Chapter 481: Breaking into the Array Sea

"A flawless array?" Seeing his old friend so distraught, Guild Leader Sai was utterly perplexed.

He had heard of trapping arrays, illusion arrays, maze arrays, killing arrays, spirit-gathering arrays... many kinds of arrays, but never anything called a flawless array.

"Array arrangement, like calligraphy, painting, and alchemy, also has levels of artistic conception. How could the power of the same array be the same when laid out by a five-star array master versus a two-star array master?"

Suppressing the shock in his heart, President Zheng said.

Guild Leader Sai was taken aback.

For array disks of the same level, everyone wanted to buy those carved by higher-level array masters, because they were more stable and more powerful.

For the same kind of pill, a higher-level alchemist would produce better finished pills, sometimes even with pill patterns, and better medicinal effects.

Since other professions had so many classifications, arrays must have them too. For the same array, a higher-level array master would lay it out with greater power.

"Whether the same array is powerful when laid out depends on its harmony with the environment and whether it can borrow the environment's power!"

Seeing that he didn't quite understand, President Zheng explained: "When the integration with the environment reaches twenty percent, it is called entry-level. At this point, the laid-out array can be successfully activated and produce power. Only by achieving this can the laid-out array function, making one a formal array master."

"When integration reaches forty percent, one can borrow part of the environment's power to enhance the array, and one's understanding of arrays reaches the intermediate level. It's like me now, as a four-star array master, laying out a second-level array can easily reach this level."

"When integration reaches sixty percent, the environment and the array can complement each other, which is what we call the advanced level. I can only occasionally achieve this when laying out first-level arrays now..."

"When integration reaches eighty percent, it basically means the environment controls the array. Such an array can borrow the power of heaven and earth, like a sentient artifact spirit, even forming storms and torrential rain, making it difficult for those trapped inside to break free, causing them great suffering."

Saying this, President Zheng's lips turned white: "You can break the array, but can you break the environment?"

Guild Leader Sai was stunned.

You can walk out of the array, you can walk out of the room, you can walk out of the courtyard... but wherever you are is the environment. How can you walk out? How can you break it?

If one comprehends this level of artistic conception, and if the array is of a higher level, then even an array master trapped inside would find it hard to break.

"No..."

Thinking of something, Guild Leader Sai's body trembled violently, his eyes wide with disbelief as he looked over: "That's only eighty percent integration, then... what about one hundred percent?"

"Exactly, that is... this kind of flawless array!"

President Zheng's voice trembled: "Perfect integration with the environment. When not activated, it causes no change in the environment, not even a ripple on the water. But once it operates, the environment is completely influenced, fully integrated, indistinguishable. The environment is the array, and the array is the environment... Imagine, how could cultivating in a spirit-gathering array compare to cultivating in a natural environment for speed?"

It's like an air-conditioned room; no matter how comfortable the temperature, how could it compare to a place that is spring-like all year round?

"This kind of array uses array flags to mobilize the environment. Legend has it that only array masters above six stars can achieve it..."

Saying this, President Zheng himself couldn't believe it.

This guy in front of him didn't even know about the lack of a spirit-gathering array disk, yet he instantly laid out a perfect integration that only a six-star array master could achieve...

Is he crazy, or am I crazy?

There has never been such a case in the history of the guild!

Just as he was full of doubt, he heard the young man opposite speak: "Can you sell me the spirit-gathering array flags and array diagram now?"

The array Zhang Xuan had just laid out was only the simplest spirit-gathering array, which couldn't absorb spirit energy from spirit stones. To use spirit stones to speed up cultivation, one needed at least a fourth-level array.

"Yes..."

His body stiffening, President Zheng nodded.

If someone who could lay out a perfect flawless array didn't even have the qualifications to buy array flags, then wouldn't he be even less qualified?

"May I ask... Master Zhang, what star level of array master are you? Could you tell me?" After agreeing, he couldn't help asking.

A second-level flawless array could be achieved by a six-star master teacher, and legend had it that some exceptionally talented array masters could do it too. The person before him, whose strength hadn't reached the Mortal Transcendence realm, clearly wasn't of a high level. He wanted to know his exact level to treat him appropriately.

"Array master? I haven't taken the exam, so I'm not one yet..." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He had only just learned arrays, knowing nothing before, so naturally he hadn't taken the exam.

"Not an array master yet?" His mouth twitching, President Zheng's body swayed.

He laid out arrays so quickly and with such high artistic conception... and he hadn't even passed the formal array master exam... Where did he come from?

He was a peak four-star array master, but in terms of speed, he was far inferior to the other, let alone laying out a flawless array.

"Could... Master Zhang take the exam at our guild?"

Thinking of something, President Zheng's eyes lit up with hope.

The headquarters of the Array Master Guild had countless branches. If he took the exam here, even if he was a genius from Honghai City, reporting it to headquarters would surely bring great rewards.

