Chapter 10

"Are you saying that you just set up an array on a whim, then went back to your room to record your insights and forgot about me?" In the room, Tang Jie glared at Xu Muyang and asked.

Xu Muyang's face turned red: "I just lost track of time."

He, a grand celestial realm true man, actually looked like a child who had made a mistake when faced with the questioning of a half-grown boy, which was quite amusing.

It's no wonder Tang Jie was angry; who would feel good after being trapped in an array for several hours upon returning home?

At this moment, upon hearing Xu Muyang's response, Tang Jie got up and left.

"Where are you going?" Xu Muyang asked in surprise.

"To cook. I was trapped as soon as I got back, and I haven't made dinner yet."

"..."

Before long, Tang Jie had already prepared the evening meal and brought it over.

The two of them ate together in the courtyard, and Tang Jie remained silent throughout the meal.

"What's wrong? Still angry with me?" Xu Muyang laughed and looked at Tang Jie. "Alright, I admit it's all my fault. I apologize, okay?"

For immortals to mortals, it's like gods to the world. Not to mention being trapped for half a day, even if someone were killed, others wouldn't dare to say anything. But now, Xu Muyang actually apologized to Tang Jie, which only shows how well they have gotten along.

Tang Jie, however, shook his head: "I'm not angry. I'm just thinking about what an array is and why it's so magical."

He had previously been trapped in the array, feeling as if he were in a maze. The courtyard was still the same courtyard, but he couldn't find his way out no matter how he tried. The small house was right there, yet it seemed as distant as the horizon. At the time, he felt some panic and fear, but now, thinking back, he found it infinitely mysterious. Therefore, he couldn't help but think about it even during meals, wondering what principle could turn ordinary land into a divine space.

"You noticed too?" Xu Muyang laughed heartily. "Indeed, the way of arrays is a very magical field of study, encompassing all things and containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth. Every blade of grass and every tree can form an array, making it the most profound knowledge in the world. Even cultivators who spend their entire lives might not understand a fraction of it, and its applications are boundless..."

Once he started talking about his favorite subject, Xu Muyang became eloquent, not sparing any praise.

"What exactly is the way of arrays?" Tang Jie asked.

Xu Muyang replied: "In a nutshell, the way of arrays is the cultivation of heaven and earth!"

"Cultivation of heaven and earth?"

"Exactly!" Xu Muyang answered seriously. "If you consider the human body as a world, we cultivators cultivate our own bodies. Outside our bodies, this vast heaven and earth is itself a world. In this world, there are mountains, rivers, land, and seas, each corresponding to parts of the human body. The human body absorbs spiritual energy, which is then used to release immortal techniques. Heaven and earth also have spiritual energy, so why can't it be used to generate immortal techniques? Heaven and earth have no consciousness and cannot use spiritual energy on their own, but cultivators can combine them through various means, and that is what an array is."

"I see." Tang Jie understood; in simple terms, it was like physics from his previous life!

The so-called array is like a high-tech precision machine, using spiritual energy as power and array patterns as channels to run spiritual energy and achieve the desired effect.

However, because the laws of the world are different and the users are different, the phenomena and effects produced, as well as the methods of creation, are also completely different.

For this reason, the way of arrays has a very wide range of applications in the cultivation world.

Among the four auxiliary techniques of immortals—pill, talisman, weapon, and array—the way of arrays has the broadest application. It can be used to create large defensive arrays for sects, and it also has auxiliary roles in the other three techniques. Alchemy requires arrays, talisman creation requires array diagrams, and weapon forging requires array engraving. It can be said to be omnipresent and have a profound impact, which is why the way of arrays is divided into many types.

According to Xu Muyang, arrays are generally divided into dead arrays and living arrays. Dead arrays are fixed and immobile, like the small maze array Tang Jie experienced. Living arrays are usually battle arrays, often used by cultivators working together to amplify their power, and are also a treasure for the weak to defeat the strong.

In addition, there are arrays classified by function, such as those used in alchemy, talisman creation, and weapon forging, which some people call auxiliary arrays, meaning they are auxiliary to the auxiliary.

In short, the way of arrays has many schools and a long history. There is no unified standard, and each has its own way of evaluating and even different views.

For example, some people believe that arrays are only for auxiliary purposes, external manifestations of a cultivator's will, and are there to serve the cultivator. Therefore, these people are dismissive of Xu Muyang's view that the way of arrays is the way of heaven and earth.

Ideas guide actions.

Xu Muyang's ideas made him proficient in the way of heaven and earth arrays, skilled in setting up or breaking large-scale arrays, but not so much in battle arrays or small auxiliary arrays.

In terms of understanding large-scale arrays in this world, at least in the Qixia Realm, no one could surpass Xu Muyang.

At this moment, Xu Muyang spoke eloquently, his face lighting up with excitement.

