In the days of cultivation, time always seemed to slip by quickly.
After a heavy rain at the end of summer, autumn arrived silently.
Half a year had passed in the blink of an eye.
During these six months, Evan Reed followed Lorian Vale, cleansing his meridians and studying the Way of Arrays, living a full and meaningful life.
Today, in the courtyard, Evan was practicing his fists.
He was working through a set of Through-Arm Fist techniques, taught to him by Lorian Vale to complement the Hidden Form Sutra in refining his meridians.
His punches were vigorous and forceful, with spiritual energy flowing through his body, coursing through every part of him. Each time the energy circulated fully, it brought a soothing comfort and bolstered his physique.
Lorian Vale had told him this was a sign that his meridians had not yet reached their full potential.
After finishing the set, Evan felt the spiritual energy slowly fade within him, leaving a pang of reluctance.
In theory, he could keep practicing, but Lorian Vale had warned that overexertion could drain his potential and even harm his body, planting hidden risks. A balance of effort and rest was the best approach.
So, he stopped, letting out a sigh. "I wonder when these days will end."
"Impatient, are you?" Lorian Vale, who was painting strange array patterns on paper in the pavilion, chuckled at Evan's words. "To you, the days of meridian cleansing and laying foundations might feel tedious, but do you know how many cultivators would give anything for a chance to start anew?"
"Big Brother Lorian is right," Evan replied respectfully.
He thought back to his student days, when countless classmates yearned to escape school and step into the world, only to realize later—after bruises and hard-earned lessons—how precious those carefree times had been.
Having lived once before, Evan carried a maturity beyond his years. Though his past life hadn't gifted him extraordinary powers, it had given him a deep understanding of life, freeing his mind from the limits of his age. His sigh was just a fleeting moment of frustration; he knew better than to skip the groundwork and rush into cultivation.
Lorian Vale had seen plenty of young cultivators who, unable to bear the monotony, pushed themselves too hard in pursuit of quick gains.
In the cultivation world, few truly neglected their foundations, but many overworked their bodies in a desperate bid for shortcuts, only to suffer for it later.
Thus, Lorian Vale deeply admired Evan's patience.
"Come," he said with a smile. "Since you've finished your fists, let's move on to today's array lesson."
Evan gave a wry smile.
Like medicine, the Way of Arrays relied more on knowledge than technique, requiring no restraint in study.
Over the past six months, Evan practiced the Hidden Form Sutra only twice daily, taking less than an hour, while the bulk of his time went to learning arrays.
Sometimes, he wondered if Lorian Vale was subtly steering his interests.
Compared to the slow crawl of meridian cleansing, Evan's progress in arrays was astonishing.
This wasn't just due to his solid grasp of mathematics.
The Way of Arrays was vast, encompassing mathematics, geography, meteorology, and even history and culture for ancient arrays. Mathematics was merely one piece of the puzzle.
More crucially, his adult mindset let him learn far faster than the average twelve-year-old. While children were said to pick up things quickly, their capacity to absorb knowledge paled beside an adult's.
A primary school student might learn in a year what a high schooler masters in a month.
So, Evan advanced rapidly in arrays. His exam-honed memorization skills and techniques laid a strong foundation. In just six months, he had nearly mastered all the basics of the Way of Arrays, earning Lorian Vale's praise.
With a flick of his hand, Lorian Vale sent the array diagram he'd been drawing into Evan's grasp. "Set up the array according to this."
"A Spirit Detection Array?" Evan recognized it instantly. By now, he could identify each array diagram's purpose. The Spirit Detection Array sensed spiritual energy in the surroundings, helping cultivators locate energy-rich spots for practice. It was one of the simplest arrays.
Cultivators often had their own ways to detect spiritual energy, but arrays, aligned with the principles of heaven and earth, were far more effective.
"Yes," Lorian Vale said. "This time, you must create a complete, functional Spirit Detection Array with a range of at least three li."
"Understood," Evan replied solemnly. He raised his hand, and a beam of spiritual light shot from his palm, forming lines that settled onto the ground.
Having opened his Jade Gate, he could absorb and release spiritual energy, though without an opened Spirit Eye, he couldn't store it. He had to use it quickly before it dissipated, making his array setup choppy and inefficient, like a child tracing letters.
