Li Fan had a premonition: if an ordinary cultivator at the late-stage Qi Refinement realm tried to forcibly read the contents of the Mountain River Hundred Veins Array Diagram, the torrential flow of information it contained would, without a doubt, cause their mind to rupture.
Even though Li Fan's mental fortitude was somewhat stronger than the average cultivator's, his fate likely wouldn't be much better. He immediately withdrew his divine sense and solemnly stored the diagram away in his storage ring.
"How are your array studies progressing?" Gong Boyu asked casually.
Li Fan pondered for a moment before replying, "After two years, I have gained some understanding of the subject. But as for the specific degree of mastery achieved... I am not sure."
"We can solve that!" Gong Boyu said. He then produced a small, pitch-black sphere and tossed it over. "Just send a thread of your divine sense into this."
Li Fan examined the surface of the black sphere, which seemed to flow with starlight, then did as instructed.
In an instant, he found himself in a dark tunnel. His thoughts were like a roller coaster, careening at high speed through the passage. Questions related to array principles slammed into him one after another, and Li Fan found himself responding involuntarily in the fleeting moments.
If he knew the answer and it was correct, the speed of his thoughts increased further. If he was unsure or answered incorrectly, the speed would decrease. This sensation of his thinking speed being amplified a hundredfold was somewhat similar to the epiphanic state boost within the Tianxuan Mirror, but it was far more potent and miraculous.
After a period of time passed in this manner, Li Fan felt his thoughts slow down more and more until they finally came to a complete halt. He was then expelled from the black sphere.
Gong Boyu retrieved the sphere, looked at the nearly imperceptible speck of light on its surface, and stared at Li Fan with an expression of disbelief. "You've truly studied arrays for two years?"
Li Fan's expression remained unchanged. "Indeed."
After a moment of silence, Gong Boyu offered some words of consolation. "The path of arrays heavily relies on talent. It's normal for your progress to be a bit slow. Don't take it to heart."
Li Fan deeply agreed and nodded slightly.
Unexpectedly, Gong Boyu's words angered another cultivator present.
"What nonsense is that? The path of arrays is walked through diligence! Gong Boyu, you may be talented in array cultivation, but do you dare claim that your understanding of arrays surpasses mine?"
Li Fan looked over and saw the speaker had snow-white hair, but his eyes hid a sharpness that made it difficult to meet his gaze.
"Brother Zhiliang, there’s no need to get all worked up. I was just offering a casual word of comfort to a junior. Why so serious? Who doesn't know that you, Zhang Zhiliang, are the number one array master on Myriad Immortals Island?" Gong Boyu said, somewhat helplessly.
"The path of arrays demands utmost diligence and sincerity; how can one speak of it frivolously!" Zhang Zhiliang snorted coldly, clearly displeased with Gong Boyu's flippant attitude.
He turned and looked sternly at Li Fan. "Young man, you must not lose heart. At the end of my second year studying arrays, my result on the Knowledge Appraisal Sphere was worse than yours!
"For five hundred years, I have devoted almost all my time to studying arrays. I learned and progressed slowly, bit by bit. Only then did I finally achieve my current understanding of the array path. Diligence can compensate for clumsiness, and this is especially true for the path of arrays."
"Although arrays are said to have infinite variations, the number of commonly used fixed templates is actually limited, and one can master them thoroughly through effort."
"If you devote yourself to diligent study, without slacking off or giving up, who is to say that you will not become a great master of arrays in a few hundred years?"
Hearing this, Li Fan's expression turned solemn. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I will certainly remember it well."
Having said his piece, Zhang Zhiliang gradually calmed down. He studied Li Fan for a moment, then continued slowly, "Though diligence can compensate for clumsiness, having a master to guide one through the door is equally important.
"When I first studied arrays on my own, I learned well the difficulty of groping in the dark alone."
Zhang Zhiliang paused in thought. "I see you have a steady temperament, neither arrogant nor impatient. It reminds me much of my younger self.
"I, too, benefited greatly from He Zhenghao's Mountain River Hundred Veins Array Diagram. By bringing the incomplete version, you have done me a service."
He asked slowly, "I wonder, would you be willing to stay by my side and learn the art of arrays?"
Gong Boyu, standing nearby, quickly prompted, "Aren’t you going to thank Master Zhang?"
Li Fan's heart surged with immense surprise and joy, and he hurriedly bowed.
Zhang Zhiliang accepted Li Fan's bow with composure, then added, "Let me be blunt from the start. I have no wish to take on a formal disciple. There will be no master-disciple relationship between us.
"The unique arrays I have created will naturally not be passed on to you. My role is solely to guide you on the path of arrays. I will not withhold my insights.
"I have numerous trivial matters to deal with, so I can only instruct you when I find the time.
"In my daily work, I am meticulous and exacting. My demands on others are equally strict. If I find you lazy or negligent, I will not hesitate to cast you out."
The conditions Zhang Zhiliang laid out sounded harsh but were ultimately reasonable.
Finally, he asked again, "Given this, are you still willing to stay by my side and learn the art of arrays?"
Li Fan reined in his inner excitement. He bowed to Zhang Zhiliang once more and said steadily, "I am willing."
Observing Li Fan's response, Zhang Zhiliang stroked his beard with satisfaction.
"Excellent. No better time than now—your study of arrays begins today!"
With that, Zhang Zhiliang grasped Li Fan’s shoulder, and with a flash, they vanished from the council chamber.
Gong Boyu and the other array masters exchanged glances, each revealing a wry smile.
***
In an instant, Li Fan found himself with Zhang Zhiliang in a stretch of outer space.
Darkness surrounded them, and the backdrop was an infinity of twinkling stars.
"Do you know what an array is?" Zhang Zhiliang asked.
Li Fan considered answering, but after a moment's thought, he shook his head. "I do not know."
"Arrays," Zhang Zhiliang said, enunciating each word clearly, "are standardized laws.
"Combustion, freezing, lightning... These are all natural phenomena existing in heaven and earth. What supports their occurrence and operation are the various laws that permeate existence.
"The laws are eternal and unchanging. Well, barring certain special circumstances, cultivators must also observe and comprehend the laws of heaven and earth in their practice.
"And arrays are the process of applying these laws in a standardized, mechanized, uniform manner."
As Zhang Zhiliang spoke, the great gate to the path of arrays slowly swung open for Li Fan.
Li Fan immersed himself deeply, unaware of the passage of time.
In what felt like a blink, Anchor Year 20 arrived.
The Congyun Sea.
Zhang Haobo stood suspended in mid-air, his gaze lifted toward the heavens.
“So, your final strike is about to arrive, isn’t it?”
In his memories of his previous life, a terrible stormflood would soon occur. Its fury was so immense it could make heaven and earth pale.
Over two hundred islands, including Dayu Island, would be flattened, and countless mortal souls would return to the depths of the sea.
Compared to that terrifying stormflood, the tempest he currently commanded seemed pitifully weak.
But he, Zhang Haobo—Regressor, Heaven’s Chosen, Favored of Congyun Sea—would now attempt the impossible.
He would herd the winds and dominate myriad immortals!