Chapter 403: The Unbeatable Array (Only One Part Today)
Chapter 403: The Unbeatable Array (Only One Part Today)
Mo Hua had already turned fourteen.
In the world of cultivators, even an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator could expect a lifespan of around a hundred to two hundred years.
Thus, a cultivator in their teens was not considered particularly young.
Bai Zisheng told Mo Hua that in some large aristocratic families, cultivators below the age of eighteen were still considered children.
Since cultivators from aristocratic families tended to have higher cultivation levels and longer lifespans, a decade or so of age difference was not significant.
However, in Tongxian City and other lower-tier immortal cities, most rogue cultivators might never progress beyond the Qi Refining realm in their entire lives.
Hence, anyone above the age of fifteen was considered a young adolescent.
If one lacked connections and their cultivation couldn't progress, they would have to learn a trade to support themselves.
This was the case for Dahuhu, Dazhu, and their friends.
They learned demon hunting, while Dazhu learned artifact refining, to earn a living.
At the age of fourteen, Mo Hua, already a first-grade array master, was capable of supporting himself. However, he still looked rather small in stature.
Firstly, he had a frail constitution since birth, which caused him to grow slower than his peers, making him shorter than most children his age.
Secondly, he had not undergone body refinement cultivation, which made him appear even more slender and delicate.
In contrast, Dahuhu and Dazhu, with their naturally large builds, grew taller through body refinement cultivation. Despite only being three or four years older than Mo Hua, they were noticeably taller than him.
Mo Hua sighed inwardly.
He, too, wished he could be tall and robust.
Unfortunately, he spent his days drawing arrays, an endeavor that was both mentally and physically taxing. Despite eating a lot, he barely grew any taller...
At fourteen, he was only slightly taller than he had been at thirteen.
His junior martial brother, Bai Zisheng, was a full head taller than him, and his junior martial sister, Bai Zixi, with her slender figure, was still half a head taller.
Moreover, with his delicate features, fair skin, and porcelain-doll-like appearance, Mo Hua looked even younger than he actually was.
"When will I ever grow taller?" Mo Hua wondered glumly.
He glanced at Bai Zisheng, sitting to his left, and then at Bai Zixi, on his right, thinking to himself, "At the very least, I should be taller than my junior martial sister..."
Bai Zixi gave him a quizzical look. "What are you thinking about?"
Mo Hua shook his head. "Nothing!"
...
Aside from his physical growth, Mo Hua's cultivation base had also reached the eighth layer of Qi Refining.
He was now one step closer to the Foundation Establishment realm.
The advancement in his cultivation base had made his physical body slightly stronger.
However, since he was not a body cultivator, this improvement was negligible.
His spiritual power had also increased, but due to his mediocre spiritual root, the amount of spiritual power he cultivated was average at best.
While his spiritual power was comparable to that of most cultivators, he knew that he would likely lag far behind the disciples from aristocratic families and sects, like his junior martial siblings.
He recalled Master Zhuang mentioning that the aristocratic families and great sects practiced the art of spiritual root heredity, arranging marriages between generations to produce offspring with exceptional spiritual roots.
It was common for disciples from these families and sects to possess high-grade spiritual roots.
Mo Hua's spiritual root, a middling one that tended towards the lower end, was truly nothing to boast about.
However, it didn't matter much, as he didn't rely on his spiritual root for his livelihood.
Mo Hua was an array master, and arrays were his path to success.
Master Zhuang had also guided him towards the path of "spiritual sense enlightenment."
Moreover, one's spiritual root was innate and couldn't be changed, so there was no point in dwelling on it.
Upon reaching the eighth layer of Qi Refining, Mo Hua's spells had also become more powerful.
Firstly, his Invisibility Technique had improved to the point where it was almost impossible for a cultivator at the early Foundation Establishment realm to detect him.
The Water Prison Technique had also become more effective.
His casting speed had increased, making it easier to trap his targets, and the duration of the binding had been extended by one breath.
Although it was just one breath, it could mean the difference between life and death in a crucial moment during a battle.
His Fireball Technique had also become more potent.
Mo Hua had tested it several times.
