Chapter 613: Merging the Heavenly Mechanisms
Chapter 613: Merging the Heavenly Mechanisms
The next day, Mo Hua woke up with a throbbing headache.
He sank his spiritual sense into his sea of consciousness and realized that there were fine cracks in his sea of consciousness, and each time it circulated, there was a slight sting.
Mo Hua pondered for a moment and then his eyes widened in shock.
"Is this... the side effect of simultaneously using the Heavenly Mechanism's Stratagem and Deduction?"
The Heavenly Mechanism's Deduction penetrates the essence and focuses on core depth.
The Heavenly Mechanism's Stratagem creates illusory shadows and emphasizes diversity and breadth.
Using these two supreme spiritual sense algorithms together would place a tremendous burden on one's sea of consciousness, leading to the tearing and collapse of their spiritual sense...
The cracks in his spiritual sense were a sign of this impending disaster.
Mo Hua frowned.
His spiritual sense had already undergone a qualitative change, becoming deeper and more resilient than that of an ordinary cultivator. Additionally, he hadn't used the Deduction and Stratagem techniques extensively, so although he felt a stinging sensation, it wasn't too severe.
However, if he continued to use them in this manner...
Unless his spiritual sense became as solid and indestructible as the "skull" that the Horned Sheep possessed, there was no way it could withstand the strain of using the Deduction and Stratagem techniques together.
Otherwise, sooner or later, his spiritual sense would be torn apart by these two algorithms, shattering completely.
Mo Hua sucked in a breath of cold air.
"This is bad. I can't use them together..."
No wonder his master and uncle had each learned only one of these Heavenly Mechanism techniques.
Despite his master's talent and his uncle's cunning, neither of them had been able to master both.
Mo Hua's talent wasn't as great as his master's, and his cunning didn't match his uncle's. The fact that he had managed to learn both was already a huge advantage...
Now, the idea of using them together did seem a bit far-fetched.
With this realization, Mo Hua's mood improved slightly.
Contentment brings happiness, and knowing when to stop is wise.
Turning back when you hit a wall is also a form of "wisdom"...
Mo Hua nodded.
For now, the stinging sensation in his spiritual sense prevented him from continuing his studies.
Mo Hua rested for several days, refraining from drawing formations, studying formation books, or using his spiritual sense extensively. Only when his spiritual sense had recovered and no longer caused him pain did he continue his research on the Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Formation...
Just as he had deduced earlier.
The most important and core aspect of the Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Formation was the weak, magnetic spiritual lightning that was generated between the fixed and variable formation patterns.
This spiritual lightning was extremely subtle and difficult to perceive.
It was both like spiritual power and formation patterns, existing between the two and forming a subtle "secondary spiritual lightning."
If one wanted to "cheat" and break the primordial magnetic formation, they would need to grasp these "secondary lightning streams" or "secondary lightning patterns."
These true secondary lightning patterns were the "agreements," the rules themselves, and the bridge between the fixed and variable patterns.
Mo Hua once again simulated the primordial magnetic formation and then released his spiritual sense to perceive it.
However, without the enhancement of the Stratagem and Deduction techniques, he found that he couldn't sense the secondary lightning patterns at all with his spiritual power...
Mo Hua exerted himself to the utmost, his spiritual sense growing numb from the effort, but still, he found no trace of the patterns.
If he couldn't perceive them, he couldn't learn them...
Mo Hua frowned again.
Being content and happy didn't seem like an option anymore.
If he remained content, he wouldn't be able to make any progress...
The objective circumstances forced him to be "greedy."
He had to use both the Deduction and Stratagem techniques, and he had to use them together.
Otherwise, how could he observe the "secondary spiritual lightning" and research the mysteries of the Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Formation to decipher the secrets of the "Transmission Scroll?"
But if he used them together, his spiritual sense would be torn apart...
Simultaneously driving the Stratagem and Deduction placed too heavy a burden on him.
Using them occasionally was fine, but if he continued for too long, his sea of consciousness would undoubtedly collapse.
