613 fusion of celestial secrets - The Quest for Immortality

**Chapter 613: Fusion of Celestial Secrets** The following day, Mo Hua woke up with a splitting headache. He immersed his consciousness into his mindscape, only to realize that strands of cracks had appeared within, and each operation came with a slight sting. Mo Hua pondered for a moment, suddenly dumbfounded. "Is this... the side effect of using both the Celestial Deceit and Celestial Insight simultaneously?" The Celestial Insight focuses on penetrating core depth, while the Celestial Deceit scatters deceptive shadows to cover diverse scopes. Employing both unparalleled consciousness algorithms simultaneously places an immense burden on the mindscape, leading to its tearing and collapse... The current cracks in his consciousness were just a sign... Mo Hua furrowed his brows. His consciousness was inherently more profound and resilient than that of usual cultivators, and he hadn't combined Insight and Deceit often; thus, while painful, it wasn't severe. But if he continued using them this way... Unless his consciousness was like that of the Ram-horn Enforcer's "skull"—from intangible to tangible, utterly unbreakable—it wouldn't withstand the immense burden of using both Insight and Deceit. Otherwise, there would inevitably come a day when these algorithms would fracture his consciousness, rendering it utterly shattered... Mo Hua inhaled sharply. "Damn, I can't use them together..." No wonder his master learned one and his senior chose the other... Even with his master's talent and his senior's cunning, they couldn't learn both. Mo Hua, not as gifted as his master, nor as astute as his senior, already considered himself fortunate to have grasped both... Attempting to use both together now was indeed somewhat delusional... With this thought, Mo Hua's mood balanced a bit. Contentment brings happiness; knowing when to stop is wisdom. When one hits a wall, it's wise to turn back... Mo Hua nodded to himself. Currently, with his consciousness stinging, there was no way to continue studying. Subsequently, he rested for a few days, neither drawing formations nor reading books on arrays, and abstained from using his consciousness. Once it healed and no longer stung during operations, he resumed researching the Beacon Magnetism Array... As he had previously deduced. The most crucial, core aspect of the Beacon Magnetism Array was the faint, magnetically energized lightning flow generated between definite and indefinite magnetic array patterns. Such lightning flows, extremely subtle, were hard to perceive. They resembled both spiritual energy and array patterns, existing as a nuanced "secondary lightning flow." To "cheat" and deconstruct the magnetic array, one must comprehend these "secondary lightning flows," or what could be called "secondary lightning patterns." These genuine secondary lightning patterns were "agreements," the rules themselves, serving as bridges between fixed and unfixed structures. Mo Hua once again simulated the magnetic array, then extended his consciousness to sense it. Yet, without the enhancement of Deceit and Insight, his mental power alone couldn't detect the secondary lightning patterns... Even after expending tremendous effort until his consciousness felt numb, there was not the slightest hint to be found. Without perception, learning is impossible... Mo Hua frowned once more. Contentment seemed inadequate now. Being content left no room for progress... The circumstances forced him to be "greedy"... He needed to employ both Deceit and Insight simultaneously. Otherwise, how could he glimpse the "secondary lightning flows" necessary to unravel the mysteries of the Beacon Magnetism Array and decipher the secrets of the "Communication Talisman"? But using them together would tear his consciousness apart... The dual pressure of Deceit and Insight was overwhelming. Occasional usage was tolerable, but prolonged application would undoubtedly lead to the collapse of his mindscape. Mo Hua lay on the bed, hands behind his head, eyes locked on the plain yet ancient ceiling, blinking thoughtfully. Meanwhile, his mind constantly whirled, reviewing every method at his disposal, until he abruptly froze, realization dawning upon him: The Dao Monument! The Dao Monument could restore consciousness! By drawing formations on the Dao Monument, expended consciousness would be restored. So, if he utilized the Dao Monument to employ both Celestial Deceit and Celestial Insight, to deduce the secondary lightning flows within the magnetic array... Even if in pain and with his consciousness tearing, as long as the deduced formations were erased, wouldn't it mean... His consciousness could still be restored, whole and intact?! Mo Hua's heart trembled with excitement, and he immediately sat up. Though this plan seemed extravagant, like a blatant "cheat," it was also immensely logical. The Dao Monument appeared void, yet encompassed everything. Transforming consciousness into array patterns and reversing them back to consciousness. From tangible to intangible, then intangible to