Chapter 678: Learning About Arrays
“Alright, let’s start with the array I just used on you.” Huang Xiao Li retrieved a manual and showed it to him.
“Body Shielding Array…” Yuan read the title of the manual.
“How does one learn arrays? Is it any different from learning cultivation techniques?” He then asked.
“Well, they’re quite similar in some ways, but they are also very different. You will understand it once we begin.”
“Anyways, let’s start.”
“First and foremost, you must learn how to create symbols with your hands. Allow me to demonstrate it.”
Huang Xiao Li then raised her hand and began writing in the air with her index finger.
There was a warm-looking light on the tip of her fingers, and everywhere it went, it would draw a line in the air, eventually creating a symbol that floated in the air.
“I don’t expect you to draw a symbol on your first try, so you should just try drawing lines in the air like this.”
She then waved her finger around, creating a long, glowing line in the air.
“In order to do this, you must collect your spiritual energy on your finger tip and imagine drawing in the air. Trust me, it’s actually much harder than it sounds. Just mastering this technique alone requires months of practice.”
“Okay, let me try.”
Yuan closed his eyes and gathered some of his spiritual energy onto his finger tip.
He could immediately feel a subtle but warm feeling on his finger tip, and without opening his eyes, he waved his hand around like a music conductor while imagining lines would appear wherever his fingers moved.
Huang Xiao Li’s eyes widened with shock when she saw the glowing line that followed Yuan’s finger in the air.
The line was incredibly smooth and consistent, almost like it was created by an expert with countless years of experience.
‘H-He actually managed to succeed on his first try?!’ She cried inwardly.
Huang Xiao Li herself was considered to be a rare genius that hasn’t been seen in over a thousand years, and it took her an entire month to draw in the air so perfectly.
“A-Are you sure this is your first time? I’m having a hard time believing that you’re a beginner with no experience,” she said to him.
“Eh? Yes, this is my first time. I didn’t even know about Array Masters until very recently,” he nodded his head.
‘He’s not lying…’ Huang Xiao Li thought to herself as she stared at Yuan in the eyes.
‘So a prodigy like him can exist in this world, huh…’
A slight smile appeared on her face.
“Anyways, let’s move onto the second step since you can already draw perfectly.”
“Now for the hard part, you must learn to draw symbols and combine them into a single array. It’s a process that cannot be explained due to its complexity, but this should help you.”
Huang Xiao Li retrieved two more manuals and handed them to Yuan.
“10,000 Array Symbols… Guide to Combining Array Symbols…”
Yuan read the title of these manuals out loud.
“There are actually more than 10,000 array symbols in existence, but these 10,000 symbols are the most basic and what beginners must remember first.”
“If you think about it, arrays resemble alchemy more than it does cultivation. In alchemy, you must remember the ingredients and learn the recipes to create pills. As an Array Master, you must memorize the array symbols and the array combinations to create an array.”
“Most of the basic arrays require between fifty to one hundred symbols. Although that may seem like a lot, even amateur Array Masters can make over ten symbols in less than a second. After all, once you’re experienced enough, you can create symbols without needing to draw it with your fingers, and you can just create them almost instantaneously like this.”
Huang Xiao Li showed her palms and symbols quickly began appearing on it, almost as though they were coming out of thin air.
“At my level, I can create around four hundred symbols in a second. It’s pretty good for someone my age, but I cannot compare to some of the true experts out there that can create thousands of symbols almost instantaneously.”
“I see… Thank you for teaching me about arrays.” Yuan said.
She smiled and said, “Since I taught you about arrays, I am technically your Master now.”
Yuan chuckled and bowed to her before speaking in a joking manner, “This disciple greets Master.”
“Alright, I have seen enough of this side. Let’s go check out the other side of the ship before we go back.” Huang Xiao Li said a moment later.
“Okay.”
The two of them proceeded walking to the other side of the ship.
Bang!
The ship suddenly began shaking.
“It’s a Sea Demon! Let’s take a closer look!” Huang Xiao Li said with an excited face.
“Are you sure? That sounds dangerous…” Yuan said with a slightly worried frown on his face.
She smiled and said, “Don’t worry, there’s a powerful formation protecting this ship, and Sea Demons cannot get within 250 meters of the ship, so even though the ship is shaking, it’s not as though the ship is being physically attacked.”
“Follow me!”
Huang Xiao Li began running through the ship, stopping a few moments later.
“Look out there!” She pointed to the sea.
Yuan looked at where she was pointing, and sure enough, there was a battle occurring about 250 meters away from the ship.
There were seven Cultivators with a Spirit Lord cultivation out there currently battling against these large and thick tentacles that were sticking out of the water.
“Judging by the size of those tentacles… A medium-size Sea Demon, huh?” Huang Xiao Li mumbled.
“Oh! Look! There’s Dong Zhou!” She pointed at the person hovering above the battle.
Even though it looked like he wasn’t part of the battle, he was actually supporting the others with his arrays by enhancing their defenses and boosting their strength, and from time to time, he would try to restrict the movements of the tentacles.
“So that’s how an Array Master fights, huh?” Yuan mumbled as he watched their battle from afar.