Chapter 41: Chapter Forty-One: A Visit

Master Luo is a first-grade array master and refused Master Yan's request.

Master Yan could only settle for second best, seeking out array masters who were not yet graded but had studied array arts for many years, asking them to take Mo Hua as a disciple.

Some refused outright, others delayed and evaded, and still others agreed—but demanded terms so extreme that if Mo Hua accepted, he would spend his entire life as a tool or puppet, with no freedom whatsoever, no different from selling himself into servitude.

Master Yan wandered for many days without success, returned to his lodging, sat alone, and sighed deeply.

He would depart in just a few days; time was running out, and if he could not find a suitable Mr., Mo Hua's progress in array cultivation would surely be delayed.

After much thought, Master Yan finally made up his mind. He sealed Mo Hua's exam paper and placed it alone into his storage bag.

At dusk, Master Yan left Xiancheng and walked straight toward the southeast outside Xiancheng.

In the southeast of Xiancheng stood a mountain peak, elegant and secluded, with breathtaking scenery and its own quiet charm; nestled among its slopes was a mountain retreat, bearing no signboard or gate, only a narrow mountain path leading into the compound.

Master Yan stood beneath the mountain for a long time, until a thin, withered voice sounded beside his ear:

"Come in."

The voice seemed to whisper at his ear, yet echoed within his soul.

Master Yan's expression grew even more humble; he straightened his Dao robe, patted his waistband's storage bag, and stepped forward up the mountain with determined resolve.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua planned to withdraw from Xiantian Gate.

Mo Hua was an outer sect disciple; his relationship with the sect was merely a simple exchange of spirit stones for cultivation instruction, with a modicum of goodwill—but not much.

Especially now that Master Yan was leaving and the outer sect would no longer teach array arts, there was no point for Mo Hua to remain.

His spiritual roots ensured his spiritual power would never be strong, and his cultivation speed would never be fast.

Other teachings offered by the sect—such as body refining, pill refining, artifact forging, and talisman crafting—were also half-useless to Mo Hua: learning them was pointless, but abandoning them felt wasteful.

The only thing Mo Hua wished to learn—and that held any prospect for his Dao path—was array arts.

But among the outer sect, aside from Master Yan, Mo Hua did not believe anyone else could teach him array arts.

Brother Da Hu and the other two also planned to withdraw.

But they were leaving not because of the instructors, but simply because their families were poor and could no longer afford the sect's tuition and newly imposed fees.

According to Mo Hua's understanding, the old sect master would step down in a few months and cease involvement in the sect's daily affairs; thus, right now, Elder Qian called the shots—in other words, the Qian family ruled.

The Qian family intended to reform the sect, employing all manner of methods, but the core goal was simple: extract more spirit stones.

Whether in pill refining, artifact forging, or talisman crafting, previously only the most basic techniques were taught; now advanced techniques were also offered—but required additional spirit stones.

Even the previously free transmission fees for cultivation techniques had been newly added by Elder Qian under the excuse: "Sect transmissions are hard-won; transmission must be paid for."

After the Qian family's reforms, family members or wealthy disciples could pay more spirit stones to receive superior transmissions.

But among the outer sect's lower-tier cultivators—especially wandering cultivators—there was virtually nothing left to learn, and they now had to pay even more spirit stones as tuition.

For such wandering disciple cultivators, withdrawal was their only option.

Thus, through reform, Xiantian Gate gradually expelled its impoverished lower-tier disciples, basing access on family wealth; these lower-tier wandering cultivators could no longer cultivate within the sect, and their future Dao paths were left to fate.

Mo Hua told his parents of his plan to withdraw; Mo Shan disagreed but understood there was no solution—it was not Mo Hua's personal matter, but the plight of all lower-tier wandering cultivators in Xiancheng.

Liu Ruhua didn't care; she knew Mo Hua trained diligently and had his own resolve. Since he decided to withdraw, it meant he could learn nothing more at the sect, so she said nothing.

The eatery's business was thriving; even if her son did nothing at home, she could fully support him.

Thus, Mo Hua, at Qi Condensation Third Layer, withdrew from Xiantian Gate.

