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Chapter 886: The Two-Array Lock
Chapter 886: The Two-Array Lock
The Array Conference concluded.
Within the Qianxue Province, the once obscure name "Mo Hua" suddenly appeared before the heads of major families, sects, and even some ancient family elders.
Previously, they had known nothing about Mo Hua.
But suddenly, this "prodigy" emerged out of nowhere, outshining the four major sects. At the Foundation Establishment stage, Mo Hua drew a peak nineteenth-level array, breaking the Array Conference record to win first place and claim the title of Array Master.
This achievement was shocking and hard to believe.
If not for the fact that it happened in the presence of many witnesses at the Array Conference, it would have been dismissed as an absurd "rumor."
Immediately, all major families and sects began investigating Mo Hua's background.
However, the moment Mo Hua won the title of Array Master, the Taixu Sect sealed his background information and classified it as a core sect secret, accessible only to the sect leader and the ancient elders.
Those who had interacted with Mo Hua were mostly close friends, and they kept his information tightly under wraps.
The Dao Court, upon some unknown directive, also immediately sealed Mo Hua's records.
His background, birthplace, origins, and all traces left within the Qianxue Province, including cases handled, criminals apprehended, evil cultivators slain, and merits earned, were all sealed away.
The sealed archives bore the seal of the Central Dao Court, making them inaccessible to any cultivator, even local Dao Court leaders.
Thus, the information that outsiders could obtain was extremely limited.
The major families and sects could only uncover the most common, widely known details.
They knew Mo Hua was a cultivator from Lizhou Province.
But Lizhou was a vast province with countless smaller regions, making it impossible to pinpoint his exact location.
They also knew he was an independent cultivator, but the identity of an independent cultivator was questionable.
Ordinary independent cultivators struggled to make a living and found cultivation challenging. How could they possibly devote so much effort to learning array formation, let alone achieve such an unprecedented level of mastery?
Some speculated that Mo Hua was the illegitimate son of the Taixu Sect leader.
Others claimed he was the direct grandson of an ancient Taixu elder.
These rumors, while more plausible than the independent cultivator theory, lacked evidence and were generally not believed.
If he truly had such a distinguished lineage, there would be no need to keep it hidden.
A champion array master in any family would be a shining star, and such a prodigy could easily bypass the family's traditional rules.
As the champion, she could be treated as a core lineage member from that day forward.
Qianxue Province was home to many families and sects, with a plethora of geniuses.
For Mo Hua to stand out among such exceptional talent, the weight of his achievement was immense.
Despite the rampant speculation, very little information was uncovered.
After winning the Array Master title, Mo Hua entered the Taixu Sect, disappearing like a fish into the deep sea, leaving no trace behind.
For a long time, no one saw Mo Hua leave the Taixu Mountain.
Some began to doubt whether Mo Hua even existed.
How could someone emerge out of nowhere, win the Array Master title, and then vanish without a trace?
Was it all a grand deception?
Did the Taixu Sect orchestrate the entire event?
Or did the examiners leak the questions in advance to create a "world-renowned array prodigy" and boost the Array Conference's reputation?
To generate buzz for the reformed sects?
These rumors were laughable to those in the know, but they spread widely among the uninformed.
Even those who knew nothing about arrays found "Foundation Establishment mid-stage, Array Conference champion" too far-fetched.
Such exaggeration disrespected common sense.
Malicious whispers fueled the doubts.
Admiring turned to skepticism.
Opinions on Mo Hua were mixed, ranging from calling her a fraud to a true monster, a "once-in-a-lifetime prodigy."
The Taixu Sect's reputation suffered by association.
After all, Mo Hua had no family to defend her.
Fortunately, the Array conference ranking was genuine, and the Taixu Sect gained real benefits.
Thanks to Mo Hua, the Taixu Sect's overall ranking jumped from eighth to third among the top eight sects.
This was their best ranking since the loss of the divine sword technique.
While outsiders had their doubts, the true insiders knew Mo Hua's terrifying talent.
The stronger and higher one's perception, the more they recognized the "horror" of her divine consciousness and array talent.
The various noble families, harboring the desire for immortality, continued their search for the ink painting.
