Chapter 357: Completion

After the Formation Core was drawn, it needed to serve as the central hub, extending the patterns within the core outward to every corner of the Grand Formation, linking tens of thousands of single formations.

All these single formations were based on the Five Elements, with ranks ranging from a minimum of six-path formations to a maximum of first-rank nine-pattern formations.

There were far too many formations for Mo Hua to draw alone; even at his fastest, it would have been impossible to complete them all within two months.

So he needed other formation masters to assist.

As the chief formation master, Mo Hua’s responsibilities were twofold: one was the overall design and planning of the single formations—deciding which type of formation to place where, how many copies were needed, and how to coordinate control via the Formation Core.

The other was inspecting the compatibility of single formations. Some layouts might look fine, but when the spiritual energy flowed, conflicts could arise.

In such cases, the chief formation master had to adjust and correct them.

Mo Hua handed the coordinated formation diagram to Master Luo, letting him distribute tasks to the specific formation masters.

Because Mo Hua was young and directly giving orders, some of the subordinate formation masters might not fully respect him. Even if they didn’t say anything, they might feel uneasy inside.

But Master Luo was a genuine first-rank formation master with prestige, making him the best choice for this responsibility.

Mo Hua’s own tasks included filling in the single formations, checking their compatibility, and adjusting the flow of spiritual energy between the single formations and the Formation Core.

Another task was calculating the Formation Core.

The core of the Grand Formation was extremely complex, and he had to work quickly to fully understand its calculations.

If a crisis occurred and the first-rank Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Formation failed to suppress Feng Xi, he could still attempt to collapse the formation to destroy the great demon, eliminating future threats.

This was a contingency plan—never to be used unless absolutely necessary, but it had to be prepared in advance.

Using the Grand Formation to exterminate demons wasn’t a solo effort; it involved the safety of the entire Tongxian City, even the whole Black Mountain Prefecture, and would impact stability for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years.

So every detail had to be carefully considered.

Thus, Mo Hua spent his days drawing formations, checking those drawn by other formation masters, and adjusting the Grand Formation based on compatibility and energy flow.

At night, while others rested, he would sink his Divine-Sense into his Sea of Consciousness, using the Dao Monument to calculate the energy trajectories within the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Formation’s core.

With each calculation, his understanding of the Grand Formation deepened, making daytime adjustments increasingly effortless.

Master Luo was also busy drawing formations these days.

With so many single formations and the tight schedule, he had to exert himself fully to complete the assigned tasks on time.

Whenever he finished a formation, Mo Hua would, as usual, “inspect” it.

During these inspections, Master Luo would become especially nervous.

In a fleeting moment, he felt as if he had returned to his early days as a formation apprentice—submitting work for the teacher’s review, waiting in anxious anticipation.

Mo Hua was like the teacher, and he, in turn, became the apprentice, hoping for Mo Hua’s approval.

Mo Hua “reviewed” quickly.

If he scanned the formation from start to finish without pause, it meant everything was correct, and Master Luo could relax;

If Mo Hua paused briefly somewhere, his heart would tighten;

And if Mo Hua frowned while examining, Master Luo would instantly shiver, even breaking into a cold sweat.

Although he reminded himself repeatedly:

He was now a first-rank formation master, no longer an apprentice, and Mo Hua, no matter how skilled, was just a ten-something-year-old young master who hadn’t yet been formally ranked—he had no reason to be anxious or fearful…

Yet he couldn’t help feeling uneasy, fearing Mo Hua might actually find a mistake.

If other formation masters found errors, he could dismiss them.

Those masters were inferior; even if they spotted something, it didn’t mean he was wrong.

But Mo Hua was different—if he spotted a mistake, it would be undeniably correct…

Master Luo sighed, thinking:

“All first-rank formation masters, and yet the gap is this wide…”

Before meeting Mo Hua, he believed first-rank formation masters were largely similar, even if their skill levels varied.

Now he realized that while all formation masters might appear like a calm pool of water, some were ponds, and others were oceans—unfathomably deep oceans.

