Chapter 34

Ge Zheng was convinced. If Lin Tian's formidable soul power had already impressed Ge Zheng, then the subsequent Five-Finger Array Carving Technique truly made him submit wholeheartedly. At this moment, it wasn't just Ge Zheng; everyone in the guild was stunned, all immersed in the spirit-gathering pattern Lin Tian had carved.

"Amazing, he really carved it out."

"Even a second-rank array master would have to expend considerable energy to carve such an array pattern, this..."

Someone muttered to themselves.

Many people felt their cheeks flush. When Lin Tian first came to certify as an array master, everyone mocked him, thinking he was just causing trouble. But now, this person they thought was here to cause trouble had actually carved out a spirit-gathering pattern.

And it was perfect!

Pu Shi was also shocked, but soon, the old man smiled.

"Old man, how about it?"

Pu Shi looked at Ge Zheng with a teasing expression.

Ge Zheng smiled bitterly and shook his head repeatedly: "I lost, completely lost."

The entire process of carving the spirit-gathering pattern was done by Lin Tian in one smooth motion, without any hesitation. The ease and grace with which he did it left Ge Zheng in awe. Taking three steps back, in the shocked gazes of everyone, Ge Zheng did something no one expected—he bowed to Lin Tian.

Under the black robe, Lin Tian was slightly moved.

The female attendant was shocked: "Elder!"

Ge Zheng was an elder of the Array Master Guild, a revered figure, and now he was bowing to a sixteen-year-old boy!

Shaking his head, Lin Tian stepped forward and stopped him: "That's enough, don't do this, you're an elder."

At first, Lin Tian was indeed very annoyed with Ge Zheng, but gradually, he realized that what Pu Shi said outside the guild was true. Ge Zheng was just a bit rigid and stubborn, but he wasn't a bad person. This action alone was enough to show that. Previously, Ge Zheng must have really thought Lin Tian was here to cause trouble, after all, his age as an array master was indeed too young.

"Wrong is wrong, it has nothing to do with age! I apologize for my previous actions!"

Ge Zheng huffed and insisted on completing the bow.

Under the black robe, Lin Tian was speechless. This old man was really stubborn.

"Old man, is an apology enough? What about the Spirit Grass?" Pu Shi leaned in, squinting his eyes at Ge Zheng, and said, "You won't welsh on the bet, right?"

Ge Zheng was furious: "Mr. Pu, I, Ge Zheng, may be sometimes confused, but I have never been a scoundrel!"

In a fit of anger, the old man plunged into the depths of the guild and soon returned with a small jade bottle. Inside the bottle was a peculiar plant about an inch long with three leaves, very unique.

"Take it!"

Ge Zheng waved his hand and threw the jade bottle directly to Lin Tian.

Holding the small jade bottle Ge Zheng threw, Lin Tian under the black robe was slightly embarrassed: "This..."

"Don't be polite, take it. This old man isn't short of money."

Pu Shi said.

Lin Tian thought for a moment. The other party was a second-rank array master and an elder of the Array Master Guild, so he indeed wouldn't be short of money.

Looking at Ge Zheng, Lin Tian smiled: "Thank you, Senior."

In a short while, he would advance to the seventh level of body tempering. At that time, he would need to refine his internal organs. With this Spirit Grass, his cultivation speed would definitely be faster, and the effect of body tempering would be better.

"Winning the bet, it's yours. What's there to thank?"

Ge Zheng huffed.

Under the black robe, Lin Tian wanted to laugh. He could guess that this old man must not be feeling very good right now.

Pu Shi, on the other hand, burst out laughing, completely ignoring Ge Zheng's slightly unpleasant expression.

After that, Pu Shi looked at Lin Tian with a serious expression and said, "Young friend, when you were carving the spirit-gathering pattern, the array hand seal you used, was it the legendary Five Dragon Divine Flash?"

Hearing these four words, Ge Zheng's face also turned serious, and he stared at Lin Tian tightly.

Under the black robe, Lin Tian was slightly stunned, then nodded: "It's the Five Dragon Divine Flash."

The "legendary" part that Pu Shi mentioned, he didn't quite understand, but the array hand seal he used was indeed called the Five Dragon Divine Flash, something he had organized from the information in his mind.

Pu Shi and Ge Zheng exchanged a glance and both drew in a sharp breath.

Even though they had already determined that the hand seal Lin Tian used was the legendary array technique, when they heard Lin Tian confirm it, they still couldn't help but be shocked.

"Five Dragon Divine Flash, the legendary array divine technique, I never thought I would see it with my own eyes."

Pu Shi muttered.

Ge Zheng smiled bitterly and looked at Pu Shi: "Now I believe you. You are definitely not his teacher, you don't deserve it."

For Ge Zheng's sarcasm, Pu Shi didn't care at all.

"I've said it before, I don't have the qualifications to be his teacher." Pu Shi shook his head and looked at Ge Zheng: "Alright, old man, you know what level my young friend is, right? Why don't you give him the rank emblem?"

Ge Zheng nodded: "I prepared it when I went to get the Spirit Grass."

