Chapter 421: Chapter 389: Sycophants and Scoundrels

As evening fell, Zhao Lin sat in the main hall of his home.

Before him sat two boxes filled with Spirit Stones. He was preparing to use them to master the Array Patterns for the Sealing Spirit Array.

’It seems I really don’t have a talent for carving Array Maps. At least, I’m no genius. Even if I stubbornly push on and manage to carve one Array Pattern in ten or fifteen days, what’s the point? There are still fifteen more to go.’

’And this is just a Tier One introductory Array. The gap will only widen later on. Besides, I don’t have that much energy to spare for this.’

At this thought, Zhao Lin opened a box, revealing the Spirit Stones neatly stacked inside.

’It’s important to know your own limits. I should just stick to using the Spirit Cultivation Map!’

To master a Magic to the Perfected level required one thousand twenty-four Spirit Stones.

He wasn’t sure how many Spirit Stones it would take to master a single Array Pattern, but the two boxes held five hundred Spirit Stones in total. That should be more than enough.

Zhao Lin was quite wealthy now. He had amassed nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, so he could afford to be extravagant.

Still, he remained cautious, bringing the Spirit Stones home in several batches. He didn’t want to attract unwanted attention, as he couldn’t explain their origin.

Honestly, Zhao Lin’s first choice had been to study offensive and defensive Arrays. But after some careful thought, he decided the Sealing Spirit Array was also a good fit.

The Sealing Spirit Array was a foundational Array, and many other Arrays incorporated its patterns. The key wasn’t the Array itself, but the knowledge and skill involved in carving its Array Patterns.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t be the first Array taught to beginners.

The Spirit Cultivation Map had nine slots. Seven were for mastering Magic, covering the six Spiritual Roots of Wind, Fire, Water, Ice, Thunder, and Earth, plus one non-elemental Magic. That was sufficient.

The remaining two slots would be for mastering Arrays.

’No matter how powerful your Magic is, you’re just a reckless brute who only knows how to kill. But Arrays... Arrays are strategic weapons for the sect. I have to master them!’

"Let’s begin!"

Zhao Lin took out one hundred Spirit Stones, grabbing one in each hand.

The Spirit Cultivation Map reacted instantly, letting out a low hum. It extended dozens of long tendrils that shot down his arms to his fingers, absorbing the Spiritual Qi from the stones.

The Spirit Stones quickly dimmed as a wisp of crimson seeped into the petal within the eighth slot.

A faint red light pulsed from the Spirit Cultivation Map, flickering unsteadily.

PFFT!

The two Spirit Stones turned to powder.

Zhao Lin’s hands didn’t stop. He grabbed another two Spirit Stones, counting silently while keeping his eyes on the Spirit Cultivation Map.

Fifty-two, fifty-four, fifty-six... sixty-four!

After it had absorbed sixty-four Spirit Stones, the petal was as crimson as blood, and the tendrils slowly retracted.

"It worked!"

Zhao Lin’s heart leaped with joy, and he let out a soft sigh of relief.

’One Array Pattern costs sixty-four Spirit Stones. There are sixteen patterns in total. Multiplied together, that’s exactly one thousand twenty-four—the same amount it takes to master one Magic.’

Now Zhao Lin knew what to expect. This rate of consumption was well within his means.

Once the Spirit Cultivation Map finished analyzing the Array Pattern, a sensation like a light breeze swept through him. A stream of light shot out from the petal and flew into his sea of consciousness, located between his brows.

A flood of memories about carving the Array Pattern instantly filled his mind: how to guide the carving knife, how to control his Spiritual Power, how to sense the Celestial Dao...

Everything became perfectly clear.

Zhao Lin flexed his hands, opening and closing his fists. It felt like they had gained something new.

’Excellent,’ he thought. ’I’ll show them tomorrow!’

...

「Array Class, Day Six.」

Right in front of Xie Yongtai, Zhao Lin’s carving knife moved as if it had wings. He carved a complete Array Pattern in less than three breaths’ time.