Tang Jie had never seen him so proactive before. Previously, to learn cultivation from Xu Muyang, he had spent countless efforts, nearly risking his life, and in the end, only learned the Zangxiang Jing.

In his excitement, Xu Muyang suddenly said, "Why don't you learn the way of arrays from me? What do you think?"

"Ah?" Tang Jie was stunned.

Xu Muyang continued, "The way of arrays is something I learned from array books I collected, not a secret of the Xu family, so I can teach you. I see that you are smart and clever, and you are well-suited to learn!"

"But... my heart is on the great path, and I'm not very suitable to be distracted by other things..." Tang Jie replied hesitantly.

The way of arrays is good, but human energy is limited.

Now, Tang Jie was no longer the confused boy who knew nothing about cultivation. He had already realized how difficult the path of cultivation was. Many people spend their entire lives and may never reach the peak.

Why didn't the head of the Xu family want Xu Muyang to learn the way of arrays? Wasn't it because he was afraid that it would distract him from his main path? Tang Jie asked himself if he had Xu Muyang's extraordinary talent. Even someone who had opened seven transformations in the Golden Armor Heavenly Deity's pursuit had to run away in a sorry state. If he were to be distracted, his future achievements would be limited.

"You can't say that," Xu Muyang shook his head. "The path of cultivation is difficult. Besides hard work, you also need insight. The way of arrays and cultivation both contain the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, and they can complement each other. Moreover, the way of arrays is not without its uses in battle. In the battle at Cuimei Mountain, my strength was far inferior to He Chong, but he was still driven away with the help of the Eight Gates Locking Heaven Array I set up in advance."

If you had listened to your father and focused on cultivation, you wouldn't need to use arrays to beat that He Chong, Tang Jie thought to himself. But seeing Xu Muyang's excited look, he couldn't bear to or dare to discourage him.

These days, the Xu Muyang he saw was mostly silent and dignified, but only the current Xu Muyang truly showed the aura of a mortal.

He must really love the way of arrays.

Xu Muyang continued, "Besides, you are only in the washing meridians stage and cannot cultivate yet. You have nothing to do, and since I promised to teach you something, and I can't teach you the Xu family's immortal techniques, I'll teach you what I've learned about the way of arrays. If you really have no interest in the future, I won't force you. What do you think?"

"Alright..." Tang Jie replied listlessly.

Seeing his unwillingness, Xu Muyang couldn't help but feel both angry and amused, patting his head, "You little brat, you really take advantage of my kindness. Do you know how many people want to learn the way of arrays from me, but I don't accept them?"

Yes, your father told you not to learn the way of arrays, but you insisted on learning it;

Others want to learn, but you don't teach them, and I don't want to learn, but you insist on teaching me;

I want to learn immortal techniques, but you want to teach me the way of arrays;

Are you a donkey, always going against people? — Since he learned that Xu Muyang couldn't read minds, Tang Jie's inner complaints became more and more intense.

But regardless of whether he wanted to or not, he had to learn the way of arrays.

After dinner, Xu Muyang started teaching Tang Jie.

"The way of arrays is profound, but no matter what kind of array, it cannot be separated from the four elements: the array eye, the array pattern, the array gate, and the array source. The array eye is the central hub, the core, like the human brain, controlling everything, the most critical part. Without the array eye, the array cannot operate as you wish, and such an array is truly a dead array. The array pattern is the path for the flow of spiritual energy, like the blood vessels and meridians of the human body, the roads of the world. Without the array pattern, the array cannot function. The array gate is the entrance and exit, allowing people to enter and exit, and can also defend against enemies. Life and death are all within it. The array source is the origin of the array's activation. Just as a person needs spiritual energy to perform techniques, the array is the same..."

"I understand. The array eye is the brain, the commander; the array pattern is the blood vessels and bones, the support; the array gate is where the power is truly exerted, the limbs; the array source is the heart, the source of power, like an engine... no, like the spiritual eye in our bodies, right?"

"Exactly. Cultivators use the spiritual sea within their bodies as power, and the array source uses external objects like spirit stones as power, though cultivators themselves can also provide assistance."

"That's strange. In the small maze array you used earlier, I didn't see any spirit stones."

"That's because I added a small spirit-gathering array, which can automatically absorb spiritual energy. This is called an array within an array."

"Does that mean that as long as there is a spirit-gathering array, it can automatically absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and the spirit-gathering array is the array source? But how is the spirit-gathering array activated? Self-sufficient? A perpetual motion machine?" Tang Jie's eyes nearly bulged out.

Xu Muyang hadn't heard the term "perpetual motion machine," but he could understand its meaning from the words, and he laughed heartily, "There's no such thing. The spirit-gathering array itself also needs external force to activate. I had to input a stream of spiritual energy to make it work. Even so, the spirit-gathering array can only gather nearby spiritual energy, and once it's depleted, it has no effect. The small maze array was just a game I played, and unless it's replenished with spirit stones, it will dissipate on its own in at most three days."

