Chapter 540: Digging Out
Chapter 540: Digging Out
The Five Elements Origin Pattern resembled five slender and colorful eyes, gathering together like petals of a flower. Within each eye was an ancient and profound pattern, both aesthetically pleasing and sinister, occasionally twitching as if possessing its own life force.
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost was bewildered, its pupils dilating in confusion and fear.
"What's happening? What's wrong with me?"
"Where am I?"
"Who am I?"
"What is this on my forehead?"
"I..."
Before the Five Elements Fierce Ghost could finish its sentence, a sudden change occurred.
The peculiar eye-like "Origin Pattern" abruptly widened, and within its "pupil"-like interior, the patterns became vivid and piercing.
Countless intricate array patterns, like colorful ants, emerged from the Origin Pattern, crawling down from the ghost's forehead, spreading across its shoulders, limbs, and eventually its entire body, including its heart meridian.
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost's body was completely covered in these array patterns.
From the inside out, intricate patterns filled every inch of its being.
Its consciousness was completely devoured by the "Origin Pattern," turning it into a true "Five Elements Puppet."
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost had become a puppet.
Its eyes were pitch-black and hollow, but the five eyes on its forehead shone brighter, finally trembling as the patterns within them, like pupils, fixed their gaze on Mo Hua.
Mo Hua's expression changed drastically, and he quickly took a step back, distancing himself from the spot he had just occupied, now covered in the array patterns.
Mo Hua frowned. This "Origin Pattern" seemed like a plague, and the spreading array patterns were like poisonous toxins released by the disease. Once they came into contact with a spiritual consciousness, they would parasitize, devour, and ultimately control it... just like what happened to the Five Elements Fierce Ghost.
Now, the Five Elements Fierce Ghost was completely dominated by the "Origin Pattern," and its very being had become a "toxic origin."
What's more, this "plague" was now within his own sea of consciousness.
Mo Hua's expression turned grave. He manifested an array beneath his feet to protect himself and then attempted to activate the Spirit Pivot Array on the ghost's chest.
The Spirit Pivot Array was related to the essence of spiritual power. Although it was not a Five Elements array and was an ultra-grade supreme array, it was still suppressed but not completely erased by the array patterns derived from the Five Elements Origin Pattern.
With a slight stir of Mo Hua's spiritual sense, the Spirit Pivot Array shone brightly.
A faint blue light radiated from the Five Elements Fierce Ghost's chest.
Threads of spirit energy extended from its chest, like silken strands weaving a cocoon around the ghost, aiming to contain it and seal the Five Elements Origin Pattern within its body.
However, while these spirit threads restrained the ghost, they couldn't suppress the array patterns.
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost was immobilized by the spirit threads, but the "five-colored eyes" on its forehead continued to proliferate, producing more array patterns that eroded the ghost and corroded the spirit threads, gradually spreading throughout Mo Hua's sea of consciousness.
"What should I do?" Mo Hua's gaze turned solemn.
If he allowed these array patterns to proliferate endlessly until they filled his sea of consciousness, would he also end up like the Five Elements Fierce Ghost—parasitized by the "Origin Pattern" and turned into a mindless puppet?
His master's words rang true. There were indeed great dangers within the sea of consciousness, most of which were unpredictable and elusive.
Mo Hua manipulated the Spirit Pivot Array while resisting the Five Elements Origin Pattern, forcing himself to remain calm and thinking of a solution...
This Origin Pattern was likely the result of the Five Elements Sect's calculations of the Five Elements Array Stream.
The question was, had they calculated it correctly?
What exactly was this thing they had calculated?
How could array inheritance have its own will? How could it parasitize?
Could it be that the once-renowned Five Elements Sect, which was among the top array sects in the cultivation world, had declined because they had calculated and discovered this very thing?
Mo Hua's mind was filled with doubts.
With his limited knowledge of ancient secrets, Mo Hua couldn't figure it out, so he temporarily set it aside and continued his train of thought:
The Five Elements Sect's method of calculating array streams was unique. They unified all Five Elements array patterns, deduced variations, and condensed them into this "Origin Pattern."
Unifying many into one...
Although it was just a single array pattern, it condensed and encompassed almost all the Five Elements array techniques passed down by the Five Elements Sect.
These array patterns carried out its will.
