“Brother Yang, you’ve misjudged this time.”
Yuan Zun suddenly spoke.
“Misjudged?”
Yang Danlin was puzzled.
“This lad’s cultivation has already broken through to the peak of the Ninth Martial Vein, but he’s practised some special martial art that conceals his true cultivation. Even you couldn’t see through it. I only noticed because of my ‘Eye of Truth’,” Yuan Zun explained.
Yang Danlin looked at Ling Xiao, his face filled with shock.
“Master, Senior, I hope you both won’t spread this around. The reason I’m doing this is purely to avoid attracting jealousy, especially since the Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign has a grudge against my secular world master, Master Baiyun. So, I have to keep a low profile for now,” Ling Xiao said with a wry smile.
“Don’t worry, we won’t blab. However, powerhouses at the Heaven-Human Realm generally possess special divine abilities. While something like the Eye of Truth is rare, it’s not impossible for others to have similar methods to see through your cultivation,” Yuan Zun cautioned.
“Powerhouses at the Heaven-Human Realm wouldn’t bother with an insignificant nobody like me,” Ling Xiao replied. He knew Yuan Zun’s words were true, but he wasn’t worried. Unless his cultivation reached the Mortal Realm, the Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign might take notice. Otherwise, the man had far too many matters to attend to; why would he waste time observing an unknown like Ling Xiao?
Besides, there was a ninety percent chance the Demonic Flame Heavenly Sovereign’s divine ability wasn’t something akin to the “Eye of Truth.”
“Alright, enough of that. I called you here today to give you this,” Yang Danlin said, handing Ling Xiao a book. It wasn’t very thick, but it was clearly crafted using a special sealing technique. If fully unfolded, it would likely require a space of five or six hundred square metres to contain.
“This is the culmination of your Master Yuan Zun’s lifelong efforts. Originally, we planned to pass it on to you in a few years, but your aptitude in medicine is simply astonishing. So, after discussing with Master Yuan Zun, we decided to give it to you early. This way, you can make greater strides in the path of alchemy sooner!”
Ling Xiao carefully accepted the book, aware it represented Yuan Zun’s life’s work.
“Thank you, Master. Thank you, Senior,” Ling Xiao said, bowing deeply with solemn gratitude.
“This book isn’t just my life’s work. In my youth, I studied under many exceptional pharmacists. This book is the combined effort of over a hundred top-tier pharmacists. It contains not only profound alchemy techniques but also many unique insights. You must treasure it,” Yuan Zun advised.
“Rest assured, Master, I will treasure it.”
“Good. That’s enough about alchemy for now. Next, I will personally teach you the ‘Art of Array Forging’,” Yuan Zun announced.
“The Art of Array Forging?”
Ling Xiao was stunned. He had only heard of arrays in this world, which required materials to set up. What was this “Art of Array Forging”? He had heard of weapon forging, though.
“Yes, the Art of Array Forging!” Yuan Zun explained. “You should know that weapons, armour, and hidden weapons can be embedded with ‘arrays’ to produce special effects, right?”
“I’ve heard of that,” Ling Xiao nodded.
“The Art of Array Forging involves crafting all arrays and formations through forging techniques, sealing them into Array Forging Stones. When needed, you simply fuse the Array Forging Stone with a weapon to grant it special effects. Additionally, if you want to set up a formation, you can directly use the Array Forging Stone to do so.”
Yuan Zun continued, “So, the foundation of the Art of Array Forging lies in studying arrays and formations. But I believe that won’t be difficult for you. With your photographic memory, you should be able to easily memorise nearly all existing arrays and formations, right? Once you’ve memorised them, I’ll personally teach you how to forge arrays.”
Seeing Ling Xiao’s calm demeanour, Yang Danlin chuckled and scolded, “You little brat, you really don’t know how incredible this is. The Art of Array Forging was something Yuan Zun learned from the highest realm, the ‘Immortal Court Continent.’ There are many array forgers there, but your master is among the most outstanding. This method doesn’t even exist on the Heavenly Dragon Continent.”
“That impressive!”
“Of course! On the Heavenly Dragon Continent, weapon forgers can only engrave inscriptions or embed special gems to enhance a weapon’s effects. But in the Immortal Court Continent, that’s merely the most basic stage of array forging, with no technical merit and a waste of resources,” Yuan Zun explained. “Now do you understand?”
“I understand, and I’m willing to learn!” Ling Xiao said. His earlier pause was due to speculating about Yuan Zun’s identity. Not only was he a formidable alchemist, but also a powerful array forger. Just who was this master of his?
“Good that you understand. From now on, you’ll still officially be part of the Alchemy Hall, but privately, you’ll study array forging with me. To help you better grasp the benefits of array forging, go to the sect’s trading market and buy some Array Forging Stones,” Yuan Zun instructed.
“Master, didn’t you say the Heavenly Dragon Continent doesn’t have the concept of array forging? How are there Array Forging Stones?” Ling Xiao asked, confused.
“On the Heavenly Dragon Continent, Array Forging Stones are just relatively common gems. They’re somewhat expensive, but one low-grade spirit stone can buy ten Array Forging Stones. Since these stones have no attributes, warriors on the Heavenly Dragon Continent typically use them as storage stones for True Essence, which is simply wasteful,” Yuan Zun explained. “Here, they’re called Essence Storage Stones. Just buy low-grade Essence Storage Stones.”
“Got it. But, Senior, where is the Yuehua Sect’s trading market?” Ling Xiao asked. He had been at the sect for a month, mostly moving between the outer sect and the Alchemy Hall, and hadn’t ventured elsewhere.
“Find it yourself!” Yang Danlin glared at him.
Ling Xiao grinned sheepishly, thinking it was fair. If he couldn’t even locate the sect’s trading market, how would he survive out in the wider world?
Neither Yuan Zun nor Yang Danlin provided spirit stones for buying the Array Forging Stones, but that wasn’t an issue since he didn’t need many.
If an array could be successfully forged, only one Array Forging Stone was required.
Anticipating potential failures, he planned to buy ten, which would cost just one low-grade spirit stone—a minor expense for him.
In the sect, spirit stones had become the standard currency, while silver and gold were merely common resources.
They were used in alchemy, medicine, and weapon forging, but their value was far lower than in the secular world.
In the sect world, ten million taels of silver or one hundred thousand taels of gold could only be exchanged for one low-grade spirit stone.
The Yuehua Sect’s trading market was easy to find. Asking any senior outer sect disciple or even a random stranger on the road would suffice.
