Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life-Chapter 155: First Display of Edge

"Disciple, don't think of them as unique, one-of-a-kind formation plates."

Lin Yu's voice echoed within Su Ming's mind.

"They are products, standardized industrial products. Understand?"

"Standardized?" Su Ming silently repeated this unfamiliar term in his heart.

"Right! Look, this kind with edge damage, we uniformly call it 'Type A damage'. That kind with core rune wear, call it 'Type B damage'."

"All Type A damage, use the first set of repair procedures. All Type B damage, use the second set. Don't think, don't innovate, just execute! This is called assembly line operation!"

Su Ming's eyes suddenly lit up.

His brain, tempered by Lin Yu with all sorts of inexplicable terms, instantly grasped Lin Yu's meaning.

Categorize, model, apply!

Wasn't this the same method he used to handle the ledgers?!

He immediately sorted the pile of scrap beside him according to Lin Yu's "damage classification method," quickly dividing them into three piles.

Then, he picked up the fragments of the second shield formation.

This time, his speed was noticeably several times faster than the first!

He no longer needed to analyze each fragment one by one.

He just glanced at the damage type, and the corresponding repair procedure automatically surfaced in his mind.

Cutting, grinding, piecing, bonding...

His movements were still not fast, even somewhat rigid.

But that smooth, flowing sense of fluency made all the menial disciples stealing glances feel an inexplicable palpitation.

"He... he seems to have gotten faster again?"

"How is that possible? Repairing formation plates relies on inspiration and feel. There's no logic to getting faster and faster."

On the surface, Chen Ping was reviewing a material requisition list.

But his powerful divine sense, like an invisible net, enveloped Su Ming's every move.

"Something's off!"

Chen Ping's divine sense could clearly "see."

Every cut Su Ming made precisely accounted for the thickness of the spiritual energy adhesive.

Every time he pieced fragments together, he perfectly utilized the structural stress of the fragments themselves.

He even, while reshaping the core runes, directly erased an extremely subtle, almost negligible energy circuit redundancy in the original design!

That redundancy was a habitual drafting error by the designer of the "Bedrock Shield Formation," passed down for over a hundred years. Even many stewards at Formation Peak had never noticed it!

How did this menial disciple spot it?!

For the first time, Chen Ping felt doubt about his own judgment.

Elder Ma... could it be he wasn't just toying with me?

Did he actually... send me a... talent?

...

There was still one hour until sunset.

Inside the stone hall, the busy scene of clanging and hammering continued.

Most menial disciples were still struggling with their second shield formation.

In the corner, Su Ming slowly put down his carving knife.

On the empty ground before him, seven repaired "Bedrock Shield Formations" were neatly arranged.

Far exceeding Chen Ping's requirement of three.

He didn't announce it, nor did he look at anyone.

He just quietly sat down cross-legged, slowly closed his eyes, and began circulating the "Greenwood Longevity Art" to recover his depleted mental energy and spiritual energy.

As if he had done a trivial, insignificant thing.

"Disciple, that's the way." Lin Yu's voice was full of approval.

"Matters settled, brush off your robes, hide your merit and fame. You've grasped the demeanor of a master."

The entire stone hall had, at some point, fallen completely silent.

All the menial disciples had stopped their work, staring dumbfounded at that corner.

Looking at the seven neatly arranged formation plates, then at the youth meditating with closed eyes.

Their faces were filled with bewilderment and absurdity.

This thing... he repaired seven of them?

Alone?

One afternoon?

Using that pile of junk?

...

At sunset, the last rays of twilight fell from the stone hall's dome.

Chen Ping put down the jade slip in his hand and stood up.

He didn't look at the flustered menial disciples, but walked straight to Su Ming.

Su Ming happened to open his eyes at that moment.

"Senior Brother Chen." He stood up and calmly bowed in greeting.

Chen Ping didn't speak.

He just crouched down and picked up the first repaired formation plate.

His expression was stern and cold.

Divine sense probed in, spiritual energy injected.

*Hum—*

A steady hum.

Above the formation plate, a thick, earthen-yellow light screen instantly expanded!

The light screen was uniform, solid, without the slightest fluctuation or flaw!

Chen Ping's pupils contracted slightly.

He put down the first one and picked up the second.

Activate!

Light screen expanded, perfect operation!

Third one!

Fourth one!

...

When the seventh formation plate also bloomed with a stable, thick light in his hand,

the sternness on Chen Ping's face had completely vanished.

Replaced by unconcealable shock.

He suddenly looked up, staring intently at Su Ming, his divine sense frantically sweeping through the internal circuits of the seventh formation plate.

Then, he found it.

That erased, insignificant redundancy.

He clearly calculated that just this tiny modification alone reduced this shield formation's spiritual energy consumption by... half a percent compared to a brand-new standard formation plate!

Chen Ping's breath hitched.

He slowly stood up.

Looking at this calm-faced, weak-aured menial disciple before him, he remained silent for a long time.

The entire stone hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were focused on these two.

After a long while, Chen Ping gave Su Ming a deep look.

That gaze was completely different from when they first met.

He said nothing.

He just turned and walked towards the exit of the stone hall.

His voice came from the doorway, carrying a trace of complex, hard-to-define emotion.

"The rest of you, continue."

"Su Ming, follow me."

Su Ming stood up, brushed off non-existent dust from his robe.

He didn't look at the stunned, dumbfounded menial disciples around him, just calmly followed Chen Ping's steps.

One in front, one behind, they passed through the bustling square and entered a quiet side hall.

Inside the side hall, it was empty, only the faint scent of sandalwood lingered.

The stone door slowly closed behind them, isolating all external noise.

Chen Ping didn't turn around, just stood with his back to Su Ming in silence.

Su Ming also didn't speak, waiting quietly.

He knew the real test was only beginning now.

After a long time, Chen Ping finally slowly turned around.