Chapter 312: Derivative Algorithm

To unravel a formation is to decipher its formation patterns—disentangling its network of runic interrelations to dismantle the array as a whole.

Yet the Spirit-Reversal Formation was capable not only of dissolving formations, but on a deeper level—of dissolving spiritual power itself.

Mo Hua didn’t quite understand, but it sounded impressive enough.

“But… how does one dissolve spiritual power?”

He could break a formation, sure—but dissolving spiritual power? He had never even heard of such a thing.

Mister Zhuang hesitated for a moment before slowly saying,

“Divine Sense Derivative Algorithm.”

Mo Hua frowned. That was yet another term utterly foreign to him.

Of all the formation tomes he had read, and all the formation masters he had met, none had ever mentioned “Divine Sense Derivative Algorithm.”

“Sir, is this… also a highly advanced field of formation study?” Mo Hua asked.

Mister Zhuang nodded. “Yes.”

“How advanced?”

“Advanced enough that an ordinary formation master wouldn’t even attempt to learn it in their lifetime.”

“A whole lifetime?” Mo Hua was stunned.

“A whole lifetime,” Mister Zhuang repeated.

“Not even high-grade formation masters?”

Mister Zhuang chuckled. “High-grade formation masters simply have greater cultivation and stronger Divine-Sense, so they can comprehend higher-grade formations. But in terms of using their Divine-Sense or understanding the essence of formations, they may not surpass lower-grade masters.”

Mo Hua was shocked.

So that was how it was…

“Then, is it that formation masters don’t study this Derivative Algorithm because they don’t need it—or because it’s too difficult?” he asked.

“Both,” Mister Zhuang sighed lightly. “Formations are vast and profound. The higher the art, the more it defies the heavens, overturning yin and yang, seizing the creation of heaven and earth itself.

“But in comparison, a cultivator’s Divine-Sense is minuscule. The more advanced one’s study of formations, the more stretched one’s Divine-Sense becomes—barely enough to comprehend, much less spare any for derivation.”

Mo Hua nodded repeatedly in understanding.

Mister Zhuang gave him a warm look. “Originally, this isn’t something you should learn now. But if you don’t learn it from me, you may never have the chance again.”

“Your Divine-Sense foundation is excellent. It would be a pity not to teach you.”

Mo Hua’s expression fell slightly. “Sir… are you leaving?”

Mister Zhuang sighed faintly. “All banquets must come to an end. I’ve stayed in this place long enough.”

Mo Hua’s small face turned gloomy.

Mister Zhuang gently patted his head. “There’s still some time. I’ll teach you what I can—study well.”

Mo Hua straightened up solemnly. “Rest assured, sir. I’ll study diligently!”

Mister Zhuang smiled and began explaining.

“The formation knowledge you’ve learned so far—formation media, runes, pivots, cores, single arrays, compound arrays—all concern the structure of formations.”

“You must have already realized that beyond structure, the essence of a formation’s power lies in the circulation of spiritual energy.”

“The formation core is the root of that circulation. The formation medium carries it. The runes and pivots define its pathways.”

“All things in the Dao lead to the same truth: whether formation, cultivation, or art—the inner essence is always spiritual power.”

“Thus, the Divine Sense Derivative Algorithm is performed within the Sea of Consciousness, to simulate and reconstruct the flow of a formation’s spiritual energy.”

“It’s like perceiving another’s spiritual condition through Divine-Sense—only here, you use your Divine-Sense to precisely calculate the internal flow of a formation’s energy.”

Mo Hua remembered—back in the Misty Forest, he had sensed the presence of a fog array and used it to find his way.

But what he sensed then was just a vague image of the array’s runes—really, only a hazy shadow of spiritual energy’s form, not its actual circulation.

“So… what’s the use of this?” Mo Hua asked meekly.

Mister Zhuang chuckled and patiently explained:

“First, it deepens your understanding of formations. You’ll know exactly how runes and pivots function—how spiritual energy passes through them.”

“In the end, runes and pivots are but forms—the true essence is the energy’s flow.”

