Winning Over the Array Prodigy Ling Fa

My name is Ling Fa.

No one understands me, not even my teachers.

Ancient arrays are dangerous?

Hah...

That’s just an excuse used by mediocrities who can’t control them.

Ancient arrays are utterly perfect, utterly precious.

If only they were permitted for use on the battlefield—then forget one or two demonic beasts...

Even forbidden zones... we humans could absolutely erase them!

Martial Arts Department Headquarters.

A man with a mess of long hair walked along the path to the headquarters' library, carrying a stack of books.

He was the outcast of the Martial Arts Department’s Array Division—Ling Fa.

He had once been exceptionally recruited by the Array Division for his flawless theoretical knowledge of arrays.

But just when everyone thought he would become the division’s brightest star...

He couldn’t even cast a basic array.

Overnight, he fell from genius to the laughingstock of them all.

Strong in theory? What good is that?

Then—

"Hey!"

Thud!

Clatter—

An Array Division martial artist deliberately bumped into him without holding back.

Ling Fa was knocked to the ground, his books scattering everywhere.

The culprit merely smirked down at him. "Sorry, didn’t see you."

Ling Fa glanced up at him, then silently began gathering the books strewn across the floor.

This was his daily life.

Wasting time arguing with idiots was pointless.

So Ling Fa didn’t even bother to retaliate.

"Hah, I told you—this 'genius' is just a fool."

"No idea why the teachers insist on keeping him around."

"Heh, Brother Feng’s right. If you ask me, you’re a shoo-in for this year’s Array Division’s Outstanding Cadre award!"

Cliques existed everywhere.

But to Ling Fa, they were just stupid. He’d rather spend the time studying a couple more ancient arrays.

So, under the mocking gazes of the crowd, Ling Fa walked away with his books.

"Is this guy an idiot? Doesn’t even say a word?"

"Heh, probably scared of you, Brother Feng."

"Ha! Come on, it’s lunchtime—my treat!"

......

The Martial Arts Department’s library housed only classified texts, never made public.

Books on ancient arrays were forbidden, sealed away on the sixth floor.

The barrier there was said to have been set up by the Array Division’s chief a century ago.

Because ancient arrays were incredibly dangerous—yet too precious to destroy—they were locked away instead.

Except...

Ling Fa had long since broken the seal. He’d even set up his own array barrier to keep others from noticing.

Entering the sixth floor, he found it empty, as usual.

Ling Fa sat at a clean table, pushing aside the books he’d brought, and scanned the neatly arranged shelves.

Time to find something new to read.

But then—

Rustle—

Rustle—

The sound of pages turning echoed softly.

Ling Fa froze.

Someone else?

How? His array hadn’t detected anyone entering.

And yet, here was someone who’d slipped through without breaking it—without even triggering it.

His eyes flickered with curiosity. Holding his breath, he crept toward the source of the sound, stopping by a shelf filled with ancient, large-scale destructive arrays.

Then... he gaped.

There stood a man, posture straight as an unsheathed sword—sharp yet graceful.

He held a thick tome in his hands, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he’d found something fascinating.

Beyond his calm exterior, what struck Ling Fa most was the aura around him.

It was... the aura of someone who loved arrays just as much as he did.

Ling Fa didn’t interrupt. He was torn between shock and frustration. He’d thought his array was flawless—impossible to bypass unnoticed.

Yet this man had done it effortlessly.

How? He had to know.

But time was slipping away. Array Division training would start soon.

Ling Fa couldn’t wait any longer.

Clearing his throat, he called out, "Uh—"

The silence shattered.

The man—as if only now realizing he wasn’t alone—looked up.

His gaze was like an abyss, piercing and knowing.

Closing the book gently, he studied Ling Fa for a moment before speaking apologetically.

"My apologies. I didn’t realize anyone else was here."

Ling Fa shook his head, stepping forward with barely contained excitement. "No, it’s fine. It’s just me."

