Chapter 313: A Joyous Occasion

As night descended, Mo Hua finished dinner and sat upright before his small desk.

On the table lay a First-Grade Earthfire Array.

Following the method of Divine-Sense Derivation that Mister Zhuang had taught him, Mo Hua began deriving the array’s formation runes.

Divine-Sense Derivation had two directions of computation—forward and reverse.

One method derived formation runes into spiritual power,

tracing the generation and dissolution of energy from each rune, and simulating within the Sea of Consciousness the complete circulation pattern of spiritual power within the array.

This form of derivation allowed a cultivator to perceive clearly the relationship between the visible formation runes and the intangible spiritual power within, deepening comprehension of an array’s essence.

After such derivation, one could even grasp the rhythm of the spiritual power itself—like understanding the spirit of calligraphy and painting while transcending their outward form.

The other method derived spiritual power back into formation runes.

When faced with a strange or complex array, by sensing its circulating spiritual power with Divine-Sense, one could deduce the full structure of its runes.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but think—if he had known this art earlier, when he first entered the Misty Mountain Forest, he wouldn’t have needed to dig up tree roots or expose the ground to see the formation. Merely sensing the flow of spiritual power would have been enough to deduce the Fog Array’s complete pattern.

But at that time, his Divine-Sense had not yet reached Foundation Establishment, and he wouldn’t have been able to perform derivation anyway.

Divine-Sense Derivation was an advanced art of mental perception and array comprehension.

Mo Hua planned to begin from first-grade formations and re-derive each one he had learned, one by one.

That way, he could both practice the art of derivation and review his knowledge, deepening his understanding of formations.

And the first array he chose to derive was the Earthfire Array.

Following the pattern of the formation runes, he began deriving the flow of spiritual power within his Sea of Consciousness.

Within that pale-white inner world, faint blue threads of energy emerged like silken strands, connecting and weaving until they gradually formed a continuous circuit of spiritual power—an embryonic model of the array’s circulation.

At the same time, Mo Hua’s Divine-Sense surged outward like a flood.

The rate of consumption far exceeded his expectations.

It was as if his Divine-Sense had connected to the boundless and unfathomable Dao itself—

a Dao both all-encompassing and void, everything and nothing at once.

Merely perceiving its existence caused his Divine-Sense to pour forth endlessly.

Mo Hua was deeply shaken.

When he drew formations, he had occasionally felt something similar—

as though what he was grasping wasn’t merely an array, but the form of the Dao itself.

Every act of formation drawing consumed Divine-Sense not merely for precision, but as a way of communing with that formless, profound Dao.

The more arrays he drew, the clearer that sensation became.

Yet never before had it been as vivid as now, nor had his Divine-Sense ever been depleted so quickly.

After a full hour of concentration, he finally completed the derivation of the First-Grade Earthfire Array—and was shocked to find his Divine-Sense completely exhausted.

To think that a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s Divine-Sense could be drained entirely just by deriving a single first-grade Qi-Refining array!

Mo Hua could hardly believe it.

Mister Zhuang had warned him that Divine-Sense Derivation was extremely consuming—but he hadn’t imagined this much consumption.

No wonder so few formation masters ever practiced it…

Feeling both exasperated and grateful, Mo Hua smiled wryly.

He had been born frail, with poor spiritual roots—his only real strength lay in his Divine-Sense. In fact, that strength had often seemed excessive and unnecessary.

Now, however, it was the perfect fit.

Since this art consumed immense Divine-Sense, others might struggle to learn it—but Mo Hua had no such problem. Divine-Sense was what he had most in abundance.

This technique was practically made for him.

After meditating to recover his Divine-Sense, Mo Hua reviewed his insights, redrew the Earthfire Array, and began deriving again.

Though the Earthfire Array’s structure remained constant, the flow of spiritual power varied slightly each time—

just as every human face shares two eyes and one nose, yet no two are ever quite the same.

Arrays, too, each carried their own subtle distinctions.

Thus, every individual instance of a formation had to be derived anew.

However, beneath these differences, their essence remained one and the same.

Having succeeded once, the second derivation was far easier.

He went on to derive several arrays in succession, and when midnight came, he shifted his Divine-Sense into his Sea of Consciousness to continue practicing the Spirit-Reversal Array on the Dao Monument.

By day, he practiced derivation; by night, formation drawing.

That was Mo Hua’s current routine—

but one evening, resting his chin on his hand, he suddenly mused:

“The Dao Monument can display formation runes… could it also display derivation patterns?”

Normally, when deriving, the flow of spiritual power appeared within his Sea of Consciousness.

If he performed derivation within his Sea of Consciousness using the Dao Monument… where would the resulting energy pattern appear?

Curious, he decided to test it.