He drew the array carefully, stroke by stroke, as Lorian Vale watched, offering pointers now and then.
After a full hour, the array was complete. Evan infused it with a thread of spiritual energy to activate it. Mist and clouds swirled within, and faint white pillars of energy rose upward.
"It worked!" Evan cried out in delight.
The energy pillars marked success. Each represented spiritual energy in the area, with the array's scales indicating locations. Their size and color showed the energy's density.
This was his first array, spanning just three li. If Lorian Vale had done it, he'd have finished in moments, with a range of thousands of li.
Watching the pillars rise, Evan felt a surge of joy. Six months of hard work had paid off. He was genuinely grateful to Lorian Vale, and even the Way of Arrays, once a burden, now held appeal.
Often, it's only after tasting success that one grows to love a craft.
Lorian Vale nodded approvingly. "The connections between the array patterns still have major flaws. These patterns channel spiritual energy; merely drawing them isn't enough. You must ensure the energy flows smoothly. Look here—this pattern was drawn in two parts, with a gap in the middle. It looks whole, but the energy's path is a mere thread. Setting up an array isn't like sketching a picture; neatness isn't the goal. It's about the inner flow. Here, here, and here… Part of this is your limited spiritual energy, but inexperience plays a role too."
"I see," Evan said. "It's like maintaining a road. Even the widest highway clogs if it's not managed well. One break can stall everything."
"Exactly. And your grasp of the principles is too shallow. The Spirit Detection Array observes spiritual energy, so it should emphasize the Qian Gate. The Qian Gate represents heaven, sitting at the altar's center, attuned to energies from all directions. Why did you boost the Xun Gate instead?"
Evan scratched his head sheepishly. "The Xun Gate is wind—light and agile, governing change and distance. Since you wanted it to reach beyond three li, I thought…"
"You're missing the essence!" Lorian Vale scolded. "Your task is to set up the Spirit Detection Array properly, not just meet my demands!"
"Yes, I understand," Evan replied earnestly.
Cultivation wasn't like cramming for exams. While his past life aided him, it also boxed in his thinking. Lorian Vale's correction came just in time.
Lorian continued, pointing out flaws and flicking spiritual lines to refine the array. Under his touch, it expanded, its range widening. The mist churned like a sea, faint mountains and valleys appearing, as if the whole world were captured within, all under his command.
In Lorian Vale's hands, the Spirit Detection Array became a mirror of reality. Evan stared in awe, but Lorian brushed it off. "Arrays can link together. A small tweak can transform one into another. At its peak, the Spirit Detection Array can reflect the world, becoming a Grand Cosmos Array. This holds for other arrays too. The combinations, variations, and depths are endlessly complex and marvelous. You could study them forever and still not master them. Do you still think they're uninteresting?"
Evan grinned. "I was wrong. From now on, I'll study hard and improve every day!"
Lorian Vale laughed, about to reply when a purple flash sparked in the array.
He froze, peering into it. A faint glow flickered within.
"Purple energy soaring to the sky?" Lorian Vale muttered, his face darkening.
"What's that?" Evan, still new to cultivation, didn't grasp its meaning.
Lorian Vale fell silent, lost in thought.
"Is something wrong, Big Brother Lorian?" Evan asked, sensing his unease.
Lorian hesitated, then chuckled lightly. "It's nothing. Don't worry about it. By the way, we've been together six months but haven't shared a drink. Since you set up your first array today, we should celebrate. Go buy some wine and food. Tonight, we'll drink under the moon. Oh, and get some of Old Chen's sauced duck."
"But Old Chen's is in Anyang Prefecture," Evan said, troubled.
"Then make the trip. It's no big deal," Lorian Vale replied casually.
"It's getting late. Going to Anyang Prefecture now isn't convenient, and Old Chen's duck usually sells out before evening."
Lorian Vale's expression stiffened. Evan quickly added, "But there's aged wine in the kitchen from the previous owner, and two chickens in the backyard. If you'd like, I'll slaughter them for your meal."
Before Lorian could respond, Evan dashed to the kitchen.
Lorian Vale frowned but said nothing, gazing at the purple light in the array with a helpless sigh.
