https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-645-Deciphering-the-Spirit-Array/12542837/
Chapter 646: The Sinister Formation Master
Chapter 646: The Sinister Formation Master
Here is the rewritten translator's note without the Chinese text:
As Mo Hua pretended to have a sudden realization, Gu Changhuai was taken aback, "What have you figured out now?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment before explaining, "If I'm not mistaken, there should be a Yuan Magnet Composite Formation within this Demon Hall, used to coordinate the Yuan Magnet Arrays throughout this Demon Lair, as well as monitor spiritual power fluctuations and any other disturbances."
Gu Changhuai, Gu Anhao, and Gu Quan exchanged grave glances.
"In other words..." Mo Hua continued, "...we are not only being watched by the patrolling Demon Cultivators and their magical hounds, but also by hidden Yuan Magnet Arrays and invisible 'magnetic currents'..."
"A single mistake could trigger the formation and alert the Demon Cultivators."
"And we might not even know how we were detected..."
Gu Changhuai frowned, "Is there a way to dismantle this composite formation?"
Mo Hua shook his head, "The Yuan Magnet Composite Formation is probably a formation of at least seventeen patterns or more. It's a bit beyond my capabilities, I can't dismantle it yet..."
Gu Changhuai felt a twinge of disappointment.
He had truly believed that Mo Hua could unravel any formation.
He never expected there to be something beyond the boy's abilities...
However, this thought was quickly replaced by a nagging feeling that something wasn't quite right.
A seventeen-pattern formation at the early Qi Refining stage...
It seemed a bit... "beyond the curriculum"? Gu Changhuai couldn't help but think.
Was it really that "beyond the curriculum"?
Was the boy misunderstanding the meaning of those words?
But after all the surprises on this journey, he was starting to take things in stride.
Yuan Magnet Composite Formation, formation surveillance...
Gu Changhuai looked up at the heavily guarded Demon Hall and said in a low voice, "If that's the case, we have no choice but to retreat and rethink our strategy."
Mo Hua furrowed his brows.
Retreat and rethink...
This would undoubtedly take more time.
His plan to make Huo Fotuo pay with his life within seven days would fall through.
After seven days, he would have to return to the sect for classes, and the opportunity to obtain the Meteor Fire Art would be lost...
"There is another way..." Mo Hua thought for a moment before slowly saying, "We can try to find the core of the Yuan Magnet Composite Formation..."
"The core of the composite formation?" Gu Changhuai asked.
"Yes." Mo Hua nodded, "A composite formation consists of multiple individual formations that need to be coordinated and controlled by a central hub. The larger the formation, the more obvious the central hub, and the more concentrated its functions..."
"If we destroy the hub, the Yuan Magnet Composite Formation will malfunction, making it much easier for us to act without constantly looking over our shoulders."
"And if we can control the hub..."
Mo Hua's eyes lit up, "...we might even be able to turn the tables and use the surveillance formations in the Demon Hall to our advantage."
Gu Changhuai was astonished by this suggestion.
Gu Anhao and Gu Quan also looked skeptical.
Could formation masters really have such capabilities?
After a moment's thought, Gu Changhuai nodded in agreement, "Alright, let's do as you say."
"Mhm."
Without further delay, Mo Hua began to discern the location of the core of the Yuan Magnet Composite Formation.
The Demon Hall was a maze of strict and complex pathways.
On the surface, there didn't seem to be any systematic Yuan Magnet Arrays.
But the array mediums were just mediums, and the array patterns were just shells.
The essence of a formation was still spiritual power.
Although it was invisible, the subtle traces of the formation's spiritual power were clearly discernible to divine sense.
Mo Hua unleashed his divine sense, probing the Yuan Magnet Arrays, sensing the connections between them, and thus understanding the entire system of the Yuan Magnet Formation.
Occasionally, when the trail went cold, he would use derivation to sense the faint magnetic currents in the air.
By following the "secondary lightning patterns" left by the magnetic currents, he traced them back to their source, pulling out the entire Yuan Magnet Formation of the outer hall like pulling a radish out of the mud, exposing each and every one of them.
These Yuan Magnet Arrays were diverse and varied.
Mo Hua could identify some of them.
Common small Yuan Magnet Arrays or Beacon Fire Yuan Magnet Arrays, for example...
But there were some with abstruse patterns that surpassed Mo Hua's divine sense realm. Although he could locate them, he couldn't discern their specifics or identify their functions.
However, this didn't matter much.
These Yuan Magnet Arrays were merely used for "positioning," serving to observe the flow of the formation's hub through the layout of the formations.
After finding the locations of all the Yuan Magnet Arrays in the outer hall, Mo Hua then used the formation's layout to derive the location of the convergence of the Yuan Magnet currents.
The convergence of the Yuan Magnet currents was where the formation's hub was located.
