Chapter 538: "Pastry"
Chapter 538: "Pastry"
Mo Hua then realized that his perspective had been too narrow.
The legacy of the Five Elements Sect far exceeded his expectations!
However, the doubts in his heart only grew:
What was the difference between the Five Elements Array Stream and the Celestial Array Stream?
Does the Celestial Array Stream, which encompasses the array methods of all heavens and conforms to the Dao of Arrays, include the Five Elements Array Stream?
Does the Five Elements Array Stream contain any array principles that the Celestial Array Stream has never touched upon?
Or are the two completely different legacies?
Mo Hua was perplexed.
Moreover, there was one more crucial question:
The Five Elements Sect built a shrine, established a dojo, derived array methods, simplified complexities, unified diversities, and aimed to deduce the most profound array stream within the legacy of arrays.
So, did they succeed in their calculations?
If they did, where is this Five Elements Array Stream?
Or, what exactly is this Five Elements Array Stream, and in what form does it exist?
Mo Hua paused again.
He then realized that he didn't even know what an array stream truly was.
He had never studied the Celestial Array Stream, nor had he ever seen it; he only had a vague and incomplete concept of it.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, his mind filled with questions.
"What exactly is this so-called 'array stream' like as a legacy?"
"Is it a cultivation technique? A Daoist method? A single array formation? A mental process? A set of insights? Or an embodied divine thought?"
"Or is it like the Five Elements Spirit Array, a demonstration of certain array principles?"
Mo Hua searched the dojo carefully once more but still found nothing. The only unusual thing was the array pattern in the center of the dojo.
He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he had learned the Five Elements derivation method, he could deduce that many of the array patterns in the center of the dojo were actually incomplete.
It was as if there were only arguments without conclusions, derivations without the stream.
Mo Hua sighed, feeling a bit disappointed.
It seemed that they hadn't figured it out...
However, that was understandable.
If the Five Elements Sect had truly deduced the Five Elements Array Stream and made it their legacy, their mastery over arrays would have flourished, propelling them into the ranks of the top array sects. Their descendants wouldn't have declined to such a degree.
It seemed that deducing an array stream was extremely difficult.
The Five Elements Sect must have tried to achieve it all at once, expending immense human and material resources, as well as the mental power of array masters, only to fail and be unable to deduce the array stream. This would have caused the sect to waste time, deplete its foundation, and suffer a severe blow to its vitality, leading to its gradual decline...
They had gambled on luck but lost...
What a pity...
Mo Hua shook his head.
He really wanted to know what the true Five Elements Array Stream was like.
However, upon further thought, he realized that being able to learn the Five Elements Sect's derivation method was already a great opportunity.
One shouldn't be too greedy.
Moreover, now that he had learned this derivation method, did it mean that...
When his spiritual sense became strong enough and his understanding of arrays deepened, he could try to derive an array stream himself?
Derive his own array stream?
Mo Hua's heart leaped, and his eyes shone with anticipation.
Mo Hua looked at the dojo once more.
This dojo recorded the method of deducing array streams and was the true legacy dojo of the Five Elements Sect.
But this was as far as he could go.
After all, the shrine belonged to the Five Elements Sect, not him, and he couldn't continue studying here forever.
He had to find a way to leave.
Mo Hua turned around once more and found that the key to leaving was still the meditation cushion.
When he had entered the legacy dojo, he had noticed that there was an array pattern on the meditation cushion, but it was also a variant pattern.
He hadn't understood it at first.
Now that he had comprehended the Five Elements Sect's unique derivation method, he understood.
The derivation method was also the method to open the door.
He turned the cushion over and began to derive, summarize, and condense the array on the cushion into a single array pattern, which he then drew in the center of the cushion.
The surroundings twisted and distorted.
Mo Hua felt dizzy, but after a moment, he opened his eyes again and found that he had exited the legacy dojo.
He was now in the dojo for transmitting techniques.
The surroundings were adorned with wooden sculptures, clay figurines, carriages, spirit beasts, treasure bottles, and flowers, instead of the true form of the dojo composed of array patterns.
The place was empty.
The little Five Elements ghost was also nowhere to be seen.
"Did it run away...?"
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened.
Had it trapped him in the dojo and then found a way to escape?
He would remember this!