"Sure!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Where he took the exam didn't matter. Since he needed auxiliary professions to qualify for higher-level master teacher exams, and array master was one of the top nine professions, it would be best if he could take it.

"Great, then I'll go prepare now..."

Hearing his agreement, President Zheng laughed excitedly: "As for the Spirit Gathering Array flags and diagrams, once you pass the assessment and have the authority, you don't need to buy them—I could even give you a set for free!"

The Array Masters Guild, like the Alchemists Guild, made it very difficult for low-level members to purchase high-level array diagrams, requiring various permissions.

As long as your rank was sufficient, you could even take them without spending any money.

"Good!" Hearing that it cost nothing, Zhang Xuan quickly nodded.

Although he now had a fair amount of spirit stones, his previous cultivation had shown him that advancing required a massive amount—tens of thousands of spirit stones, a great fortune for other cultivators, might not even be enough for him to break through to the second level of Mortal Transcendence.

Thus, every stone spent was one less, and saving them was equivalent to earning money.

"How does one take the array master exam?"

Zhang Xuan asked.

Before taking it, he needed to understand these things first.

Becoming an array master, like becoming a master teacher, had many methods, varying by branch and requirements.

For instance, in the Tianwu Kingdom, to become a one-star array master, setting up a first-level array sufficed. But in Honghai City, a major city of the Ten Nations Alliance, the method might be different.

"Our branch is indeed different from others, and it's more difficult—it's called 'Array Sea Challenge'!"

President Zheng said.

"Array Sea Challenge?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

"Yes, the Array Sea is an ocean of arrays left by countless array masters over the years. To pass, you encounter various arrays. There are four levels, filled with first- to fourth-level arrays respectively. Passing the first level makes you a one-star array master, the second level a two-star, and so on!"

President Zheng explained.

"I see. It is indeed harder than setting up arrays!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

Setting up arrays and solving arrays were like going up a mountain and coming down.

Going up is easy; coming down is hard.

Setting up an array, as long as you find the right direction and position, is easy to succeed. But solving an array... you first have to be trapped in the array, inside the mountain, unable to see its true face. Once you misjudge, it's easy to make mistakes, making it extremely difficult to break out.

"It is somewhat difficult, but if you have extensive knowledge of arrays, it becomes simple!" President Zheng laughed.

"Oh?"

"In the Array Sea, countless arrays intertwine. If you can recognize the type and name of the array and find the life gate in advance, passing through is actually easier than setting up arrays. However, whether setting up arrays or challenging the Array Sea, you must have a deep understanding of arrays at that level; otherwise, passing won't be simple!"

To explain, President Zheng looked at the young man before him: "If Master Zhang has never been assessed, he can start from the first-level formation array, and once he adapts, he can go for a higher level assessment, which will accumulate a lot of experience and avoid panic."

Zhang Xuan nodded, hesitated for a moment: "But before that, I want to go to the library to have a look!"

The formation arrays he had collected in his mind were at most second-level; to reach higher, he needed to read more books.

"Reading books? Alright, Xiao Wu, take Master Zhang to the library. The Formation Sea hasn't seen anyone challenge the fourth level in a long time, and it will take some time to prepare!"

President Zheng smiled.

He didn't think much of reading books.

For formation masters, it was common to read books on formations to enhance their knowledge. He himself often went to the library to peruse texts, look up the arrangement of special formations, broaden his horizons, and increase his insight.

"Yes!" The young man Xiao Wu nodded.

"Master Zhang..."

Seeing him leave under the young man's guidance, Guild Leader Sai stood still, eyes wide.

Hadn't he come to buy formation disks? How did buying turn into taking a formation master assessment?

One of the top professions in the continent, the upper nine ranks, and he decided to take the exam on a whim, without any prior warning, just like before, when he challenged the Winding Stream...

"Old Zheng, what star level do you think Master Zhang can achieve as a formation master?"

He couldn't help but look at President Zheng beside him.

"I don't know what star level he can achieve, but being able to so easily arrange a second-level spirit gathering array, and to reach the flawless realm, his understanding of formations is at least as good as mine, if not better. That means at the very least, he is a peak fourth-level, or even... fifth-level!"

President Zheng said with a grave expression.

"Peak fourth-level? Fifth-level?" Guild Leader Sai was stunned.

When they first met, he thought this Master Zhang was incredibly skilled at appraising treasures, but he didn't expect him to know so much about formations, even rivaling his old friend.

How did someone so young come to have such insight and ability... How did he learn?

"Indeed, but the Formation Sea is not easy to challenge. Without experience, it's hard to pass. I just hope he can pass a few levels and let our branch produce a genius!"

President Zheng nodded.

"Pass a few levels..."

Guild Leader Sai responded, twitching his mouth, a sudden thought popping into his head.

If this guy really starts challenging, he wouldn't, like with the Appraisal Pavilion, turn the entire Formation Master Guild upside down, would he?