However, this process was both taxing on the divine sense and time-consuming...
Gu Changhuai stood by, quietly observing Mo Hua, his mind filled with questions.
In his eyes, Mo Hua was just running around, stopping now and then to look up at the sky.
Or, like a "little spirit hound," sniffing around and then "earnestly" uncovering formation after formation, pinpointing the location of the formation's hub...
But no matter how Gu Changhuai looked at it, the surroundings were just ordinary buildings with no distinctive marks.
If he hadn't known about Mo Hua's exceptional formation skills, he would have thought that the boy was putting on an act, pretending to be profound and deceiving him...
Gu Changhuai was thoroughly confused.
After a while, Mo Hua pointed to a small path in the outer hall and said decisively, "The Yuan Magnet currents are flowing in that direction."
Gu Changhuai couldn't hold back his curiosity any longer and asked, "How did you figure that out..."
He stopped mid-sentence, already knowing what Mo Hua would say: "I could tell at a glance..."
Gu Changhuai rephrased his question, "Then how come I can't see it?"
After all, he was a Golden Core cultivator, and his divine sense should be stronger.
Mo Hua replied matter-of-factly, "You're not a formation master, so of course, you can't see it."
Gu Changhuai: "..."
He felt that this wasn't a matter of being a formation master, but rather that there was something unusual about Mo Hua.
However, Mo Hua had already ignored him and was marching ahead, leading the way toward the convergence of the Yuan Magnet currents.
Gu Changhuai sighed and could only follow silently.
At the end of the path was a wall.
The wall was made of sturdy stones engraved with bizarre patterns, reinforced by formations, but it didn't seem any different from the walls elsewhere.
The area was secluded and deserted.
Mo Hua touched and tapped the wall, inspecting every inch of it.
Then he stopped in front of a brick engraved with an eye, deep in thought.
There was something odd about that brick...
After staring at the engraved "eye" on the brick for a moment, Mo Hua took out his brush and ink and drew formation patterns around it, dismantling the earth formation that reinforced the brick.
These inks were traces of the array's core.
Mo Hua's eyes, painted with ink, gleamed faintly.
His guess was correct.
Just as he had created the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Array, if one were to use an array core to control all the individual arrays, then the "body" of the array core's brushwork must connect the inner and outer halls.
At the same time, these array cores would be hidden within the building's structure, never to be exposed.
Otherwise, they would be easily targeted by "interested parties" like himself.
However, no matter how well they were hidden, they couldn't escape the keen eyes of the clever Mo Hua...
Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction.
Next, he just needed to follow the trail and find the central control hub of the composite formation through this "vine" of the array core...
The problem was...
Mo Hua glanced at the entrance of the passage and turned to Gu Changhuai and the others, saying, "You three are too tall, you won't be able to squeeze in..."
Gu Changhuai and the other two exchanged complicated looks.
They couldn't possibly shrink their bodies just to fit through this hole...
Mo Hua sighed, "It can't be helped, I'll have to go in and take a look..."
Gu Changhuai frowned, "You're going alone?"
"It's fine," Mo Hua assured them, "I'm very familiar with this place where the array core is hidden, there won't be any danger..."
The array core was meant to be kept secret.
Not only should outsiders not know about it, but even members of their own sect were prohibited from approaching it.
The buildings near the array core would only have some precautionary measures in place during the construction of the formation.
But to Mo Hua, who had overseen the creation of the grand formation, these measures were insignificant.
Gu Changhuai pondered for a moment, then said, "We could take Shrinking Bone Pills to temporarily reduce our height..."
"Shrinking Bone Pills?" Mo Hua was taken aback.
There was such a thing?
There were indeed many strange things in the cultivation world.
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then shook his head, "Shrinking our bones won't work either. The spiritual power within the array core is chaotic and may interfere with the spiritual artifacts, causing the formations on them to malfunction..."
Mo Hua pointed to the jade pendant around Gu Changhuai's neck, "The Water-Hiding Jade might be affected, and you won't be able to turn invisible..."
Gu Changhuai's eyes turned slightly gloomy.
He hadn't thought of that...
After all, he wasn't an array master, so his understanding of such subtle formation principles was limited.
"Wait..."
Gu Changhuai suddenly realized something, "If our Water-Hiding Jade fails and we can't turn invisible, then why is yours still working?"
"Mine is different." Mo Hua explained, "I know the Invisibility Technique."
Gu Changhuai opened his mouth, then asked in a surprised tone,
"Since when did you know the Invisibility Technique?"
Mo Hua looked innocent, "I've always known it..."
'He's always known it...'
Gu Changhuai wore an expression of being cheated as he struggled to find words.
"You never asked me about it..." Mo Hua mumbled.
Invisibility Techniques were not something he would bring up unless Gu Changhuai asked about them...
