Chapter 420: Chapter 388: Sealing Spirit Array

"Arrays are the very bedrock of a sect, and Array Patterns are the basis of all Arrays. You have all been studying Arrays for a year now, so today, we will begin carving Array Patterns."

"In some ways, carving Array Patterns is very similar to drawing talismans. However, talismans are used to trigger Magic, while Array Patterns are used to control it."

In an underground stone chamber at the Spirit Dao Institute, Instructor Senior Brother Xie Yongtai stood on the stage, speaking with ease.

The stone chamber was spacious and clean. The walls and floor were constructed from large blocks of blue-gray rock. The lighting design was quite ingenious, channeling natural light from the surface so that it was bright and clear during the day, even without lamps.

Xie Yongtai was a wiry old man with dark skin and salt-and-pepper hair, the eldest among the instructors.

Below the stage sat six disciples, each at a stone desk. On the desks lay the tools for carving Array Patterns: a piece of Profound Armor, an array-pattern knife, a grinding stone, and ink-silver.

Zhao Lin ran his fingers over the Profound Armor on the desk, thinking, ’This thing is so worn and shiny. I wonder how many years it’s been used.’

Although he had never carved an Array Pattern before, he knew the use of these tools like the back of his hand.

Array Patterns could be carved on objects capable of storing Spiritual Qi, such as array stones, array flags, magic artifacts, heavy ironwood, or Demon Beast bones. Profound Armor was one of the more common materials.

Profound Armor was the carapace of a creature called a Profound Armor Beast. This Demon Beast resembled an old tortoise, its back covered by a hard, bony shell.

The carapace of a Profound Armor Beast had natural patterns. When attacked, these patterns would form a defensive Magic—a most primitive form of Array.

It was from the Profound Armor Beast that early cultivators discovered the wondrous uses of Array Patterns, leading them to deduce and develop a vast variety of Arrays with different functions.

The Profound Armor Beast was a Tier One Demon Beast with a large population, so its carapace was often used as practice material for disciples beginning their study of Arrays.

Zhao Lin picked up the array-pattern knife and found it quite heavy in his hand. After injecting a bit of Spiritual Power, he could see a wisp of Spiritual Light flowing continuously along the blade.

The array-pattern knife was refined from various materials, including fine gold, Spirit Beast Essence Blood, and Black Crystal Stone. It was specifically designed for carving Array Patterns. About seven inches long and shaped like a judge’s brush, its tip was exceptionally sharp.

For an Array Master, a good array-pattern knife was as crucial as a weapon to a mortal soldier, offering tremendous help.

However, just like weapons, array-pattern knives also needed to be repaired or replaced after long use.

The grinding stone was used to polish the material. If a carving failed, it could be used to erase the Array Pattern and start over.

Ink-silver was a special material. Once an Array Pattern was successfully carved, it was covered with ink-silver to prevent outsiders from discerning its true form.

"Today, we are going to carve the Sealing Spirit Array, one of the most ancient Arrays in the Cultivation Realm."

Xie Yongtai swept his gaze over the disciples below and asked, "Who can tell me the purpose of this Array?"

Upon hearing the question, several disciples immediately raised their hands.

Xie Yongtai pointed to one of them. "Zhong Mao, you may speak."

"Yes."

Zhong Mao stood up and replied, "The purpose of the Sealing Spirit Array is to seal the Spiritual Qi within spiritual items, such as magic artifacts, Spirit Stones, or storage pouches."

"This prevents their Spiritual Qi from dissipating, allowing them to maintain their grade even if left unused for a long time."

"Excellent!"

Xie Yongtai gestured for Zhong Mao to sit down and said with a smile, "The applications for the Sealing Spirit Array are extremely broad. In fact, nearly all Arrays incorporate its patterns. Even the Tier Two Spirit Gathering Array was developed based on it."

"The Sealing Spirit Array is composed of sixteen different Array Patterns. Today, we will learn the simplest one."

