012: The Array Master

012: The Array Master

The next morning, Zemirah told Wendy that she'd go to find an Array Master with her Auntie Riya.

Wendy nodded, "I'll practice my sword techniques obediently at home, Master."

Only then did Zemirah leave with peace of mind. She isn't worried about leaving her disciple at home where even Foundation Building Realm cultivators won't be able to break easily.

She saw Riya sitting in the garden while waiting for her. Riya stood up after seeing her and said, "Let's go. That man lives on the other side of Teal Street near the Lord's Mansion."

"What do you think of that person and his arrays?" Mirah asked curiously.

Riya thought for a moment before saying, "His personality isn't pleasant, but his arrays are quite good. They are mostly uncommon and Outstanding-Quality. He even sold a Rare-Quality Array Disks at the end of the year Teal Treasure House Auction."

"Rare-Quality? Then he's a skillful Array Master." As for his personality, that is another thing. Anyway, geniuses have their own unique temper.

"Yeah, the other Array Master in the town is inferior to him in terms of quality. I heard he also works for the Town Lord, most of the array that the Town use came from him."

"Maybe we can ask him for news about the Town Lord's action against the evil cultivators."

"Yeah, I also thought of asking him. Though that guy will surely ask payment for it." Riya rolled her eyes.

Mirah laughed, "That's fine, at least we got something useful."

They arrived at a large courtyard, the gate was black and the walls were higher than Zemirah's.

Just as Mirah wanted to knock, Riya shook her head, "Don't knock, everything in his house is part of an array."

Mirah stiffened, "That's quite… amazing." Mirah was speechless.

This person is really...

Riya laughed lightly at her reaction before shouting to the house, "David! It's me Riya the alchemist!"

The house was silent for a while before the gate opened. Riya pulled Mirah, "Let's go in."

The inside of the courtyard is quite good, though it has the sense of being calculated. Like every piece of rock and grass has its purpose. Zemirah can already see the truth in Riya's words.

That every part of this house is either an Array Formation or part of it.

In the guest hall, a man who had short black and white hair appeared, he looks like the same age as them. Not young but not old either. 

Though Zemirah knew that the faces of cultivators were quite deceiving, who knows maybe the person in front of them is an old man wearing a youthful face.

Zemirah knew that cultivators could live for hundreds of years, immortality wasn't just a dream for cultivators of Azar.

The man had a polite smile on his face, looking accommodating as he gestured to them, "Please have a seat, my dear guests."

Zemirah was doubting if this polite man was the one who had the not-so-pleasant character Riya said.

He looks fine in Zemirah's view. Except for the dense array formations outside.

Riya and Zemirah sat on the chair opposite him. The man poured them some spiritual tea, "What can I do for beautiful ladies."

Riya said blandly, "My friend wants to buy some Array Disks."

The man, David, paused before turning his attention to the veiled lady whose charm can't be covered at all. He didn't ogle at the beauty, which made Zemirah sigh in relief.

"What array does Fellow Daoist require?"

Zemirah said her requirements, "I don't really have many requirements but I want to buy one on each type and stage of Array formations."

"Hmm?" David was quite puzzled at her words before smiling. "Then please look at this jade slip, there are the array disks available right now. If you want something not in there, then you may have to wait for some time for me take refine it."

A jade slip appeared on his hands before he handed it to Zemirah.

Zemirah nodded, "Of course." Then she used her spiritual consciousness to look at the contents.

There are three types of array formations inside, mostly minor arrays that can be made into one array disc. Major array formations can't be refined into convenient array disks.

They need huge amounts of materials and space.

There are defensive, offensive, and auxiliary array formations, making Zemirah pleased since it's quite complete.

Zemirah marked the arrays she took a fancy, 3 of each stage.

For Auxiliary array, [Spirit Gathering Array] Low-Stage, Mid-Stage, and [Colorful Fog Illusion Array] Late-Stage and Peak-Stage.

For Defensive, [Great Heaven Tortoise Array] Low-Stage, Mid-Stage, and [Water River Fall Array] Late-Stage and Peak-Stage.

For Offensive, [Lave Shower Array], Low-Stage, Mid-Stage and [Thunder Rage Array] Late-Stage and [Frost Snow Killing Array] Peak-Stage.

Seeing her chosen arrays, David was surprised before saying, "I only accept spiritual stones. Everything will cost 3 Low-Grade Spiritual Stones."

Zemirah nodded, "As long as they are of Outstanding-Quality." She took out three Spiritual stones and put them on the table.

David smiled brightly, "Of course." Then he took the array disks she wanted and put them in a space pouch. "Here they are."

