The Urban Dao Child

Yang Dao spent a few hours sitting on the boulder and pondering over the content recorded inside the array compendium. The content was simple yet today only did he realize the significance of this theory. 

Everything in existence can communicate with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. An array is formed by manipulating this spiritual energy. To manipulate this energy one must first attract the energy by combining one or more of such materials. The materials needed to make an array start and work could range from Metal Ores, beast cores, beast blood, plants, spirit stones, and rare natural treasures. 

Yang Dao pondered over the content for a few minutes and then he continued reading. 

An array is a mix of one or more spirit symbols. These symbols are all made by combining the materials or directly harnessing the spirit essence inside the body and having it materialize in the void to resonate with the spiritual energy. 

The boy stopped once again and pondered. His existence on the boulder was noticed by a few passing disciples and quickly it spread through the place like fire through the dry woods. Yang Dao was unbothered by this all and did not stop reading. He quickly finished the introduction and reached the part where the symbols were mentioned. 

Yang Dao memorized the symbols and a couple of hours have passed since he had begun. He would raise his hand and move it with his eyes closed, the strokes he made in the air seemed funny to some people but just before the ignorant disciples could say anything to mock the actions, an elder gasped and said, "Young Master sure is a heavenly genius. He is practicing the symbols by tracing them in the void. The heavens have blessed our sect by sending over this gem." 

The elders were all very fond of this cute doll-like child. His talents would always leave them awestruck. The people kept observing him and finally after a total of three hours Yang Dao closed the book. He opened his eyes, jumped down the boulder and walked up to the elder standing closest to his position, and bowed gently. 

He asked, "Elder, the compendium mentioned that one can condense the symbols by using their spiritual essence, but after some trial and error I found that this condensation requires a special technique or the spiritual essence scatters to the void. Can you please tell me if my comprehension is correct?" 

The elder was surprised by th polite attitude, but he was shocked to his core to see that a young child could comprehend the knowledge inside the book to such a depth. The elder regained his composure and said, "You are correct Young Master. The condensation of the array symbols is similar to the pill condensation in alchemy, it does require a special technique." 

Yang Dao tilted his head and asked, "What does one have to do in order to get this technique?" 

The elder smiled and said, "Reach the nascent soul realm. Only when the soul sea is unlocked, can a cultivator use the soul force to keep the condensed spirit energy in one place." 

Yang Dao clicked his tongue and mumbled, "It may take two years to reach that level. Hmmm, time to research about this." he bowed to the elders and left the place with a book of array compendium in his hands. 

...

Yang Dao sat in front of Sun Eckhart with his legs crossed. The young child said, "Master, can only by stepping in nascent soul realm a person keep a grasp of the spiritual energy?" 

Sun Eckhart shook his head and said, "That is the conventional method. The people follow conventional methods because they are easy to tread with. There have been cases through the times, where a person can awaken their soul sea before reaching the nascent soul realm. It could be a life and death situation or it could be a lucky encounter. Know that it is not impossible. However, I do not suggest you use any external help because nothing is for free. You know." 

Yang Dao nodded and went back to meditate. He was not cultivating his spiritual realms, Sun Eckhart has just told him to take it easy and work on his temperament as well. Yang Dao was too unpredictable at times, he needed to control his impulsive behavior to excel. Strength was not the only aspect one should look at. 

The Dao Child sat in meditation for a few hours before he came back to the cloud palace, Alisha had broken through when he was gone and had consolidated her realm as well. The girl came to welcome him at the gates of the palace and then the two chatted about the things happening inside the sect in his absence. 

Turns out that Yue Ming has called all his network back. Usually, people will be relieved if they found that their opponent has retreated, but Yang Dao became anxious. He said, "These pair of snakes returned to the shadows. Tch, what a pain. Senior Sister, can you call over Athena, Yue Jing, Trent, Daniel, and Daina?" 

Alisha nodded and said, "Very well, I shall call them over. Also, sister Shakti also visited yesterday, she wanted to spar with you." 

Yang Dao thought for a bit and said, "Call her and Senior brother Amil as well. Might as well, ask them." 

Alisha bowed her head and then left the palace. The boy sat on a rocking chair with his fingers tapping on the armrest. The boy stopped pondering over Yue Ming and his father but focused on solving the Array Formation problem. 

Suddenly, he recalled something vital and a smile crept up his lips. The boy stood up and mumbled, "What a doofus I am." 

He rushed to the backyard and took out a spirit stone from his space ring, then he waved his hands slowly while channeling the spirit essence inside his body. The spirit energy began to condense but it did not scatter like earlier but stayed in place, slowly the boy was able to condense a symbol. The wind began to move faster, this symbol was a wind summoning symbol. 

The reason Yang Dao could make this happen was, he was using the elemental source energy and transmitting it directly outside with the body mixing it with the spiritual essence. His logic was simple if they both were energies and they can both be transmitting outside, then when can the source energy not be used to contain the spiritual essence. 

They were different, while spiritual essence had no attributes, and was neutral. Elemental source energies were biased to the nature of their corresponding elements.. Yang Dao created an array symbol, and he made an elemental one at that.