Chapter 131: Array Core

Ink Painting began by drawing the Si Nan Mother-Child Complex Array on the Dao Stele.

A single array starts by drawing the array patterns, with the array hub linking various independent array patterns. A complex array, however, begins by drawing the array hub, which acts as the central point coordinating different single arrays.

When drawing a single array, the brush can pause slightly, but the divine sense cannot break.

If the divine sense breaks, it will be unable to hook into the profound secrets of the heavenly dao contained within the array method, causing the drawing to fail and the drawn array patterns to be wasted.

According to Mister Zhuang, array masters call this "one thought complete."

This means completing the array method in one go without the divine thought breaking.

A single array must be completed with one thought, but a complex array is different; it doesn't need to be entirely completed with one thought.

Otherwise, a complex array containing several single arrays with dozens of array patterns would be impossible for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage to draw in one attempt.

Complex arrays were originally conceived and created by ancient cultivators to circumvent the limitations of a cultivator's divine sense and enhance the effect of array methods.

When cultivators couldn't increase their divine sense or comprehend more array patterns, they would link single array methods together to achieve stronger array method effects.

This is what a complex array is.

Therefore, a complex array is a process of combining and dividing. In a complex array, only the divine thought between the array hub and the various single arrays needs to be continuous; the entire complex array does not need to be completed with one thought.

Ink Painting's divine sense phantom stood before the Dao Stele and began drawing the array hub of the Si Nan Mother-Child Array using his finger as a brush.

The brushwork for the array hub is different from that of the array patterns because it needs to guide spiritual power and control the entire array method. Therefore, the strokes are thicker and bolder, the structure is more stable, and it requires more divine sense.

The Si Nan Mother-Child Complex Array contains a single array with eight array patterns, which serves as the array hub for this complex array. The amount of divine sense required is also no less than that for eight array patterns.

Although it's not as much as nine array patterns, it still requires slightly more divine sense compared to drawing common eight array patterns.

Ink Painting's divine sense was just sufficient to draw the array hub, but it was still somewhat strenuous.

After drawing the array hub, he still needed to draw the subsequent array methods. Since he couldn't erase or backtrack with his divine sense, Ink Painting could only sit in meditation and wait for his divine sense to slowly recover.

This was the first time Ink Painting had used meditation techniques in his sea of consciousness.

Entering concentration and calming the heart were both easier than outside, and vaguely, he seemed to resonate with the Dao Stele.

Within his divine thought, he could perceive an ancient, primordial aura of the great dao.

When he investigated deeply, it was gone again.

Ink Painting furrowed his brow, not understanding clearly.

After a moment, he stopped thinking about it and peacefully meditated, recovering his divine sense.

In a short while, his divine sense was full again. Compared to meditating outside, his divine sense recovered much faster.

He didn't know if it was because of the sea of consciousness or the reason for the Dao Stele.

With abundant divine thought, Ink Painting continued to draw the array method.

After the array hub was drawn, the next step was to draw the Si Nan Mother Array and Child Array in specific positions according to the array hub's framework.

The Si Nan Mother Array contains eight array patterns and is a metal system array method. It has the common structure of Five Elements array methods and isn't considered difficult. Ink Painting had looked at it several times and could draw it.

The Si Nan Child Array contains three array patterns and is even simpler. Ink Painting only needed to glance at it once to know how to draw it.

Ink Painting began writing, proceeding skillfully. Half an hour later, the Si Nan Mother-Child Complex Array was completely drawn.

The entire array method was more complex than any array method Ink Painting had drawn before, and at the same time, it possessed a kind of complex and profound beauty.

"This is what a complex array is..."

Ink Painting was in a daze and couldn't help but look at it several more times, sighing in his heart.

Indeed, it's the more difficult array methods that are meaningful to draw.

The principle of the Si Nan Mother-Child Array is the linkage between the mother and child arrays. When the child array perceives spiritual power fluctuations, the mother array will react.

Ink Painting's divine thought moved slightly, lighting up the child array. After a breath's time, a point on the mother array also began to emit light. The point emitting light corresponded exactly to the Si Nan Child Array that was lit up.

"Success!"

Ink Painting's spirit vibrated, and his face showed joy, but then he furrowed his brows again.