Mo Hua glanced around once more.
The dojo for transmitting techniques was now silent and lifeless.
The two-hour limit had been reached, the incense had burned out, the shrine was closed, and it was impossible to enter or exit. Moreover, he couldn't see the outside scenery.
Mo Hua walked along the outer edge of the dojo and arrived at the door of the shrine.
This was the door he had entered through earlier.
Now, the door was tightly closed, and array formations were densely packed around it, like layers of chains locking the door shut and isolating the inside of the shrine from the outside.
Mo Hua, however, breathed a sigh of relief.
For him, array formations were not a problem.
It was impossible for them to trap him.
Mo Hua frowned in thought.
"What method should I use to open the door?"
Breaking the formation?
That would be a bit too exhausting.
Dispel the formation?
The array formations on this door were created by the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect, probably for the purpose of passing on their legacy. They were only first-grade, but the methods were quite unique and ancient.
It would take a lot of time to dispel each formation one by one.
Since time was limited, he might as well try another solution...
Mo Hua's eyes lit up.
Formation collapse!
It had been a long time since Mo Hua used a grand formation to collapse and obliterate Feng Xi. His master had instructed him not to use collapse lightly and to never let others discover it.
But now, he was alone in the shrine of the Five Elements Sect, with not even a "ghost" around. If he secretly used "collapse," no one should notice.
Of course, it wasn't something he had to use.
He was mainly itching to try it out.
As long as he didn't make too much noise and secretly collapsed a door, there shouldn't be any impact...
Moreover, Mo Hua wanted to see what would happen to a spiritual sense-manifested formation after it collapsed.
The shrine's gate, under the impact of the fireball, activated its array.
The array on the shrine was manifested by divine consciousness and driven by it as well.
The power of divine consciousness flowed along the array patterns, passing through the Reverse Spirit Array, causing a collapse. Then, the array patterns gradually dissolved, and the divine consciousness slowly reversed, crumbling into nothingness.
The collapse was not large-scale, but the silent and imperceptible might of the reversal was startling.
It seemed as if the gate of the shrine had been devoured by nothingness, leaving behind a pitch-black hole.
Divine consciousness collapse!
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat.
This was the true power of "divine extinction and Dao eradication."
Spiritual power could collapse, and so could divine consciousness...
Spiritual power and divine consciousness were different, but they seemed to share some similarities.
For the Five Elements Array, divine consciousness had to merge with spiritual power.
And for array collapse, both spiritual power and divine consciousness could serve as the medium...
Mo Hua also recalled the four words spoken by the very old elder of the Five Elements Sect:
"Divine Consciousness Transformation Dao."
These four words seemed to hold a deeper meaning that he couldn't comprehend with his current cultivation and knowledge...
"Never mind, I'll figure it out slowly later."
With the shrine's gate collapsed, Mo Hua could now leave.
He was going to find that little ghost and settle the score.
Mo Hua licked his lips.
Moreover, he was also hungry...
...
On the third floor of the Array Pavilion.
Mr. Zhuang, Gui Lao, and the Great Elder of the Five Elements Sect were still drinking tea.
Suddenly, the Great Elder felt a sense of unease in his heart.
He felt as if something extremely precious had suddenly vanished...
"The shrine... could there be a problem?"
The Great Elder's heart tightened, but he soon relaxed.
"Impossible. How could there be a problem with the shrine?"
"That's something built by our ancestors, with intricate array patterns and profound mysteries..."
"Moreover, there's also that thing guarding it..."
"There can't be a problem..."
The Great Elder gradually calmed down, secretly glancing at Mr. Zhuang with a hint of displeasure, and then at Gui Lao.
But he dared not be presumptuous and could only coldly huff in his heart:
"If you can't learn it, you can't learn it!"
"An ultimate array like this requires constant accumulation and diligent study. How could you possibly comprehend it by procrastinating?"
"It's too disrespectful to our Five Elements Sect's legacy..."
Mr. Zhuang and Gui Lao sat there drinking tea, unaffected by the Great Elder's attitude.
However, this tea-drinking session had become rather dull.
Gui Lao asked, "So, how was it?"
His question was straightforward, without any attempt to hide from the Great Elder, but the latter was like a fool, unable to hear or see anything.
