Journey to the West: Signing in for 500 Years-Chapter 308 - 302: Yunxiao Also Submits, Sha Chen’s Peak Quasi-Saint Supporter 【Seeking Subscription Seeking Monthly Pass】_1
Next, Bi Xiao and Qiongxiao began to explain the Array Dao to Sha Chen.
Their lecture lasted three days and three nights. The two sisters took turns explaining the Array Dao, offering Sha Chen invaluable insights, which enlightened his understanding of the Array Dao as though removing the scales from his eyes.
Moreover, he also discreetly used the Wordless Heavenly Scripture to copy the Array Dao they discussed, refining and completing it. Hence, he could covertly review and supplement his knowledge by referring to the perfected Array Dao content on the Wordless Heavenly Scripture when responding to Bi Xiao and Qiongxiao’s teachings. He hadn’t mentioned it before, but once he did, it immediately astounded everyone.
Bi Xiao and Qiongxiao were both stunned as they looked at Sha Chen, their faces a mix of shock and incredulity.
Originally, they thought Sha Chen’s understanding of the Array Dao was only superficial. While he might be talented, without time for accumulation, he was but a novice. Therefore, they were very confident in their own teachings, never expecting Sha Chen to identify flaws so easily and then perfect them. Only then did they realize how terrifying Sha Chen’s talent truly was.
Qiongxiao and Yunxiao were shocked to find that Bi Xiao’s previous praise was not an overstatement, but rather an understatement.
Originally, they had thought Bi Xiao’s claim about Sha Chen was extraordinary: that he had some understanding of the Array Dao, had deciphered the Eight Gates Golden Lock Formation in three months, and then gained a basic understanding in one month. This would already put him on par with any of them. Therefore, Yunxiao was skeptical. Even Qiongxiao, who had acknowledged Sha Chen as their brother, didn’t believe it, thinking Bi Xiao was embellishing Sha Chen to win their approval and out of blind trust.
But now, with the Array Dao explained by the two Xiaos, Sha Chen could easily point out the flaws and suggest the necessary improvements. Was his talent in the Array Dao merely "no worse than theirs"? It was as if he was playing in a different league! They simply couldn’t compare to Sha Chen in the Array Dao; the gap was too great.
Bi Xiao’s reaction was mixed with surprise and delight; her eyes complex as she said, "Brother, if your Array Dao is so remarkable, why do you need us to explain it to you?"
Sha Chen chuckled. "My knowledge of Array Dao really is just introductory at best, barely reaching minor achievement. It’s completely incomparable to your Great Perfection. The reason I could discuss it with you is because my intuition told me there might be some issues with what you said; it was all just guesswork."
Intuition? The two Xiaos felt like they could spit blood. Why don’t we have this intuition!?
The eldest sister, Yunxiao, excited by the challenge, said, "River Master, allow me to explain the Dao to you."
If the two Xiaos were considered grandmasters of Array Dao, then Yunxiao, the eldest, was a Great Grandmaster; they were nowhere near her level. The three sisters differed greatly. In terms of strength, Array Dao, and temperament, Yunxiao far surpassed her two younger sisters. She planned to personally gauge Sha Chen’s understanding of Array Dao and see just how far he had come.
She then began explaining the Array Dao. While doing so, she intentionally included some errors to later test Sha Chen, to see if he could spot them and suggest improvements.
Sha Chen directly imprinted the knowledge onto the Wordless Heavenly Scripture, which nearly knocked him unconscious with its vast complexity. However, he managed to contain himself. Whenever he would close his eyes to rest, Yunxiao stopped her explanation, thinking that Sha Chen was contemplating, so she gave him time. Mastering the Array Dao wasn’t immediate; pondering was natural.
Then, every time after Sha Chen ’contemplated,’ he identified Yunxiao’s errors and made the necessary enhancements. Time and again, he shocked Yunxiao, filling her heart with amazement and disbelief.
Yunxiao then increased the difficulty. Bi Xiao and Qiongxiao joined in, asking about certain Array Dao knowledge they themselves had not perfected, to see if Sha Chen knew it.
Indeed, Sha Chen knew some of it. Even more, some were areas where Sha Chen deliberately played down his abilities, not fully divulging his understanding, which otherwise would have been even more astonishing. Still, it was enough to astound. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
San Xiao were completely captivated. The three sisters circled Sha Chen, ceaselessly discussing the Array Dao. And Sha Chen responded with great enthusiasm, as all this Array Dao knowledge was new to him, never before encountered or accessed. The ’Formation’ section within the 72 Polymorphic Transformations couldn’t possibly have brought him to the level of San Xiao. Now, with the teachings of San Xiao, his Array Dao had grown even stronger.
Three months later, his Array Dao had reached minor achievement. Drawing on his own insight and wisdom, he could even see the flaws and defects in the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation he had set up before. After his own deductions, he realized that with his current knowledge of the Array Dao, he would need only a month to break the formation. Even if trapped in the death gate, he would emerge unscathed. This showed just how vast his Array Dao knowledge had become.
It also made Sha Chen realize how lacking his previous knowledge of the Array Dao had been. The notion of using a formation to trap San Xiao was pure fantasy. He felt fortunate that he hadn’t directly used his Array Dao against San Xiao but instead resolved their differences through reason and persuasion. Now with the enhancement of his Array Dao, he realized that in the future, he could set up some truly remarkable formations. Once he set the Eight Gates Heavenly Lock Formation again, he could genuinely trap a Quasi-Saint who didn’t understand the Array Dao, or even kill a Peak Daluo Jinxian ignorant of it! This illustrated just how impressive Sha Chen’s Array Dao knowledge had become!