"So there's no true perpetual motion machine after all." Tang Jie sighed. "That means there are no truly eternal arrays in the world, and every array actually needs someone to maintain it or have sufficient spiritual energy resources to exist?"

Hearing this, Xu Muyang replied, "Eternal arrays may not exist, but arrays that have existed for thousands or even tens of thousands of years do exist."

"Existing for tens of thousands of years?" Tang Jie was startled by Xu Muyang's statement.

"Exactly. I experienced it firsthand not long ago." Xu Muyang's expression became solemn, his eyes filled with infinite reverence, as if recalling something.

After a long time, he sighed, "Compared to the great powers of ancient times, I am still far behind. If not, I wouldn't have only been able to open the first gate..."

He didn't continue, but changed the subject, "Forget it, let's not talk about these things. You can't understand them now. Let's get back to the way of arrays. Among the four cores of an array, the array pattern and the array source are the most complex. I'll start by teaching you the basic array patterns."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and strange patterns appeared in the air, then faded away after a moment.

"Draw the array patterns I just drew. Remember, follow the order I drew them in, stroke by stroke, without any errors," Xu Muyang said calmly.

Drawing array patterns is a basic skill for array masters and is often used as an entry test. Although Xu Muyang was willing to teach Tang Jie, he also wanted to see if Tang Jie had any talent in this area. If he had no talent at all, he wouldn't force it.

The next moment, Tang Jie picked up a branch and started drawing on the ground. He didn't have the spiritual light that Xu Muyang could summon at will, so he had to draw on paper, but his strokes were extremely neat.

At first, Xu Muyang didn't pay much attention, but as he watched Tang Jie draw, he was surprised.

Because Tang Jie almost perfectly recreated the array patterns Xu Muyang had drawn. When Tang Jie finished, Xu Muyang found that every stroke was almost correct.

"You... how did you do that?" Xu Muyang was greatly surprised.

"It's simple, isn't it? Just a combination of solid and dashed lines," Tang Jie was a bit confused. In his eyes, these array patterns, though complex, were just geometric shapes that could be remembered with a little effort. Since Xu Muyang asked him to draw them, he just followed and drew them.

He didn't know that Xu Muyang had no expectation that he could draw them all.

The Qixia Realm did have mathematics, but it was not highly regarded, and its depth was far inferior to Earth's. Those who understood it might not be cultivators, and cultivators might not need to understand it. Only those who studied the way of arrays would research this knowledge.

Therefore, what was extremely simple for Tang Jie might be incomprehensible to others.

At this moment, hearing Tang Jie say it was simple, Xu Muyang quickly drew a complex pattern on the ground and pointed to the array patterns, "Starting from this point and ending at this point, find three connecting lines that do not intersect."

Tang Jie glanced at it and used a small branch to trace, "This one... this one... and this one."

Xu Muyang was shocked. Finding three non-intersecting lines in a complex pattern was not difficult, but doing it so quickly was not easy.

Xu Muyang gave another problem, this time testing his ability to calculate the size of lines and areas.

Tang Jie didn't expect learning the way of arrays to turn into a math test. He didn't know what level of proficiency was required, so he could only follow Xu Muyang's instructions step by step.

Tang Jie wasn't particularly interested in math, but his mother, a math teacher, had whipped him to study well, saying it would be embarrassing for her if he didn't. Having graduated only a couple of years ago, he hadn't forgotten everything he had learned. Moreover, the problems Xu Muyang gave were not too difficult, so he managed to solve most of them.

Xu Muyang was increasingly amazed.

Because he found that Tang Jie used some methods he didn't understand.

The way of arrays requires a high level of understanding of mathematics, but very few people were truly interested in studying it. Those who pursued the way of arrays often focused on the power of the arrays, not the mathematical principles behind them, which they found extremely difficult to learn.

Xu Muyang had never seen many people who were good at math in his life, and at this moment, he suddenly discovered it, feeling both surprised and delighted. He suddenly grabbed Tang Jie and exclaimed, "Monster! Genius! You still say you don't want to learn? You are a genius in the way of arrays!"

Tang Jie was startled by his sudden grab and blurted out, "But I really don't want to learn."

"Nonsense! With such talent, how can you say you don't love it?" At this moment, Xu Muyang was excited, and his usual graceful demeanor was gone. Seeing Tang Jie refuse to admit his talent, he was heartbroken and said, "You don't understand what love is!"

He was a firm believer that only love could achieve greatness.

His success in the way of arrays was because he deeply loved it and the mathematical principles behind it. In his view, Tang Jie's talent was his love for mathematical principles, otherwise, how could he have such an achievement?

Tang Jie had never seen anyone like this and was stunned, "Xu Brother, I really have no feeling for this."

"How do you explain your talent?" Xu Muyang still didn't give up.

Tang Jie replied helplessly, "I don't know... maybe I don't love the way of arrays, but the way of arrays loves me!"

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