Chapter 651: The Labyrinth's Killing Array
Chapter 651: The Labyrinth's Killing Array
Mo Hua unleashed his spiritual sense once more, perceiving the labyrinth and shaking his head slightly.
Although it was a puzzle array, it was not the Mystical Heaven Grand Array.
Its scale had not reached the level of a grand array.
It was more like a small-scale replica of the Mystical Heaven Grand Array, dismantled and reconstructed.
It was far less grand and pervasive than the Mystical Heaven Grand Array he had witnessed in his sea of consciousness during his Foundation Establishment. Back then, it had seemed infinite and omnipresent, like a celestial canopy.
Moreover, the Mystical Heaven Array within the labyrinth differed stylistically from the one in his consciousness.
They shared a common origin but had diverged in their paths.
It seemed like a variation or a derivative of the original array.
Or perhaps...
It was an array imprinted from somewhere else, reconstructed and completed through self-supplementation.
From the outside, the entire array was profound and abstruse, intricate and bewildering.
If not for Mo Hua's sea of consciousness, imprinted with the Mystical Heaven Grand Array, he might not have recognized it.
"But why?" Mo Hua frowned.
Why would the Demon Temple, or what the Demon Cultivators considered their sacred hall, be constructed using the Mystical Heaven Array?
The Mystical Heaven Array...
Did they merely use this array to build a labyrinth, confusing people's senses and hiding secrets?
Or did this array hold a special significance?
Furthermore, the Demon Cultivators had used the Mystical Heaven Array to create this labyrinth. Could this array be... a demonic path array?
Had his spiritual sense undergone a "qualitative change" because it was reconstructed using a demonic path array?
Mo Hua furrowed his brows as he thought about it and felt that it probably wasn't that extreme.
The Heavenly Transformation Manual was an ancient technique passed down by his master.
Most likely, this array was also an ancient technique, and its nature was neither inherently good nor evil. It just happened to be discovered by the Demon Cultivators and used to build their "sanctum."
Even if he didn't trust the technique, he had to trust his master.
Mo Hua nodded to himself.
As for the secrets of this Mystical Heaven Array, it seemed he would have to venture deeper into the inner hall to find out.
Fortunately, although this was a replica array, it wasn't too difficult. It was far inferior to the genuine Mystical Heaven Grand Array.
Mo Hua glanced at it a few times and had a general idea of what to do.
"I'll follow Uncle Gu and the other executives of the Daotingsi as we sneak in for a look," Mo Hua thought to himself.
However, after half a day, the Daotingsi cultivators still hadn't made any moves.
Mo Hua was perplexed. "Why aren't they going in?"
They had broken through the inner hall's main door but had suddenly become inactive.
He turned his head and saw a group of people from the Xiao family whispering to each other, their faces anxious.
Several of them looked shocked, constantly shaking their heads:
"There's a labyrinth inside the inner hall, and within it lies an array..."
"This array... is no trivial matter... It's inconceivable..."
"Never seen or heard of it before..."
"We only know it's an ancient type of mystery array, but we can't determine its specific type or the secrets it holds."
"Young Master... please be cautious. Do not enter rashly..."
Xiao Tianquan frowned. "You can't do it?"
Several Xiao family array masters shook their heads. "Only the elders of the Xiao family with extensive experience in array paths or the ancestors of the Xiao family from the Heavenly Axis Pavilion can decipher these arrays."
Xiao Tianquan's face turned grim, and he asked in a low voice, "Are you going to ask the ancestors for help on your first mission? What will they think of me?"
"They will think I have no judgment... that I'm useless. Will they still support me in the future?"
"And what about the elders?"
"The Xiao family has other direct descendants. If I don't show some achievements, they will surely ridicule me in secret and look down on me from now on."
"Even if the labyrinth is dangerous, we must enter!" Xiao Tianquan insisted stubbornly.
Several Xiao family array masters furrowed their brows in deep thought. "If we're going to go in, we'll need some time to figure it out..."
"Otherwise, we might fall into the Demon Cultivators' trap within the labyrinth..."
"We must plan carefully..."
...
Mo Hua listened from the sidelines, somewhat incredulous.
How incompetent were these array masters?
An array of this level should be easily deciphered at a glance. Even if they couldn't figure it out, some calculations should give them a general idea.
