Chapter 108: A Legend In Making.
Jun Wu ignored the rumbling sound in the sky and pressed on with the same grave seriousness, though now he poured his very heart and soul into the lecture.
His voice carried not only knowledge but conviction, each word like a hammer striking against stone.
"Since array formation touches upon the secrets of heaven and earth," he declared, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.
"What better tool to use than the rarest gift bestowed by heaven and earth itself—Qi."
The audience trembled.
Watching Jun Wu continue his lecture while the heavens themselves darkened, countless spectators were left dumbfounded.
Their eyes widened, disbelief painted across their faces.
Can’t he see the bizarre situation in the sky?
Has he lost his mind?
Inside the VIP chamber, the powerful leaders shifted uneasily in their seats.
Their brows creased as they stared at the rolling darkness overhead.
None of them uttered a word, yet their thoughts spun like a storm.
Such a phenomenon had never happened before.
Not even the ancient Book of History, which records the strange occurrences of countless generations, had spoken of the heavens reacting to a lecture.
Yet here was Jun Wu, continuing with even greater zeal as if nothing was amiss.
Confusion marred the faces of every leader.
The vice deans of both the Mystic Path Academy and the Frostwind Academy exchanged subtle glances, their eyes betraying the same thought.
Whatever caused this thunder... it must be connected to this boy.
And so, rather than interrupt him, they straightened their backs and concentrated on his lecture, unwilling to miss a single word.
Below, Jun Wu’s words flowed smoothly like a mountain stream, firm and unyielding.
"Therefore, for anyone who wishes to become an array master, you must first possess a foundation strong enough to house Qi within your body. At the very least, you must step into the realm of a First Rated Martial Artist."
"Hiss!"
The collective intake of cold breaths echoed through the colosseum.
Though the rolling thunder made their skin crawl, not one person dared leave.
Those with sharper insight began to realize that this strange heavenly phenomenon was not meant to harm them.
The heavens were not lashing out—they were responding.
So they forced themselves to remain seated, back straight, ears open, unwilling to miss even half a sentence.
Yet Jun Wu’s requirement left many trembling.
Did he truly think becoming a First Rated Martial Artist was so simple?
Among the apprentices, older ones clenched their fists, their hearts filled with unwillingness.
To them, his words were a cruel decree that nullified their years of effort.
Meanwhile, many of the younger apprentices looked as though their very souls had left their bodies.
Most had only reached the Third Rated Martial Artist stage.
If Jun Wu’s words were true, then for them, the dream of becoming an array master was forever out of reach.
But Jun Wu’s tone did not waver.
He did not pause to comfort, nor did he yield to the crowd’s emotions.
His words struck like lightning—direct, merciless, yet filled with truth.
"Although the prerequisite may sound harsh," he said, his voice ringing with certainty, "the reward is immense. If you possess even the smallest spark of talent in array formation, you will be able to become an array master within one to five years."
He raised a single finger. "And for those truly gifted... one year, perhaps two."
Another hiss of disbelief swept through the colosseum.
Gasps, exclamations, even choked laughter rippled across the audience.
Many leapt to their feet without realizing it, their hearts pounding with a mixture of hope and fear.
Too good to be true.
Yet Jun Wu stood as undeniable proof before their eyes.
Generations of apprentices had wasted decades chasing the elusive title of array master.
Yet here was a path, laid bare, promising mastery within five years.
Even in the VIP chamber, the elders who prided themselves on their composure found themselves dazed, their jaws slack.
They stared at the youth on the podium as if seeing him for the first time.
Questions burned on their tongues, but none dared interrupt him.
Jun Wu calmly, his voice rang clear:
"I know many of you do not believe me. But tell me—why would I lie upon such a grand stage? Am I not the perfect example before your very eyes?"
Silence struck the colosseum.
Then came a collective cry of realization.
Indeed, Jun Wu himself had proven it.
He was living proof that what he said was no empty boast.
Excitement erupted like wildfire.
"I can become an array master as long as I reach the First Rated Martial Artist stage. Hahaha! This is incredible news!"
"Ahahaha! I’m already at the High Stage of Second Rated. With just a little effort, I’ll break through! Then the gates of array formation will open wide for me!"
Apprentices who had once walked with drooping shoulders now clenched their fists in renewed determination.
Some shouted, some laughed, some even wept openly.
Only an apprentice could truly understand the pain and hopelessness of the path—and now, Jun Wu had offered them light.
Still, not everyone lost themselves in excitement.
Many forced themselves to remain calm, choosing instead to hold their emotions in check while focusing on the lecture.
Jun Wu, however, pressed forward.
"Let me tell you something even greater.... This principle applies to all professions. For a blacksmith to forge a Mortal Grade weapon, he must be attuned to the will of heaven.
For an alchemist to refine a Mortal Grade pill, she too must be attuned. This—this is the open secret that has eluded us all for generations. But today, you finally know the truth."
The audience erupted once more, their hearts pounding wildly.
Jun Wu’s lecture was not merely knowledge—it was revelation.
Then, smoothly, he shifted back to his original topic.
"Now, let us return to array patterns. What are they? Array patterns are the very embodiment of energy designed for a specific purpose. They dictate the behavior of an array, giving it forms and meaning."
His words were calm, but the thunder overhead boomed louder than before.
"A single pattern," Jun Wu continued, his voice unwavering even as the heavens rumbled. "Can be interpreted in countless ways. And that... is why the Soaring Cloud Region lags behind. Why?"
His gaze swept the colosseum, piercing, commanding.
"Because nearly every so-called array master in this region has wasted their life studying only a single array pattern."
The words cut like blades, sharper than thunder, and the stadium fell into a silence deeper than before.
Above, the clouds churned darker still, the sky collapsing into a suffocating gloom.
The entire city was thrown into unnatural darkness, shocking citizens and apprentices alike.
It was the first time such a scene had ever unfolded.
And it was far from over.
On the podium, Jun Wu’s figure stood tall against the backdrop of chaos, his voice carrying like a beacon through the darkness.