Arms Race

Yuan Hongying smiled. "Uncle Chen is really biased. He said you could only study arrays after reaching the third layer of Qi Refining, yet not only did he lend you books, he even gave you an array diagram."

"Among us—no, among all the Outer Disciples—I'm afraid only Senior Apprentice has this privilege."

Zhou Qing asked doubtfully, "What array diagram?"

Yuan Hongying took out the paper crane and pointed at the complex pattern composed of numerous runes on it. "This is an array diagram. Without an array diagram, there can be no array."

"Oh, this?"

Zhou Qing smiled. "Uncle Chen didn't give it to me. I figured it out myself."

Yuan Hongying was utterly shaken. "How is that possible?!"

Zhou Qing said, "Why wouldn't it be possible?"

Yuan Hongying smiled bitterly. "Senior Apprentice, promise me first that you aren't making fun of me, and then I'll tell you."

Zhou Qing said, "All right. I promise I'm not making fun of you."

Yuan Hongying said, "You don't know how difficult it is for the Array Institute of the Esoteric Division to train an array master. Those who study this path must first memorize the basic runes and master array structures and materials. That alone takes at least two years of hard work. Only with such foundations can they attempt to copy arrays created by senior array masters and grasp the logic behind how arrays operate."

"It takes at least three years before an array master dares say they have caught a glimpse of the gateway. Only then can they try to put their own ideas into practice—whether by analyzing new runes, testing the effects of different materials, or making slight alterations to the arrays of their predecessors."

"But to create something from nothing and invent a new array, I'm afraid one must have immersed oneself in this path for more than a decade."

"Senior Apprentice only got that copy of Array Symbol Basics ten days ago, yet you already figured out this Flying Crane Message Array on your own. If the Array Institute learned of it, they would absolutely demand that you be transferred there at once."

Zhou Qing smiled. "So that's what you meant."

"They are taking the proper path to training array masters. The talents trained that way have solid foundations and can go the distance."

"I merely selected runes for a specific purpose and constructed a simple array. Because it was so simple, it required no special materials and no great attention to structure, which was why it succeeded easily."

"If I wanted to construct a complex array, I would have no choice but to undergo the same training as the array masters at the Array Institute and lay a solid foundation."

That was the meaning of formal training.

It gave one a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the knowledge within a discipline.

Zhou Qing understood that if he wanted to achieve something in the path of arrays, wield arrays with ease, and strengthen his own abilities, he too had to undergo such comprehensive study.

He would not become puffed up with pride and think that, merely because he possessed the ability to control magnetic fields, he had immediately grasped every mystery of arrays.

Yuan Hongying said, "That is already incredibly impressive. If the disciples of the Array Institute learned of it, they would be ashamed to show their faces."

"Still, even if the Array Institute wanted to take you away, I doubt Uncle Chen would let you go."

Zhou Qing found this strange. "You seem to know the Array Institute very well."

Yuan Hongying cast him a resentful glance. "Senior Apprentice really is one to forget favors as soon as he receives them. My previous assignment was at the Array Institute. Senior Apprentice was the one who notified me of it."

Zhou Qing thought for a moment and remembered that such a thing did seem to have happened. He smiled. "Why wouldn't Uncle Chen let me go?"

Yuan Hongying said, "Cultivators ultimately rely on cultivation as their foundation. As long as a disciple's cultivation is still advancing, the sect will not readily have them devote themselves to the esoteric arts."

"Only when a disciple shows no improvement for a long time, when it is clear that their potential has been exhausted and the end of their immortal path is already in sight, will the sect decide according to that disciple's comprehension whether to send them out to work for the sect or transfer them to the Esoteric Division to study esoteric arts."

As Zhou Qing listened, he nodded inwardly.

Azure Cloud Sect's training system was rather humane. It did not blindly treat disciples as tools, but placed importance on their individual growth.

Still, that was also related to the nature of the Cultivation World.

In the Cultivation World, cultivation realms were king. The higher the overall realms of a sect's disciples, the stronger the sect itself.

Yuan Hongying toyed with the paper crane in her hand and asked curiously, "Why did Senior Apprentice think of making a paper crane like this?"

Zhou Qing smiled. "For convenience. Every time I receive an assignment, I have to go and notify each of you in turn. It is truly inconvenient, so I thought of making an object that could notify you in my place."

"Afterward, go notify the others for me. Have each of them send over a few strands of their hair as well. I'll make several more paper cranes. Whenever someone has an assignment in the future, I'll attach a note to the paper crane to notify them, and once you receive it, you can head there on your own."

"But afterward, the paper cranes must be returned. Otherwise, I'll have to make new ones every time, and that would be far too troublesome."

As he spoke, he held out his hand, signaling for her to return the paper crane.

Yuan Hongying instinctively hid her hand behind her back and said with a giggle, "Senior Apprentice, can this junior sister keep this paper crane as a collectible?"

Zhou Qing said, "This paper crane can only search for your own aura. What use is there in keeping it?"

Yuan Hongying smiled. "This is the first array Senior Apprentice ever constructed. It would be nice for this junior sister to keep it as a memento."

Zhou Qing said, "If you like it, keep it. But pull out a few more strands of hair for me. I still need to make another paper crane."

Without hesitation, Yuan Hongying pulled out several strands of hair and gave them to Zhou Qing.

Then she took out a handkerchief and carefully wrapped the paper crane in her hand before storing it close to her body. Only then did she say, "This paper crane shall count as Senior Apprentice's payment. This junior sister will go notify the other senior and junior apprentices for you."

With that, she bade Zhou Qing farewell.

After Yuan Hongying left, Zhou Qing turned his thoughts back to the paper crane.

He wondered whether this array could be modified for other uses.

At its core, this array was merely a combination of a spiritual energy wave locator and a hovering flight function.

The rune that condensed fire spiritual energy to generate heat seemed to have the potential to be developed into an offensive method.

However, to use runes to generate enough heat to harm a person would require a great many runes combined together. That would inevitably be an exceedingly complex array, one requiring a unique carrier. It could never be borne by a mere sheet of kraft paper, and it would also require far more precious writing materials.

That was absolutely beyond what he could accomplish at present.

Another rune, however, might be more useful.

It was the rune that agitated spiritual energy and produced spiritual energy waves.

Perhaps he could develop an ability to use spiritual energy waves to explore his surroundings, something similar to sonar.

Naturally, the Cultivation World had spells for exploring the surrounding environment. Cultivators' own powerful senses could accomplish the same purpose as well.

But as the Dao rose one foot, the devil rose ten. If you had methods to survey the environment, others had divine abilities to conceal their aura and traces.

It was like an "arms race" in the Cultivation World, with everyone trying to develop new methods.

If he could develop a detection method unique to himself, it would undoubtedly be of great significance to his ability to survive.