tangible, life and void intertwine and convert... Mo Hua's eyes sparkled. Once his thoughts aligned, he eagerly awaited the following midnight to enter his mindscape. Within its center. The Dao Monument stood, archaic and mysterious, amidst void, seeming to contain countless laws. Mo Hua first inscribed a complete Beacon Magnetism Array, incorporating both definite and indefinite patterns, on the Dao Monument. He then activated the formation, causing the definite and indefinite magnetic patterns to resonate. With a concentrated gaze, Mo Hua simultaneously cast the Celestial Deceit and Celestial Insight. One eye reflected darkness, while the other shone clear. His spiritual embodiment garbed in an ink-wash Dao robe, yet the pure black attire began showing white cracks, as if the two algorithms entwined in endless conflict, relentlessly tearing... The mindscape quivered, consciousness writhing in pain. Enduring the sting, Mo Hua focused solely on perceiving the hidden secondary lightning flows of the magnetic array. This time, his consciousness finally revealed the faintly blue secondary lightning flows conjured through magnetic resonance. These flows, subtle yet profound. As if lightning spawned in its most nascent, primordial state. Like an infant in "swaddling." A flow of spiritual energy, yet distinctly marked by patterns like array engravings, hinting at the essence of array evolution... Mo Hua quickly engraved a "secondary lightning flow" into a "secondary lightning pattern" on the Dao Monument, mirroring it exactly. This act intensified the pain. Clenching his teeth and persisting, Mo Hua committed this secondary lightning pattern to memory. Upon inscription, both Deceit and Insight ceased abruptly. His consciousness was depleted, the mindscape burdened by the dual algorithms, showing signs of cracking. Alarmed, Mo Hua immediately erased all formations and patterns on the Dao Monument. In erasure, the process reversed. As if nothing had transpired, Mo Hua's consciousness rejuvenated, the mindscape's cracks vanished, and the tearing sensation was nowhere to be felt. Mo Hua paused, then joy soared within. He'd guessed correctly! The Dao Monument indeed allowed for "cheating"! His master and senior, both elders with centuries of cultivation, could only choose one between Insight and Deceit. Yet Mo Hua, young and of lower rank, could have both! With a beaming smile, Mo Hua patted the Dao Monument, praising in his heart: "The Dao Monument is incredible!" Consciousness restored, yet experience and comprehension remained. Thus, using the Dao Monument allowed Mo Hua to "cheat," simultaneously applying Celestial Insight and Deceit to deduce magnetic arrays, perceive secondary lightning flows, and document secondary lightning patterns. Conversely, leveraging the dual magnetic arrays, deducing secondary lightning patterns served as practice for fusing Celestial Insight and Celestial Deceit! A double benefit! Gaining array knowledge while fusing algorithms! Mo Hua's look was spirited. Despite the discomfort of consciousness tearing, the results made the pain bearable. Wasting no time, Mo Hua eagerly started crafting magnetic arrays repeatedly, integrating the deceitful and insightful algorithms, deducing secondary lightning flows, understanding secondary lightning patterns... His consciousness tore time and again, only to return whole repeatedly. Unbeknownst to Mo Hua... Amid this cyclical renewal, his consciousness grew incrementally robust. Step by step approaching an unbreakable, eternal state. Within the void Dao Monument, the ever-emerging essence of Dao subtly and silently permeated his spiritual awareness... This process unfolded, quietly yet intricately... Mo Hua's whole focus remained on the arrays. ... Three days later. Mo Hua, undistracted, remained absorbed in exploring the magnetic arrays and secondary lightning patterns. After several days of deducing, Mo Hua discovered another issue: By amplifying Insight with Deceit, he could deduce the magnetic array patterns to perceive the secondary lightning flows and grasp the "secondary lightning patterns" that embodied the fundamental laws of the Magnetic Array. However, these secondary lightning patterns were impossible to learn... Over these days, Mo Hua had documented many "secondary lightning patterns," but without exception, they were vastly divergent, lacking any commonality. Too many variations, too subtle, too complex. No rules, no system, impossible to memorize, apply, or organize... This indicated that these "secondary lightning patterns," in essence, were not actually "patterns" but more akin to tangible "lightning"... Mo Hua sighed. It's no wonder that in common array inheritance within the cultivation world, they merely used definite and indefinite patterns for magnetic resonance to simulate secondary lightning flows for messaging and manifesting text. No one truly learned "secondary lightning patterns"... Precisely because secondary lightning flows are extremely elusive, and without algorithmic support, ordinary cultivators couldn't perceive them. Even upon perception, the