Mr. Zhuang calculated with his fingers, and his eyes shone faintly, "Not bad."
"Did he learn it?"
Mr. Zhuang's eyes narrowed slightly, "What he should have learned, he has learned. What he shouldn't have learned... he will soon learn..."
Gui Lao was taken aback and asked curiously, "Is there really another legacy in the Five Elements Sect? What is it?"
Mr. Zhuang shook his head, helpless, "To be honest, I don't know about that..."
Mr. Zhuang's thoughts stirred, and he frowned slightly.
The true legacy...
Perhaps, back then, his sect's ancestor made that agreement with the Five Elements Sect, taking advantage of their desperation, to reciprocate a favor, because of this legacy? Mr. Zhuang fell into deep thought...
Gui Lao raised an eyebrow and glanced at Mr. Zhuang, "Didn't you realize it back then?"
Mr. Zhuang hesitated, "Well, it's understandable to make a mistake sometimes."
Gui Lao's eyes showed disdain.
Mr. Zhuang coughed, "And the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect were too cunning. I was young back then, so it's understandable that I couldn't see through them..."
"But Mo Hua saw it." Gui Lao said calmly.
Mr. Zhuang paused again, then his thoughts turned, and he said righteously, "Mo Hua is my direct disciple. If he saw it, it's as good as I saw it myself!"
Gui Lao said indifferently, "You have a thick skin."
Mr. Zhuang remained unmoved and continued drinking tea, looking unconcerned.
However, as he drank, Gui Lao's words made him a little doubtful.
Mo Hua saw it...
Was it because this child was naturally intelligent, had a good heart, and had good luck...
Or was it... fate? Mr. Zhuang sighed softly, his eyes carrying a hint of complexity.
...
At this moment, Mo Hua, who had collapsed the shrine's gate, returned to his sea of consciousness in the blink of an eye.
As he expected, the little Five Elements ghost was currently occupying his sea of consciousness.
Mo Hua didn't want to alert the ghost, so he hid himself and sneaked up behind it to see what it was doing.
The little Five Elements ghost was squatting on the ground, drawing some complex patterns while his expression fluctuated between gloom and anger, and he kept muttering.
Perhaps it was complaining, cursing, or plotting...
"... Why isn't he awake yet?"
"I must leave before midnight, I can't stay here any longer..."
"I've been trapped here for hundreds of years. I don't want to go back to that useless dojo for the rest of my life..."
"Luckily, it wasn't a complete loss."
"I'm going out, and I'm going to eat and kill to my heart's content... I'll make up for all the losses I've suffered over the past few hundred years..."
"One day, I will understand the Five Elements, and then..."
The little Five Elements ghost smiled sinisterly, leaving the rest unsaid.
However, Mo Hua was curious and asked, "And then what? After you understand the Five Elements?"
In the empty sea of consciousness, a voice suddenly appeared, scaring the little Five Elements ghost, who frantically looked around, "Who's there?!"
It shook its head, continuing on its own, "No, impossible! The incense has burned out, the shrine is sealed, and you were trapped in the dojo. There's no way you could have gotten out!"
Mo Hua's expression remained calm as he replied, "I am an array master. Don't even think about using arrays to trap an array master."
The Five Elements little ghost's eyelids twitched as it angrily retorted, "Nonsense!"
What did being an array master have to do with it? Even if he was an array master, being locked inside the shrine and trapped in the dojo meant there was absolutely no way for him to escape.
How could such an insignificant little array master be so troublesome?
In all its years, it had never encountered such an unusual little array master.
Not only had he solved the mystery of the dojo, but he had also broken the lock on the shrine's door and escaped from the shrine despite the incense burning out...
Was there more to arrays than it thought?
Could a mere first-grade array master know so much? The Five Elements little ghost's heart sank as it stopped dwelling on these questions and instead asked, "So, what now?"
"What do you think?" Mo Hua replied with a kind smile, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light.
The Five Elements little ghost was taken aback, quickly pleading, "Let's talk this through. I won't stay here, as long as you let me go, we can work something out..."
Mo Hua neither agreed nor disagreed.
The Five Elements little ghost continued to beg for mercy, "I was forced into this situation, trapped in the shrine for hundreds of years, stuck guarding the dojo, it's been so boring and difficult... It's been incredibly painful, you have no idea..."
