Chapter 595: Fourteen Threads
Chapter 595: Fourteen Threads
Elder Xu was shocked.
To have a spiritual sense at the Fourteen Threads level right after advancing to the early Qi Refining stage—what kind of little monster is this?
No wonder he dared to say that he was "proficient in array formations." He indeed had the credentials to make such a claim.
"But this... it's impossible..."
Elder Xu frowned.
A cultivator's spiritual sense had its limits.
One could cultivate their qi and spiritual power, but there were no specific cultivation methods for the spiritual sense.
Visualization diagrams could enhance one's spiritual sense, but they weren't considered stable and reliable cultivation techniques.
"Visualization" was akin to "referencing"; it was "borrowing" rather than truly "cultivating."
With a spiritual sense gained through visualization, one might never truly know its source.
Moreover, it was difficult to consider it one's own.
Thus, in this world, the vast majority of cultivators might be able to push the boundaries slightly beyond their realm when it came to qi and spiritual power.
However, the spiritual sense always remained within the limits of their realm.
There were cases of "supernatural spiritual sense"...
In the two million-year history of the Dao Court, and even in the rumors preceding it, there were records of cultivators with "supernatural spiritual senses."
But these cultivators were either mere rumors, making it hard to discern truth from fiction, or they were vessels parasitized by some type of "Dao Embodiment," "True God," "Evil God," or even "Heavenly Demon." Even if their spiritual power was strong, their will was either ignorant, sinister, or abnormal, and they couldn't be considered true "humans."
But Mo Hua was different.
Elder Xu looked at Mo Hua.
This child was clever and lively, his eyes sparkling with intelligence, his speech and behavior innocent and playful. He was an ordinary little cultivator...
There were also no signs on his body that he had ever been parasitized by an evil spirit or demon.
Under such circumstances, how could he have a supernatural spiritual sense?
Elder Xu pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you... have a master?"
Mo Hua nodded.
He didn't hide it, but he didn't tell the whole truth either. He simply said, "My master is a recluse who loves peace and quiet. He's very skilled in array formations, but he doesn't like me mentioning his name outside..."
Elder Xu nodded, not prying further.
It was common for some recluses to take on disciples without revealing their identities or names.
But he was still curious. "I wonder who this master is, to have taught such a talented disciple like Mo Hua..."
His spiritual sense was extraordinary, even to the point of being supernatural.
His comprehension was exceptionally high, especially in five element array formations, where his foundation was incredibly solid and his roots ran deep...
His temperament was also excellent.
Not only was he innocent and adorable, with a kind heart, but what was even more precious was his genuine love for array formations and his single-minded devotion to the Dao, free from any distractions.
At his age, it was rare to be able to calm his mind, remain steadfast, and cultivate array formations to such a solid level without arrogance or impatience.
"Who could have taught him to this level..."
Elder Xu looked into Mo Hua's eyes, and his expression changed as a chilling thought occurred to him.
"Could he be... that person's disciple?"
He scrutinized Mo Hua's eyes again, recalling the appearance of that person from back then, and his heart stirred with surprise.
From their appearance and temperament, they seemed different.
That person from back then had a proud and domineering aura, his eyes filled with unruly arrogance.
Mo Hua, on the other hand, was as innocent as water, gentle and kind, his eyes reflecting purity and clarity.
However, there was a slight resemblance in their auras.
Especially when looking closely, Mo Hua's clear eyes occasionally seemed profound, a luster hidden within their depths, as if some heavenly secret was circulating within them.
This was very similar to that person from back then...
"But it still doesn't add up..."
Elder Xu was perplexed.
If he was that person's disciple, shouldn't he have joined the Qian Dao Sect? How did he end up in my Tai Xu Sect?
The Qian Dao Sect was the sect with the deepest roots and heritage for their lineage.
It was unimaginable that the Qian Dao Sect would forget their ancestors to the extent of abandoning such ancient and profound ties.
Elder Xu shook his head.
"Could he really be that person's disciple?"
He glanced at Mo Hua again, and his heart skipped a beat.
There was something else in Mo Hua's eyes...
It wasn't just the circulating luster, but also a hint of pure, pitch-black strangeness hidden within the depths of his profound eyes, invisible to most.
"What is this?!"
Elder Xu took a sharp breath, then shook his head repeatedly.
"No, no, this is even more impossible...
