Hidden Immortal Valley, within the wooden house courtyard.

Qi Xiaoyu invited Qin Ming into the house and served Spirit Tea.

Qin Ming glanced around at the furnishings within the house, which predominantly consisted of books and materials related to Arrays. On the shelves were also placed various refined Array Discs.

Just by looking, he could tell these Arrays were not simple.

"I believe Fellow Daoist Qin has noticed, I, Qi, have unspoken difficulties and am already a dying person, which is why I’ve been shutting my doors to visitors." Qi Xiaoyu gave a bitter smile, explaining to Qin Ming while pouring a cup of Spirit Tea.

Qin Ming asked somewhat puzzled, "I see that Fellow Daoist Qi’s Nascent Soul Formation should not have been long ago; why is your lifespan only left with a few years?"

"Alas! This matter relates to an event decades ago. I, Qi, went to a perilous place to gather materials for Array creation and encountered a Tier Four poisonous beast. Though I managed to escape by chance, it came at a great cost, consuming much of my lifespan..." Qi Xiaoyu, realizing he was already near death, did not hide this from Qin Ming.

He then glanced at the Heaven-Devouring Rat beside Qin Ming and said, "I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Qin’s Beast Pet to be so talented as to break through the Illusionary Mirage Array I set up."

"Even a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator could not easily break through this Array."

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Qin, having traveled such a long distance, what business do you have with me?"

Qin Ming did not answer directly but countered with a question:

"With Fellow Daoist Qi’s talent in Arrays, surely joining a faction to find some Longevity Pill should not be difficult?"

"Longevity Pill...all that I, Qi, could find have already been used, unless it is the legendary Tier Four Longevity Pill ’Heaven-Continuing Pill’ that might extend my lifespan." Qi Xiaoyu said bleakly.

Qin Ming did not respond directly to this but said, "Might Fellow Daoist Qi allow me to observe the Arrays you have crafted?"

"That naturally is possible."

Thereafter.

Qi Xiaoyu wheeled himself, leading Qin Ming to the storeroom to view his Array creations.

Not long after. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"This set is a Tier Four High-Grade Attacking Killing Array, the Ten Directions Heaven-Burning Annihilation Array, capable of unleashing Divine Techniques with the power of a Late-stage Nascent Soul, though it requires thirty thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones to activate."

"This set is a Tier Four Top-Grade Defensive Spirit Array, the Milo Celestial Chessboard."

"This one is a work I, Qi, crafted decades ago, a Tier Four High-Grade Nine-Star Spirit Gathering Array, capable of creating a powerful spiritual cultivation environment."

"The Eight Extremes Shifting Array, condensed from a century of effort by me, Qi..."

...

After Qi Xiaoyu’s introductions, Qin Ming witnessed numerous High-Tier Arrays he had never seen before.

It was evident that Qi Xiaoyu’s expertise in Arrays had surpassed that of Array Masters from outside major sects.

Furthermore, through his exchanges with Qi Xiaoyu, Qin Ming discovered that he was the same type of person as Su Yuqing, someone with special talent in certain skills of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, I do not mean to boast, but if I had Tier Five materials at hand, I, Qi, would already be a Tier Five Array Master." Qi Xiaoyu stated with some pride.

Qin Ming had no doubt that the other had this capability.

Not hesitating further, he handed over a Memory Jade Slip to the other, saying, "Fellow Daoist Qi, this is an Array I discovered somewhere. Some parts are damaged, can you see if you can repair it?"

"If possible, in exchange, I can think of a way to acquire one or two Longevity Pills for you."

Qi Xiaoyu took the jade slip, somewhat surprised.

He thought Qin Ming, like those from major forces, came to seek precious Arrays from him.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, you may not know, I’ve already used all Tier Three Longevity Pills and longevity items I could find. You know that these longevity items often drastically lose efficacy after one use."

"Now, only Tier Four or Tier Five items can nourish my essence; otherwise, it’s all futile."

"Ah! Though I, Qi, haven’t been out of the valley in a long time, I’ve long heard of Fellow Daoist Qin’s legendary deeds as an inspiring Legendary Cultivator in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation Realm, something I deeply admire."

"Since it’s an ancient damaged array, I also have an interest in researching it. There is no need for compensation from Fellow Daoist Qin. I, Qi, will naturally do my utmost to help repair it, though whether it can be done within my remaining lifespan is up to fate."

Qi Xiaoyu readily agreed, without any reluctance.

However, after browsing the contents within the jade slip, his expression suddenly changed.

"It’s actually the ancient Tai’e Pattern, at least tens of thousands of years old. Nowadays, such Spirit Pattern Restrictions have long vanished from the Cultivation Realm." Qi Xiaoyu exclaimed in shock, "Fellow Daoist Qin, this array is not an ordinary array, but an ancient Long-Distance Transmission Array. As for the destination of the other end, it’s unknown."

Qin Ming was also amazed at Qi Xiaoyu’s command of Arrays, not expecting him to recognize the intricate ancient array patterns at a glance, indicating some hope in repairing the array.

Thus he said to Qi Xiaoyu, "If Fellow Daoist Qi can help reproduce this array, then the matter of the ’Heaven-Continuing Pill’ is entrusted to me."

Qin Ming was quite confident about this matter.

Qi Xiaoyu did not expect to see a glimpse of hope before his death, so he agreed immediately.

"If there is any progress, Fellow Daoist Qi, you may send a message to the Southern Wilderness through someone, and I will receive it." Qin Ming then exchanged a few more words with him.