Chapter 333: An Unexpected Twist
Chapter 333: An Unexpected Twist
Outside a gloomy and secluded lair of a second-grade demonic beast, Mo Hua sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, extending his spiritual sense to its limit to perceive the traces of spiritual energy within the lair.
After a while, Mo Hua opened his eyes and shook his head. "Nothing."
A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators huddled around Mo Hua and, according to the map, made their way to the next demonic beast lair.
After searching through several lairs in this manner, Zhang Lan could no longer contain his curiosity. He lowered his voice and quietly asked Commander Yang, "How can he tell?"
Zhang Lan had also come along. Although he was only a Qi Refining cultivator, he was, after all, a Dian Shi of the Dao Ting Si and came from a prestigious family. Even when facing a second-grade demonic beast, he had some means of self-preservation, so he joined the group.
"How else could he tell but by using his spiritual sense?" Commander Yang also whispered in reply.
"Don't state the obvious," Zhang Lan said irritably. "I'm asking how his spiritual sense can detect traces of an array."
"It just needs to be strong enough," came the reply.
"What do you mean by 'strong enough'?" Zhang Lan pressed further.
"Well, Foundation Establishment, I suppose... This kid's spiritual sense has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, hasn't it?" Commander Yang said.
"Can you detect it with your Foundation Establishment spiritual sense?" Zhang Lan asked skeptically.
"Of course..." Commander Yang's voice trailed off, his expression guilty.
Zhang Lan shot him a glance. "Lying will make you a lifelong bachelor."
Commander Yang was taken aback. "You're ruthless! How can you say such vicious things?"
"Can you really detect it?" Zhang Lan asked again.
Commander Yang hesitated for a long time, weighing his options. Finally, he decided that his lifelong happiness was more important than saving face in front of Zhang Lan.
"I can't detect anything..." he admitted.
Zhang Lan looked at him with contempt.
Commander Yang returned his gaze with disdain. "You can't detect it either."
"I'm at the Qi Refining stage, so it's normal for me not to sense it. But you're at the Foundation Establishment stage, so it's embarrassing if you can't!" Zhang Lan said righteously.
"What a shameless man you are, Zhang Lan, to be proud of being at the Qi Refining stage!" Commander Yang scoffed.
Zhang Lan was unfazed by the mockery. He maintained his composure and then asked, "If it's not because of his spiritual sense, then what else could it be?"
Commander Yang stroked his chin thoughtfully. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "Perhaps it's because Mo Hua is an array master?"
As an array master who constantly works with arrays and draws array patterns, it would be natural for his spiritual sense to detect traces of arrays.
Zhang Lan nodded slightly, finding this explanation somewhat reasonable.
"But..." Commander Yang furrowed his brow, voicing his own doubt. "Can other array masters truly sense it as well?"
This was a demonic beast lair, filled with demonic energy and a mixture of various blood energies and demonic powers that could conceal all traces of spiritual energy.
With his Foundation Establishment stage spiritual sense, Commander Yang himself couldn't discern anything within the lair.
Other array masters might be slightly stronger than him, but not by a significant margin.
However, Mo Hua was different. When it came to determining whether there was an array in the lair, his expression was one of absolute certainty.
This suggested that his spiritual sense had clearly observed the interior of the lair, and his perception of the array's presence was akin to seeing through a burning flame.
Zhang Lan frowned, still puzzled, and eventually gave up trying to understand. "He must have learned some strange things again..."
Zhang Lan had become accustomed to this.
Especially when it came to arrays, at first, he could still "advise" Mo Hua. But now, compared to Mo Hua, he considered himself illiterate in the field of arrays...
If he was illiterate, then Yang Jiyong was definitely a bigger illiterate.
It was truly presumptuous for these two "illiterate" men in the field of arrays to be considering such matters.
Zhang Lan once again mentally disparaged Yang Jiyong, feeling slightly better afterward.
After searching a few more lairs, they arrived at a secluded cave. Mo Hua released his spiritual sense and suddenly paused, his eyes widening in surprise.
The expressions of the group turned solemn. "What did you find?"
Mo Hua raised his head, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "There's an array!"
There really was one!
The group's faces lit up with joy, and they asked, "What kind of array is it?"
"Wait a moment," Mo Hua said as he began to extend his spiritual sense. Following the trail of spiritual energy, he calculated the array's pattern, stroke by stroke, in the blank space of his spiritual sea, sketching the complete array pattern to determine its type.
An hour later, Mo Hua opened his eyes and took out paper and brush, simply drawing the few passages within the cave and the arrays laid along the way.
"Time is running out, and I haven't finished calculating. There might be some loopholes in the array, but you can refer to this for now," Mo Hua said.
Elder Yu and the others didn't understand arrays at all, so they just listened and felt reassured that Mo Hua was indeed reliable, capable of solving any array-related problem.
Zhang Lan and Commander Yang exchanged glances, a hint of surprise in their eyes.
"Calculate"? They had never heard of this term in relation to arrays. Could arrays be "calculated"?
How was it calculated?
Both of them came from prestigious families, and even if they hadn't mastered arrays well, they had been exposed to their families' knowledge of arrays since childhood. Thus, they were familiar with some common knowledge about arrays.
However, from their youth until now, they had met countless array masters, from prestigious families, sects, and even reclusive experts.
