Chapter 646: The Malicious Array Master - The Quest for Immortality

Chapter 646: The Malicious Array Master (Thanks to Master Rain Tomb for the alliance~) Seeing Mo Hua with a look of "sudden realization," Gu Changhuai was momentarily stunned. "What have you discovered this time?" Mo Hua pondered for a moment and succinctly replied, "If I'm not mistaken, there's likely a geomagnetic composite array within this demon hall. It's used to oversee and organize the geomagnetic arrays throughout this entire demon lair. It also monitors the spiritual energy fluctuations inside the hall, along with other disturbances..." The eyes of Gu Changhuai and his two companions grew heavy with concern. “So, what you're saying is...” Mo Hua continued, “we’re not only being watched by those patrolling demonic cultivators and their hellhounds, but we’re also under surveillance by the invisible geomagnetic arrays and 'magnetic currents' hidden in the shadows…” “If we let our guard down for even a moment, it could trigger the array, alerting the demonic cultivators.” “And we might not even know how we were discovered…” Gu Changhuai frowned, “Is there any way to break this composite array?” Mo Hua shook his head. "The geomagnetic composite array should be a formation with at least seventeen patterns. It's a bit beyond my current abilities to break it..." Gu Changhuai found this slightly disappointing. He had thought Mo Hua could handle any array. To his surprise, there was something beyond his skills. However, as he reconsidered, something felt amiss. Formations requiring seventeen or more patterns for someone at the initial stage of Foundation Establishment… Isn't that a bit... exaggerated? Gu Changhuai couldn't help but mentally criticize. Is it really that "exaggerated"? Does this kid have some misunderstanding about the term "exaggerated"? However, given the number of surprises he had witnessed on this journey so far, he was becoming almost immune to them. Geomagnetic composite arrays, array surveillance… Gu Changhuai looked up once more at the heavily guarded demon hall and said in a solemn tone, “If what you say is true, we may need to withdraw for now and strategize further…” Mo Hua furrowed his brows. Withdrawing for now to strategize further… This would undoubtedly take more time. The plan to have Fire Buddha meet its end within seven days would be ruined. If it went beyond seven days, he would have to return to his sect for classes, making it impossible to acquire the Meteor Fire Technique… “There might still be a way…” Mo Hua considered this and slowly said, “We can try to locate the central hub of the geomagnetic composite array…” “The central hub of the composite array?” inquired Gu Changhuai. “Exactly.” Mo Hua nodded, “A composite array consists of numerous individual arrays, all centrally managed by a core hub. The larger the array, the more conspicuous the central hub becomes, consolidating many of the array’s functions…” “Destroy the hub, and the geomagnetic composite array will be incapacitated, freeing us from constraints and allowing us to act more freely.” “If we can take control of the hub…” Mo Hua's eyes gleamed, “We could even turn the surveillance arrays in the demon hall to our advantage…” Gu Changhuai was taken aback by this announcement. Gu An and Gu Quan also found it somewhat unbelievable. An array master… Could he really perform such a feat? After a brief moment of contemplation, Gu Changhuai nodded in agreement, “Alright, let’s do it your way!” “Okay.” Without further delay, Mo Hua began to ascertain the location of the geomagnetic composite array’s hub. The demon hall was marked by its stern grandeur, and its corridors were labyrinthine. On the surface, there appeared to be no coherent geomagnetic array. Yet, array media are just that, media. Array patterns are merely superficial structures. The essence of arrays is always spiritual energy. Although it wasn’t visible on the surface, the subtle tracks of the array’s spiritual energy were still discernible within his mind. Mo Hua expanded his awareness, probing the geomagnetic array and sensing the connections between arrays to determine the entire geomagnetic array system. Occasionally, when a clue was lost, he used calculation techniques to sense faint magnetic currents in the air. Tracing back from the “thunder patterns” left by the magnetic currents, he uncovered the geomagnetic arrays of the outer hall, one by one, pulling them out like unearthing roots. These geomagnetic arrays were categorized distinctly, each differing from the next. Some arrays, Mo Hua could discern. They were common formations like small geomagnetic arrays or beacon geomagnetic arrays... However, some arrays featured obscure patterns that exceeded the boundaries of Mo Hua’s spiritual awareness. While he could locate them, identifying their exact nature was beyond him. Fortunately, this did not impede his progress significantly. These geomagnetic arrays were only for “positioning,” meant to help deduce the hub's flow direction through the configuration of the arrays. Once Mo Hua pinpointed the locations of all geomagnetic arrays within the outer hall, he reverse-engineered the layout to find where the geomagnetic flows converged. The convergence of