Chapter 397: Intimidation
Chapter 397: Intimidation
Sun Yi recognized the array patterns, but when they were arranged in such a complex manner, he couldn't make sense of them.
The array core was utterly foreign to him, far beyond his understanding of array formations.
How could this array eye belong to any other formation? And why would a mere first-grade formation contain eleven array patterns? Sun Yi's mind spun as he struggled to find an explanation.
Then, a new thought occurred to him.
"Is this brat trying to deceive me?"
"Is the array he gave me a fake?"
Sun Yi's heart raced as he considered the possibilities, only to quickly dismiss them.
Impossible...
Although he couldn't decipher it, he could vaguely sense that it was indeed a complete and extraordinarily profound array formation.
More likely, it was the very formation left behind by his ancestor!
In that case, it was normal that he couldn't understand it.
After all, it was an array passed down by his ancestor, whose array mastery far surpassed his own.
It was only natural that he wouldn't be able to learn it, but the fact that this little brat, Mo Hua, had seemingly mastered it, was unacceptable.
Mo Hua was merely a Foundation Establishment cultivator, while Sun Yi himself had not even reached the Golden Core stage.
If this young man could reproduce the array left by his ancestor, didn't it mean that his array skills were on par with those of his revered ancestor?
A storm raged within Sun Yi's heart as he muttered in denial, "Impossible..."
Beside him, Sun Ze saw the conflicted look on his father's face after seeing the array, and quietly urged, "Father..."
Sun Yi snapped back to reality, still shaken.
"Is this the formation, Father?" Sun Ze asked.
Sun Yi furrowed his brows and slowly nodded, only to shake his head again moments later.
"What do you mean, Father? I don't understand," Sun Ze said, confused.
Sun Yi remained silent.
He couldn't very well admit in front of all these people that he didn't understand the array, couldn't learn it, and was now unsure of what to do.
Sun Ze pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Why don't we capture this brat and interrogate him?"
He clenched his fist lightly and continued, "No matter how stubborn he is, he won't be able to withstand a beating. We'll get the truth out of him."
Sun Yi hesitated, torn between his options.
However, Mo Hua's crisp voice cut through the tension, "I've given you the array formation. Now, it's time for you to uphold your end of the bargain. Remember, those who go back on their word never fare well."
"Father..." Sun Ze urged as well.
Sun Yi's brows knitted together, his expression conflicted.
He dared not act, but he also couldn't bring himself to let them go.
If this young man truly possessed such outstanding array mastery, he wouldn't dare lay a finger on him.
Yet, the thought of letting them leave filled him with resentment.
Initially, he had planned to obtain the array first and then capture Mo Hua, forcing him to marry into the Sun family and work for their benefit.
But back then, he had assumed that Mo Hua merely had good talent and that his array skills wouldn't surpass his own.
Now, upon seeing this array, he realized that he had vastly underestimated this young cultivator.
At the same time, he had grossly overestimated his own abilities.
He had scoffed at the idea of this brat ever learning his ancestor's array, but it seemed that the one who couldn't learn it was himself...
Could someone at merely the seventh layer of Qi Refining really create such an array? Sun Yi refused to believe it.
This kid must be trying to deceive me!
Sun Yi furrowed his brows and asked, "Kid, have you truly mastered this array formation?"
Mo Hua nodded, "More or less."
Sun Yi's eyelids twitched.
After a moment of contemplation, his expression turned sinister as he said, "This array is a closely guarded secret of my Sun family, never to be passed on externally. Since you've learned it, you are now a part of the Sun family. You must work for the benefit of my Sun family and repay the debt of gratitude you owe us."
Repaying gratitude was a mere pretext; his true intention was to retain talent.
Sun Yi had decided to take a gamble.
He had realized something—his ancestor's array was so profound that he might never be able to learn it in this lifetime.
While he couldn't learn it, this young man before him probably could.
Even if he couldn't, it didn't matter.
Based on his exceptional array talent alone, Sun Yi was determined to make him marry into the Sun family and father children with Sun family blood.
Array geniuses were hard to come by.
He intended to keep Mo Hua's array talent within the Sun family and pass it down through their lineage.
Thus, regardless of whether Mo Hua had mastered this array or not, Sun Yi was determined to keep him here today.
Sun Yi was prepared to go back on his word and break the fragile peace between them.
The Sun family cultivators stirred, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
The spiritual farmers tightened their grip on their weapons, their faces stern.
Ding Dachuan couldn't contain his anger any longer and blurted out, "A family head who doesn't keep his word is no better than a fart!"
Sun Yi merely gave a cold laugh, paying no heed to the insult.