After all, they were in the Qian Xue Province, and the Xiao family was supposed to be a prominent family.
They should at least have some legacy of the Mystical Heaven Grand Array or other "mystery arrays."
Mo Hua remembered clearly how his master had taught him to solve "mystery arrays," saying that they were tools used by the younger generations of aristocratic families to sharpen their minds and pass the time.
It was similar to how people solved lantern riddles during the Lantern Festival.
But now, it seemed that these aristocratic array masters didn't use mystery arrays for intellectual stimulation.
Mo Hua suddenly felt bewildered.
Was his master... deceiving him? Or was it that the Xiao family's standards were just too low?
The Xiao family members continued to discuss the matter anxiously.
Mo Hua grew more impatient as he watched.
If he hadn't wanted to avoid showing off in front of everyone, he would have led the way already...
With only three days left, he still needed to catch the Fire Buddha. How long was he supposed to wait for these "novices"?
Mo Hua glanced at Gu Changhuai.
Gu Changhuai had also heard the conversation between the Xiao family array masters, and he was frowning. Suddenly, he noticed Mo Hua's subtle gaze.
Gu Changhuai was left speechless.
"You know a lot of formations for someone your age, don't you?"
He, too, had heard the Xiao family formation masters say that they couldn't understand this formation and would have to seek guidance from the elder ancestors of the Xiao family's Tianshu Pavilion.
And yet, here you are, saying you know it...
Doesn't that mean you could be... a "little ancestor" of the Xiao family?
Gu Changhuai was becoming more and more convinced that Mo Hua was possessed by some ancient demon or monster. How else could a cultivator in his early teens have such extensive knowledge of formations?
Gu Changhuai frowned again.
But if he really was possessed...
Then there was no way he could have entered the gates of Taiwu Sect.
The moment he stepped onto the threshold, he would have been slashed to pieces by those terrifying sword cultivator powerhouses residing in the sect's rear mountains, as described in legends.
While Taiwu Sect didn't seem to hold much prominence among the Eight Great Sects at present, it was once renowned for producing exceptional sword cultivators.
Their sword intents could pierce through the heavens, shatter all worldly laws, and slay all evil demons.
Whether it was a corpse, an evil being, a demon, or a devil, one slash of their sword could obliterate anything in its path...
Alas, times had changed, and both the people and their swords had been sealed away, rarely to be remembered by anyone...
Even he had only heard snippets of rumors during his studies at the sect.
Gu Changhuai sighed.
He glanced at Mo Hua once more.
Unbeknownst to him, while the glory of Taiwu Sect's sword path had faded, a new "monster" had emerged in the path of formations.
"Can you guide us?" Gu Changhuai asked.
"Yes," Mo Hua nodded.
"Alright then," Gu Changhuai scanned their surroundings and said in a low voice, "Follow me closely later, and guide me along the way, but keep a low profile and don't draw attention to yourself. We don't want to invite jealousy or resentment."
"Don't worry, Uncle Gu. I understand," Mo Hua assured him.
Gu Changhuai gave a slight nod and then stood up, instructing everyone, "Everyone, form a formation and follow me into the labyrinth."
The Dao Court officials looked at each other in surprise.
Xiao Tianquan's brows furrowed, and he quickly said, "Master Gu, the formations within this labyrinth are intricate and profound. We must..."
Gu Changhuai gave him a cold glance. "What I say goes. You will do as I say."
A hint of displeasure flashed across Xiao Tianquan's face, but he bowed his head slightly and gritted his teeth. "As you command, Master Gu."
As for what he truly felt and resented, Gu Changhuai could see it all with just a glance.
But Gu Changhuai didn't care.
"When entering the labyrinth, maintain the previous arrangement of five people in a group, forming a column..."
"When encountering Demon Cultivators, strike first and show no mercy."
"Let me emphasize this again..."
Gu Changhuai's eyes narrowed slightly. "Show no mercy, and strike to kill!"
"These Demon Cultivators are vicious and ruthless, killing without hesitation. If they have a single breath left, they could take your life instead..."
The over four hundred Dao Court officials' expressions turned solemn as they cupped their fists and replied, "Yes!"
Subsequently, Gu Changhuai took the lead, with Mo Hua closely following behind.
