Chapter 605: Thunder Pattern
Chapter 605: Thunder Pattern
Mo Hua had made up his mind. The next day, he attended his usual classes.
After the cultivation lesson, he had an alchemy class, followed by an artifact forging class, and finally, he sat in on a swordsmanship class.
Technically, Mo Hua didn't need to attend the swordsmanship class.
As a spiritual cultivator, he specialized in spells and magic.
Moreover, swords were expensive, and he couldn't afford them.
However, adhering to the principle of "know your enemy and know yourself, and you shall never be defeated," he felt it necessary to have some understanding of swordsmanship.
More importantly, Mo Hua kept thinking about the "Supreme Divine Thought Sword Technique" that he had vaguely "deduced" from obscure causality, a technique for which he only knew the name.
He couldn't afford to cultivate a genuine sword technique.
But perhaps he could give the "Supreme Divine Thought Sword" a try.
As the name implied, it involved both "divine thought" and "sword technique," suggesting that it was related to both aspects.
So, whenever he had the time, Mo Hua would attend the swordsmanship classes to pick up some basics.
While learning the fundamentals of swordsmanship, he also kept an eye out for any clues related to the "Supreme Divine Thought Sword Technique."
At the same time, he studied the advantages and disadvantages of swordsmanship, silently pondering how he should respond if he ever encountered a swordsman in the future.
However, perhaps because he was still a beginner, the swordsmanship classes were quite basic.
After attending the classes for several months, Mo Hua had only scratched the surface. He couldn't even condense his sword qi, let alone truly control a sword...
At the same time, he also heard about the famous sword techniques of the Great Void Sect from the elder in charge of swordsmanship:
Techniques such as the "Great Void Fierce Fire Sword Technique," the "Great Void Two Extremes Sword Technique," and the "Great Void Return to One Sword Form"... and so on.
But not a single person had ever mentioned the name "Supreme Divine Thought Sword Technique"...
Mo Hua didn't know if this sword technique was too obscure for anyone to learn, too difficult for anyone to master, or too ancient to the point of being lost forever...
Mo Hua sighed. He could only be patient and continue his search slowly.
There would be plenty of opportunities in the future, and as long as he kept it in mind, he would surely find some clues about this sword technique one day.
Moreover, there was also that dilapidated mountain god, Huang Shan Jun, in the ruined temple on the desolate mountain.
Mo Hua nodded.
He would go and ask Huang Shan Jun about it the next time he passed by that desolate mountain during a mission.
For now, he had classes to attend and didn't have the time to go looking for the mountain god...
The last class in the afternoon was on formations, and Old Master Xun was being lazy again.
As the "senior disciple," Mo Hua had no choice but to diligently substitute for Old Master Xun.
After the class ended, the day's courses were finally over.
Mo Hua returned to the disciples' residence and took out the bizarre Four Symbols formation he had imprinted from the bald head of the criminal cultivator, "Vulture." With his newfound free time, he began to study it.
The Four Symbols Formation!
"There's a new formation to learn..."
Mo Hua's spirits lifted, and his eyes sparkled with excitement.
Moreover, this formation wasn't just "new" in the general sense.
The Four Symbols Formation was truly innovative, breaking away from the categories of the five elements and the eight trigrams.
It was a bit bizarre and perilous, though.
The light from the oil lamps in the disciples' residence was bright and warm.
The room was simple but clean and tidy.
Mo Hua lay on the table, spreading out the formation paper, preparing his brush and ink, and taking out the imprinted Four Symbols demon pattern formation he had obtained. He began to study it...
This formation had peculiar patterns.
The formation's core structure was simple, but the formation patterns were intricate.
Unlike the five elements and eight trigrams formations, which were concise, restrained, and profound, this formation's patterns resembled those of a demon beast. The brushstrokes were vivid, resembling an eagle or a falcon, with its claws and fangs bared, wild and rampant.
It was both novel and bizarre.
However, as long as it was a formation, it could be deconstructed into mere patterns.
As long as one's heart was pure, there was nothing to fear.
Mo Hua began to dismantle the formation, breaking down the formation's core and extracting the patterns, like a skilled butcher dissecting a cow, removing the bones and flesh without seeing the whole animal.
His mastery of the heavenly machine derivation technique had become more and more proficient, allowing him to analyze such formations with greater insight.