Gu Changhuai took a deep breath and glanced at Mo Hua, "Then why did you accept my Water-Hiding Jade so readily?"
"There are many intricacies to that..." Mo Hua argued, "According to my research, using an invisibility artifact together with an invisibility spell can provide a dual layer of concealment, enhancing the effect..."
"In a dangerous place like the Demon Lair, I, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, am walking on thin ice. Naturally, the more precautions I take, the better..."
For a moment, Gu Changhuai felt that Mo Hua's reasoning made sense...
However, throughout their journey, Mo Hua had been walking with light steps, showing no signs of "walking on thin ice"...
Gu Changhuai sighed.
All around them, yin energy swirled and green lights flickered eerily.
Below the stone corridor, thick and putrid rotting water flowed...
Standing in the midst of the Demon Hall, it was not the time to dwell on such matters.
Moreover, no matter how precious an invisibility artifact was, it couldn't be compared to Mo Hua's safety.
Gu Changhuai relented, "Alright, just be careful..."
He thought for a moment and added, "If you encounter any danger, call out for help, and I'll find a way to rescue you..."
Mo Hua was a little surprised, but he nodded, "Don't worry, Uncle Gu."
Now that he had located the array core, the dangers of the Demon Lair seemed less daunting.
And so, Mo Hua ventured alone, crawling low through the passage behind the wall, using his hands and feet to follow the path of the array core, slowly making his way towards the core of the Yuan Magnet Array.
The stone passage was narrow, with sections that were flat and others that were steep and vertical.
On the walls were engraved Yuan Magnet Array cores and some warning formations.
Mo Hua skillfully avoided these formations while also utilizing the Flowing Water Step, attaching spiritual power to his hands and feet, using his divine sense to guide him as he stuck close to the wall, much like a "little gecko", slowly progressing through the array core passage.
The magnetic currents he had sensed before were but weak streams.
Now, the array core was like a surging river.
The flow of spiritual power was distinct and clear.
Mo Hua could tell where to go with his eyes closed.
Following the flow of the spiritual magnetic currents within the array core, Mo Hua, like a gecko, continued forward until he finally reached the end of the passage.
The passage was dim, and no array patterns could be seen.
However, with his divine sense, Mo Hua could perceive that the yuan magnetic currents converged at the end, then flowed downward, controlled by a central hub.
And this central hub of the composite formation was similar to the grand formation's core array, manipulating the entire Yuan Magnet Composite Formation!
"Found it!" Mo Hua's heart leaped with joy.
At the end of the passage, a faint glow could be seen.
Mo Hua used his hands and feet to climb to the end, poking his small head through the gap in the building to look down.
As expected, below was a room with the central control array painted on its walls.
The room was filled with intricate array patterns, and in the center was a unified array plate with the core array painted on it.
Mo Hua held his breath, pushing the Five Elements Concealment Technique to its limits, then, with his big, watery eyes, he peered down from the gap.
He saw that there was another person in the room.
This person was tall and thin, dressed in an elegant and luxurious black robe. His face was deathly pale, with bloodshot eyes and deep wrinkles on his face.
Birds of a feather flock together.
As a formation master, Mo Hua could tell at a glance that this person was a skilled formation master, and his aura was sinister, with traces of blood that couldn't be washed away.
He was an evil formation master!
A high-level second-rank evil formation master! Mo Hua's heart chilled.
At that moment, the evil formation master was sitting in the room, painting a blood-colored formation while occasionally lifting his head to examine the central control array plate, monitoring the movements within the Demon Hall.
This sinister Formation Master had reached the late Qi Refining stage and could create nineteen pattern formations. Mo Hua had initially wanted to challenge him in a formation duel, but now he realized his naivety. A second-rate nineteen pattern formation was already the pinnacle for a typical second-rate formation master.
As a sinister Formation Master, he undoubtedly possessed some sinister and unorthodox formation techniques. A normal duel didn't seem like a good idea. Moreover, they were in the Demon Hall, fraught with dangers, and there weren't many conditions favorable for a "normal" duel.
The priority was their mission. A trivial victory or defeat in formations could be set aside for now.
After some contemplation, Mo Hua silently made up his mind: "Since that's the case, I should find a way to assassinate this sinister Formation Master?"
Killing him seemed necessary. As a sinister Formation Master, he controlled the Yuan Magnet Composite Formation and monitored every movement within the Demon Hall. It would be impossible to sneak past him to enter the inner hall and find Huo Fotuo.
Capturing him alive didn't seem feasible either. Since he controlled the Yuan Magnet Composite Formation, he was undoubtedly adept at Yuan Magnet formations and had various means of sending messages. If they weren't careful, he might alert others, leading to unforeseen complications.
Therefore, this "obstacle" had to be removed...