“Once you grasp that, you’ll understand why identical formations differ slightly between traditions or schools.”

“You’ll also see why some masters can change their rune strokes each time without failure—while others ruin an array with a single misplaced line.”

Mo Hua’s eyes lit up. “Because the first kind still allows the spiritual flow to circulate correctly, while the second disrupts the flow entirely—so the array collapses?”

Mister Zhuang nodded approvingly and cautioned:

“There are those rigid masters who mistake fixed rune patterns as heavenly law itself—worshipping form over essence. Don’t become one of those wooden-headed fools.”

“Mm-hmm!” Mo Hua nodded quickly.

“Second,” Mister Zhuang continued, “with the Derivative Algorithm, you can infer the runic structure purely by sensing the flow of energy.”

“Some formations are deeply hidden—you can’t discern their patterns. Such unseen formations are the most dangerous.”

“When you travel the world, if you step into another’s formation and can’t see its pattern, you’d normally be doomed.”

“If you misjudge a killing formation for an illusion formation, the outcome would be… unpleasant.”

Mo Hua suddenly realized, “So, by mastering derivation, I can see through any formation just from the spiritual flow—no one can trap me again!”

Mister Zhuang nodded.

Mo Hua’s eyes gleamed mischievously. “Then… could I also learn other people’s formations that way?”

If he could derive runes from energy alone, he wouldn’t even need formation diagrams anymore.

Even if another master tried to trap him—he could just learn their formation on the spot.

“Your formation is powerful—but after I see it once, it becomes mine!”

He could already imagine how domineering that would sound someday.

Mister Zhuang, however, shook his head.

Mo Hua looked crestfallen. “So I can’t… secretly learn them?”

“You can learn,” Mister Zhuang said with a laugh, “but don’t call it ‘stealing.’”

“With your own ability, learned openly and righteously—how could that be called stealing?”

Mo Hua blinked, then grinned. “Sir is right!”

“The last use of the Divine Sense Derivative Algorithm,” Mister Zhuang said, his tone turning solemn, “is what I mentioned before—using the Spirit-Reversal Formation to counteract spiritual energy itself, causing the formation to collapse and unleash destructive power.”

Mo Hua’s eyes widened. “How powerful?”

“It depends on the formation. Simple arrays aren’t worth collapsing—their energy is too weak. Ordinary compound arrays don’t require it—their pivots are too simple. Only more complex compound arrays merit it.”

“And the more complex the formation, the stronger the energy, the more terrifying the destructive force when it collapses.”

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened. “Could it kill someone above my realm? Like collapsing a first-grade compound array to kill a Foundation Establishment cultivator?”

Mister Zhuang nodded. “It could.”

Mo Hua’s expression gleamed with excitement. “Then I—”

“No.”

Mo Hua froze. “Sir, I didn’t even say anything yet…”

Mister Zhuang couldn’t help but laugh. “You were going to say you’d collapse a few arrays to kill some Foundation Establishments, weren’t you?”

Mo Hua scratched his head sheepishly. “So I can’t?”

“No.”

Seeing his confusion, Mister Zhuang explained plainly:

“Your Divine-Sense isn’t sufficient.”

Mo Hua was shocked. “Even a Foundation Establishment’s Divine-Sense isn’t enough?”

“Not enough,” Mister Zhuang said, nodding. “That’s why so few formation masters study this. The Divine-Sense consumption is… absurd.”

“I’m teaching you only because your Divine-Sense foundation barely meets the threshold. But even so, you can only derive simple first-grade compound arrays. Their collapse could injure a Foundation Establishment cultivator—but not kill.”

Even Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense was only barely enough…

Mo Hua felt a little disheartened.

But Mister Zhuang’s voice softened. “I’m not teaching you Derivative Algorithm to destroy formations—but to understand them. To perceive their essence. So that, when you one day fall into another’s array, you won’t lose your life for lack of insight.”

Mo Hua froze, warmth stirring in his chest. He bowed his head gratefully.

“Thank you, sir.”

(End of Chapter)