Saying this, Ge Zheng took out an array master emblem from his pocket.

Seeing this emblem, many people's eyes lit up, their faces filled with reverence. This emblem was a symbol of an array master's identity. Those who could wear such an emblem were all powerful figures, and everyone here dreamed of one day wearing such an emblem.

Pu Shi glanced at the emblem Ge Zheng took out and frowned: "Old man, this is a second-rank emblem. Do you think he's only second-rank?"

"Of course I know. According to his level, he should be at the third-rank level." Ge Zheng smiled bitterly again: "But we, this small branch, don't have the authority to issue emblems above the second rank. Only the Array Master Guild in the imperial city can do that."

Pu Shi was stunned, then suddenly understood.

"That's right, I forgot about that." Taking the second-rank array master emblem from Ge Zheng, he then handed it to Lin Tian: "Young friend, you heard it. When you have the chance, go to the Array Master Guild in the imperial city."

"Thank you, Elder Pu."

Lin Tian took the second-rank array master emblem and put it away.

"Alright, that's settled. I've gotten what I needed, so I'll be going back." Pu Shi smiled slightly, then looked at Lin Tian: "Young friend, do you have anything else to do? If not, come with me."

"Nothing else."

Lin Tian said.

Pu Shi smiled faintly, greeted Ge Zheng, and walked out with Lin Tian.

In the guild, everyone's eyes were filled with respect as they watched the two leave, especially when they looked at Lin Tian in his black robe, their expressions were even more reverent. A sixteen-year-old array master, and his array skills were even higher than Pu Shi and Ge Zheng. His future achievements would definitely be terrifying.

"Wait!"

At this moment, a voice sounded.

Pu Shi and Lin Tian stopped and turned around.

"Old man, what is it?"

Pu Shi asked.

The person who called out was none other than Ge Zheng.

Ge Zheng stared at Lin Tian, and for a moment, he seemed a bit embarrassed, stammering: "That, that..."

"Hmm?"

Under the black robe, Lin Tian was a bit puzzled.

Pu Shi stared at Ge Zheng, first stunned, then seemed to think of something, and immediately narrowed his eyes: "Old man, if you have something to say, say it quickly. If not, we'll be going."

Ge Zheng's old face turned slightly red, and he looked at Lin Tian: "That, young friend in black, right? Do you... have any interest in joining our Array Master Guild?"

Under the black robe, Lin Tian was slightly stunned: "Join? Am I not already a member?"

From his perspective, since he had been certified by the Array Master Guild, he was already a member.

"Just now was only a rank assessment. Passing the assessment is one thing, but joining the Array Master Guild is another. To put it simply, some people are array masters and have been certified, but they do not belong to the Array Master Guild because they have not chosen to join. Of course, such people are very rare. Most array masters, after passing the assessment, choose to join the Array Master Guild."

Pu Shi explained.

Regarding Lin Tian's extremely high array skills but vague knowledge of some basic things about array masters, Pu Shi was not puzzled and was even more interested in Lin Tian. In Pu Shi's view, Lin Tian's teacher must be a peak-level reclusive expert. Such figures often only teach their disciples array techniques and do not mention other non-essential things, which is why Lin Tian was somewhat clueless about the Array Master Guild.

Lin Tian thought for a moment and asked Ge Zheng: "Compared to array masters who have not joined the guild, what are the special benefits of joining the guild?"

Hearing this, Ge Zheng's face lit up.

"Array masters who join the Array Master Guild can earn points by completing tasks issued by the guild. These points can be exchanged for special materials, which are often crucial for array carving but cannot be bought with money. Additionally, array masters who join the guild can receive a relatively generous amount of spirit coins for free each month, and there are other benefits." Ge Zheng quickly said, "Of course, apart from the first point, the other benefits are related to the array master's rank and status."

Under the black robe, Lin Tian was slightly moved.

He didn't care much about receiving spirit coins, but the special materials were indeed a problem. In the past few days, by absorbing the array pattern knowledge in his mind, he knew that some special materials were indeed hard to buy with money. If he joined the Array Master Guild, this problem could be solved.

After thinking for a moment, he asked: "So, what do I need to do after joining the guild? Will there be any restrictions on my personal freedom?"

"You don't need to do anything special, and anyone who joins the Array Master Guild is free. You can be absolutely assured of this."

Ge Zheng quickly said.

Lin Tian was slightly surprised. It was that simple?

Beside him, Pu Shi teased: "Actually, this old man has another purpose. By pulling a genius array master like you into the guild, it will greatly benefit the development of the Array Master Guild. For example, some extremely difficult array master tasks can be quickly and effectively resolved if there is a powerful array master. So, pulling a genius like you into the guild, the higher-level Array Master Guild will issue some rewards. The old man, of course, isn't interested in the money, but mainly in the high-level array patterns, he's an array enthusiast."

"..."

Hearing this, Lin Tian was speechless.

On the other side, with his true intentions exposed by Pu Shi, Ge Zheng's old face turned red, and he looked embarrassed.