attack, array masters were constantly stationed at every post responsible for activating the Grand Protective Array. It was precisely for this reason that the Grand Protective Array could be activated in such a short time.
With the activation of the Grand Protective Array, not only did Half-Moon Island vanish at a visible speed, but Great Night's other populated islands likewise quickly disappeared. In just a few breaths' time, the entire Great Night vanished without a trace.
Meanwhile, a mass of black mist tore through the void with extreme speed, arriving below the first tier of the Apotheosis Platform. The black mist dispersed, revealing Yang Haoran's figure.
Upon reaching the Apotheosis Platform, Yang Haoran didn't immediately step onto it. Instead, he looked towards the location of Half-Moon Island, far below. In his eyes, Half-Moon Island had now become a tiny black speck in the vast ocean, and this speck subsequently vanished under his gaze.
Not only Half-Moon Island, but the islands near Half-Moon Island also turned into tiny black specks, even smaller than Half-Moon Island, and similarly vanished under his gaze.
Witnessing this, Yang Haoran breathed a slight sigh of relief. He knew that the disappearance of Great Night's various islands meant that the Grand Protective Array of Great Night had been activated. Although Great Night wasn't absolutely safe at this moment, and its islands still risked being affected by the great battle even if their positions shifted, it was certainly much better than before. With the Grand Protective Array protecting Great Night, he could now fully devote himself to the Apotheosis Platform.
Just as Yang Haoran was about to withdraw his gaze from below, a mass of black mist entered his sight, tearing through the air towards his location with incredible speed, a velocity that even surpassed his own earlier movement.
Yang Haoran didn't panic, for he was intimately familiar with this black mist. In the blink of an eye, the black mist appeared before him. It dispersed, revealing the diminutive figure of Zhong Siyu, her face contorted in a sinister grin.
"For a matter of such magnitude, without this young lady, you certainly wouldn't succeed."
After Zhong Siyu appeared, she cackled menacingly at Yang Haoran, her tone devoid of fear, containing only an irrepressible excitement.
The solemnity on Yang Haoran's face vanished, replaced by a faint smile. Not only did he not deny Zhong Siyu's assertion, but he nodded in agreement.
"Heh heh, you're right. A matter of such importance truly can't do without you. Without you, I wouldn't possibly succeed. From now on, I'll have to rely on you, Young Lady. I've put in so much effort, all for this very day. As long as we succeed, I can agree to any request you make, provided it's a request I can fulfill!"
Yang Haoran smiled faintly, making his promise to Zhong Siyu.
"What if you fail?"
Unlike before, Zhong Siyu didn't immediately agree with a full mouth when Yang Haoran offered benefits or made promises. This time, she didn't agree readily, but instead posed a question to Yang Haoran.
"If I fail, then you must flee for your life and not worry about me. Once I die, the contract between us will be dissolved, and you'll regain your freedom. Whether you find a new companion or live independently and free, it will all be up to you."
Yang Haoran smiled faintly, his tone remarkably calm as he spoke, as if discussing an insignificant trifle.
"Heh heh, you don't need to remind me. If you truly fail, I'll certainly use every means possible to preserve my own life. I have no desire to lose my life here alongside you."
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