7 The Test
Walking out of the alleys he arrived across from where the Mechanics hall was located. Walking over to the front entrance, he was about to walk through when a guard stopped him,
「Sir, you seem to be alone, if you look around everyone is in twos and threes. It is not that safe here in the city at the moment as there is high tension between the three clans so I must advise you to be careful as this is a perfect chance for thieves and bandits. Also, a new temporary rule has been established, all who wish to enter the hall must reveal their identity. So, I must ask you to please remove your hood... We thank you for complying.」
Entering the Hall he stored his cloak and once more made his way over to the arrays counter.
「Hello, how may we help you?」
「Can I take the Grade 1 Array Master Test?」
「At such a young age? If you are taking for practice, I strongly recommend that you take it on a network as there is no fee, even if you fail; but you can either take it now, on the network or, wait until an array master notices your request and agrees to test you. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, with the one on the network you do not have to pay, but the answers are all inflexible and to the book. If an array master agrees to test you have to pay the amount they first request upon agreeing. The test material is guaranteed to be fair, but you must deal with any eccentricities the array master might have. The answers would also be more flexible and if you are lucky you might just get a few pointers. By taking the test with an array master if you impress them, they can recommend you to become a 2 star Grade 1 array master. Although the Star ranking only begins after the third grade Grades 1 through 3 have the two-star option which can only be obtained by being recommended by the array master with whom you took the test.」
「Is there a fee to retract a request that one has already put out?」
「There is no fee as long as no array master had already taken it down to accept. If you do happen to cancel it the fee will be up to the array master, but, it can be no larger than 5 low-grade spirit stones for becoming a grade 1 array master.
「Then I will put up a request, if no array master takes it down by sundown then I will take the test on the network」
「Here is your request number, you will be sent a message if your request is accepted. Please be no later than ten minutes after you have received the message or it would be considered as you dropping the request.」
Walking out from the Hall he put the robe on and started towards the shopping district. The Shopping district was not as busy as usual due to the tension between the three clans and the fire incident at the inn, but business was still flourishing. As he wanted to save his spirit stones he could only the 2 some odd taels of gold he had left. Walking past shops and stalls he saw them selling different grilled meats, textiles, weapons, armours, etcetera. Walking around, he found what appeared to be a blacksmith's shop, there were a few swords, sabres, spears, and bows displayed in the front window. Needing a weapon better at direct attacks than his current Icy Wind Dagger, he walked in.
「Excuse me, do you have any short swords here?」
「Kid, this is not the place to be getting a practice weapon, if you want one to practice go to the Hall or some other shop. The Mechanics Hall only makes the standards so they can be produced in quantity. Here we usually only take custom orders, even if you happen to be looking for a sword would you be able to afford it, or even use it?」
"System, how much do short sword techniques cost?"
Ding! There are 50 in your current affordableish price range.
"Show all that cost one spirit stone or less."
Ding! There is a total of 18 that cost one spirit stone or less, there are 2 that would suit you the most based on your current skills.
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45 changes in the seasons - Part 1/5
Changes in the Mountains and Rivers - Part 1/10
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45 changes in the seasons
- There are 9 basic moves and the other 36 are derived from these, the 45 changes in the seasons focus on the seasons, Dampening Spring, Scorching Summer, Drying Autumn, and Frigid Winter.
Changes in the Mountains and Rivers
- Paint the mountains and rivers with your sword, form an array constantly changing and shifting.
"What does the first part of Changes on Mountains and Rivers contain?"
Ding! Split into 10 levels, the first part contains the first level - from a basic sword array, Restricts mobility of the person trapped within.
Purchase the 45 changes in the seasons first part.
Ding! Are you sure? [Y/N]... [Y]
Purchase complete, available transactions used - temporarily closing shop.
「I am confident that the purchase would not go to waste.」
「Here, show me you can use it.」
「The Heck?! This is a long knife, not a short sword!」
「Ha! So you are not an overly conceited idiot who doesn't know a thing.」
「Of course I'm not, unlike those two idiots who thought it would be a good idea to cause trouble at the Hall the other day.」
「Ha! Retards.」
「So, can buy a short sword or not, and do you have any use for these?」
Pulling out the arrays he had made, he showed them to the blacksmith.
「Small grade 1 spirit storing array, small grade 1 fire plate, small grade 1 illumination array...
I'll take your illumination array for 50 silver as one of mine is about to fail and I can make you a short sword or you can choose one that has already been made.」
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Name: ≪Chen Hua≫≪Feng Shan (Current)≫
Titles: ≪N/A≫
Profession (s): ≪Apprentice Inscription Master (Unofficial)≫≪Apprentice Array Master (Unofficial)≫
HP: 600/600 MP: 60/60
Level: 5 EXP: (80/85)
Age: 7 Race: Human
Strength: 5.8 Dexterity: 5.7
Agility: 5.7 Intelligence: 5.8
Status Points: 8 Mastery points: 5 Lottery draws: 0
Shop transactions remaining: 0 Free conversions remaining: 1
Currency: 3 Spirit stones (Low Grade) 2.23 taels of gold
Equipment: Icy wind dagger --- Model 4G-D1 Energy Shield --- Amplification series Shortsword
Current Missions: Register as a Grade 1 Array Master
Skills: ≪5 Elements Pentagram |50 MP (1/5) | 1≫≪Dragons Traversing the Heavens | (MP 10-1) (1/8) | 4≫≪Tai Chi: Recovers 5 MP/m | 0 MP (0/0) | Max≫≪Gods Eye of Fire and Ice | (MP 5/s) (1/5) | 1≫≪Sun Moon Divine Technique. | (MP 0) | 1 | (5 EXP/h)≫≪45 Changes in the Seasons | (MP 5/m) | 1 |≫
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...