After speaking, he beckoned to the disciples below. "I will demonstrate it once. Come up and watch closely."

The disciples all went up to the stage and gathered around Xie Yongtai.

"Array Patterns originate from a cultivator’s comprehension of the Celestial Dao. The thickness, length, and curve of every single stroke is different, and the amount of Mana required for each also varies."

"Therefore, when you carve, you must be completely focused. You must hold the Array Pattern in your heart, aligning your intent with the Celestial Dao. Your control over the knife’s edge and your Mana must be exceptionally precise."

"Carving an Array Pattern must be done in a single, continuous motion. You cannot pause. Otherwise, even if you fail on the very last stroke, all your previous effort will be wasted."

As Xie Yongtai spoke, he injected Spiritual Power into the array-pattern knife. His hand moved like a dancing dragon as he swiftly carved a complex and intricate Array Pattern onto the Profound Armor.

Then, he lifted the knife, a smile on his face. "There."

The moment he finished speaking, a silver light flashed. The Array Pattern carved on the Profound Armor floated up into the air, shimmering faintly as if it had come to life.

After a moment, it gradually faded away.

"Such practiced skill! As smooth as flowing water!"

"Senior Brother Xie’s technique is masterful. Truly impressive," the disciples exclaimed in admiration.

Zhao Lin chimed in with some token praise, but his attention was captured by a change in the Spirit Cultivation Map in his mind.

The moment the Array Pattern was complete, three words appeared in the eighth slot of the Spirit Cultivation Map: Sealing Spirit Array!

Next to the words was a tiny flower petal.

’So I have to come into contact with an Array Pattern to capture the Array!’

Zhao Lin understood now. In the past, when he had been inside other Arrays, the Spirit Cultivation Map would show the Array’s name, but no petal would appear.

Observing it closely, he saw that this petal was much smaller than the previous ones. It was slender and delicate; it would probably take more than ten of them to form a complete flower.

’Why is it like this? Have the number of petals increased?’

Zhao Lin was puzzled, but after a moment’s thought, he understood.

Magic had six levels of mastery: Initiation, Proficiency, Minor Achievement, Mastery, Major Achievement, and Perfection. Thus, there were six petals.

Arrays, however, didn’t have such levels. You either knew them or you didn’t.

The Sealing Spirit Array was composed of sixteen different Array Patterns. Whenever the Spirit Cultivation Map captured one pattern, a petal would appear.

Following that logic, once he captured the other fifteen Array Patterns, the flower would be complete.

’So that’s how it is. I wonder how many Spirit Stones it will cost to master this Array Pattern?’ Zhao Lin wondered.

"Alright, return to your desks and begin practicing."

Xie Yongtai announced, turning to the group after demonstrating the carving once more.

The disciples, now full of enthusiasm, all returned to their seats, picked up their array-pattern knives, and began carving on the Profound Armor.

For a time, the room was utterly silent, save for the sounds of breathing and the scratching of knives.

Zhao Lin took a light breath, reviewed the Array Pattern in his mind, then infused his array-pattern knife with Spiritual Power and set it to the Profound Armor!

Although the Spirit Cultivation Map could capture the Array Pattern for him, he still decided to give it his best effort first.

He had already mastered a fair amount of knowledge about Arrays and had a decent understanding of the Six Lines, the Eight Trigrams, and the Five Elements’ cycles of production and destruction.

If he could succeed in carving the Array Pattern through his own abilities, he could save a slot and learn one more Magic.

He had barely carved two strokes when his hand faltered and the Spiritual Power in the array-pattern knife dissipated.

’My first time. This is normal.’

Zhao Lin shook his head lightly, found a new spot, and continued carving.

As the saying goes, knowing is easy, but doing is hard. It looked effortless when Xie Yongtai carved, but only after trying it himself did he realize that creating an Array Pattern was completely different from simply copying a drawing.

