Chapter 41: Visiting

Grandmaster Luo, a first-grade array master, refused Instructor Yan's request.

Instructor Yan could only retreat and seek the next best option, finding some array masters who hadn't reached that grade but had researched the path of arrays for many years, asking them to take Mo Hua as a disciple. However, some refused outright, some hemmed and hawed, and some, although they promised, put forward excessively demanding conditions. Once agreed to, Mo Hua would forever be treated as a tool and puppet, with no freedom at all, which was no different from selling himself.

Instructor Yan traveled back and forth for many days, still with no results, and returned to his residence to sit alone and sigh alone. After several more days, he had to leave. Time was short; if he couldn't find a suitable teacher, it would likely delay Mo Hua's progress in cultivating array methods.

Instructor Yan thought long and hard, finally seeming to make a decision. He sealed Mo Hua's test papers carefully and put them separately into his storage bag.

In the evening, Instructor Yan left Tongxian City and went directly towards the southeastern direction outside of Tongxian City. In the southeastern direction of Tongxian City was a mountain peak, beautiful and secluded, with magnificent scenery and a natural, quiet charm. Nestled among the mountains was a mountain residence courtyard with no plaque and no gate, only a small mountain path leading into the mansion.

Instructor Yan stood at the foot of the mountain. After a long time, he heard a faint voice ringing in his ear:

"Please."

The voice seemed to be in his ear, and also seemed to echo in his sea of consciousness.

Instructor Yan's expression became more humble. He tidied his Daoist robe a bit, patted the storage bag at his waist, and stepped up the mountain with a determined expression.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua planned to withdraw from Tongxian Gate. Mo Hua was originally an outer gate disciple, and his relationship with the sect was simply a cultivation of interest through the use of spirit stones. He had a little bit of sentiment, but this sentiment wasn't very deep. Especially since Instructor Yan was leaving and the outer gate would no longer teach array methods, there was no point in Mo Hua staying.

His spirit root was destined for his spirit power to not be too strong and his cultivation speed not to be too fast. The other subjects taught by the sect, such as body refinement, pill refining, artifact refining, talisman making, etc., were somewhat redundant for Mo Hua. It was useless to learn them, but a pity to abandon them.

What Mo Hua wanted to learn, and could have a prospect for cultivation, was only array methods. But in the outer gate, except for Instructor Yan, Mo Hua didn't think there was anyone else who could teach him array methods.

Big Tiger and the other two also planned to withdraw from school. But they were withdrawing, not because of the instructor, but purely because their families were poor and couldn't afford the sect's tuition and the newly added various fees.

According to Mo Hua's understanding, the old sect master would retire in a few months and no longer be involved in the sect's specific affairs. So now, in the sect, Elder Qian had the final say, in other words, the Qian family had the final say.

The Qian family planned to reform the sect. The reforms were varied, but the core point was to collect more spirit stones. Whether it was pill refining, artifact refining, or talisman and other lessons, they previously only taught the most basic; now they still taught profound things, but all required extra spirit stones. Including the previous cultivation method inheritance fees, Elder Qian also increased them with the rhetoric of "sect inheritance, not easy to obtain, compensation for transmission."

After the Qian family's reform, some family disciples, or wealthy disciples, could spend more spirit stones to learn better inheritances. But the bottom-level cultivators among the outer gate disciples, especially some rogue cultivators, basically couldn't learn anything, and had to pay more spirit stones as sect tuition than before.

For such rogue cultivator disciples, except for withdrawing from school, there was no other choice. In this way, Tongxian Gate, through reform, gradually eliminated the poor disciples at the bottom based on their family circumstances. These bottom-level rogue cultivator disciples could no longer cultivate in the sect, and their future cultivation path could only be sought on their own.

Mo Hua told his parents about his plan to withdraw from school. Mo Shan wasn't too happy, but he also knew there was nothing he could do. This wasn't just Mo Hua's matter, but the matter of all the bottom-level rogue cultivators in Tongxian City. Liu Ruhua, on the other hand, was indifferent. She knew Mo Hua was diligent in cultivation and had his own ideas. Since he decided to withdraw from school, he must not be learning anything in the sect, so she didn't say anything.

Now the food shop business was good, and even if her son didn't do anything at home, she could completely support him. Just like that, Mo Hua, in the third layer of Qi Refining, withdrew from Tongxian Gate.