"It's preposterous to think that..."
Even if this child, Mo Hua, had a master, a heritage, and had gained some opportunity related to that person...
For either of those two brothers to have taught him would be a cause-and-effect relationship of heavenly proportions.
It was absolutely impossible for both of them to have taught him.
Even if the sun rose in the west, such a thing would never happen!
Elder Xu paused again.
Since it was impossible, then conversely, this child probably had no connection to those two at all...
"It was probably just my imagination..."
Elder Xu looked at Mo Hua again, and the abnormality in his eyes had disappeared, leaving only the clear purity of water.
"It must be some other opportunity..."
Elder Xu nodded slightly.
This child probably had an extraordinary innate talent for his spiritual sense and, by chance, received guidance from a senior, which was why he had learned array formations so well and progressed so quickly.
Moreover, if he were a disciple of either of those two, he wouldn't be so specialized.
He wouldn't only be proficient in five element array formations.
The foundation of his Eight Trigrams formations wouldn't be so weak.
Also, he didn't seem to know the Xian Tian Array Arts...
"That's right, I'm overthinking it."
Elder Xu's heart relaxed, and as he looked at Mo Hua, his gaze turned indulgent.
"He has an incredible talent for his spiritual sense..."
"If this child, who has joined my Tai Xu Sect, chooses to do good in the future and brings blessings to the cultivators of the Nine Provinces, it will be a blessing for the world. But if his heart deviates and he uses his array formation skills to harm the Nine Provinces, it will be a fault of my Tai Xu Sect..."
"Therefore, I must teach him well, not just in array formations but also in temperament..."
"If his innate nature leans towards evil, I must guide him diligently and lead him towards goodness."
"If his innate nature is inherently good, I should respect his heart and encourage his kindness."
...
In a short span of time, Elder Xu's expression underwent a series of changes as he nodded and shook his head, his thoughts swirling and his emotions fluctuating.
Mo Hua, feeling a bit bewildered and inexplicably guilty under Elder Xu's intense gaze, quietly spoke up:
"Elder Xu..."
Elder Xu snapped out of his reverie and recalled Mo Hua's earlier request to learn the Fourteen Threads array formation. He composed himself and solemnly replied:
"Very well."
After giving his promise, Elder Xu paused to think before adding, "However, I need to consider which array formation to teach..."
Mo Hua's heart leaped with joy, and he smiled, saying:
"Thank you, Elder!"
Elder Xu nodded, his gaze gentle, and then he dismissed Mo Hua.
He himself walked along the jade stone path towards the back mountain, deep in thought. Along the way, disciples greeted him, but he didn't seem to notice.
He continued on until he reached the back mountain, and as he passed by the sect leader's residence, he encountered the Tai Xu Sect Leader, clad in fine silk robes.
The sect leader bowed and respectfully greeted him:
"Greetings, Elder Xu."
But Elder Xu didn't seem to hear, and it was only after passing by that he suddenly recalled something. He turned back to glance at the sect leader and nodded, saying:
"You've done well."
With that, Elder Xu walked away.
The sect leader, who had rarely received praise from Elder Xu, was both surprised and bewildered, unsure of what he had done to earn such praise.
"...You've done well..."
"What did I do?"
...
Back at the Elder's residence, Elder Xu was still deep in thought, his brow furrowed.
I must teach him well.
Since this child has managed to delve so deeply into the Five Elements array formations, I must also ensure he doesn't neglect the Eight Trigrams formations...
Other array systems are less commonly used and have limited applications, so we can put those aside for now.
It's important to first establish a solid foundation with the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, as sturdy as Mount Tai, before branching out into other types of array formations.
However, as Elder Xu pondered further, he suddenly realized there was an even more crucial issue:
"The situation in Qian Xue Province is not peaceful..."
Elder Xu's gaze turned solemn.
In recent years, noble families had risen in power, and sects had formed attachments, leading to sharp conflicts among disciples from different factions as they vied for fame and profit.
The long-dormant Demon Sect was also stirring, their intentions unclear.
The situation was complex and treacherous, with hidden dangers and unpredictable human hearts.
Qian Xue Province, a renowned place of learning, was not as tranquil as it seemed on the surface.
Mo Hua was a lone cultivator without any background or backing...
I must find a way to protect him.
