Array Master

After Mo Hua woke up at the Hour of the Rabbit, he began his usual practice routine.

An hour later, he finished his cultivation and went to the teaching hall to await instruction.

"Jiao Xi" is the general term for instructors within the sect, responsible for teaching outer disciples specific subjects such as cultivation, array formations, alchemy, and artifact refining. They also supervise and guide the practice of outer disciples.

Like other sects in the cultivation world, Tong Xian Men divides its disciples into three categories: direct lineage, inner sect, and outer sect.

The outer sect is open to the public for teaching and discipleship. It mainly relies on receiving disciples' entry fees as income. Outer sect disciples learn parts of the sect's teachings that are open to the public. After graduation or leaving the sect, they have a connection with the sect but no practical involvement.

The inner sect forms the core of the sect. Inner sect disciples are closely associated with the sect and manage various industries such as spiritual mines, spiritual grounds, caves, and businesses outside of their cultivation practice.

Inner sect disciples can learn core techniques and spells not generally taught outside the sect. They are closely tied to the sect through master-disciple relationships and cannot be separated. If an inner sect disciple commits an offense outside, the sect may be held accountable. If they betray the sect, it is considered a grave offense with severe consequences.

Direct lineage disciples are the main line of the inner sect. These disciples either have blood relations with the sect leader or elders or have extremely deep master-disciple relationships. Direct lineage disciples are the core of the sect and often succeed to crucial positions such as sect leader or elder in the future.

Direct lineage disciples learn the sect's most core techniques and other forbidden arts not taught outside. If a direct lineage disciple betrays the sect, they are hunted down until death.

"The Dao Code" prohibits cultivators from private punishments and indiscriminate killings. Pursuing direct lineage disciples who betray the sect goes against the Dao Code and could lead to punishment by the Dao Court. However, most cases of sect betrayal are managed by local Dao Court offices. While the Dao Court holds significant power, not all local offices have powerful cultivators.

Author Note: The Dao Code prohibits cultivators from pursuing direct lineage disciples, in order to ensure that secret techniques held by them won't be spread.

Betrayal by direct lineage disciples involves the core inheritance of the sect, making it a significant issue. Local Dao Court offices generally do not interfere, especially with major sects.

However, these matters are of little concern to Mo Hua.

He was merely an outer sect disciple of Tong Xian Men, neither part of the inner sect nor direct lineage. Even if he wanted to be hunted down, others would not consider him worth the effort...

Mo Hua focused his mind and sat quietly at his seat for a while, then saw Instructor Yan enter with a serious expression.

Instructor Yan was probably in his forties or fifties, serious in demeanor, and had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Among the disciples of Tong Xian Men, Instructor Yan held a high position because he was the only one who taught array formations. It was said that he might become a first-grade array master through the assessment in a few years.

Instructor Yan taught array formations to all Qi Refining stage disciples of Tong Xian Men, whether they were from prestigious families or ordinary independent cultivators. He treated everyone the same and did not show favoritism. If someone made a mistake, he would criticize them openly and impose punishment accordingly.

Therefore, the disciples of Tong Xian Men both respected and feared Instructor Yan.

The sect's fees were paid annually, so teaching also occurred annually.

Today was the last day of the annual cultivation period for Tong Xian Men. After today, there would be a holiday lasting more than half a month. The assessment results of various tasks for sect disciples would also be released today.

Instructor Yan held a stack of grade reports in his hand.

The disciples were nervous. Mo Hua wasn't particularly concerned at first, but seeing the anxious faces of his fellow disciples, he couldn't help but feel nervous himself.

Before long, Mo Hua received his own sect assessment results.

His array formation assessment was, as usual, ranked as Grade A, which was his specialty. There were not many disciples in Tong Xian Men who could achieve Grade A in array formations, and Mo Hua was one of them.

However, Mo Hua's cultivation level was only ranked as Grade B. It wasn't that he didn't work hard in his cultivation, but his aptitude was limited. With a medium-grade Five Elements Spiritual Root, no matter how he cultivated, he could only reach this level—neither outstanding nor falling far behind.

