Chapter 2: The Dao

From the moment he could remember things, a Dao Monument appeared in Ink Painting’s sea of knowledge. At the same time, he also had some memories that felt both real and unreal.

In those memories, Ink Painting had lived a short life in another world with no spiritual energy.

In that life, Ink Painting’s family was ordinary, but he studied hard, got good grades, and tested into university. He majored in art and liked to research traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy.

After graduation, he joined a large company as a graphic designer, working overtime until he died from overwork in his twenties.

He spent his life studying as a student and working after graduation, passing his days in tension and anxiety.

When he came to his senses, he realized he had lived a confused life and died suddenly and unexpectedly.

In the moments before he died, his life experiences flashed before him like a lantern show.

In his entire life, he hadn't done a single thing of true value: he hadn't been filial to his parents, hadn't pursued his ideals, had no dreams, no love, and hadn't seen the scenery of the vast world...

These memories were vague and fuzzy, and Ink Painting sometimes couldn't distinguish between what was true and what wasn't.

Zhuangzi dreamt he was a butterfly, not knowing if it was Zhuangzi dreaming he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming he was Zhuangzi.

As time passed, Ink Painting no longer dwelled on it.

The past was the past. Now, he was only ten years old, and the world he lived in was a cultivation world.

And he was a cultivator.

A cultivator who could thoroughly understand the Heavenly Dao, soar through the Nine Provinces, raise a hand to pluck the sun and moon, and overturn a hand to bury the stars!

Of course, he could also be a cultivator who spent his entire life in the Qi Refining stage, unable to fly, unable to use martial arts, barely able to use a few spells, living a humble existence...

Without the Dao Monument, Ink Painting estimated he would likely be the latter.

The Dao Monument floated in Ink Painting's sea of knowledge.

It was vast, ancient, and simple, with a strange, incomplete shape. The monument body seemed illusory, yet it also seemed to contain a vast and obscure aura floating within. In a trance, it was silent like an empty void, containing nothing at all...

On the illusory surface of the monument, he could draw array patterns. And every time he drew an array pattern, Ink Painting’s divine sense would increase.

Among the hundred professions of cultivation, array patterns reigned supreme!

Array patterns were the most difficult category to learn in every cultivation profession, and the most important thing for learning array patterns was divine sense!

Array patterns were composed of array lines, which were Heavenly Dao patterns painstakingly comprehended and copied down by ancient cultivators.

The lines of array patterns were like ancient, simple text and also like extremely simple paintings, containing infinite mysteries within.

And when drawing array patterns, communicating the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao with the sea of knowledge would consume massive amounts of divine sense.

If a cultivator's divine sense was insufficient, they would be unable to draw array patterns. Otherwise, it was easy for their divine sense to dry up, or even for their sea of knowledge to shatter and their body to die, their Dao vanishing. And to become an array master, one needed to constantly learn various array diagrams and constantly practice various array patterns.

Thus, array patterns were difficult to learn and practice, and array masters were also prone to dying from their sea of knowledge collapsing after forcing themselves to draw array patterns when their divine sense was insufficient.

Drawing array patterns on the Dao Monument would consume Ink Painting’s divine sense, but when he erased the drawn array patterns, this divine sense would instantly return, making Ink Painting’s divine sense full again.

From having to not having, and then from not having to having again, it was like the Great Dao, profound and wonderful.

And at the same time, every time Ink Painting drew an array pattern, his divine sense would slightly increase. Although the increase was tiny, it was indeed increasing.

According to what Ink Painting knew, there were no merit methods for cultivating divine sense in the cultivation world; the enhancement of divine sense mostly relied on breaking through realms.

Therefore, even a very tiny increase in divine sense was extremely precious.

As long as he constantly drew array patterns on the Dao Monument, Ink Painting could elevate his own array patterns level. At the same time, as long as he constantly drew array patterns, his divine sense would always enhance.

And with powerful divine sense, Ink Painting could learn more, higher-ranked, and more powerful array patterns.

One day, Ink Painting could use this to become a powerful array master.

The status of an array master was honored. Even if they were just ordinary and hadn't entered the ranks of First Grade Array Masters, drawing array patterns for others would still yield considerable income in spirit stones.