Zemirah checked the array disks on the space pouch before nodding in satisfaction. "They are good."

Riya, who was silent the whole time spoke after seeing that their transaction is done, "David, do you have news from the Lord's Mansion?"

David raised a brow and smiled, not speaking. 

Riya rolled her eyes before taking out a bottle of pills that had 5 Outstanding-Quality Grade 1 pills.

David took it without blushing and smiled, "The Town Lord will post a mission hunt for the Demon Cultivators while he will deploy his guards to tighten the town's security."

Although short, the words he said gave them a clear idea of the Town Lord's plan, unlike earlier where they were guessing.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist. Then we will go now." Zemirah and Riya cupped their fists before leaving.

David sent the guest out before going back inside his house. Sitting on his chair, he pondered, "That lady has a background. Riya made another good friend." He smiled and shook his head.

"Whatever, I just need some more spiritual stones before I attempt to break through Foundation Building Realm." David happily started reading a scroll.

On the way, Zemirah asked, "David is preparing for his advancement?" 

Riya nodded, "Yeah, advancing to Foundation Building Realm without a pill, he wanted to use spiritual stones as auxiliary."

Zemirah nodded, "Using a Foundation Building Pill to advance is an option but it will leave some impurities in the body which will affect later advancement."

"That depends on the quality of the pill, this is also the reason why most pursue High quality in pills," Riya said. "That's also why I'm spending most of my time improving my alchemy skill so that I can concoct better quality pills."

Zemirah smiled, "I guess you can already concoct Rare-Quality medicinal pills." 

Riya laughed, "Well, there's a small chance but not always."

"That's already a good job." Zemirah praised.

Riya rolled her eyes at Mirah, "You can already produce a stable Rare-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 1 talisman, right?"

"I'm working on Supreme-Quality Late-Stage talismans," Zemirah confessed.

"You have a good talent." Riya sighed with a smile.

When they passed by a tea house, Mirah pulled Riya inside. "Let me treat you to some tea as a thank you."

Riya didn't refuse. They sat on a table near the window on the second floor. They can see the street where people are walking from there. 

"Order for us, pick the ones that taste good." Zemirah pushed the menu to Riya who knows more about this than her.

Zemirah has only been in Azar for more than a month. She's still somewhat new to many things but she's adapting quite easily. She has only been at Teal River Town of Bright Light Dynasty, she only knew that Azar has many more forces the same as Bright Light Dynasty.

"Well," Riya obliged and ordered a Late-Stage Grade 1 spiritual tea that she favored and some spiritual pastries made by a Spiritual Chef.

While sipping on their tea and chatting, a stream of soldiers suddenly appeared in their sight. 

"What's happening?" Mirah frowned.

Riya stared at the soldiers before speaking, "The Town Guards, look at there. The captains are all cultivators."

There are a total of Eight groups, Six Low-Stage and Two Mid-Stage Energy Refinement Realm captains. 

"They must be the deployed Town Guards by the Town Lord."

Then they heard noisy whispers where one said, "The Town Lord posted a mission on the Town Mansion."

"What's the mission."

"Hunting Demonic Cultivators, the rewards are quite rich."

Riya and Zemirah silently listened. 

"The outside will be chaotic, hopefully, it won't involve us." Riya sighed.

Zemirah nodded at her words. She silently took a sip of her tea while thinking that although Azar had countless opportunities, it was ridden with danger.

Before leaving, Zemirah bought some tea and gifted one to Riya.

And then she gave the array disks to Wendy, earning another reward. Wendy set up the array disks according to the instructions from her master.

That night, she counted the gains she got for the day.

For the miscellaneous, she got some spiritual tea leaves from the ones she gave to Riya and Wendy.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering Eight fold-back and getting a Mid-Stage Grade 1 Spiritual Tea Leaves - [Moon Dew Leaf Tea]

Details: A tea from Moon Dew Tree that only grows beside Crescent Blue Bees. It is known for its rich moon energy and for cleansing the body of dirt.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 1,000 fold back and getting a Low-Stage Grade 2 Spiritual Tea Leaves - [Midnight Rain Flower Tea]

Details: From the sea of flowers where Midnight Rain Flower grew. It is known for its rich Yin energy that is beneficial to female cultivators. 

