Chapter 212: Regret

Mo Hua entered the door, greeted Mr. Feng, and curiously looked toward Master Luo.

Mr. Feng said, "Mo Hua, this is Master Luo, a Grade-One Array Master from Xiancheng."

Mo Hua was startled and quickly bowed, "Greetings, Master Luo."

Master Luo was unnerved by the bow and nearly rose to his feet.

If his guess was correct, the child before him was already a Grade-One Array Master.

Learning knows no order; the one who attains mastery is honored.

Their array skills were nearly equal; he could not bear to receive such a bow.

But since Mr. Feng remained seated, he could not simply stand up, so he merely clasped his hands and smiled, "No need for formalities, please sit."

Mo Hua was puzzled—were all Grade-One Array Masters this courteous?

Seeing that Master Luo was not bound by formalities, Mo Hua relaxed, sat on a tall stool beside him, poured himself a cup of tea, and sipped it slowly.

Before leaving, he had eaten plenty of delicious food and was now thirsty.

The parlor fell silent for a moment.

After a moment's hesitation, Master Luo spoke, slightly embarrassed:

"Mo Hua, did you draw the arrays in this alchemy shop?"

Mo Hua glanced at Mr. Feng, saw him give a slight nod, and replied, "Yes, I did."

Master Luo said, "I noticed several arrays designed with great ingenuity—they can even confuse spiritual perception. Is there some special principle behind them?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment but said nothing.

Master Luo realized his blunder and hurriedly apologized, "I was impolite—my apologies."

Another's array insights and lineage are confidential matters—he should not have asked so bluntly.

He was usually deeply absorbed in array research, had never seen such an application before, became overly eager, and found no other topic to speak of, so he carelessly asked.

With fellow senior array masters, he could exchange wits and play mind games, but with a child, Master Luo didn't know how to begin.

Mostly because he had never dealt with an array master so young. Usually, someone Mo Hua's age would be lucky to become an array apprentice.

Mo Hua said, "It's fine—I was just thinking how to explain it."

"It's not purely a spiritual-perception-blocking array; it uses the generation and restraining relationships among the Five Elements—arranging them overlapping or crisscrossing, so the Five Element energies either generate or repel, creating chaotic trajectories. When spiritual perception sweeps over it suddenly, it naturally becomes confused and fails to perceive what's inside…"

Mo Hua explained patiently.

Master Luo suddenly understood—this method stayed within the framework of Five Element arrays while using layout to achieve spiritual-perception confusion; the concept was original and the design exquisite.

Master Luo felt as if a light had been turned on—he had never seen such an array construction before.

"Do you have a master?" Master Luo asked involuntarily.

Mo Hua smiled and replied frankly, "I'm afraid I can't say."

Master Luo nodded, feeling a sense of indebtedness, and took out a book from his storage pouch:

"These are my array insights accumulated over the years—not profound, but all hard-won experience. Perhaps they'll be of some use; I hope you won't disdain them."

Mo Hua politely accepted, flipped through it briefly, his eyes brightening, and said, "Thank you, Master Luo!"

The two then exchanged brief remarks on other arrays, each gaining something.

Master Luo had rich array experience and knew obscure array patterns in detail; Mo Hua was intelligent and eager to learn, with array concepts that broke free from convention.

As it was getting late, Mo Hua rose to take his leave:

"I have other matters to attend to—I must take my leave. Goodbye, Master Luo!"

Master Luo stood to see him off; after Mo Hua left, he couldn't help sighing.

Mr. Feng sipped his tea and asked, "Well?"

Master Luo sighed, "Undeniably—he possesses the insight and ability of a Grade-One Array Master."

Not only that—his character is exceptional: courteous, composed, generous with his array knowledge.

Master Luo then sighed wistfully, "The Great Thousand Worlds truly hold wonders beyond imagination—I've never encountered such a prodigy before…"

Mr. Feng's gaze sharpened slightly. "If that's the case, I have a request."

Master Luo was puzzled. "Please, old master."

"Mo Hua is a child of outstanding talent, but he is still young. If he encounters difficulties, I ask you to lend a hand."

Master Luo suddenly understood. "You mean… the Qian family?"

"Correct."

Master Luo frowned. "It's not that I refuse to help—but without cause, I cannot oppose the Qian family. Mo Hua is talented, but he has no connection to me."

"You need not oppose the Qian family—just speak a few words when the occasion arises."

That wasn't difficult, and Master Luo was willing—but he still asked, "I need a reason."

Mr. Feng looked at him. "Don't you want to advance further in array arts?"

Wasn't that obvious? Which array master wouldn't?

But Mr. Feng was of high virtue and great prestige; Master Luo couldn't say it outright, so he replied obliquely, "Naturally."

As soon as he spoke, Master Luo froze. "You mean… Mo Hua can help me…"

Mr. Feng nodded.

Master Luo was startled, then grew slightly angry, coldly saying:

"Mo Hua is indeed talented, but he is Grade-One, and so am I. Moreover, his grade is not yet determined, while I am officially recognized by the Dao Court as a Grade-One Array Master."

"Each array master has their strengths; there are areas where he may not surpass me. Even if his talent is great and his future array attainments far exceed mine, that is the future—not the present."

Array masters possess their own pride—they never beg from others, let alone a child. What would become of his dignity?

This was what Master Luo thought in his heart.

Mr. Feng sighed. "You don't understand."

Master Luo frowned. "What don't you understand?"

"Come with me," said Old Master Feng, rising.

Though confused, Master Luo rose and followed Old Master Feng, circling the high wall, entering the Alchemy Shop, turning down several green stone paths, until they reached the courtyard's center.

In the courtyard's center stood a large alchemy furnace. Its design was ancient and simple, adorned with elegant cloud patterns.

The courtyard was noisy and bustling.

Around it, herbs were sorted and arranged by category; alchemists flipped through alchemy texts, apprentices grasped herbs, and several alchemists focused intently on controlling the flames to refine pills.

When Master Luo saw the furnace, a hunch stirred in his heart.

This furnace was too large—and that meant the array inscribed upon it must be extraordinary.

As he drew closer and saw the furnace flame, his heart leapt wildly.

He pointed at the flame, staring at Old Master Feng in disbelief. "This… this flame…"

Old Master Feng nodded.

Master Luo looked again at the alchemy furnace, his face filled with shock:

"Then… that array is…"

Old Master Feng nodded again.

Master Luo's spirit trembled. He stood motionless for a long while, then slowly spoke:

"First-rank… Repeating Array!"

Master Luo did not remember how he returned.

Only when he stood in his own cave dwelling, in his own courtyard, did he come back to himself.

A first-rank Repeating Array!

He had never learned it—even his fellow disciples, let alone his master, had failed to draw a first-rank Repeating Array while in the Qi Condensation stage.

He recalled then: it was in this very courtyard that Instructor Yan had asked him to take Mo Hua as his disciple.

And he had coldly refused…

Master Luo stood frozen in thought. After a long while, seeing no one around, he couldn't help slapping his own mouth:

"Why did I say such foolish things? Why did I shut the door so completely? Why didn't I leave even a sliver of room to turn back?"

Even if I hadn't taken him as a disciple, just offering a few pointers would have been a great favor.

Master Luo's heart turned bitter; he regretted every word—his gut ached with remorse…