Chapter 480: Perfect Fusion, Not a Ripple

"Wait a moment... just a moment?"

His body swayed.

Why did it feel like he had encountered someone who didn't speak human language?

I asked if you were an array master, and you just said 'wait a moment'...

What did that mean?

Could it be that he wasn't one now, but would be after a moment?

Was this supposed to be funny?

Array masters, one of the nine noble professions, each required immense effort and countless mysteries to master. Even the most talented couldn't succeed without years of study.

A guy who knew nothing, 'wait a moment'...

Wait for what? For you to crack a joke?

And then... closing his eyes? His face was wooden.

Wooden your face! What... the hell are you doing?

President Zheng's face twitched. If he hadn't known the other was a five-star appraisal master, he would have kicked him out long ago.

"Old Zheng, I think you should prepare a set of array flags and array bases!"

Seeing his old friend about to lose his temper, Pavilion Master Sai stepped forward.

"Prepare?"

"Yes, since Master Zhang said so, he must have his own thoughts. Preparing a bit won't hurt!" said Pavilion Master Sai.

Although he didn't know where this Master Zhang's confidence came from, he had seen the young man's various methods and trusted him inexplicably.

This was someone who could casually teach a four-star master a lesson; if he said he could set up an array by learning on the spot, he would believe it.

"Fine, I'll trust you once! Xiao Wu, bring over the set of spirit-gathering array flags and bases you've been studying!"

Seeing his old friend's attitude, seemingly deeply trusting the young man, President Zheng waved his hand irritably.

"Yes!" The young man flipped his wrist, and a pile of items appeared on the ground.

An array consists of two parts: array bases and array flags.

Both were made of special materials, with different attributes for different arrays.

This young man was a two-star array master, recently studying the two-star spirit-gathering array, so he happened to have a set of flags and bases.

After the items were brought, everyone looked at the fellow not far away, who still had his eyes closed, not knowing what he was doing.

"Could it be... Master Zhang plans to learn the array on the spot? But even if he learns on the spot... he should need to read books or find a teacher, right? Standing there blankly, what does that mean?"

Pavilion Master Sai was also full of doubts.

Learning arrays involved countless mysteries. First, one had to find a capable teacher, then start from the basics of terrain, geography, the mutual generation and overcoming of the five elements and yin-yang. Standing there with eyes closed and a dazed look was something he had never seen.

But if he wasn't learning, what was he doing?

Everyone was puzzled. At this moment, Zhang Xuan was actually doing what they guessed—learning arrays.

Although he had collected many books on array masters before, he hadn't properly studied or organized this profession.

His mind immersed in the Library of Heaven's Path, he approached the books on arrays.

"Correct!"

With a soft exclamation, a Heaven's Path book appeared before him, with four big characters on the cover: "Heaven's Path Array." He casually opened it.

Countless knowledge poured into his mind.

"I already know this knowledge; learning it again is much simpler..."

Earlier, in Tianwu Kingdom, he had used golden pages to integrate knowledge of arrays, alchemy, medicine, and more into his mind. Although he hadn't studied them specifically, much of that knowledge was already imprinted in his brain, as if he had studied for years.

With this foundation, learning the Heaven's Path Array now was very simple.

Knowledge flowed through his mind, and in just a few dozen breaths, he had mastered it completely.

If it were a profession he hadn't studied before, it would have taken at least an hour to learn. But now, the knowledge was already stored in his memory, needing only to be rearranged in order—simpler by many times.

Whoosh!

Zhang Xuan opened his eyes and looked at everyone.

"Are the array flags here? Should I set up the array here?"

"Ahem..."

Just as he was about to see what the other planned, he opened his eyes and spoke, causing President Zheng to choke on his saliva.

He knew nothing about array engraving a moment ago... closed his eyes for a while, and now he's going to set up an array? Fine, I'll see what kind of junk you can produce!

"Since you think you can, set it up here!"

Suppressing the anger in his chest, he flicked his sleeve and snorted with a dark face.

"Alright!"

Zhang Xuan nodded and walked toward the array flags and bases on the ground.

Seeing his actions, not only President Zheng but even Xiao Wu was speechless.

To set up an array, one must first carefully observe the environment, measure the directions, leverage the terrain to generate power, and channel qi according to the method. This guy didn't look at anything, didn't even take out a compass, and went straight for the array flags like a foodie seeing a pile of meat... Was this called setting up an array?

What kind of joke was this?

If this could set up an array, I could fly to the sky!

"Pavilion Master Sai, what kind of person did you bring?"

He snorted and transmitted his voice.

"Master Zhang... is very capable!" Pavilion Master Sai's face reddened slightly.