The fireball was now a deeper red, with a hint of vibrant crimson, and the surging spiritual power within it appeared more intense.
It was understated yet dazzling, and within its brilliance, there was a hint of danger.
Mo Hua couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he continued to cultivate this Fireball Technique to its peak. How powerful would it become?
Mo Hua tried to imagine it, but he couldn't.
He had no idea what spells at the Foundation Establishment realm and beyond would be like.
Perhaps he could ask Old Gui about it when he had the chance.
Old Gui would surely know.
After all, it was Old Gui who had taught him the Fireball Technique and the techniques for manipulating spiritual power.
Next was his spiritual sense.
The twelve-pattern Foundation Establishment spiritual sense was indeed much stronger than before.
His spiritual sense was sharper, his calculations faster, and his perception of the surrounding spiritual power and auras clearer.
Previously, even with his proficiency, the Thick Earth Array with eleven patterns had been a bit taxing.
Now, with his twelve-pattern spiritual sense, he could set up the Thick Earth Array with ease.
Now that he had a twelve-pattern Foundation Establishment spiritual sense...
Mo Hua thought for a moment before heading out to find Master Zhuang.
"Master, can you teach me the method of eradicating divine thoughts?" he asked.
He remembered Master Zhuang mentioning that he would teach him how to deal with spiritual sense parasitism once his spiritual sense became stronger.
This referred to the methods one could use to counter or even eradicate invading divine thoughts, divine senses, or evil thoughts from others or non-humans.
Now that his spiritual sense had reached twelve patterns, it should be considered strong.
"Haste makes waste," Master Zhuang replied gently.
"Mmhmm," Mo Hua nodded in agreement.
After a moment, he asked, "Master, now that I've reached twelve patterns, am I ready to move on from the Thick Earth Array with eleven patterns? Should I start looking for a twelve-pattern unbeatable array?"
Master Zhuang nodded slightly. "With your current spiritual sense, drawing ordinary arrays will no longer provide any benefit to your training..."
Reaching the eighth layer of Qi Refining and attaining a twelve-pattern Foundation Establishment spiritual sense—both were far beyond what was expected at this stage.
It wasn't something that could be easily achieved through conventional means. Moreover, in the cultivation world, there were no cultivation techniques specifically for enhancing one's spiritual sense.
Spiritual sense was abstruse and elusive, intangible and ever-changing, and it manifested differently in each cultivator, varying greatly from person to person.
Enhancing one's spiritual sense was already an extremely challenging endeavor.
Using visualization charts was a clever shortcut, akin to borrowing someone else's spiritual sense, but it was also somewhat risky, so it was best avoided.
Mo Hua nodded, then brought up another question that had been on his mind: "Master, would it be easier for high-grade array masters to learn these low-grade unbeatable arrays?"
He had always been curious about this.
Unbeatable arrays required a high threshold of spiritual sense, but this threshold was relative to one's cultivation level and realm.
If a high-grade array master possessed a strong spiritual sense, learning a lower-grade unbeatable array should be much simpler.
However, why was it that, according to Master Zhuang, even among first-grade array masters, there were very few who knew how to deploy unbeatable arrays?
Master Zhuang explained, "It would be a bit easier, but not by much."
Mo Hua asked, perplexed, "Why is that?"
High-grade array masters should have exceptionally strong spiritual senses...
"Spiritual sense is the foundation of an array master, their very essence," Master Zhuang said slowly. "But that doesn't mean that just because one has a strong spiritual sense, they can automatically become an array master or easily learn array formations."
"Having a strong spiritual sense merely gives you the qualification to start learning arrays. To truly master arrays, you still need to study, think, practice, and gain insights," he continued.
"This requires perseverance and a significant investment of time, energy, and mental focus."
"Not all cultivators are willing to do this or even capable of doing so."
"Even sticking to a simple task can be challenging for most."
"And when it comes to something as complex and profound as array formations, even many high-grade array masters struggle to maintain their dedication."
"This is especially true for unbeatable arrays, which have unique brushstroke techniques that are difficult to learn and replicate."
"Many array masters may have sufficient spiritual sense, but they may not be willing to put in the practice, and as a result, they never truly master these arrays."
