Chapter 327: The Third Master

The affair of Black Mountain Stronghold had, for the most part, come to an end.

The identity of the Qian Family’s Patriarch as an Evil Cultivator had already been exposed, and the Qian Family could no longer rely on Black Mountain Stronghold to commit misdeeds.

Without the Qian Family’s support, the Stronghold could no longer prosper;

and without the Stronghold’s backing, the Qian Family too could not continue to thrive.

Even if the mastermind behind it all—the Qian Patriarch—was still lurking within Great Black Mountain, he could not stir up much of a storm for the time being.

No matter how powerful a Foundation Establishment cultivator might be, without the support of a clan or sect, he was merely a lone cultivator—his cultivation of little use without the power to wield it.

Moreover, after being grievously wounded, the Qian Patriarch’s strength would hardly be what it once was.

But to completely wrap up the Black Mountain affair, two matters still needed to be resolved.

First—locate the Third Master.

He was an Evil Formation Master, one who could draw evil formations. Someone like that could not be left unchecked; otherwise, endless trouble would follow.

Formation Masters were already extraordinary, and the Third Master was, moreover, a Foundation Establishment–stage Evil Formation Master.

Even if his talent was poor and his diligence lacking—still remaining only a First-Rank Formation Master—he could not be underestimated.

After all, without the formations he drew, Black Mountain Stronghold might have long since been discovered, and could never have hidden in Great Black Mountain for so long.

The second matter—was to hunt down and kill the Qian Patriarch.

Mo Hua had the persistent feeling that the Qian Patriarch was not as simple as he appeared.

His mind was deep and twisted, his schemes likely more intricate than the burrows of a rat.

That day, even when surrounded and seemingly at death’s door, his expression had remained unnervingly calm.

Mo Hua could not understand.

Was it because he truly had some hidden reliance, or was his mind simply so deep that even at the brink of death, his emotions would never show—no panic, no desperation, no ugliness born of fear?

Mo Hua could not tell whether there were still layers of plots hidden within the man’s mind.

But so long as the Qian Patriarch was captured or slain, all these matters would finally settle like dust.

Even if he had more schemes, as long as they were buried with him, Mo Hua wouldn’t care.

The first lead Mo Hua uncovered was regarding the Third Master.

The First Master, who had hidden himself within the Qian Family, had already met his end.

The Third Master, however, was most likely still concealed somewhere deep within the mountains.

The Dao Soldiers had been scouring the mountains for days, yet there was no trace of either the Third Master or the Qian Patriarch.

So Mo Hua volunteered to join the search.

Since learning the Spiritual-Consciousness Derivative Algorithm, his perception of formation energy patterns had become even sharper.

If the Third Master were indeed hiding in the mountains, he would surely have set up formations. Once formations were laid, the flow of spiritual energy they produced would be as a bright flame in the night—impossible to escape Mo Hua’s Divine-Sense.

Commander Yang, worried for Mo Hua’s safety, decided to accompany him.

The mountain range was vast; Black Mountain Stronghold occupied only a small part. Beyond it stretched desolate wilderness—dense vegetation, poisonous miasma, and uninhabited valleys aplenty.

Under Yang’s protection, Mo Hua explored while extending his Divine-Sense, searching for traces of formations.

A Formation Master who didn’t arrange formations was no Formation Master at all.

And once a formation was laid, it could not escape Mo Hua’s perception.

After half a day, Mo Hua finally detected traces of a formation on a cliffside—and it was a Concealment Array, one he recognized well.

In the region surrounding Tōngxiān City, aside from himself, there was likely no other Formation Master capable of drawing a Concealment Array—except the Third Master.

“Found it?”

Commander Yang’s eyes brightened as he saw Mo Hua halt abruptly.

Mo Hua nodded, pointing toward the cliff. “It’s nearby.”

Commander Yang followed his gaze. Upon the cliff were only strange rocks and tangled brush—nothing different from countless cliffs they had passed along the way.

How did he even find this…?

“Here?” Yang asked, seeking confirmation.

“Yes,” Mo Hua replied. “A Concealment Array has been set here—it hides all traces.”

Yang released his own Divine-Sense but found nothing. The spiritual energy of the formation blended perfectly with the mountain fog—vague and indistinct. As he wasn’t a Formation Master, he couldn’t tell at all.

Still, embarrassed to admit it, he nodded solemnly and said with forced confidence,

“Indeed… I see it.”

“I’ll go in first,” Mo Hua said.

Yang immediately stopped him. “I’ll go with you.”

The Third Master was an Evil Formation Master; the cave ahead was hidden and who knew what traps it held. Yang feared Mo Hua might be in danger.

Mo Hua shook his head. “I’ll conceal myself—he won’t see me.”