Soon, Mo Hua finished dismantling the formation.
The Four Symbols Formation had been broken down into more than a dozen independent Four Symbols-type patterns by him.
Mo Hua examined the patterns but couldn't help scratching his head.
"Something's not right..."
Upon closer inspection, these patterns didn't resemble Four Symbols formation patterns at all.
They were vastly different from what Old Master Xun had taught him before.
Or rather, they only appeared to be Four Symbols formation patterns...
But when it came to actually "studying" or "learning" them, they differed greatly from the typical Four Symbols formation patterns.
"A variation of the formation patterns?"
Mo Hua frowned.
That was the only principle he could think of.
What Old Master Xun had taught him were basic, elementary, and introductory Four Symbols formation patterns, suitable for beginners.
In contrast, the Four Symbols formation on Vulture's head seemed more like an advanced form, incorporating complex variations and clearly designed to merge with demonic power to enhance killing techniques.
Beast patterns, akin to demons, could erode one's humanity...
Mo Hua was a bit apprehensive, but after some thought, he decided to spend some time learning it anyway.
He needed to practice drawing it a few times to truly comprehend the formation's mysteries.
If he noticed any signs of "demonization" or losing control, he would stop immediately.
Mo Hua imitated the patterns while simultaneously performing derivations. After an hour, he finally grasped the basics of the Four Symbols Hawk Pattern Formation.
"It's useless..."
The intricate patterns of the formation were perfectly replicated on the paper, identical to the ones on Vulture's bald head, even down to the tiniest details resembling feathers, claws, and fangs.
However, when Mo Hua infused spiritual energy into it, the formation remained inert, showing no response whatsoever.
Within Mo Hua's spiritual perception, this formation existed only in form, lacking the vital essence and circulating trajectory of energy that characterized functioning formations.
"What am I missing..."
But what could it be?
Demonic power?
Where could he possibly obtain demonic power? Should he abandon his humanity and delve into the bloody and sinister paths of the demonic cultivators of the Demon Sect, consuming human flesh and cultivating demonic energy like a beast?
Mo Hua shook his head, dismissing the idea.
For now, this formation seemed useless...
Yet, his curiosity was piqued.
He recalled that Vulture, the criminal cultivator, hadn't cultivated demonic arts either, and his spiritual energy seemed normal. So, how was he able to create such an unusual Four Symbols formation? Or, from an essential perspective, what was the true purpose of the Four Symbols formation?
Mo Hua stroked his chin, deep in thought.
The Five Elements and Eight Trigrams had clear systems, manipulating the natural forces of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, rain, and lightning, among others.
But what about the Four Symbols?
Could it be meant to manipulate demonic power?
If so, one wrong step could lead to being eroded by demonic power and losing control, resulting in a disastrous outcome. Mo Hua felt that he was overlooking something crucial.
He compared the Four Symbols hawk patterns with the basic and orthodox Four Symbols formation patterns taught by Old Master Xun.
Using the Heavenly Machine Derivation Technique, Mo Hua peered into the origin of the formation patterns, independently deriving their various transformations.
Suddenly, Mo Hua's eyes widened, and his gaze sharpened.
Within his spiritual perception, as he derived the trajectory of the formation patterns, the two sets of patterns, after undergoing several transformations, overlapped, revealing more fundamental traces!
In that fleeting moment, Mo Hua had a sudden realization.
The Four Symbols formation patterns taught by Old Master Xun were "beast patterns."
On the other hand, the Four Symbols formation patterns on Vulture's head were "demon patterns."
Demons and beasts were not entirely the same, but they shared a common origin.
Similarly, while demon patterns and beast patterns differed in form, their fundamental patterns were interconnected.
In other words, both the Four Symbols demon patterns and Four Symbols beast patterns were built upon a more fundamental and basic layer of Four Symbols formation patterns.
There were even more fundamental layers beneath the basics.
Demon patterns and beast patterns were both variations of a foundational set of Four Symbols formation patterns.
Thus, they were both Four Symbols formations, yet distinct from each other.
"So that's how it is..."
Mo Hua's spirits lifted, and he began to carefully compare the patterns, meticulously analyzing the overlaps in the trajectory of the formation patterns within his spiritual perception to decipher the shared foundational Four Symbols formation patterns.