However, after the Dao Court’s reforms, the situation had completely changed, making it impossible for them to interfere.
As for the Tai Xu Sect, they treated the ink painting as a precious treasure, protecting it meticulously.
Thus, the noble families were left with only one choice:
To use divination techniques to trace the cause and effect of the ink painting.
This action violated the taboos of the Qianxue Sect, but the title of "Grandmaster" in the Formation Law Grand Competition was too tempting, and they couldn’t resist the urge to probe into it.
Thus, within the Qianxue State, all the major noble families and sects began secretly divinating the causes and effects of the ink painting.
Some of the elder ancestors of the noble families, who had some knowledge of divination techniques, decided to do it themselves.
However, divination was obscure and the causal connections were hard to trace.
This mystical and profound knowledge was not something everyone believed in, and even those who believed might not be able to learn it. Those who learned it might not necessarily master it, and even if they did, they might not fully understand it.
Even those who reached the Cavernous Void Realm and could roughly grasp divination techniques were a minority.
Most noble families could only rely on connections, seeking help from familiar fellow Daoists, well-regarded noble families, or sects like the Mystic Fate Valley, which, though secluded, were renowned for their divination techniques, to deduce the causal connections of the ink painting.
However, when they truly began to divinate, without exception, they all encountered a profound and mysterious fog.
Within this fog, it seemed as if Yin and Yang were being judged, stars were like a sea, and the Tai Xu Sect’s principles were intertwined.
These anomalies locked the divine mechanisms and obscured the causal connections.
Moreover, a shadowy figure of the Cavernous Void Realm appeared, with deep-set eyes, holding all the causal connections in its hands, not allowing others to peek.
"This is... a divine mechanism lock? The Tai Xu Sect has locked the divine mechanisms?"
"The Cavernous Void Realm, with the causal connections set. Whose ancestor from the Tai Xu Sect is this figure?"
"Such a grand gesture..."
"Truly worth the effort."
"Is it really worth it for just a Foundation Establishment disciple?"
"Rubbish, if you were the Grandmaster of the Formation Law, your sect’s ancestors would venerate you too..."
...
Some noble families and hired divination cultivators gathered together, discussing:
"Since this is the case, shall we still divinate?"
"It’s not impossible..."
"Joining forces with other families, finding more divination cultivators, using divine treasures, and working together, we might break this divine mechanism lock of the Tai Xu Sect..."
"Even if we break it, then what?" someone sneered.
"This..."
"Don’t say I didn’t warn you... This divine mechanism lock is more of an ‘attitude’ than protection. It means this child is under the protection of the Tai Xu Sect, with the ancestors’ full support, sparing no effort, and at any cost."
"Secretly divinating once or twice in the shadows is fine, but if you really go all out to break another sect’s divine mechanism lock and probe into the core disciple’s secrets, that’s a declaration of war, a fight to the death."
"Do you want to offend a Cavernous Void ancestor to the death?"
"Or do you want to declare war on one of the Eight Great Sects, the Tai Xu Sect?"
Everyone fell silent.
The speaker was from the Mystic Fate Valley and had a deeper understanding of divination techniques than ordinary cultivators, so his words carried some weight.
But the group was not satisfied.
Someone said, "Quickly decide, gather everyone’s strength, break the divine mechanism lock, and once we see the causal connections, we can withdraw. This way, the Tai Xu Sect might not react in time."
"Moreover, the law doesn’t punish the many. Even if the Tai Xu Sect investigates afterward, as long as we stand united, they might not dare to truly pursue us."
"This makes sense..."
"Let’s give it a try..."
The cultivator from the Mystic Fate Valley couldn’t help but sneer, "What are you thinking? Do you really think the Tai Xu Sect’s divine mechanism lock is so easy to break?"
"The Tai Xu Sect is one of the three branches of the ancient lineage."
Someone disagreed, "The three branches might have some ancient heritage, but they have probably declined..."
"If not for this Formation Law Grand Competition, the Tai Xu Sect’s strength might not have been enough to secure their place among the Eight Great Sects."
The cultivator from the Mystic Fate Valley shook his head, "You really don’t understand..."
"The rankings in the Dao discussion are based on the disciples’ strength, which does not include ‘divination techniques.’”
