Chapter 285: Visualization Diagram
Chapter 285: Visualization Diagram
Mo Hua's thoughts raced as he pondered:
"This third master has a strong divine sense and has cultivated his array skills to such a high level. Could it be that he also relies on visualization diagrams?"
"If I had a visualization diagram, could I also enhance my divine sense?"
Mo Hua had learned the Tian Yan formula, but he needed to first attain the mental fortitude of a foundation establishment cultivator before he could break through to that realm.
With the help of the Dao Stele, his daily practice with arrays, and the tempering of his sea of consciousness, his divine sense had already been growing rapidly.
However, it was still far from sufficient.
The gap between the divine sense of an Qi Refining and a Foundation Establishment cultivator was enormous, and it only became more challenging as one progressed. The growth of his divine sense was slowing down.
Mo Hua didn't know how much longer it would take for him to attain the level of divine sense required for foundation establishment.
He had asked Master Zhuang about it.
Master Zhuang hadn't given him a clear answer, but from his expression, Mo Hua could tell that the outlook wasn't very optimistic.
If studying the visualization diagram could enhance his divine sense, could he speed up his progress towards foundation establishment? The thought excited Mo Hua.
If he could achieve foundation establishment sooner, he would be able to learn second-grade arrays earlier and become a second-grade array master.
The cultivation and abilities of a foundation establishment cultivator and a second-grade array master were far beyond what a Qi Refining cultivator and a first-grade array master could compare to.
Mo Hua indulged in this fantasy for a moment before feeling dejected again.
The visualization diagram was in the hands of the third master, a foundation establishment evil cultivator, and an evil array master. Mo Hua had no way to forcefully take it from him.
His scheming would be useless in this situation.
He could still plot against a Qi Refining cultivator.
But in front of a foundation establishment cultivator, his schemes would amount to nothing more than petty tricks.
Cultivation was the foundation of a cultivator, and the gap between realms rendered minor schemes useless.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, unsure of what to do.
Then he realized that the biggest problem before him wasn't whether he could obtain the visualization diagram, but whether he could get out of this place safely.
If the third master hadn't left, or if he had closed the door when he departed, Mo Hua would have been trapped in this Elixir Chamber forever.
Mo Hua hadn't studied evil arrays, so he didn't know if he could break free.
If he couldn't, he would likely be stuck here forever, kept company by the white skeletal pill furnace and the foolish demon pig.
Mo Hua thought about it for a long time but still couldn't come up with a solution.
Since there was no way out, he could only wait patiently.
Patience in waiting for opportunities was also a necessary quality for a demon hunter.
Mo Hua was not only a demon hunter but also an array master.
He could spend an entire day drawing an array with patience, so waiting patiently for a chance to escape was not a problem for him.
Mo Hua lay on the rafter, motionless, waiting quietly.
After an unknown amount of time, someone approached the door again.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat. "Could it be that the fourth master has returned...?"
If that were the case, things would become troublesome.
The third master had a profound divine sense, and the fourth master had keen perception. If they were together, the risk of his stealth technique being seen through would be much higher.
Mo Hua watched intently.
Soon, a figure appeared at the door—it was the old evil cultivator who had been standing guard, not the fourth master.
Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
The old evil cultivator stood respectfully at the door for a while.
The third master noticed and carefully put away the visualization diagram before saying, "Come in."
The old evil cultivator entered and walked up to the third master, speaking softly.
Mo Hua couldn't hear clearly, but he caught a few vague sentences about "There's movement from the demon hunter..." "...Something happened in the inner mountain..." "...Afraid the fourth master will cause trouble..."
Mo Hua was both surprised and puzzled. "What could have happened in the inner mountain?"
After the old evil cultivator finished speaking, the third master frowned and said, "Understood. I'll go take a look."
The old evil cultivator bowed and respectfully retreated.
The third master sat cross-legged in his original spot and pondered briefly before also getting up to leave.
However, when he was halfway there, he turned back. He paced in the pill room for a bit, seeming to feel that something was amiss. He then took out the visualization diagram again from his storage bag and carefully hid it.
The third master lifted the cushion he had been sitting on for meditation, and with a tap of his finger on the ground, the array patterns on the floor flashed, and the stone slab sank, revealing a hidden compartment underneath.
After placing the visualization diagram inside, he once again sealed it with an array formula and nodded in satisfaction, feeling assured.
He was going out tonight, and if something were to happen, there might be a conflict.
If he were careless and lost the visualization diagram, it would be like ripping out his heart and liver—even more painful than killing him.
This Elixir Chamber was located deep within Black Mountain Fortress, and no one dared to come here usually.
Even if someone did come, they wouldn't know about the hidden compartment under the cushion, let alone that the compartment contained a visualization diagram.
And it was even more impossible for anyone within Black Mountain Fortress to break this array formula.
The third master considered everything and finally felt completely relieved.
He left the pill room, exited the door, and sealed the blood array and the beast door.
With a harsh, grating sound, the bronze beast door closed tightly.
The pill room fell into dead silence, and the blood-red color became even more pronounced.
The third master left with ease, unaware that everything he had done had been witnessed by Mo Hua, who was hiding on the rafter.
Mo Hua waited for a while to make sure that no one was left in the pill room and that the third master had indeed left. Only then did he carefully climb down from the rafter.
Mo Hua first approached the bronze beast door.
The door had been sealed, and the array formula had been activated.
Without the key—the white skull—Mo Hua had no way to open it.
Even if he had the key, he couldn't open it from the inside.
Mo Hua examined the array formula with his divine sense and sighed.