One by one, Mo Hua derived, compared, and deciphered the formation patterns, sketching them on paper...
After more than half a period of time, Mo Hua finally finished his calculations.
He arranged the more fundamental and universal Four Symbols formation patterns side by side, examining them closely.
These patterns were more abstract than the "hawk patterns" or "beast patterns."
They resembled...
Chains or cages...
As he studied them, Mo Hua's eyes widened, and his heart stirred.
He had seen these patterns before!
Mo Hua quickly opened his storage bag and dug out several wooden boards from the bottom. Carved onto these boards were strikingly similar patterns.
Although there were slight differences in the brushstrokes and variations in the traces, Mo Hua, with his rich experience, could instantly recognize that these two sets of patterns undoubtedly belonged to the same lineage of formation techniques.
These wooden boards were...
Mo Hua's gaze sharpened as he murmured:
"Yu'er..."
In that eatery, when he rescued Yu'er from the human traffickers, she had been locked inside a box adorned with a formation.
These wooden boards were from the very box that had held Yu'er captive.
The formation on the wooden boards was the unfamiliar "lock" formation that had trapped Yu'er, isolating her aura and senses.
Through the use of the Heavenly Machine Derivation Technique and the Heavenly Machine Calculation Technique, Mo Hua had gained insights into some of the secrets of that "lock" formation, grasped the relationships of "generation and overcoming," and thus, unlocked the formation.
However, his understanding at the time had been based on guesswork and intuition, knowing the "how" without truly understanding the "why."
He had been completely clueless about the fundamental principles of the formation.
Later, after joining the sect and being occupied with various tasks and lessons, Mo Hua gradually forgot about these formation patterns.
He hadn't expected to stumble upon this "lock formation" once again under such coincidental circumstances.
However, his understanding of these formation patterns could go no further without a complete inheritance.
Mo Hua could only manage to decipher this much with his limited exposure.
He needed to find a way to obtain more Four Symbols formations or formation patterns of a similar type.
Mo Hua furrowed his brows, his thoughts racing.
Four Symbols beast patterns...
Four Symbols demon patterns, the criminal cultivator, Vulture...
The foundational Four Symbols formation patterns, the unknown lock formation, Yu'er...
Human traffickers, Boss Jiang...
Mo Hua recalled the wanted notice issued by the Dao Court, detailing Vulture's crimes: "He has forcefully captured female disciples, murdered, and even engaged in human trafficking, selling young cultivators as food for demonic cultivators..."
"Engaged in human trafficking..."
Mo Hua's thoughts stirred.
Jiang Laoda's wooden box had a locking Four Symbols formation, and Vulture's bald head bore a demonic Four Symbols formation...
Thus, the formations they used likely came from the same source?
A name suddenly popped into Mo Hua's mind:
"Mr. Tu..."
This Mr. Tu was someone Jiang Laoda had mentioned, and he sounded mysterious.
From Jiang Laoda's tone, he seemed to hold this person in high regard and even fear him to some extent.
"Anyone associated with Jiang Laoda is unlikely to be a good person..."
"Being addressed as 'Mr.' suggests he's not a brute, a physical cultivator, or a butcher who gets his hands dirty..."
"He's either skilled in derivation or formation techniques, or perhaps he's adept at both?"
"Could this Four Symbols formation be the handiwork of this 'Mr. Tu'?"
...
Mo Hua nodded, his mind now set on a clear goal:
To apprehend this mysterious "Mr. Tu."
This person would undoubtedly possess a unique heritage of the Four Symbols formation, and it was unlikely to be an ordinary one.
The "locking" formation patterns intrigued Mo Hua, seeming abstruse and profound, touching on the deepest mysteries of the Four Symbols and even reminiscent of the "Five Elemental Source Patterns."
Mo Hua couldn't help but lick his lips.
This Mr. Tu...
Was a sheep to be sheared! If he could get his hands on him, he could not only shear the wool but also feast on the meat, roast the ribs, and make soup from the bones!
And there was also Yu'er...
They definitely didn't have good intentions towards her.
He couldn't let them off the hook.
However, this "Mr. Tu" was likely a highly cultivated individual, skilled in formations, and probably adept at derivation as well...
Moreover, he lurked in the shadows, making it difficult to bring him to light...