Although the array method was successful, there were many key points he still didn't fully understand.

For example, what exactly does the array hub calculate? What specific role does it play? Why does the mother array resonate when the child array is lit up? What changes will occur in the single arrays within other complex arrays?

"It looks like I still need to go ask Mister Zhuang."

Ink Painting said to himself, then while the sky was still not bright, he practiced the Si Nan Complex Array several more times on the Dao Stele.

Early the next morning, Ink Painting brought some pastries, wild fruits, wine, water, and pine nuts, and went to find Mister Zhuang.

Mister Zhuang had recently changed his taste somewhat and preferred vegetarian food, saying it was for "clearing the heart and having fewer desires."

But wanting to eat vegetarian food isn't also a kind of "desire"?

Ink Painting didn't understand but knew better than to ask.

"Have you learned it?"

Mister Zhuang asked leisurely while drinking his small amount of wine.

Ink Painting nodded, "Yes!"

Mister Zhuang's eyelids twitched slightly.

He learned really fast...

It was only one evening.

"Disciple still has some things he doesn't understand and wants to ask for Mister's guidance."

Ink Painting asked respectfully and politely.

Mister Zhuang asked curiously, "What do you want to ask?"

Ink Painting chose some important doubts he had while drawing the Si Nan Complex Array last night and explained them.

Mister Zhuang's slender fingers supported the bamboo chair, tapping lightly several times. After thinking for a moment, he counter-asked:

"What do you think an array hub is?"

Ink Painting thought for a moment and said, "A kind of array method structure?"

"Correct, but not entirely correct."

Ink Painting didn't understand.

Mister Zhuang said, "The array hub of a single array is a kind of array method structure, but the array hub of a complex array is more like a kind of array method."

"An array method?"

"Correct. You can consider it a special kind of structure array method that possesses position and effect."

Ink Painting thought carefully, slowly nodded, and then asked, "Disciple understands the position, but what specific effects does the array hub refer to?"

"The array hub is the core of a complex array. It can control the array method's spiritual power, integrate different single arrays, and coordinate all array patterns. Its specific effects vary, but the most common are controlling the spiritual power's opening and closing, order, mutual repulsion, strong suppression, gathering and scattering, etc..."

Ink Painting listened, feeling dizzy, his small eyebrows furrowed together.

Mister Zhuang couldn't help but laugh and say, "Simply put, it's about controlling the operation order of the spiritual power within the complex array, including turning it on and off, attracting and repelling each other, enhancing and suppressing, concentrating and dispersing, and so on."

Ink Painting understood a little, then said:

"Just like the Si Nan Mother-Child Array, it utilizes the attraction and repulsion magnetism of the metal system's spiritual power. This way, when the child array moves, the mother array will also react..."

Ink Painting's eyes brightened, and he continued, "I helped repair Feng Laoshi's alchemy furnace. The array method inside the furnace is a wood-fire control spiritual complex array. Wood generates fire. By using a wood system single array to amplify a fire system single array, does this count as the 'strong' in the array hub's 'strong suppression'?"

Mister Zhuang nodded approvingly.

Ink Painting thought for a while again, then couldn't think of anything else. He also hadn't encountered other complex arrays.

Ink Painting furrowed his brows. After a moment, he thought of another question:

"Mister, what about the great array?"

Mister Zhuang's gaze became stern, his expression serious, and he slowly said:

"You want to learn the great array..."

Ink Painting asked somewhat doubtfully, "Can't I learn the great array?"

Mister Zhuang paused for a moment, raised his eyebrows, and laughed,

"Yes, they are all array methods. Why can't you learn them?"

Ink Painting's face showed anticipation.

Mister Zhuang then gently tapped Ink Painting's forehead, "Don't aim too high. First, learn what's in front of you well. The great array is still a long way off!"

"Oh." Ink Painting said, covering his head.

"Go on, learn well." Mister Zhuang's gaze was gentle, and he gently brushed his sleeve.

"Yes! Mister, please rest well. Disciple will take his leave."

Ink Painting nodded, bowed respectfully, and then, under Mister Zhuang's watchful eye, left the bamboo room.

Five watches are finished.

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