The five merfolk inscription artisans looked at the theories and timeworn written on the screen in front of them while sitting in Wei Huoran's Simspace workshop.
"Daoist Wei", Grandmaster Mettoc said in astonishment, "These new techniques you have discovered are amazing. How did you come up with these ideas?"
"I can't take credit for these ideas, grandmaster", Huoran dismissed the comment, "My master taught me this knowledge, and I'm just sharing it with you."
Sage Zara asked, "I think I mostly understand what you're presented on the screen, but can you discuss it with us. While I feel my experience has helped understand a bit about these profound ideas, I am quite lacking compared to your master."
Sage Vigol and Grandmasters Uzzik, Mettuc, and Magal nodded in agreement at Sage's Zara suggestion.
"Certainly Sage Zara", Huoran replied, "As you already know, Inscription is based on runes used in a variety of frameworks to operate in a specific function deemed by the creator. No matter if it's artifacts, talismans, or arrays, runes and formations are used to create an effect. The earliest artisans and the newest apprentices have to memorize runes and basic formulas, and as an artisan increases in skill and knowledge, it becomes apparent that there are several factors that influence your success. This includes the quality of the ink and materials you inscribe on, and the artisans skill and knowledge of imprinting runes and formations on the material."
Grandmaster Magal responded, "While this is a basic explanation, yes, I agree with your statement."
Huoran continued, "As the first artisans forged their way through this process, they came upon a problem that still plagues artisans today. When writing higher level runes, formulas, and formations, they would often fail due to the material being too low level for the inscription being applied, or being unable to fit the inscription onto target artifact. The first problem was easy to solve as the artisan would just have to find or create better materials for their craft. The second problem was solved by simply writing smaller or making the artifact bigger and inscribing the ability to change size on it."
Grandmaster Uzzik said impatiently, "This is understood and taught to all disciples, why are you lecturing us on the basics?"
"My apologies, grandmaster, it just the style of how I explain my ideas", Huoran explained, "Now, for the three ideas in front of you, two are new, but the last is just a new name for something you already know. The first is the composite array, the second is the Array Layering technique, and the last is just a name. Since the Array Layering technique changes how arrays, formulas, and formations are arranged, I created the term, 'Array circuit'."
"These are the things I'm most interested in", Sage Vigol remarked.
"Then I'll start with the first item", Huoran said, "Composite means that an object, or in this case an array, is made up or several runes or elements. For example, This composite array here."
Huoran isolated two arrays and displayed them in front of the group, "Now I don't have to tell you that the second array is called fire spear array and is a expert level array. I also know that the first array probably looks familiar to you, but you never seen this arrangement before. The first array is also a fire spear array."
Grandmaster Mettuc snorted in disbelief, "How could it be possible for this array to be as equally powerful as the fire spear array? This looks like something an apprentice would draw up in an attempt to prove a theory."
"Grandmaster", Huoran answered in a calm manner, "I invite you to take a moment and verify my work while we are inside Simspace."
Mettuc suddenly looked apologetic, "Daoist Wei, I didn't mean to insult your techniques."
Mettuc didn't notice a change in Huoran's confident demeanor so he summoned a talisman paper, brush, and ink and proceeded to draw both arrays on separate pieces of paper. After a few minutes, he held both paper talismans and made his way to the test range. He activated the original fire spear talisman, and watched as a flaming spear streaked across the range and lodged itself in the target. Satisfied with his talisman, he activated the other talisman and was mildly surprised as it also formed the same attack. The second spear flew and stuck into the same target, and when Mettuc noticed it had the same power as the first, he told Huoran, "I apologize for my earlier behavior."
"There is no reason to apologize, grandmaster", Huoran responded, "When someone with less experience, knowledge, and power than yourself submits an idea that would change the system of inscription, it's normal to be doubtful. Obviously, it was thought that all improvements had been discovered, and learning that's not the case is jarring. Just remember that anyone can learn, no matter how old or experienced they are."
The room was silent as the Sages and Grandmasters took a moment to reflect of Huoran's words before Huoran continued.
"Now let me discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this technique", he said, "First the advantages: One, it allows an inscription artisan to create formulas and formations that are one level above their capability. Two, it's a great teaching aid because mentors and masters can break down a more difficult array into a larger array like this, and explain it to your students and disciples. And Three, Even though the composite array is larger, it's also cheaper to create because the materials and ink are cheaper. Now the disadvantages, First, it's less efficient to use composite array over the original. Obviously, the expert level array is smaller, and if you're refining an artifact, you want to use the space effectively. Secondly, although it does grant a talented apprentice the ability to create expert level arrays, formulas, or formations, it will be very time inefficient. The average expert artisan can create somewhere between three to five fire spear arrays in a day, but an apprentice can create one, maybe two of mine in a day. And the last disadvantage is that I just created the composite array system. The current system has been in place for millions of years, and it will take time to experiment and discover how to build composite arrays better."