Mo Hua went to the sect to complete his withdrawal paperwork and received back half a year's tuition—roughly fifty to sixty spirit stones.

After withdrawal, the greatest issue was cultivation techniques.

Mo Shan agreed to use his hunter-exterminator connections to inquire about suitable techniques for Mo Hua, but it would take some time.

The other issue was array arts.

Without the sect's instruction, Mo Hua could only learn on his own—or find an array master to take him as a disciple.

But Mo Hua knew it was difficult for a wandering cultivator to find an array master as a teacher; not all array masters were like Master Yan, broad-minded and eager to transmit knowledge.

Mo Hua planned to visit Master Yan to thank him for his diligent instruction during this time. But he did not know where Master Yan lived; just as he considered asking Master Mo for information, Master Yan found him.

After several days apart, Master Yan looked weary, as if he had been rushing about over some matter.

Mo Hua bowed respectfully to Master Yan, who nodded slightly and asked: "Do you still wish to study array arts?"

Mo Hua nodded.

Master Yan gave Mo Hua an approving glance, then said: "Come with me."

Mo Hua followed Master Yan to a mountain peak southeast of Xiancheng.

Mo Hua remembered Brother Da Hu saying this peak had been purchased by someone for secluded cultivation, to keep other cultivators away.

There were no demonic beasts on the mountain, no rare spirit herbs, let alone spirit mines; the only advantage was its beautiful scenery and tranquil environment.

Xiancheng had many wandering cultivators, worn down by constant travel, who had no interest in mountain views, so few cultivators ever came here.

Master Yan brought Mo Hua to the mountain's base and said: "A recluse lives atop this mountain. I met him by chance; I never disturb him, but I depart in a few days, so I brought you to meet him."

"Does this Mr. know array arts?"

Master Yan nodded. "Yes. This Mr. has profound mastery in array arts."

"Is he a first-grade array master?" Mo Hua asked curiously.

"I don't know his exact grade, but he is at least a first-grade."

Mo Hua bowed in solemn respect.

A first-grade array master was already extraordinary; anything beyond that, Mo Hua dared not even imagine.

Yet Mo Hua was still curious—what would array arts beyond first-grade be like…

Would they truly possess the power to steal the workings of creation and alter heaven and earth, as legends claimed?

"Why does this Mr. live in such a remote place? Does he dislike noise?" Mo Hua asked again.

"The Mr. is naturally detached and dislikes worldly affairs, so he wishes to avoid disturbance. Few ever come to this peak."

Master Yan looked at Mo Hua and said: "You've already guessed why I brought you here."

Mo Hua nodded and said, "Is it so that this Mr. will take me as his disciple?"

Instructor Yan nodded, "You guessed correctly. I have little to teach you, so I hope this Mr. can guide you."

"You have already taught me much," Mo Hua said gratefully.

"What I can teach you is far less than what this Mr. can."

"But…"

Instructor Yan shook his head, "You are still young and do not yet understand. As you grow older and see more, you will come to realize how vast and profound the art of arrays truly is—far beyond what even a Qi Condensation or Foundation Establishment cultivator can comprehend. Your spiritual sense is exceptional, your insight is strong, and you are diligent—you are a rare talent for array study. Cherish this precious gift, and never waste your potential."

"Today, I brought you here to pay a visit, hoping you may become his disciple. He is detached and unwilling to take students, but even as a nominal disciple, it would be good. If you learn only a fraction of his knowledge, it will carry you far on the path of arrays."

Instructor Yan pointed forward, and before them lay a mountain path winding up toward the mid-slope, where mist curled around the hillside, and within the mist stood a simple yet mysterious courtyard gate.

Instructor Yan instructed, "Climb the mountain alone. Be respectful. Answer whatever this Mr. asks truthfully. If he accepts you as a disciple, it is your fortune. If he refuses, do not be discouraged—it is merely that your fortune has not yet arrived."

Mo Hua nodded seriously, then glanced at Instructor Yan.

"Instructor…"

"Go," Instructor Yan said, waving his hand without further words.

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, then finally stepped forward with small, determined steps, his back resolute as he ascended the mountain.