Master Zhuang sighed softly. "This is the first point: even with a strong spiritual sense, if you don't practice, you won't be able to learn."
"It's like having talent but refusing to put in the effort. In the end, your talent goes to waste, and you accomplish nothing."
Master Zhuang paused for a moment before continuing, "The second point is that even if you do practice, you still might not be able to learn it."
"The path of arrays is built upon a foundation of spiritual sense. With a strong spiritual sense, you can practice, and with enough practice, you can gain insights."
"For ordinary arrays, diligent practice is enough to master the array patterns, and there isn't much need for profound insights."
"But unbeatable arrays are different. Any unbeatable array surpasses its designated grade, and as such, it will always have something unique about it and will always embody a special principle of array formations..."
Master Zhuang looked at Mo Hua and said gently, "You should have some understanding of this by now."
Mo Hua nodded.
The two unbeatable arrays he had learned were the Reverse Spirit Array and the Thick Earth Array.
The Reverse Spirit Array was a first-grade array with ten patterns. It harnessed the power of spirit force dissolution and required the use of spiritual sense calculations to be effective.
The Thick Earth Array, on the other hand, was also a first-grade array but with eleven patterns. It contained the power of spirit force derivation, and to truly master it, one needed to comprehend the earth's dao essence.
Both of these unbeatable arrays required more than just memorizing the array patterns. They demanded a deeper understanding of spirit force, a more refined application of spiritual sense, and a clearer perception of dao essence.
Without Master Zhuang's guidance or the assistance of his Dao Stele, it was unlikely that Mo Hua would have been able to learn and effectively utilize these arrays.
Master Zhuang continued, "So, many high-grade array masters, despite having strong spiritual senses and ample practice, often lack that tiny bit of insight, and as a result, they fail to grasp the essence of unbeatable arrays and never truly learn them."
"This bit of insight is like the finishing touch, the stroke that brings the whole painting to life."
"Without that bit of enlightenment, the array is but an empty shell, lacking the spirit that gives it true power."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up as he understood, "So, just like with the Thick Earth Array, if I couldn't perceive the dao essence and just kept drawing it over and over, no matter how many times I practiced, it would be useless."
Master Zhuang nodded, "Indeed."
Mo Hua still had a lingering doubt, "But at such high cultivation levels and as high-grade array masters, is it possible that they wouldn't be able to gain that insight?"
"There is a connection between the two, but they are actually separate matters," Master Zhuang explained. "Some cultivators may have profound cultivation levels, but they only possess a shallow understanding of spirit force and the grand dao."
"They can use their spirit force to create devastating spells that lay waste to their enemies, but if you ask them to perceive the subtle changes in spirit force and deploy a first-grade unbeatable array, it would be a challenge for them."
"Cultivators absorb spiritual qi, accumulate spirit force, and wield the power of the dao, thus gaining external strength."
"For most cultivators, this is sufficient."
"But for array masters, it's not enough to just control external power. They must also understand the internal principles. Simply knowing how to use spirit force for combat is far from enough."
Seeing that Mo Hua had grasped the concept, Master Zhuang felt a slight relief and continued, "These are issues pertaining to the comprehension of formations. Unbeatable arrays contain unique formation principles, and even high-grade formation masters may not necessarily be able to learn low-grade unbeatable arrays."
"Are there any other reasons?" Mo Hua asked, his curiosity piqued.
Master Zhuang nodded, "The other reasons are a bit more complicated..."
He sighed softly, "Firstly, there's the issue of time."
"Unbeatable arrays require time to be comprehended, and a formation master's time is extremely valuable."
"If you spend all your time trying to understand a low-grade unbeatable array, when will you have time to study higher-grade formations?"
"The path of formations is vast and profound, and no formation master can afford to be complacent. Only when you have truly mastered the formations of your current level should you move on to other things."
"If there is such a formation master who tries to learn everything, he is definitely incompetent."
"Because the more ignorant one is, the more they think they know everything. The more you know, the more you realize how little you actually understand."
"The same is true for formations."
"The more accomplished a formation master is, the more they understand the profundity of formations and the infinite nature of the Grand Dao."
