Chapter 570: Second Rank

The path of divine awareness is grounded in divine awareness, and established through array techniques.

Only by mastering second-rank arrays and becoming a second-rank array master can one gain the foundation to stand in the vast cultivation world and the boundless Nine Provinces.

But Mo Hua currently lacks the foundational transmission of second-rank array techniques.

He thought for a moment, then went to visit Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan came from the Lesser Ye Lingyin Sect.

Though the Lesser Ye Lingyin Sect has declined, it once produced second-rank array masters, and should have some second-rank array diagrams and array texts passed down.

But Mo Hua found no one at home…

Instructor Yan was not there; only Manager Mo sat leisurely drinking tea.

"Where's the instructor?" Mo Hua asked.

Manager Mo shook his head. "I don't know. My senior brother has seemed troubled these past few days, muttering to himself, coming and going at odd hours—no one knows what he's busy with…"

"When will the instructor return?"

"Later…" Manager Mo said, then looked at Mo Hua with curiosity. "Do you need something from my senior brother?"

Mo Hua nodded. "I'd like to ask about second-rank array techniques…"

"Second-rank array techniques…"

Manager Mo was both surprised and envious.

When he first met Mo Hua, Mo Hua could barely draw a three-stroke Fire-illumination Array, coming to his array pavilion to sketch arrays for meager pay.

Even, because he was young, he lied about his identity, fabricating a nonexistent older brother.

Yet, in just a few years, he's already preparing to study second-rank array techniques…

In these same years, my own array skill hasn't advanced even a single stroke.

Yet Mo Hua has surged ahead, leaping past an entire rank…

It's truly maddening to compare oneself to others…

Manager Mo muttered inwardly.

"Manager Mo, do you know how to draw second-rank array techniques?"

Mo Hua asked curiously.

Manager Mo was Instructor Yan's junior brother and also a disciple of the Lesser Ye Lingyin Sect; by rights, he was a proper array master from a sect lineage.

Manager Mo quickly shook his head. "Don't flatter me—I struggle even with seven- or eight-stroke arrays…"

He was a normal cultivator, a normal array master.

He couldn't be compared to Mo Hua, that "little monster"…

"But…"

Manager Mo stroked his chin. "You mention second-rank array techniques—I just remembered, there was once an array master who lacked skill; out of ten arrays he drew, he ruined nine, couldn't pay the spirit stones, and gave me a family heirloom second-rank array diagram scroll as compensation…"

"Second-rank array diagram scroll?"

"Yes." Manager Mo nodded. "It collects basic second-rank arrays, along with their variations."

Mo Hua froze. "That's quite valuable, isn't it?"

Manager Mo shook his head. "Not really. Any family with an array transmission would have something like this—it's just a… rather obscure set of array insights."

"Can I take a look?" Mo Hua said.

"Wait a moment…"

Manager Mo set down his teacup, stood up with his fat belly, "I'll go look for it—it's been a while, I can't remember where I put it…"

Manager Mo dashed off and returned about an hour later, clutching an ancient, weathered book.

"Take a look…"

Manager Mo handed the book to Mo Hua.

"Thank you, Manager!" Mo Hua said happily.

On the cover, handwritten in neat script: "Second-Rank Array Diagram Record."

Mo Hua opened the book and glanced through it.

It indeed contained several second-rank arrays, mostly based on the Five Elements, mixed with other systems of arrays he had never encountered.

Additionally, it detailed the differences between first-rank and second-rank arrays, and the transformation from first-rank to second-rank arrays.

Illustrated with clear diagrams, though not profound, it was thorough and detailed.

The book's owner must have been a very meticulous, very careful second-rank array master.

But his ancestral foundation was likely thin.

Thus, every tiny bit of array knowledge was carefully recorded and cherished and valued.

It progressed from simple to complex, rich and thorough.

This helped Mo Hua immensely.

Mo Hua thanked Manager Mo again.

Manager Mo waved his hand hastily. "It's nothing, nothing!"

