Capítulo 1167: Chapter 1167: Precocious Child
Array Master Guild.
The five large characters came into view, stirring something in Shi Hao’s heart.
The martial arts sects had all shut their doors to him, but what about the Array Path?
He could totally pretend to be a Formation Master. Whenever ancient relics or secret realms open, don’t they have many formations inside? Don’t they need Formation Masters to solve them?
—He’s not a Formation Master? No problem, isn’t that what the Purple Gold Rat is for?
Shi Hao slipped into a small alley and then dashed into the Immortal Abode to start altering his appearance.
A moment later, he summoned an Ice Mirror, looked into it, and couldn’t help but show a satisfied smile.
At this moment, his hair and beard were all white, making him look about sixty years old.
He then put on a gray robe; no matter how you looked at it, he was a very imposing old man.
“Still so handsome.” Shi Hao touched his face. Even though his current appearance was of an old man, it was still full of charm, becoming more captivating the more you looked.
“There’s no helping it!” he said somewhat narcissistically.
The Purple Gold Rat rolled its eyes madly. Being handsome—what’s the big deal? Is it really worth all that?
Shi Hao left the Immortal Abode and headed towards the Array Master Guild.
Soon enough, he reached the entrance.
“Esteemed elder, are you here for—” A guard immediately came up and asked Shi Hao.
Shi Hao smiled faintly. “This old man has been practicing the Array Path for many years. I’m here to meet my fellow comrades.”
Formation Master!
The guard dared not neglect him, especially given the powerful aura Shi Hao was projecting.
He quickly bowed and said, “Master, please.”
He led Shi Hao inside, passing through corridors and pavilions. The environment was very quiet, a complete contrast to the outside bustling market.
As they walked on, they saw a little girl coming towards them. She was only about three or four years old, wearing a snow-white dress, her features delicately carved as if she were a little fairy.
As soon as this little girl saw Shi Hao, she stared at him without blinking. When Shi Hao came close, she suddenly spread her arms wide and looked up at him, saying, “Hug.”
Her tender voice was so sweet it could melt anyone’s heart.
Shi Hao couldn’t help but smile and stop. “Little girl, what’s your name?”
“Mommy said not to tell my name to strangers.” The little girl was quite astute, her big eyes shimmering, “But, Yaya likes you. I’ll tell you quietly, my name is Shen Rong, and my nickname is Yaya.”
“You’re such a smart little Yaya.” Shi Hao patted the little girl’s head.
But Shen Rong kept her arms open, “Requesting a hug.”
Shi Hao had no choice but to reach out and carry the little girl. She nestled quietly in his arms, looking at him with her big, bright eyes.
Such a girl is truly affectionate, completely different from Bai Hua.
Thinking of Bai Hua, Shi Hao couldn’t help but recall his mother. Who on earth was the Immortal King cultivating the Myriad Transformation Heavenly Technique?
Since the incarnations seen so far were all female, this Immortal King should be a woman. Otherwise… Shi Hao shivered at the thought; it would be too terrifying.
“Grandpa, what’s your name?” Shen Rong spoke with uncanny maturity.
“Me?” Shi Hao thought for a moment, “I’m called Shi Hai.”
“Then Yaya will call you Grandpa Shi,” the little girl said earnestly.
Shi Hao chuckled, looked toward the guard beside him, and asked, “Whose child is this little girl?”
The guard smiled and said, “Princess Rong is quite noteworthy. Her grandfather is our Array Master Guild’s chairman, and her mother is the genius Formation Master Shen Yuexin. In the future, our Princess Rong will undoubtedly become a Formation Master.”
“Mm!” The little girl nodded in agreement, acting quite mighty.
Shi Hao was a bit surprised. Does the girl bear her mother’s surname?
Then who is her father, and why didn’t the guard mention him?
Is his status too low? Or… has something happened?
Shi Hao contemplated this for a moment before dismissing it. After all, it wasn’t any of his business.
Soon, he carried Shen Rong into a grand hall.
“Rong Yaya!”
“Yaya, come let Grandpa Mao hug you.”
“Come, come, over to Grandma Cheng.”
The people in the hall, who were busy with their own tasks, put everything down and reached out to Nong Rong, all elders. You couldn’t see a middle-aged person, much less a young one.
But the little girl ignored everyone, instead turning around and hugging Shi Hao’s neck, as if she was devoted to him.
This made the others jealous. Obviously, he was a stranger, yet he was more popular?
“Yaya, why do you insist on him?” Some elders asked jealously.
“Because Grandpa Shi is handsome!” Shen Rong replied.
Whoa!
How old are you, and you already know what “handsome” means?
Really… defeated.
Some of them were indeed handsome when they were young, but compared to Shi Hao, the gap was significant.
This was undoubtedly the most handsome old man ever, bar none!
Who would have thought they’d lose a little girl’s affection over looks—how disheartening!
All the old folks sighed, and after a while, they finally moved past it, asking Shi Hao, “Who might you be, and what brings you here?”
Shi Hao smiled. “I wish to discuss the Array Path with all of you.”
Oh, is he here to challenge us?
Within each region, while Array Master Guilds belong to the same organization, due to the intertwined forces, there’s actually plenty of competition among guilds.
For what?
Resources!
To break formations in ancient relics or secret realms, Formation Masters are naturally needed. But it’s not possible to ask for help with just empty promises.
Some not only require a payment of numerous Immortal Stones or precious resources but also a share of the treasures found in relics for the Formation Masters.
Additionally, major forces need Formation Masters to arrange formations, allowing them to make a hefty profit.
But if the local Array Master Guild doesn’t have outstanding Formation Masters, then major forces will seek help from guilds elsewhere for entering ancient relics or arranging Mountain Protection Arrays.
As a result, poor guilds become poorer, and rich ones become richer.
Now the guild members regarded Shi Hao as an interloper, and naturally, none of them looked pleased.
“Alright, let me, the old man, have a go with you first.” An old man in a red robe stepped forward.
Shi Hao smiled, stretched out his hand, and said, “Please.”
In an Array Path contest, one sets up a formation while the other dismantles it. But since this is a contest, there’s no need to create a real formation; specialized Array Plates are used, capable of virtual evolution.
The old man in the red robe took out a board resembling a chessboard—this was the Array Plate.
“I’ll use the Ferocious Tiger Formation against you,” the old man said confidently as he planted silver flags on the Array Plate.
“Alright, go ahead and break it,” he said, full of assurance.