"Currently, the divine mechanism heritage in the Qianxue State has declined."
"The Tai Xu Sect might not be as powerful as before, but they still have at least two Cavernous Void ancestors dedicated to researching divine causal connections."
"Other sects, even the Four Great Sects, have become too complacent and overly focused on fame and profit, losing much of their heritage. In terms of divine mechanism deduction, none would be much stronger than the Tai Xu Sect."
"Given this, why do you think the Tai Xu Sect’s divine mechanism lock can be easily broken?"
These words were a bit harsh.
Most of the noble families and cultivators in the Qianxue State were not convinced.
"Boosting others’ morale and undermining our own, you’re overestimating the Tai Xu Sect. How do you know unless you try?"
The cultivator from the Mystic Fate Valley sneered, "Have you forgotten the sword technique of the Tai Xu Sect?"
Upon hearing this, those in the know changed color.
The cultivator from the Mystic Fate Valley said, "Though the transmission of that sword technique has been severed, it’s hard to say there aren’t some old masters who learned the true essence of the technique, willing to risk their lives to protect the Tai Xu Sect."
"If you break the Tai Xu Sect’s divine mechanism lock and truly anger such an old master, being traced through the causal connections and each of you getting a sword strike to the head, your souls would be extinguished on the spot."
"And dying would be in vain."
"Committing such a grave taboo, probing into causal connections, and being wiped out by someone, who would dare to seek justice for you on the Tai Xu Mountain?"
His words left the crowd feeling as if a sword was at their throats, their faces pale.
The cultivator from the Mystic Mechanism Valley saw their reactions and softened his tone.
"Everyone here is well-versed in these matters. Even if you haven't experienced it firsthand, you must have heard the saying that the fates are dangerous and the causes and effects are unpredictable."
"Sometimes, being cautious is a good thing. You must never take risks by trying to uncover the causes and effects that should remain hidden."
"To be honest," the cultivator from the Mystic Mechanism Valley sighed, his expression filled with reflection, "a few years ago, one of our 'Plum Elder' from the Mystic Mechanism Valley was invited by the Shangguan family to the Qianxue State to calculate a cause and effect."
"The result..."
The cultivator's heart still raced with fear. "Plum Elder couldn't refuse the invitation, so he reluctantly went to calculate something he shouldn't have. As a result, he saw something truly terrifying, his face was filled with fear, he spat blood, and his body turned icy cold. He's still lying in the Mystic Mechanism Valley, recovering..."
"Though these are two different matters, the principle is the same. Please be cautious about matters of cause and effect."
The cultivator from the Mystic Mechanism Valley said this with a serious expression.
With his firsthand account, the cultivators from the noble families all looked solemn and dared not act rashly anymore.
They would secretly try to calculate things, but they couldn't break through the Grand Void Heavenly Mechanism Lock.
Out of respect for the Grand Void Sect, they didn't dare to push things too far. Over time, they had no choice but to give up.
This inadvertently saved their lives.
...
Inside the Grand Void Sect.
Old Master Xun reminded Mo Hua, "Remember to wear the jade lock I gave you around your neck. Don't take it off."
Mo Hua touched the jade lock hanging around his neck.
The lock, made of an unknown material, was engraved with the Eight Trigrams and divided into Yin and Yang. It contained starlight and was filled with profound mysteries, akin to the Grand Void itself.
According to Old Master Xun, this was called the "Grand Void Two-In-One Lock," capable of sealing causes and effects.
"Old Master, what exactly is this lock for?" Mo Hua asked.
"Don't ask, just wear it. And don't lose it," Old Master Xun said.
Mo Hua nodded obediently.
Old Master Xun must have given him something valuable. If the old master wanted him to wear it, he would wear it without taking it off.
Old Master Xun watched as Mo Hua put the jade lock on and felt relieved.
This Grand Void Two-In-One Lock was the only one of its kind, a heavenly treasure passed down by the Grand Void Sect. He usually didn't even dare to take it out and look at it.
But now, given the special circumstances, he had to give it to Mo Hua to wear as a protective talisman.
No matter what, Mo Hua's causes and effects must be protected.