The rest of the officials drew out their standard spiritual artifacts, their faces vigilant, as they filed into the labyrinth.
Xiao Tianquan's eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of unreadable gloom, and he, too, stepped into the labyrinth.
...
The labyrinth was cast from ancient bronze, with enigmatic puzzles engraved upon it.
Inside, the pathways were convoluted and disorienting, making it impossible to discern one's location. All the walls looked identical, and no matter where one walked, it felt like remaining in the same spot.
It was as if there was no path to be found.
Yet, Gu Changhuai, at the forefront, seemed to instinctively know the way, leading the group steadily toward the heart of the massive labyrinth...
"As expected of Master Gu!"
The cultivators couldn't help but admire Gu Changhuai.
Xiao Tianquan was also astonished.
He couldn't wrap his head around how Gu Changhuai knew the way. What method was he using to determine the direction? Gu Changhuai wasn't a formation master, nor was he well-versed in formations.
Even the "professional" formation masters from the Xiao family were unable to decipher the puzzle formation and find their bearings in the labyrinth.
So, how was Gu Changhuai able to navigate? Xiao Tianquan furrowed his brows, perplexed and unable to find an answer.
What they didn't notice was that whenever they reached an intersection, Mo Hua, standing beside Gu Changhuai, would subtly pull on Gu Changhuai's sleeve to indicate the direction.
Wherever Mo Hua pulled, Gu Changhuai would quietly adjust their course.
It appeared as if Gu Changhuai was leading the way.
In truth, Mo Hua was the one guiding them.
On occasions when they encountered particularly complex intersections, Mo Hua would pause and release his spiritual sense to locate the correct path.
Gu Changhuai would then seize the opportunity to let everyone rest.
The group of officials found this situation rather baffling.
However, they dared not question Gu Changhuai's orders.
At this moment, Xiao Tianquan also noticed Mo Hua standing beside Gu Changhuai.
He walked up to them, exchanged a few pleasantries with Gu Changhuai, and then subtly probed, "May I ask who this young fellow is?"
Gu Changhuai had been keeping this young cultivator, who was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, by his side throughout the journey.
Initially, he thought the young man's talent was mediocre and not worth his attention.
This was rather peculiar...
Gu Changhuai's expression remained cold, and he did not respond.
Mo Hua, feeling that his uncle was being impolite, spoke up for him:
"I'm here to gain experience with Uncle Gu."
In a sense, it was the truth, and it also gave Xiao Tianquan some room for "speculation."
Experience?
Xiao Tianquan was taken aback, then suddenly realized.
So that was it...
He must be a disciple with a prominent background, following Gu Changhuai, the head of the Daotingsi, to broaden his horizons and gain some experience.
Perhaps he could even gain some credentials and pave the way for his future advancement within the Daotingsi.
But...
Gu Changhuai, who usually didn't consider personal connections, had actually agreed?
Could this young man have a deep connection with the Gu family?
But why was his talent so mediocre? His spiritual root was so inferior that it was almost embarrassing...
Could it be that the child of some prominent ancestor had inherited a problematic spiritual root?
Xiao Tianquan was perplexed.
However, he was also wise enough not to ask further.
It was taboo to pry into the background of a disciple with connections.
The group continued on their journey.
After a while, Mo Hua paused, and Gu Changhuai stopped as well.
"What's wrong?" Gu Changhuai asked.
Mo Hua lowered his voice and said, "The outer area is a puzzle array, and if we continue, we will encounter a killing array within the puzzle..."
"And there may be Demon Cultivators lurking within the killing array."
Gu Changhuai understood.
The Demon Cultivators' purpose was twofold: to obstruct and to kill.
The real battle was about to begin.
Gu Changhuai gave a solemn order: "Everyone, be cautious. There's a killing array ahead, and Demon Cultivators may be hiding within. Show no mercy if you encounter them!"
"Yes!" the Dao Court officials responded in unison.
After walking for another incense stick's worth of time, the bronze walls before them began to change.
Different walls displayed different array patterns.
There were variations of the Five Elements Array, modified versions of the Eight Trigrams Array, as well as some bizarre and unusual arrays, along with some bloody and toxic demonic arrays.
These arrays were embedded within the labyrinth.
