After bidding farewell to Master Luo, Ink Painting felt relieved.

Cultivation makes cultivators powerful, but it doesn’t produce anything and cannot make more cultivators wealthy.

Only array methods can improve the lives of scattered cultivators.

Among the scattered cultivators in Tongxian City, only Ink Painting knows array methods. Once he leaves, no one will be able to draw array methods for the scattered cultivators. After several years or a decade or more, the scattered cultivators’ lives might return to hardship.

Self-reliance, abundant clothing and sufficient food.

Only when more array masters who know array methods appear among the scattered cultivators.

These array masters also aspire to learn array methods and benefit the scattered cultivators.

Only then can the situation of scattered cultivators truly be improved.

No matter how skilled Ink Painting is in array methods, he is still just one person and can only make a difference for a while.

But the inheritance of array methods can be passed down to many people.

Inherited generation after generation, it can permanently change the lives of scattered cultivators.

Ink Painting does not want Tongxian City to return to the previous situation of “scattered cultivators without an array master” after he leaves. He hopes that when he returns, more scattered cultivators will have learned array methods and everyone can live better.

After the matter of inheriting array methods was settled, Ink Painting still had to say goodbye to many acquaintances.

First was Commander Yang.

The mission of the Dao Soldier Division was complete, the great demon had been suppressed and killed, and he also needed to return to report.

Before departing, Commander Yang patted Ink Painting’s shoulder, giving him countless exhortations and instructions:

“If you want to join the Dao Soldier Division, you must come find me. No matter what happens, our Yang family will protect you!”

“If you don’t want to join the Dao Soldier Division, then you must firm your Dao heart, be cautious in your actions, do not mistakenly enter the wrong path, and especially do not fall into the demon path…”

Commander Yang had personally seen and experienced the terror of the Five Elements Demon Slaying Great Array up close.

He had never seen such a strong and tyrannical killing aura as this trapping and killing great array in his life.

Not to mention the anomalies that occurred after the great array’s self-destruction and the change in spiritual power, which made people feel alarmed and terrified.

An array master’s personal ability might not be strong, but once they draw array methods and build a great array, they can truly wield the power to change heaven and earth, or destroy heaven and earth.

He hadn’t deeply understood this point until he saw Ink Painting.

He saw Ink Painting lay the trapping and killing great array, and saw the destructive power produced by Ink Painting’s self-destruction of the great array.

Only then did Commander Yang truly experience the power and dreadfulness of an array master.

Therefore, he was really very afraid that Ink Painting would act wrongly.

He was only thirteen years old now, and he could already build a great array with his own power to trap and kill Feng Xi.

If given time, who knows what level his array methods would reach.

If he really walked onto the evil path and built great arrays to slaughter cultivators, that would undoubtedly be a great calamity for a city, a realm, or even a state.

Commander Yang was very afraid to see that scene, and he was also unwilling to face Ink Painting with swords drawn.

Ink Painting then comforted him: “Uncle Yang, rest assured, I am a proper cultivator and will not do such bad things.”

World affairs change constantly, who can be sure about the future?

Commander Yang was still uneasy, but also helpless. His mission was complete, and at this time, he could only leave.

Before leaving, he still went to Ink Painting’s family’s eatery and packed fifty more jin of beef to take away.

He had never eaten this kind of beef before. He tasted it once when he went to Ink Painting’s home and had been thinking about it ever since, so he bought a lot before leaving to eat with wine on the road.

Afterwards, the Dao Soldiers set off, and Commander Yang left along Great Black Mountain.

Ink Painting waved his small hand, bidding farewell to Commander Yang.

After Commander Yang left, Zhang Lan found Ink Painting and said that he was also leaving.

Ink Painting asked: “Because you succeeded in foundation establishment, so you have to return to your family?”

Zhang Lan sighed, his expression lonely, “Yes.”

Ink Painting patted his shoulder, comforting him: “You’re just going back for an arranged marriage, there’s no need to be so resistant. If you happen to meet a suitable person, it can also be considered a kind of fate.”

Zhang Lan’s face darkened again, “What nonsense are you talking about? How old are you, is it appropriate to say such things?”

Ink Painting said seriously: “Although I am not old, I have heard many things.”

He often went to Fu Shan Building in his free time to play with An Xiao Fu.

