Chapter 40

Instructor Yan stared at Mo Hua's exam paper, pondered for a moment, then wrote a single "Jia" on it.

Instructor Yan continued grading the other disciples' array diagrams; after a while, he remembered something, pulled out the earlier papers again, and upgraded every disciple who had received a "Yi" to a "Jia."

Now, disciples who received a "Jia" were no longer just Mo Hua alone.

After finishing the grading, Instructor Yan sat before his desk, lost in thought for a long while, murmuring to himself:

"This Tongxian Gate… I can't stay here anymore…"

When the array exam papers were returned, Mo Hua saw the "Jia" on his and nodded, but inside he wondered: could any other Qi Condensation disciples truly draw the Ding Shui Array…

This was an array with six array lines.

Mo Hua deliberately inquired, and learned that several other disciples had also received "Jia" grades; astonished yet humbled, he sighed:

"Beyond the sky lies higher sky; beyond people lie greater people. My array skills are still insufficient—I must not grow complacent!"

But Mo Hua did not know that his "Jia" was slightly different from others' "Jia."

His "Jia" was the real "Jia"; the others' "Jia" was, in fact, inflated by Instructor Yan…

Afterwards, Mo Hua planned to continue cultivating at Tongxian Gate, study arrays, and after some time, consider selecting a cultivation technique. But half a month later, he heard an utterly absurd piece of news:

"Instructor Yan is leaving Tongxian Gate—henceforth, the outer gate of Tongxian Gate will no longer teach arrays…"

Mo Hua stood frozen in place.

Arrays… no longer to be studied…

Mo Hua went to find Instructor Yan, who gave him a complex look but said nothing, only telling him to return home and come back in a few days.

After Mo Hua left, Instructor Yan went to see Manager Mo.

"Have you heard anything about the matter I asked you about?"

Manager Mo handed Instructor Yan a letter: "The person you're looking for is no longer in Tongxian City. Here are his clues—but whether they're true or false, I can't guarantee."

"Thank you."

Manager Mo hesitated, then said: "You really plan to leave Tongxian Gate?"

"Not just Tongxian Gate—I'll leave Tongxian City too."

"Will you ever come back?"

"Hard to say," Instructor Yan chuckled bitterly. "As you said—let fate decide."

Manager Mo's words of persuasion were on his lips, but after thinking, he said nothing—he knew he couldn't stop him.

"What about Mo Hua? What are you going to do about him?" Manager Mo asked. "Without you, no one in Tongxian Gate can teach him…"

"I have my own plan. Mo Hua's array talent…"

…is terrifying…

Instructor Yan silently thought, but he didn't say it aloud—only: "... his talent is decent. It's a shame he can't study arrays. I've had the bond of teacher and disciple with him—I'll find a way to handle what comes next."

Manager Mo nodded, gazing at his senior brother, wondering if they'd ever meet again—his heart full of words, yet unsure where to begin.

Cultivators live long lives; partings last even longer.

In the end, they said nothing, merely raised their teacups in place of wine and drank together.

"Take care!" Manager Mo said.

"Take care!"

Instructor Yan nodded, and under Manager Mo's gaze, left Youyuan Zhai, vanishing into the bustling, noisy streets.

Without teaching arrays, staying in Tongxian Gate's outer gate held no meaning. Besides, the Ling Shu Array Diagram remained etched in Instructor Yan's mind—he would not abandon it.

Before leaving Tongxian City, the last thing Instructor Yan intended to do was find Mo Hua an array master.

He prepared fine wine and tea gifts, then knocked on the door of a cave dwelling on Beijie in Tongxian City.

This cave dwelling was one of the largest on the street, opulent and majestic, grand and splendid.

The owner was one of Tongxian City's only two Grade-One Array Masters, surnamed Luo, respectfully called Master Luo by most cultivators.

Instructor Yan presented his tea gifts and stated his purpose.

Master Luo had long been on good terms with Instructor Yan; upon hearing this, he frowned in surprise: "This boy truly has such talent that you, Senior Yan, came here personally to plead for him?"

Instructor Yan showed Master Luo the Ming Huo Array diagram Mo Hua had drawn: "This is the array he drew at Qi Condensation Third Layer."

He did not show the five-and-a-half-line Ding Shui Array diagram, because he didn't want to draw undue attention.

Moreover, generally speaking, a Qi Condensation Third Layer cultivator who can draw an array with three lines already demonstrates exceptional array skill.

Master Luo's eyes lit up and nodded: "Indeed impressive!"

