Chapter 39

Mo Hua frowned.

Something's off…

How could a Foundation Establishment Level Three array exam include the full set?

The instructor wouldn't make such a mistake—could there be some hidden meaning?

Some disciples were already scribbling furiously, but most likely had no idea what they were doing and, unable to leave the page blank, were drawing blindly with their eyes shut.

Mo Hua gathered his thoughts and warned himself:

"If the instructor chose the Six-Line Array for the exam, there must be intent—perhaps to show us how vast and profound array art is, so we won't grow arrogant or complacent…"

After calming himself, Mo Hua focused entirely on studying the array.

The array's name was "Ding Shui Array"; its purpose wasn't stated, but the annotations were complete. Though it contained six array lines, each line was simple, and the structure was common knowledge from the instructor's lectures—not obscure at all.

Yet even so, memorizing the lines, learning to draw the array, and completing it within such a short time was still impossible.

If no one could draw it, the instructor would likely grade based on completion rate.

Mo Hua could only try his best to memorize and draw as much as he could.

Once he focused on drawing the array, time passed quickly—but when the exam ended, Mo Hua still hadn't finished, having drawn only slightly more than five array lines, and he hadn't carefully checked them, unsure if any errors existed.

Mo Hua felt a pang of regret and deeply realized how much farther he had to go in array art.

After completion, all arrays were collected and sent to Mingde Tower on Tongming Peak.

All Tongxian Gate instructors graded assignments here.

The usually stern Instructor Yan now wore an angry expression, glaring at a middle-aged cultivator clad in the robe of a Tongxian Gate elder:

"Elder Qian, what is the meaning of this? Wasn't it agreed we'd only test the first two lines of the Ding Shui Array? Why is the full array being examined?"

"Array art is vast and profound. I wanted the disciples to understand this early."

"And then?" Instructor Yan raised an eyebrow.

"Then they'll realize the difficulty and give up on becoming array masters."

Elder Qian said coolly, "A six-line array is the threshold for array masters. This level of difficulty is beyond the reach of these outer-disciple students who lack talent."

Instructor Yan suppressed his anger: "I am the outer-disciple instructor. Are you overstepping your bounds, Elder Qian?"

"Instructor Yan, these outer-disciple students can never become array masters. Teaching them is a complete waste of time."

"So what?"

Elder Qian's tone grew polite: "Instructor Yan, we all know your array skill, and we deeply admire it. But with your talent, teaching these dull-witted outer-disciples—most of whom are lone cultivators—isn't it a waste of your abilities?"

Instructor Yan's gaze sharpened.

Elder Qian said solemnly: "If you agree, my Qian Clan will offer you generous rewards to become our clan's instructor, teaching our descendants array art. Whether spirit stones, spirit items, or array lineages—you name it, and we'll do our best to fulfill your request."

Instructor Yan's eyelid twitched slightly but said nothing.

Elder Qian paused, then added: "Of course, if you don't wish to leave Tongxian Gate, that's fine too. I can recommend you for promotion to the inner sect as an elder, teaching inner-disciples array art—even the direct disciples. At that point, all of the sect's direct heirs will address you as Mr. Your status will surpass that of ordinary elders."

Instructor Yan fell silent, then slowly said: "What if I refuse?"

Elder Qian's face turned cold. "Why are you so stubborn, Instructor Yan?"

"I teach array art to pass on the Dao—not for fame or profit," Instructor Yan said.

Elder Qian sneered. "Fine. You're so lofty!"

With that, he turned and swept out without another word.

Only then did Instructor Zhou Lao speak: "Instructor Yan, why do you insist on this? The Qian Clan is powerful—we can't afford to offend them."

Instructor Yan sighed. "I just can't stand it. If this continues, the sect and the clans will be in cahoots, and lowly lone cultivators will have no path to cultivation."

Instructor Zhou Lao also sighed. "When the old sect master was in charge, he could withstand the Qian Clan's pressure. Now that he's aged and about to step down, Tongxian Gate will surely change…"

Instructor Yan looked deeply troubled.

"To be fair, Elder Qian has treated you respectfully. You've truly devoted yourself to teaching these outer-disciples—but what's the point? Few will go far on the array path. It's no accident that lone cultivators have no array masters."

Instructor Zhou Lao urged: "Don't push so hard you end up losing your position as instructor."

Instructor Yan remained unmoved: "As long as I am an instructor, I will do what must be done."

Instructor Zhou Lao shook his head and fell silent.

Instructor Yan sighed again, calmed himself, then opened the first array exam paper.

Even if the exam question was flawed, he would grade it seriously.

Naturally, the results were a mess.

Most disciples could draw only one or two lines; some didn't know anything at all and scribbled random nonsense to fill the page.

Instructor Yan quietly wrote down the names of these disciples. Not knowing was understandable—draw what you can. But don't scribble carelessly to fake it.

Some drew better—usually those from wealthier families in Xiancheng, who'd received early array enlightenment. These disciples typically drew three lines, which was already the limit of a Foundation Establishment Level Three cultivator's spiritual sense—quite impressive.

Instructor Yan thought of Mo Hua. A lone cultivator with such extraordinary spiritual sense was rare.

Judging by Mo Hua's progress, he'd likely draw about four lines—if he hadn't slacked off during summer break, maybe even a bit more.

As Instructor Yan graded, he finally reached Mo Hua's paper. He opened it—and froze.

Five full array lines were drawn neatly, and beyond them, half a line was visible—clearly rushed due to time running out, yet every stroke was flawless.

Instructor Yan frowned.

That meant Mo Hua, at Foundation Establishment Level Three, had drawn five and a half lines on his first attempt at the Ding Shui Array.

Five and a half lines…

This required not only deep understanding and insight into arrays, but also exceptional spiritual sense.

Previously, when Instructor Yan had seen Mo Hua draw arrays, he could manage four lines—but clearly struggled, his spiritual sense stretched thin.

Yet two months later, he could now draw five and a half lines of the Ding Shui Array.

If true, this meant Mo Hua not only possessed extraordinary innate spiritual sense, but his spiritual sense was growing at an unimaginable speed—and aside from cultivation advancement, there was no known way for a cultivator to rapidly strengthen spiritual sense.

Instructor Yan held his breath, staring in disbelief at Mo Hua's exam paper once more, then slowly exhaled, muttering, "This is impossible..."

Instructor Zhou heard this, saw Instructor Yan's dazed expression, and said, "Instructor Yan, what has happened?"

Instructor Yan snapped back to himself, his expression shifting slightly; after a moment's thought, he said, "Some disciples' array diagrams are utterly atrocious—I lost my composure for a moment..."

Instructor Zhou gave a look of understanding. "Teaching these disciples is indeed difficult. Instructor Yan, don't take it so to heart. Cultivate your nature, remain calm, and don't let anger rise..."

Instructor Yan nodded, but his eyes remained fixed on Mo Hua's exam paper, his emotions churning uncontrollably.