I STACK ATTRIBUTES IN THE APOCALYPSE -MyOwnEdit-

At this pivotal moment, Yan'er stood by Lu Ming’s side, both of them witnessing the unfolding crisis in Xuanshui City. The young spirit's face was etched with fear and anxiety as the dire situation pressed upon them. Lu Ming, however, quickly steadied his thoughts and issued an order, his voice calm but decisive.

“Open the Boshi Tower and let all the students, teachers, and civilians from the academy take shelter inside.”

The academy’s defensive formations, Lu Ming knew, were utterly inadequate against the looming threat. The only hope for survival lay in the powerful divine artifact left behind by Jiu Han—the Boshi Tower. It was a relic of immense power, capable of providing shelter and protection in times of great peril.

“Yes, Senior Brother,” Yan'er responded, his expression turning serious as he prepared to carry out Lu Ming’s instructions. Just as he was about to leave, Lu Ming added another command: “Find a way to inform the government that the Boshi Tower can also be opened to the public for the people of Xuanshui City.”

Lu Ming understood that the academy, despite its significance, was not the entirety of Xuanshui City. Thousands of civilians, ordinary men, and women, needed protection just as much as the students did. His duty, as he saw it, was not only to safeguard the Three Elements Academy but also to protect Jiu Han’s hometown and its people. This was the task entrusted to him, and he intended to fulfill it.

As Yan'er left the control room, Lu Ming’s gaze grew contemplative. He murmured softly to himself, “Teacher always cared about the academy and its students. But he also cared about this city and its people. So, it is not enough just to protect the academy. We must do everything we can to safeguard Xuanshui City as well.”

He paused, his thoughts briefly wandering to his late mentor. “If Teacher were here, I believe he would do the same. Though, knowing Teacher, he would probably just go out and slay that Ice Pillar Demon God himself.”

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Lu Ming banished the thought. “No point thinking about that now.”

Returning to his residence in a single step, Lu Ming sat cross-legged on a cultivation mat, his mind focused on the control array formation inscribed on the back of his hand. The weight of the current situation pressed heavily on him, but after a long moment of contemplation, he made up his mind.

Opening his attribute panel, his eyes landed on his array formation skill, now displayed as Array Formation (lv25).

“At level 25, this formation knowledge is respectable but far from master-level. It’s advanced, yes, but not enough to control the full power of the Boshi Tower,” Lu Ming mused. His understanding of the Dao of Array Formations was sufficient to grasp that without further expertise, controlling Boshi Tower would be a monumental challenge.

“If that’s the case...”

Without hesitation, Lu Ming used a portion of his Divine Origin to enhance his array formation skill level. In an instant, the skill level increased from 25 to 26, bringing with it a flood of new knowledge that he swiftly absorbed.

“Still not enough,” he muttered, realizing that the gap between his current level and the mastery required for the Boshi Tower was vast. Jiu Han, in his prime, likely possessed formation skills at a level beyond a thousand. To achieve the same level of control, Lu Ming estimated that he needed at least a level 200 mastery in array formations.

Glancing at his remaining Divine Origin, which still amounted to a seven-digit figure, Lu Ming sighed. “I never wanted to rely on shortcuts. But in this situation, I have no other choice... I’m being forced into this.”

Meanwhile, the broadcast had summoned many teachers and students to the Boshi Tower. As a divine artifact, the tower was shrouded in mystery, rarely opened to the public. But in the face of the imminent crisis, and with Lu Ming at the helm, there was no room for hesitation. The tower’s massive doors opened with a resounding thud, revealing a swirling, vortex-like teleportation entrance. It spanned nearly ten meters in diameter, and those passing through would be transported to different parts of the tower, thanks to its intricate teleportation array.

In the midst of the gathering crowd, Lin Feng quietly made his way toward the Boshi Tower, a dark scheme brewing in his mind. He glanced over his shoulder, his gaze sweeping the throngs of people, and he caught sight of several familiar faces. A few of them even nodded in acknowledgment, causing a sly smile to creep onto Lin Feng’s face.

“Lu Ming, you’re courting death,” Lin Feng thought, his mind swirling with malicious intent. If Lu Ming had remained hidden within the Boshi Tower, he might have bought himself some time. But now, by opening the tower to shelter not only the academy’s students but also the civilians of Xuanshui City, Lu Ming had unknowingly opened the door to malicious spies and potential enemies.

Lin Feng was confident that he could bring down Lu Ming without the need for Jeros, the powerful demon who was currently preparing to assault the tower. By the time Jeros dealt with the external threats, the Boshi Tower, without its divine guardian, would be vulnerable. In Lin Feng’s eyes, Lu Ming’s defeat was inevitable.

After passing through the teleportation array and returning to his own courtyard, Lin Feng swiftly gave orders to Shi'er, his trusted follower.

“Shi'er, go assist Junior Brother Lu Ming. I have something I need to take care of,” Lin Feng said briskly, dismissing Shi'er before retreating into his cultivation chamber.

Once alone, Lin Feng activated a personal array formation to shield himself from external detection. In the heart of the room lay a tower-shaped rune, the key to his devious plan. His eyes gleamed with a cold light as he gazed upon it.

“This time, Lu Ming, you’re finished.”

This rune, a carefully designed artifact, had the potential to override the Boshi Tower’s control systems. While Jiu Han had been alive, such a rune would have been useless. But now, with Jiu Han gone and the tower spirit absent, the rune could be used to usurp control from Lu Ming.

Seated before the rune, Lin Feng closed his eyes and began channeling his origin power. His fingers danced with precision, and soon, his consciousness connected with the Boshi Tower’s core control center. He sensed a familiar presence—Lu Ming’s imprint within the control array. A wicked smile twisted Lin Feng’s lips.

“Let’s see how you handle this, Junior Brother...”