"So, you got caught up in setting up an array, then went back to your room to jot down your insights and forgot all about me?" Inside the house, Evan Reed glared at Lorian Vale.
Lorian Vale's face flushed. "I just lost track of time."
It was amusing to see a grand True Master of the Heavenly Heart Realm acting like a scolded child in front of a teenager.
But it was understandable why Evan Reed was upset. Being trapped in an array for hours was hardly a pleasant experience.
Upon hearing Lorian Vale's response, Evan Reed stood up and walked off.
"Where are you going?" Lorian Vale asked, puzzled.
"To make dinner. I got trapped as soon as I came back, so I haven't cooked yet."
"…"
Before long, Evan Reed returned with dinner, and the two ate together in the courtyard. Evan Reed remained silent throughout the meal.
"What's wrong? Still mad at me?" Lorian Vale asked with a grin. "Alright, I admit it was my fault. I apologize, okay?"
In the cultivation world, immortals rarely apologized to mortals—killing one wouldn't even raise an eyebrow, let alone trapping them for half a day. Lorian Vale's apology showed just how close he and Evan Reed had become.
But Evan Reed shook his head. "I'm not angry. I'm just thinking about what arrays really are and why they're so miraculous."
While trapped in the array, Evan Reed had felt as if he were in a labyrinth. The courtyard was still the same courtyard, yet he couldn't find his way out. The hut was right there, yet it seemed miles away. At the time, he'd been panicked, but now, reflecting on it, he found the mystery fascinating. Even while eating, he couldn't stop pondering what principles could transform ordinary land into something so extraordinary.
"You noticed it too?" Lorian Vale laughed. "Indeed, the Way of Arrays is an incredibly profound field. It encompasses everything, concealing the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. Anything—from a blade of grass to a tree—can become part of an array. It's said to be the most wondrous knowledge under the heavens. Even if a cultivator dedicates their entire life to it, they might not grasp even a fraction of its depth. Its applications are boundless…"
Once he started talking about his passion, Lorian Vale became unstoppable, showering arrays with praise.
"So, what exactly is the Way of Arrays?" Evan Reed asked.
Lorian Vale replied, "In essence, the Way of Arrays is the cultivation of heaven and earth!"
"The cultivation of heaven and earth?"
"Exactly!" Lorian Vale said gravely. "Think of the human body as a world. We cultivators cultivate our own bodies. Beyond us, the vast heavens and earth form another world. In this world, there are mountains, rivers, lakes, lands, and oceans—each corresponding to parts of our body. Just as the human body absorbs spiritual energy and releases it as immortal techniques, the heavens and earth also possess spiritual energy. Why shouldn't it be possible to harness that energy to produce immortal arts? The heavens and earth lack consciousness and cannot manipulate spiritual energy on their own, but cultivators can arrange various elements to combine and utilize it. That is what arrays are!"
"I see," Evan Reed said, understanding. In his previous life, this would be akin to physics—using spiritual energy as a power source and array patterns as circuits to achieve specific effects.
The laws of this world were different, and the methods of creation varied, leading to unique phenomena and outcomes.
Because of this, the Way of Arrays had a wide range of applications in the cultivation world.
Among the four auxiliary paths of cultivation—alchemy, talisman-making, artifact crafting, and arrays—arrays had the broadest utility. They were used not only for sect-protecting formations but also to aid in alchemy, talisman-making, and artifact crafting. Arrays were essential in refining pills, inscribing talismans, and engraving artifacts, making their influence pervasive and profound. Consequently, the Way of Arrays branched into many schools.
According to Lorian Vale, arrays were generally categorized into fixed arrays and living arrays. Fixed arrays were stationary, like the small labyrinth array that had trapped Evan Reed. Living arrays were dynamic, often used in battle formations where cultivators combined their powers to multiply their strength, allowing the weak to overcome the strong.
Additionally, arrays were classified by function. For instance, arrays used in alchemy, talisman-making, and artifact crafting were sometimes called auxiliary arrays, meaning they were aids within aids.
In summary, the Way of Arrays was diverse and had a long history, with no unified standard. Each school had its own methods and perspectives.
For example, some believed arrays were merely tools to assist cultivators, external manifestations of a cultivator's will, and thus subservient to the cultivator. These people scoffed at Lorian Vale's view that the Way of Arrays was the Way of Heaven and Earth.
Ideology guided practice.
Lorian Vale's philosophy made him an expert in grand, heaven-and-earth arrays. He excelled at setting up or breaking large-scale formations but was less skilled in battle arrays or small auxiliary arrays.