The entire process was effortless and fluid. The lines of the Array Pattern were smooth, with a wisp of Spiritual Light flowing through them.

Xie Yongtai stared, stunned for a moment. A flash of surprise crossed his face. "Not bad. You may have been a slow learner, but your carving is the best of all. Your control of force and fingerwork are impeccable. It’s clear you’ve put in a lot of effort."

"Now, you can begin learning the second Array Pattern."

"Please teach me, Senior Brother."

Zhao Lin said respectfully, with no trace of smugness on his face.

"Alright, watch carefully!"

Xie Yongtai picked up his carving knife and demonstrated the second Array Pattern for Zhao Lin.

A moment later, a second petal appeared in the eighth slot of the Spirit Cultivation Map in Zhao Lin’s mind...

That night, Zhao Lin used another sixty-four Spirit Stones to analyze the captured second Array Pattern.

A look of joy spread across Zhao Lin’s face. ’With the Spirit Cultivation Map’s help,’ he thought, ’I can master two Arrays without even breaking a sweat.’

’And with this as my foundation, I can master other Arrays too.’

’The Spirit Cultivation Map has used up eight slots now. I should take stock of things.’

After a moment’s thought, Zhao Lin took out the jade slip he carried and began to organize and record the Magic and Arrays he had mastered.

Rock Armor Skill (Earth Element): Accomplished, Max Level: Accomplished.

Ice Blade Skill (Ice Element): Accomplished, Max Level: Perfected.

Flame Stream Arrow (Fire Element): Accomplished, Max Level: Perfected.

Qi Observation Skill (Non-elemental): Accomplished, Max Level: Accomplished.

Void Trapping Skill (Wind Element): Proficient, Max Level: Proficient.

Water Manipulation Skill (Water Element): Accomplished, Max Level: Accomplished.

Thunder Blade Skill (Thunder Element): Proficient, Max Level: Proficient.

Sealing Spirit Array: Two Array Patterns (16 total).

’Looks like I need to raise the max level of my skills,’

Zhao Lin frowned slightly and muttered to himself.

His current cultivation level was Qi Refining Fourth Layer, and his goal for the year was to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Once he reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, he’d be able to use Perfected-level Magic. He could become a figure like Miao Kefa, truly unmatched within the Qi Refining Realm.

But most of his skills were capped at the Accomplished level, and his Void Trapping Skill and Thunder Blade Skill were capped at Proficient. Even if he broke through to a new realm, his mastery of these skills couldn’t improve along with it.

Zhao Lin preferred to plan ahead. He didn’t want to wait until he reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer to start scrambling to capture new Magic.

He didn’t need to be a perfectionist and get all seven skills to the Perfected level, but he needed at least one or two more that could reach it.

He wasn’t worried about Qi Observation Skill. He just needed a cultivator who had perfected it to use it on him, and he would be able to capture the skill.

Water Manipulation Skill, Void Trapping Skill, Thunder Blade Skill, and Rock Armor Skill all needed to be strengthened.

’But where can I find people who have perfected these skills?’

Zhao Lin rubbed his chin and fell into thought.

Perfecting a Magic skill was difficult, but among the hundred thousand-plus cultivators in the Chenghua Sect, there were quite a few who had managed it.

The problem was, he had no way of meeting such people. And even if he did, he couldn’t just walk up and ask them to cast a spell on him.

It would be perfect if another expert like Miao Kefa came to give a lecture, but that kind of opportunity was rare and couldn’t be forced.

Last year, a Foundation Establishment cultivator had come to the Spirit Dao Institute to give a lecture, but unfortunately, the skills demonstrated weren’t ones he needed, so Zhao Lin hadn’t been able to capture anything useful.

’Maybe I can buy a few gazettes and see if any powerful Magic experts have come to Han Chi County recently.’

An idea suddenly struck Zhao Lin.

Every ten days, the Chenghua Sect released official bulletins and reports detailing recent military, political, and civil matters. The provincial government issued similar documents.

Zhao Lin bought them every now and then to keep up with major and minor events in the sect.

The next day, after morning class, Zhao Lin went to the market on Songyu Peak.