And now, it was releasing these array patterns...
If the Origin Pattern was the toxic origin, then were the array patterns "compiled" within it the toxins?
If he wanted to stop the spread of the "Origin Pattern," he would have to go against the flow and re-calculate, "compiling" these array patterns back into the Origin Pattern?
Was this kind of calculation the unique method of the Five Elements Sect?
Was it the method of array stream induction recorded in the Five Elements Sect's inheritance ground?
Mo Hua furrowed his brows. He wasn't entirely sure, but for now, he had no other choice but to give it a try.
The "eyes" of the Origin Pattern continued to rotate, and the array patterns seeped out little by little, flowing through Mo Hua's sea of consciousness.
These array patterns were all first-grade.
While the "Origin Pattern" encompassed Five Elements array techniques, it didn't seem to contain only first-grade patterns, but their spread appeared to be sequential.
First-grade patterns had to be released completely before second-grade patterns could emerge...
Fortunately, that gave him some breathing room, as Mo Hua would have been completely helpless against second-grade array patterns.
Without delay, Mo Hua calmed his breath and focused his mind, beginning to calculate the array patterns that were wriggling like water snakes, according to his hypothesis.
With utmost concentration, Mo Hua calculated swiftly.
In just a moment, he had deduced a small portion of the Five Elements array patterns.
But now what?
After a moment's hesitation, Mo Hua used his spiritual sense to control a small portion of the array patterns, changing their shapes and, thus, the formation they created. He manipulated them according to his own deductive method.
As soon as the formation changed, the array patterns reacted.
They stopped spreading and began to contract and condense.
It was as if time was being reversed, and the array patterns were retracing their steps, moving back to where they had come from.
Mo Hua's spirits lifted.
This method was indeed feasible!
To unravel a knot, one must approach it from the beginning.
The "Source Pattern" of the Five Elements Sect still needed to be countered by their own "deductive method."
Without delay, Mo Hua pushed his spiritual sense to the limit, mimicking the way the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect had deduced the array stream. He began to manually recalculate and derive these array patterns, unifying them into a "source," step by step.
Although it was just a small step, it was the first step toward the path of deduction.
The array patterns gradually contracted...
Suddenly, the Five Elements Source Pattern trembled, its five-colored eyes narrowing with a sinister look.
Was there more?
The ancestors of the Five Elements Sect had long since passed away.
It never expected that thousands of years later, someone would still possess this deductive method, capable of suppressing its array patterns!
The Source Pattern glared at Mo Hua, its eyes narrowing as it released more and more intricate patterns, filling its gaze with malice.
However, Mo Hua's deduction became smoother and more proficient.
His understanding of the Five Elements formations was already extraordinary among cultivators. Within the scope of first-grade formations, even if he couldn't compare to the ancestors of the Five Elements Sect, he wouldn't be far behind, either.
Moreover, he now had the spiritual sense of a thirteen-vein Foundation Establishment cultivator, enhanced by the Heavenly Dao Formula. Mo Hua's speed of deduction was exceptionally fast.
In his sea of consciousness, the array patterns both spread and contracted, with the two forces vying for dominance.
The more Mo Hua deduced, the faster he became, and in the process, his understanding of the Five Elements Sect's secret deductive method deepened, and his skill in utilizing it improved.
Finally, the speed at which the Source Pattern spread could not keep up with Mo Hua's deduction speed.
The spreading array patterns began to retract.
Mo Hua continued to deduce and unify the patterns bit by bit.
He was like a little fisherman, casting his net and pulling back all the fish that had jumped out of the pond...
Gradually, the array patterns contracted and eventually converged into one, condensing and sealing themselves within the Source Pattern once more.
The Five Elements Source Pattern dimmed, its eyes losing their luster.
The Five Elements Fierce Ghost, which had become a puppet, also fell still.
Suddenly, Mo Hua's sea of consciousness became quiet.
Mo Hua plopped down on the ground, letting out a long sigh of relief.
In a short period of time, he had deduced a large number of Five Elements array patterns, and he was exhausted.
But thankfully, he had managed to curb the spread of the Five Elements Source Pattern.
Mo Hua relaxed, intending to take a break, but suddenly, his heart sank as he looked up and saw the Five Elements Fierce Ghost. The ghost's body was cracking inch by inch, as if this spiritual consciousness vessel couldn't withstand the intense pressure.