geomagnetic flows marked the position of the central control hub. Nevertheless, this was a process that was both spiritually taxing and time-consuming... Gu Changhuai quietly observed Mo Hua, his mind filled with confusion. In his perspective, Mo Hua seemed to wander—scurrying here, darting there, occasionally stopping to gaze skyward. At other times, he moved almost like a “spiritual canine,” sniffing the air before identifying various formations and discerning the hub’s position with an air of seriousness… Gu Changhuai, no matter how he looked, saw only ordinary buildings around him, devoid of any special markings. If it wasn’t for his knowledge of Mo Hua's outstanding proficiency in array techniques, he might have suspected Mo Hua of engaging in theatrics, pretending to search with no actual substance… Thoroughly puzzled, Gu Changhuai observed Mo Hua's actions. After a moment, Mo Hua pointed towards a small path within the outer hall, decisively stating, “The geomagnetic flow is converging there.” Unable to hold back any longer, Gu Changhuai asked, “How did you figure that out…” Halfway through the question, Gu Changhuai halted. Without even pondering, he knew Mo Hua would respond, “It’s apparent at a glance…” Instead, Gu Changhuai switched tactics, “Why can’t I see it?” He was, after all, a Golden Core cultivator; his spiritual awareness should be stronger. Mo Hua responded matter-of-factly, “You’re not an array master; it’s only natural you can’t see it.” Gu Changhuai: “…” In his mind, the issue wasn’t about being an array master; rather, it was Mo Hua himself who was the anomaly. Without paying Gu Changhuai any further attention, Mo Hua took the lead, heading down the small path towards the geomagnetic convergence point. Gu Changhuai's gaze tightened, his sigh inaudible as he trailed behind quietly. The small path culminated at a wall. Constructed from solid stone and marked by eerie runes, the wall was fortified with an array, though it appeared no different from the other walls. The spot was secluded, with no one in sight. Mo Hua began examining the entire wall, inch by inch, touching and tapping, ensuring every part of it was inspected. Finally, he stood before a brick inscribed with an eye symbol, contemplating. This brick seemed suspicious… After a moment’s direct stare at the “eye” carved on the brick, Mo Hua took out a brush and ink, drawing array patterns around it, dissolving the earthen formation strengthening the brick. The perimeter around this brick began to crack. Gu Quan stepped forward, removing the brick to reveal a narrow, dark passage behind it. The passage was only about half a person tall, filled with a heavy, robust dark ink smell. This ink was a signature of the hub’s presence. Mo Hua’s eyes brightened. His guess had been correct. Just like when he constructed the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Array, using a hub to control all individual arrays required the “branches and trunks” of array ink to link both the internal and external halls. Moreover, these hubs had to be hidden within the structure, never exposed. Lest they catch the eye of “interested parties” like himself. And yet, no matter how well concealed, it didn’t escape his astute senses... Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction. Now, he only needed to follow the hub’s “branches,” lead him to the core control center of the composite array… The only problem was... Mo Hua inspected the passage’s entrance, then turned to Gu Changhuai and the others and said, “You’re too tall, it seems you can’t fit inside…” Gu Changhuai and his companions had mixed expressions. They certainly couldn’t adjust their height just to fit through this opening… Mo Hua sighed, “Well, I’ll venture in to have a look…” Gu Changhuai frowned, “You’re going in alone?” “It’s fine,” Mo Hua reassured, “This is the array hub’s hideaway, a place I know well—there won’t be any danger…” Array hubs are meant to be secluded. Not only are outsiders kept unaware, access is denied even to insiders. Near the array hub, buildings would have precautionary measures set during the construction of an array. However, these measures, in the eyes of Mo Hua who had once crafted grand arrays, were insignificant. Gu Changhuai mused aloud, “We could use a Bone-Shrinking Pill to temporarily reduce our size…” “A Bone-Shrinking Pill?” Mo Hua paused in surprise. “Is there truly such a thing?” The realm of cultivation is indeed filled with strange and mysterious artifacts. Mo Hua mulled this over briefly before shaking his head, "Even with bone shrinking, it won't work. The chaotic spiritual energy flow within the hub could easily disrupt the formations on spiritual artifacts, causing them to malfunction and lose their effects..." He pointed to the jade pendant on Gu Changhuai, "I'm afraid your Water Concealment Jade could be compromised, and you'd no longer remain unseen..." Gu Changhuai's eyes grew dark. He hadn't considered this. After all, he wasn't an array master and his understanding of the intricacies of array logic was limited. “Hold on…” Suddenly, Gu Changhuai had an epiphany, “If our Water Concealment Jade fails and we can’t stay hidden, wouldn’t yours be affected too?” “I’m different,” Mo Hua replied, “I