Chapter 345: Instruction

"Master, is there a cultivator who, at the First-Rank realm, can draw a First-Rank Great Array?" Mo Hua couldn't help asking.

Master Zhuang replied coolly, "Of course there is, otherwise I wouldn't have let you learn."

"Oh, right."

Mo Hua realized and nodded.

Master Zhuang spoke with solemn gravity:

"The cultivation world has flourished for over twenty thousand years; there are countless cultivators, countless geniuses, and every kind of talent exists. Though rare, there have indeed been cultivators who could construct a First-Rank Great Array while still in the Qi Refining stage."

Upon hearing this, Mo Hua reflected seriously:

"Master, I understand! Beyond the sky lies higher sky, beyond people stand greater people; countless brilliant cultivators exist in this world. I must always hold reverence, remain humble, or else I will never progress further in array arts."

"I am merely a Qi Refining cultivator who fortuitously gained a Foundation Establishment-level spiritual sense. Even if I can draw Great Arrays, I am still far behind true prodigies…"

Master Zhuang's eyelids twitched.

One must have ability, wealth, manpower, and also the right opportunity—chance must align to even have the chance to construct a First-Rank Great Array.

Master Zhuang sighed inwardly.

Mo Hua's heart tightened, and he carefully stored the jade slip away.

"Those ten jade slips cover the principles of array cores, array pivot structures, array pattern distributions, array medium construction, as well as compatibility and cost estimation for single arrays."

Mo Hua bowed deeply again, then rose and took his leave.

"The hardships you've suffered—you want me to go through them again…"

Master Zhuang said helplessly, "Old Man Xing has already figured you out; he can't escape, and pretending to be dead won't help."

Then I thought carefully and asked doubtfully, "The kind of array master you described… doesn't it sound like Old Man Xing?"

But now it seemed that Mo Hua, that child, was being too humble…

"Isn't your spiritual sense sufficient?"

Master Zhuang handed the jade slip to Mo Hua.

Master Zhuang paused, his gaze sharpening slightly: "Arrays that transcend rank are called Absolute Arrays in array theory."

Those who study array theory really do come up with such chaotic names…

Fang Cejin seemed to sense Mo Hua's thoughts and shook his head slightly:

"Even if your spiritual sense is sufficient, it's only one foot across the threshold—you're still far from truly learning Great Arrays, constructing them, using them, or mastering them thoroughly."

"What do you think of how this child draws arrays?"

"If one does not firmly establish and resolve their Dao heart from the start, they will gradually stray without realizing it—even if they achieve fame and success, they will ultimately stray completely from the Great Path to Immortality."

Old Man Xing showed slight interest but still shook his head. "Too high a realm. Too distant."

"Good, Master!"

"The Reverse Spirit Array you learned is an Absolute Array."

No… having a Foundation Establishment-level spiritual sense while still in the Qi Refining stage is already extraordinary.

Mo Hua nodded, silently counting the array concepts he knew:

"What kind of honorary disciple have I taken on…?"

"This is the Great Array I will teach you."

Mo Hua understood array arts well enough to discern clearly, yet still couldn't help internally complaining.

From Mo Hua's gaze, Master Zhuang sensed his thoughts—momentarily both comforted and moved.

Old Man Xing remained silent.

"Same-type Great Arrays are usually the culmination of their category—in other words, an array master who can construct a Great Array is also one who has thoroughly mastered and fully comprehended an entire category of arrays!"

"Exceptional array masters are the same. Before Foundation Establishment, a First-Rank array master still must spend time strengthening their spiritual sense by studying Seventh-Rank arrays."

"It's good that you think this way."

His eyes flickered—clearly he was muttering something inwardly.

"An array worthy of being the sect's ultimate secret technique, or one so difficult to learn that its transmission is nearly extinct."

Because Mo Hua truly possesses the resources to study Great Arrays.

"Among the seven categories of Great Arrays, this set excels in offense and is sufficient to confront Feng Xi."

It was gratitude for Master Zhuang's teaching, as well as appreciation for what Master Zhuang had done for the cultivators of Xiancheng.

"You must master the application of spiritual sense, strengthen your control over it, and ideally learn some spiritual sense calculations…"

"Great Arrays demand spiritual sense beyond rank and array knowledge beyond curriculum, so they are also considered Absolute Arrays."

Fang Cejin shook his head: "Not that difficult."

After speaking, Master Zhuang waved his hand. "Go back now, study well, and come find me if you have questions."

"But a First-Rank Ten-Stripe array with Foundation Establishment-level spiritual sense—that's the requirement for array masters. Ordinary cultivators don't study array arts; they refine spiritual sense application to break through to Foundation Establishment, where their spiritual sense typically ranges from Four to Ten Stripes."

The script was sharp and angular, radiating a lethal aura.

If you can truly draw a Great Array, it won't be that you're far behind others—it'll be that others are far behind you…

But Great Arrays aren't that easy—yet that's only because they're hard.

Master Zhuang then returned to his earlier question: "Do you think Mo Hua can learn Great Arrays?"

There was no sound in the room, and no one answered.

"You'll eventually kill yourself—I'm avoiding you so I won't be dragged down with you."

Until Mo Hua's figure vanished into the mountain scenery, Fang Cejin remained lost in thought; after a long while, he frowned and asked:

Master Zhuang gave Mo Hua's head a firm tap. "What are you thinking about?"

One who can draw a First-Rank Great Array is even more of a prodigy than a true prodigy.