At the same time, the Five Elements Source Pattern's five-colored eyes were veiled in darkness.
The five source patterns gradually protruded, as if something was trying to break free from its shackles and drill out from the ghost's eyes.
Mo Hua felt a terrifying aura.
It was an extremely powerful and evil spiritual sense, resembling a high-grade Dao Sin.
This spiritual sense was incredibly strong and held deep malevolence toward Mo Hua.
Just a hint of its aura was enough to shake Mo Hua's spiritual sense, disturb his thoughts, and even cause his sea of consciousness to ache, as if it were about to shatter...
"Does this Source Pattern want to shatter my sea of consciousness?" Mo Hua exclaimed in shock.
Just then, an ancient and profound aura suddenly emerged.
This ancient aura filled Mo Hua's sea of consciousness and wrapped around his spiritual sense, seemingly protecting him from external evil.
In the center of his sea of consciousness, the Dao Stele stood tall and majestic, suppressing all evil!
The eerie and terrifying aura instantly vanished!
As the Dao Stele appeared, the Five Elements Source Pattern reacted as if it had seen a ghost, its "eyes" widening in shock. The pupil-like patterns within its eyes trembled violently.
It immediately retracted, concealing its aura and using some array patterns to mend the Five Elements Fierce Ghost's limbs. Then, it turned tail and attempted to flee!
Mo Hua's anger surged.
"You want to run?!"
Enduring the pain, he gritted his teeth, activated the Flowing Water Steps, and quickly closed the distance between them. He reached out with his small hand, aiming for the five eyes on the ghost's forehead!
His body was imbued with the aura of the Dao Stele.
The Source Pattern was startled and quickly "closed its eyes," retreating into the ghost's forehead.
But it was too late.
Mo Hua was quick-eyed and fast-handed, grabbing it directly.
The Source Pattern raged and tried to resist.
However, Mo Hua was protected by the aura of the Dao Stele, and its aura was terrifying. The Source Pattern dared not "open its eyes" again and instead cowered, keeping its eyes tightly shut.
Mo Hua sneered, "Despicable thing!"
The Source Pattern trembled but dared not open its eyes, only daring to seethe in anger.
After suppressing the "Source Pattern," the Dao Stele slowly faded from Mo Hua's sea of consciousness.
It seemed that the Dao Stele didn't bother with minor scuffles like this, leaving Mo Hua to handle it on his own.
But when the Source Pattern tried to bully the "small" with the "big," the Dao Stele would not stand for it.
With the Dao Stele's support, Mo Hua's resolve strengthened.
He held the palm-sized Five Elements Source Pattern in his hand, kneading, pinching, and pulling it, venting his anger.
Seeing that it still didn't react, Mo Hua began to examine it carefully.
With its eyes closed, the Five Elements Source Pattern resembled a jade pendant. It felt neither soft nor hard, neither cold nor warm, and it was both illusory and solid.
However, this Origin Pattern was almost tangible. It had achieved an incredible level of substance.
It had infinitely transitioned from "insubstantial" to "real."
Ink Painting furrowed his brows. Could this be the path to strengthening one's divine consciousness and achieving enlightenment? Was this the path he needed to walk to attain a deeper understanding of spiritual awareness?
Ink Painting shook his head, deciding to consult his master about this conundrum.
For now, the pressing issue was how to deal with this Origin Pattern.
This Origin Pattern seemed to hold many secrets.
It was not only a supreme formation but also the pinnacle of the Five Elements Sect's legacy, invaluable beyond measure.
At the same time, it undoubtedly held the truth behind the Five Elements Sect's decline.
Most importantly, within the Origin Pattern lurked a powerful and bizarre presence.
What was this presence? Why had this legacy come to life, generating formation patterns, parasitizing spiritual consciousness, and dominating the fierce ghost?
Ink Painting pondered for a while but was still none the wiser. He couldn't help but sigh, "It seems I need to read more books. Knowledge is indeed a vital aspect of a cultivator's strength."
He examined the Origin Pattern in his hand, which resembled a jade pendant. It was neither soft nor hard, neither cold nor warm, and it possessed an elusive quality, feeling both illusory and solid. Ink Painting felt perplexed, wondering, "Where should I place this Origin Pattern?"
