Chapter 63

"Spirit Array Veil?"

Mr. Zhuang's expression also showed slight surprise.

Mo Hua recalled the Spirit Veil in his mind and described it in detail:

"The pale blue spiritual energy resembles spiritual ink, forming interwoven patterns like array markings, weaving into a Spirit Veil that is essentially an entire array—except the spiritual energy flows, the array markings shift accordingly, and what appears on the Spirit Veil are different arrays."

"Interesting."

Mr. Zhuang's eyes glinted slightly, then he took out paper and brush, spreading them on the table before him.

"Do you remember those array markings? Draw a few for me."

"I remember part of the array markings, but those markings keep changing…" Mo Hua replied honestly.

"No matter," said Mr. Zhuang, "draw them exactly as you saw them."

Mo Hua gripped the brush, dipped it in ink, and let the tip glide across the paper; soon, several array markings leapt onto the array paper.

Mr. Zhuang glanced at them. "They all look like ordinary array markings—nothing special."

Mo Hua asked, "Didn't previous cultivators who practiced this technique ever encounter this situation?"

Mr. Zhuang paused to think. "No—at least, I've never heard of it."

Mr. Zhuang added, "Even for the same technique, different cultivators may encounter different problems—especially with obscure ancient techniques, which have few lineages and even fewer practitioners. Once an issue arises, there's rarely any good precedent to refer to."

Mr. Zhuang pondered. "The technique states the bottleneck lies in the spiritual sense. Previous cultivators must have also hit a spiritual sense barrier—but their issue was surely different from yours, otherwise the jade slip would have noted it. Matters concerning the sect's technique lineage are never kept secret by senior members."

Mo Hua frowned. "Then what should I do, Mr. Zhuang? It seems I can't practice anymore."

Mr. Zhuang smiled carefree. "As long as it's an array matter, it's no big deal. Go back, memorize all the array markings and arrays shown on the Spirit Veil, and bring them to me tomorrow."

"Yes, Mr. Zhuang!"

Mo Hua exhaled in relief, then remembered what Mr. Zhuang had just said.

As long as it's an array matter, it's no big deal?

Just how advanced is Mr. Zhuang's array mastery?

Could he already be a third-grade array master…?

What kind of arrays can a third-grade array master draw?

Mo Hua felt a flicker of admiration, then thought again:

"Never mind—I shouldn't aim too high. I can't even reach first-grade array master yet…"

Mo Hua steadied his thoughts, remembered Mr. Zhuang's instructions, and returned home to sink his spiritual sense into his dantian, observing the array markings and arrays on the Spirit Veil.

Mo Hua recognized many of the array markings on the Spirit Veil, but most of the arrays were unfamiliar; he couldn't memorize obscure markings he'd never seen in one glance. He had to watch, then practice them on the stone tablet until he mastered them, then exit his dantian and transcribe the markings onto array paper.

He continued until midnight, when suddenly he felt dizzy—he realized his spiritual sense had been overused, and prepared to rest.

As soon as his mind relaxed, Mo Hua felt a gnawing hunger in his stomach—he suddenly realized he'd been so absorbed in recording array markings that he'd skipped dinner.

"By now, my parents must be asleep."

Mo Hua fretted. "I wonder if there's anything left to eat at home."

Mo Hua stood up, about to open the door, when he noticed a small table beside it, holding several bowls and plates, one large bowl inverted on top.

Mo Hua lifted the bowl—it revealed a small pot of white porridge, a dish of assorted pickled vegetables, two steamed buns, and a small dish of braised beef.

The vegetables and meat were cold, the buns were warm, but the porridge was still hot.

"Mother must have worried I hadn't eaten, and feared disturbing my array studies, so she left it by the door. And before sleeping, she reheated it again—otherwise the porridge would've cooled long ago."

Mo Hua's spirits lifted. He sipped the porridge, and warmth spread through his entire body.

He then devoured the rest of the food; his earlier fatigue vanished, and he felt fully refreshed.

Mo Hua re-entered his dantian and continued tracing the array markings on the Spirit Veil, transcribing each memorized marking onto array paper.

He continued until the third watch, when his spiritual sense was depleted a second time; he carefully gathered the transcribed array papers and slept soundly.

The next day, Mr. Zhuang examined the array papers Mo Hua had transcribed, his gaze sharpening.

"It's a Puzzle Array."

"Puzzle Array?"

Mo Hua had never heard of it.

Mr. Zhuang patiently explained: "You know riddles, right?"

Mo Hua nodded.

"This Puzzle Array is the same—except the array markings are the riddle's characters, and the arrays are the riddle's clues, forming a Puzzle Array. Without the right method, you can't see through its truth."

"Oh." Mo Hua nodded.

"It was originally used by ancient sects and clans to entertain and sharpen their disciples' wits—now it's rarely seen."

Mo Hua thought of the intricate, headache-inducing array markings, his expression turning complicated.

This was for entertainment?

"If you can't solve it, does that mean you're stupid?" Mo Hua asked delicately.

Mr. Zhuang saw through his thoughts at once, smiling faintly. "Not exactly. Yours is a bit harder—not everyone can solve it."

Mo Hua felt Mr. Zhuang was trying to comfort him—but not really.

If not everyone can solve it, that probably means many can—and those who can't are few.

And he couldn't solve it…

Since it's meant for wits and amusement, he had to solve it—this pride mattered!

Mo Hua asked, "How do you solve a Puzzle Array?"

Mr. Zhuang tapped his bamboo chair with his finger as usual. "Your situation differs from others. For them, failing to solve it is merely frustrating. But your Puzzle Array affects cultivation—if you can't solve it, your progress halts, and the consequences are serious."

"There are two methods: one, you learn to solve it yourself; two, you memorize and transcribe all the array markings, and I solve it for you."

"The second method is fastest and most direct—after all, cultivation is the cultivator's foundation; without it, everything is empty talk, let alone becoming an array master. The first method requires you to learn on your own—it benefits your array studies but takes much longer and delays your cultivation. Choose as you wish."

Mr. Zhuang finished speaking and regarded Mo Hua with keen interest.

Mo Hua felt torn.

For a cultivator, stagnation in cultivation was too serious a consequence; compared to the Bai siblings and even those scions of great clans, his cultivation was naturally inferior, but among peers among the lone cultivators of Tongxiancheng, he was barely considered a "standout"—though even that was a standout among the thin.

If he spent too much time stuck on the bottleneck of his cultivation technique, his cultivation would likely fall to the very bottom.

After thinking it over, Mo Hua decided to say: "Mr. Zhuang, I choose the first option."

Problems one can solve oneself should best be solved oneself.

Falling behind in cultivation is falling behind; his spiritual roots and technique are already a full step behind others, and the gap only widens with time—whether he fell behind early or late made no difference.

One must not crave temporary superiority.

Besides, if I ask Mr. Zhuang to help me through a Foundation Establishment bottleneck, what then when I face the mid- and late- Foundation Establishment bottlenecks?

Mr. Zhuang cannot always be by my side, and I am only his registered disciple—I cannot trouble him with every matter.

Lastly, the phrase "beneficial amusement" weighed heavily on Mo Hua's mind.

"Oh? Have you made up your mind?"

Mr. Zhuang asked with a meaningful look.

Mo Hua nodded: "Disciple has decided."

Mr. Zhuang nodded and said: "I have some texts and jade slips explaining the basics of puzzle arrays—take them, study them first, then come back to me, and I will teach you how to unravel them."

Mo Hua solemnly accepted them and said: "Disciple takes his leave."

Mr. Zhuang watched Mo Hua depart; his casual expression faded, and his demeanor grew slightly solemn.