He first drew a First-Grade Molten Fire Array upon the Dao Monument—one he had not yet derived before.

Then, after restoring his Divine-Sense, he began deriving according to its formation runes.

To his surprise, the resulting spiritual flow appeared directly upon the surface of the Dao Monument!

After thinking it through, Mo Hua understood.

Since the stone was called the Dao Monument, it naturally manifested the Dao of things—the essence of formations themselves.

If it could display runes, it could certainly display the underlying flow of spiritual power as well.

Nodding, Mo Hua focused and completed the derivation.

The Dao Monument now showed a complete diagram of the array’s energy flow—

simpler and clearer than the intricate web of runes, endlessly circulating with ineffable Dao rhythm.

Mo Hua gazed at it, entranced, and suddenly experienced an epiphany.

Within every array, rune structure and spiritual current mirrored one another—

one external, one internal; one complex, one simple; one still, one in motion—

together forming the living body of the formation.

He nodded lightly, then hesitated, and finally brushed the energy pattern away.

In that instant, his Divine-Sense surged back into him.

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened.

His guess was right!

If erasing a drawn array on the Dao Monument restored his Divine-Sense, then erasing a derived pattern did the same!

That meant he could now derive without restraint—night and day—his Divine-Sense endlessly replenished.

The more he derived, the deeper his understanding would grow!

Excitement filled his heart.

Divine-Sense Derivation was difficult, yes—but difficulty meant little if he persevered without rest.

One day, he would master it completely.

After all, this was a method taught by Mister Zhuang himself. Mo Hua would not allow himself to disappoint his teacher.

At that thought, his heart grew a little heavy.

Mister Zhuang would soon be leaving Tōngxiān City…

and Mo Hua did not know if they would ever meet again.

He sighed softly. Before that day came, he wanted to refine his Derivation Technique to perfection—to give Mister Zhuang a pleasant surprise.

During the following half month, Mo Hua devoted nearly all his time—aside from regular cultivation—to practicing Divine-Sense Derivation.

Except for one day.

That day, Ji Li and Fu Lan were wed as Dao Companions.

Everyone was overjoyed, and Mo Hua, after a moment’s hesitation, happily took a half-day off to attend the wedding with his parents.

The Black Mountain Stronghold had been destroyed, the Evil Cultivators executed or hunted down.

Though Mo Hua still harbored doubts, it seemed the affair had reached its end—

and for the next century or two, no Evil Cultivator would dare rise again.

The itinerant cultivators of Tōngxiān City could finally breathe easy; trade caravans multiplied, and the city bustled with renewed prosperity.

Ji Qingbai, Ji Li’s father, decided it was time to fulfill a long-held wish by marrying off his son and Fu Lan.

For cultivators, becoming Dao Companions was a major life event.

The ceremony was solemn and elaborate—

even poor wanderers might simplify the rites, but never omit them.

And now that life in the city had improved, there was even less reason to do so.

Though the Ji family were outsiders, Ji Qingbai’s cultivation was not weak, Ji Li was diligent and earnest, and Fu Lan held a job at the Blessed Meal Pavilion.

Together they had saved enough for a decent life.

Without oppressive sects or Dao Court taxation, life indeed kept getting better.

Ji Qingbai emptied his savings—and with help from friends like Mo Shan—hosted a grand wedding banquet at the Blessed Meal Pavilion.

Mo Hua attended gleefully, enjoying the food and drink.

It was his first time at a cultivator’s wedding.

The customs of welcoming and sending off the bride and groom were all new to him—curious and festive.

Many of the traditions made no sense to Mo Hua, but he didn’t mind; he was simply there to join the merriment.

Wherever the noise was loudest, there he went to look.

The narrow street before the Ji residence was adorned with lanterns and streamers; drums thundered, crimson garments fluttered, lanterns swayed high, and laughter filled the air.

Inside the Ji family’s main hall, Mo Hua stood with his parents as the bride and groom, clad in red, bowed before the altar.

Ji Li was handsome and dignified; Fu Lan radiant and graceful.

When they rose and looked at each other, their faces flushed red—truly a perfect pair.

After the ceremony, the feast began.

Just as Mo Hua was about to dive into the food, Ji Qingbai called out to him.

He had Mo Hua sit down and summoned Ji Li and Fu Lan to offer Mo Hua a cup of tea.

Mo Hua was startled and hurried to rise, but Ji Qingbai pressed him back down.

“Uncle Ji, I can’t possibly accept this!” Mo Hua said awkwardly.

Mo Shan added, “Brother Ji, Hua’er can’t accept such a gift…”

But Ji Qingbai only shook his head.

“If he isn’t worthy of this honor,” he said solemnly, “then no one is.”

(End of Chapter)