Chapter 40: Planning

Instructor Yan stared at Mo Hua's test paper, thought for a moment, then wrote a "Jia" on it.

Instructor Yan continued to grade other disciples' array formations. After a moment, he thought of something and flipped through the previous test papers again. The other disciples who had received a "Yi" grade were all promoted to "Jia" grade.

Thus, Mo Hua was no longer the only disciple who had received a "Jia" grade.

After grading was finished, Instructor Yan sat at the desk in front of him in deep thought for a long time, muttering to himself:

"This Tongxian Sect probably cannot stay anymore..."

When the array formation test papers were distributed, Mo Hua saw the "Jia" character on his and nodded, but he was also curious in his heart if other Qi Refining period disciples could really draw the Fixed Water Array. This was a six-path array pattern array formation.

Mo Hua specifically inquired and heard that some other disciples also received a Jia grade. While surprised in his heart, he also sighed:

"There is heaven beyond heaven, and people beyond people. My array formation level is still not enough, I absolutely cannot be complacent!"

But Mo Hua didn't know that his "Jia" and others' "Jia" were a little different. His "Jia" was a real "Jia," while others' "Jia" was actually watered down by Instructor Yan.

Afterward, Mo Hua planned to continue cultivating in Tongxian Sect, learning array formations, and then after some time, consider selecting a cultivation method. But half a month later, he heard an extremely ridiculous matter:

"Instructor Yan is leaving Tongxian Sect. From now on, the outer gate of Tongxian Sect will no longer teach array formations..."

Mo Hua stood stunned on the spot. No more array formations to learn...

Mo Hua went to find Instructor Yan. Instructor Yan looked at Mo Hua with a complex expression and said nothing, only telling Mo Hua to go back first and come find him again after a few days.

After Mo Hua left, Instructor Yan went to find Manager Mo.

"The matter I entrusted to you, is there any news?"

Manager Mo handed a letter to Instructor Yan. "The person you are looking for is no longer in Tongxian City. Here are his clues, but I cannot guarantee their truth or falsity."

"Many thanks."

Manager Mo hesitated a bit, but still said, "Do you really plan to leave Tongxian Sect?"

"Not only Tongxian Sect, I will also leave Tongxian City."

"Then will you come back later?"

"Hard to say," Instructor Yan smiled bitterly. "As you said, just follow fate."

Manager Mo's劝 words were at his mouth, but after thinking for a moment, he said nothing more. He knew he couldn't persuade him.

"Then, what do you plan to do with that Mo Hua boy?" Manager Mo asked. "If you're not here, no one in Tongxian Sect can teach him, right?"

"I have my own plans. Mo Hua's array formation talent..."

It's quite frightening...

Instructor Yan silently said in his heart, but he didn't say it clearly, only saying: "...His talent is not bad, it would be a pity if he couldn't learn array formations. I have a teacher-disciple bond with him after all, I will think of ways for the later matters."

Manager Mo nodded, looked at the elder brother in front of him, not knowing if they would see each other again after this separation. He was full of words, but didn't know where to start.

Cultivators have long lifespans, and separations are also longer.

Finally, they looked at each other without speaking, only using tea in place of wine, and drank a cup opposite each other.

"Take care!" Manager Mo said.

"Take care!"

Instructor Yan nodded, and under Manager Mo's gaze, left the Fate Gathering Room and disappeared into the bustling and noisy street.

Without being able to teach array formations, staying in the outer gate of Tongxian Sect was meaningless. Moreover, Instructor Yan always kept the matter of the Ling Shu Array Diagram in his heart and would not give up.

Before leaving Tongxian City, Instructor Yan wanted to do one last thing, which was to find an array formation master for Mo Hua.

He prepared some fine wine and tea as gifts and knocked on the door of a certain cave mansion on North Street in Tongxian City.

This cave mansion was one of the largest on the street, magnificent and imposing, grand and luxurious. The master of the cave mansion was one of the only two first-grade array masters in Tongxian City, surnamed Luo. Generally, cultivators respectfully called him Master Luo.

Instructor Yan presented the tea and gifts and stated his intention.

Master Luo had quite some friendship with Instructor Yan. Hearing this, he doubted, "Does this child truly have such talent that he makes Brother Yan personally come to plead?"

Instructor Yan showed Mo Hua's drawn Bright Fire Array to Master Luo. "This is the array formation he drew when he was at Qi Refining three layers."

He didn't take out the Fixed Water Array with five and a half array patterns that Mo Hua had drawn, because he didn't want to be too conspicuous. Moreover, generally speaking, being able to draw a three-path array pattern array formation at Qi Refining three layers was already considered outstanding array formation talent.