In the current era, few in the Qixia Realm could surpass Lorian Vale in understanding large-scale arrays.
As Lorian Vale spoke, his words flowed endlessly, and his excitement grew.
Evan Reed had never seen him so enthusiastic. Previously, Evan Reed had gone to great lengths—even risking his life—to learn cultivation from Lorian Vale, only to end up with the Hidden Form Sutra.
Now, in his excitement, Lorian Vale suddenly said, "Why don't you learn the Way of Arrays from me?"
Evan Reed was stunned.
Lorian Vale continued, "I learned the Way of Arrays by studying array books from across the land. It's not a secret of the Vale family, so I can teach it to you. I see you're clever and suitable for learning!"
"But… my heart is set on the Great Dao. I'm not sure about dividing my focus…" Evan Reed hesitated.
Arrays were fascinating, but human energy was limited.
Evan Reed was no longer the ignorant boy he once was. He now understood the hardships of the cultivation path. Many spent their entire lives without reaching the pinnacle.
Why did the Vale family head disapprove of Lorian Vale's focus on arrays? Because it distracted him from his primary cultivation. Evan Reed knew he didn't have Lorian Vale's extraordinary talent. Even Lorian Vale, with his seven-turn Jade Gate, had to flee from that golden-armored deity. If Evan Reed split his focus, his future achievements might be limited.
"You can't say that," Lorian Vale shook his head. "Cultivation is arduous. Besides hard work, it requires insight. Both the Way of Arrays and cultivation contain the ultimate truths of heaven and earth. They can complement each other. Moreover, arrays can be useful in battle. In the battle at Verdant Mist Mountain, I was far weaker than that He Chong, but with the Eight Gates Heaven-Locking Array I set up in advance, I managed to drive him away."
If you'd listened to your father and focused on cultivation, you probably could've beaten that He Chong without arrays, Evan Reed thought but didn't say, seeing Lorian Vale's enthusiasm. He didn't want to dampen his spirits.
These days, Lorian Vale was mostly quiet and aloof, exuding an immortal aura. Only now did he show a more human side.
It was clear he truly loved arrays.
Lorian Vale continued, "Besides, you're only cleansing your meridians now and can't formally cultivate. You have time on your hands. Since I promised to teach you something, and I can't pass on the Vale family's immortal techniques, I'll teach you my knowledge of arrays. It doesn't break any promises. If you find you're not interested later, I won't force you. What do you say?"
"Alright…" Evan Reed replied weakly.
Seeing Evan Reed's reluctance, Lorian Vale was both amused and exasperated. He tapped Evan Reed's head. "You little rascal, you're getting a great deal and still acting coy. Do you know how many people beg to learn arrays from me, and I refuse them?"
Your father told you not to learn arrays, but you insisted. Others want to learn, and you won't teach them. I don't want to learn, and you insist on teaching me. I want to learn immortal techniques, but you want to teach arrays. Are you a contrarian? Evan Reed thought, his internal grumbling growing bolder since learning Lorian Vale couldn't read minds.
But willing or not, Evan Reed had no choice but to learn.
After dinner, Lorian Vale began teaching him.
"The Way of Arrays is vast and profound, but every array, no matter how complex, relies on four core components: the array eye, array patterns, array gates, and array source. The array eye is the central hub, the brain that controls everything. Without it, the array can't function according to your will, making it a true dead array. Array patterns are the pathways for spiritual energy, like blood vessels or roads. Without them, the array can't operate. Array gates are the portals—allowing entry, exit, or blocking enemies, controlling life and death. The array source is the power source, akin to a cultivator's spirit eye."
"I see," Evan Reed said. "The array eye is the brain, directing everything. Array patterns are the skeleton and veins, providing structure. Array gates are the limbs, executing functions. The array source is the heart, the engine—like our spirit eye, right?"
"Exactly. When cultivators cast spells, they use their internal spirit sea as the power source. For arrays, the source is external, like spirit stones, though cultivators can also contribute their own energy."
"That's odd. In the small labyrinth array you set up earlier, I didn't see any spirit stones," Evan Reed remarked.
"That's because I added a small spirit-gathering array to automatically absorb spiritual energy. It's called nesting arrays within arrays."
"So, with a spirit-gathering array, it can automatically draw in spiritual energy, making the spirit-gathering array the source? But how does the spirit-gathering array start? Is it self-sustaining? Like a perpetual motion machine?" Evan Reed's eyes widened.
Lorian Vale hadn't heard of a perpetual motion machine but understood the concept. He laughed, "There's no such thing as a free lunch. The spirit-gathering array still needs an initial input of energy to start—I provided that. Even then, it only gathers nearby spiritual energy. Once the local energy is depleted, it stops working. The small labyrinth array was just a playful creation. Without spirit stones to replenish it, it would dissipate in about three days."