The door was covered in evil arrays that he didn't understand at all, let alone know how to dismantle.
Since he couldn't leave, he might as well take a look at the diagram that the third master had been contemplating.
Mo Hua shook off his lethargy and quickly returned to the elixir chamber.
Inside, the white skeletal pill furnace emitted an eerie glow, and the massive demon pig lay there, its body covered in bloody wounds.
Mo Hua went to the spot where the third master had been sitting and lifted the meditation cushion.
There was nothing underneath.
However, when Mo Hua observed with his divine sense, he could make out the intricate patterns of intersecting arrays.
While an ordinary cultivator might have been fooled, another array master like Mo Hua could easily see through the deception.
Unless, of course, there was a significant disparity in their array mastery.
Although the third master was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was also a first-grade array master, just like Mo Hua.
In terms of array mastery, they were evenly matched, with the third master excelling in some areas and falling short in others compared to Mo Hua.
Mo Hua examined the array the third master had used to seal the hidden compartment.
It was a combination of a concealment array and several reinforcing arrays.
The concealment array served to hide the compartment, while the reinforcing arrays bolstered its defenses.
"At least it's not a malevolent array," Mo Hua murmured to himself.
The third master probably felt that a malevolent array would be too conspicuous and unsuitable for concealment, so he opted for a combination of concealment and reinforcing arrays to hide and seal the compartment.
After all, first-grade array masters capable of crafting concealment and reinforcing arrays were rare in the vicinity of Tongxian City.
And finding someone who could unravel such arrays was even rarer.
But Mo Hua was an exception.
While he had no means of countering malevolent arrays, he could easily dismantle regular arrays, especially first-grade elemental arrays, without breaking a sweat.
Mo Hua quickly dismantled the third master's meticulously arranged arrays, even preserving the integrity of the original arrays, leaving the hidden compartment completely undamaged.
Mo Hua nodded to himself, marveling at the effectiveness of the array-breaking techniques Master Zhuang had taught him.
Without those skills, infiltrating Black Mountain Fortress would have been much more challenging.
After disabling the arrays, Mo Hua opened the hidden compartment and carefully retrieved the visualization diagram within.
The diagram was slightly worn, its material resembling a blend of paper and leather. It was folded together, concealing its contents.
Mo Hua intended to unfold it for a quick glance, but he suddenly hesitated.
He recalled Master Zhuang's words: "Visualization diagrams are extremely rare, and they often contain hidden dangers. Unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to tamper with them..."
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat as he remembered the warning.
If he were to heed Master Zhuang's advice, opening this visualization diagram might lead to unforeseen dangers.
Master Zhuang's words had always been etched in his memory.
Since Master Zhuang mentioned hidden dangers within the diagram, Mo Hua knew it was best not to tamper with it until he fully understood its nature.
But now that he had obtained the diagram, could he really give it back?
Mo Hua hesitated.
If he left the diagram in the third master's possession, the man would continue to enhance his divine sense, learn more malevolent arrays, and commit even more heinous acts.
Even if Mo Hua didn't keep the diagram, he couldn't let it fall back into the third master's hands.
"What should I do now?"
After some thought, Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
Since the diagram held hidden dangers, he decided not to view it immediately. Instead, he would keep it with him and consult Master Zhuang upon his return.
With Master Zhuang's vast knowledge and experience, he could determine if the diagram was safe to study. If not, Mo Hua would simply toss it into the refining furnace and be done with it.
Mo Hua nodded, feeling that this was the most prudent course of action. He proceeded to store the visualization diagram in his storage bag.
However, as he unfolded the diagram, his peripheral vision inadvertently caught a glimpse of one corner.
It depicted a moss-covered boulder.
Mo Hua was slightly puzzled by the sight.
Before he knew it, he found himself slowly and carefully unfolding the rest of the diagram.
By the time Mo Hua realized what he was doing, he was shocked to his core.
"What am I doing?!"
Mo Hua broke out in a cold sweat.
He hadn't intended to do anything, yet it was as if some unseen force was compelling him to open the visualization diagram.
Steeling himself, Mo Hua tried to refold the diagram, but it was too late.
The diagram had already been fully unfolded.
A complete visualization diagram lay before his eyes, every detail vividly presented.
Mo Hua could now see what the diagram depicted.
It was a landscape with mountains and water.
In the distance were lush green mountains, while a flowing stream ran nearby, its waters caressing the moss that clung to the rocky cliffs.
On one of the cliffs sat a small Taoist disciple, seemingly reciting scriptures.
The scene exuded a serene and ethereal aura, reminiscent of the immortal realms.
Mo Hua was taken aback.
So this was a visualization diagram?
As he pondered the meaning of the diagram, he suddenly noticed that the little Taoist disciple seemed to come to life, turning to smile at him.
The smile was innocent and carefree.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat, and he found himself smiling back involuntarily.
His smile was equally pure and clear, bearing a striking resemblance to that of the little disciple.
However, his smile gradually faded as a chill ran down his spine.
He realized that the disciple's innocent smile had subtly taken on a sinister edge.
The sinister aura grew stronger, and the disciple's smile became increasingly eerie and sinister.
Suddenly, the disciple's skin peeled away like paper, revealing a small, blue-faced demon beneath.
The demon's eyes, like bronze bells, fixed upon Mo Hua with an avaricious gleam, as if it had just discovered a priceless treasure.
Taking advantage of Mo Hua's momentary daze, the demon leaped from the diagram, shrinking to the size of a palm. It pounced toward Mo Hua's glabella, its hands like sharp claws, tearing through his consciousness barrier and burrowing into his sea of consciousness.
(End of Chapter)
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