Mo Hua lay on his bed, his arm tucked under his head, his eyebrows furrowed, and his eyes blinking as he stared at the plain and ancient ceiling.
At the same time, his mind kept turning, considering all the means at his disposal, until suddenly, he paused, a realization striking him.
The Dao Monument!
The Dao Monument could rewind spiritual sense!
When he drew formation patterns on the Dao Monument, the spiritual sense he expended could be rewound.
So, what if he used the Heavenly Mechanism's Stratagem and Deduction on the Dao Monument to deduce the secondary spiritual lightning within the primordial magnetic formation...
Even if his sea of consciousness suffered and his spiritual sense was torn, as long as the deduced formation patterns were erased, wouldn't that mean...
His spiritual sense could still be rewound and restored to its original state?!
Mo Hua's heart trembled at the thought, and he immediately sat up.
He felt that this idea was a bit far-fetched, that he was "cheating" a bit too much, but at the same time, he felt that this idea was actually very reasonable.
The Dao Monument seemed like an empty void, but it also seemed to contain everything.
Transforming spiritual sense into formation patterns and reversing formation patterns back into spiritual sense.
Spiritual sense transformed from existence to nonexistence and then back again, with nonexistence giving birth to existence and the two constantly transforming into each other...
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and after considering the matter thoroughly, he couldn't wait any longer. At the hour of midnight, he entered his sea of consciousness.
In the center of his sea of consciousness stood the ancient and profound Dao Monument, a void that seemed to contain countless laws.
Mo Hua first drew a complete Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Formation on the Dao Monument, including both the fixed and variable formation patterns.
Then he activated the formation, causing the fixed and variable magnetic formation patterns to interact with each other.
Mo Hua's gaze deepened as he simultaneously employed the Heavenly Mechanism's Stratagem and Deduction.
One half of his eyes was pitch-black, while the other half was clear.
His spiritual incarnation was clad in a water and ink Daoist robe, but cracks of white began to appear on the pure black robe, as if the two types of algorithms were intertwining, conflicting, and tearing at each other endlessly...
His sea of consciousness trembled, and his spiritual sense throbbed with pain.
Mo Hua endured the stinging sensation, ignoring it as he focused on perceiving the secondary spiritual lightning hidden within the primordial magnetic formation.
This time, his spiritual sense finally detected the faint blue secondary spiritual lightning that was generated through the interaction of the primordial magnetic formation.
This spiritual lightning was weak but profound.
It resembled spiritual power of the lightning element in its weakest and most primordial state.
It was like lightning in its "infancy."
It was a stream of spiritual power, but one could clearly see that every thread and every moment of it seemed to contain traces of formation patterns, as if it held a hint of the evolution of formation patterns...
Mo Hua immediately imitated what he saw, simplifying a stream of "secondary spiritual lightning" into a "secondary lightning pattern" and drawing it on the Dao Monument.
The pain intensified during this process.
Mo Hua could only grit his teeth and persist, forcing himself to remember this secondary lightning pattern.
After recording the lightning pattern, the Deduction and Stratagem techniques stopped abruptly.
His spiritual sense was completely exhausted, and his sea of consciousness was bearing the burden of the dual Heavenly Mechanism algorithms, showing signs of cracking.
Mo Hua's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately erased all the formation patterns and traces from the Dao Monument.
Mo Hua was slightly stunned, but soon a smile of delight appeared on his face.
His guess was correct!
The Dao Monument could indeed be used to cheat!
His master and uncle, being older and more experienced cultivators, could only choose to master one of the Heavenly Mechanism algorithms, either Deduction or Stratagem.
But Mo Hua, being younger and of a younger generation, could have both!
Mo Hua's face lit up with a mischievous grin as he stroked the Dao Monument, his heart filled with praise, "The Dao Monument is so amazing!"
While his spiritual sense had been rewound, the knowledge and insights he had gained remained intact.
This meant that he could use the Dao Monument to "cheat" by simultaneously employing the Heavenly Mechanism's Deduction and Stratagem, unraveling the Primordial Magnetic Formation, perceiving the secondary spiritual lightning, and thus, recording the secondary lightning patterns.
