Free Web NovelChapter 424: Chapter 411: Still Can’t Escape the Array Society’s Grasp
Above Wenquxing University, Celestial Tribulation Clouds as dark as ink churned and roiled, layer upon layer, like an ancient behemoth coiled in the sky, refusing to disperse.
Streaks of pale lightning flickered deep within the clouds. The dull, continuous peals of thunder boomed for a hundred miles, making one’s ears ring and weighing heavily on the heart.
This astonishing phenomenon drew the gazes of countless citizens across the Capital, who looked up at the sky with shock and uncertainty.
In the streets and alleys, pedestrians stopped in their tracks, raising their phones to film the celestial spectacle.
The internet was abuzz with heated discussions and wild speculation.
They wondered which genius from a top university, or which rare Pet Beast belonging to a royal noble, was undergoing a heaven-defying Evolution to trigger a Celestial Tribulation of this magnitude.
Then again, the Capital was a place brimming with talent and spiritual energy, so Celestial Tribulations occurred dozens of times a year. Most locals were used to the sight.
The first-year students from out of town, however, watched intently. They greedily absorbed the fluctuations from the Celestial Tribulation above, hoping their own Pet Beasts could seize the opportunity for some Enlightenment.
As for whether the Celestial Tribulation would actually strike?
There was no need for such concern.
This was where the Great Zhou Dragon Vein converged, a place whose profound heritage was far beyond the imagination of an ordinary person.
Within each renowned university, countless layers of powerful and ancient wards had long been established for protection.
As long as a school or private institution activated its High Tier Protective Array in time, it could cleverly conceal the heavenly secrets, completely hiding the evolving Pet Beast’s location and thus avoiding the Celestial Tribulation’s most fatal, direct strikes.
Of course, this was not a feat any ordinary Array could accomplish.
It required a High-star Level Compound Array, presided over by an immensely powerful Pet Beast, and consumed a vast amount of resources, all to briefly deceive the heavens and steal a sliver of hope for the student.
Gu Ming had arranged for Cyan Treasure’s high-profile Evolution within the club precisely because he was using one of the school’s designated slots for talented students’ Evolutions.
He stood silently in the courtyard, gazing up at the terrifying phenomenon in the sky.
While Cyan Treasure was evolving, all his attention had been focused on it. He hadn’t noticed the Celestial Tribulation overhead, not even sensing its aura.
Clearly, the school’s concealment measures were impeccable.
Only when the last wisp of the tribulation cloud slowly dispersed and daylight shone down again did Gu Ming let out a silent sigh of relief.
He turned to offer his solemn thanks to a school leader who was standing toward the back of the crowd. There was only one other person beside the leader, and a wide circle of empty space surrounded them.
The leader simply gave a gentle wave of his hand, a hint of an approving smile on his lips. He didn’t step into the crowd to get a closer look at Cyan Treasure.
He turned his head to speak in a low voice with a hale and hearty old man by his side, whose eyes shone with wisdom.
It seemed he had no intention of making small talk with Gu Ming.
Gu Ming watched him leave, then composed himself and turned to Elder Huo, giving him a deep bow.
This whole protective procedure for the Evolution was only possible because Elder Huo had personally pulled the strings and applied to the school’s upper management for special approval.
It was all to prevent Cyan Treasure from being destroyed by the Celestial Tribulation.
During Cyan Treasure’s previous Foundation Establishment Evolution, the Hall of the Great Dao had shielded it from the Celestial Tribulation, preventing any direct strikes on the Pet Beast.
For this Evolution, however, Gu Ming’s thesis wasn’t complete, so he couldn’t produce the text on-site to summon the Hall of the Great Dao.
Furthermore, Cyan Treasure’s Evolution had to begin out in the open, so leveraging the circumstances to secure its protection was the logical course of action.
Elder Huo accepted his bow without ceremony, then waved a hand and said with a smile,
"It’s nothing. There’s no need for such formality.