"I just wanted to get out, to see the vast world outside, and also..."
"...also to 'eat' a few people?" Mo Hua added gently.
The Five Elements little ghost paused before its expression turned cold, "You heard that too?"
Mo Hua nodded, "Don't put on an act. Demons, specters, and ghosts are inherently evil. I can tell at a glance what kind of creature you are."
The Five Elements little ghost dropped its pretense of cowardice and pleading, baring its fangs as it smiled sinisterly, "You drove me to this."
"I had planned to refrain from using this before leaving the Five Elements Sect..."
Before it finished speaking, the Five Elements little ghost's aura suddenly intensified.
Its body grew larger, its skin hardening like iron with bulging blue veins.
At the same time, arrays actually appeared on its body!
And they were none other than the Five Elements Spirit Array!
The Five Elements Spirit Array enhanced the five elements, amplifying its spiritual power, and also greatly boosting the Five Elements evil power within the little ghost.
With the five elements brought to life, its evil power intensified.
Using metal as claws, wood as bones, water as blood, fire as qi, and earth as flesh.
The Five Elements little ghost, with the amplification of the Five Elements Spirit Array, transformed into a massive and sinister Five Elements Fierce Ghost!
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost roared at Mo Hua.
However, it did not know that its display was still insignificant.
Mo Hua's expression remained unchanged, and he was not afraid in the slightest.
Not only was he unafraid, but there was also a hint of intrigue in Mo Hua's gaze.
He looked at the Five Elements Fierce Ghost and nodded, "There's something off about you!"
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost was taken aback.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "You don't know arrays!"
"Yet now, you've manifested an array..."
"Manifesting an array requires a profound understanding of arrays. You, a ghost that doesn't understand arrays, unfamiliar with array patterns and principles, how can you possibly manifest an array?"
"And not just any array, but the Five Elements Supreme Array..."
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed as he asserted, "There's something very wrong with you!"
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost was anxious, cold sweat forming on its body.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and continued, "It's not just that..."
"You've been trapped in the shrine for hundreds of years, there's no way you don't know anything..."
"That inheritance dojo..."
"...You must have entered it!"
"Otherwise, how could you have designed a plan to trick me into going in and trapping me there..."
Mo Hua frowned.
"But after you entered, how did you get out?"
"You don't understand arrays, nor do you know how to derive them, so there's no way you could have gotten out..."
"But you did get out... which means you must have taken something from the inheritance dojo, allowing you to escape."
Mo Hua realized the truth.
This Five Elements little ghost was a thief!
"You..."
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened, "What did you steal from the dojo?"
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost was flustered and quickly denied, "Nothing! I didn't take anything!"
But its denial was weak and unconvincing.
Mo Hua's gaze was clear and sharp as he stared at the ghost.
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost felt uncomfortable under Mo Hua's intense gaze.
It felt like that gaze was like a magical mirror, revealing its true form and leaving it nowhere to hide, unable to keep any secrets.
With profound array knowledge and cunning akin to a demon.
Just what kind of creature was this?
How could it be so troublesome?
Just then, Mo Hua's gaze suddenly paused as if he had realized something. He muttered to himself, "No, that's still not right."
"There's no way anything could make a little ghost that doesn't understand arrays suddenly comprehend the Five Elements Spirit Array..."
"Unless that thing is..."
"The Five Elements Array Source Flow!"
Mo Hua's heart raced as he realized the truth.
So that was it...
He had not only underestimated the vision of the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect, but also their mastery over arrays!
The Five Elements Sect had actually figured it out! They had pooled the efforts of the entire sect, utilizing the collective mental power of all their array masters to successfully derive the Five Elements Array Source Flow!
And this Five Elements Array Source, though its form was unknown, was most likely stolen from the dojo by this Five Elements little ghost and was now in its possession.
And now, both this Five Elements little ghost and the Five Elements Array Source Flow were within his consciousness...
Mo Hua's eyes shone like stars, growing brighter by the moment.
He looked at the Five Elements Fierce Ghost, and couldn't help but lick his lips again.
He never expected...
He had originally thought that this was just an ordinary pastry.
But he never imagined that this pastry would have such a delicious filling!
A colorful and juicy meat filling!
(End of Chapter)
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