I too have dabbled in construction arrays within alchemy and artifact crafting, and could say I've achieved thorough comprehension.

Old Kui glanced at Mr. Zhu with indifference. "He's an array master. Are you? Then guess who's out."

"Weaker than a Foundation Establishment cultivator's four marks, but still far from ten marks."

Small arrays are extremely rare techniques.

"This array is a small trapping-and-annihilation array. It uses the seven elements' generating and overcoming forces to trap enemies, then employs offensive sub-arrays within to exterminate weaker foes!"

"Oh." Mo Hua smiled apologetically.

Mr. Zhu's gaze followed Mo Hua's back all the way to the nearby distance.

"So the common saying isn't that only Foundation Establishment cultivators can learn first-rank small arrays—it's that only true seventh-rank array masters can even begin to learn first-rank small arrays."

Single arrays, compound arrays, small arrays, puzzle arrays, illusion arrays, ultimate arrays…

Seven-Element Demon-Slaying Small Array!

"First-rank small arrays require ten-mark spiritual sense as a baseline. Let me say it plainly: you must have Foundation Establishment-level spiritual sense to even attempt learning a first-rank small array."

In reality, I've never once seen an array master who achieved all the conditions—timely heaven, favorable earth, harmonious human fortune—to reach that level.

"Is there still a requirement for spiritual sense usage?" Mo Hua asked again.

I must learn the small array!

Mr. Zhu suggested: "I'm already a useless man. If you take me back, given time, I might still be able to help you."

"Teach me quickly."

Mr. Zhu paused, then chuckled slightly, unconsciously rubbing Mo Hua's head:

Fang Cejin unfolded ten jade slips one after another:

After a moment, Old Kui frowned again and asked:

Mr. Zhu looked at Mo Hua and said: "Do you understand now?"

Mr. Zhu fell silent for a long while, his gaze obscure and unreadable, then spoke abruptly—as if to Old Kui, as if to himself:

"Understood, Mr."

Considering all this, when Mo Hua approached Mr. Zhu wanting to learn the small array, Mr. Zhu did not agree—he instead clarified the stakes and told him to go think it over.

"If he wants to teach me the small array, just teach me. Why go through this extra step, waste time, make me think it over vaguely?"

A hint of self-derision and disappointment surfaced on Fang Cejin's face.

Deep spiritual sense foundation, skilled spiritual sense usage, agile spiritual sense control.

Fang Cejin spoke without words: "You're already right here. You've hidden far enough already—what more do you want?"

"Don't think so much. I came here, and disaster arose here—that's already cause and effect. Within my ability, I won't stand idly by."

Old Kui said coolly: "Don't push your own affairs onto me."

Mo Hua nodded.

Mo Hua quickly shook his head. "No!" Then immediately changed the subject and asked:

"Be more humble."

These jade slips, though Mr. Zhu pulled them out casually, would be sufficient as a sect's ultimate secret technique if held by a prominent family or sect.

Mo Hua took them, sank his spiritual sense into the jade slips, and the first thing he saw were bold, powerful characters:

He thought: Array techniques are truly endless—I must work even harder.

Mo Hua was not wrong—he truly was suited to learn the small array.

Even if he couldn't match other array prodigies, the gap couldn't be too wide, or he'd disgrace Mr. Zhu's name as his registered disciple.

Old Kui manifested his form and shook his head:

Mr. Zhu's mood lightened slightly; he quickly calmed his thoughts and continued explaining the small array to Mo Hua.

"Only by choosing between great right and great wrong can one walk one's own Dao heart."

On the array diagram, Mo Hua had drawn the Seven-Element Array countless times—indeed, he could now say he knew it inside and out.

Mo Hua bowed respectfully to Mr. Zhu.

"Mr., if that's so, wouldn't it be harder for a seventh-rank array master to learn a first-rank small array?"

Empowered by Mr. Zhu's encouragement, Mo Hua was greatly inspired.

"Very good."

Mr. Zhu's original intent was to have Mo Hua remain humble, not become arrogant or complacent.

Mr. Zhu's thoughts were exposed; he sighed.

"But because small arrays are immense in scale and long-lasting, once built, cultivators can benefit for hundreds or even thousands of years—their significance is profound. Hence, to emphasize their importance, they're separately named 'small arrays,' not 'ultimate arrays.'"

Array masters who can construct a first-rank great array—and actually succeed in building one—are truly few and far between.

He'd only encountered such cases in sect records and Daoist legends.

"It's not just about spiritual sense usage," Mr. Zhu sighed slightly. "Small arrays are too complex—they involve too many single arrays, requiring meticulous observation of the relationships between arrays: generating and overcoming, opening and closing, forward and reverse."

If he didn't even try to learn the small array, Mr. Zhu would feel regret, even sorrow.

Still, being humble toward the Dao and array techniques is always good. Fang Cejin wouldn't point it out, so he feigned calmness and nodded in disagreement:

"Cultivators only truly recognize their own heart when facing great calamities and great trials."

"I don't know array techniques—how can I teach you?"

"You say—I can learn it?"

"You can ask an array master to teach you."

"Spiritual sense is merely a threshold. If your spiritual sense isn't enough, you don't even have the qualifications to cross that gate," Fang Cejin explained.

If he maintains this humble, questing heart, Mo Hua's future achievements in array arts might truly be terrifying…

Thank you to the patron who gifted the bubbles of the universe~