Chapter 431

In the grand hall, Elder Yang sat cross-legged on a cushion and slowly ceased his lecture.

His sharp gaze fixed on the disciple who had suddenly stood up.

He had noticed the commotion from the disciples below, but ignored it because these cultivators from General Nanyang Sect were merely listening in.

After all, it was Elder Liu's instruction to teach some basic knowledge; showing a little courtesy to these few was only proper etiquette.

Second, as an outer sect elder, when had it ever been up to these disciples to question what he taught or when he taught it?

Whispering among themselves was tolerable.

But now to stand up and openly disrupt the lecture? It was outright disrespect to superiors.

Elder Yang reached for his warning ruler, ready to strike the disciple out of the hall—when suddenly, Tong Xinchuan spoke up.

"…"

Elder Yang slightly furrowed his brow, paused a moment, then set the ruler down again.

Qingyue Sect most encouraged disciples to debate the Dao with one another.

Though the timing was poor, they could settle the matter after the debate.

The only thing he couldn't fathom was whether these General Nanyang Sect cultivators—whose lineage had been severed—actually understood the elegant art of arrays.

Surely they didn't think what he'd just explained, mere beginner-level material, was the true art of arrays.

"Hah! Hah! Hah!"

The tall, thin disciple who had stood was Feng Yan. Under Tong Xinchuan's quiet gaze, he took several heavy breaths and turned to look up at Elder Yang.

Damn it—he'd acted on impulse and forgotten Elder Yang was still lecturing.

Now, with those words hanging over him, he couldn't sit down, couldn't stay standing; if he backed down now, he'd shame Elder Yang and lose all right to ever listen to his lectures again.

"You're trying to ruin me!"

Feng Yan glared back, clenching his fist: "All talk and no substance—what good is that? Prove your skill in action! Let you country bumpkins see the mystery of array art!"

Before he finished speaking, the surrounding disciples erupted in excitement: "Good! Feng Brother speaks well!"

"Let them see the techniques Elder Yang has passed down to us!"

As they cheered, someone pushed a array platform forward.

Hearing the disciples casually drag Elder Yang into this,

The youthful, radiant figure seated at the front slightly tightened his brows: "…"

He glanced back at Tong Xinchuan.

Seeing the other's calm expression, utterly composed—as if he weren't some reckless fool—Feng Yan was clearly being led by the nose.

After a moment's thought, he finally stood up.

"Oh! Brother Yan is interested too?"

Those watching grew even more excited.

Among the hundreds of disciples in this hall, only Brother Yan Wencheng was favored by Elder Yang, clearly destined to inherit his legacy.

Who would've thought such a small matter would catch his attention?

"Tsk."

Li Qingfeng subtly gave Tong Xinchuan a glance.

Earlier, his mind hadn't been on the lecture—he'd been observing Qingyue Sect's disciples.

This Brother Yan was the only one, besides Shen Zongzhu and a few others, who was seriously listening to the elder's basic explanations.

Such patience couldn't belong to a mere fool.

The two exchanged glances.

"You came all this way on purpose—don't make Shen Zongzhu look bad."

"Get lost, Bai Chi."

Tong Xinchuan took a deep breath, finally feeling some tension, and slowly stood up to face Yan Wencheng.

"Wait, where are you looking?"

Feng Yan suddenly realized he'd been ignored—furious, he shouted: "I won't take advantage of you—you set the array, I'll break it!"

At these words, everyone burst into laughter.

How was this not taking advantage? These people had just been seriously studying array components—now they were demanding someone set up a full array on the spot. Wasn't that unreasonable?

"Big Brother Shen, I want to try too."

Xu Qing'er timidly tugged at Shen Yi's sleeve, her eyes fixed on the approaching Brother Yan.

"Sure, go ahead."

Shen Yi didn't care—he didn't place much value on face.

He was only at the Void Return First Layer realm; even if he carved "Zongzhu" on his forehead, it wouldn't help.

Why bother putting on airs?

Besides, this was a chance to gauge the skill of outside cultivators and better understand the dangers of this world.

"Debate the Dao through arrays—express your views, no harm done."

Yan Wencheng walked to the front and sat down opposite Shen Yi, taking a new array platform from beside him and placing it gently on the table.

To his surprise, the little Qi Condensation girl sat down across from him, curiously touching the platform: "What's this? How do you use it?"

At these words, not only the other disciples, but even Yan Wencheng blinked in astonishment.

He immediately raised his hand to silence his juniors' laughter.

He explained seriously: "This is called an array sand table. If you've ever seen an array, it can simulate any array component—capable of holding all arrays up to the Void Return realm… though, of course, they're all fake."

Seeing his courteous demeanor, Elder Yang smiled warmly and stroked his beard.

"I see."

Tong Xinchuan nodded and sat down as well.

He made a slight attempt, then extended his hand to pour his divine soul into the formation plate; after a long while, no formation artifacts emerged.

Feng Yan paused, then forced himself to suppress his mockery and sat down... putting on an act, it looked quite convincing, but he would have been exposed the moment he made a move.

"Sorry, I haven't touched formation artifacts in so long."

Tong Xinchuan explained lightly, as if he had organized the thoughts in his mind.

The next moment, numerous formation artifacts floated out from his palm, all as tiny as dust, landing upon the formation plate.

It was from this very moment on.

The surroundings suddenly fell into Tianyan Siji.

"..." Many disciples gradually furrowed their brows.

They saw Tong Xinchuan's expression remain calm, his Bai Xi palms leaping rapidly without a single pause, as if no thought was required.

Regardless of what formation was being set, judging by this level of familiarity, it was absolutely impossible for him to be a novice who had never encountered formations.

Elder Yang was stunned for a moment, as if he had seen through something.

Yan Wencheng likewise cast his gaze over, his expression shifting slightly.

However, compared to them, Feng Yan, sitting opposite Tong Xinchuan, reacted even more obviously; his eyes stared tightly at the formation plate, swallowing saliva frantically as he watched the exquisite and profound formation runes emerge rapidly.

Not long after.

Tong Xinchuan finally withdrew his divine soul and gently pushed the formation plate forward: "Please."

A simple word, yet it echoed endlessly within the great hall.

"You... you..."

Feng Yan wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He and the other were both Soul Transformation cultivators, and the strength of their divine souls was not far apart.

But the formation Tong Xinchuan had set was, in fact, part of a Return to Emptiness formation.

Moreover, this formation was different from the usual ones.

It was entirely filled with two words.

Showing off.

Numerous useless formation runes seemed merely to increase the difficulty, actually serving no purpose whatsoever.

It indicated that the other party had even held back some strength.

Feng Yan looked at Tong Xinchuan's face again, feeling increasingly that the other was feigning calmness, when in reality his eyes were filled with mockery.

The gazes from around stabbed at him in unison, making his face burn hot.

After a long silence, he stammered: "I... I cannot break it..."

These words seemed like slaps to the faces of everyone present, causing this group of proud inner disciples to all adopt strange expressions.

Not even daring to try?

Elder Yang was still watching from above.

In contrast, Tong Xinchuan casually dispersed the patterns on the formation plate.

He tidied his sleeves slightly.

Only then did he look at Feng Yan again and say lightly: "Good luck, a narrow victory, my thanks."

(End of this chapter)