Master Luo's eyes brightened and he nodded, "Indeed not bad!"

Master Luo looked at the Bright Fire Array diagram again and asked, "May I know which family's child it is? Qian family? An family or Chen family?"

Instructor Yan was silent for a while and said, "Not from a family, just a loose cultivator."

Master Luo then didn't speak, and the interest in his eyes also faded a lot.

Instructor Yan probed, "Does Master have any concerns?"

"Loose cultivators are hard to teach..." Master Luo said.

"Brother Luo..."

Master Luo waved his hand and said, "Brother Yan, I understand everything you said, but accepting a loose cultivator as an apprentice, how troublesome it is, you should be clear."

"Mo Hua is young, but well-behaved and sensible, diligent and hardworking, and his array formation talent is also extremely high. As long as Brother Luo gives him a little guidance, his future in array formations will surely be limitless," Instructor Yan said sincerely.

"It's not about that." Master Luo sighed and said:

"Not to mention how his talent and comprehension are, just the tuition fee for this apprenticeship, can he afford it?"

Master Luo stood up and slowly paced, "It's not that I covet these tuitions, but accepting disciples always has to follow rules. I have accepted so many disciples, and each disciple's tuition is not cheap. If at that time he is the only one who cannot afford it or pays less, how can I explain to the other disciples? Even if they dare not say anything, they will definitely hold a grudge in their hearts, thinking I am biased and cannot treat everyone fairly."

"Not only the apprenticeship tuition, but also the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone for learning array formations, which one doesn't require spirit stones? Can a loose cultivator's family background support it?"

"Moreover, even if he successfully learns in the future and becomes an array master, he still only has two paths: one is to attach himself to a family, and the other is to attach himself to a sect. If he doesn't attach himself, then cultivating and learning array formations will be difficult. If he attaches himself, that's equivalent to selling himself, throwing away his name, origin, and parents. He won't be free, and how can he have me, this master, in his eyes?"

"So no matter what, accepting him as an apprentice or a disciple is of no benefit to me."

After Master Luo finished speaking, he sat down and took a sip of tea.

Instructor Yan also remained silent. He understood what Master Luo said and couldn't argue. He originally thought that Mo Hua's talent was extremely good and that Master Luo would consider this point, but now it seemed that he had thought things too simply.

It's true that there is a reason why loose cultivators don't have array masters...

Instructor Yan's expression was dejected.

Seeing this, Master Luo also sighed and softened his tone, "If he were from a family, even if only a side branch or a branch, I could accept him, but loose cultivators are different, there are too many worries, and I don't have that much energy..."

"It's too difficult for a loose cultivator to become an array master!" Master Luo sighed.

Instructor Yan still wanted to make an effort and said, "Mo Hua's array formation talent is truly one of a kind..." As he spoke, he wanted to take out the Fixed Water Array with five and a half array patterns that Mo Hua had drawn.

But as he was taking it out, he heard Master Luo say, "Don't say he can draw three-path array patterns, even if he can draw four-path, five-path array patterns at Qi Refining three layers, I still won't accept him."

Instructor Yan's hand stopped, and in helplessness, he could only put the array formation back.

"Brother Luo, is there really no way?"

"Brother Yan, you are welcome to come here anytime to discuss the Dao and chat, but this matter is not open to discussion."

"Brother Luo..." Instructor Yan had nothing else to say, only sighing, "Just don't regret it in the future."

"Many cultivators have said this to me, but Luo someone has not regretted it until now!"

The two were silent, and Master Luo saw the guest off with tea.

Instructor Yan sighed with a disappointed expression and also stood up to bid farewell.

After Instructor Yan left, Master Luo sat in the room. A disciple poured tea for Master Luo and softly asked, "Master, if he can truly draw the Bright Fire Array at Qi Refining three layers, this talent is indeed outstanding."

"Yes," Master Luo picked up the tea, took a sip, and said, "But what if his talent is high? The path of cultivation doesn't just depend on talent. How many people were astonishingly talented when they were young but ended up being mediocre? Spirit stones, inheritance, family background, which one is not very important? Without these, talent is just rootless grass and wood, sooner or later it will wither."

"But, if Master gives him a few pointers, he will at least owe Master a favor..."

Master Luo shook his head, "You think the human heart is too simple. Loose cultivators are poor in origin and mostly extreme in temperament. One careless mistake can easily lead to holding grudges. There are too many instances of 'an ounce of rice enmity' and 'an ounce of millet hatred.' At that time, there will not only be no favor, but instead enmity. Why would I wade into this muddy water?"

"Master is very right, but this kind of talent is really a bit of a pity."

"It is a pity," Master Luo put down his teacup and sighed, "But this is fate, it cannot be forced."