They were not part of the puzzle array but were killing arrays hidden behind it.
Mo Hua's expression turned solemn.
The other cultivators also looked grave.
Gu Changhuai held a folded paper fan in his hand and said calmly, "Let's go."
The Dao Court officials formed groups of three to five and proceeded through the killing array, making their way toward the center of the labyrinth.
For a while, everything was calm.
Even the walls engraved with sinister and toxic array patterns showed no signs of activity.
The group held their breath and continued forward...
Suddenly, a chill arose, and a pair of pale ghostly claws reached out silently from one of the bronze walls.
The long nails pierced the shoulder of one of the officials, dragging him toward the wall.
The claws were coated with greenish poisonous blood.
Half of the official's body became numb, and he couldn't move. He was about to be pulled into the bronze wall.
Gu Changhuai flicked his fan, and a white wind blade flashed by, severing the ghastly white claws at their roots.
Mottled green blood splattered, and a piercing ghostly cry rang out.
More sinister voices responded in unison, like a battle cry.
Pairs of white ghostly claws reached out from the bronze walls, dense like a spider web or the segments of a centipede, grasping at the Dao Court officials.
At the same time, other demonic arrays were activated.
There were blood fire arrays, corpse transformation arrays, insidious poisonous needles, and bloody demonic blades of light...
Demon Cultivators hiding within the giant bronze walls took advantage of the arrays and revealed their fangs.
They wielded bone blades, poisonous blood swords, soul refining banners, and other demonic path magic treasures. Their faces were sinister, and their eyes gleamed with excitement as they charged toward the group of Dao Court officials.
Although the officials had been on their guard, they were still caught off guard by the sudden attack.
Some of the younger officials, who had never experienced life-and-death battles before, turned pale and froze in fear.
Some, sensing the dire situation, tried to flee...
The group of Dao Court officials descended into chaos.
Fortunately, some of the more experienced officials took action, calmly responding to the situation. The body cultivators rushed forward to engage in close combat, blocking the first wave of the Demon Cultivators' offense.
The spiritual cultivators provided support with their spells, and the other cultivators also brought out their spiritual artifacts and talismans.
The situation stabilized once again.
The sounds of battle grew louder as spiritual energy clashed with demonic energy, creating a chaotic and bloody scene.
Mo Hua sighed.
He didn't have any good solutions either.
The labyrinth was a trap in itself.
The demonic arrays within had been set up in advance, carefully hidden and extremely insidious. It seemed that the "Grandmaster Yuan" had spent a lot of time and effort on them.
Mo Hua could see through the labyrinth and predict dangers, but he was just one person with limited knowledge and abilities when it came to demonic arrays.
For the moment, he was at a loss as to how to deal with so many arrays.
Gu Changhuai understood this as well and said, "You don't have to worry about these arrays. Just focus on leading the way."
The priority now was to get out of this labyrinth of killing arrays.
They couldn't afford to be trapped within.
Otherwise, despite their numerical advantage, the Dao Court officials would surely be slaughtered by the Demon Cultivators who had the advantage of the labyrinth and the killing arrays.
"Gu An, Gu Quan, you two protect Mo Hua."
"Yes," they replied in a low voice.
Gu Changhuai then raised his head and shouted, "Everyone else, follow Gu An and Gu Quan, form a long formation, and keep rushing forward. Don't fall behind or get distracted by battles. I'll bring up the rear!"
And so, Mo Hua rushed forward without hesitation, using his agility techniques.
Gu Quan led the way in front, while Gu An protected Mo Hua by his side.
The other Daotingsi cultivators from the Gu family followed closely behind.
The rest of the officials also obeyed the order and supported each other, forming a long formation as they rushed forward...
Along the way, they encountered Demon Cultivators and engaged in several rounds of battle.
If they could kill their opponents, they would. If not, they wouldn't linger and would continue on their way.
When they encountered array formations blocking their path, they didn't even have time to tend to their wounds.
Their only chance of survival was to get out of the labyrinth.
Gu Changhuai brought up the rear, his folding fan dancing as he sent out gusts of wind blades, slaying any Demon Cultivators in his path. He helped the Daotingsi cultivators break free from the killing formation and make their way deeper into the maze...
The battle was exceptionally fierce.