Other courses, such as Daoist history and Qi Refining Overview, can generally achieve Grade A if one spends enough time on them. Courses that require spending spirit stones to purchase materials, like alchemy and talisman crafting, usually result in either Grade B or Grade C.

Mo Hua came from a poor family and couldn't even afford an alchemy furnace, so naturally, his performance in these subjects was poor. During assessments, he could only rely on intuition for alchemy and muddle through. Success depended not only on luck but also fluctuated unpredictably, making his grades unstable.

Overall, though, his results were decent. As the saying goes, "One genius covers a hundred flaws." After all, array formations were difficult to master, so achieving Grade A in this field was quite commendable.

After saying a few words, Instructor Yan left temporarily. Inside the room, the disciples began to exchange glances and whisper to each other.

"Mo Hua, you got 'A' in array formations again!" whispered a disciple sneakily looking at Mo Hua's grade report, then sighed in admiration.

"Another 'A'..."

"I've always been 'B'..."

"I'm still 'C'."

"Array formations are so hard to learn. Just looking at the formations gives me a headache..."

The disciples gathered around Mo Hua one after another.

"Hmph!" A disciple from the Qian family, dressed in a silver-white Daoist robe, frowned disapprovingly and said, "What's so great about that? Only simple array formations from the Hua family can get an 'A'."

"What did you get then?" another disciple challenged.

"Why should I tell you?" sneered the Qian family disciple.

Another disciple sneakily glanced at his grade report and burst into laughter. "He got a 'C'!"

The disciples were momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

"You got a 'C' and still laugh at others for getting 'A'. Your face is really thick!"

"Thicker than an alchemy furnace!"

"He's still from the Qian family, but so clumsy. I'm better off—I got a 'B'."

The Qian family disciple, ashamed and angry, retorted, "So what if it's Grade A? You independent cultivators, without an array master, don't you understand?"

He pointed at Mo Hua and others. "You lot of independent cultivators, frogs at the bottom of a well, without heritage, will never produce a real array master in your entire lives! Hmph, Grade A! Remember this, among independent cultivators, a true array master is never possible! If you don't understand, I can say it again."

"Independent cultivators will never be worthy of becoming array masters!"

The surrounding disciples remained silent.

Mo Hua looked at him blankly for a moment, then stood up, bowed to the Qian family disciple's back, and said, "Respected Instructor Yan!"

The Qian family disciple felt like he'd been struck by lightning, his head stiffly turning around to find Instructor Yan standing behind him, his face turning ashen.

"The sect is for teaching and cultivating, not for you to compare and disparage your fellow disciples!" Instructor Yan's voice was stern.

"You can't even master basic array formations, yet you dare mock your fellow disciples?"

"Now go outside and stand there until nightfall."

"And draw the basic Five Elements array pattern a hundred times. Show me next year when you enroll—if you can't do it, don't bother coming..."

The Qian family disciple's face turned gray, but he didn't dare refute a word.

Instructor Yan's status was high enough to reprimand even the Qian family's direct lineage disciples, let alone someone from such a minor branch.

The Qian family disciple slinked off to stand outside.

Instructor Yan stood in front of Mo Hua, silent for a moment, then reached out to pat Mo Hua's slender shoulder and sighed, "Don't mind what others say, just focus on your studies."

Mo Hua remained composed, respectfully bowing to Instructor Yan. "I will remember, Master."

Instructor Yan nodded, then walked back to his seat, gave a few more instructions to the disciples, and announced the sect's annual break, allowing them to go home.

The disciples suppressed their excitement, respectfully saluting Instructor Yan to thank him for a year of guidance in their cultivation, then scattered in all directions like birds and beasts.

With the sect's annual break beginning, the disciples rejoiced.

Mo Hua, however, looked complicated.

Most of these Qi Refining stage disciples were still young and carefree, far from understanding the hardships of cultivation life.

Thinking of his father's scars from hunting demons and his mother's worn-out face, Mo Hua felt a pang of sadness and sighed involuntarily.

Becoming a first-grade array master was still a distant goal, but within his capabilities, he wanted to ensure his parents could live a little better.

Mo Hua tucked away his grade report, holding twelve spirit stones in his arms. Instead of going home after leaving Tong Xian Gate, he headed towards the market.

(End of the Chapter)