Yet helping Mo Hua made Manager Mo very happy.

Afterward, Manager Mo drank tea while Mo Hua read.

After Mo Hua had read for a while, Instructor Yan returned, looking harried; upon seeing Mo Hua, he looked surprised.

Mo Hua explained his purpose.

Instructor Yan thought for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, wait a moment…"

He went to his room, rummaged for the duration of an incense stick, and pulled out two array books.

One was "Initial Explanations of Second-Rank Array Techniques," the other was "Illustrated Second-Rank Array Techniques."

"The book 'Initial Interpretation' explains the foundational knowledge of second-rank arrays, focusing on array principles; 'Illustrated Interpretation' details, through actual array diagrams, how to draw array lines to form second-rank arrays..."

"These are all transmissions of the Little Ye Lingyin Sect, orthodox array techniques; compared to those of great clans and major sects, they may be leaner, but contain no errors..."

"It's a pity..."

Master Yan sighed, "All these years, no one in the Little Ye Lingyin Sect has been able to use them..."

Including himself.

Master Yan solemnly handed the two array books to Mo Hua and instructed him:

"Study them well... learn them well..."

Giving these transmissions to Mo Hua was also a way to repay the debt owed for Mo Hua's aid in purging the traitor and recovering the ancestors' remains for the Little Ye Lingyin Sect.

Master Yan silently thought to himself.

"Mm!"

Mo Hua nodded seriously.

With the array line catalog and the books 'Initial Interpretation' and 'Illustrated Interpretation' on second-rank arrays, he should now be able to grasp how second-rank arrays are drawn.

Yet before that, Mo Hua had one question that puzzled him...

"Master, where did you just go?" Mo Hua asked quietly.

For a fleeting moment, the usually stern and rigid Master Yan looked guilty.

Seeing Mo Hua's wide, curious eyes, Master Yan coughed, turned his gaze away, and mumbled:

"N-nothing... just took a walk."

"Oh..."

Mo Hua looked puzzled but did not press further.

After returning, Mo Hua began flipping through the three array books, studying how to draw second-rank arrays.

A second-rank array consists of ten or more second-rank array lines.

Second-rank array lines resemble first-rank array lines in some ways, yet differ fundamentally.

By studying the 'Catalog of Second-Rank Array Lines,' Mo Hua discovered that second-rank array lines are more like two first-rank array lines fused together through a peculiar form akin to the Dao.

Second-rank array lines are more complex, more profound, with more strokes, and their variations and directional precision are twice as difficult as those of first-rank array lines.

Drawing a second-rank array line consumes twice the spiritual sense of a normal first-rank array line.

"So that's how it is..."

Mo Hua murmured to himself.

After Foundation Establishment, spiritual sense doubles.

In array techniques, the spiritual sense required to go from nine first-rank lines to ten second-rank lines also doubles, and the power and effect of the array double as well.

According to standard array rankings, an array with ten lines is, by default, a second-rank array.

First-rank array lines are too structurally weak to form arrays of ten or more lines.

Arrays with more than ten lines must be built upon second-rank array lines—deeper in spiritual sense, more solid in structure, and more intricate in pattern.

Except for Absolute Arrays...

Absolute Arrays contain the Great Dao's principles, transcending rank classifications and differing from ordinary arrays...

Mo Hua frowned.

If so, a first-rank Absolute Array and a second-rank array have the same number of lines, yet their line ranks are entirely different.

For example, the first-rank ten-line Reverse Spirit Absolute Array and the second-rank ten-line array—both have ten lines, but one is composed of first-rank lines, the other of second-rank lines.

Second-rank lines require twice the spiritual sense of first-rank lines.

Yet these two ten-line arrays seem to demand nearly the same spiritual sense.

Mo Hua thought about it, but could not figure it out, so he set it aside for now.

He decided to wait until he truly mastered second-rank arrays, then carefully compare the spiritual sense differences between first-rank Absolute Arrays and second-rank arrays.

