Chapter Eighty-Eight: A Clue

The clan chief had already guessed that Li Sibo wanted to put the array to the test, so he had sent men ahead to make preparations.

By now the hour was about right, and he led Li Sibo out of the small chamber. As they went, the two continued their conversation, and before long they arrived at a simple, timeworn courtyard.

At a glance, Li Sibo saw that this was none other than the courtyard of the elder named Yuan.

Once inside, he found that the four elders, Yuan, Zhao, Chen, and Ma, were already waiting. When they saw Li Sibo arrive, they all rose to greet him. Even Elder Ma and Elder Zhao, who had once doubted his identity, were now warmly cordial, as though the earlier matter had nothing to do with them at all.

Li Sibo understood in his heart that the clan chief must have informed them that he would use the Spirit Guiding Array to test the nature of his true energy. They likely already knew that he had broken through to the Qin Heart Realm, and thus his ability to help them had grown considerably. That was why their attitude toward him had improved.

Still, this was only human nature. When you are strong, others respect you; when you are weak, others doubt you. So long as there was no malice behind it, Li Sibo could accept it.

After the greetings, Elder Yuan led everyone to another quiet courtyard, where the tools needed for the Spirit Guiding Array had already been prepared. The clan chief stepped forward and directed several young clansmen as they planted the array flags and drew the formation pattern.

Only then did Li Sibo learn that among them, only the clan chief was truly proficient in this Spirit Guiding Array. It had been devised years ago by the clan chief's father, specifically to solve a problem of his own. Li Sibo felt a silent admiration; in such an isolated place, possessing such talent was no small feat.

Many hands made quick work of it. Before long, the Spirit Guiding Array was set. The formation was arranged in a symmetrical five-cornered pattern, with an open space reserved at the center for the person being tested; that was also the location of the array gate. On the way over, the clan chief had already explained how to activate this special formation, and Li Sibo was now eager to try it.

The clan chief turned and smiled at him. "Young Master Li, the array is ready. Shall we begin?"

Li Sibo returned the courtesy with a smile. "I will be troubling you all."

With that, he stepped into the array gate, and the elders took their positions as well.

By then, Li Sibo could see that the Spirit Guiding Array had been arranged according to the principles of the five elements.

"If Young Master Li wishes to stop, the five people at the corners need only withdraw their true energy at the same time. That way, none of us will be harmed.

"Ah, and let me briefly explain the true energy attributes of our elders. Elder Yuan is of earth, Elder Zhao of fire, Elder Chen of water, Elder Ma of wood, and I myself am of metal," the clan chief added at last.

Li Sibo listened carefully and nodded to the clan chief. Seeing that everyone was ready, he sent his true energy into the array gate and activated the entire Spirit Guiding Array.

The formation sprang to life. The five assistants at the corners simultaneously poured their true energy into the array, and five streams of different colors flowed along the drawn pattern toward the array eye where Li Sibo stood, quickly merging with his own white true energy.

True energy carried different attributes, and each attribute had its own color.

For example, fire was red, water blue, metal yellow, and so on. Yet these colors would only gradually become visible after one cultivated the corresponding techniques.

Nor did they appear at once; as cultivation and techniques grew stronger, the colors deepened little by little.

At this moment, the five different colored streams surrounded Li Sibo's white true energy. If his attribute matched any one of them, his true energy would merge with that current, and the energy at the array gate would then take on that color. True energy of different attributes could not be fused.

Everyone stared wide-eyed at the array gate in the center, guessing what attribute Li Sibo's true energy might have.

It surely was not metal or wood; those two attributes had become rare indeed. Then would one of the remaining three appear? Or was Li Sibo's true energy not among the initial five elements at all, but some other special attribute?

Yet after three full minutes, there was still no change at all.

Li Sibo looked at everyone a little awkwardly. "Perhaps we should just call it there."

The clan chief also saw the problem. Under normal circumstances, a change should have appeared very quickly. Since three minutes had passed with none at all, it could only mean that Li Sibo's true energy did not belong to the five initial attributes.

With a wave of his hand, the several people simultaneously withdrew their true energy, displaying admirable control.

Li Sibo smiled sheepishly. "I've truly troubled everyone."

The clan chief also felt a bit embarrassed. After all, they had hoped to see what attribute Li Sibo possessed, yet in the end they had not been able to determine it.

"Young Master Li, no need for such words. Your true energy does not lie among the five initial attributes. Perhaps it is wind or thunder, or some other rare attribute. I was unable to test it out, so I hope you will not mind."

"Not at all. Clan Chief and all the elders have already greatly helped me," Li Sibo said. He had always believed in this: if others do for me, I do for others.

Just then, a clansman came over and said to the clan chief, "Reporting to the clan chief: Senior Brother Le Chen has made some discoveries in the bamboo grove. He has specially sent me back to report and requests that the clan chief and Young Master Li go there together to make a decision."

"Really? Have you found news of Cai Yao? Then let us hurry over!" The moment Li Sibo heard of a new lead, he could not wait to rush there at once, truly fearing that the longer time passed, the greater the uncertainty would become.

But after forcing himself to think it over carefully, he told himself to remain calm. He supposed he had simply spent too little time out in the world; it was easy to lose one's composure.

What use was haste at a time like this? It would only cloud his judgment. Yes, he needed to stay calm.

The clan chief saw every change in Li Sibo.

He understood his state all too well.

After all, they had fought, then he had advanced in cultivation, and then the Spirit Guiding Array had been used to test his nature. By now, two or three hours had passed since Le Chen set out to search for Cai Yao, and dusk was already near. It was natural that Li Sibo would be anxious now that there was news. Yet seeing how he had regulated himself and regained his calm only made the clan chief more certain that he had not misjudged him.

At once, he ordered the clansman who had brought the message to lead the way, and together with the four great elders, they set off toward the bamboo grove where Le Chen was.

Everyone walked swiftly along the road, each lost in their own thoughts, and before long they reached Le Chen's location.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Le Chen quickly cupped his fists and said, "Clan Chief, Young Master Li, honored elders, Le Chen was ordered to search for Young Master Li's friend. I searched the area all around the village but found nothing. When I came here, I saw signs of a struggle on the ground, and the marks led directly into the bamboo grove. I did not dare enter on my own, so I had no choice but to ask you all to come and see what should be done."

The clan chief asked, "Anything else?"

Le Chen shook his head. "Aside from this, I have no further clues for now."

Hearing this, Li Sibo hurried forward. He wanted to examine the traces himself and uncover the clue.