"Our university’s talented students are entitled to use these resources.
"In the future, if you have other Pet Beasts that might trigger a Celestial Tribulation when they evolve, you must inform me as early as possible.
"The university will make arrangements in advance to ensure your safety."
A warm feeling washed over Gu Ming. He thanked him solemnly once more. "I understand. Thank you, Teacher Huo!"
Now that this had been said, Elder Huo’s expression shifted slightly. He shot a seemingly casual, yet intentional, glance at the advising teacher of the Outdoor Adventure Club standing nearby.
He then raised a hand to stroke his beard and chuckled at Gu Ming, his tone taking on a persuasive, guiding quality:
"That fellow Ruan Tai never lifts a finger, yet he shows up now to ’look after’ you. You should be well aware of who put in the work for this grand protective Array and who truly has your best interests at heart."
Gu Ming immediately knew what Elder Huo was getting at.
The Seven-star teacher named Ruan Tai’s expression flickered, and he was just about to speak.
But Elder Huo continued:
"So, what do you say, Gu Ming?
"Are you interested in formally joining our Array Society to pursue further studies?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Cyan Treasure as it stabilized its new Realm. Then he continued,
"Now that Cyan Treasure has advanced to the Three-star Level, the Array knowledge it needs for its future growth will go far beyond the basics you learn in the classroom.
"If you just try to figure things out on your own through elective courses, your progress will be slow, and you could easily go astray. It would be far less systematic and efficient than joining the Array Society and receiving my personal guidance."
Before he could finish, a resonant voice, tinged with mock anger, cut in:
"Well, well, well. I’m gone for just one month on a business trip, and you act as if I don’t even exist.
"Elder Huo, Gu Ming is a promising talent our Outdoor Adventure Club had its eye on first!"
The advisor for the Outdoor Adventure Club, Director Ruan, darted forward and planted himself decisively in front of Gu Ming. He put on a deliberately stern face and began to remonstrate with Elder Huo.
Then he turned, shook Gu Ming’s hand, and began listing the club’s benefits, adding that he would personally oversee Cyan Treasure’s development in the future.
"See? There you go again, getting all worked up," Elder Huo said to the teacher from the Ruan Family with a smile.
As the two teachers bickered, half in jest and half in earnest, Gu Ming stood between them, an embarrassed, shy smile appearing on his face as he repeatedly waved his hands.
In his heart, however, his mind was already made up:
He really ought to join the Array Society.
Whether in terms of sentiment or reason, he couldn’t let down Elder Huo’s staunch support and genuine appreciation.
After the crowd gradually dispersed, Gu Ming submitted a formal application to join the Array Society on his phone while walking back to his villa, expressing his wish to study under Elder Huo.
But after a moment’s thought, he decided to be upfront:
"Elder Huo, I’m already studying under Teacher Tang at my company. If you don’t mind that I’m also..."
He didn’t get to finish.
On the other end of the call, Elder Huo was already roaring with laughter. His voice came through the phone, hearty and open-minded:
"What era do we live in? Who still clings to those rigid, old-fashioned ideas about exclusive master-disciple lineages?
"The whole point of academic exchange is to synthesize what you learn.
"You just come on over, don’t you worry about it. The doors of the Array Society are always open to you, and I will teach you everything I know, holding nothing back.
"Just make sure that when you’ve made a name for yourself and become famous throughout the world, you don’t forget this old man!"
Gu Ming was deeply moved and grateful to hear this.
But just then, for some unknown reason, Elder Huo’s hearty laughter struck a chord deep within him.
He was inexplicably reminded of his high school days and the daily, kind-hearted lessons from Teacher Zhang.
Gu Ming’s expression darkened slightly, and his tone dropped unconsciously as he simply replied, "Mm."
He subconsciously tightened his grip on his phone as turmoil stirred in his heart.
’I wonder if Teacher Zhang is doing all right these days?’
’Is he... even still alive?’
