Chapter 355: Array Master

The rogue cultivators had delayed for some time, but Commander Yang had already caught up. A golden light surged along his long spear, and with a single thrust, he pierced the left shoulder of the head of the Kong family.

The other rogue cultivators threw themselves at him desperately, hacking at him again and again.

The head of the Kong family, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, was killed in the process.

With the death of the Kong family head, the situation briefly spiraled out of control.

The enraged rogue cultivators stormed into the Kong family estate, killing anyone in sight.

Commander Yang led the Dao soldiers and took quite some time to regain control of the situation.

By this time, however, the Kong estate had been reduced to ruins.

Nearly all the young and strong cultivators of the Kong family were dead or mortally wounded. Only a few elderly, women, and children remained, protected by the Dao soldiers, sparing them from death.

The rogue cultivators who had slaughtered the Kong family gradually calmed down, but there was no satisfaction on their faces—only numbness and tears of pain.

Blood stained the white walls, and corpses lay everywhere.

Commander Yang looked at the scene, shaken to his core.

How many sins had the Kong family committed to deserve this…

…

Hearing this, Mo Hua also felt a sour unease in his heart.

“How will this be handled?”

Mo Hua was worried about the rogue cultivators of Qingxuan City.

“What else can be done?” Commander Yang sighed. “The law does not punish the many. Moreover, in this case, it is somewhat understandable. The Kong family met their just end—they got what they deserved.”

“Will the Dao Court Division not make things difficult for them?”

The Dao Court Division of Qingxuan City had been in secret collusion with the Kong family, which was why the Kong family acted so recklessly.

Though the Kong family was gone, the Dao Court Division might not let it slide.

“The Dao Court Division?” Commander Yang sneered. “They can’t even protect themselves.”

Mo Hua’s eyes brightened. “The Dao Court will investigate?”

Commander Yang nodded. “The Kong family rebelled, the rogue cultivators rioted, and then there’s the matter of the Kong family colluding with the Black Mountain Stronghold… With so much chaos arising under their watch, the Dao Court Division of Qingxuan City won’t come out unscathed.”

“What will be the outcome?” Mo Hua asked, curious and digging for details.

Commander Yang said, “Typically, when the higher-ups investigate, the head of Qingxuan City’s Dao Court Division will almost certainly lose their position. If past cases of corruption, bribery, or abuse of power surface, their life may not even be spared.

“The subordinate officials—whether clerks or enforcers—are also implicated. To some extent, they will all face imprisonment.”

Mo Hua nodded, feeling reassured, then asked, “Have all the Kong family members been killed?”

Commander Yang shook his head. “All the young and strong, as well as the more powerful cultivators, are dead. The rogue cultivators’ hatred was too strong for the Dao soldiers to stop. What remains are only the elderly, women, and children.”

“These people can’t stay in Qingxuan City either. The Dao soldiers will arrange for them to move elsewhere to make a living, but they will lose the ‘Kong’ surname. The Kong family is completely finished…”

Mo Hua felt a strange mix of emotions but also understood it as inevitable.

The heavier the oppression, the deeper the backlash.

A family that grew strong by absorbing the blood of rogue cultivators could collapse in an instant.

…

The Dao soldiers looted the Kong estate, sending most of the spirit stones to Tongxian City to build a great array.

The remaining spirit stones were distributed among the rogue cultivators of Qingxuan City, making their lives a little easier.

Mo Hua thought the matter had ended there, but a few days later, Ji Qingbai, with Ji Li and Fu Lan, came to visit.

Ji Qingbai met Mo Hua and gratefully said, “On behalf of all the rogue cultivators of Qingxuan City, thank you.”

Mo Hua waved his hand, “I didn’t do much…”

Ji Qingbai shook his head and, calling Ji Li and Fu Lan, performed a formal salute to Mo Hua.

Fu Lan’s eyes were red. Her father had been killed by the Kong family when she was very young. She had lived with her mother alone, and after finally growing up, her mother had been driven to death by the Kong family.

Now, with the Kong family destroyed, she had finally gotten her revenge—though unfortunately, it wasn’t with her own hands.

Mo Hua could only sigh inwardly.

He just hoped that from now on, whether in Tongxian City or Qingxuan City, there would be no more hatred or suffering.

With the spirit stones mostly gathered, the final step remained: finding array masters to help draw the array formations.

Mo Hua could handle the main array core himself, but the numerous subordinate arrays under the core required other array masters.

Otherwise, building the great array in two months would be impossible.

Mo Hua sighed.

Building a great array was truly troublesome.

Resource preparation, recruiting manpower, coordinating everything… it consumed time, effort, and thought.

Even so, it had to be steadily advanced step by step…

For the array masters, Mo Hua went to see Master Luo.

He was the most famous first-rank array master in Tongxian City, well-connected, highly respected, and influential among the city’s array masters.

Mo Hua paid a visit and briefly explained the situation.

Master Luo hesitated, thinking for a moment, then said,

“I will convey Mr. Mo’s intentions to all the array masters in Tongxian City. Whether they choose to help or not depends on them.”