know the art of concealment.” Gu Changhuai gaped, blurting out, “When did you learn concealment techniques?” Mo Hua responded with an innocent look, “I've always known it…” Always known it… Gu Changhuai was left speechless, feeling somewhat deceived. “You never asked me…” Mo Hua murmured. Naturally, Uncle Gu never asked about concealment techniques, so there was no need to bring it up. Taking a deep breath, Gu Changhuai glanced at Mo Hua, “Then why did you willingly accept my Water Concealment Jade?” Mo Hua appeared quite reasonable, “Through my research, I found that using a concealment spiritual artifact together with concealment magic provides a double concealment effect, resulting in better stealth capability…” “Given the danger in this demonic lair, as a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator, I must tread carefully. The more thorough my protection, the better…” Surprisingly, Gu Changhuai found Mo Hua's reasoning very compelling... Though throughout this journey, Mo Hua’s brisk steps hardly suggested he was treading carefully... Gu Changhuai sighed. The surrounding air was dense with chilling energy, and an ominous green light filled the space. Beneath the stone pathway, a thick and foul-smelling liquid oozed… Being within the demon hall, it was not the time for such petty deliberations. Moreover, a stealth artifact, no matter how precious, could not compare to Mo Hua's safety. With a sigh, Gu Changhuai said, “Alright, just be cautious…” After a brief pause, he added, “If you encounter any danger inside, call out for help, and I’ll do whatever I can to get you out…” Mo Hua, a bit taken aback, nodded, “Don’t worry, Uncle Gu.” Now that he had found the array hub, the dangers of the demon lair were significantly reduced. Mo Hua then proceeded alone. Lowering his body, he crawled into the array hub passage behind the wall, using both hands and feet, and followed the pulsations of the hub, slowly making his way towards the core of the geomagnetic array. The passage was narrow, with terrain that varied between flat and steep. Embedded above were the geomagnetic hub and some warning arrays. Mo Hua skilfully avoided these arrays while employing the Flowing Water Step technique, channeling spiritual energy into his hands and feet. Guided by his awareness, he clung to the walls like a “little gecko,” steadily advancing through the passageway. Previously, the magnetic flows he sensed were like subtle streams. Now, the hub felt like a vast river. The spiritual energy currents were exceptionally clear. Mo Hua could navigate even with his eyes shut. Following the path of the geomagnetic flow, Mo Hua moved forward like a gecko, uncertain of how long it took before finally reaching the end of the passage. The passage was dim, no array patterns visible. Yet Mo Hua, through his spiritual awareness, discerned that the geomagnetic circulation converged at the end, overseen by a central control hub. This hub was akin to the master control center of a vast formation, orchestrating the entire geomagnetic composite array! Eureka! Mo Hua's heart leapt with joy. There was a glimmer of light at the end. Mo Hua climbed to the end, peeked through a gap in the construction below to scout. As he expected, there was indeed a room below—an enclosed chamber housing the main control hub. The chamber was densely inscribed with array patterns. At its center lay a unified array disc, inscribed with the core hub. Holding his breath, Mo Hua executed the Five Elements Concealment Technique to perfection, then peered down through the gap with his bright, observant eyes. He noticed someone else in the chamber. The person was tall and gaunt, dressed in elegant, luxurious dark robes. His face was deathly pale, eyes bloodshot, and his facial lines deepened. Like recognizes like. As an array master himself, Mo Hua immediately recognized this person as a skilled array master, yet with something sinister about him—his hands coated in indelible blood. A malicious array master. A second-tier, high-level malicious array master! Mo Hua's heart trembled slightly. At that moment, the malicious array master was engrossed in drawing a blood-red formation within the chamber. Occasionally, he would lift his head to scrutinize the main control array disc, monitoring within the demon hall. Occasionally, he would sip from a wine cup. The wine was deep red, with an eerie eyeball floating within. The eyeball blinked occasionally. Seeing this sent shivers down Mo Hua’s spine. He took another glance at the malicious array master, then quietly retracted his gaze. Fearing detection, he didn't dare stare too long. After withdrawing his gaze, Mo Hua began contemplating. “What should be done next…” This malicious array master was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, wielding nineteen-pattern arrays. Initially, Mo Hua had contemplated challenging this array master, but now it seemed he had been naïve. Nineteen patterns in the second tier marked the pinnacle for a conventional array master. And him being a malicious array master suggested he possessed unsound and unorthodox array abilities. There's not much chance of winning in a fair competition. Besides, this was the demon hall, filled with lurking perils, offering