Chapter 25: Teaching

Mo Hua returned to his cultivation room and sat down, and a group of disciples again craned their necks to surround him.

“Mo Hua, Mo Hua, why did the instructor find you?”

“Did the instructor punish you?”

Mo Hua honestly said, “The instructor asked me to go find him every day after class.”

One disciple said, “It must be because you were slacking off in array methods, so the instructor was angry and is making you practice array methods every day so you don’t regress.”

Another disciple said with great sympathy, “Then you’re too miserable, you have to draw array methods under the instructor’s gaze every day.”

“Yeah, too miserable, even just being looked at by the instructor makes me so nervous I can’t think straight, let alone having him stare at me drawing array methods…”

Mo Hua also sighed.

Seeing the situation, all the disciples began to comfort Mo Hua.

Mo Hua sighed, not because he had to draw array methods under the instructor’s gaze, but because going to the instructor’s place every day meant he wouldn’t have much time to draw array methods at the Array Pavilion to earn spirit stones.

However, since the instructor asked Mo Hua if he wanted to become an array master, he would probably give Mo Hua some guidance. Thinking about it this way, it was also a good thing.

The next day after class, Mo Hua arrived at Instructor Yan’s residence on Tongming Peak on time.

Instructor Yan opened the door and got straight to the point, directly placing a volume of Array Method Canon Theory: Initial Explanation in front of Mo Hua.

“On the path of array methods, if you want to go far, your foundation must be firm. This foundation not only includes a grasp of basic array patterns, proficiency in brushwork, and a firm divine sense, but also includes the cultivation world’s research into array method canon theory.”

“The so-called array method canon theory is the summary of the insights and theories of countless array method masters on the myriad array methods in the cultivation world. It seeks the unchanging principles within the ever-changing array methods.”

“Some cultivators are quite good at drawing array methods, but are completely ignorant of canon theory. Once they try to learn something profound, they are completely lost and find it difficult to advance further on the path of array methods.”

“I am still one step away from being a first-grade array master, and most of the sect’s inheritance has been lost, so I cannot pass on to you too profound array method canon theory. Naturally, it cannot compare with the transmissions of some great families and great sects, but for your current level of array methods, it should be enough.”

Mo Hua sat up straight, his expression becoming more respectful. “Please instruct, Instructor.”

Instructor Yan nodded, flipped open Array Method Canon Theory: Initial Explanation, and said,

“This book of Array Method Canon Theory: Initial Explanation records some basic principles of array methods, such as heaven round, earth square, the positions of the Eight Trigrams, the mutual generation and overcoming of the Five Elements, and the composition of single arrays, compound arrays, and great arrays…”

“Array methods are manifestations of the laws of heaven and earth. The outer round and inner square symbolize heaven round and earth square. The arrangement of different array patterns follows the principles of the Eight Trigrams. Array patterns with different attributes mutually generate and overcome. A separate array method is a single array. Multiple single arrays combined form a compound array. And by linking together a large number of single arrays and compound arrays, a great array is formed…”

“The power of a great array is extremely great. The protective sect great array usually spoken of is this kind of array method. A great array contains hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of individual array methods, and is formed by the cooperation of dozens or hundreds of array masters. And only array masters with extremely high attainment can serve as the main array master of a great array, leading the design and engraving of the great array…”

“Being able to become a main array master and design and build a great array is the lifelong aspiration of many array masters.”

Instructor Yan said with a bit of emotion, then changed the subject again and said, “However, that’s talking too far. Even becoming an ordinary first-grade array master is already not easy.”

Mo Hua listened and also felt a bit of yearning. Even a single array method was already very mysterious. If a great array containing myriad array methods were activated, what kind of scene would that be?

Instructor Yan hesitated a little, then became solemn again, and handed the Array Method Canon Theory: Initial Explanation to Mo Hua, saying,

“You take this book of Array Method Initial Explanation first, read it carefully yourself, remember not to leak it out, and also don’t talk about it with anyone else.”

After that, Instructor Yan explained some basic theories regarding array methods specifically, then let Mo Hua go back.