With so many noble families and sects in the Qianxue State eyeing him, he had to use this Two-In-One Lock to seal his causes and effects, deter the wicked, and prevent others from prying.
There was no other way. Mo Hua's Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, superlative divine consciousness, and top-ranked array skills were too shocking.
Humans fear fame as pigs fear fat. One must be humble when it's time to be humble.
Old Master Xun's initial intention was to protect Mo Hua.
But he didn't know that by using the Grand Void Two-In-One Lock, he inadvertently saved many noble families and sects in the Qianxue State from calamity.
If his causes and effects weren't sealed, and Mo Hua was left to be calculated by others, the evil god and the dao's calamity would spread, corrupting countless cultivators.
The entire Qianxue State would be thrown into chaos instantly.
Mo Hua would truly become a "seed of chaos"...
"From now on, stay in the sect and don't go anywhere. Focus on your cultivation. At least wait until this storm passes."
Old Master Xun said.
Mo Hua nodded earnestly, "Okay, Old Master Xun."
He indeed had many things to do.
He needed to take advantage of his current memory to study the final peak-level nineteen-pattern Reverse Spirit Array from the Array Debate Conference, delving deeper into its mysteries.
He still had to learn the God-Cutting Sword technique.
He needed to practice the Water Shadow Illusion Body technique more.
Of course, the most important thing was that the Array Debate Conference was over, and the Grand Void Sect's precarious ranking was secured. Now he could focus on breaking through to the Later-Stage Foundation Establishment.
Thereafter, Mo Hua cultivated peacefully within the Grand Void Sect.
But as the saying goes, even a tree that wants to remain still cannot stop the wind.
Many sects still lost sleep and felt uneasy because of him.
Especially the four major sects.
In the Grand Hall of the Heavenly Dao Sect.
The influential elders from the Heavenly Sword Sect, Dragon Cauldron Sect, and Ten Thousand Skies Sect were meeting with the Heavenly Dao Sect's Elder Shen.
"Can't calculate it..."
"The Grand Void Sect is being evasive, afraid to let others probe this boy's causes and effects."
"Isn't that obvious? Would you let others pry if you were in their shoes?"
"The Grand Void Sect's ancestors are truly cunning, hiding such a trump card. It's truly unbelievable..."
"Originally, the Grand Void Sect was supposed to go down with the Taiji Sect and the Chongxu Sect, but now it's not only survived, it's thriving and is now ranked third..."
"What do we do now?"
"What can we do? The deed is done. The Array Debate champion has been decided, and it can't be changed..."
"I mean, the next time..." the elder from the Heavenly Sword Sect frowned.
The elder from the Dragon Cauldron Sect was surprised, "The next time?"
The elder from the Heavenly Sword Sect said solemnly, "This time has passed, and we were caught off guard, missing the champion position. Although it's regrettable, dwelling on it now is pointless. The key is the next time..."
The elder from the Heavenly Sword Sect's expression became even more serious, even a bit fearful:
"This boy's talent is terrifying. At the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, he can outshine the top talents from our four major sects, even those at the Later-Stage Foundation Establishment. What about the next time?"
"By the next time, he will be at the Later-Stage Foundation Establishment, and his array skills will be even more refined. What can we four major sects use to compete with him?"
"He could take first place even with his eyes closed!"
The faces of the elders were twisted with displeasure.
"Doesn't this monster named 'Mo Hua' have you all on edge? Don't you have any idea what level of array mastery he's reached?"
The elders of the Heavenly Sword Sect felt a chill run down their spines:
"Mid Foundation Realm cultivation, and he can dominate three generations, stand above the Four Sects, lead the Eight Gates, sweep through the Twelve Streams, and suppress countless disciples from the hundred and thousand schools of Qianxue..."
"This is a once-in-a-millennium, cliff-like genius!"
"As long as he's around, all the array disciples in Qianxue State will live in his shadow, never able to hold their heads high."
"From now on, in the Array Conference, our Four Great Sects will always be stuck in second place. The top spot, the title of 'Supreme Master,' is out of our reach, a mere dream."
The Heavenly Sword Sect elder's voice was filled with shock and dread.