"Do you... like these arrays too?"

"My array at the entrance didn’t detect you. How did you get in?"

The man arched a brow.

"That’s a lot of questions."

A pause.

"Perhaps..."

Gu Yan’s lips curled into a faint smile. "We could sit and talk properly."

"I’m Gu Yan. And you?"

His demeanor was effortless, his knowledge vast.

Ling Fa... suddenly felt nervous.

Not just because he rarely spoke to others.

But because this was the first time he’d met someone who shared his passion for ancient arrays.

Swallowing, he replied, "I’m Ling Fa. From the Array Division."

......

As time passed, Gu Yan and Ling Fa discussed countless theories and insights about arrays.

"Gu Yan, you’re incredible. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking!"

"I believe modern arrays are just watered-down versions of ancient ones. Why not use the originals?"

"With just a bit of qi, we could create arrays far beyond anything mainstream today."

"And the flaws you pointed out in my array—I was just copying from ancient texts, but something always felt off."

"Now that you’ve explained it, it’s like a revelation!"

"Gu Yan, you’re a genius!"

Gu Yan chuckled lightly. "No, I’ve just studied ancient arrays for a long time."

"The fact that you’ve gotten this far on your own already puts you ahead of 99% of the world."

"Though..."

He trailed off, then added cryptically, "This place is too small. There’s no room for you to experiment."

"If you had proper materials to test ancient arrays... perhaps you really could perfectly replicate the wisdom of the ancients."

At that, Ling Fa’s eyes lit up—but just as quickly dimmed.

He sighed, shaking his head. "It’s impossible. Ancient arrays are forbidden. The division would never approve such experiments."

"Not to mention... the head of the Spell Formation Department, my mentor, is also an old-fashioned man who believes ancient spell formations are extremely dangerous."

It seemed Gu Yan had been waiting for Ling Fa to say this.

Upon hearing it, Gu Yan's eyes flashed with disbelief, followed by a tone of regret and indignation. "This is utterly absurd!"

"W-what's wrong?" Ling Fa was bewildered.

"Ancient spell formations are the crystallization of ancient human wisdom! They shouldn’t be buried by modern society!"

"This is wrong—this is holding back the progress of the world!"

"Ling Fa, I truly feel sorry for you. Your intelligence and talent are being wasted here."

"From our conversation just now, I can tell everyone here treats you like a clueless fool."

"But! They’re all wrong, because they’re mediocrities. Mediocrities can never understand what a genius truly is!"

"Why do they bully you?"

"Because they envy the talent you showed when you first joined the department. The more you stand out, the more they try to suppress you."

Gu Yan stood up at this point, looking at Ling Fa with earnest intensity. "Ling Fa, if you want to unleash your potential and make the world a better place..."

"Then come find me. I can provide you with a lab and materials."

"Of course, you can refuse. I just can’t bear to see a genius like you wasted here."

With that, Gu Yan reached out and pressed a finger to Ling Fa’s forehead.

In the next instant—

A surge of information flooded Ling Fa’s mind.

Hope... of Light?

An organization dedicated to making the world a better place, to eradicating all heresy?

Ling Fa’s heart stirred with excitement.

He looked up, about to ask more—

But Gu Yan had already vanished.

This only deepened Ling Fa’s awe. This man must have been sent by the heavens to help him!

A smile, absent from Ling Fa’s face for so long, slowly crept back.

He felt... he had finally found like-minded comrades!

Hope of Light, huh...

It seemed he’d have to pay them a visit.

A lab for spell formations... experimental materials...

The temptation made Ling Fa’s excitement grow.

Then—

Bzzzt!

A translucent spell formation appeared by Ling Fa’s ear, and an angry voice erupted from it. "Ling Fa, where are you?"

"Today’s the day the four factions come to observe our training, and everyone’s waiting for you!"

Hearing the voice, Ling Fa’s expression turned indifferent.

Hmph. Nothing but a show.

"Understood, Mentor."