When it came to formations, Mo Hua decided not to compete with him. While he was indeed a formation master, he was also a cultivator.
Cultivators sought longevity, and naturally, they valued their lives above all else. Knowing that he couldn't win a fair duel, it would be foolish to take the risk and stubbornly insist on a direct confrontation.
Mo Hua nodded to himself. A fake formation master duel, showcasing their formation skills. A true formation master duel, kill the opponent first. Then, compare whose formation is superior. Even if he ultimately lost in the formation aspect, the other party would have lost their life.
It was a guaranteed profit!
Mo Hua secretly made up his mind: "I need to find a way to kill this sinister Formation Master..."
However, he realized that he might not be able to do it himself. This sinister Formation Master was at the late Qi Refining stage, with a much higher cultivation level than his, and he couldn't afford to make too much noise.
Mo Hua thought for a moment and smiled to himself. "I can't kill him, but I have 'bodyguards'..."
With that, Mo Hua slowly backed out of the formation core passage. As he retraced his steps, he released his divine sense, observing his surroundings and combining it with his understanding of the Demon Hall's structure to roughly pinpoint the location of this "Yuan Magnet Formation Control Room."
Then, Mo Hua returned to the entrance of the outer hall through the formation core passage.
Gu Changhuai, Gu Anhao, and Gu Quan had been waiting outside, and they heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing Mo Hua. They immediately asked, "What's the situation?"
Mo Hua nodded and replied, "Found it! There's a secret room with the formation core control, and there's a sinister Formation Master overseeing it..."
"We need to secretly assassinate that sinister Formation Master before we can tamper with the Yuan Magnet Composite Formation..." Gu Changhuai immediately asked, "Where is the secret room?"
"I remember the way. Just follow me..." Mo Hua said, "But before that, we need to discuss how to 'assassinate' that sinister Formation Master. We must act quickly and ensure that no one else finds out..."
Gu Changhuai fell into deep thought for a moment before speaking up. "I have a second-rate superior short dagger with a Wind Blade Formation embedded in it. If it pierces a cultivator's heart meridian, the spiritual power will transform into wind blades, instantly shredding their heart."
Mo Hua nodded in agreement. Uncle Gu was quite reliable when it came to such matters. However, as a precaution, Mo Hua suggested, "Uncle Gu, why don't you also... apply some poison to the dagger? A highly toxic one, like the kind that causes instant death upon contact with blood..."
Gu Changhuai silently gazed at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua added softly, "I've never done this kind of thing before, so I just want to be extra careful..."
After a moment of silence, Gu Changhuai took out a bottle of poison and quietly applied it to the dagger...
This poison wasn't his; it was confiscated from a criminal cultivator. The members of the Daoteng Court didn't use poison.
Usually...
Seeing Gu Changhuai poison the dagger, Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction. He then turned to Gu Anhao and asked, "Little Anhao, do you have a club?"
Gu Anhao was taken aback, "What kind of club?"
"The kind used to knock someone out," Mo Hua clarified.
Gu Anhao shook his head, "No..."
"It's fine, I have one." Mo Hua reached into his storage bag and took out an iron club as thick as a bowl.
This was the Thousand Jun Club, but it was only a second-rate artifact. The first-rate Thousand Jun Club crafted by Master Chen in Tongxian City was no longer useful to Mo Hua after he reached the Qi Refining stage.
So, he took the opportunity to spend over a hundred spirit stones in Taixu City, outside the Taixu Gate, to buy a second-rate club artifact.
Although the shape was different, and it had another name, Mo Hua was nostalgic and wanted to stay true to his roots, continuing to walk the path of "knocking people out." Hence, he also named this club "Thousand Jun Club."
He had inscribed a second-rate Thousand Jun Formation on the club.
Mo Hua handed the Thousand Jun Club to Gu Anhao and said, "Try it out and see if it feels comfortable in your hands."
Gu Anhao took the club with a dazed expression and swung it around a few times before slowly nodding, "It's okay..."
"Let me tell you when it's best to knock someone out..." Mo Hua began to impart his knowledge of "knocking people out" to Gu Anhao, leaving the latter bewildered.
After finishing his instructions, Mo Hua asked, "Do you remember?"
Gu Anhao nodded blankly, "I remember..."
"Great!"
"Also, remember that he's a formation master with keen divine sense. Be extra cautious during the assassination..." Mo Hua proceeded to explain the other details of the assassination, such as how to avoid detection, how to cover his mouth to prevent him from making any noise, how to guard against his use of formations, and how to prevent him from transmitting messages using Yuan Magnet Arrays.
Once they were fully prepared, Mo Hua nodded and said, "Let's go!"
And so, the three Daoteng Court cultivators, with complex emotions, followed Mo Hua on the path to assassinate the sinister Formation Master...
(End of Chapter)
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