I Have a Compass for Opportunity

"Could it be that the Star Shining Celestial Array I repaired using the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation was seen by this senior passing by?"

"And thus, he set this game up with the purpose of flushing me out?"

This was the most reasonable explanation Liou Yuan could think of.

He had always held a skeptical attitude about whether the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation legacy originated from Han Zhenzi.

This Array legacy was too exquisite, too remarkable, so much so that it didn’t seem to come from a Foundation Establishment level Array Master.

So he thought that this person in front of him might be a fellow disciple of Han Zhenzi.

His family’s legacy drifting outside was certainly something to be reclaimed.

"I’m doomed." Liou Yuan rubbed his brow.

In this world, legacy is valued extremely highly; if his speculation was true, today’s matter couldn’t end well.

It was perfectly reasonable to kill in rage for the sake of legacy.

Fortunately, he held the status of a disciple of Five Extremes Mountain, and even a Foundation Establishment Array Master should give some face to his sect.

With his brother making a name in Youhuang State, he reckoned that even a Foundation Establishment Array Master wouldn’t dare to easily offend his brother.

"In a while, I should admit my mistake politely and see if I can make amends."

While contemplating, Liou Yuan looked again at the Array in front of him, having simulated it hundreds of times in his mind without finding an array-breaking method.

The fact that he could set up such an Array Formation didn’t mean he could dismantle it.

The key was that these four arrays weren’t the formations Liou Yuan was familiar with.

"Forget it." Liou Yuan sighed; he believed his understanding of arrays couldn’t solve this game.

Just as he was about to give up.

In the illusion of the Array on the chessboard, a middle-aged handsome man’s shadow formed by True Essence stood at one corner, eyes fixed on Liou Yuan.

Simultaneously, the man’s imposing voice echoed in Liou Yuan’s ears.

"The doctrine of the Five Elements Birth and Destruction comes from Yin and Yang, communicated with heaven and earth. In mutual destruction, wood counters earth, water counters earth, seemingly strong overruling the weak, harsh conquering gentle, but in truth, Yin and Yang are mutually complementary, movement and stillness generate each other, seeking balance in conflict, attaining harmony in collision, it is the wonder of dynamic balance."

"If the fire force burns fiercely, summoning the softness of water to overcome it; when water floods boundlessly, the thickness of earth shall bear it. Yet, as water overcomes fire, if exerting all its strength, it too faces earth’s insult; as earth contains water, if utilizing all its capability, it becomes invaded by wood. As spring wood flourishes and counters earth, yet when earth is thick, wood roots are hard to stabilize; autumn metal is solemn and births water, yet when water overflows, the metal body loses its firmness."

The man spoke of the way of mutual destruction from the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation.

He talked about the balance perspective of the Five Elements.

Objects at their extremes must reverse, when something prospers greatly, it must decline.

One element flourishing to the utmost is when it starts to decay.

The man briefly spoke of the doctrine of the decline of the Five Elements.

Taking the Fire Array as an example, when fire prospers to the extreme, it must generate earth.

At the generation of earth, the intensity of the fire must diminish.

Then, by attacking it with the Water Array, the Fire Array can be broken!

Likewise, when the Water Array is at its peak, it must attack fire.

When attacking fire, water will exhaust its force, then, by countering it with earth, it can be effectively subdued.

The Array-breaking method from the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation was explained by the man in few words, leaving Liou Yuan suddenly enlightened, his eyes blazing with excitement.

With such guidance, Liou Yuan now looked at the four grand arrays rising on the chessboard, feeling a sense of enlightenment.

He understood how to break the array now.

Clang! The illusion of the four arrays before him disappeared.

Liou Yuan’s consciousness returned to Qingbao County, to the street near the arch bridge.

The handsome man in front of him stared solemnly, pointing his palm to the chessboard.

"Thank you for the guidance, Mr. Xie." Liou Yuan stood and bowed respectfully, then laughed heartily, picking up a white piece.

The chess piece landed steadily on the Fire Array at the center of the four arrays that had the greatest power.

The illusion before him reappeared.

In the middle of the four arrays, a soil-brown array emerged, the Earth Array.

This Earth Array didn’t follow the array sequence of transformations, thus, it wasn’t within the cycle of this array.

The flaming Fire Array was immediately drawn by the Earth Array, turning into nourishment for the Earth Array.

The power of the flames significantly diminished.

The Water Array, which had been supporting the Wood Array, began to stir as the Fire Array’s momentum waned.

Finally, it bypassed the Wood Array and directly crashed into the Fire Array.

Boom! Liou Yuan’s ears resounded with a boom.

The four arrays that were rising up collapsed immediately due to the loss of Yin-Yang balance.

A white beam shot up from the streets of Qingbao County.

The light engulfed half of Qingbao County in brilliant white radiance.

Liou Yuan, caught off guard by the sudden light upon returning from the array illusion, felt a sharp pain in his eyes from its intense brilliance.

When he was able to open his eyes and see again.

The position in front of the table, where the handsome man was before, had already vanished.

Only the chessboard laid with the last game remained on the edge of the table.

"What happened! Why did white light shoot into the sky?" The sudden phenomenon caused a commotion in Qingbao County.

Only the cultivators present at this chess game site were looking for the handsome man: "Where is he!"

"Didn’t see him!"

"He looked like a reclusive master and probably a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator; it would indeed be strange if you could find him."

The wise on-site had already made guesses, speculating the man’s identity just like Liou Yuan and Bu Moying.

Only Liou Yuan was dumbfounded, staring at the table, a complicated expression crossing his face: "Was he not here to trouble me?"

If he came for Han Zhenzi’s legacy, then why did the man guide him through the array illusion?

Moreover, after he broke the array, the man left without a word.

Liou Yuan felt as if he had come not to cause trouble, but to guide him.

The man, in just a few words, elucidated the array-breaking method from the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation.

After such guidance, Liou Yuan now felt as if he was on the verge of reaching the level of a Foundation Establishment Array Master, with one foot halfway through.

"This is a grace like a master’s teachings!" With a solemn expression, Liou Yuan bowed deeply towards the position where the man had just been sitting,

with his head touching the ground three times, performing the disciple’s ceremony.

Though Liou Yuan had cultivated until now, he hadn’t formally become a disciple; his confusions in cultivation were mostly resolved by Liou Zhen.

Aside from tuition at the cliff, he had never received guidance and support from another elder.

And this guidance was on the core of the Five Elements Birth and Destruction Array Derivation, a substantial favor in a world where inheritance is held in high regard.

This disciple ceremony was his respect to that senior.

Ahead, beyond where Liou Yuan could see, the handsome man stood, accepting Liou Yuan’s bow.

Finally casting a deep glance at Liou Yuan’s face, seeming to imprint his appearance into memory, then waved his long sleeve.

Whoosh! The chessboard he had left on the table flew up and landed in Liou Yuan’s arms.