The group listening to Huoran were enlightened on a few points that he briefed, but he could tell that they had already considered the rest of the points, showing their experience.
"I think that's enough about composite arrays", Huoran stated, "Next, I'll discuss layering. Now Array Layering isn't quite a new creation technique, but more of an arrangement one. I don't see this affecting paper talismans or weapon and armor refining to a great degree, but perhaps your experience might prove me wrong. Let me show you how layering works."
Huoran summoned his Qphone from his storage and after a few motions, the outer case slipped off and the internals floated in front of him.
"I believe many of you might be aware of how the Qphone is built", Huoran said, "For those who haven't investigated it, we took thin jade plates and stacked them on top of each other before placing them inside the case."
Huoran spread his arms and the internals of his Qphone separated into fifteen jade plates. Each plate was mostly filled with runes, arrays, and formations, but also has lines of gold and copper inlaid into it.
"If you look at each plate, you will see how we inscribed most of the arrays on one side of the plate, and there is only small arrays on the opposite side to continue the formation", Huoran explained, "But with the new Array Layering and Array curcuit techniques, we can take fifteen plates and shrink it down to eight. This would give us seven blank plates to add new options or more power, which raises its effectiveness greatly. But that can extend to all artifacts like this, such as the QR pods, protection formations, Pill furnaces, QTVs, and more. This biggest advantage of using these techniques along side the current system is that we can take an array formation like this."
Huoran pointed towards the screen that displayed the giant formation he created for the inscription workstation, "And condense it down to the size of full size tower computer."
Sage Vigol raised his voice and asked, "This formation is very large, how could it be possible to fit all of it into an artifact that small?"
Huoran made the artifact transparent and the senior artisans saw rows of jade plates lined up inside. He made another appearance adjustment, and all the runes and formations glowed.
"As you can see, this does not follow the traditional style of inscription like you saw in my Qphone", Huoran told the group, "Using all the techniques from the past and future, you can see that I inscribed the front and back of the plates, but I also used all three dimensions to fit all the formations into the artifact."
"All three dimensions?", Mettuc responded.
Huoran spun the artifact around slowly, and then flipped it.
"I believe as everyone knows, traditional inscription have always been done in two dimensions, up and down, left and right", Huoran replied, "By using layering, I can still use those dimensions, but I can also take advantage of the multiple layers to form a third dimension and insert more arrays in that free space."
Huoran manipulated the image and highlight certain areas, as the artifact continued to slowly spin, everyone saw how multiple arrays filled that space.
"I have shared everything with you so far", Huoran said, "We have many priorities, and I've written them here. I believe it would overkill to have everyone on the same project, so I invite everyone to look at what it here and let's split up into teams to accomplish them."
On a screen, it had the following bullet points
- Inscription Workstation
- Supression and Capture Talisman or Artifact
- Upgrade of all current artifact technologies on the island
- Training our workforce in new techniques
Huoran turned around back towards everyone, "As the workstation is my idea, I will naturally be on that team."
Sage Vigol smiled, "Myself and Grandmaster Mettuc will join you in this effort, Daoist Wei."
"I look forward to working with you", Huoran saluted the Sage.
Sage Zara spoke next, "I believe I am enough to handle the second item on the list."
"Then it is yours, Sage Zara", Huoran affirmed her choice.
"Guess that leave the third item to us", Uzzik said as he pointed at Magal.
Huoran looked suspiciously at everyone, "No one wants to teach?"
Sage Vigol cleared his throat, "That's not the case, Daoist Wei. We will bring our disciples with us and train them during the process. After we ensure they comprehend they new knowledge, we will charge them with taking this knowledge to the experts and apprentices."
"I'll invite the instructors from the academy and university if you don't mind", Huoran insisted, "I want new artisans learning this as soon as possible."
"That's an excellent idea, Daoist Wei", Zara replied, "This should safely accelerate the progression of our workforce without causing any danger to our people."
"Then I request that we start tomorrow", Huoran suggested, "It will give me time to send invitations to all participants, as well as arrange this space to accommodate all three projects."
The group of artisans nodded in agreement, and everyone left the Simspace. Huoran reassembled his phone and sent messages to secretaries Su and Lui, asking them to attending tomorrow's session through the QR pod before going to his personal hot spring tub to relax for the day.