Elder Shen, along with the elders from Dragon Cauldron Sect and Ten Thousand Dawn Sect, all wore expressions of icy coldness.
A natural-born monster, shocking the world, almost impossible to match. And such a disciple just happened to end up in the Great Void Sect.
Our luck is truly terrible...
"Then what do we do?" The Dragon Cauldron Sect elder's eyes were cold.
The Ten Thousand Dawn Sect elder frowned, "Don't do anything rash. You really dare to move against a natural-born monster? Be careful not to ruin your luck..."
The Dragon Cauldron Sect elder replied, "I'm not suggesting we attack him. I mean we should try to win him over, get him to join one of our Four Great Sects."
"If that doesn't work, we can try to corrupt him."
"Alcohol, women, wealth, and power—since he's human, he'll likely have a weakness for at least one of these. Once he's indulged in pleasure and women, he'll be ruined for life..."
"Geniuses often rise because of their talent, but fall because of their hearts."
"The Great Void Sect isn't foolish; they won't let you do whatever you want."
"Still, it's worth a try. Otherwise, where will I find another monster to compete with him in array mastery?"
"I still don't feel good about it..."
...
The elders continued to debate, but they couldn't come to a consensus.
An hour later, they left the hall with their own thoughts.
Only Elder Shen remained in the hall, his brow furrowed.
No matter how hard he thought, he couldn't come up with a way to challenge the Great Void Sect's "monster."
Even achieving a balance was a luxury.
Divine consciousness surpassing the third stage was too overpowered...
Not to mention his terrifyingly solid array mastery.
Elder Shen shook his head and sighed.
"Mo Hua..."
Now, just hearing that name made him shiver involuntarily, and sometimes he even had nightmares.
Elder Shen slowly left the hall, but after a few steps, he suddenly stopped, his pupils dilating.
"Wait, this name... why does it feel so familiar?"
"Is it because I've been thinking about it too much, or did I hear it somewhere before?"
Elder Shen's frown deepened.
Mo Hua.
Mo Hua...
Mo...
Elder Shen's eyes widened as fragmented memories from the past began to surface in his mind.
A chill ran through his heart.
His body trembling, Elder Shen quickly returned to his elder's chamber and began frantically searching through a vast collection of scrolls.
He was looking for a particular record.
The more casually he had discarded it back then, the more awkward it was to find it now.
Finally, after an eternity, Elder Shen found a dusty, ordinary record book in a corner.
With trembling hands, he slowly opened the record.
On the record, it read, "Despite having an admission order, his aptitude does not match, to be discussed further."
And the name on the record was...
"Scattered cultivator from Li State, Mo Hua."
Elder Shen's face turned pale.
The words he had spoken when he rejected this scattered cultivator's admission order echoed in his mind.
"Scattered cultivator from a remote area of Li State..."
"Lower-middle-grade Lesser Five Elements Spirit Root..."
"Unimpressive..."
"In the special skills section, it says... array mastery?"
"He really dares to write that... ignorance is bliss..."
"Small-town cultivators might think they're great after learning a few arrays, not realizing the vast world beyond..."
"Here in Qian State, in Qianxue State, we have no shortage of talented cultivators..."
"Opportunity is one thing, but..."
"Such a great opportunity, he can't handle it!"
"Too much opportunity isn't always good..."
"A person with thin blessings can't grasp such exceptional fortune..."
...
Elder Shen felt a burning pain on his face and a bitter taste in his mouth.
"This disciple, holding an admission order, wanted to join our Qian Dao Sect, but I... rejected him..."
This monster who dominates three generations, leads the Four Great Sects, and stands head and shoulders above the rest, I sent him to the Great Void Sect myself?
Elder Shen's heart felt like an icy tomb.
And then there's the "admission order."
Now, it's clear that this ancient admission order has significant implications.
This child, holding the admission order, wanting to join Qian Dao Sect, was likely given to us by a high-ranking cultivator, as a form of karmic retribution.
And I personally cut off this great opportunity, severed this karmic connection...
Elder Shen's face was ashen, and he felt a sense of overwhelming dread, as if the sky was collapsing. His head buzzed, his vision went black, and he collapsed to the ground.
(End of Chapter)
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