Even Sha Chen himself was shocked. San Xiao’s Array Dao knowledge was indeed incredibly vast, which he couldn’t help but envy.
Little did he know, San Xiao were even more astonished by him. After spending three months together, they had come to realize that Sha Chen’s knowledge in Array Dao was merely at the beginner’s level, or maybe slightly stronger, but not quite at the level of minor achievement. However, Sha Chen was able to spot the theoretical flaws in their Array Dao, pointing them out flawlessly and making perfect amendments. If they were considered great grandmasters of practical Array Dao, then Sha Chen was a great grandmaster of Array Dao theory.
This was highly contradictory as Array Dao requires practice, yet paradoxically, Sha Chen’s pragmatic ability to arrange arrays was very weak, no different from a common beginner-level Formation master. His practical application was rusty. But Sha Chen’s theory was more refined than any master’s, quietly remarkable when revealed. Eventually, they came to categorize Sha Chen as a monstrous talent in Array Dao, someone who didn’t inherit Formation techniques, which explained why his practical application was mediocre. With more opportunities to practice, he would undoubtedly achieve greatness. They dared not imagine what kind of Formation Sha Chen could create if he were to apply the grandmaster-level Array Dao knowledge from his mind!
Tongtian Hierarch was also a great grandmaster of Array Dao, capable of laying out the Sword Array of Immortality with the Sword of Immortality—one of the three greatest ominous formations in ancient times. Once the Sword Array of Immortality was complete, it could execute Saints. Unless four Saints joined forces, the Sword Array of Immortality was unbreakable. From this, it was clear just how terrifying Tongtian Hierarch’s Array Dao was, and how formidable his strength was. This also explained why, after the Divine Enthronement, San Xiao did not follow the crowd and abandon the Sect of Interpretation, but instead returned to it immediately at Tongtian Hierarch’s call. Besides the promise of reshaping their bodies and imparting Dao Techniques, most importantly, they wished to learn Array Dao from Tongtian Hierarch.
To them, Sha Chen seemed to possess an all-encompassing knowledge of Array Dao, knowing everything there was to know.
However, what they didn’t know was that Sha Chen felt extremely insecure inside. It was only through the Wordless Heavenly Scripture that he managed to find loopholes in San Xiao’s Array Dao, and even extend those findings to other formations. But empty talk was just that. If you asked him to take action, it was nothing but boasting. Sha Chen admitted that he wasn’t capable. Moreover, he had to let others present their theories first, and then he could imprint them onto the Wordless Heavenly Scripture before reflecting and perfecting them. And then he’d recite it by the book. If he were asked to come up with a theory of Array Dao himself, it was like forcing a duck onto a perch—it might as well kill him.
Knowing his weaknesses, Sha Chen had always kept silent, only occasionally sharing his opinions when San Xiao’s questions became too persistent. He never initiated any discussion on formations; he was there to learn.
While San Xiao and Sha Chen held mutual respect and admiration, unbeknownst to them, Jade Rabbit and the three phoenixes, along with Yunyao, were utterly baffled. In their eyes, Sha Chen and San Xiao were like gods battling, while they were just weak and helpless mortals. But because of this, deep admiration for Sha Chen began to grow within them, even teeming with worship. For Jade Rabbit and the three phoenix sisters, there was no need to say more. In their eyes, Sha Chen could do no wrong and knew everything. Whatever the problem, it seemed Sha Chen could resolve it effortlessly. For instance, the recent crisis with San Xiao was effortlessly defused by Sha Chen, who even managed to win them over. And when it came to theory in Array Dao, Sha Chen was simply a prodigy. Even San Xiao felt inferior on several occasions.
Yunyao couldn’t help thinking, Master once considered taking him as a disciple. If he knew how capable River Master was, he would probably die of shame. Aside from a Saint, who could possibly teach River Master anything!?
Deeply shocked and filled with emotion, Xianhe Yunyao was overwhelmed by the depth of Sha Chen’s prowess. Looking at Chen Sha, she patted his shoulder and said, "Junior brother, these are all monsters, but you are still normal."
She felt fortunate that Chen Sha was not as monstrous. Otherwise, she might have felt an inferiority complex, doubting if she was worthy of him.
Chen Sha had an odd expression on his face. Being Sha Chen’s External Incarnation through the One Qi into Three Pure Ones transformation, he had an independent personality but belonged entirely to Sha Chen. If one were to be strict, he was the most abnormal one present.
After discussing Array Dao with San Xiao, Sha Chen once again began to expound on Dao. Because Sha Chen realized that although the Qingping Scriptures were useful to them, strictly speaking, the Tao Te Ching mainly enhanced the Primordial Spirit and the mind. Since Array Dao principally involves a substantial consumption of mental and Primordial Spirit energies, Sha Chen decided to return the favor by imparting the Quasi-Saint Chapter of the Tao Te Ching to them!
San Xiao was overwhelmed with joy.
This time, Sha Chen took a month to discuss the Tao Te Ching with them. No more could be said by him, for he only had a superficial understanding of it.
However, even so, San Xiao benefited immensely. Although they had already made significant progress within the Quasi-Saint level, with Yunxiao even reaching the Quasi-Saint Great Perfection, having the insights of a Saint for reference brought tremendous improvement to them.
And now, even Yunxiao was converted. She clasped her hands in salute, bowed slightly, and averted her gaze, saying, "Brother, I previously thought you had ulterior motives in your teachings, but you generously imparted the Tao Te Ching. I judged you unfairly with a petty mind. You even openly asked us to discuss Array Dao with you while you, as a theoretical great grandmaster, improved our theoretical understanding. In the end, it has always been us who benefited."
Slapping herself, she continued, "Brother, if I still act arrogantly, then I am truly not human."