His admiration for Mo Hua grew, yet he sensed something was still off, as if he had misjudged something.

So he began secretly observing Mo Hua.

Mo Hua himself also drew some single formations.

His fair, apprentice-like hands produced formations of master-level precision, executed with elegant ease.

Moreover, he drew extremely fast, with fluid, natural strokes, lines flowing like dragons and serpents.

Those lines seemed alive, following their own rules and forming coherent patterns.

Master Luo watched in awe.

Such a level could not be reached simply by practice alone.

Yet… Mo Hua was so young, and even with every waking moment used, he shouldn’t have mastered this skill.

Master Luo continued to study him, puzzled.

Then he discovered a shocking truth:

All control of the Grand Formation, and all compatibility adjustments, were handled solely by Mo Hua.

Even when there had been errors in the Formation Core, Mo Hua personally corrected them.

Seeing the earlier doodle-like traces on the core, Master Luo suddenly realized:

No expert was ghostwriting for Mo Hua. The entire core, the whole Grand Formation, was entirely controlled by him alone!

Master Luo stared at the young, fair-skinned Mo Hua, a chill running straight to his spirit.

What kind of prodigy could truly control the construction of an entire first-rank Grand Formation by himself?

Master Luo stood frozen, disbelief written across his face.

This was genuinely a thirteen-year-old chief formation master!

He had completely underestimated him…

With such astonishing formation skill, what need was there for gilded praise?

In Master Luo’s eyes, Mo Hua now radiated pure gold, a first-rank Grand Formation master in every sense…

His heart surged with awe.

From then on, Master Luo treated Mo Hua with even greater humility, even bowing slightly when speaking to him.

Mo Hua found it odd, assuming Master Luo had simply grown confused from fatigue…

Meanwhile, Master Luo applied himself to the Grand Formation with renewed diligence.

Some veteran formation masters, being careless, had repeatedly made mistakes; before Mo Hua could say anything, Master Luo would scold them harshly.

Other formation masters were surprised.

Master Luo usually maintained a polite, accommodating demeanor, rarely losing composure.

Now he seemed like a different person.

Master Luo knew that Mo Hua truly had the potential to complete the Grand Formation!

And some of the formations in it were drawn by him.

He wanted not only to witness the Grand Formation he contributed to being completed but also to witness the birth of a thirteen-year-old chief formation master!

This might be the most glorious achievement of his life as a formation master.

Not just for him, but for all the formation masters present, this was a once-in-a-lifetime honor.

Seeing Master Luo so serious, the other formation masters straightened their minds and devoted themselves fully to constructing the Grand Formation.

…

Working together, the cultivators advanced the construction of the Grand Formation, bit by bit, through busy, tedious, and exhausting labor.

Despite Yang Tongling and the Dao Soldiers repeatedly interfering and slowing the refinement of Feng Xi, the blood energy on Mount Dahei gradually intensified.

Meanwhile, at the old Black Mountain Bandit Fort, the outline of the Grand Formation slowly emerged and was progressively implemented.

It was circular on the outside and square within, conforming to the celestial concept of “round heaven, square earth.”

Inside, winding channels and layered formations formed a dense maze of patterns.

The entire Grand Formation was magnificent yet imposing.

All participating cultivators felt awe, briefly dazed:

They were truly building a Grand Formation, and perhaps… it could really be completed!

Days and nights of labor followed.

Countless cultivators poured sweat into the construction, adding bricks and tiles as best they could, until the Grand Formation was initially completed.

After initial completion, only inspection of the formations remained.

Mo Hua checked all the formations again, preliminarily activated their spiritual energy, tested the energy flow, and spent several days with Master Luo carefully eliminating potential risks…

Only then did Mo Hua nod slightly.

His nod meant the Grand Formation was fully operational.

All cultivators behind him felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted, breathing a collective sigh of relief.

Finally, the Grand Formation was completed!

…

Dao Era 20,025, October 23rd.

With the manpower and resources of the entire Tongxian City, after two months and five days, deep in the mountains of Mount Dahei, the first-rank Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Formation was officially completed!