"Master, this method may seem crude, but it secretly aligns with the principles of 'observation, listening, inquiry, and diagnosis'," Su Ming murmured in his heart.

"Naturally," Lin Yu's voice drawled lazily. "This is experiential science paid for with countless lives. Learn it well; it's more useful than any book."

The inspection continued.

The team advanced along the winding city wall. Zhao Tiji moved extremely fast, often judging the state of a node with just a glance.

When they reached the seventh node at the "Celestial Pivot Position," Zhao Tiji paused for a moment, reached out, and patted the formation hub shell, which was as large as a millstone.

The shell was cast from a single piece of Star Pattern Steel, its surface smooth and glossy as if brand new. The spiritual pressure reading was also exceptionally stable.

"Nothing wrong here. Move to the next one," Zhao Tiji waved his hand.

But Su Ming didn't move.

He stared at that seemingly perfect formation hub, his brow slightly furrowed.

The spiritual energy of the *Like Water Art* within his body circulated on its own, as if sensing some extremely discordant, minute tremor. Water benefits all things by permeating them, and water-attribute spiritual energy possesses a natural sensitivity towards such subtle structural changes.

"Wait," Su Ming spoke up.

Zhao Tiji stopped and turned to look at him, a trace of impatience in his single eye. "What?"

"There's a problem here," Su Ming stepped forward, his finger hovering three inches above the formation hub. "The spiritual circuits inside show signs of crystal fracturing."

Zhao Tiji snorted with disdain, strode back, and slapped the formation hub heavily with his hand.

*Hum—*

The formation hub emitted a clear, crisp ringing sound. The flow of spiritual light was smooth, without the slightest obstruction.

Zhao Tiji pointed at the hub. "Kid, that sound is crisp, and the spiritual pressure is stable. Even if there are some minor flaws, with the strength of Star Pattern Steel, it can hold for another three to five months without issue. There are still dozens of nodes ahead to check. Don't waste time."

The other veteran team members also cast dismissive glances.

In their view, this "Technical Assistant Repair Specialist" from the sect was just too fussy, making a big deal out of every tiny burr.

Su Ming didn't argue. He calmly retrieved a slender silver needle from his storage pouch.

The needle was hollow, its entire body polished from transparent crystal, with a strand of highly compressed, deep blue water vapor sealed inside.

This was a tool he had made himself back in Clear Stream Valley for detecting the internal structure of formation plates—his "Spirit-Detecting Needles."

"Captain, if it were merely a minor flaw, this disciple wouldn't dare to hold us up."

Su Ming gently pressed the Spirit-Detecting Needle against a seam on the formation hub. "But what if it's a precursor to an 'internal explosion'?"

Before his words faded, his finger moved slightly, activating the water vapor inside the needle.

That strand of deep blue water vapor instantly seeped into the seam, traveling along the internal grain of the Star Pattern Steel.

Su Ming formed a hand seal with his left hand and uttered a low command, "Reveal!"

In the next moment, the crystal at the tip of the Spirit-Detecting Needle suddenly lit up.

A phantom light projection appeared in mid-air.

It was a diagram of the spiritual circuit structure inside the formation hub.

The spiritual circuits, which should have been smooth as silk, were actually covered in dense, minute cracks at the core, like an ice sheet on the verge of shattering, barely maintaining its shape only under the pressure of the outer shell.

And under the simulated spiritual pressure impact Su Ming had applied, those cracks were visibly spreading wildly outward at a rapid pace.

"This..."

Zhao Tiji's pupils constricted to pinpoints.

Although he didn't understand this projection method, he could read the direction of those cracks.

That was unmistakably a sign the formation hub was about to disintegrate.

If this location exploded under high-load operation, the entire "Celestial Pivot Position's" defense would have a momentary gap.

And under the onslaught of a demon tide, that single moment would be enough to kill dozens.

The contempt on Zhao Tiji's face vanished instantly, replaced by an ashen pallor.

The scar running across his face seemed to flush red as if engorged with blood.

"Grab your things. Come with me."

Zhao Tiji grabbed Su Ming's arm with a frighteningly strong grip. "We're going to see Commander Duan!"

...

Inside the wall command post, the atmosphere was so tense it felt like water could drip from it.

Commander Duan was a Golden Core initial stage cultivator, clad in heavy armor, frowning deeply at the sand table.

When Su Ming activated the Spirit-Detecting Needle again, projecting that phantom image riddled with cracks into the air, Commander Duan's finger, which had been tapping the table, abruptly stopped.

"That was close."

Commander Duan stared at the projection, his voice low. "A glossy exterior, but rotten to the core inside. If not discovered in time, once battle commenced, this spot would inevitably become the ant hole that collapses the dike."

He suddenly looked up at Zhao Tiji. "Old Zhao, this is the team you're leading?"

Zhao Tiji dropped to one knee, bowing his head with fists clasped. "This subordinate failed in his inspection. I request punishment, Commander!"

"Now is not the time for punishment," Commander Duan waved a hand. "It would take at least two hours for the Vessel Hall to allocate a new formation hub. There's no time. Can it be repaired?"

This last question was directed at Su Ming.

Su Ming put away the Spirit-Detecting Needle and pondered briefly.

"Replacing it with a new one truly is too late, and wasteful."

Su Ming walked to the formation hub and placed both hands on the cold Star Pattern Steel. "Although the cracks are numerous, they haven't damaged the fundamental structure. We just need to use 'water' to glue it back together."

"Glue?" Commander Duan was taken aback.

Su Ming didn't explain.

He took a deep breath, fully operating the Qi Refining seventh layer *Like Water Art*.

Deep blue spiritual energy surged from his palms, no longer its usual gentle warmth, but becoming viscous like glue.

"Master, lend me some strength."

"Got it. Use it sparingly. This is pure spiritual energy converted from soul power," Lin Yu grumbled within the Consciousness Sea.

A cool stream of power flooded into his meridians. A faint glow instantly veiled Su Ming's eyes.

*Observation Micro State*, activate.

In his vision, those minute cracks were magnified infinitely.

Su Ming's hands danced like butterflies threading through flowers. Two talismans he had prepared earlier—one emitting an earthy yellow glow, the "*Solidify*" character, and one swirling with a cyan halo, the "*Flow*" character—were simultaneously slapped onto the formation hub.

"Water moistens all things, merge!"

The deep blue spiritual energy, carrying the power of the talismans, seeped into the cracks along with it.

This wasn't simple filling. It was using the tension of water-attribute spiritual energy to pull and re-bond the crystal structures that were about to separate.

It was like injecting the strongest adhesive into the cracks of shattered porcelain.

In the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

Su Ming withdrew his hands, a layer of fine sweat beading on his forehead.

The grating sound of crystal fracturing that had been present inside the formation hub vanished, replaced by a sense of seamless unity.

"Done."

Su Ming let out a long breath, pulling out a low-grade spirit stone from his robe to hold in his hand and restore his spiritual energy. "This repair method achieves ninety percent of the original's strength, more than sufficient to last through this duty rotation. Moreover, the material cost is less than one-tenth of a replacement."

The command post fell silent.

Commander Duan stepped forward, personally inspecting it. A flash of something unusual crossed his eyes.

"Impressive skill."

He turned, grabbed a token from the desk, and tossed it to Su Ming. "Reward. One thousand Military Merit. Recorded in your file."