secondary lightning patterns themselves were too intricate and finicky to be classified as "patterns." Some secondary lightning patterns appeared identical, yet minuscule variations at the end of the lightning flow marked them as entirely different "patterns," making differentiation exceedingly difficult. Such indistinguishable yet fundamentally different "secondary lightning patterns" were abundant within the magnetic array. This made them unlearnable. Mo Hua felt a profound sense of frustration. After all this effort, he glimpsed the core of the Magnetic Array, only to find something even more profound and complex, utterly ungraspable... Mo Hua was disheartened for a moment but soon thought: If it were easy, it wouldn't have any prestige, and how could he demonstrate his mastery of arrays? Precisely because it's difficult, it holds value for research! And precisely because of its challenge, it showcases the extraordinary nature of his array skills! Mo Hua's eyes brightened, quickly filled with determination. "These mere secondary lightning patterns..." He had learned complex and ultimate formations; how could he fail with mere patterns? The most challenging part was the complexity of the patterns, their subtle differences, and their overwhelming numbers. With enough persistence, sharp tools make good work. Practice makes perfect. Mo Hua took out a large jade slip, naming it the "Secondary Lightning Pattern Jade Slip." He resolved to document every varied and subtly different "secondary lightning pattern" he deduced onto this jade slip. With his deep consciousness, sharp perception, and remarkable memory, he would commit them to memory! Whether a thousand or ten thousand, he would remember them all... Mo Hua's resolve was steadfast. He refused to believe that by deducing the magnetic array thousands of times and memorizing countless secondary lightning patterns, he couldn't extract some key insights or gain mastery... Since there was no shortcut, he'd use the most painstaking method available! From then on, Mo Hua meticulously recorded each secondary lightning pattern, pulling out the jade slip whenever he had time to study... This became a lengthy process. Fortunately, during this endeavor, Mo Hua continuously practiced his formations, enhanced his consciousness, and fused algorithms, which left him feeling not wearied but exceptionally fulfilled... ... A month later, Taixumen entered its annual rest period. The so-called annual rest was a bi-annual holiday instituted by the sect, occurring every six months and lasting about half a month each. The rest period allowed disciples, especially those from large families and clans, to return to pay respects to ancestors, share their learnings, or attend to personal affairs. Some even returned to arrange marriages... Mo Hua couldn't return home. Tongxian City was too far; even if he wanted to, he couldn't make it back. He penned a letter instead, using a Qianzhou postal station to send it to Tongxian City. In the letter, he recounted his recent activities and assured his family he was well... He mentioned how he failed to enter Qiandao Sect due to their high threshold, but serendipitously ended up in the "Taixumen," one of the Eight Great Sects of Qianzhou. He'd met a kind and lovely Shang Guan family lady named Wen Ren Wan, who had helped him a lot in joining the sect... Within the sect, Xun, the esteemed teacher of arrays, held him in high regard, and he had learned array skills solidly. His fellow disciples were friendly and harmonious. Some senior brothers and sisters were also very kind to him. He wasn't short on spirit stones, as the sect was a treasure trove of resources... ... Mo Hua rambled on at length, finally concluding the letter with: "All is well, no need to worry." "I'll come home once I reach the Golden Core stage!" "...Father and Mother, you must cultivate diligently, don't be stingy with spirit stones. By the time I return, you must have reached the Foundation Establishment stage!" Mo Hua thought for a moment and decided "Foundation Establishment" was too low, so he raised the bar a bit: Mid-Foundation Establishment! Having finished writing, he invested some spirit stones to send the letter off. Given the distance across provinces, amidst mountains and rivers, who knew how long it would take for his letter to arrive. Mo Hua was melancholic for a brief moment before heading to Gu Family in Qingzhou City. Shang Guan Xu informed him that Yu Er was having trouble sleeping again. Mo Hua licked his lips, hitching a ride on the Shang Guan family carriage to the Gu Family in Qingzhou City. When Wen Ren Wan saw Mo Hua, she greeted him as if he was a divine artifact, both delighted and relieved. After exchanging pleasantries, Wen Ren Wan sighed with a frown: "Yu Er isn't as bad as before..." "No more shivering, coldness, or terror preventing her from sleeping..." "She still frowns with headaches and tension, still has nightmares..." "But Yu Er says there are fewer demons in her dreams now..." Mo Hua nodded reassuringly: "Aunt Wan, don't worry, soon it'll be even less..." Wen Ren