Master Luo’s expression showed regret. “Array masters have a special status and are not subject to authority. I may be respected, but I cannot force them.”

Mo Hua nodded, “Then thank you, Master Luo.”

It was enough that Master Luo was willing to help.

The most critical part of building the great array was the array core. The other arrays only needed to be drawn according to specifications, which wasn’t overly difficult and didn’t require high-level array mastery.

The chief array master would still need to inspect and adjust the formations afterward.

The most difficult part would still be handled by Mo Hua.

As long as some array masters could assist with the other parts, it would suffice.

After Mo Hua left, Master Luo gathered the array masters of Tongxian City for tea and briefly explained the great array project.

The younger array masters were excited and eager to participate.

For many, participating in building a great array was a lifelong aspiration.

The older array masters mostly remained silent, only sneering to themselves at home.

“They don’t know their place…”

“A group of rogue cultivators and lower-tier first-rank array masters think they can build a great array? What a fantasy!”

These veteran masters had lived long and seen much; they knew how difficult it was to build a great array, not something ordinary array masters—or ordinary sects—could accomplish.

At the same time, they were envious of Mo Hua.

After all these years, they had not reached first-rank mastery, and their current array skills were still inferior to a young array master like Mo Hua who had studied for less than ten years.

They knew Mo Hua’s array skills were exceptional, but they did not believe he could truly draw the core of a great array, secretly hoping to see him fail:

“Young and reckless!”

“Taking such a big step is bound to lead to a fall…”

They wouldn’t say this aloud but ridiculed him in their hearts.

In the end, about half of the array masters of Tongxian City agreed to stay and help.

This was more than Master Luo had expected.

With so many array masters, building the great array should barely be possible—assuming it could really be completed…

Master Luo then wrestled with another question: should he stay?

He had already arranged a fallback.

The Lanshan Sect in Lanling Prefecture of the third rank was willing to hire him as an outer elder, temporarily enjoying the elder’s salary. Once his cultivation reached Foundation Establishment, he would enjoy full elder privileges.

Of course, this could not compare with Mo Hua’s treatment.

In terms of array skill, talent, and future prospects, he was far behind Mo Hua.

But this opportunity was already very good.

With a strong sect backing him, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life.

But was that really enough?

Didn’t he want to build a first-rank great array?

Master Luo asked himself, and paused in thought.

In the face of disaster, self-preservation is human nature. Securing a fallback is normal.

But this was a first-rank great array!

It might be the only chance in his life to witness, and even personally participate in, building a great array.

Master Luo sighed.

Only array masters knew how difficult it was to build a great array.

The older array masters knew his seniority exceeded theirs, so they knew even more.

Not to mention drawing the array, finding a chief array master, the sheer scale of the work was massive.

Such a large cultivation construction project would typically be undertaken either by the Dao Court itself or by a deeply established sect or clan, investing immense effort.

It had nothing to do with an ordinary first-rank array master like him.

He wouldn’t even get a chance to touch it.

Only because Mo Hua was building it did they call him.

If it were the Dao Court or a big sect constructing the array, even if he contributed spirit stones, he wouldn’t even be noticed, let alone allowed to draw anything.

Master Luo felt disheartened, then suddenly his heart leapt.

An opportunity lay right before him…

A chance to personally participate in building a first-rank great array!

If he missed it, perhaps he would never have such a chance again.

The youthful ambition and passion he had felt when becoming an array master slowly awoke within his numb body.

It felt strange but also joyous.

Yet he forced himself to stay calm.

“Can this great array really be built?”

Master Luo trusted Mo Hua’s array skills but doubted he could draw the core of a great array at such a young age.

If Mo Hua couldn’t draw it himself, perhaps it was actually the work of the mysterious teacher behind him.

Master Luo breathed a sigh of relief.

If so, the plan had great potential.

After thinking for a while, he gradually understood.

That teacher, aside from wanting to remain anonymous, might also want to “enhance” his disciple’s reputation.

Letting Mo Hua, at such a young age, be recognized as the chief builder of a first-rank great array—a dazzling array achievement.

This was a common tactic of great clans.

To glorify a family heir, they let others do the work, but the disciple got the credit, shaping the image of a “heavenly prodigy.”

Many great families indeed had prodigies, though some were merely the result of inflated reputations and fabricated achievements.

By comparison, Mo Hua was far more deserving.

At least in Master Luo’s eyes, Mo Hua’s array skills were already at the pinnacle of first-rank mastery.

Given time, it was truly possible for him to draw a first-rank great array.

Adding a bit of “glamour” now was understandable.

After all, talent alone is not enough; an array master needs a reputable name to get noticed.

Master Luo resolved to stay and help build the great array.

Mo Hua was surprised.

He had expected Master Luo, with a safe fallback, to quietly leave, yet he risked staying.

“Seems I underestimated Master Luo…”

Mo Hua nodded, viewing him with renewed respect.

With Master Luo staying, other fence-sitting array masters also remained, increasing the number of helpers.

Mo Hua finally relaxed.

With manpower, resources, and spirit stones ready, everything was set.

The Five Elements Demon-Slaying Great Array could officially begin construction!