Finally, all the points and streams of light stabilized, coalescing into the complex and harmonious illusion of a light and shadow Array, suspended in mid-air and exuding a tranquil, gentle aura.
At the center of the Array, a structure resembling a round mirror vaguely took shape. Ripples flowed across its surface, which seemed capable of reflecting a person’s very heart.
Elder Huo carefully examined the virtual Array, his eyes flashing with a keen light. "It’s a success!"
"Although it’s just a preliminary model, its structure is rigorous, and it conforms to the principles of energy conservation and spiritual induction."
"Gu Ming, the nodes you provided were crucial."
"This Array not only has pre-set core interfaces for the Light and Dark Attributes to accommodate Ah Ji’s traits, but it also leaves room for expansion to other Attributes. The creator clearly had great foresight."
"To simplify it for other Attribute Pet Beasts, one would only need to disable some non-core modules. The design is quite clever."
Now that the prototype of the Array was complete, the next step was to wake Ah Ji and have it learn and master it.
However, Ah Ji had taken a Dreamless Pill, and its consciousness had sunk to an extremely deep level.
Ordinary calls, even spiritual stimulation, struggled to penetrate the barrier of Medicinal Power.
Elder Huo’s brow furrowed slightly, but then his expression smoothed.
"No matter!"
"Since gentle methods are ineffective, I’ll use an extraordinary one to wake it."
"I just need to control the intensity and simulate a crisis."
Elder Huo’s intention was to startle it awake, not to actually strike the Pet Beast.
With a thought, the Star representing "Thunder" on the Star Compass Beast Back Armor lit up.
In an instant, a small but extremely realistic Thunder Shock Array formed around the sleeping Ah Ji’s body!
Streaks of blinding electric light danced like silver snakes as deafening thunderclaps boomed one after another.
Powerful Energy Fluctuations and a sense of lethal threat grazed Ah Ji’s fur, yet they were precisely controlled to remain a hair’s breadth away, never truly touching it.
With the first thunderclap, Ah Ji’s body twitched unconsciously.
With the second, its ears shot straight up.
When the third earth-shattering thunderclap erupted, the simulated feeling of a mortal crisis—one that struck right at the soul—finally broke through the blockade of the Dreamless Pill’s Medicinal Power!
"MREEEOW—!"
Ah Ji let out a piercing shriek, its entire body launching off the ground like a spring.
Its fur stood on end, pupils contracting to thin slits as it stared around in sheer terror. Its heart pounded—THUMP THUMP THUMP—as if it had just broken free from a nightmare.
It only began to realize it was safe upon seeing the familiar laboratory and Gu Ming, but the trembling in its body wouldn’t subside so easily.
Elder Huo was secretly surprised.
’Ah Ji’s tolerance for mortal danger seems much higher than an ordinary Pet Beast’s.’
’An ordinary Pet Beast would have been startled awake after just one shock.’
Little did he know, it was the very lack of true killing intent that kept Ah Ji from being startled, only waking it on the third attempt.
Gu Ming immediately went forward, gently stroking the raised fur on Ah Ji’s back, and sent a soothing stream of Spiritual Power to it.
At the same time, he explained through their Soul Contract:
"Ah Ji, don’t be afraid. That was just Teacher Huo using an Array to simulate danger to help you wake up. We need you to learn something new."
He patiently explained the cause and effect to Ah Ji, especially the importance of combining the Enlightenment Mental Array and the Dreamless Pill to cultivate a new Skill.
Although Ah Ji was still shaken, it trusted Gu Ming completely.
Especially after hearing that it could get stronger and learn a new Skill, its still-frightened cat eyes gradually began to shine with curiosity and anticipation.
"Now, I will impart the construction method for this Array to you." Gu Ming motioned for Ah Ji to calm its mind and focus.
He once again used his Divine Sense to imprint the complete blueprint of the Enlightenment Mental Array—perfected by the Star Compass Beast—into Ah Ji’s Sea of Consciousness. This included the form and position of every node, the flow direction of the array lines, and the essential Heart Method for activation and deactivation, all with perfect clarity.
At the same time, Elder Huo began to speak from the side. His voice seemed to possess a strange rhythm, like the tolling of a temple bell at dusk and dawn, piercing straight to the soul:
"The Array is an extension of the mind."
"Fear not its complexity; see it as a part of your own consciousness."
"Where your will goes, the Array Foundation solidifies;"
"When the Heart Mirror is clear, the Array’s effects will manifest on their own..."
This was the Sound of the Great Dao from an Array Master.
Although it wasn’t a direct infusion of knowledge, it could greatly aid comprehension and lower the barrier to learning.
Ah Ji itself possessed a Memorization Array in its brain and already had a Skill Level with array structures.
With Gu Ming’s clear instruction and the aid of Elder Huo’s Dao Sound, it immersed itself in its own mental space, beginning to condense its Spiritual Power to sketch the Array’s outline.
At first, it was a bit clumsy. The lines were distorted, and the nodes flickered in and out of existence.
But it was extremely focused, starting over immediately after each failure.
Gradually, a miniature, illusory Array exuding a faint glow began to stabilize within its Sea of Consciousness.
Although it was far from being as solid and brilliant as the one demonstrated by the Star Compass Beast, it already possessed a complete form and basic operational capabilities.
The entire process took about an hour.
Seeing that the Array in Ah Ji’s Sea of Consciousness had preliminarily stabilized, Gu Ming knew the time was right.
He took out the Dreamless Pill again. This time, the portion he cut off was a tiny bit smaller than the first, striving to ensure its effectiveness while minimizing the risk and burden on Ah Ji.
"Ah Ji, take it."
"Then, use all your effort to sense the Array in your Sea of Consciousness. Try to maintain a sliver of clarity while you are asleep, and guide it to operate."
Gu Ming held the elixir fragment to Ah Ji’s mouth.
Ah Ji swallowed it without hesitation.
The familiar, heavy sleepiness once again washed over it like a tide, quickly overwhelming its consciousness.
Its body went limp again, its breathing becoming long and steady as it entered a dreamless, deep sleep.
The laboratory fell quiet. Everyone’s gaze was focused on Ah Ji.
At first, there was nothing unusual; it seemed to be in a normal, deep sleep.
But a few minutes later, a change began to occur.
First, the Spiritual Fluctuations emanating from its body were no longer the naturally dissipating ripples from before.
Instead, they began to show signs of being constrained and guided. The fluctuations became more regular, faintly resonating with the Enlightenment Mental Array it had just constructed in its Sea of Consciousness.
Next, under everyone’s astonished gazes, Ah Ji’s closed eyelids began to twitch slightly and rapidly. Its whiskers quivered from time to time, and its paws even made slight, unconscious grasping motions.
"It’s working!"
Teacher Dan Temple said in a low voice, "Its consciousness is trying to break through the Medicinal Power’s suppression! That Array is acting as an anchor!"
Gu Ming, through the Soul Contract, could even more clearly feel the struggle and effort deep within Ah Ji’s consciousness.
It was an arduous process of searching for a glimmer of light in an endless darkness.
He immediately focused, sending a clearer and more intense mental message across—like a searchlight piercing the deep sea:
"Ah Ji! Hold on!"
"Sense your Array!"
"Guide yourself! Wake up!"
This time, the response was no longer a vague twitch of its tail.
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