Next came the actual study of second-rank arrays.

To study arrays, first study array lines.

Mo Hua flipped through the 'Catalog of Second-Rank Array Lines' several times, memorizing several basic second-rank Five-Element array lines and sketching them lightly on paper.

Then he began attempting to draw his first second-rank array according to the 'Illustrated Guide to Second-Rank Arrays':

'Second-Rank Bright Fire Array.'

The Bright Fire Array is a fire array, used for warmth and illumination—among the most basic array patterns across all ranks.

The first formal array Mo Hua ever drew was precisely the Bright Fire Array.

But that earlier Bright Fire Array had only three lines and was unranked.

Now, this Bright Fire Array is a second-rank array, with exactly ten lines.

Of course, ten lines posed no real difficulty for Mo Hua, whose spiritual sense had undergone a transformation at fourteen lines.

The difficulty lay only in his unfamiliarity with the second-rank array system.

Mo Hua carefully memorized the diagram of the Second-Rank Bright Fire Array.

At midnight, he practiced the Second-Rank Bright Fire Array on the Dao Stele within his spiritual sea.

One man, one stele, one array.

Just as when he first learned arrays years ago.

Mo Hua felt a moment of daze.

It felt as if he had learned countless arrays, yet also as if he had learned very few.

The more he learned, the more he felt how little he knew.

Now that the array is nearing second-rank, everything begins anew.

Go learn entirely new array patterns, comprehend deeper array principles, contemplate more ancient Dao truths...

Mo Hua exhaled, calmed his mind, maintained humility and serenity, remembered his original intent, and began drawing his first second-rank array on the Dao Stele:

Minghuo Array.

Second-rank array patterns are more complex, brushwork more refined, and spiritual awareness consumption greater.

The array's structure also contains many more variations.

At first, Mo Hua was still clumsy; after several attempts, he kept making mistakes.

Either a brush error in the pattern, or a conflict in the array pivot, or poor control of the layout...

Mo Hua had no choice but to erase the pattern, rewind his spiritual awareness, and draw again.

Again and again.

Dull and mechanical.

But Mo Hua was already accustomed to it.

His brushwork gradually matured, the array pivot structure gradually became familiar, and his understanding of second-rank array composition gradually deepened...

If you don't know, learn. If you're not skilled, practice.

"Draw an array a hundred times, its meaning will reveal itself."

Mo Hua kept drawing, kept drawing, until he had drawn the second-rank Minghuo Array dozens of times, stepped into every possible pitfall, and finally felt a moment of sudden enlightenment.

The array patterns and pivots became fully integrated.

The brushwork details were clear in his mind...

His strokes grew more composed and spirited, with perfect rhythm and control.

Finally, after an unknown length of time, Mo Hua completed the final stroke—the array was drawn.

Upon the Dao Stele, the second-rank Minghuo Array glowed, radiant and brilliant, shimmering with bright light.

This light was more condensed, more dazzling.

As before, it illuminated Mo Hua—the first step of a second-rank array master...

Mo Hua sighed in relief, unable to suppress a broad smile.

Second-rank array!

He had finally drawn it himself!

Mo Hua couldn't help feeling a touch of pride, admiring the second-rank Minghuo Array he had drawn on the Dao Stele, before reluctantly erasing it, waiting for his spiritual awareness to rewind, and drawing again.

First time, awkward; second time, familiar.

His first attempt had still been clumsy, riddled with errors.

Because second-rank arrays differ in rank from first-rank arrays, their patterns are entirely distinct, so he had spent considerable effort.

But after drawing it once, given his spiritual awareness strength and array comprehension, subsequent attempts became much faster.

Afterward, Mo Hua drew the Minghuo Array with ease and fluency.

Second-rank arrays carry a cognitive barrier.

Mo Hua himself still lacked sufficient understanding of second-rank arrays.

Otherwise, the ten-pattern Minghuo Array would actually be simpler to draw than the ten-pattern Niling Jue Array.