Evan was swift. Half an hour later, dinner was ready.
By then, night had fallen, and the moon hung high.
Lorian Vale and Evan sat across from each other in the pavilion, eating plain chicken and sipping rice wine.
The moonlight was stunning, and Lorian Vale stared at the sky. The golden sunset blended with the moon's glow, casting a golden sheen over the courtyard.
"This evening glow… it's beautiful," Lorian Vale said suddenly.
"Mm," Evan murmured, noting Lorian's odd look and holding back his words.
Lorian continued, "This glow comes from the Golden Flame Winds. They shield us, keeping out invaders and preserving the Qixia Realm's spiritual energy. But they're also our chains, binding us here, making it hard to leave… The Myriad Realms of the Starry Sky—I'd love to see them."
The Myriad Realms of the Starry Sky were the countless worlds beyond the Qixia Realm, spoken of by ascended immortals. If the Qixia Realm was Earth, the Myriad Realms were the cosmos.
Leaving the Qixia Realm was no small feat. The Golden Flame Winds encircling it formed a barrier so fierce that even spiritual energy couldn't escape. Ordinary cultivators would burn to ash nearing it. Only those at the Immortal Platform Realm could brave it and roam the heavens.
Some saw this as the realm's self-defense. The winds ensured most cultivators returned their borrowed energy to the land at death, sustaining the cycle. Without them, energy might drain away over time.
To extremists, every ascending immortal was a thief, stealing spiritual energy without giving back.
Fortunately, few ascended, and the loss was trivial.
Evan didn't understand why Lorian brought this up now.
Lorian drained his cup and refilled it, murmuring, "When I was young, my father was strict. Every day was cultivation or family management lessons. But I was rebellious, always sneaking out to play. Each time I was caught, I'd get a beating. My second sister always shielded me. Once, I accidentally burned half the family pavilion while messing around. She took the blame, but Father wasn't fooled and punished me hard."
Evan listened quietly.
Lorian went on, "So, I planned to run away. I tried three times and got caught each time. Once, I even made it out of Moqiu, but Father tracked me down and thrashed me again."
He chuckled softly. "Later, I learned the Vale family's bloodline was marked in me at birth, tied to a life lamp in the ancestral hall. Wherever I went, they could find me—unless I left the Qixia Realm for the Myriad Realms. From then on, I dreamed of escaping. Back then, it was just a childish whim. I didn't know how hard immortality was. The Vale family, one of the four great families, has never produced a Violet Palace True Lord. To break free, I turned to arrays… At its height, the Way of Arrays can carve out a world within a world. The Qixia Realm is like a natural grand array, a prison of heaven and earth. I dove into breaking it, and over time, I fell in love with arrays, forgetting my original goal."
He looked at Evan. "You seek great freedom and ease. But do you know how hard that is? True freedom is nearly impossible here. Even with great cultivation, as long as you're caged in the Qixia Realm, you're not truly free."
"So, as long as you're in the Qixia Realm, you can't escape pursuit, right? That purple energy—it's the Celestial God Palace, isn't it?" Evan said softly.
Lorian Vale paused, then gave a bitter smile. "I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
"So, asking me to buy Old Chen's duck was to send me away?"
"Yes," Lorian Vale admitted. "But then I thought, I don't know when they'll arrive. What if you leave and they haven't come, only to meet them returning? When you refused, I let it go. Better to tell you plainly than let you stumble into danger."
"Then why don't you run?"
"I can't," Lorian Vale shook his head. "I set diversions at Verdant Mist Mountain, and they didn't find me for six months. If they're coming now, they know where I am. Running's useless." Sorrow filled his eyes.
Evan trembled, recalling Lorian's words about the Vale family's bloodline. "Your family betrayed you! The purple energy—it's a Violet Palace cultivator?"
It all clicked.
The purple energy signaled immense spiritual pressure. Violet Palace cultivators were rare in the Qixia Realm, especially here.
In the array, the purple light steadily approached Anyang Prefecture, heading straight for them.
If there'd been doubt it was a passing True Lord, the direct path erased it—they were after Lorian Vale.
