Break the Array?

Break the Array? . . . 

Cha Eun Xiao covered his eyes and forged ahead through the dense bamboo forest. Whenever an obstructing bamboo stood in his way, he effortlessly swayed his sword to clear a path. His slashing continued, ceaseless, and countless bamboo shoots met their end.

Step by step, Cha Eun Xiao pressed onward, undeterred by the mysterious surroundings. His determination did not go unnoticed, earning him the admiration of Master Bai.

Master Bai marveled silently, "It appears that this individual remains impervious to the array's effects. The four seasons within the array feel so genuine to him, yet he dismisses them as mere inconveniences."

Nevertheless, Master Bai cautioned, "Nevertheless... one cannot merely disregard the array, for it undoubtedly exists, even if only in one's perceptions. However, when members of the Heaven's Hall undergo this trial, they must attain the Clear Mind Stage to accomplish what he is doing. This Feng Monarch is a truly exceptional figure. He has taken me by surprise."

Cha Eun Xiao had ventured a considerable distance, felling innumerable bamboos in his path. He sensed that he must be near the forest's perimeter; a thousand steps should have taken him beyond the array and onto the mountainside.

However, when he unveiled his eyes by removing the cloth that concealed them, he was left speechless. The bamboo grove still stretched endlessly before him, with no end in sight.

Perplexed and frustrated, Cha Eun Xiao questioned his senses. "How could this be? Was it all an illusion? But I could swear I was cutting down something!"

Determined to validate his reality, he once again swung his sword vigorously. "Shoot, shoot, shoot..." Bamboo branches fell, creating a cleared space around him. Yet, to his astonishment, the bamboo littering the ground vanished, and the empty area was swiftly replenished with bamboo shoots.

Cha Eun Xiao widened his eyes in disbelief. "What is this sorcery?"

Then it dawned on him. "Why wouldn't it be possible? The array can evoke the sensation of experiencing the four seasons. The feeling of slicing through bamboo can likewise be an illusion, and perhaps I was merely deluded into thinking I was progressing!"

Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but feel scrutinized. Every action he took was under the watchful gaze of the man who had devised this confounding array. It was as if his every move were a mere charade, a monkey's plaything in the eyes of the array's creator.

Frustration simmered within Cha Eun Xiao, prompting him to swing his sword in anger. But he swiftly realized that anger served him no purpose; instead, he needed a clear, focused mind to find his way out of this labyrinthine illusion.

He forced himself to calm down, reminding himself that he had come here with a purpose – to secure Master Bai's cooperation. They had a deal, and simply shouting Master Bai's name might be enough to gain entry. However, Cha Eun Xiao's pride and determination refused to let him admit defeat.

"Why should I let this array stop me? Do I really need to seek help and have someone fetch me?" Cha Eun Xiao pondered. "Wouldn't that be a sign of weakness and shamelessness? Besides, I'm not entirely ignorant when it comes to arrays. If one approach doesn't work, I'll find another way."

Master Bai observed the young Feng Monarch with a bemused smile. "He's a proud man, much like myself," he mused. "He'll take matters into his own hands and won't rely on others. He knows that if he calls for my assistance, I'd send someone to guide him through. Yet, he refuses to take that path, determined to break through the Illusory Sky Array on his own."

"However, pride must be backed by strength. If he isn't powerful enough, his pride will merely render him stubborn and stuck," Master Bai commented with a faint smile. "Since there's no immediate urgency, we'll leave him be. When he finally beseeches us, we'll grant him entry."

The man in black nodded in agreement. "Yes."

But even as Master Bai claimed he would leave Cha Eun Xiao to his own devices, he continued to monitor the mirror plane in his hand, observing the determined Feng Monarch standing resolutely in the array. He appeared to take pleasure in the young man's predicament.

"I admire those who are determined to challenge me," he mused, his gaze fixed on the mirror plane. "Please, don't ask for my assistance. If you do, it would disappoint me."

Master Bai remained seated, maintaining his watchful eye on the unfolding spectacle. However, after a while, his expression shifted. His smile disappeared, and his eyes widened in astonishment. "Oh?"

Rubbing his lower jaw in contemplation, he murmured, "This man... that's a very interesting approach."

Cha Eun Xiao suddenly opened his eyes, as if a revelation had struck him. He took a bold step to the left, and although there was a bamboo shoot in his path, it vanished before he made contact.

His next move displayed an even greater understanding. He simply retracted his left foot, and miraculously, the bamboo reappeared as if it had never disappeared at all.

"I understand," Cha Eun Xiao mused, his voice a soft whisper amidst the bamboo forest's mystique. "What appears real is, in fact, deceptive. Conversely, what appears to be a falsehood might, in truth, be reality. Real and fake, true and false, they are all intricately intertwined. I see. It's not as significant as it seems..."

With newfound insight, Cha Eun Xiao advanced, but this time, he did not hesitate or retreat. He pressed onward, determined to unravel the enigma that surrounded him.

Master Bai fixed his gaze upon the resolute figure navigating the bamboo-laden terrain, his eyes betraying a mix of emotions. A triumphant smile graced his lips as he watched Cha Eun Xiao's progress.

"Well done. Remarkable," Master Bai praised quietly. "He's actually penetrating the Illusory Sky Array by scrutinizing its intricate details. He's starting to resemble a man determined to thwart the House of the Chaotic Storms."

Leaning in closer to the unfolding spectacle, Master Bai continued his hushed commentary, "He has grasped a portion of the truth, but he is yet to fathom the array's core. Nevertheless, he is on the right path. The question remains: How does he manage this?"

For the astute Master Bai, it was a riddle to which he still sought an answer.