Yang still objected.

Mo Hua added, “Uncle Yang, you don’t know what formations are inside. If we rush in blindly, we’ll either trigger an ambush or alert him and let him escape.”

“You know what formations are inside?” Yang asked, suspicious.

“I’ll know once I take a look,” Mo Hua replied.

Yang hesitated.

He couldn’t recall any Formation Master capable of that—to know an array’s structure just by looking?

Still, seeing Mo Hua’s confident expression, he relented.

“Very well,” Yang said at last. “I’ll wait here. If you’re in danger, just shout—I’ll rush in immediately!”

“Alright!” Mo Hua nodded.

Then, performing his Concealment Technique, he vanished before Yang’s eyes.

Yang sighed. No matter how many times he saw it, it still felt unreal—a Qi-Refining youth completely fooling even the senses of a Foundation Establishment cultivator…

“Maybe I should check if there’s a suitable, beautiful, gentle girl in the family—and somehow trick this boy into joining the Yang clan…”

The upright Commander Yang could not help but let his thoughts wander crookedly.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua, hidden from sight, crept along the cliff’s narrow steps and entered the concealed cave.

Formations covered the surrounding area—not only a Concealment Array, but also warning arrays, traps, and defensive arrays.

Using Spiritual-Consciousness Derivation, Mo Hua discerned their range and types, slipping past them without leaving a trace.

The process was far easier than he had imagined.

Mo Hua couldn’t help but marvel—Mister Zhuang’s teachings on Derivation truly were extraordinary.

Especially against other Formation Masters—one glance could expose the very structure of their arrays.

The cave was spacious yet dim, lit only by a faint Bright Flame Array.

In that flickering glow, Mo Hua saw the surroundings lined with formation scrolls, array disks, brushes, and ink—along with alchemical materials, and several enormous vats filled with human blood.

And there sat the Third Master at a stone table, completely absorbed in his drawing.

Silently, Mo Hua used Flowing-Water Step, moving without a sound as he crept close enough to see the table—but not so close as to alert the man.

The utterly focused Third Master had no idea that, even in this hidden cave, he had not escaped Mo Hua’s “curious eyes.”

Stretching his neck, Mo Hua peered curiously, trying to see what exactly the man was doing.

After a moment, he understood.

The Third Master was drawing a formation—and it was an Evil Formation!

Another one…

Mo Hua’s heart tightened, and he paid closer attention.

Yet the longer he watched, the more disappointed he became.

As Bai Zixi had said, Evil Formations were but a perverse offshoot of orthodoxy—not profound formation arts at all.

They were derived from proper formations but altered for speed: changing the formation mediums, the ink, and some structural pivots.

Using flesh as formation medium saved Divine-Sense; using human blood as ink enhanced power—but the patterns themselves were crude and simplified, corners cut, artistry lost.

So-called Evil Formations were nothing more than shortcuts, a “quick and dirty” path.

They looked dark and terrifying, but the Dao behind them was shallow and hollow.

Whether cultivation or formations, shortcuts may bring fast results—but never lead one far along the Great Dao.

Mo Hua simulated the formation in his mind using Derivation, and the Evil Array’s structure unfolded clearly within his consciousness.

No wonder Bai Zixi had said he could “learn it at a glance.”

His curiosity waned.

This kind of crooked-path formation looked fierce, but was utterly meaningless.

Too low in technical content.

Losing all interest, Mo Hua quietly slipped back out.

Outside, Commander Yang was standing guard, eyes locked on the cave entrance.

When Mo Hua suddenly appeared beside him, Yang nearly jumped.

“When did you get out?”

“Just now…”

Yang coughed, covering his embarrassment, and asked with forced calm, “The Third Master’s inside?”

Mo Hua nodded. “Yes. There’s a secret passage inside—go capture him, and don’t let him escape!”

He took out brush and paper and drew a clear diagram of the cave, marking everything—

Where each formation lay, what type it was, what effect it had, how to move safely without triggering traps or alerting the enemy, and even where the secret passage was.

Yang couldn’t help but marvel.

He wanted to keep Mo Hua by his side like a living treasure.

Detection, scouting, formation-breaking—he excelled at all of them.

With him, future campaigns would be incomparably easier!

But Yang knew such thoughts were only fantasies.

A wild hope, nothing more.

Memorizing the layout, he snuck into the cave as Mo Hua had, and soon the sounds of battle echoed from within—crackling, clashing, and the Third Master’s furious shouts.

After a short while, the noise subsided.

Yang called out from the cave, “Mo Hua!”

Mo Hua, realizing the fight was over and the Third Master captured, perked up and strode boldly back inside.

(End of Chapter)