Conversely, by understanding the secondary lightning patterns through the Primordial Magnetic Formation, he was also practicing the fusion of the Deduction and Stratagem algorithms!
A double benefit!
He was not only comprehending the formation but also merging the algorithms!
Mo Hua's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Although his spiritual sense would tear and cause some pain, the results made this tolerable.
Without further ado, Mo Hua began to draw the Primordial Magnetic Formation over and over, merging the Stratagem and Deduction algorithms, unraveling the secondary spiritual lightning, and comprehending the secondary lightning formation...
His spiritual sense tore and then healed, over and over again.
What Mo Hua didn't know was that...
With each cycle, his spiritual sense was also strengthening, becoming more resilient with each tear and repair.
Step by step, it was forging towards an indestructible state.
Within the void of the Dao Monument, the interplay of existence and nothingness silently and subtly infused his consciousness with profound insights...
This process was occurring quietly and intricately, without Mo Hua's awareness...
And Mo Hua's focus remained solely on the formation.
...
Three days later.
Mo Hua remained single-mindedly focused on studying the Primordial Magnetic Formation and the secondary lightning patterns.
But after days of deducing, he encountered another problem:
By amplifying Deduction with Stratagem, he could unravel the Primordial Magnetic Formation and perceive the secondary spiritual lightning, grasping the fundamental rules embodied in the "secondary lightning patterns"...
However, these secondary lightning patterns seemed impossible to learn...
Over the past few days, Mo Hua had recorded numerous "secondary lightning patterns," but each one was vastly different, with no unifying characteristics.
The variations were too numerous, too subtle, and too complex.
There seemed to be no patterns, no rules, making it impossible to memorize, apply, or categorize them...
This implied that these "secondary lightning patterns" were not truly "formation patterns" but were more akin to concrete "lightning bolts"...
Mo Hua sighed.
No wonder in the common formation legacies of the cultivation world, they only used fixed and variable formation patterns to sense the secondary spiritual lightning, simulating its flow to transmit messages and manifest text.
No one actually tried to learn these "secondary lightning patterns"...
Indeed, the secondary spiritual lightning was extremely subtle, and without the boost of the algorithms, ordinary cultivators couldn't perceive it at all.
And even if they did, the complexity and subtlety of the secondary lightning patterns made it virtually impossible to categorize them as "formation patterns."
Some secondary lightning patterns looked identical, but the slightest variation in the tail of the lightning bolt made them entirely different, making them extremely challenging to distinguish.
And within the Primordial Magnetic Formation, there were countless such "similar yet different" secondary lightning patterns.
It was simply impossible to learn them all.
Mo Hua felt a deep sense of frustration.
After all his efforts, he had glimpsed the core of the formation, only to find something even more profound, intricate, and seemingly impossible to grasp...
Mo Hua felt disheartened for a moment, but then his thoughts took a turn.
If this were easy, everyone would have done it, and how could his formation be considered extraordinary?
It was because it was extremely challenging that it was worth studying!
And it was because it was difficult that it showcased his exceptional talent in formations!
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he immediately felt a surge of determination.
"Mere secondary lightning patterns...
I've learned grand formations and ultimate formations, how could I possibly fail to learn these?"
At most, the patterns were a little more complex, the differences a little more subtle, and the number of variations a little overwhelming.
With enough practice, even an iron rod could be ground into a needle.
Drawing the formation a hundred times would naturally reveal its essence.
Mo Hua took out a large jade slip and named it the "Secondary Lightning Patterns" jade slip.
He decided to record every single one of the myriad secondary lightning patterns he deduced, no matter how subtle the differences, into this jade slip.
With his profound spiritual sense, sharp perception, and powerful memory, he would memorize them all!
A thousand patterns, he would remember a thousand.
Ten thousand patterns, he would remember ten thousand...
Mo Hua was resolute.
He refused to believe that if he deduced and recorded tens of thousands of secondary lightning patterns, he wouldn't be able to discern some principles and tricks...