Wan looked surprised. That night, Yu Er lay down to sleep. With Mo Hua beside her, she slept soundly and peacefully. Meanwhile, Mo Hua sat in meditation, flipping through an array book. Though his consciousness was now quite strong, it was still far from sufficient. First, he needed it for fusing celestial algorithms, deducing magnetic arrays, and noting down secondary lightning patterns. The Beacon Magnetism Array was a second-grade, sixteen-pattern formation. Even with Mo Hua's consciousness transformed and enormously resilient, the intricate dual algorithms proved quite taxing. A stronger consciousness meant more ease. Also, as Lord Huang Shan stated, he needed to achieve a twenty-pattern level of consciousness to practice the "Taixu Divine Conscious Sword Technique," capable of cutting both tangible and intangible entities. Therefore, the stronger his consciousness, the better. However, methods to enhance consciousness were scarce. Besides diligent array study and grinding his consciousness, Mo Hua hoped to score some "extras" to feast on. Reading his book, Mo Hua's mind wasn't fully on it. As night deepened, an empty room engulfed in darkness. Suddenly, a gust of chilling wind descended, frigid and foreboding. Mo Hua paused, a slight grin curling his lips as he lifted his head to find a chain of causal patterns manifesting in the void. The stench of blood and decay spread. This odor couldn't be "smelled"; only consciousness could "perceive" it. Thick black water dripped. Grotesque demons, incubated within this "amniotic" black water, crawled forth along the chains of causality from the ceiling and walls, hanging upside down. Just like before... Some had human bodies with horse faces, others with donkey heads and monster bodies, and some with dog bodies and human faces... They ignored Mo Hua, crawling toward Yu Er with hands and feet. Yu Er, frowning, murmured in her sleep, her small hands and feet twitching. Mo Hua stepped in front of Yu Er. The demons visibly hesitated, then, seeing Mo Hua as just a child, their eyes glowed red and their faces twisted in ferocity. They didn't know Mo Hua's "true nature." For the demons who knew Mo Hua's "true nature" never made it past his mindscape, which resembled a "slaughterhouse." The moment they appeared before Mo Hua, their fate was sealed. Arrogant, they transformed into wisps of shadowy wind and entered Mo Hua's mindscape. On their distorted faces, grotesque smiles lingered. Then they found themselves facing an enormous formation resembling a volcano spewing magma, fiery and overwhelming. A bunch of "shallow fish and rotten shrimps." This time, Mo Hua had no intention of playing around. He laid in wait within his mindscape, revealing a second-grade Mountain Fire Burial Array. The demons' arrogance fizzled upon entry, dropping straight into the "hotpot." Mo Hua immediately activated the Mountain Fire Burial Array. Rugged stones formed a prison, fiery flames surged, akin to a hellish inferno. Confusion filled the demons' gaze; before they could comprehend, they vanished in an instant, reduced to a "stew" within Mo Hua's mindscape. On the Li Mountain Fire Burial Array, wisps of blue smoke rose gently. Mo Hua inhaled it, savoring the taste, although feeling slightly unsatisfied. He wasn't quite full... His consciousness had strengthened somewhat, but not significantly enough to bridge the gap at the bottleneck of the seventeenth pattern. The most disappointing aspect was the absence of the "Ram-horn Enforcer" in the black water this time. Not sipping that pale golden "marrow" was truly a pity... But since this was an unexpected bonus, Mo Hua wasn't overly greedy. At the very least, his consciousness had genuinely grown stronger. After "devouring" the demons and awakening, the malevolent energy in the side room entirely dissipated. The night was peaceful, the moonlight serene. Yu Er lay on the bed, her brows relaxed, her small face tranquil, sleeping soundly. Mo Hua smiled gently but soon furrowed his brow in thought: Yu Er was enveloped in a massive conspiracy, and such demons would persistently transform into nightmares, attempting to erode Yu Er's mind. Though everything seemed calm for now, given the circumstances, they wouldn't hesitate to return if given the chance. They might even encounter another Ram-horn Enforcer, possessing the faint golden essence. Or perhaps a mental form of higher rank than the Ram-horn Enforcer... In the end, could there be a dark god?! Mo Hua pondered and decided that a dark god was improbable. A dark god was too powerful; Yu Er's body and mindscape couldn't possibly withstand its presence... Then perhaps it could be... The juvenile form or embryo of a dark god? Wouldn't the embryo of a dark god be weaker... Could it be... Mo Hua's eyes lit up with anticipation, involuntarily licking his lips, musing to himself: "I wonder what a true dark god tastes like..." Thank you to readers Agila_Uy, Jiu Cai Wang Shi, 20240118103203263, Yi Qi Xiu Xian, Xiang Lao Dai, PYHuang for your rewards~ (.) (End of Chapter) Previous Chapter Bookmark Table of Contents Next Chapter