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 9,999 fold back and getting a Peak-Stage Grade 2 spiritual tea leaves - [Mountain Sword Leaf Tea]

Details: A swordman's dream tea. The mountain sword tea can enhance the chance of epiphany regarding swordsmanship. The lucky ones can even comprehend sword intent.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 7,999 fold back and getting a Mid-Stage Grade 2 spiritual tea - [Camellia Sun Tea]

Details: A tea made from flower petals of Camellia Sun Flowers. It is rich in Yang Energy, a sip can let a person feel the power of the shining sun. Warm and bright. 

And then the array disks from Wendy.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 9,999-fold back and getting a -Celestial-Quality Late & Peak-Stage Grade 2 Array Disks - [Spirit Gathering Array] (2x)]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 4,555-fold back and getting a Celestial-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 2 array disks - [Abyssal Fog Illusion Array] (2x)]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 5,999-fold back and getting a Celestial-Quality Mid-Stage Grade 2 Array Disks - [Heavenly Tortoise Protection Array]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 2,999-fold back and getting a Supreme-Quality Low-Stage Grade 2 Array Disk - [Fallen River Curtain Array]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 5,000-fold back and getting a celestial-quality mid-stage grade 2 array disc - [Crimson Lava Rain Array](2x)]

Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 9,999-fold back and getting a Celestial-Quality Peak-Stage Grade 2 Array Disks - [Thunder God Killing Array]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for triggering 6,999-fold back and getting a Celestial-Quality Late-Stage Grade 2 Array Disk - [Ice Sword Killing]

After getting the array disks, Zemirah secretly set some arrays like the [Spirit Gathering Array] in her and Wendy's room. This will be conducive to cultivation practice.

Wendy, who was cultivating, suddenly felt the spiritual energy rose. She was puzzled but thought it was the Grade 1 [Spirit Gathering Array] she set up earlier. 

'What a weird Array formation, it only worked now'. Wendy thought before she focused on her breathing technique.

The whole town was getting busier and crowded, so some villagers moved to the town and those who didn't have the ability to, set up tents outside the town wall.

Then news about the death of Demonic Cultivators and some cultivators who went to hunt arrived. 

Zemirah and Wendy stayed in the courtyard without involving themselves in the chaos outside.

"Wendy, show me your sword progress," Zemirah said to Wendy.

Wendy nodded then pulled the sword from the sheathe without a question and started moving to show her sword moves. 

At the end, Zemirah nodded, satisfied. "You're approaching Lesser Mastery. Then – "Zemirah pointed out some mistakes she saw on Wendy.

Wendy listened attentively, sincerely wanting to improve with her master's help.

"I'll check your sword skills if you improve next time. Now, ask me questions about your cultivation."

Wendy asked all the questions she had these past few days. From simple questions about her breathing technique to trivial things about the cultivation world.

"There are 3 Low-Tier sects in Pariff County. The [Ray Moon Sect], [Blood Blade Sect] and [Wolf Howl Sect]. Low-Tier sects only have Foundation Building Realm as the highest cultivator."

Zemirah thought before she confessed, "Your master also came from a sect."

Wendy was surprised, "Really, Master? Why are you staying in Teal River Town then?"

Zemirah sighed, "Well, my sect is now gone."

"Oh," Wendy went silent. That's unfortunate, Wendy was worried that she opened a scar of her master.

"But it's okay. I'm glad to be here and meet you." Zemirah consoled her disciple who was deflated.

Wendy perked up after hearing her master's words, blushing.

At the end of the month, the monthly Auction-Trade started again.

This time, Zemirah brought her disciple with her. Meeting up with Riya, they went to the Teal Auction House.

Zemirah and Riya sat in the middle, while the Peak-Stage of Energy Refinement  Realm Cultivators sat in front of the podium. The Foundation Building Realm cultivators are upstairs in private rooms.

Zemirah traded Ten Outstanding-Quality Talismans, both Mid and Late-Stage. It caused a stir in the crowd.

She got Three pieces of Uncommon-Quality spiritual wood - [Vermillion Bird Wood] [Azure Scale Wood] [Cicada Shell Wood]

Two Talisman Ink - [White Tiger Ink Blood] [Aloe Sea Grass Ink]

And artifact accessories - [Emerald Grass Ribbon] [Nine Blossom Flower Wreathe] [Fiery Ice Meteor Bracelet] [Auspicious Flower Necklace] [Twin Star Earring].

Just as they were about to leave the auction house, a staff suddenly stopped them, saying that someone upstairs wished to talk with Riya and Mirah.

Mirah was puzzled but then she nodded.

She wanted to know what they needed from an Energy Refinement cultivator like her and Riya.

"My little disciple, follow behind me, okay?" Zemirah told Wendy before they walked upstairs.

Wendy always followed her master's words, so she nodded obediently.