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Chapter 131: The Compass Formation (Part Four)
Chapter 131: The Compass Formation (Part Four)
That evening, Mo Hua returned home and lay on his small desk, deep in thought.
In order to become a master beast tamer, he needed to be the first to reach a magical beast after its death.
The best way to do this would be through audio transmission.
However, after inquiring around, Mo Hua learned that audio transmission arrays, audio transmission talismans, and other similar methods were not something a Qi Refining cultivator like him could use.
Were there any scouting arrays, then? Mo Hua pored over the Manual of a Thousand Arrays several times by the light of his lamp but still couldn't find any suitable arrays.
After a while, his neck began to ache, so he tilted his small head back and lay against the back of the wooden chair, continuing his train of thought.
If such arrays truly existed, they ought to be mentioned in the Manual.
Scouting arrays shouldn't be so rare that they were exclusively guarded by influential families or sects.
If they weren't in the Manual, there was another possibility: these arrays were composite arrays! Scouting arrays likely required the combination of different singular arrays to function, and the Manual of a Thousand Arrays only collected singular arrays, which was why there were no records of such arrays.
"A composite array..." Mo Hua sighed. It seemed like he would have to seek Master Zhuang's guidance after all.
The next day, Mo Hua went to Ziwang Residence and looked for Bai Zisheng first.
While Bai Zisheng's knowledge of arrays wasn't extensive, he sought help from his sister, Bai Zixi.
Bai Zixi thought for a moment and said, "No, scouting arrays are rather complex. They might not exist among first-grade arrays and below, at least I've never seen one."
"Are there any similar ones?"
"What do you mean by similar?"
"Something that can let me know when an array has been triggered or when a magical beast has died," Mo Hua explained.
Bai Zixi fell silent.
"A composite array would be fine too," Mo Hua added.
Bai Zixi's slender eyebrows, as graceful as the new moon, furrowed slightly as she pondered the question. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and she replied, "The Compass Mother-and-Child Array."
"The Compass... Mother-and-Child Array?" Mo Hua had never heard of it.
Bai Zixi nodded. "It's a composite array that can sense spiritual power fluctuations."
Seeing that Mo Hua still didn't quite understand, she explained further. "When an array is activated or cultivators engage in combat, there will be spiritual power fluctuations. The array can sense these fluctuations."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up as he finally understood. He asked, "Can you draw this array?"
"No, you'll have to ask Master about that."
"Alright, thank you!" Mo Hua said.
Getting an answer was already a pleasant surprise. Bai Zixi's knowledge of arrays far exceeded his expectations.
Mo Hua's eyes shone with admiration, and he couldn't help but praise her. "Zixi, you know so much!"
"It's just average," Bai Zixi replied casually, but her delicate chin lifted slightly, unable to hide a hint of pride.
Mo Hua then went to find Master Zhuang.
As expected, Master Zhuang was napping in the bamboo room, so Mo Hua sat on the steps outside the door and waited.
As he waited, he thought about what he would ask later.
Soon enough, a gentle breeze blew through the quiet courtyard, brushing past Mo Hua's shoulders.
Mo Hua knew that Master Zhuang had woken up, so he stood up and straightened his clothes before entering to speak with him and explaining his purpose.
Master Zhuang's eyebrows arched slightly, and he said with interest, "The Compass Mother-and-Child Array?"
"Yes, Master. Can you teach it to me?" Mo Hua's pair of clear, black eyes looked at Master Zhuang expectantly.
Master Zhuang found it hard to refuse, but he still hesitated. "This is a composite array. It might be a bit early for you to learn this."
"Master, I can already draw arrays with eight array lines, but it still feels quite distant to reach nine. In the short term, I don't think it's very likely..." Mo Hua explained.
"But drawing arrays with eight array lines has become somewhat dull, so I want to try learning a composite array." Master Zhuang's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes held a hint of complexity.
The title on the book's cover read, "Introduction to Composite Arrays."
"I gave you a copy of 'Fundamentals of Composite Arrays' before. That's the foundation, so go through it again," Master Zhuang instructed, pointing at the book in front of Mo Hua. "This 'Introduction to Composite Arrays' has the diagram for the Compass Mother-and-Child Array. After you finish studying 'Fundamentals,' come back and learn from this, and ask me if you have any doubts."
Mo Hua was overjoyed and asked, "Master, can I also learn the other composite arrays in this book?"
Master Zhuang looked at him meaningfully and replied, "Yes, as long as you can learn them, go ahead."
"Thank you, Master! I won't disturb your rest any further," Mo Hua said happily, bowing before leaving the bamboo room with the book in his arms.
Master Zhuang lay back in his bamboo chair and closed his eyes to rest.
Gu Lao, with a wooden expression, asked, "Isn't this a bit early?"
"Don't worry, it's just composite arrays," Master Zhuang assured him.
Gu Lao couldn't help but retort, "You gave him the entire 'Composite Array Collection.' Some of the arrays in there aren't even suitable for the Qi Refining stage, are they?"
Master Zhuang remained silent.
Gu Lao frowned and asked, "Do you have something planned?"
"Perhaps," Master Zhuang admitted as he lay in his chair, his eyes taking on a profound gleam. "I just want to see how far he can go with this. Let's see what he can accomplish if he's left to his own devices..."
Mo Hua took the "Introduction to Composite Arrays" home and eagerly flipped through its pages.
He had already finished reading "Fundamentals of Composite Arrays," which Master Zhuang had given him previously, and he had even sought "guidance" from Zhang Lan on some of the knowledge within.
However, Mo Hua had skimmed through this new book superficially, not delving too deeply into its contents, only gaining a basic understanding of composite arrays. As he hadn't attempted to draw most of the arrays himself, he only had a superficial grasp of them.
Considering that composite arrays were considered "beyond the syllabus," Mo Hua knew that his current level of expertise in arrays wasn't sufficient, so he hadn't invested too much effort into studying them.
But now that Master Zhuang had given him the "Composite Array Collection" and permitted him to learn composite arrays, it indicated that, in Master Zhuang's opinion, his spiritual sense had progressed enough to delve into this field.
Mo Hua held Master Zhuang in high regard.
With Master Zhuang's extensive knowledge and unparalleled expertise in arrays, if he said Mo Hua could learn them, then the arrays in this book should be within his grasp and not considered "beyond the syllabus."
Moreover, the book was titled "Introduction to Composite Arrays," implying that it was meant for beginners, so the arrays within shouldn't be too difficult.
Mo Hua thought to himself.
In the "Introduction to Composite Arrays," Mo Hua found the diagram for the Compass Mother-and-Child Array.
It was a relatively simple composite array of the Metal element.
The array consisted of two sub-arrays: the Compass Mother Array, which comprised eight array lines, and the Compass Child Array, which had only three.
The array core was a versatile Five Elements Array Core that utilized the repulsive force of Metal-attributed spiritual energy to detect strong spiritual fluctuations within a certain range.
Mo Hua only skimmed through the description briefly before memorizing the diagram and deciding to practice drawing it a few times.
As this was his first time formally learning to draw a composite array, it was already past midnight by the time he finished memorizing all the array lines and the array core mechanism.
Mo Hua lay in bed and closed his eyes to sleep.
In his consciousness, a primitive-looking stele emerged from the void.
(End of Chapter)
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