I need to ensure he remains steadfast in his pursuit of the Dao, devoting himself wholeheartedly to cultivation and the study of array formations, without being led astray or falling into the wrong path...
And at the same time, he must not be bullied! Elder Xu's expression turned stern.
Indeed, a naive and innocent child like Mo Hua was vulnerable to being bullied...
"But what can be done?"
Elder Xu fell into deep thought.
Unable to come up with a foolproof solution for the time being, he sighed and said, "Let's deal with that later. For now, I'll teach him array formations..."
...
The next day, Elder Xu gave Mo Hua an array diagram:
"Mountain Binding Array."
It was a second-grade Fourteen Threads array formation belonging to the 'Mountain' trigram.
Elder Xu explained the intricacies of the array formation to Mo Hua and then left him to study it on his own, offering to answer any questions he might have.
Mo Hua nodded eagerly, his heart racing with excitement.
Fourteen Threads! Finally, a Fourteen Threads array formation!
Once he mastered this formation, he could practice day and night to further temper his spiritual sense.
Due to the lack of challenging array formations to learn, his spiritual sense had stagnated at the Fourteen Threads level ever since he reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
Although derivative and esoteric calculations consumed a lot of spiritual power and helped strengthen and sharpen his spiritual sense, they didn't seem to contribute much to its growth.
To enhance his spiritual sense, array formations were key.
The Mountain Binding Array was a Mountain trigram formation.
Mountain trigram formations originated from the Eight Trigrams but also corresponded to the Five Elements, encompassing the transformations of metal and earth.
Additionally, due to their association with the Eight Trigrams, the array core's positioning was crucial.
The array cores of Eight Trigram formations differed significantly from those of Five Element formations.
The arrangement of the array lines had to adhere to the directions dictated by the Eight Trigrams, and the flow of spiritual energy had to conform to the structure of the Eight Trigrams.
These concepts might seem foreign at first, but with continued study and practice, one would gradually come to understand and master them...
And there were many more Eight Trigram formations to explore.
The more Mo Hua delved into them, the more intrigued he became.
In the Eight Trigrams, 'Kan' represented water, and 'Li' represented fire.
These two types of formations resembled those of the water and fire elements in the Five Elements, with minimal differences.
'Gen' represented mountain, encompassing the evolution of metal and earth.
'Dui' represented marsh, encompassing the evolution of water and earth.
Compared to Five Element formations, these two types of Eight Trigram formations exhibited more significant differences.
Additionally, there were 'Xun' and 'Zhen'.
'Xun' represented wind, and 'Zhen' represented thunder.
Mo Hua had not encountered wind-based formations before, and he wondered which elements of the Five Elements were incorporated in the 'Xun' trigram formations.
But thunder! Mo Hua's heart raced with excitement.
He had witnessed heavenly tribulation thunderbolts! The kind of thunder that could obliterate everything, born from a single thunder line within the grand heavenly array.
Even his Master Uncle couldn't bear to look at it and was instantly reduced to ashes after a single glance.
Mo Hua had tried to dissuade him, but to no avail! His Master Uncle didn't understand his good intentions.
Mo Hua nodded.
Thunder-based array formations sounded powerful just from the name alone.
He wondered if there were any similarities or differences between the heavenly tribulation thunder and the thunder formation within the "Zhen" trigram of the Eight Trigrams...
In addition, there were the array formations of the "Qian" and "Kun" trigrams.
"Kun" represented earth, and should have evolved from the earth element among the Five Elements, but it was likely to be more complex and broad, encompassing all things and the myriad phenomena, and might even involve the "Dao essence" of the earth...
But since Mo Hua was very familiar with the "Dao essence" of the earth, he wasn't afraid.
Lastly, there was the "Qian" Dao.
"Qian" represented the heavens.
What Mo Hua could think of was one of the "Three Powers", the "Heaven";
The other was the heaven's grand array, whose existence he had once "spied" upon, and which other cultivators didn't believe in.
He wondered what the array formation of the "Qian" trigram, which symbolized the heavens, would look like...
Mo Hua pondered, "Randomly thinking" for a while before putting aside these thoughts and calming his mind.
In any case, there were still many, many array formations to learn!
Not a single one of these formations could be missed!
But for now, he had to start with the "Gen" trigram's second-grade Fourteen Threads Mountain Binding Array.
