As long as they weren’t resources exclusively monopolized by the Sect, any supplementary resources External Cultivators acquired themselves naturally wouldn’t be considered selling Sect assets.
"I’ve just arrived and only wish to focus on my cultivation," Xu Xing replied, casually finding a reason to decline Deacon Zheng’s proposal.
"No problem... No problem..." Deacon Zheng waved his hand, gesturing for Xu Xing not to worry.
Today, Xu Xing refused to smuggle Sect resources, but that doesn’t mean he won’t in the future. Deacon Zheng could tell at a glance that Xu Xing was not a cultivator of strict moral integrity. One with a wavering stance will eventually lose their footing.
"By the way," Xu Xing asked, "I am currently studying array techniques, Senior Brother Zheng. I’d like to trouble you to recommend some good teachers. They don’t necessarily have to be Sect Seniors; fellow Senior Brothers would also be fine."
Some diligent top students could certainly rival their teachers.
"Hmm... Array techniques?" Deacon Zheng pondered for a moment, then an idea struck him. "There’s an External Cultivator on Mulberry Island named Yang Shao. He has been obsessed with array techniques for many years and possesses considerable proficiency in them. He is determined to master array techniques, hoping to gain the favor of the Kuimen Daoist Lord in Pan Palace. The Daoist Lord has issued a task in both Pan Palace and the Sect: anyone who solves an array technique puzzle can become his disciple and enter the master and disciple lineage."
"Yang Shao’s aptitude is average, and he knew that even with continued cultivation, breaking through to the Returning Core realm would be difficult. Thus, he sought to forge a different path through array techniques to earn the Kuimen Daoist Lord’s recognition... If the Daoist Lord were to recognize him and bestow a Pill, achieving the Returning Core realm would no longer be a distant dream."
"There were many such individuals in the Western Sea. However, this Yang Shao was currently quite shabby, lacking even a single set of magic clothes..."
Deacon Zheng hinted no further, but Xu Xing understood.
Yang Shao had impoverished himself studying array techniques.
Although array masters could sell the arrays they created for funds, those with lesser proficiency often failed when attempting to refine Array Eyes. Even occasional successes weren’t enough to cover their expenses in the long run.
Furthermore, to solve the Kuimen Daoist Lord’s puzzle, Yang Shao had to focus on advancing his proficiency in array techniques. He likely wouldn’t waste much time refining low-level arrays.
Perhaps, eventually, Yang Shao would have an ’epiphany’ and resort to refining low-level arrays to supplement his income. However, Yang Shao had not yet reached that point of ’epiphany.’
"Many thanks, Deacon Zheng..." Xu Xing expressed his gratitude.
Although teaching a disciple would take time, he wasn’t a dullard; his comprehension was quite good. As long as the compensation was sufficient, Yang Shao would likely be willing to teach him. If... things didn’t work out, he would simply find someone else.
On Mulberry Island, within the Island Master’s Mansion.
"The Array Eyes for today’s Falling Stone Array... the ones Junior Brother refined are already quite good. Before long, I fear Junior Brother will surpass me," Yang Shao said, glancing at the seven Array Eyes Xu Xing had arranged in the courtyard. He shook his head and smiled bitterly.
Generally speaking, the more Array Eyes an array technique had, the more difficult it was to set up. The Spirit Gathering Array, with its three Array Eyes, was among the most basic. As the number increased to four, then five, the difficulty escalated significantly because more Array Eyes meant greater interference within the array technique. Exquisite control over the array technique was essential!
"Brother Yang, you jest..." Xu Xing replied, maintaining his usual humility. "Proficiency in basic array techniques naturally comes quickly. You, Brother Yang, have already reached the stage of arranging arrays using Heavenly Dipper counts. What qualifications do I, your Junior Brother, have to be presumptuous before you?"
In fact, during this past year, he had already become capable of arranging arrays using nine Array Eyes. His proficiency in array techniques had reached a state of minor accomplishment.
He turned his gaze to the Bronze Ancient Mirror.
A new Immortal Fate was slowly appearing in the [Immortal Fate] column.
[Mirror Master: Xu Xing.]
[Dao Fruit: Spring God Ju Mang (Glory), Six Caverns Immortal Official (City), Sui Yun (City), Human King (Immortal Green), Bright King Body (Immortal Green), Underground Lord (Immortal Green), Subdue Demon (Purple), Wenchang (Red), Reform (Red), Broad Knowledge and Strong Memory (White).]
[Immortal Fate: Clear Array (City)]
[Fate Grid: Justice Knight (Yellow).]
[Clear Array (City): Initial mastery of array techniques. You possess a thorough understanding of arrays up to the basic level. You also have a very small chance of grasping the principles of more advanced array techniques.]
"You have condensed the Tenth Heaven Immortal Fate [Clear Array]. Do you wish to solidify it using a [Dao Fruit]? This process is irreversible."
With Yang Shao nearby, Xu Xing didn’t immediately use a [Dao Fruit] to solidify the Tenth Heaven Immortal Fate, [Clear Array].
Array techniques are a manifestation of the principles of Heaven and Earth... So, array techniques can also appear as an Immortal Fate. Because thoroughly understanding array techniques was also a way of assimilating great power into oneself... Knowledge is power. The powerful are invariably wise; this was undeniable.
Regarding the Silver Tadpole Text inscribed on that Hexagonal Black Jade Array Platform in the Instance World’s Underworld, I’d searched the Sect’s classics but found no leads. Perhaps, relying solely on array techniques, without needing to decipher the text, I could unlock the secrets of that Hexagonal Black Jade Array Platform... The description of the Tenth Heaven Immortal Fate [Clear Array] mentioned he had a minuscule chance of comprehending the principles of more profound array techniques. And that Hexagonal Black Jade Array Platform, by his estimation, was likely a Teleportation Array. It, too, was a type of array technique. Of course, his current [Clear Array] might still be insufficient, but if he continued to delve into array techniques for a while longer, he might just get a chance to unravel its mysteries.