Since there was no clever way to do it, he would resort to the most straightforward method!
From then on, Mo Hua diligently recorded each secondary lightning pattern, reviewing them whenever he had free time...
This was a lengthy process.
Fortunately, this process also served to enhance his formation skills, strengthen his spiritual sense, and merge the algorithms, so he didn't find it arduous but rather fulfilling...
...
A month later, the annual vacation at Tai Xu Gate began.
The annual vacation was a biannual event mandated by the sect, with each vacation lasting about half a month.
It was a time for disciples, especially those from aristocratic clans, to return to their families, report on their studies, pay respects to their elders, or handle personal matters.
Some even returned to arrange betrothals...
Mo Hua couldn't go home.
Tong Xian City was too far away, and even if he wanted to, he couldn't make the journey. Instead, he wrote a letter and sent it back to Tong Xian City via the courier station in Qian Zhou.
In the letter, he wrote about his well-being and assured them that all was well...
He explained that while he hadn't been able to join the Qian Dao Sect due to their high standards, fate had led him to Tai Xu Gate, one of the eight great sects of Qian Zhou.
He also mentioned a kind and beautiful aunt from the Shang Guan family, named Wen Ren Wan, who had been of great help during his entry into the sect.
He spoke of Master Xun, his formation arts teacher, who held him in high regard, and how his foundation in formations had become solid.
He described his harmonious relationships with his fellow disciples and how some senior brothers and sisters treated him well.
He also mentioned that he had no shortage of spirit stones, and there were plenty of opportunities to earn resources within the sect...
...
Mo Hua rambled on, sharing many details, and finally concluded with a summary:
"All is well, so please don't worry.
After some thought, Mo Hua felt that "Qi Condensation" was a bit too low, so he raised the requirement a little: Mid Qi Condensation stage!
After writing the letter, Mo Hua spent some spirit stones to send it on its way.
With the distance between Li Zhou and his home, it was hard to tell when the letter would arrive.
Mo Hua felt a bit dejected for a while, and then he headed to Gu Jia in Qingzhou City.
Shangguan Xu told him that Yu'er had been having trouble sleeping again.
Mo Hua licked his lips and hitched a ride on Shangguan's carriage to the Gu residence in Qingzhou City.
When Wen Renwan saw Mo Hua, she looked at him as if he were a precious treasure, feeling both delighted and relieved.
After exchanging pleasantries, Wen Renwan frowned and sighed, "Yu'er's condition isn't as severe as before..."
"She doesn't shake or feel cold all over, and she's not as scared and restless as before, unable to sleep..."
"But she still frowns and complains of headaches and tension, and she still has nightmares..."
"However, Yu'er said that there are fewer demons and monsters in her dreams than before..."
Mo Hua nodded and assured her, "Aunt Wen, don't worry. There will be even fewer soon..."
Wen Renwan looked at him with a puzzled expression.
That night, Yu'er lay in bed, asleep.
With Mo Hua by her side, she slept peacefully and quietly.
Mo Hua sat beside her, meditating and flipping through an array tome.
His spiritual sense had become very strong, but it was still far from enough.
Firstly, he needed to merge the Heavenly Mechanism algorithms, deduce the Primordial Magnetic Formation, and record the secondary lightning patterns.
The Beacon Fire Primordial Magnetic Formation was a second-rate sixteen-pattern formation.
Even though Mo Hua's spiritual sense had undergone a qualitative change and become extremely resilient, the dual algorithms were too complex and profound, making it very challenging to deduce the formation with a sixteen-pattern spiritual sense.
The stronger his spiritual sense, the more at ease he would be.
Additionally, according to Huang Shanjun, one had to reach the twenty-pattern realm and condense their spiritual sense into a pellet before they could cultivate the "Great Void Divine Mentality Sword Scripture," which could cut both physical objects and intangible divine spirits.
Therefore, the stronger his spiritual sense, the better.
However, the means to enhance his spiritual sense were very limited.
Aside from diligently studying array formations and tempering his spiritual sense, Mo Hua could only hope for some "side benefits" to supplement his cultivation.
