Chapter 365: Chapter 348: It’s Just That Incredible
Wang Meng reached out to take the Array Talisman, but was immediately zapped.
’I need to be at least Level 5 in Array Technique to take this?’
’Damn it, isn’t this unnecessarily complicated? Is it just to prevent illegal intrusions like mine?’
After several failed attempts, Master Wang knew he had to change his approach. Suddenly, an idea struck him.
On the first layer, a red light flashed, instantly attracting a crowd of onlookers.
Wang Meng emerged and immediately spotted the shiny little bald head in the crowd. It couldn’t be helped; he stood out completely.
Wang Meng yanked Arhat out of the crowd. "Hey, Baldy, what’s your Array Technique level?"
"Level 7." Arhat looked a little sheepish. ’How embarrassing. A Level 7 like me actually tried to give pointers to a Level 10 master.’
"That’s enough!"
With that, he activated the array. A bright light enveloped them both, leaving the crowd staring blankly.
Most of the people here specialized in Array Technique. The cities in the Slaughter Space needed Talisman Cultivators skilled in Array Technique for their upkeep, and since they didn’t have to fight, the position came with excellent benefits.
Who didn’t long to go up to the Third Layer and glimpse the more profound Magic held there? Unfortunately, for many, such an opportunity would never come.
Arhat was brought up in a daze, a bewildered look on his face. "S-Senior, I’m not allowed up here..."
"What does it matter? Since you’re here, just make yourself at home. Come on, help me grab something."
Wang Meng pointed at the Array Talisman. Arhat hesitated for a moment but obediently went to retrieve it. He was getting excited. ’I can’t believe I’m getting this chance!’
With his Level 7 ability, Arhat retrieved it with ease and solemnly handed it to Wang Meng. "Senior, you’re incredible! You can even come up to the Third Layer whenever you want!"
Arhat’s eyes were filled with awe. Wang Meng took the Array Talisman and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Interested in joining my faction?" Wang Meng suddenly felt this Arhat fellow was a real find. Whether he was truly talented or not, Wang Meng couldn’t say for sure. He tended to judge people based on feeling, and this enthusiastic bald kid seemed like someone he could get along with.
Arhat rubbed his head. "I just like to study Array Technique. I’m not very skilled at other things."
"My Holy Hall Faction is a place for like-minded people. We all help each other with our cultivation, without all the pressure and burdens."
Arhat paused, rubbing his head. "A place like that really exists?"
"That’s right. Come with me!"
Wang Meng grinned like a sly human trafficker.
And just like that, Wang Meng made off with the Talisman and even managed to poach a new bald recruit.
It seemed the Holy Hall Faction was truly in need of someone like him.
He had some understanding of Array Technique, as did Mingren, but they were both amateurs. He had never put in the effort to study truly complex arrays. The crucial point was that he was currently engrossed in the sword itself and had no real interest in anything else. Wang Meng’s path of cultivation was one of gratifying grudges and repaying kindnesses. One could even say he cultivated for the fun of it. Life wasn’t easy, so it was important to do what you truly wanted.
It was just like Arhat. What Arhat loved most was studying all kinds of Array Techniques. He had very little interest in combat, which was why he had so desperately raised his Array Technique level. Otherwise, he would have been kicked out of the Cultivation Academy and dealt with long ago.
And so, a dazed Arhat was dragged to the Little Holy Hall, where he completed the paperwork to join the faction. The group had gained another member.
Arhat hailed from the Futu Sect, a type of Saint Cultivator sect. It was ranked somewhere in the one-hundreds, which was actually quite decent.
The moment Arhat joined the faction, Wang Meng immediately gave him a task: to decipher the Five Elements Cultivation Array.
This was a type of Exotic Array. Arhat became completely engrossed in the joy of studying the Array Technique, even spending the night at the Holy Hall.
"Mengzi, where’d you find this gullible kid?" Fan Hong couldn’t help but laugh. The boy was an absolute Array Technique fanatic.
"Found him on the street, same way I found you," Wang Meng said with a particularly smug grin.
Fan Xiaoniao immediately deflated. The major factions all had experts from various fields, while their own group was lacking in so many areas. Now they had an Array Technique expert, and a Level 7 at that. His skill level was quite remarkable.
’If only we could find a few people for Alchemy and Artifact Refining, that would be perfect,’ he thought. But the good ones were usually poached by the major factions, leaving none for them.
Poor Sanmao was miserable. It was being forced to cultivate and had finally gotten a chance to rest. The moment it stepped out, it saw a "Bright Lamp."
Sanmao was overjoyed. After a great deal of effort, it climbed onto the shiny bright lamp. It loved sleeping on bright, glowing things.
Meanwhile, in the main hall, Arhat was constantly tracing patterns in the air. Perched atop his head was Sanmao. When Arhat’s movements became too vigorous, Sanmao’s tiny feet would even give him a kick or two, but Arhat remained completely oblivious.
Within Arhat’s Sea of Heart, dense, intricate lines of the array and countless Curse Talismans swirled. ’This Array Technique is so profound, so powerful! Something from the Third Layer is truly extraordinary!’
For someone like him, who adored Array Technique, an opportunity like this was incredibly rare.
Chapter Six
「Holy Hall.」
The six Ancestral Masters were utterly floored by Wang Meng.
As Ancestral Masters, Li Xiuwen and the others had witnessed countless talented disciples, but how many of them truly fulfilled their potential? Most just faded into mediocrity.
Even the most outstanding ones, like Ning Zhiquan and Hex Zui, were already advancing with extreme caution. From the Holy Hall’s perspective, they had nearly reached their apex. If all went smoothly, Hex Zui and Ning Zhiquan would one day become pillars of the Holy Hall.
The moment they left the Cultivation Academy would be when they could truly make their mark. Perhaps they would go to the Slaughter Space, or perhaps they would return to the Holy Hall, strengthening it and bringing back superior Cultivation Techniques and philosophies from the Academy.
But no one had ever been like Wang Meng, who completely defied logic. He was already stirring up trouble back at the Holy Hall, subverting every convention. And now, unexpectedly, he remained just as unstoppable at the Cultivation Academy.
"When that kid brought it up, I thought he was telling a joke."
Wu Fatian gave an exaggerated shrug. "Back then, we spent an enormous amount of resources just to send those kids over. We still haven’t recovered."
"Heh, Brother Wu, it looks like that decision was absolutely the right one!"
Zhao Tianlong spoke up. Dealing with Zhao Guang hadn’t affected the Zhao Family. The designated heir had been Zhao Lingxuan from the very beginning. In fact, Zhao Lingxuan was close to Wang Meng and on very friendly terms with Thunderlight Hall. The Zhao Family had been in an invincible position from the start. Now that Zhao Guang’s path was a dead end, Zhao Tianlong would naturally throw his full support behind Zhao Lingxuan.
"Back then, it was an all-or-nothing gamble. We couldn’t make any headway in the Slaughter Space. The Saint Cultivators were waning while the Demons were waxing, forcing us completely onto the defensive. Our only choice was to bet on sending Wang Meng and his group over. I’d say this is a perfect example of finding a light at the end of the tunnel."
Ma Hezi roared with laughter. At last, he saw hope for the Holy Hall to finally stand proud again.
"Junior Sister Zhou, thank goodness he didn’t walk the path of a Pill Cultivator. Otherwise, we would have lost a prodigious Sword Cultivator."
"Brother Li, who could have known back then!" Zhou Luodan said with a smile. It was clear that Li Xiuwen was in an excellent mood; he was even cracking jokes.