"Higher-grade formations are difficult, and naturally, higher-grade unbeatable arrays are even more challenging. But even low-grade unbeatable arrays are not simple..."
"They simply don't have the time to spare."
Mo Hua nodded involuntarily, his eyes sparkling with understanding.
Suddenly, he thought of something. He had a lot of time on his hands.
After all, he practiced formations on the Dao Stele at night, which meant he didn't need to sleep.
In a sense, he had twice as much time as other formation masters.
Moreover, the divine sense within the Dao Stele could be rewound, ensuring that his divine sense always remained full.
When he calculated it like this, he realized that he had several times more time to learn formations than other formation masters.
Other formation masters had limited time and couldn't afford to be distracted.
Did that mean that he didn't need to choose and could learn them all?
Mo Hua blinked, feeling a little gleeful and a little embarrassed at the same time.
He felt like he was cheating somehow.
Master Zhuang noticed the gleam in Mo Hua's eyes and the wheels turning in his head. He couldn't help but chuckle, though he didn't press further. Instead, he continued, "Additionally, low-grade unbeatable arrays are somewhat unappealing to high-grade formation masters."
"Because of their low grade, the effects of the formations are greatly diminished."
"It's not worth spending a lot of time and effort on them, and the benefits are not significant."
"Moreover, the most troublesome aspect is that some unbeatable arrays are passed down in succession according to their grades."
Master Zhuang said in a solemn voice.
"Passed down in succession?"
Mo Hua frowned, "If the grades are interrupted, does that mean I can't learn them?"
Master Zhuang nodded, slowly explaining, "Ordinary formations don't have such restrictions."
"For example, you don't need to worry about not knowing the first-grade Melting Fire Formation. You can start learning directly from the second-grade version."
"These types of formations are related to each other but are also relatively independent, so you don't need to learn them in a step-by-step manner."
"Unbeatable arrays are different."
"Many unbeatable arrays progress from the first grade to the second grade and so on, each building upon the previous one."
"You must start with the first grade, learn the second grade after that, and then the third grade, gradually progressing from the shallow to the deep."
"Unbeatable arrays are already scarce, and it's difficult to find a complete succession."
"It's quite possible that the succession of an entire set of unbeatable arrays is scattered across the various states of the Nine States, in the hands of different powers."
"The first grade might be in Li State, the second grade in Kun State, the third grade is nowhere to be found, the fourth grade is in Qian State, and there aren't even any rumors about the fifth grade and above..."
"If you don't have the first grade, you can't learn the second grade, and similarly, even if you have the formation charts for the third and fourth grades, but the grades are discontinuous, you still won't be able to learn them..."
Mo Hua's eyes widened in surprise.
No wonder they were called "Unbeatable" arrays...
They were already difficult to learn, and on top of that, they progressed in grades, each building upon the previous one. If something unexpected happened, the succession would be abruptly "cut off"...
Master Zhuang glanced at Mo Hua and sighed, "That's why you should learn as many unbeatable arrays as you can while you're still in the Qi Refining Realm, regardless of how many. Because most unbeatable arrays are built upon the foundation of first-grade unbeatable arrays."
"Yes, Master!"
Mo Hua replied, then added with a hint of worry, "What about in the future...?"
Master Zhuang patted him on the head gently and said, "In the future, you'll have to learn to find them on your own."
Mo Hua paused, then seemed to understand.
He realized why Master Zhuang had brought him out and was teaching him to master divine sense calculations.
It was to guide him so that he could rely on his own abilities to discover the unbeatable arrays hidden throughout the Nine States.
Master Zhuang sighed softly, "Due to the reasons mentioned earlier, there are very few formation masters in this world who can truly master unbeatable arrays."
"But you are different. Your cultivation technique is unique, and you must master unbeatable arrays, and master them thoroughly."
"The more unbeatable arrays you learn, the better. The more challenging they are, the better."
"The more you learn, the deeper your understanding of formations will be, the stronger your divine sense will become, and the further you'll be able to go on your path..."
Master Zhuang spoke to Mo Hua with a solemn tone and an encouraging gaze.
Mo Hua nodded firmly, committing his master's words to memory.
(End of Chapter)
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