Mo Hua was reading, but his mind was elsewhere.
As night deepened, the side room became empty and desolate.
Suddenly, a chill wind blew, bringing with it a bone-chilling cold.
Mo Hua was startled, but then he smiled slightly and looked up. As expected, he saw chains of causality condensing out of the void.
The stench of blood and filth, along with the evil stench of corruption, permeated the room.
This kind of aura couldn't be sensed with the nose, only with spiritual sense.
Viscous black liquid dripped down.
Deformed and monstrous demons, soaked in "amniotic fluid" like black water, crawled out, following the chains of causality from the ceiling and the surrounding areas, their bodies hanging upside down as they slowly emerged.
They were the same as before...
Some had human bodies and horse heads, others had donkey heads and demon bodies, and there were even those with dog bodies and human faces...
They ignored Mo Hua and used their hands and feet to crawl towards Yu'er.
Yu'er began to frown, her little hands and feet flailing as she murmured softly.
Mo Hua stood in front of Yu'er, blocking her from the demons.
The group of demons and monsters hesitated for a moment when they saw Mo Hua, a mere little ghost. Then, their eyes turned scarlet, and their expressions became sinister and cruel.
They didn't know Mo Hua's "true identity."
Any demon or monster that knew Mo Hua's "true identity" would never be able to escape his "slaughterhouse" of a sea of consciousness.
From the moment they appeared before Mo Hua, their fate was sealed.
They acted arrogantly, turning into gusts of sinister wind and drilling into Mo Hua's sea of consciousness.
The demons' twisted faces wore cruel smiles.
Then, they saw a majestic and vast array, like a volcano erupting with raging flames.
A bunch of "worthless trash."
Mo Hua didn't feel like playing with them this time, so he simply waited for them, having already set up the second-rate Li Mountain Funeral Array in his sea of consciousness.
The demons were aggressive, but as soon as they entered his sea of consciousness, they fell into the "fire pot."
Mo Hua immediately activated the Li Mountain Funeral Array.
The rugged mountains formed a prison, and the raging flames resembled a hellish inferno.
The demons were confused and disoriented, unsure of what had happened. In the next moment, they were gone, "cooked" by Mo Hua.
Tendrils of blue smoke rose from the Li Mountain Funeral Array.
Mo Hua swallowed it, smacked his lips, and felt a bit unsatisfied.
He hadn't really eaten his fill...
His spiritual sense had strengthened a little, but not by much, and it was far from enough to fill the gap of the seventeen-pattern bottleneck.
What he regretted the most was that there didn't seem to be any "Sheep Horn Enforcer" in the black water this time.
He hadn't gotten to drink that pale golden "marrow," which was a pity...
However, this was already an unexpected bonus, and Mo Hua wasn't greedy.
At the very least, his spiritual sense had definitely become stronger.
After "consuming" the demons, Mo Hua woke up, and the demonic aura in the side room completely dissipated.
The night was quiet, and the moonlight was peaceful.
Yu'er lay in bed, her brows relaxed and her face calm as she slept soundly.
Mo Hua smiled faintly, then frowned as he thought:
Yu'er was shrouded in a grand scheme, and these demons and monsters would continue to plague her mind as nightmares.
While it seemed to have calmed down for now, due to the laws of causality, they would surely not give up as long as they had the chance.
Moreover, they might even encounter the Sheep Horn Enforcer with its pale golden marrow again.
Or perhaps, they might encounter a divine spirit body of an even higher grade than the Sheep Horn Enforcer...
Eventually, they might even encounter an evil god?!
Mo Hua thought about it and felt that an evil god was unlikely.
Evil gods were too powerful, and if one truly descended, Yu'er's physical body and sea of consciousness wouldn't be able to withstand it...
Then, it was probably...
The larva or embryo of an evil god?
Would the embryo of an evil god be weaker...
Could it be...
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but lick his lips, his expression expectant as he muttered:
"I wonder what a real evil god tastes like..."
(End of Chapter)
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