"I need to find some clues and plan carefully..."
"If all else fails, I can report to the Dao Court, and there's also the Grand Void Sect, with connections to the Shangguan and Wen families, as well as Uncle Shangguan and Aunt Wan..."
As Mo Hua considered his options, he realized that he didn't need to take matters into his own hands; there were plenty of "fighters" he could rely on.
He just needed to seize the opportunity and take advantage of the situation.
Mo Hua nodded, feeling that this approach was more prudent.
"But how can I find this 'Mr. Tu'?"
Mo Hua retraced the events since his arrival in Qianzhou in his mind, only to realize that the clues leading to Mr. Tu were scant.
The most obvious connection was "human trafficking."
Mo Hua thought to himself, "It seems that from now on, I should specifically look for missions involving bounties on human traffickers..."
"There's also Jiang Laoda and Vulture..."
"Even though they're dead, their connections remain, and birds of a feather flock together. Those associated with them are unlikely to be decent people and are most likely wanted criminal cultivators being hunted by the Dao Court."
"If I find these people, I'll... no, I shouldn't use torture, but rather 'enlighten' them with my Fireball Technique. Once they see the error of their ways, they'll surely divulge some useful information..."
"And there's also..."
Mo Hua pulled out a jade token from his storage bag.
It was the same token that Vulture had used to send messages.
He had inspected it and found it to be completely blank.
However, as an array master, he understood the concept of "interdependence of existence and non-existence."
"Existence can become non-existence, and non-existence can become existence."
Moreover, Uncle Zhanguan had advised him, "Every action leaves a trace, and every cultivator leaves marks of their doing..."
Just because something was invisible didn't mean it didn't exist.
Mo Hua intended to study the token and see if he could uncover any clues about Vulture's associates.
He wanted to find out who Vulture had communicated with and what they had said to each other.
...
Mo Hua spent the next two days studying the token, but despite his efforts, he made little progress.
The intricacies of the token remained a mystery to him.
Mo Hua sighed.
As he feared, trying to figure it out in isolation wasn't going to work.
His current level of expertise in formations, especially his experience with different types of formations, wasn't sufficient to quickly unravel the secrets of an unfamiliar formation.
Even with his skill in both esoteric and derivative calculations.
However, he was now a disciple of the Grand Void Sect, and there was no shame in asking when one didn't know.
So, Mo Hua went to seek guidance from Old Master Xun.
There were some things he couldn't ask about.
For example, the Grand Void Divine Thought Sword Technique, or matters pertaining to the esoteric and derivative calculations of heaven's will.
But the "token" was unlikely to involve significant causality, so asking about it should be fine.
Old Master Xun was a little surprised and asked, "Why the sudden interest in tokens?"
Mo Hua replied shyly, "I'm from a small celestial city in Lizhou, and I hadn't seen tokens like these before, so I'm just curious..."
"I believe that tokens like these must incorporate some formation principles, but after pondering it for a few days, I couldn't figure it out, so I've come to seek your guidance, Master..."
Old Master Xun nodded slightly.
He was pleased to see Mo Hua's curiosity and thirst for knowledge.
The boy approached problems with an inquisitive mind and wasn't afraid to ask when he couldn't figure something out.
That was commendable...
Old Master Xun thought to himself, deciding to offer some basic insights. While it might be a bit early to teach him about tokens, giving him a head start and a general idea would make learning easier in the future.
"These types of formations are quite complex and not suitable for you at the moment. But since you're curious, I'll explain some fundamental formation principles to you, just so you have a basic understanding..."
"However, don't get too carried away and waste too much effort on this. It's important to focus on mastering the standard formations step by step."
"Yes, Master!"
Mo Hua nodded eagerly.
After a moment's thought, he asked, "Master, is the Thunder Pattern related to 'primordial magnetism'?"
Old Master Xun nodded slightly. "Indeed, but the so-called 'primordial magnetism' is distinct from normal Thunder Patterns."
"The array category involved in the token is not 'lei' (thunder)
, but 'dian' (electricity)
, or more precisely, 'ci' (magnetism)
..."
"The Electric Pattern, or Magnetism Pattern, is generally classified under the eight trigrams' 'zhen' series, but they are collectively referred to as 'Secondary Thunder Patterns.' They are derived from the eight trigrams, possess thunder attributes, but are weaker, secondary to true thunder, and are secondary Thunder Patterns."