Master Luo studied the Ming Huo Array diagram, then asked: "Which family is this disciple from? Qian? An? Or Chen?"

Instructor Yan fell silent for a moment, then said: "He's not from any clan—he's a lone cultivator."

Master Luo said nothing, his interest noticeably dimming.

Instructor Yan probed: "Are you concerned about something, Master?"

"Lone cultivators are hard to teach…" Master Luo said.

"Master Luo…"

Master Luo waved his hand: "Senior Yan, I understand what you're saying—but you know how troublesome it is to take on a lone cultivator as an apprentice."

"Mo Hua is young, but he's obedient, thoughtful, diligent, and his array talent is extraordinary. With just a little guidance from you, Master Luo, his future in arrays will be limitless," Instructor Yan pleaded earnestly.

"It's not that simple," Master Luo sighed.

"Forget his talent and insight—can he even afford the teacher's gift?"

Master Luo rose and paced slowly: "It's not that I'm greedy for these gifts—it's about propriety. When I take disciples, I follow rules. Every disciple pays a substantial gift. If only he cannot pay—or pays far less—how do I explain it to the others? Even if they don't speak up, they'll harbor resentment, thinking I favor him, that I can't be fair."

"Not just the teacher's gift—what about the ink, paper, brushes, and inkstones for array study? Don't they all cost spirit stones? Can a lone cultivator's meager resources sustain that?"

"And even if he eventually masters arrays and becomes a master himself, he still has only two paths: cling to a clan, or cling to a sect. If he refuses to cling, his cultivation and array study will be arduous. If he does cling, he's essentially sold himself—his name, lineage, parents—all lost. He'll be bound by others' wills—how could he ever truly respect me as his master?"

"So no matter how you look at it, taking him as apprentice or disciple brings me no benefit whatsoever."

Master Luo finished speaking and sat down to drink some tea.

Instructor Yan fell silent as well; he understood Master Luo's words and had no rebuttal. He had merely assumed Mo Hua's exceptional talent would be enough to sway Master Luo's judgment, but now he saw he had underestimated the complexity of the matter.

It's true that lone cultivators have no array masters…

Instructor Yan's expression turned despondent.

Seeing this, Master Luo sighed and softened his tone: "If he had even a distant family lineage—any branch or offshoot—I could take him in. But lone cultivators are different; too many concerns weigh on me, and I lack the energy to bear them."

"It's too hard for a lone cultivator to become an array master!" Master Luo sighed.

Instructor Yan still wished to plead further: "This boy, Mo Hua, his array talent is truly unparalleled…" He reached to pull out the painting of the "Stabilizing Water Array" with five and a half array lines drawn by Mo Hua.

But halfway through, Master Luo said: "Don't say he can draw three array lines—even if he could draw four or five at Foundation Establishment Stage Three, I still wouldn't take him."

Instructor Yan's hand froze; helplessly, he put the array diagram back.

"Master Luo, is there truly no way?"

"Young Brother Yan, you're always welcome here to discuss the Dao and chat—but on this matter, there is no room for negotiation."

"Master Luo…" Instructor Yan had nothing more to say, only sighed: "Don't regret it later."

"Many cultivators have said the same to me—but Master Luo has never regretted it to this day!"

The two fell silent; Master Luo raised his teacup as a gesture to dismiss his guest.

Instructor Yan sighed, his expression filled with disappointment, and rose to take his leave.

After Instructor Yan left, Master Luo sat in the room as a disciple poured him tea and whispered: "Master, if he truly can draw the Burning Flame Array at Foundation Establishment Stage Three, his talent is truly extraordinary."

"Yes," Master Luo lifted his teacup, sipped, and said: "But what good is high talent? The Dao isn't decided by talent alone. How many were brilliant in youth, only to vanish into obscurity? Spirit stones, lineage, family background—each matters greatly. Without them, talent is like grass without roots—it will wither sooner or later."

"But Master, if you offered him even a little guidance, he'd surely feel indebted to you…"

Master Luo shook his head. "You misunderstand human nature. Lone cultivators come from poverty and often have twisted dispositions. One misstep, and they harbor resentment. There are too many cases where a grain of kindness is repaid with a bushel of hatred. In the end, you gain no gratitude—only enmity. Why should I wade into such murky waters?"

"Master's words are wise, yet such talent is truly a pity."

"Yes, it is a pity," Master Luo set down his teacup and sighed. "But this is fate. No amount of forcing can change it."