Mo Hua kept drawing, kept drawing, until the Minghuo Array was thoroughly ingrained in his mind, then withdrew from his spiritual sea.

The sky had turned pale with dawn, rosy light flooding the heavens, staining Mo Hua's cheeks a rosy hue.

Mo Hua was in high spirits, his face beaming.

Drawing the second-rank Minghuo Array was a small threshold crossed.

Next, he needed to actually draw the Minghuo Array in reality.

Drawing it on the Dao Stele—with hand as brush, spiritual awareness as ink, Dao Stele as medium—was not truly "drawing" it.

Thus, it could not be considered true mastery.

Mo Hua rose, spread paper on the desk, took out his brush, dipped it in ink, and prepared to attempt drawing the second-rank Minghuo Array.

But the moment he lifted his brush, Mo Hua froze.

He suddenly realized a serious problem:

The Minghuo Array is a second-rank array...

But he had no second-rank spiritual ink!

Not just spiritual ink—he had no second-rank array brush, array paper, or any other array medium!

Even a skillful housewife cannot cook without rice.

Without brush, ink, or paper—how could he draw an array?

Mo Hua sighed.

He had miscalculated...

He hadn't worried about brushes, ink, paper, or inkstone in a long time, so it slipped his mind.

"But... where can I find second-rank spiritual ink?"

"The Merchant Pavilions?"

Mo Hua specifically visited every Merchant Pavilion in Xiancheng and wandered the marketplace—but found nothing.

Xiancheng has no second-rank array masters, so naturally no one draws second-rank arrays, and thus no second-rank spiritual ink exists!

Even if some families or Merchant Pavilions had stockpiles, the spiritual ink had aged too long and was completely inert, unusable for array drawing.

Helpless, Mo Hua thought for a moment, then went to find Master Luo.

Master Luo had been a first-rank array master for a long time, with deep seniority and wide connections; after decades of studying arrays, he surely kept some second-rank spiritual ink on hand.

Mo Hua arrived at the Luo residence, only to learn that Master Luo was not there.

He went to drink tea with Master Qian…

Mo Hua could only change course and head to the Qian residence.

The once-prominent Qian family had long since fractured, its fortunes declined, and its members scattered to pursue their own livelihoods.

The vast Qian residence had been divided into separate courtyards.

The courtyard where Master Qian now lived was in the southwest corner of the Qian residence, the largest and most spacious, though the plaque above its gate had been replaced with "Qian Clan Academy."

This was not only Master Qian's cultivation dwelling, but also the academy he had specifically opened to teach array techniques.

Master Qian still remembered his promise to Mo Hua, settled his mind, devoted himself to studying arrays, and taught them to the children of Xiancheng's itinerant cultivators.

Meanwhile, Master Luo, when idle, would often drop by to visit.

He would drink tea with Master Qian, exchange insights on arrays, and occasionally offer guidance to other students.

When Mo Hua entered, Master Luo and Master Qian were sitting together in a quiet courtyard filled with flowers and plants, brewing tea and sipping it.

Inside the academy, the children were all focused intently on practicing basic array patterns.

Mo Hua's arrival surprised and delighted both Master Luo and Master Qian; they rose at once to greet him.

"Little Mr., what a rare honor…"

Mo Hua's array expertise had already surpassed theirs before; now that he had established his Foundation, his status was even higher, and they dared not be careless.

Mo Hua smiled and greeted them.

"Master Luo, Master Qian, it's been a long time."

Master Luo studied Mo Hua: though Mo Hua had now established his Foundation, his gaze was deep, his spiritual sense stronger, his array mastery deeper, yet he remained warm and approachable, innocent and sincere—seemingly unchanged from before—and Master Luo couldn't help but admire him.

Master Luo said humbly, "Before Little Mr., I dare not claim the title 'Master.'"

Mo Hua didn't mind much.

After sitting down, Master Qian poured tea for Mo Hua and asked, "Little Mr., what brings you here?"