There were injured, severely wounded, and even dead among the Daotingsi cultivators.
Blood stained the ancient bronze walls.
Corpses and severed limbs covered the ground, their blood still flowing.
Fortunately, with Gu Changhuai's Golden Core stage strength holding down the fort, the casualties of the Daotingsi cultivators were not too severe.
And the number of Demon Cultivators slain by Gu Changhuai's wind blades had already reached several dozen.
In this manner, with Gu Changhuai slaughtering their enemies from the rear and Mo Hua leading the group forward, they navigated through countless intricate walls and suddenly found themselves in a spacious area.
Before their eyes stood a grand hall.
The ancient bronze walls surrounded the hall in an orderly fashion.
The hall was extremely spacious but also empty, with twelve pillars carved with demon marks, each as thick as five or six men, holding up the solemn ceiling of the hall.
Ancient murals adorned the walls, extending from both sides into the dim distance.
Lamps made from white bones illuminated the hall.
The crimson candlelight cast an eerie and sinister ambiance.
There seemed to have been other items in the hall initially, but now everything was destroyed, leaving the place looking desolate and incongruous.
And standing in the center of the hall was a person.
He was tall and had a compassionate face. He wore a blood-red kasaya, making him look both dignified and gloomy.
This person was none other than the Fire Buddha!
Mo Hua's eyes narrowed, and he immediately hid himself, quietly retreating behind the group.
A group of Daotingsi officials rushed forward, their blades gleaming as they faced off against the Fire Buddha from a distance of ten zhang away.
However, despite their numbers, they were intimidated by the Fire Buddha's notorious reputation and formidable aura, and for a moment, no one dared to make the first move.
Soon, the other cultivators also rushed out of the maze of killing arrays and entered the grand hall.
More and more Daotingsi cultivators gathered in the hall.
Xiao Tianquan also arrived, holding a precious longsword, with bloodstains on his Daoist robe and a grim expression on his face.
But when he saw the Fire Buddha standing in the center of the hall, unmoving like a mountain, his eyes darkened, yet they also revealed a hint of excitement.
After a while, Gu Changhuai, who had been bringing up the rear, also entered the hall.
His aura had weakened significantly.
His handsome face was splattered with blood, none of which was his own.
But the moment he laid eyes on the Fire Buddha, the initially weary Gu Changhuai's eyes sparkled with sharp intensity, and killing intent surged within him.
And as Gu Changhuai stepped into the hall, the Fire Buddha, who had been chanting Buddhist sutras with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them.
His eyes were completely red.
Fire-attributed spiritual power surged around him.
The scarlet kasaya on his body fluttered without any wind, dancing wildly under the influence of his surging spiritual power.
Specks of fireflies floated around him, flickering in and out of existence.
"Gu Changhuai..."
The Fire Buddha's expression was calm, but his eyes held bone-chilling killing intent.
"It's been a long time..."
Gu Changhuai's face remained cold. "You vile beast, your time of death has come..."
The Fire Buddha let out a cold laugh. "The Buddha does not save people; cultivators must save themselves."
Gu Changhuai didn't bother with further words. He took out his jade bone folding fan, and white spiritual power danced around him, transforming into countless wind blades.
The Daotingsi cultivators surrounding him also brandished their gleaming blades, gradually surrounding the Fire Buddha.
The Fire Buddha's expression was devoid of fear or anger.
He spread his arms wide, and the kasaya on his body turned a vivid red. Fire-attributed spiritual power surged like molten lava.
And within his chest burned raging flames.
Two piercing fireballs, like twin hearts, pulsed with surging spiritual power.
Licks of flame rose and coiled around his body.
He exuded an incredibly formidable aura, like a fierce fire beast clad in human skin, imbued with boundless demonic power.
And the flames seemed to contain boundless killing intent, capable of incinerating and annihilating everything in their path...
The cultivators' faces were filled with shock.
Gu Changhuai's face was as cold as ice.
Mo Hua, too, was astonished.
This was the powerful fire-attributed forbidden technique that was strictly prohibited by the Daotingsi...
The Fire Destruction Technique!!
(Note: I had to translate the name of the technique as it is a crucial part of the story. I tried to keep it as close as possible to the original Chinese name.)
(End of Chapter)
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