Talent

Instructor Yan asked, "Are there any cultivators in this world at Qi Refining Level Three who can draw an Array Technique?"

"Well, there naturally should be." Fat Manager pondered, then added,

"The cultivation world is vast, and heaven-blessed talents are beyond counting. If you told me someone could draw Array Techniques from birth, I would believe it. It's just that those are ultimately only rumors—I've never seen such a person myself."

"Even someone of peerless talent who forgets his ancestors and betrays his master and sect... Ahem, someone born into an Array Technique lineage who studied Array Techniques from childhood could draw a simple Array Technique containing three Array Patterns by the time he reached Qi Refining Level Three."

"And those great lineages and sects have inheritances countless times deeper. Their disciples surely lack no geniuses in Array Techniques; they simply never reveal themselves."

Instructor Yan said, "In that case, it isn't impossible for Mo Hua to be able to draw an Array Technique at Qi Refining Level Three."

Fat Manager did not particularly want to admit it, but he had no choice but to do so now.

His Senior Martial Brother Yan might have been stubborn, but his mind had always been meticulous and his eye keen.

"If that's truly the case, that would be extraordinary. Do you want to take on a disciple?"

After thinking for a moment, Fat Manager continued, "I'd say this child really is fine material. Why not formally accept him as your disciple? You could also pass down those Array Techniques Master taught you."

Instructor Yan had never considered it. At those words, he was clearly tempted, but after careful deliberation, he still shook his head.

"The sect has fallen into ruin. The Array Techniques that remain are all Residual Patterns and fragmented chapters—what is there worth passing down? Taking him as a disciple would only mislead him. Besides, Master's last wish remains unfulfilled, and there is still no clue about that person. I have no mind to concern myself with anything else."

Fat Manager wanted to persuade him further, but Instructor Yan merely waved his hand.

Fat Manager sighed. "Fine, I won't urge you anymore. You wouldn't listen even if I did. As for this child Mo Hua..."

"Don't tell anyone for now. A tree that rises above the forest will be broken by the wind—this has been an eternal truth. Besides, he is still young. We cannot let him develop an arrogant heart, or he will inevitably stray down the wrong path in the future."

Fat Manager agreed. "That's true."

Instructor Yan continued, "Don't let him take any more Array Technique orders here, either. Just find some excuse about poor business."

Though business truly had been poor, hearing it said aloud still made Fat Manager feel he had lost face. He corrected him,

"That isn't poor management. It's laid-back management—whether we make a deal depends entirely on fate!"

"Besides, the child is properly drawing Array Techniques, earning Spirit Stones, and helping support his family. Why not let him keep drawing them?"

Instructor Yan frowned. "At Qi Refining Level Three, even if he can draw Array Techniques, how much divine sense can he have? If he draws too many, excessive depletion of his divine sense will inevitably leave future troubles and damage the foundation of his Sea of Consciousness."

"And he is still young. This is precisely the time to lay a solid foundation in cultivation. He must understand not only Array Techniques, but the hundred paths of cultivation as well. His cultivation in particular cannot be neglected for petty profit..."

Fat Manager said, "Rogue Cultivators' families are not that well-off. They don't even have enough Spirit Stones to use."

"Even if his family is poor, he cannot disregard the future..."

"Then do you know just how poor ordinary Rogue Cultivators really are?"

Fat Manager's expression turned serious, a rare sight.

Seeing Fat Manager's expression, Instructor Yan's brows furrowed slightly as well.

Fat Manager said solemnly, "I know your circumstances in childhood were not good. Though you had a Lineage, you were born of a concubine and were not valued by it. Later, you entered the sect and received Master's careful guidance. Only through your own diligence and effort, and your progress in Array Techniques, did things become somewhat better. But no matter how bad your circumstances were, you had a Lineage to rely on. At the very least, you had food and clothing and never had to worry about survival. At worst, your life was merely unsatisfactory."

"People often say cultivation is difficult." Fat Manager sighed. "I've been in Immortal City for over a decade since leaving the sect, and I've dealt with many Rogue Cultivators. Only then did I learn that although people often speak of cultivation's hardships, the degree of that hardship can differ as vastly as heaven and earth."

"Ordinary Rogue Cultivators struggle to make a living, and their earnings are meager. Being able to support a family is already good enough. Those who do Artifact Refining have half their bodies burned away by furnace fire; those who hunt monsters have an arm bitten off by demon beasts; those who sell their Lingli to do odd jobs for others suffer more or less damage to their meridians. Once they fall sick or are injured, they have no Spirit Stones to seek treatment. Whether they can pull through depends entirely on whether Heaven shows them favor."

"If they pull through, that is best. If they cannot, they die with their last breath. The worst are those left hanging by half a life, still spending Spirit Stones while dragging their whole family dry. What can they do? They only want to live."

"Cultivators truly cannot ignore the future, but these Rogue Cultivators at the bottom cannot even take care of the present. Where would they find the leisure to care about the future?"

Having said it all in one breath, Fat Manager poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down.

Instructor Yan fell silent for a time. After a moment, he sighed and said apologetically,

"I did not think it through."

Fat Manager rolled his eyes at him.

After a brief moment of thought, Instructor Yan said to Fat Manager, "Bring me the catalog of Array Techniques you have here."

"What do you need the catalog for?" Fat Manager asked doubtfully, but he still obediently rose, took out a booklet from behind the counter, and handed it to Instructor Yan.

Instructor Yan accepted the Array Technique catalog and read through it all first. Then he picked up the brush on the table, marked several Array Techniques, and numbered them in sequence behind their names.

"What are you..."

Instructor Yan said, "The next time Mo Hua comes, have him draw the Array Techniques I marked in the catalog, one after another. That way, he can progress step by step and learn more solidly. When the time comes, I can give him some guidance at the sect. That is better than having him learn blindly with his eyes closed."

"This way, he can earn some Spirit Stones by drawing Array Techniques to help support his family, while also learning Array Techniques with some proper structure."

After speaking, Instructor Yan added, "One more thing: don't let him draw too many of these Array Techniques. Collect three or four from him every half month, and no more. If his divine sense is excessively depleted and injures his Sea of Consciousness, it will leave a grave hidden danger."

Fat Manager looked at the catalog in his hand, then at Instructor Yan. His expression was complicated. "You really don't plan to accept him as your disciple?"

Instructor Yan merely shook his head. Then he rose to leave, repeating once more before departing, "Do not forget—have him draw them in the order I marked."

With that, he left without looking back.

Fat Manager watched his retreating figure for a long while, unable to say anything. He could only sigh helplessly.

Suddenly, Fat Manager remembered something and called out to Instructor Yan again.

Instructor Yan turned back to look at him.

Fat Manager considered it, but still said, "There is one thing you may have gotten wrong..."

Instructor Yan frowned. "What did I get wrong?"

"When this child Mo Hua brought over the Bright Fire Formation, he was only at Second-Layer Qi Refining. If these Array Techniques truly were drawn by him, then that means..."

Fat Manager paused, choosing his words carefully.

"He may have been able to draw Array Techniques... at Second-Layer Qi Refining!"

Instructor Yan's pupils contracted slightly, and an incredulous look appeared on his face.