As always, Mo Hua first memorized the array pattern and array core of the Mountain Binding Array, then tried practicing it a few times before sleeping at night, sinking his spiritual sense into his sea of consciousness and formally practicing on the stele.
With fourteen threads of spiritual sense, learning a fourteen-thread array formation was not as easy as the previous twelve or thirteen threads, but it wasn't particularly difficult either.
And Mo Hua discovered that his fourteen threads seemed to be a little different from those of other cultivators.
Perhaps due to the qualitative change in his spiritual sense, his spiritual sense was now extremely refined and abnormally resilient.
Therefore, the actual amount of spiritual sense he possessed was more than that of other cultivators with fourteen threads.
However, in terms of "strength", there was no comparison.
For other cultivators, the "strength" of their spiritual sense was determined by the number of threads, or the "quantity" of their spiritual sense.
The more threads one had, the greater their spiritual sense, and thus, the stronger it was.
But Mo Hua's spiritual sense seemed to have expanded a "dimension", allowing him to measure the "strength" of his spiritual sense by its "quality", and not just the number of threads.
Although the number of threads was the same, fourteen threads, and the highest array formation they could learn was limited to fourteen threads.
However, due to the difference in the "quality" of his spiritual sense, Mo Hua always felt that by consuming this more refined and concentrated spiritual sense to learn array formations, his comprehension of the formations would be more thorough.
His understanding of the Great Dao would also be deeper.
At the same time, Mo Hua discovered that the amount of his spiritual sense seemed to have some flexibility.
Even though it was fourteen threads of spiritual sense, it wouldn't truly be depleted after use.
He felt like he could draw more spiritual sense from his sea of consciousness.
It was like the water in a cotton ball, appearing to be used up, but with a squeeze, more would come out...
However, this process was very painful.
It felt like his sea of consciousness was being squeezed and tortured.
So Mo Hua could only stop before reaching that point, not overdoing it.
He would stop when he used a little more than fourteen threads of spiritual sense, or he would end up with a splitting headache, causing unnecessary suffering.
The second-grade Fourteen Threads Mountain Binding Array wasn't difficult, and Mo Hua learned it smoothly.
However, it took a lot of time to familiarize himself with and accept the Eight Trigrams array system:
To apply the "Gen" trigram patterns he had already memorized, to understand the array core of the Eight Trigrams layout, to construct the eye of the array where the Eight Trigrams circulated, to observe and deduce the flow of spiritual energy in the Eight Trigrams array formation...
After half a month of this, Mo Hua had a thorough grasp of the second-grade Fourteen Threads Mountain Binding Array.
He could now truly set up a second-grade Fourteen Threads array formation.
As for fifteen-thread array formations...
Mo Hua's spiritual sense realm hadn't reached that level yet, so he couldn't learn them for the time being.
Upon learning that Mo Hua had already mastered the second-grade Fourteen Threads Mountain Binding Array, Old Master Xun was no longer surprised; he was a little numb, and at the same time, he silently breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's finally about enough..."
Fourteen threads were enough; to learn any more would truly be excessive.
Old Master Xun spoke earnestly, "Although you can set up a fourteen-thread array formation now, you haven't learned that many thirteen-thread formations, and your foundation isn't solid enough yet..."
"So from now on, I'll prepare some fourteen-thread formations mixed with thirteen threads for you to learn thoroughly..."
Mo Hua happily said, "Thank you, Master Xun!"
Old Master Xun nodded slightly, thinking to himself:
"These fourteen-thread formations should keep this little guy busy for a while..."
"Fourteen threads..."
Old Master Xun sighed.
"This is already a mid-tier second-grade formation..."
"To be at the early Qi Refining stage and know a mid-tier second-grade formation..."
"Why be a disciple when you can almost be a 'junior instructor'..."
Old Master Xun shook his head silently.
In the following days, Mo Hua continued to learn array formations tirelessly.
He learned both thirteen-thread and fourteen-thread formations.
Of course, he focused mainly on the fourteen-thread formations.
Mo Hua wanted to use these fourteen-thread formations to temper his sea of consciousness and take his spiritual sense to the next level! Gathering sand into a tower, dripping stone with water.
He learned one formation after another, practicing them over and over...
And unknowingly, his spiritual sense gradually advanced towards fifteen threads...
(There's only one chapter for now~
I'll take a rest and try to update more at the end of the month~(.)
)
(End of Chapter)
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