Supreme Star Card Master

"Oh?" At the entrance of the Star Storage Hall, Jiang Lang saw Su Yuan and after a slight pause, he greeted, "Su... Su Yuan, is that you, Special Envoy Su?"

Per Su Yuan's "excellent" evaluation as the new envoy, even though the last event had been over four months ago, Jiang Lang still had a strong impression of him.

Su Yuan responded, "Special Envoy Jiang."

Jiang Lang smacked his lips, "Last time, I was truly blind. I didn't expect Special Envoy Su to be rated 'excellent.'"

Su Yuan smiled, "It was just luck."

Jiang Lang laughed loudly, but he knew very well that luck had nothing to do with earning an excellent rating on a task.

"Special Envoy Su is here at the Star Storage Hall again today. You must have earned quite a bit of battle merit these past few months. Really diligent, unlike me... sigh!"

Jiang Lang genuinely sighed. He had been part of the Sky Patrol Department for many years and was still a second-level special envoy.

But it was tough to become a first-level special envoy. Just the battle merit required was over ten thousand, not to mention completing the advancement task. There were less than a hundred among the Four Imperial of the entire department.

As for breaking through to Radiant Moon level? That was even more remote...

Su Yuan's expression turned a bit strange at his words.

He hadn't taken on any tasks besides the one with Yang Aoshan after joining the department, so he couldn't be called diligent at all. Quite the opposite...

Su Yuan changed the topic, "I'll go inside the hall and take a look first, we'll talk later."

"Alright~"

Su Yuan walked up to the second floor, heading straight to the array barriers section and started inspecting them one by one.

"Mother and Child Soul Hooking Formation, capable of forming a Ghost Evil that erodes the spirit, causing continuous torment to those trapped within. It can also condense into a mother and child fierce ghost to attack the opponent. 800 battle merits."

"Summoning Thunder Array, capable of gathering star power in the sky, condensing into a powerful heavenly thunder to strike the enemy. 820 battle merits."

"Earthquake Array, capable of autonomously changing the structure within the array, excelling at defense and pulling. 640 battle merits."

"Forest Sea Descent Array..."

"Dragon and Tiger Subduing Array..."

"..."

There were numerous fourth-level array barriers inside the Star Storage Hall, covering various types and elements.

Most were valued between 500 and 1000 battle merits, with few arrays valued between 1000 and 2000 battle merits. On average, array maps were actually cheaper than star cards.

The reason for this was that array maps were not consumables like star cards, combined with the limited number of barrier masters, leading to low demand for mid- to low-tier array maps.

However, high-level array maps could be much more valuable than star cards and star devices!

"So, what array should I choose..."

Fourth-level arrays could already pose a significant threat to the Shining Star level.

However, while they were fine against common people, directly assaulting type barriers might be ineffective against opponents like the Twelve Palace Star Envoys.

Although he lacked attack methods, it was best to use some functional barriers at the fourth level as transition ones.

After examining them one by one, Su Yuan finally settled on the Spirit-Expelling Barrier.

Spirit-Expelling Barrier, 1500 battle merits, could suppress the star power of enemies within the barrier by dispersing star power, achieving a weakening effect.

When fully activated, it could explode the barrier into "Land without Spirit," completely dispersing all energy within the barrier and maintaining it for a while.

According to the entries on the star page, even an attack from the Radiant Moon level could be dispersed by "Land without Spirit."

The barrier setup required "Large Specialization" from second to fourth level depending on the barrier range, without other specialization requirements.

"This is it!"

Su Yuan's eyes lit up and he immediately chose the Spirit-Expelling Barrier.

A full 1500 battle merits, placing it in the upper-middle range among all the fourth-level barriers on the second floor.

And after acquiring the Spirit-Expelling Barrier array map, he still had 1000 battle merits left, enough to choose another good fourth-level barrier.

But since it was for transition, Su Yuan didn't choose any more barriers. Quality over quantity. First, he needed to make good use of this Spirit-Expelling Barrier.

"Have you chosen?" Seeing Su Yuan coming down from the second floor, Jiang Lang smiled, "Judging by your expression, it seems you're satisfied?"

"Yes, I am quite satisfied," Su Yuan smiled and nodded.

Although he didn't know to what extent the Spirit-Expelling Barrier would suppress star power, the effect of "Land without Spirit" alone was enough!

Jiang Lang watched Su Yuan leave, then curiously checked.

"Last time, he chose the 3000-battle-merit Star Dominator. What did he choose this time... Huh? 1500-battle-merit Spirit-Expelling Barrier array map?"

"Fourth-level barrier?" Jiang Lang paused, "Could it be that he is also a Barrier Master?"

Jiang Lang's eyes showed a look of uncertainty.

There were quite a few barrier masters in Yan Court; the Miracle Workshop in the eastern sector managed master craftsmen and various experts, with even several grandmasters among them.

But the Sky Patrol Department, as a military institution, had few talents specializing in arrays and barriers. Often when needed, they had to borrow people from the Miracle Workshop.

After all, excelling in the barrier skill required both talent and time!

People in the Sky Patrol Department were busy improving their strength and had no energy to take on side jobs.

"If he truly is a Barrier Master, Special Envoy Su might quickly become renowned within the Sky Patrol Department..." Jiang Lang thought, with even a slight hint of envy in his eyes.

