The Sword God of the Universe

Chapter 496: Chapter 496: Arrogant Youth [Four Updates]

Gazing at Mr. Ma as he prepared to search for the Array Base, Jing Yan felt some hesitation.

If he hadn’t seen it wrong, the Guardian Array arranged within the Wen Family Mansion was indeed the Jiuhua Array, not the three-rings Formation. That meant Mr. Ma wouldn’t be able to find the Array Base, wouldn’t that be a waste of time?

With a thought, Jing Yan finally spoke up, ”Prince, perhaps you could let me have a look at this Formation. I also have a certain understanding of Formations.”

”Hm?”

Zhou Shang Yun’s expression shifted slightly.

He knew Jing Yan studied Formations; previously at the Prince Manor, Jing Yan had even asked Zhou Che to help purchase materials to set up a Formation. But Zhou Shang Yun hadn’t really considered letting Jing Yan check the Wen Family’s Guardian Array. In his view, it was unlikely that Jing Yan would recognize the Wen Family Mansion’s Guardian Array.

”What a joke?”

”Who do you think you are? It’s fine if you can perform Alchemy, but do you really understand Formations too?” Several elders who had a poor impression of Jing Yan immediately scoffed.

”Jing Yan! You should not overestimate your abilities. With Mr. Ma here, finding the Array Base and breaking the Formation is just a matter of time. If you intervene, what if you interfere with Mr. Ma? Would that not be a waste of time?” Dean Guan Yue from the Divine Wind Academy said with a sneer.

Even Mr. Ma frowned upon hearing Jing Yan’s words. He seemed displeased with Jing Yan’s desire to look at the Formation.

What would a twenty-year-old young man know about Formations?

However, Zhou Shang Yun was somewhat hesitant. From what he knew of Jing Yan, although young, Jing Yan was not the type of person to act aimlessly. Now that Jing Yan wanted to look at the Formation, could it be that he actually knew something about Formations?

”Prince, it wouldn’t hurt to let me have a look. The odds of finding the Array Base are always better with two people than one,” Jing Yan said, not paying attention to those who mocked him, and continued speaking to Zhou Shang Yun.

”What a joke?” Mr. Ma couldn’t help himself and rebuked with a dark face.

”I, Ma Kui, have studied Formations for a hundred years. How old are you? Even if you started learning Formation from when you were in your mother’s womb, could you compare to me?” Ma Kui glared at Jing Yan and exclaimed.

He was obviously somewhat angry.

The words that Jing Yan had just spoken made him think that Jing Yan was comparing himself to Ma Kui. Ma Kui, after all, was a top-tier Array Master in Lanqu County City, and here was a twenty-year-old martial artist daring to compare himself to Ma Kui?

Ridiculous!

Even the Prince treated him, Ma Kui, with courtesy. And this young boy dared to show off in front of him?

Hearing Ma Kui’s words, Jing Yan’s expression also turned cold.

Just now, he had felt that he should respect Ma Kui’s dignity—after all, Ma Kui was a person from the Prince Manor and a rare Array Master. Therefore, instead of directly expressing his doubts that Ma Kui might have misidentified the Formation, he had very tactfully expressed a wish to look at the Formation. Unexpectedly, Ma Kui had such an awful temper.

”Heh, I would not dare to compare myself with Mr. Ma. However, Mr. Ma might truly have misread the Formation.” Since the man was not giving him a friendly face, should Jing Yan still offer his kindness?

His tone also cooled down immediately.

”Mr. Ma, letting Jing Yan have a look won’t hurt; after all, we don’t care about a little bit of time,” Zhou Shang Yun said, seeing Jing Yan was insistent, his curiosity growing, he then said.

Ma Kui did not speak further, but he fiercely swept his sleeve, clearly very displeased. If not for Zhou Shang Yun being the Prince, he might have walked away directly.

Jing Yan no longer paid attention to Ma Kui and instead went straight to the edge of the Formation, examining it closely.

Although he was almost certain that the Formation was the Jiuhua Array, to be cautious, he still needed to examine it thoroughly. Otherwise, if he were wrong, it would be a laughingstock.

”This Jing Yan, how ignorant!”

”He thinks he can be compared to Array Master Ma Kui? How presumptuous!”

”I want to see what he can make out. Young people, always showing off. A bit of talent and they think they know everything. Such arrogance!”

Many people watched Jing Yan’s actions with mocking gazes.

Those elders who were not on good terms with Jing Yan, and who were envious of him, were already thinking about how they would mock Jing Yan when he couldn’t produce any reason shortly.

In the mansion, Wen Lan and others also had smirks on their faces.

While Ma Kui was identifying the Formation, people like Wen Lan were somewhat nervous. However, when Wen Lan heard Ma Kui say that the Formation was a three-rings Formation, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Others might not know, but as the Clan Leader of the Wen Family, he naturally knew what the family’s Guardian Array was.

Ma Kui had clearly misread it. If he tried to solve it as if it were a three-rings Formation, then Ma Kui could spend five months or five years, and he still wouldn’t find the Array Base. Now seeing Jing Yan also wanting to identify the Formation, Wen Lan couldn’t help but sneer scornfully.

”It is indeed the Jiuhua Array, not the three-rings Formation,” Jing Yan nodded slightly to himself.

Ma Kui had taken quite a while and ended up mistaking the Jiuhua Array for a three-rings Formation. Meanwhile, Jing Yan took only a few breaths to confirm that the Guardian Array in front of him was indeed the Jiuhua Array.

Observing Jing Yan withdrawing his Primordial Energy, Ma Kui’s sneer deepened.

”Given up already?”

”Jing Yan, didn’t you say you understood Formations as well? Why not continue looking?”

”Young people have no idea what modesty is, hmph!” Ma Kui reproached without mercy.

He saw Jing Yan pull back his Primordial Energy after only a few breaths and subconsciously assumed that Jing Yan had given up.

Indeed, who would think that Jing Yan needed only a few breaths to identify a Basic Guardian Array? Even an Intermediate Array Master would probably not be able to do this.

”Mr. Ma, why bother with a naive youth? To break this Formation, we still need Mr. Ma to exert his effort!” Lu Family Patriarch said with a smile to Ma Kui, his eyes sweeping over Jing Yan, the scorn in them unmistakable.

”Indeed. There’s no need to be serious with such an arrogant youngster. Mr. Ma, please proceed to find the Array Base,” Guan Yue also scoffed.

”Jing Yan, this Formation is not so simple to study. If you wish to learn about Array Dao, you must continue to work hard. Mr. Ma has achieved great heights in Array Dao, and if you are interested, you might as well seek advice from Mr. Ma. Mr. Ma is not someone who hoards knowledge; he will surely teach you all he can,” Yuan Family Patriarch said with seemingly sincere advice, but his words were clearly laced with mockery.

These elders seemed to think that ridiculing Jing Yan would make them feel good.

Jing Yan turned around, his gaze coldly sweeping over Mr. Ma and the others.

”Jing Yan, have you discerned something?” Although the Prince did not like those people making fun of Jing Yan, if Jing Yan couldn’t identify anything, he wouldn’t have much to say either.