Instead, he fixed his gaze on Mo Hua and asked loudly, "Little brother, what do you think about this?"
"Status? At such a young age?" Sun Yi scoffed inwardly, but his face wore a fake smile as he said, "Regardless of your status, our Sun family can accommodate you."
"Really?"
Mo Hua gave a faint smile and took out a ring, placing it on his tender, small hand.
The ring was white jade inlaid with gold, ancient and noble.
Engraved on it were nine star traces, symbolizing the nine ranks of formation masters.
Above the star traces was a single star, symbolizing the recognition of the Dao Court and a true first-rank formation master.
Sun Yi's smile vanished, and his pupils shook as he exclaimed,
"The Tianxu Ring?!"
Sun Ze, unaware of why his father was so shocked, asked in confusion, "What is the Tianxu Ring?"
Sun Yi's voice trembled as he said, "The Tianxu Ring... he... he's a first-rank formation master..."
Upon hearing this, all the Sun family cultivators sucked in a breath of cold air, their faces filled with disbelief.
The Sun family had a formation legacy, although not much, but they did have some.
There were also quite a few formation masters in the family.
They knew very well how difficult it was to be recognized as a formation master.
In this remote state, finding a formation master who had passed the recognition test was like finding a needle in a haystack.
Even the family head, Sun Yi, had only reached the Foundation Establishment stage and had not been able to attain the first rank.
Yet, this young cultivator, who was only ten years old, was already a first-rank formation master?!
Even if he had studied formations since he was in the womb, that shouldn't be possible...
After all, this was a first-rank formation master.
Without the recognition, one was merely a self-proclaimed formation master.
Only after being tested and recognized by the Tianxu Pavilion of the Dao Court could one be considered a true formation master with a rank.
In other words, once a formation master was recognized, they were backed by one of the seven central pavilions of the Dao Court—the Tianxu Pavilion.
It was like leaping into dragon gates, and their identity and status were completely different from ordinary cultivators.
"Is that really the Tianxu Ring?"
"How would I know?"
"If the family head says so, it probably is..."
The Sun family cultivators lowered their voices and whispered among themselves.
Most of the formation masters in the Sun family had never even seen the Tianxu Ring, let alone attained a rank, so it was natural that they would be curious.
Sun Ze also asked in a low voice, "Dad, is that really the Tianxu Ring?"
Sun Yi was still in shock, but he slowly nodded.
Relying on his status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a half-formation master, he had visited several first-rank formation masters and seen the white jade and gold rings they wore.
He had been both envious and jealous, so the image was deeply etched in his mind.
Sun Yi had dreamed of the day when he would pass the recognition test and obtain his own Tianxu Ring.
But he never expected that before he could even attain recognition, this young cultivator already had one.
"Could it be stolen?" Sun Ze asked again.
Sun Yi's eyebrows furrowed once more.
He thought it must have been stolen, but deep down, he felt that it was impossible.
Formation masters treasured their Tianxu Rings like their lives; how could it be so easy to steal?
It was even more impossible for someone to dare to steal the Tianxu Ring and then flaunt it so openly.
Sun Yi looked at Mo Hua again.
It seemed unbelievable that the white and tender little hand was wearing such a solemn and noble ring.
But this Tianxu Ring did seem to match his aura.
And the demeanor he displayed while wearing the ring was indeed that of a first-rank formation master.
Sun Ze's eyes gleamed with greed, and a cold light flashed as he whispered, "Dad, let's take the ring from him!"
This time, Sun Yi couldn't hold back, and he slapped Sun Ze.
"Are you fcking asking to die?!"
Sun Ze was stunned by the slap, his eyes filled with confusion as he wondered what taboo he had touched upon.
Sun Yi gritted his teeth and explained through clenched teeth,
"You motherfcker, we're not mountain bandits or robbers! We're a family of cultivators!"
"We have a name, a surname, and assets. That huge mansion in Qianjia Town, the family mansion, is registered with the Dao Court!"
"You motherfcker, where did you get the guts to rob a first-rank formation master's Tianxu Ring?!"
"A first-rank formation master is recognized by the Tianxu Pavilion, and they are backed by the Central Dao Court!"
"If you rob the Tianxu Ring, you're offending the Tianxu Pavilion and going against the Dao Court!"
"If they investigate and find out, our entire Sun family could be executed!"
...
The more Sun Yi spoke, the angrier he became, and he slapped Sun Ze again.
Sun Ze was terrified and dared not speak.
As Sun Yi's anger gradually faded, he sighed deeply and said with a cautious expression,
"This young cultivator is someone our Sun family cannot afford to offend..."
(End of Chapter)
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