An Xiao Fu liked to listen to gossip, and then he would add fuel to the fire, compile some storybooks, and ask the storytellers in the eatery to tell them. The seats were full of guests, and there were no empty tables, it was very popular.

Ink Painting had also listened to quite a few.

He liked stories about slaying demons and eliminating devils, or strange tales, the most.

Storybooks about marriage and fate were not quite to Ink Painting’s taste, but he was not picky, he would listen if there were any.

In the stories, there were characters like Zhang Lan, disciples of prominent families, who were unwilling to have arranged marriages, but reluctantly went once, saw that the girl was beautiful, and instead shamelessly went to pursue her…

Ink Painting felt that Zhang Lan was very much like the kind of person who could do this kind of thing.

Zhang Lan listened with an extreme headache.

“Yours are storybooks, with added fuel to the fire, you can’t take them as real.”

Ink Painting said righteously: “‘When the false is made true, the true is also false’, how do you know that what the storybooks say are not real matters?”

“Alright…” Zhang Lan said helplessly.

Ink Painting was eloquent, he really couldn’t argue with him.

But thinking about it, once he left Tongxian City, there might not be another interesting child like Ink Painting to bicker and chat with him. Zhang Lan’s heart felt a bit lost again.

Ink Painting then comforted him: “Mountains and rivers meet, who knows what the future holds, we can still meet.”

Zhang Lan thought for a moment and nodded: “You’re right, if fate allows, we can meet again.”

“If you pass through Kan State in the future and arrive in the Zhang family territory, you must visit, and report my name, so I can fulfill my host duties and properly entertain you.”

Zhang Lan said confidently, his expression high-spirited.

Ink Painting said softly: “Uncle Zhang, in your clan, is your status very high?”

“It’s alright.” Zhang Lan didn’t say in detail, he only said: “As long as you come, you will definitely not be treated unfairly, I will invite you to eat good food.”

Ink Painting’s eyes lit up, and he quickly promised: “Good!”

Seeing the situation, Zhang Lan couldn’t help but smile, and then he suddenly thought of something, lowering his voice and saying:

“And the most important matter…”

Ink Painting’s expression slightly startled.

“Shi Shui Step…” Zhang Lan reminded.

Immediately understanding in his heart, he also said in a low voice and seriously:

“Shi Shui Step wasn’t taught by you, Uncle Zhang, rest assured, no matter what, I will not betray you…”

Zhang Lan’s expression was complex.

Ink Painting keeping his mouth shut like a bottle was naturally a good thing.

But your use of the word “betray” makes it sound like we are colluding in wrongdoing, doing bad things…

Zhang Lan had to do the handover with the Dao Court Division, which would probably take two months.

During his free time, he would also come to find Ink Painting to drink and chat.

There was laughter in their words, but there was already a faint atmosphere of parting.

In addition, Ink Painting made time and went to see Manager Mo.

Ink Painting had earned his first spirit stones precisely from Manager Mo’s place by drawing array methods, and it was also his first step towards becoming an array master.

If it weren’t for Manager Mo, Teacher Yan might not have discovered his talent in array methods, nor recommended him to Mister Zhuang, and he wouldn’t have become Mister Zhuang’s nominal disciple, nor would he have become Mister Zhuang’s teacher now.

Manager Mo’s business was much better.

The signboard in front of the door was still the old one, with the three characters “You Yuan Zhai”, but the entire courtyard and the interior decorations were all renewed.

Manager Mo also looked more energetic.

When he saw Ink Painting, he was both surprised and happy, and hurriedly welcomed Ink Painting into the room, pouring him a cup of tea.

Ink Painting waved his hand: “Manager Mo, there’s no need to be so polite.”

“You are now an honored guest, the courtesy you deserve must be given.”

Manager Mo looked at Ink Painting sitting and drinking tea, sighing in his heart.

The small cultivator who used to pretend to be an elder brother here and earn spirit stones by drawing array methods had now actually become a great array master famous throughout the city.

He still remembered the first time Ink Painting came, at a young age, standing under the counter with only his small head showing.

Looking now, he hadn’t grown much, his appearance was still obedient and cute, but his eyes and demeanor were already completely different.

His whole body’s aura was even more unfathomable to him.