"Give me a few of the latest gazettes."

Zhao Lin walked into a shop and said to the clerk who came to greet him.

Many cultivators had a habit of reading the gazettes, so most shops, regardless of what they sold, would keep a few copies displayed prominently near the entrance.

"You’re in luck, Immortal Master. Three new gazettes just came in."

The clerk smiled. "One from the sect, one from our province, and one from the neighboring province. Which one would you like?"

"I’ll take one of each. How much?"

"Six Spirit Coins in total."

Zhao Lin paid the Spirit Coins and walked out of the shop with the gazettes.

After leaving the market, he walked halfway up the mountain. Seeing a large rock in the shade of a tree by the road, he went over, sat down, and casually picked up a gazette to read.

"Based on my three years of cultivation experience in the Deni Sect, I find their cultivators to be rigorous and methodical. They always follow procedures to the letter, with no exceptions."

"Their style of conduct is a stark contrast to our Chenghua Sect cultivators."

"Therefore, the Magical Artifacts made by the Deni Sect, though expensive, are durable..."

The first article in the gazette made Zhao Lin frown.

It was an article written by a Chenghua Sect cultivator about his experiences with the Deni Sect in the Xiluo Realm.

The author lavished praise on the Deni Sect, analyzing why their Magical Artifacts were of such fine quality and had such a stellar reputation.

He also engaged in deep "self-reflection," pondering why the Chenghua Sect had declined over the past millennium and lost its former glory.

’Shameless bootlicker! What is this garbage!’

Zhao Lin felt a surge of indignation. He flipped to the next page without even finishing the article.

He never thought he’d run into this kind of fawning, bootlicking trash even in the Cultivation Realm.

’If he wasn’t taking money from the Deni Sect, then he must have been born with a spine made for kneeling.’

Unexpectedly, the article on the second page made Zhao Lin’s frown deepen.

The title of the article was: One Year in the Earth Dark Sect: A Discussion on the Differences Between the Disciples of the Chenghua Sect and Earth Dark Sect’s Spirit Dao Institutes.

This one was written by an elder from a Spirit Dao Institute. It was an article he published after visiting the Earth Dark Sect’s Spirit Dao Institute, reflecting on the differences he observed between the disciples of the two sects.

In his view, the disciples of the Earth Dark Sect were more independent, relying almost entirely on self-study for their cultivation. After just one year in the sect, they dared to venture into perilous minor worlds.

The disciples of the Earth Dark Sect didn’t forget to cultivate while exploring, and they could meticulously manage their supplies of Spirit Rice and Spirit Stones. When they encountered danger, they didn’t rely on their sect seniors.

In contrast, the disciples of the Chenghua Sect were far inferior. In the same situation, they would eat half their Spirit Rice on the first day...

Unsurprisingly, the article concluded with a "reflection" on the Chenghua Sect’s training methods.

’Another one of these contemptible bootlickers!’

The more Zhao Lin read, the angrier he got, and he furiously threw the gazette on the ground.

’What is wrong with these people? To write such praise for that pack of heartless bastards from the island... It’s a complete betrayal of their own heritage!’

’If I were in charge of the Chenghua Sect, I’d...’

The thought suddenly surfaced in his mind, but he quickly shook his head, laughing at his own foolishness.

’To lead the sect, you need to be at least at the Purple Mansion Realm and be a figure of great prestige. I’m a long way from that.’

’Besides, the sect’s current strategy is absolutely correct—vigorously developing skills like Artifact Refining, Arrays, and Talismans, and nurturing young disciples at any cost.’

’If it were me, I’d probably have high ambitions but little ability to execute them.’

Having had his eyes sullied, Zhao Lin was in no mood to read that gazette anymore. He picked up the one from Nanhe Province instead.

The local province’s gazette was much easier on the eyes. It mostly covered provincial affairs, the business conditions of various market towns, and newly posted missions.

Zhao Lin flipped through it back and forth but couldn’t find what he was looking for.

Just as he was about to put down the gazette and pick up another, he saw an obituary notice in the margin.

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