"Beep! Grade 2 array master Gu Hui has accepted your testing request, please return to the hall within 10 minutes."
「Are you Feng Shan?」
「Yes, I assume senior is Array master Gu?」
「Yes, I am Gu Hui, you can just call me array master Gu, for your Grade 1 test I will charge you 4 spirit stones, but if you impress me enough to recommend you as a 2 star grade 1 array master the fee will be reduced to 1 spirit stone, will you accept?」
「Yes, when will we begin?」
「Follow me, we will start the test just outside the city in the forest outskirts.」
...
「Tell me, What is the definition of array making.」
「Array making is the process of drawing diagrams that harmonize with the heavens and manipulates spiritual energy'」
「Correct, what can be used to make an array?」
「Arrays are made by drawing with not only with ink and brush but also with geography and the natural terrain, while some others can be made by utilizing flags with a core.」
「Good, what is array integration?」
「Array integration is the process of combining 2 or more arrays into a functional one using the same core」
「Correct, take these materials and create a medium grade 1 heat array」
While the small grade 1 heat array creates a small flame that can burn about as hot as the max setting on a typical gas stove, the medium grade 1 array will create 1-2 metre flame. Setting the central core Chen Hua calculated the positions of the next 6 flags. Walking about he then took the Spiritstone that had been given to him and threw it in the centre of the array.
As soon as the spirit stone had landed above the central core, a warm glow started to shine from where the flags were placed and started to spread to the centre as it started to spit out flames.
「Good, you have passed the first section, now integrate a medium grade 1 amplification array, if you can also create and integrate a small grade 2 focusing array You will automatically pass the grade 2 test. If you manage to integrate another array or two that can make this set up actually cause damage to a body refining cultivator then you can directly become a 2-star grade 2 array master. As long as you are not blatantly wasting materials I will provide all materials needed for this test.」
Grade 1 amplification arrays are typically used to amplify spiritual energy put into it; only the medium and large ones can amplify the effects of an array. Walking over to and analysing the array he began to layout the amplification array. According to the old book, the medium and large amplification arrays were pretty much the same thing except for the fact that the large one used 25% less energy to maintain than the medium one. Realizing that it would be more efficient to focus the current array and then amplify it rather than amplify it and focus it he started to layout the focusing array.
「"This boy is good, only trying to become a grade one array master and he tries to keep efficiency in mind. I only learned this after becoming a second-grade array master. Even if he were to be able to meet all the requirements I would not recommend him if he were to neglect the efficiency of the array."」
Finishing the focusing array he started on the amplification array. Slowly the flame grew and expanded while raising to about 4 metres tall.
...
「Can I have a few stone slates and a bottle of fire attuned ink?」
「Here」Throwing the bottle of ink and the slates to the kid he started to pay attention to how Chen Hua was going about making the arrays. Integrating an array slate to an array was a grade 2 technique but due to the difficulty is often considered to be a grade three-technique. Although classed as a grade two technique the different arrays used must all be able to function with the array plate so even many grade three array masters find this difficult when integrating multiple arrays together. Taking his brush out from his inventory he began to draw out the beginnings of a grade 2 array, the small charging array 1.
The small charging array 1 can, once charged, release the entire charge at once while the small charging array 2 will slowly release the charge. finishing the slate he took and placed it above the core, redirecting the core's energy through the slate into the rest of the array causing the constant flame to be replaced by a ball of flame bursting from the array about half a metre in diameter and burning at around 1000 degrees Fahrenheit. resting and recentring his mind for 5 minutes he once again picked up the brush and another slate to begin working on yet another array, a medium grade 1 propulsion array. Finishing the last stroke the array plate shimmered as it was put into the array, but this time, instead of it being fully integrated into the array it floated above the first plate as it propelled the fireballs towards the direction it was facing.
「Good, you have successfully created a manned turret. Although the frames are created by blacksmiths for better protection they still use some of the same arrays, but usually just higher grades and with a few other ones such as arrays to help disperse any remaining heat to prevent overheating too fast. You will not have to pay anything for taking this test and I will require you to become a 2-star second-grade array master. To be honest I was sceptical that you could even become an apprentice array at your age. The normal test to becoming a grade one array master is to just create a grade one array and utilise it accordingly. --- .」
...
wearing his robe once more he started to walk towards Auntie Xue's shop. Opening the door and closing it he took off the robe and stored it. Sitting down inside the shop he started to digest the information master Gu had given him. Pulling out another old book from the box he started to read the section on turrets.
Array turrets are commonly used for defence of battle arks and cities. Typically, blacksmiths would make the frames to offer support and protection for the operator while the array masters would make the turret function. Array turrets are very diverse and they are usually made to be expendable to a degree. While they are powerful if an enemy gets too close it will render it ineffective even with the reinforcement arrays upon the armour. Thus they are typically mounted upon walls or tall buildings.
「Feng Shan! Why didn't you call out when you came in! I almost missed you, come around back, the city is in a mess, just this afternoon it was confirmed by the Li Clan that the Yan Clan is in possession of another Spiritual mine the Li and Zhang Clans have just allied and sent out the first vanguard to the mine. I'm afraid that the Yan family would not have the means to defend both the mine and their main Clan.」
「Don't worry Auntie Xue, The Yan Clan can hold, for now, I'm sure that they have an array master or two along with a couple of blacksmiths and a large stockpile of materials at the mine. For now, the most we can do is prepare to move, or hide all the valuables and submit to the Li and Zhang families.」