no conditions for a “fair” contest. Priority must be given to the mission. Victory in array skill could be delayed. Mo Hua mulled this over and silently decided: “In that case, perhaps I should first figure out how to assassinate this malicious array master?” Letting him live seemed unfeasible. He controlled the geomagnetic composite array, monitoring every whisper within the demon hall. Circumventing him to access the inner hall and locate Fire Buddha would be impossible. Capturing him alive was also impractical. Being adept in geomagnetic arrays, he undoubtedly had numerous means of communication. The moment he sent out an alert, complications would arise. Thus, this “obstacle” had to be removed first… It's not the moment for array dueling. Even though an array master, he is still a cultivator. Cultivators seeking longevity must prioritize life and death. Knowing you’re outmatched yet recklessly challenging someone is folly… Mo Hua nodded to himself. Fake array master duel: contesting array skills head-on. True array master duel: eliminate the opponent first. Even if he loses in array skill, the opponent still loses a life. A foolproof win! Mo Hua silently resolved: “Find a way to kill this malicious array master…” But he couldn't do it alone. This malicious array master was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, his cultivation much higher, and creating too much commotion was out of the question. After deliberating, Mo Hua realized he might not need to act on his own. “I can't kill him, but I have ‘bodyguards’…” Mo Hua gradually retreated from the array hub passage. While retracing his steps, he extended his awareness, surveyed the surroundings, and, utilizing his understanding of the demon hall’s structure, roughly pinpointed the location of this "geomagnetic array hub chamber." He then retraced the array pathways back to the entrance of the outer hall. Gu Changhuai and the others were waiting outside. Seeing Mo Hua return, they felt relieved and quickly asked, “How did it go?” Mo Hua nodded, “I found it! There's a chamber containing the main control hub, and there's a malicious array master overseeing it…” “We need to discreetly eliminate that array master before we can tamper with the geomagnetic composite array…” Gu Changhuai promptly asked, “Where is the chamber?” Mo Hua replied, “I remember the route. Just follow me…” “But before that, we need to plan how to ‘assassinate’ that array master swiftly without being detected…” After brief contemplation, Gu Changhuai said: “I have a high-grade second-tier short blade, its edge embedded with a Wind Blade Array. If it pierces a cultivator’s heart, the spiritual energy will transform into wind blades, shredding the heart instantly.” Mo Hua nodded in approval. Uncle Gu was indeed reliable in such matters. To ensure success, Mo Hua suggested: “Uncle Gu, perhaps… you should apply some poison to it? A lethal one that seals the throat upon contact with blood…” Gu Changhuai silently looked at Mo Hua. In a quieter voice, Mo Hua added, “I’ve never done this before. It's just a precaution…” Gu Changhuai remained silent for a moment, then took out a vial of poison and carefully applied it to the short blade… The poison wasn't his; it was confiscated from a felonious cultivator. Their Taoist Bureau typically refrains from using poison. Generally speaking... Seeing Gu Changhuai apply the poison to the blade, Mo Hua nodded in satisfaction, then turned to Gu An, “Brother An, do you have a club?” Gu An was taken aback, “A club for what?” “For knocking someone out cold.” Gu An shook his head, “No…” “No worries, I've got one.” Mo Hua retrieved a thick iron rod from his storage pouch. This was the Thousand Weighted Staff, albeit a second-tier version. The first-tier Thousand Weighted Staff forged by Master Chen in Tongxian City became obsolete after Mo Hua reached the Foundation Establishment stage. So, he took some time and spent over a hundred spirit stones to purchase a second-tier staff-type spiritual weapon in Taixu City, outside the Taixu Sect. Though its design differed, Mo Hua, attached to the old name and intent on sticking with the "knockout" strategy, also named it the "Thousand Weighted Staff." He had also engraved a second-tier Thousand Weighted Array onto it. Mo Hua handed the staff to Gu An, “Give it a try, see how it feels.” Gu An, still in a daze, took it and swung it a few times, nodding slowly, “It’s alright…” “I’ll tell you when is the best time to knock someone out…” Mo Hua began to impart the techniques of wielding a club for ambush. Gu An listened with surprise and disbelief. After Mo Hua finished, he asked, “Did you get all that?” Gu An nodded blankly, “I got it...” “Excellent!” “Also, since he’s an array master with sharp senses, be particularly cautious during the assassination...” Mo Hua further explained the intricacies of assassinating the malicious array master. He detailed how to go unnoticed, how to silence him, protect against array usage, and prevent communication through geomagnetic signaling... Once prepared, Mo Hua nodded, “Let’s set out!” Thus, the three Taoist Bureau cultivators, harboring exceedingly mixed feelings, followed Mo Hua’s lead on the path to assassinate the malicious array master…