Mo Hua went to the sect to simply handle the withdrawal procedures and also received half a year's tuition back from the sect, probably fifty to sixty spirit stones. After withdrawing from school, the biggest problem was the cultivation method.

Mo Shan promised to walk the path of a hunter and demon master, asking if there was a cultivation method suitable for Mo Hua to cultivate, but this would take some time. Another problem was array methods. Without the sect's guidance, Mo Hua could only rely on self-study, or find an array master as a teacher.

But Mo Hua also knew that it was very difficult for a rogue cultivator to worship an array master as a teacher. Not all array masters were like Instructor Yan, with a broad mind, willing to spread the Dao and teach skills.

Mo Hua wanted to find time to visit Instructor Yan and thank him for his careful guidance during this period. But he didn't know where Instructor Yan lived. Just when he was thinking of finding Manager Mo to inquire, Instructor Yan found him.

After several days of not seeing each other, Instructor Yan's expression was a little tired, as if he had been rushing around for something. Mo Hua respectfully bowed to Instructor Yan. Instructor Yan nodded slightly and then asked, "Do you still want to learn array methods?"

Mo Hua nodded.

Instructor Yan looked at Mo Hua with approval and then said, "Follow me."

Mo Hua followed Instructor Yan to a mountain peak outside Tongxian City, in the southeastern direction. Mo Hua remembered Big Tiger and the others saying that this mountain peak seemed to have been bought by someone to live in seclusion and cultivate, prohibiting cultivators from coming and going.

There were no demon beasts on this mountain, nor were there any famous spirit herbs, let alone any spirit mines. The only advantage was the beautiful scenery and the secluded environment. Many rogue cultivators in Tongxian City, weary of rushing around, wouldn't linger on the mountain scenery, so cultivators generally rarely came here.

Instructor Yan brought Mo Hua to the foot of the mountain and said, "A hidden master lives on this mountain. I know him by accident. Normally, I wouldn't disturb him, but I will be leaving in a few days, so I brought you to see him."

"Does this master know array methods?"

Instructor Yan nodded, "That's right, this master has extremely high attainments in array methods."

"Is he a first-grade array master?" Mo Hua asked curiously.

"I'm not sure of the exact grade, but he is at least first-grade."

Mo Hua solemnly respected. A first-grade array master was already extraordinary. As for anything above first-grade, Mo Hua didn't even dare to think about it.

But Mo Hua was also curious in his heart, wondering what kind of array methods were above the first grade... Could it really be as rumored, possessing the power to steal the creation of heaven and earth and change the sky and earth?

"Why does this master live in such a remote place? Is it because he doesn't like noise?" Mo Hua asked again.

"The master's nature is simple, and he doesn't like worldly affairs, so he doesn't wish to be disturbed. This mountain peak is also rarely visited by people."

Instructor Yan looked at Mo Hua and said, "You've already guessed why I brought you here, right?"

Mo Hua nodded and said, "Is it to let this master take me as a disciple?"

Instructor Yan nodded, "You guessed correctly. There's not much I can teach you, so I hope the master can give you some guidance."

"You've already taught me many things," Mo Hua said gratefully.

"What I can teach you is far less than what this master can."

"But..."

Instructor Yan shook his head, "You're still young and don't understand too much. The more you experience in the future, the more you will know the vastness and profundity of array methods, far from being something that mere Qi Refining, or even Foundation Establishment cultivators can comprehend. Your divine sense is outstanding, your comprehension is also good, and you are very diligent. You are a good seedling for learning array methods, so you must cherish this rare talent and must not waste your ability."

"Today, I brought you to visit his door, just hoping you can worship under this master's door. His nature is simple and he is not willing to take disciples. It's good if you can be a nominal disciple. Even if you only learn a few bits, it can allow you to go further on the road of array methods."

Instructor Yan pointed forward, where there was a mountain road extending to the mountainside. The mountainside was surrounded by clouds and mist, and within the clouds and mist sat a simple but mysterious courtyard gate.

Instructor Yan admonished, "Go up the mountain yourself, and your attitude must be respectful. Answer truthfully whatever the master asks you. If he takes you as a disciple, that is your fortune. If he doesn't, there is no need to be discouraged, it is simply that your fortune has not yet arrived."

Mo Hua nodded seriously, then involuntarily looked at Instructor Yan.

"Instructor..."

"Go on," Instructor Yan said no more, only waving his hand.

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment, finally taking small steps and walking steadily up the mountain.