The first time Manager Mo saw Ink Painting, he could only draw the Bright Fire Array with three array patterns. Now two or three years had passed, and he could already draw a Grade One great array.

The gap between these was as vast as a heavenly moat.

He didn’t even know how Ink Painting had learned it.

Manager Mo shook his head, sighing endlessly in his heart.

After a while, he thought of something, got up from inside the counter, took out a crimson red food box, and placed it in front of Ink Painting.

Inside the food box were various colors of exquisite pastries.

“This was sent by others, it’s very precious pastries, you can taste some.”

Ink Painting was not polite, he tasted a bite, it was soft, glutinous, and sweet, his eyes lit up, and he said: “Thank you, Manager!”

Manager Mo saw that Ink Painting liked to eat and also laughed.

No one had sent this share of pastries before.

Later, he received care from Master Luo, and some array masters were willing to help him draw array methods. The array methods in the store increased, and the guests also gradually increased, business was good, and the courtesy in return was naturally also more precious.

Master Luo would not help him without reason, it should be for Ink Painting’s sake.

He didn’t say this point, but he still understood it in his heart.

The two of them drank tea for a while, and Manager Mo then asked:

“You came to find me, not just for tea, right?”

Ink Painting swallowed the pastry, took a sip of tea, and nodded:

“I am going to leave Tongxian City and travel outside.”

Manager Mo was slightly startled, but also not surprised.

When cultivators are young, they always have to go out to see the world, seek opportunities, see the vast waters and mountains of this cultivation world, make friends with all kinds of cultivators, and visit some unknown inheritances…

It was just a bit early for Ink Painting to travel at this age.

But ordinary cultivators don’t do ordinary things.

Ink Painting continued: “I came here, one is to see you and express a bit of gratitude.”

After all, if Manager Mo hadn’t let him draw array methods to earn spirit stones back then, his array methods might not have reached this level now.

He had also told Master Luo to take more care of Manager Mo’s business later.

“Another matter,” Ink Painting’s expression slightly focused, “I want to ask about Teacher Yan’s whereabouts.”

Manager Mo was a bit surprised, and also a bit gratified, “You still remember him…”

Ink Painting nodded.

Teacher Yan had the grace of teaching and enlightening him. He could worship Mister Zhuang as his teacher, also because of Teacher Yan’s recommendation.

A drop of water’s grace should be repaid with a spring.

Now that his array methods had slightly achieved small success, within the scope of his power, he naturally wanted to inquire about Teacher Yan’s whereabouts and see if there was anything he could do to help Teacher Yan.

Manager Mo sighed in his heart: he is really a good child.

He hesitated for a long time, but still told the truth:

“This matter is actually simple. Teacher Yan and I are actually fellow disciples of the same sect. He entered the sect early, I entered late, and we had some friendship. But because I hadn’t been in the sect for long, the sect suddenly underwent changes, and then closed its doors. I also didn’t learn for long, so this friendship wasn’t too deep.”

“Suddenly underwent changes?”

Manager Mo nodded, and said melancholily: “Our Master is an old array master, kind to his disciples, passing on teachings, and wholeheartedly.”

“But he couldn’t recognize people clearly and accepted a wolf-hearted ambitious disciple who coveted the sect’s镇 sect array methods. He actually…”

Manager Mo took a sip of tea, suppressing the anger in his heart, and then continued:

“He actually committed patricide, stole the array methods, betrayed the sect, and fled…”

“Our sect was originally just a small sect with not many people. The people who worshipped Master originally just wanted to learn some array methods to make a living. Once Master died, it naturally fell apart, and the entire sect was gone…”

Manager Mo’s expression was a bit bitter.

“He’s really a scum among array masters.”

Ink Painting listened, his brows furrowed, a bit angry, and asked:

“When Teacher Yan left, he said he had private matters to handle. Was he chasing after the whereabouts of this scum?”

“Yes.” Manager Mo was a bit emotional, “He entered the sect early and had deep feelings for Master, so he could never accept it. He both wanted to bring that traitor to justice to console Master’s spirit in heaven, and also wanted to reclaim the sect’s镇 sect array methods…”

Manager Mo looked at Ink Painting, his gaze flickering, and slowly said:

“That array method, named Ling Shu Array, is a Grade One… twelve-pattern array method that is basically impossible for any array master to learn!”