Mo Hua returned to the disciples’ residence, holding the thin volume of Array Method Canon Theory: Initial Explanation in his hand, yet feeling its weight. He also realized for the first time the importance of cultivation inheritance. If no one taught, these things would be enough for him to grope for a lifetime.

And he was just an ordinary disciple, yet Instructor Yan could be so dedicated. Mo Hua felt even more grateful in his heart.

Mo Hua calmed his heart and flipped through the Array Method Canon Theory: Initial Explanation word by word, sentence by sentence. If he didn’t understand something, he would make a note, preparing to ask the instructor tomorrow.

Before sleeping, Mo Hua again flipped out the Gold Stone Array Diagram, memorizing the array patterns within the array diagram. After closing his eyes, he entered his sea of consciousness and practiced the Gold Stone Array on the stone stele.

The Gold Stone Array only had four array patterns and was not too difficult, but it required spending time to familiarize himself with the array patterns and practice.

Benefiting from the Array Method Initial Explanation, Mo Hua felt much clearer in his thinking when drawing the Gold Stone Array Diagram.

Why were the four array patterns in the slightly western position? Because the west belonged to metal, which matched the attributes of the Gold Stone Array Diagram. The specific drawing method also had many considerations from the Eight Trigrams aspect.

Before, Mo Hua only knew to draw according to the array diagram, but he didn’t know why it was drawn that way. Now, he had a deeper understanding.

The next day, Mo Hua went to Tongming Peak.

Instructor Yan asked Mo Hua some questions about array theory, and Mo Hua answered them one by one, confirming that Mo Hua had seriously finished reading the Array Method Canon Theory. Instructor Yan couldn’t help but nod his head.

Afterwards, Mo Hua brought up some questions he had noted down and asked Instructor Yan. Instructor Yan also answered them one by one, his expression clearly more relieved.

On the third day, Mo Hua went again. Instructor Yan then took concrete array methods as examples and analyzed them for Mo Hua, letting Mo Hua understand some basic theories of array methods.

Instructor Yan first lectured on several array methods with one array pattern, including the Bright Fire Array that Mo Hua had drawn before, and several array methods that Mo Hua had not yet learned. Afterwards, he lectured on array methods containing two array patterns, all of which were array methods Mo Hua had not yet seen. Mo Hua listened very seriously.

Among the array methods with four array patterns, the instructor first spoke about the Solid Earth Array. This was something Mo Hua had asked the instructor about before. Although Mo Hua was already quite proficient at drawing it, listening to the instructor explain it at this time, he only then discovered that he had previously only known how but not why, and his understanding of array methods differed greatly.

After finishing the Solid Earth Array, Instructor Yan then mentioned the Gold Stone Array:

“The function of the Gold Stone Array is similar to the Solid Earth Array. Among the Five Elements of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, earth can generate gold. Therefore, when cultivators build cave mansions or residences, they will use the Solid Earth Array to consolidate the foundation, and at the same time use the Gold Stone Array to reinforce the building. Because of the relationship between earth generating gold, the array method effect will be better. These two array methods can be mutually referred to and understood…”

Mo Hua suddenly understood.

Instructor Yan explained for an hour, then assigned several assignments, letting Mo Hua find some examples of mutual generation and overcoming in array methods himself, and then let Mo Hua go back.

After Mo Hua returned to the disciples’ residence, the more he thought about it, the stranger he felt.

Among the examples that Instructor Yan raised, quite a few of the array methods were ones he had helped the Array Pavilion draw before.

There was no need to mention the Bright Fire Array and the Solid Earth Array. The Gold Stone Array was something Manager Pang had asked him to draw. Today, the instructor even specifically explained the Gold Stone Array Diagram a little, although it was to explain the relationship between the mutual generation and overcoming of the Five Elements, it was still too coincidental.

“Is there some relationship between the instructor and Manager Pang? Perhaps the instructor already knows that all those array methods at You Yuan Zhai were drawn by me myself?”

Mo Hua secretly pondered in his heart.