Their pace was leisurely, either from poor flight skills or absolute confidence. Given a Violet Palace True Lord's might, it was likely the latter.
Lorian Vale couldn't even best a common Heavenly Heart cultivator from the Celestial God Palace. Against a Violet Palace True Lord, what hope did he have? Evan stared in horror, but Lorian remained calm, his heart steady as an ancient well.
"How could they do this? You're a Vale!" Evan shouted, leaping up.
He wasn't mad about the Celestial God Palace—he'd seen Lorian escape before. But betrayal by his own family was unthinkable.
Lorian Vale only shook his head. "Holding out six months was more than I expected. Evan, you don't grasp the cultivation world's cruelty or the six great sects' power in the Qixia Realm. The four great families are minnows beside them. A single Violet Palace True Lord could crush us all. The Vale family, limited by our methods, has never birthed a Violet Palace cultivator. Each sect has at least three True Lords, Heavenly Venerables, even Immortal Platform masters. My father… he had no choice."
Despair gripped Evan. "So, you're just giving up?"
"What else can I do?" Lorian Vale smiled, downing his wine and refilling it. "I knew this day would come. Surviving six months was luck, the family's final kindness. I owe them too much. If there's a next life, I'll repay them then. Evan, listen: don't hate my family, and never seek revenge against them."
"Wha—what?" Evan stammered. Revenge?
Lorian Vale spoke fast. "Yes, remember: I was born a Vale and will die a Vale. If you succeed in cultivation and recall my kindness, repay the Vale family, but never avenge me."
"But why would I—"
"Because of this!" Lorian Vale flipped his wrist, pressing the Profound War Mirror into Evan's hands. "The Profound War Mirror is the Warlord's key to breaking the array. Its patterns form the Nine Extremes Immortal-Slaying Array—naturally evolving, infinitely profound. Only by mastering it can you crack that array. When I studied it, I sensed a strange technique hidden within, beyond my reach. Even the Celestial God Palace doesn't know—they think it's just a key. Study it well; don't miss this chance. I've always felt the Warlord's plans ran deeper. The Nine Extremes Immortal-Slaying Array, though mighty, might not have sufficed against his foes. The true secret could lie in this mirror."
He handed Evan a thick booklet, several pill bottles, and his sword. "This book holds my array insights—keep it safe. Don't touch the mirror until your array mastery reaches the point where illusions turn real and you see all clearly, or it could overwhelm your mind and kill you. The Azure Light Sword is my only treasure. You can't wield its full power yet, but it's enough to protect yourself. The rest are mundane—sell them if you need coin. I'm no fighter, so I've little else to give. But if you study my Array Dao True Explanation and grasp the diagrams, you'll one day break the Nine Extremes Immortal-Slaying Array and claim its treasures."
"But—"
"No buts. Go now. They haven't seen you, don't know you exist. Even if I die, they won't get the mirror!" Lorian Vale shouted as the purple energy neared in the array.
"No! I won't leave! I don't care about the Vale family—I care about you!" Evan cried. "I won't abandon you!"
In that moment, he realized six months had forged a bond—Lorian saw him as a brother, and he saw Lorian the same.
He couldn't watch Lorian die.
Lorian Vale smiled. "Don't be so dramatic. I'm not dying for you. If I wanted to live, I could hand over the mirror for a slim chance. But I don't take slights lightly. If they scheme against me, I'll hit back. Giving you the mirror lets me strike at the Celestial God Palace through you—it brings you danger, so don't feel too touched. Besides, without the mirror, the Vale family stays safer."
He stood, seizing Evan. Spiritual threads wove around Evan like a web. Lorian folded a paper into a horse, drew a few strokes, and tossed it down. With a whinny, a white steed appeared.
He threw Evan onto its back, the threads binding him to the saddle. With a sharp slap, the horse bolted.
"Big Brother Lorian, don't make me go!" Evan yelled from the saddle.
"Go north, and don't come back!" Lorian Vale called.
"No!" Evan screamed, but the threads held firm, and the horse galloped on without pause.
Watching Evan vanish, Lorian Vale sat down.
He poured another cup and murmured, "A pity… I couldn't get you to the Moon-Washing Sect in time. From now on, you're on your own."
With that, he waited quietly for his fate.