Storing it within his sea of consciousness was definitely out of the question.
This Origin Pattern was like a plague, capable of self-propagating and parasitizing, harboring an unknown sinister presence. Despite the suppression of the Dao Stele, it remained too dangerous.
One should not stand beneath a dangerous wall.
He couldn't afford to plant a landmine within his own sea of consciousness.
If not in his sea of consciousness, then it had to be stored externally.
A divine consciousness repository?
A shrine could serve that purpose.
However, the shrine belonged to the Five Elements Sect, and he couldn't take it with him. Storing the Origin Pattern in the shrine would be pointless, as it would benefit someone else.
Moreover, this Origin Pattern had developed its own will, invaded his sea of consciousness, and witnessed the Dao Stele. He couldn't let it escape his grasp.
Even if he couldn't "kill" or "consume" it, he had to keep it under his control.
Repository...
Ink Painting tapped his chin in thought, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
The visualization chart! The ancestral master chart that Zhang Quan used to store his divine consciousness.
After Ink Painting had "devoured" Zhang Quan's entire family of zombie ancestors, elders, and disciples, leaving none behind, there remained an empty "ancestral master chart."
This blank chart seemed like the perfect vessel to store the Five Elements Origin Pattern.
"But how do I store it?" Ink Painting wondered, lacking experience in this area.
His spiritual sense withdrew from his sea of consciousness, and his consciousness gradually awakened.
Ink Painting slowly opened his eyes in front of the shrine.
Bai Zixi was initially delighted but soon wore a serious expression, her delicate hand poised like a knife blade behind Ink Painting's head, seemingly ready to knock him out again if necessary.
Beside her, Bai Zisheng also looked grave.
Ink Painting, sensing the odd atmosphere, asked softly, "Little Senior Sister, what's wrong...?"
Bai Zixi stared into Ink Painting's eyes, seeing her reflection in his clear, watery gaze, and nodded slightly. "It's my junior brother."
Bai Zisheng heaved a sigh of relief and then asked anxiously, "Have you mastered the Five Elements Spirit Formation? What happened in there that took so long? And just now..."
However, Bai Zixi's eyes turned solemn as she said, "We'll talk about it outside."
Bai Zisheng nodded eagerly, "Yes, let's go outside first."
"Wait," Ink Painting interjected, "I have one more thing..."
He rummaged through his storage bag and finally found, in a corner, the crumpled and stained ancestral master chart that had been doused with incense ash and trampled on.
As Ink Painting unfolded the chart, intending to figure out how to store the Five Elements Origin Pattern within it, he felt a sharp pain in his sea of consciousness.
The Origin Pattern, as if it couldn't wait any longer, burst out from his sea of consciousness and leaped into the blank chart.
It seemed that the Origin Pattern couldn't bear to stay in his sea of consciousness for another moment...
The Five Elements Origin Pattern was stored within the visualization chart.
Vibrant five-colored light radiated from the once-blank chart, and five distinct five-colored patterns emerged, encompassing the essence of the Five Elements Formation and the fundamentals of the Five Elements.
This visualization chart had now become the chart of the Five Elements Formation Stream, containing the Five Elements Sect's legacy of formations and their most supreme inheritance!
In an instant, the entire chart's aura transformed.
An extremely subtle, profound, and profound Five Elements energy emanated from the chart, spreading from the Array Pavilion as its center to the surrounding areas.
The ordinary disciples of the Five Elements Sect were oblivious to this change.
However, the sect's elders and sect masters experienced a startling revelation.
"What is this?!"
"Such dense Five Elements energy!"
"Profound, ancient, and mystical!"
"Could our Five Elements Sect possess such a legacy?"
"What kind of legacy is this?"
...
The Great Elder, who had been drinking tea on the third floor, was even more astonished.
Being closer, he felt the change more acutely.
Shrine? What's happening?
What has transpired? The Great Elder's heart skipped a beat, and he abruptly stood up, intending to go to the fourth floor to investigate...
Meanwhile, Mr. Zhuang's expression changed slightly, and he stood there in a daze, muttering, "The fundamentals of the Five Elements..."
"What has this child, Ink Painting, discovered?
"Could he have unearthed the thousands of years of formation knowledge accumulated by the Five Elements Sect...?"
(End of Chapter)
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