Mo Hua nodded. "Both Masters, do you have second-rank spirit ink?"

"Second-rank spirit ink!"

Master Luo and Master Qian exchanged glances, both surprised. "Little Mr., have you mastered second-rank arrays?"

Though Mo Hua felt he was already quite familiar with the Second-Rank Fire Array, he had never actually drawn it, so he declined to boast and replied modestly:

"A little. I'd like to try drawing it."

When Mo Hua said "a little," Master Luo naturally did not believe it was merely "one" bit.

Master Luo smiled wryly, at a loss for words.

He was over a hundred years old and still only a first-rank array master; Mo Hua, so young, was already preparing to learn second-rank arrays…

Though Mo Hua becoming a second-rank array master was good for him, he couldn't help feeling a pang of bitterness.

"Spirit ink…?"

Master Luo thought for a moment, then nodded. "I do have some second-rank spirit ink, but not much—only two bottles…"

Master Qian added, "I have some too—leftover from the Qian family's old stock—but only five bottles. If Little Mr. doesn't mind, please take them all."

Mo Hua was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master Luo! Thank you, Master Qian!"

"Little Mr. is too kind…"

Master Luo and Master Qian retrieved the spirit ink and handed it to Mo Hua.

The spirit ink was all five-element spirit ink, stored in jade bottles, its aura surging with astonishing five-element spiritual power.

Mo Hua couldn't help asking, "Is this spirit ink… very expensive?"

Master Qian nodded. "Generally, a bottle of first-rank spirit ink costs about ten spirit stones, though prices vary by quality or scarcity—some as cheap as two or three spirit stones per bottle, others as high as dozens per bottle…"

"Second-rank spirit ink, even the cheapest, costs at least a hundred spirit stones per bottle."

"The more expensive kinds can reach hundreds or even thousands per bottle…"

Mo Hua was startled. "So expensive?!"

A hundred spirit stones per bottle…

These five small bottles in his hand alone were worth at least five hundred spirit stones…

Master Qian sighed. "Yes, that's why learning arrays is difficult—especially as you climb higher…"

"One small bottle, a hundred spirit stones, even if you draw perfectly, with zero failure, will only let you draw two basic second-rank arrays…"

"And to truly master one array, you need to practice it at least dozens of times, sometimes hundreds…"

"To master a single second-rank array, the ink and spirit stones consumed alone are no small sum…"

"Great clans and major sects don't care—this is a drop in the ocean. Their daily meals cost more than this."

"Medium-sized sects and clans also don't mind."

"But for small families or minor sects, producing even one second-rank array master is a heavy burden…"

"Itinerant cultivators…"

Master Qian smiled bitterly.

They couldn't even support themselves—how could they afford a third-rank or higher array master?

Mo Hua opened his mouth wide, looked again at the bottles in his hand, frowned, and asked:

"Isn't this spirit ink just mixed from demon blood? Why is it so expensive?"

Master Luo fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly:

"Second-rank demons are hard to hunt and hard to bleed."

"But that's not the real reason…"

Master Luo's voice lowered slightly.

"Even if a second-rank beast is hard to kill, when preparing spirit ink, you only use blood—never scarce items like inner cores, hearts, or beast marrow..."

"Logically, it shouldn't be this expensive."

"But the formulas, techniques, and some rare spirit herbs for preparing spirit ink are all held by the great Shijiada Sect."

Master Luo pointed upward, "Since they hold the monopoly, naturally, they call the shots."

"Whether ten spirit stones, a hundred, a thousand, or ten thousand—it's not up to us to decide."

"Those who actually hunt beasts, extract blood, and mix ink barely earn any spirit stones; most of the profits are siphoned off by the great clans..."

"Their motive is twofold: first, for profit; second,..."

Master Luo paused, but seeing Mo Hua, who had risen from the ranks of lone cultivators, he spoke more plainly.

"... not allowing too many array masters to emerge from the lower strata, lest they shake the... foundation."

(End of Chapter)