...

Su Yuan returned to his residence in Zhu Yuan, and went straight to the Qingming Realm.

He took out the Spirit-Expelling Barrier array map and immersed himself in examining it closely.

Setting up a barrier was not like drawing pictures, but more like software development.

The array map was equivalent to a detailed design document.

In order to set up a barrier well, one had to fully understand the array map, knowing the overall structure of the barrier and the function of each module.

It took Su Yuan two days to fully grasp the Spirit-Expelling Barrier array map. Now it was time to set it up practically.

But before that, Su Yuan had something else to do...

Su Yuan's figure flickered, flying into the sky, overlooking his small world.

Twice fighting against the Holy Temple Star Envoys had shown Su Yuan the powerful depths of soul power cultivation.

Currently, with daily meditation, his Qingming Realm was becoming more stable and expanding.

To better use the Qingming Realm defensively in the future, changes needed to be made...

Su Yuan communicated with the Qingming Profound Phoenix, and a peculiar force enveloped his body, making him feel as if he could transmute this place with a single thought.

"First, separating and creating a space for my use…"

Looking down, Su Yuan thought, and the entire Qingming Realm trembled slightly. Soon, the central area along with the Bamboo Sea were separated, isolated from the surroundings.

The central space and the surrounding space both showed some decrease in stability due to Su Yuan's separation.

Moreover, the smaller the space, the lower the stability.

"It can be divided further..."

After a brief assessment, Su Yuan thought again, splitting and reorganizing the surrounding space into four equal subspaces encircling the main space.

Su Yuan nodded in satisfaction, "For now, this will do. Any smaller would significantly reduce stability, making it easy to break."

Separation, connection, transmutation...

These were the basic controls of the Qingming Realm.

Previously unused, but with the addition of barriers, it could now be structured somewhat.

Su Yuan harnessed the power of the Heavenly Throne. With a flash of black light, he appeared in one of the subspaces.

"Very convenient and can easily move people between the spaces."

Su Yuan sensed the ease of transferring within the subspaces of the Qingming Realm, which was much simpler than bringing people from the outside.

This made him appreciate his prior arrangements.

"With this, I can achieve my original plan… Let's begin!"

If the array map was the design document, then array formation was programming. Implementing modules required various architectures, techniques, and methods, far more complex than drawing.

Su Yuan wielded highly concentrated star liquid like a knife and used spiritual power to start engraving.

The fourth-level barrier was exponentially more mysterious than the third-level one.

Su Yuan's first time setting up this barrier and aiming to cover an entire subspace increased the workload.

Spiritual power visibly depleted...

It took several days.

As the last bit of star power was injected, the Spirit-Expelling Barrier glowed faintly and sank into the ground.

"Finally done!"

Su Yuan exhaled deeply, his face slightly pale.

Even his spiritual power was nearly half exhausted.

But with the successful setup of the Spirit-Expelling Barrier, Su Yuan felt a lot of insight and immediately checked the panel:

[Barrier Master]

[Level: Fourth (Knowledge: 5%; Experience 2k/50k)]

[Specialization: Large (Fourth), Transmuting (Fourth), Composite (Third), Mini (Third), Stacking (Third)...]

[Mastered Barriers: Spirit-Expelling Barrier (Fourth), Water and Fire Rotation (Third), Micro Bright Barrier (Second), Flowing Mist Barrier (First)...]

Knowledge increased by 3%, and experience soared by 2k!

No specialization improved, but Su Yuan gained significant insights on setting up large barriers.

Most importantly, the Spirit-Expelling Barrier appeared in the "mastered barriers."

Next time setting it up, although not a direct copy-paste, mimicking a piece of code would greatly save time.

"So now, let's test the barrier's strength!"

Forming a seal with his hand, Su Yuan injected star power into the ground.

In an instant, a blue light surged from the ground, and the barrier formed, filled with dispersing force within its range.

Su Yuan immediately felt his star power operation significantly hampered, suppressed by at least thirty percent!

"To suppress the Shining Star level by thirty percent - this fourth-level barrier's impressive for something worth 1500 battle merits."

Su Yuan nodded in approval, and his eyes focused, forming another hand seal, pushing the barrier's blue light to the limit.

"Land without Spirit!"

Instantly, a faint blue dispersing light radiated, clearing all energy within the barrier.

Su Yuan tried to use Hellfire, but the star power was extinguished as it left his body.

"Impressive!"

Su Yuan was surprised at its effectiveness, wondering if his large-scale setup influenced it.

He tried the Star Dominator next, succeeding this time, showing the body boost still worked.

Su Yuan seals with his hand again, some blue light enveloped him, bypassing the dispersing force, restoring his star power operation.

"Great!"

Su Yuan rejoiced inwardly. This Spirit-Expelling Barrier was undoubtedly exceptional. The strength of "Land without Spirit" would be crucial in critical moments!

But soon, the blue light flickered chaotically, and the barrier disintegrated into spirit lights.

"It collapsed because of using Land without Spirit, huh?"

Su Yuan wasn't disappointed, testing the barrier's power was necessary. In battle, a minor mistake could cost his life.

It would only take time and spiritual power to set it up again.