"So, there are no truly eternal arrays. Every array needs maintenance or sufficient spiritual resources to persist?" Evan Reed sighed.
"Perhaps there are no arrays that last forever, but some can endure for thousands or even tens of thousands of years," Lorian Vale replied.
"Ten thousand years?" Evan Reed was startled.
"Yes, I experienced one recently," Lorian Vale said, his tone turning solemn, his eyes filled with reverence. After a moment, he sighed, "Compared to the ancient masters, I'm still far behind. If not, I wouldn't have only opened the first gate…"
He trailed off, then changed the subject. "But that's not something you can understand now. Let's return to arrays. Among the four core components, array patterns and the array source are the most complex. I'll start by teaching you basic array patterns."
With a wave of his hand, Lorian Vale traced several lines in the air, creating intricate patterns that glowed briefly before fading.
"Draw the array patterns I just made. Remember, follow the exact sequence I used, stroke by stroke, without any mistakes," Lorian Vale instructed.
Drawing array patterns was a fundamental skill for array masters and often served as an entry test. Though Lorian Vale intended to teach Evan Reed, he also wanted to see if Evan Reed had any talent for it. If Evan Reed showed no aptitude, Lorian Vale wouldn't force him.
Evan Reed picked up a stick and began drawing on the ground. Unlike Lorian Vale, who could manifest patterns with spiritual energy, Evan Reed had to work manually. But his strokes were precise and accurate.
At first, Lorian Vale paid little attention, but as Evan Reed continued, he was astonished. Evan Reed almost perfectly replicated the patterns Lorian Vale had drawn. When Evan Reed finished, Lorian Vale saw that every stroke was correct.
"How… how did you do that?" Lorian Vale asked in shock.
"It's simple, isn't it? Just a combination of solid and dashed lines," Evan Reed replied, confused. To him, the patterns were merely geometric shapes, easy to remember with a bit of focus. Since Lorian Vale asked him to draw them, he did.
He didn't know that Lorian Vale hadn't expected him to replicate them entirely.
In the Qixia Realm, mathematics existed but wasn't highly regarded, and its depth paled compared to Earth's. Those who understood it might not be cultivators, and cultivators rarely needed it, except for those who studied arrays.
Thus, what was simple for Evan Reed was baffling to others.
Hearing Evan Reed say it was easy, Lorian Vale quickly drew another complex pattern on the ground. This time, instead of asking Evan Reed to copy it, he pointed to it and said, "Starting from this point and ending at this point, find three connecting paths that don't intersect."
Evan Reed glanced at it briefly, then traced with his stick, "This one… this one… and this one."
Lorian Vale was stunned. Finding three non-intersecting paths in the maze of lines wasn't hard, but doing it so quickly was impressive.
Lorian Vale posed another problem, this time about calculating the sizes of different areas and paths.
Evan Reed hadn't expected learning arrays to turn into a math test. Unsure of the standard required, he tackled each question diligently.
Though Evan Reed wasn't passionate about math, his mother, a math teacher, had drilled it into him. Fresh from graduation, he hadn't forgotten his lessons, and since Lorian Vale's questions weren't too difficult, Evan Reed solved most of them.
Lorian Vale grew increasingly astonished. He noticed that Evan Reed used methods even he didn't know.
The Way of Arrays demanded a deep understanding of mathematics, but few were interested in studying it. Most array enthusiasts focused on the power of arrays, not the underlying calculations, finding the study painful.
Lorian Vale had rarely met anyone good at math until now. Overwhelmed with surprise and joy, he grabbed Evan Reed and exclaimed, "A prodigy! A genius! And you said you didn't want to learn? You're a natural for the Way of Arrays!"
Startled by the outburst, Evan Reed blurted, "But I really don't want to learn."
"Nonsense! With such talent, how can you say you don't love it?" Lorian Vale was ecstatic, losing his usual composure. Seeing Evan Reed deny his aptitude, he lamented, "You don't understand what love is!"
Lorian Vale believed firmly that only passion led to greatness. His own achievements in arrays stemmed from his deep love for the subject and mathematics. To him, Evan Reed's talent proved his love for mathematics; otherwise, how could he be so skilled?
Evan Reed was speechless. "Big Brother Lorian, I honestly don't feel anything for it."
"Then how do you explain your talent?" Lorian Vale pressed.
Evan Reed sighed, "I don't know… Maybe I don't love arrays, but arrays love me."