Once he became an array master, drawing various profound array patterns, he would have a foundation to stand on and could continue to cultivate, not spending his entire life as just a Qi Refining cultivator.

Ink Painting silently said in his heart.

But becoming an array master was equally difficult.

Array patterns were hard to learn, and being an array master was hard.

Within the cultivation categories set by the Dao Court, the recognition of array masters was the most strict, even to the point of being harsh.

Array patterns were composed of array lines. Basic array patterns contained only one array line. For every additional array line, the array pattern would increase by one rank, its effect would also enhance, and the required divine sense would also greatly increase.

Drawing one to five array lines qualified one as an array pattern apprentice.

Drawing six to eight array lines could be called an array master, but this array master was just an ordinary array master, not on the list of recognized grades by the Dao Court.

Only by drawing nine array lines and passing the grade assessment set by the Dao Court could one become a true First Grade Array Master.

For Qi Refining stage cultivators, becoming a First Grade Array Master was almost like a single step to heaven.

First Grade Array Masters were basically honored guests of major families and sects. Even Foundation Establishment realm cultivators wouldn't dare to easily offend them. Even if they did nothing, they would receive a spirit stone allowance issued monthly by the Dao Court's Tian Shu Pavilion, and countless young and beautiful female cultivators would flock to them, competing to be their Dao Companion.

Besides the assessment being extremely difficult, each state also had a quota limit for becoming a First Grade Array Master. It required both effort and destiny.

If one was unlucky and the state boundary reached its quota limit, even if they had the array pattern attainment of a First Grade Array Master, they would not gain the designated grade quota and would only have to wait for the next assessment.

Some array masters tested and tested, and then wasted a lifetime.

Countless lower-level cultivators racked their brains, studying diligently with white hair, until their hair turned white, and still never achieved their wish of being promoted to First Grade Array Master.

And the so-called quota limit by the Dao Court was generally just an excuse decided internally by major families and sects. They needed the title of First Grade Array Master to add luster to their direct descendants or direct disciples, making them focus on cultivating their genius.

Those lower-level cultivators who racked their brains to become First Grade Array Masters were just insignificant dust underfoot.

It was already night. Ink Painting lay in the disciple residence bedroom, his divine sense still sunk into his sea of knowledge, constantly drawing array patterns on the Dao Monument.

The array pattern Ink Painting was drawing was called the Double Yuan Array, containing two array lines, considered one of the basic array patterns.

But before this, Ink Painting had never successfully drawn this array pattern.

Early Qi Refining stage disciples generally could only learn array patterns containing one array line because their divine sense was insufficient. Among the initial Qi Refining disciples in the outer sect of Tong Xian Gate, few and far between could fully learn even one array line.

But Ink Painting was already familiar with single array lines and could draw them with ease.

Ink Painting wanted to learn more difficult array patterns, so every evening, he would practice the Double Yuan Array containing two array lines on the Dao Monument.

And after dozens of nights of repeated practice and effort that felt like water dripping on stone, Ink Painting finally succeeded.

For array masters learning array patterns, every additional array line was a threshold, and drawing one more array line was like climbing one step higher.

Ink Painting being able to draw two array lines meant that his divine sense and array pattern level were already significantly higher than cultivators of the same age.

Among the initial Qi Refining disciples in the outer sect of Tong Xian Gate, his array pattern standard should also be considered unique.

Ink Painting let out a breath. He waited until the Mao hour dawn, then his divine sense left his sea of knowledge, and Ink Painting also opened his eyes.

Although he had been drawing array patterns all night, Ink Painting's divine sense was still clear, and he didn't feel tired, as if he had just had a peaceful sleep.

He pushed open the window, and the early morning sunlight shone on his handsome, fair face.

Outside the window, the sun was rising, rosy clouds covering ten thousand miles.

Ten-year-old Ink Painting lightly exhaled, looking at the scenery on the horizon, his eyes firm.

As long as he constantly practiced array patterns and tempered his divine sense, one day, he would certainly become a First Grade Array Master.

At that time, like the rising sun, he would surely take a big step in seeking immortality and the Dao.

He would no longer spend his entire life just in the Qi Refining stage!