Among all these array masters, regardless of their level of skill or specialization, none had ever mentioned the word "calculate."
Zhang Lan and the others maintained a calm facade, but their hearts were stirred like raging waves.
For the first time, they felt the profound depth of the person who had been guiding Mo Hua in array techniques.
At the same time, the young Mo Hua seemed a bit more enigmatic in their eyes...
Now was not the time for reflections, however.
Capturing the Qian Family's ancestor was the priority.
Zhou, the chief commander, pointed at the map Mo Hua had drawn. "These passages lead to the depths of the lair. The Qian Family's ancestor should be hiding inside..."
"Let's split up and search. If you encounter anything unusual, don't act rashly. Send a signal, and the rest of us will rush over to gather. Only then will we make our move together."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Before they set off, Elder Yu turned back and gently instructed Mo Hua, "Hide yourself well and be careful."
"Mm." Mo Hua nodded, his eyes falling on Elder Yu's arm. He asked with concern, "Elder, are you alright with your injury?"
Previously, Elder Yu had attempted to ambush the Qian Family's ancestor and had been injured in the process, losing an arm. Although Elder Feng had treated him, the wound still lingered, causing inconvenience in movement.
It wasn't just Elder Yu; during the previous attempt to besiege the Qian Family's ancestor, everyone had sustained some injuries.
With the current unknown strength of the Qian Family's ancestor, encountering him would likely result in a grim outcome.
Elder Yu smiled freely and said, "I've been opposing the Qian Family for so many years, and I never dreamed that I would be able to push the Qian Family's ancestor to such a desperate situation. As long as we can kill him, it will be worth it, even if I lose both arms or even this old life of mine."
Worry deepened in Mo Hua's eyes.
Elder Yu gently patted his shoulder and sighed, "Rest assured, I know my limits."
Mo Hua nodded, feeling somewhat apprehensive as he watched the group disappear into the darkness, heading deeper into the lair.
Even though they knew the path ahead was dangerous, they remained resolute.
"I hope nothing goes wrong..."
Mo Hua hid his figure and quietly hid to the side, letting out a sigh. He silently voiced his concerns.
At the same time, in the Sitting in Oblivion Residence in the southern mountains...
Zhuang Xian Sheng was not resting in his bamboo chair as usual. Instead, he sat upright and elegantly at the table, organizing some books and jade slips.
"Are these for Mo Hua?"
Gu La appeared silently, his voice wooden.
"Mhm." Zhuang Xian Sheng didn't even lift his head, his eyes still on the book in his hand, "I'm organizing some insights on array techniques for him. After I leave, he'll have to rely on himself to study arrays..."
There was a hint of melancholy in Zhuang Xian Sheng's tone, though it was unclear why.
"You've never been this attentive to your direct disciples," Gu La said nonchalantly.
Zhuang Xian Sheng paused slightly, memories of the past surfacing in his mind. A bitter smile touched his lips, "I've never been a qualified master..."
He then continued to mock himself, "Not only am I unworthy of being a teacher, I'm also unworthy of being a disciple. Otherwise, things wouldn't have ended up like that..."
Zhuang Xian Sheng didn't finish his sentence, but his expression grew even more desolate.
Gu La remained silent.
"Never mind, old stories are like passing clouds. Now that everything is gone, there's no use thinking about it."
Zhuang Xian Sheng put away the books and jade slips into a storage bag and then lay back down leisurely.
"What about the Bai Family's two children?" Gu La asked.
Zhuang Xian Sheng pondered for a moment and sighed, "Those two... they're both good children, indeed."
After speaking, he added with some surprise, "I never expected that my selfish junior sister would raise such a fine pair of children."
"You really won't take them as your disciples?" Gu La asked.
"No!" Zhuang Xian Sheng shook his head decisively, "I don't have long to live anyway. Before I enter the earth, I naturally want some peace and quiet, less karma, and fewer worries."
"They might not give up."
"And if they don't?" Zhuang Xian Sheng's expression was neutral as his gaze drifted beyond the courtyard, over the layered peaks, toward the distant horizon. He spoke nonchalantly.
"The sky is high and the water is wide. If we want to meet again, it won't be that easy. It's not always possible to have such fate..."
Nor is it always possible to have a little disciple named "Mo Hua"...
Zhuang Xian Sheng added silently in his heart.
Seeing that Zhuang Xian Sheng had made up his mind, Gu La didn't say anything more.
In the ensuing silence, Zhuang Xian Sheng slowly closed his eyes, intending to rest for a while.
Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched, and he opened his eyes again, looking up at the sky. He stared for a long time.
"What's wrong?" Gu La asked.
Zhuang Xian Sheng's eyebrows furrowed, and he said solemnly, "Why is the aura of the Great Dao so turbid?"
Gu La was slightly startled and followed his gaze to the horizon, his expression changing as well.
"This is..."
Zhuang Xian Sheng slowly stood up, his fingers pinching his thumb as he calculated something in his mind. Gradually, a look of disbelief appeared on his face.
"A change in the Heavenly Dao?"
Zhuang Xian Sheng's heart trembled, and he calculated again with his fingers, his expression becoming even more astonished.
"How is this possible..." Zhuang Xian Sheng muttered, his eyes unfocused, "This is just a small immortal city in the corner of the Nine Provinces. How could there be a change in the Heavenly Dao?"
(End of Chapter)
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