If his sense of the Spiritual Power was off, it wouldn’t work even if the carving itself was a perfect replica.

The strokes and positions were clearly identical, yet the Array Pattern he carved held not a shred of Spiritual Power.

Zhao Lin failed ten times in a row. Finding no more empty space on the Profound Armor, he had no choice but to pick up the grinding stone and polish the surface smooth again.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye...

Suddenly, someone gasped.

Then, a disciple stood up and exclaimed in a low voice, his excitement impossible to contain, "Senior Brother Xie, I did it!"

Everyone looked up in surprise and saw that the speaker was Zhong Mao, the same disciple who had answered the question earlier.

"No way, he finished one so quickly?"

"It’s so neat! It looks just like Senior Brother Xie’s Array Pattern!"

"Sigh, mine looks the same, so why doesn’t it have any Spiritual Qi?"

Many disciples stopped what they were doing and walked over to Zhong Mao’s desk to take a look.

Zhao Lin was sitting right in front of Zhong Mao. He glanced back and saw an Array Pattern on his Profound Armor, Spiritual Qi flowing through it. It was clearly complete.

Zhong Mao’s talent for cultivation was ordinary, and he wasn’t particularly outstanding among the third-year disciples. It was unexpected that he would learn Arrays so quickly.

Xie Yongtai was also quite surprised. He raised an eyebrow and said, "To carve an Array Pattern in just two hours is no easy feat. Carve another one for me to see."

Zhong Mao agreed and picked up his array-pattern knife to carve again.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he was inevitably a little nervous and made a mistake halfway through.

"Carving an Array Pattern isn’t about being slow. Going a bit faster can actually make it smoother."

Xie Yongtai advised.

"Yes."

Zhong Mao composed himself and carved it again, succeeding this time.

The other disciples were dumbfounded. Xie Yongtai laughed heartily and praised, "Very good!"

Zhao Lin didn’t watch any longer. He returned to his stone desk and began to carve, again and again.

"That’s enough. We’ll stop here for today."

When noon arrived, Xie Yongtai said in a deep voice, "Carving Array Patterns is mentally and physically draining. You shouldn’t overexert yourselves. Go back and rest. Come back tomorrow."

Zhao Lin felt dizzy and utterly exhausted. Knowing he couldn’t continue, he organized the items on his desk, stood up, and left the stone chamber.

「The next day」

The disciple Lu Ziming successfully carved an Array Pattern.

「The third day」

Two more disciples managed to carve the Array Pattern.

「The fourth day」

Zhong Mao, who was making the fastest progress, had already mastered two Array Patterns and was beginning to learn the third. Only Zhao Lin and one other disciple were still working on the very first one.

’Do I really have no talent for Arrays?’

Zhao Lin sighed internally. Carving an Array Pattern wasn’t like carving words into stone; it was nearly impossible to master through mere practice.

Without natural talent and comprehension, one could at best become a craftsman, never a master.

’I’ll try again tomorrow. If it still doesn’t work, I’ll have to use the Spirit Cultivation Map.’

「The fifth day」

Xie Yongtai didn’t have the disciples practice. Instead, he started by asking a question.

"The Sealing Spirit Array isn’t the simplest Array. Does anyone know why we use it as the introductory one?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"Because the path of Arrays is obscure and profound. If it takes you seven or eight days, or even longer, just to learn a single Array Pattern, it means you don’t have the talent for it."

"You must understand, the Sealing Spirit Array has sixteen Array Patterns in total, each one harder than the last. The most difficult pattern is ten times more complex than the first. You do the math—how long would it take to master the entire Array?"

"If you still can’t carve the first Array Pattern, perhaps you should consider switching to a different path of study."

Xie Yongtai gave Zhao Lin a meaningful look and continued, "Don’t worry about having wasted a year. The knowledge of Arrays can be applied in other areas as well."

"But to continue delving deeper would not be worthwhile."

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