He had only known this Master Zhang for a few days, meeting him when buying things at the First Grade Pavilion. He had caused trouble at the Winding Stream, nearly dismantled the Appraisal Pavilion, and even solved a possession by a witch soul. Logically, such a talented person shouldn't do things without certainty, but now it seemed a bit unreliable?

He had seen array masters set up arrays many times. It involved three steps: first, take out a compass to survey the surrounding magnetic field and spiritual energy concentration. Second, calculate the array's size and the effects after integrating with the environment, taking precautions in advance. Third, measure the placement of array bases and flags, then start setting up.

Every time an array was set up, even for one-star or two-star array masters, it took considerable preparation. Without half an hour or even an hour, success was nearly impossible.

And this was for the simplest arrays. For large arrays covering hundreds or thousands of meters, without years of deduction and planning, success was nearly impossible.

But this guy... no compass, no deduction, no observation, directly grabbing the flags and bases...

It was indeed a bit childish.

"Capable? You call this capable? Hmph, I don't care if he's a five-star appraisal master. After this, you take him away. The Array Masters Guild doesn't welcome such frivolous people!"

President Zheng snorted.

"This..." Pavilion Master Sai was embarrassed. Just as he was about to explain and salvage Master Zhang's face, he heard the latter's calm voice.

"Done!"

"Done? What's done?"

Startled, he quickly turned his head to look.

He saw that the array bases and flags Zhang Xuan had just picked up had already been thrown out, each sticking straight into the ground not far away, arranged in a special pattern forming a circle about six or seven meters in diameter.

"Weren't we going to set up a spirit-gathering array? I set one up!" Zhang Xuan looked over.

"Set one up? This is a spirit-gathering array?"

Pavilion Master Sai stared blankly.

The placement of the flags and bases before him did resemble a spirit-gathering array somewhat...

But he didn't know much about arrays, so he quickly looked at President Zheng beside him.

"It has the form but not the essence! You call this an array?" President Zheng flicked his sleeve and raised his eyebrows.

"What? Did Master Zhang set it up wrong?" Seeing him so angry, Pavilion Master Sai asked.

"Xiao Wu, you explain!"

Without answering, President Zheng clasped his hands behind his back and snorted.

"Yes!" The young man Xiao Wu stepped forward.

"What he set up—the positions of the bases and flags are correct, but... an array isn't just about placing them according to the diagram. More importantly, it must trigger changes in spiritual energy!"

Xiao Wu's face showed confidence.

"Trigger changes in spiritual energy?"

"Exactly!" Xiao Wu flipped his wrist, and a compass appeared in his hand. With this item, his entire demeanor changed. Previously he seemed like a mere attendant, but now he looked like a true array master.

"Look at what he set up. The surrounding spiritual energy hasn't changed at all. That means the array flags weren't placed in the most accurate positions, didn't integrate with the environment, and naturally have no power. This is what we call... a waste array!"

"Waste array?"

"Yes. Since it's a spirit-gathering array, it should gather spiritual energy. Once set up, it should be like a whirlpool in a stream, drawing spiritual energy from all sides to the center. But this one... the spiritual energy shows no sign of gathering. That means he only placed the array diagram correctly, but didn't actually form the array!"

Xiao Wu said.

Placing the array diagram correctly is not the same as forming the array. This sounds profound, but in fact, any array master, even an apprentice, knows this.

It's like an alchemist knowing the order of ingredients but not necessarily being able to refine a qualified pill.

The array diagram is just a fixed arrangement. For the array to be effective, it must also integrate with the environment.

"Well said! Alright, Master Zhang, out of respect for Pavilion Master Sai, I won't hold your nonsense against you. Go back!" Seeing his student analyze so logically, knowing he had improved recently, President Zheng nodded in satisfaction.

"Nonsense? How am I being nonsensical?"

Not expecting his painstakingly set array to be considered nonsense, Zhang Xuan was taken aback.

"Your array didn't trigger any spiritual energy and has no effect. If that's not nonsense, what is?" Seeing him still not admit it, President Zheng grew more displeased.

"Oh... you mean that. I stopped the array just now because I was afraid you couldn't see clearly!"

Thinking he understood what the other meant, Zhang Xuan shook his head and stomped his foot on the ground.

Hum!

A ripple spread from under his foot, colliding straight with the array not far away. With a rumble, the array before them was instantly enveloped in spiritual energy.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The surrounding spiritual energy immediately converged toward the center like a hurricane, blowing against their faces with a cutting pain.

"This, this..."

Xiao Wu, who had been smug and articulate just moments ago, stood frozen, his tongue nearly hanging out in shock.

"This is... [Perfect Fusion, Not a Ripple], an array that, once activated, can shake heaven and earth... a flawless array? This, this is impossible?"

President Zheng let out a shriek, his voice hoarse.

He stared straight at Zhang Xuan not far away, as if looking at a monster.