Chapter 117: Did Your Spirit Formation Teacher Come From the Gym Class?

"Father, you are a second-rank spirit array master! What is he? Why are you kneeling to him?"

"What on earth is wrong with you? Why be so humble toward this brat? Have you been compromised or is he holding something over you?"

Even as Gu Yue forcibly held her down, Gu Feifei remained defiant. She came from a distinguished family and had a reputation even in the imperial capital. If she were to kneel to someone for no reason today, how could she ever hold her head high again?

*Smack!*

"You still dare to be defiant?"

*Smack!*

"Not convinced, are you? Today, I will stand in for Master Li and beat you until you are!"

*Smack!*

"You think you’re so impressive, don't you?"

*Smack!*

"Do you have any idea who Master Li is? Is he someone you can afford to provoke?"

*Smack!*

"Master Li is a powerful spirit array master, and he is so highly regarded by the master alchemists that they have taken him on as their disciple. You may not know the status of those three masters, but even our current Emperor must treat them with the utmost deference!"

Seeing that Li Jiansan remained silent, Gu Yue began to rain slaps across Gu Feifei’s face. Every strike echoed throughout the hall.

"A spirit array genius, taken as a disciple by master alchemists... That’s impossible... I don't believe it..."

"How could such a powerful genius appear in a backwater place like the Zhang family?"

Though her face was bruised and swollen, Gu Feifei heard every word clearly, leaving her in a state of shock and icy despair. Despite her words of disbelief, her heart no longer held any doubt. After all, her father’s attitude was the best possible proof. Such a monstrous genius, and at such a young age—not even the royalty would dare to provoke him lightly. A genius represented potential; if they grew to maturity, they would become a king. Who would dare to offend such a future sovereign?

It was over. It was truly over. I should never have come here!

The entire crowd watched Li Jiansan in utter terror. Even Zhang Dabao, who had brought him to the Zhang estate, looked on in disbelief. He had never imagined that the seemingly ordinary "Big Brother Li" would be such a formidable prodigy.

*A spirit array master... If I were a spirit array master, would my father and the Zhang family still be in this predicament?*

***

"Master Li, what rank of spirit array master are you that you could shatter my daughter’s spirit seal so easily?"

The spirit seal Gu Feifei had channeled was one taught to her by Gu Yue himself. He knew its power well; he estimated that this seal could easily defeat a first-stage Foundation Establishment martial artist, and even a second-stage one would struggle to dodge it. Although he hadn't formed it himself, Gu Feifei’s talent was decent, and she could unleash seven or eight-tenths of its potential. Yet, Li Jiansan had shattered it with a mere flick.

*Could it be...* A bold thought suddenly crossed Gu Yue’s mind.

Li Jiansan said coldly, "Heh, you have the spiritual power, but your divine patterns are scattered—they are essentially non-existent. You have the nerve to call this a spirit seal?"

Divine patterns were the core of any spirit array, and spirit seals were the fundamental components. A spirit array could function without a seal, but it could never function without divine patterns. The purpose of divine patterns was to connect the various seals, allowing them to exert immense force with minimal effort. Without them, spiritual power would be nothing but a chaotic, fragile mess.

"This..." Gu Yue stood frozen, his lips trembling.

*How... how is this possible?* He looked dazed, as if he had lost his wits. Li Jiansan had pointed out the exact fatal flaw of that very technique. Such subtle insights were things that, aside from him, even some grandmasters of spirit arrays might not easily discern. Yet, Li Jiansan had...

*He must have reached a profound level of mastery in spirit arrays, perhaps even surpassing my own. Otherwise, those three masters would not value him so highly. That must be it.* Gu Yue’s expression shifted, his heart filled with overwhelming dread.

Gu Yue asked cautiously, "Master Li... would you be willing to offer me some guidance?"

Watching Gu Yue humbly seek instruction, the surrounding elders felt their breathing hitch and their hearts pound as if they had been struck by a heavy blow; some nearly spat out blood. *My god, you are a master of spirit arrays! You are now begging for advice from a mere stripling? And you look so servile, terrified that he might refuse? This is... this completely shatters everything we know! We are the ones who usually have to crawl and beg for your guidance—how has the situation completely reversed?*

Li Jiansan ignored the stunned crowd. He glanced at Zhang Dabao and gave a slight nod.

The current plight of the Zhang family was surely being fueled by various hidden forces. Since the Zhang family was weak, he might as well grant Gu Yue some favors today; that would make life easier for the little fatty in the future.

"Ah!"

"This... Master Li... you... you are truly willing..."

"Many thanks, Master! I, Gu Yue, will carve this great kindness into my heart."

Gu Yue was stunned for a moment, then his face filled with wild joy as he bowed repeatedly to Li Jiansan. Li Jiansan didn't believe a single punctuation mark of Gu Yue’s sycophancy. If not for the tokens from those three old men, he was certain Gu Yue would have been more than happy to slice him open to study his anatomy.

Spirit arrays were not only difficult to enter, but once one had begun, refining that knowledge required talent, comprehension, temperament, and perseverance—all of which were indispensable.

"Go ahead and demonstrate a spirit seal. You have been away from the true essence of spirit arrays for far too long." Li Jiansan looked at Gu Yue, his expression utterly calm, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Master Li, I can set up a spirit array very quickly, as long as—"

Li Jiansan cut him off. "Can you construct a spirit array in a quarter of an hour?"

"A quarter of an hour? This..." Gu Yue’s face showed a complex expression. Constructing a spirit array in a quarter of an hour was a feat that even some third-rank masters might struggle to achieve. One had to understand that setting up an array was mentally taxing, requiring absolute focus and significant time.

Li Jiansan replied coldly, "If you can't, stop with the nonsense!"

"Yes, yes, yes, Master Li! I will demonstrate it immediately." Gu Yue smiled fawningly, terrified that Li Jiansan might change his mind and withhold his guidance.

Seeing this, the surrounding people gasped in unison. A master-level figure was acting so subservient, practically groveling, just to receive advice from this youth—and he seemed so afraid the boy might regret it. How could they not be shocked?

Gu Yue began to condense spiritual power in his hands. After a few subtle adjustments, a spirit seal formed instantly. Intense, sharp spiritual energy surged forth, its power more than ten times greater than what Gu Feifei had produced.

"Master Gu Yue is truly extraordinary."

"I don't think I could survive even one strike from that spirit seal."

"As expected of a second-rank master; the seal is sharp and powerful. If we can secure his help, the Zhang family is sure to rise."

The crowd erupted in praise.

Li Jiansan looked at it and remarked, "Was your spirit array taught to you by a physical education teacher?"