Mo Hua understood.
Secondary Thunder Patterns, secondary array variations, could also be considered a type of array variation.
Similar to the variations based on the Four Symbols beast patterns and Four Symbols demon patterns.
Old Master Xun continued, "The Secondary Thunder Patterns transform electricity into magnetism and are similar to some of the metal-based array methods in the Five Elements that have magnetic properties and can be used for navigation, sensing, indication, and messaging."
"It's a type of confidential array pattern."
Mo Hua nodded, then asked, "Then... what about the true Thunder Pattern?"
Old Master Xun's gaze turned stern, and his expression became solemn. "The true Thunder Pattern is extremely complex and powerful. Such arrays are incredibly difficult to control."
"It not only embodies the 'zhen' trigram but also incorporates variations from the 'qian,' 'kan,' and 'xun' trigrams."
"Thus, it is difficult to comprehend, control, and deploy."
"A true Thunder Array is terrifyingly powerful and can annihilate all things."
"That is the true heavenly thunder."
Old Master Xun sighed, his eyes filled with reverence. "The thunder from the nine heavens symbolizes the mighty power of the heavens, destroying evil and exterminating demons, piercing through the heavens and the earth. It is a manifestation of the 'Kill' path."
"While the Thunder Pattern is categorized under the eight trigrams, it encompasses the principles of multiple trigrams and is far superior to other eight-trigram arrays."
"One must have a resolute and upright heart to wield the Thunder Pattern."
"Any hint of evil or selfish thoughts can lead to backlash from the heavenly thunder, inviting 'divine retribution' and perishing under one's own thunder array."
"Hence, the inheritance of the Thunder Pattern is extremely strict."
"In this world, the number of families with a true Thunder Pattern legacy can be counted on one's fingers."
Mo Hua was shocked. He thought of the Thunder Pattern he had left on the Dao Monument, which could annihilate all things.
But he also noticed another piece of information in Old Master Xun's words:
"Counted on one's fingers..."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up. "Does that mean... there are still families that inherit the Thunder Pattern?"
Old Master Xun nodded. "Yes, but most of these families have been struck by heavenly thunder. As a result, they either abandoned their legacy and sought new paths or secluded themselves from the world, living in isolation and adhering to their own hearts."
"The only one that has passed down the Thunder Pattern from generation to generation and still holds considerable influence is the Zheng family from Zhen State."
"The Zheng family?" Mo Hua was surprised. "Zheng Fang's family?"
Zheng Fang...
Mo Hua recalled a fellow disciple with a square face, who was somewhat honest and occasionally dull, named Zheng Xuan.
The first time Old Master Xun had asked him to substitute for a class, Zheng Fang had "tested" him with a secret family array method, allowing him to secretly learn an array as well.
Could that array have been the Thunder Array? Old Master Xun seemed to guess Mo Hua's thoughts and shook his head slightly. "The Thunder Array is not lightly taught. Even the direct descendants of the Zheng family are subject to the same rule."
"Zheng Fang is still young and not qualified to learn the Thunder Pattern legacy. At most, he has learned some basic Secondary Thunder Array variations."
"Not only Zheng Fang, but among all the disciples of the Zheng family who have joined various sects in the Qianxue State, none are qualified to learn the Thunder Array."
Mo Hua felt a bit disappointed.
However, it made sense. The Thunder Pattern was of great significance, and Zheng Fang wouldn't possibly use such an array to "test" him, even if he were a "dunce."
Unless his heart had been corrupted, causing him to lose his sanity.
Speaking of corrupted hearts, Mo Hua wouldn't do such a thing either...
"Is there no one in Qianxue State who knows the Thunder Array?" Mo Hua asked curiously.
"There is," Old Master Xun replied.
Mo Hua was taken aback.
"In Qianxue State, the only one with the legacy of the Thunder Array is..."
Old Master Xun frowned, thought for a moment, and then slowly said, "It should be... Zheng Wanjun..."
"Zheng Wanjun?"
Mo Hua was puzzled.
He had never heard of this name before.
Old Master Xun nodded slightly. "He is one of the Four Great Sects, an elder of the Qiandao Sect."
(End of Chapter)
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