Chapter 473: Within Reach
Chapter 474: Within Reach
Mo Hua frowned, pretending to be shocked, while his mind raced, trying to memorize the entire Spirit-Pivot Formation diagram.
He stared at it, completely absorbed.
Lu Chengyun sensed something was off and was about to speak when Mo Hua suddenly clutched his head, his expression pained, murmuring, “My Divine-Sense… is exhausted…”
Lu Chengyun was slightly alarmed and quickly withdrew the diagram, asking, “Little Master, are you alright?”
Mo Hua’s face was pale, his voice weak: “I’m fine…”
He glanced at the diagram, shaking his head in awe: “I didn’t expect this formation to consume so much Divine-Sense. I only looked for a moment, and my Divine-Sense is almost drained…”
This was exactly what Lu Chengyun had anticipated. He nodded slightly: “This formation is called the Spirit-Pivot Formation. It is the core formation of a hidden sect. Its difficulty is truly extraordinary.”
“It really is so difficult…” Mo Hua’s expression fell.
Lu Chengyun smiled faintly but spoke reassuringly: “This formation consumes vast Divine-Sense. Without a Foundation Establishment, one cannot learn it. You, being only at the Qi-Refining stage, lack sufficient Divine-Sense. Not being able to learn or draw it is normal. Do not be discouraged. Cultivation is long and gradual. As long as you keep refining your formations and strengthening your Divine-Sense, one day you will comprehend this formation.”
Encouraged, Mo Hua’s expression brightened, and he nodded resolutely: “Alright!”
Lu Chengyun continued, “It’s late today. Little Master, your Divine-Sense is overexerted. Rest first. Once you’ve recovered, you can continue working on the formation core.”
Mo Hua felt a little guilty: “I overestimated myself and delayed your plan, Head of the Lu family…”
“Do not worry,” Lu Chengyun said, “The path of formations is long. A hundred-year plan won’t be harmed by a single day’s delay.”
A hundred-year plan… Mo Hua’s thoughts stirred. Lu Chengyun had been scheming for a century…
Mo Hua nodded, excusing himself: “I’ll return and rest for now.”
Lu Chengyun agreed: “Good.”
Clutching his head, pretending a headache, Mo Hua left the chamber, walked unsteadily out of the hall, returned to his stone room, and collapsed onto his bed.
Lu Chengyun’s Divine-Sense followed him. Seeing Mo Hua lying quietly, he withdrew it after a moment.
Once Lu Chengyun retracted his Divine-Sense, Mo Hua immediately sat up, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with excitement.
He ran to the table, took out paper and brush, and tried to fully recreate the Spirit-Pivot Formation—from the formation patterns, cores, and formation eyes, to similar weighted formations—based on what he had memorized…
Meanwhile, within the mural’s Ten-Thousand-Corpse Formation, Zhang Quan frowned at Lu Chengyun: “Brother Lu, isn’t this a bit premature?”
Lu Chengyun raised an eyebrow: “Premature in what way?”
“About the Spirit-Pivot Formation… maybe he learned about it too soon…” Zhang Quan said.
He had always been wary of Mo Hua—and even harbored thoughts of killing him.
Lu Chengyun waved it off: “He would learn eventually.”
“But…” Zhang Quan hesitated, uneasy, “what if he actually learns it?”
Lu Chengyun sneered: “This is a first-grade, twelve-pattern formation.”
Zhang Quan was stunned: “So?”
Lu Chengyun’s gaze carried a hint of disdain. Talking to a “formation novice” like Zhang Quan was like speaking to a cow about music.
Patiently, Lu Chengyun explained: “First-grade refers to the formation rank, twelve-pattern refers to the Divine-Sense requirement. It means that this first-grade formation requires twelve patterns of Divine-Sense to learn. Above ten patterns, one must have Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense. Many senior early Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot reach twelve-pattern Divine-Sense.”
Zhang Quan’s expression changed: “A first-grade formation requires Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense to learn? That’s absurd!”
“Precisely why formations are profound and complex.”
Lu Chengyun glanced at Zhang Quan: “My Divine-Sense was just twelve-pattern, while yours is only ten-pattern… So how could Little Master Mo Hua learn it?”
Zhang Quan fell silent, shocked.
The formation was indeed complicated. First-grade, twelve-pattern…
A Qi-Refining cultivator like Mo Hua shouldn’t be able to learn it.
But could he truly not learn it? Zhang Quan frowned.
Mo Hua’s little face flashed in his mind again—cute, yet infuriating, and mysteriously deep, impossible to read.
He had failed countless times against Mo Hua, so seeing him stirred both anger and unease. He had a sense that Mo Hua was far from simple.
Moreover, Mo Hua’s concealment techniques were impervious to Zhang Quan’s perception.
The more he thought, the more uneasy he became. “Brother Lu, what if his Divine-Sense…”
Lu Chengyun sneered: “You mean what if he reaches Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense?”
Zhang Quan hesitated: “Not impossible… but unlikely…”
Lu Chengyun snorted impatiently: “The gap between Foundation Establishment Divine-Sense and twelve-pattern Divine-Sense is enormous. Even if he reached it, it would be useless. You think merely glancing at this formation would let him learn such a complex formation?”
“Superior formations require both practice and comprehension. Even I only grasped a fraction after decades of study.”
“Then by using demonic formation methods to lower the threshold—merging evil intent to reduce Divine-Sense requirements, drawing formations with human blood to reduce spirit control thresholds, using corpses as tools to lower drawing thresholds… only then can one master it and apply the Spirit-Pivot Formation within the Ten-Thousand-Corpse Formation.”
“If one doesn’t study tirelessly for decades, doesn’t understand demonic formations, doesn’t merge evil intent, doesn’t use bones as brushes, blood as ink, or corpses as tools, how could he possibly learn it?”
“Do you think memorizing the patterns and practicing blindly a few times will suffice? You underestimate formations too much!”
Lu Chengyun’s tone was cold, recalling the painstaking efforts over the years to learn this formation—sneaking into the Lu family, enduring humiliation, ascending ranks, killing to refine corpses, using bones and blood to draw formations…
Zhang Quan, fearing Lu Chengyun’s anger, took a step back: “I, Zhang, have limited understanding. Forgive me, Brother Lu, for not knowing the difficulty of this matter…”
Lu Chengyun returned to his composed, gentle demeanor: “No need for formalities, Brother Zhang. Considering all angles is always wise.”
Zhang Quan relaxed but still felt a shadow of unease from Mo Hua.
He whispered after some thought: “Brother Lu, even if that little brat cannot learn it, is it necessary to show him the formation? It only increases risk…”
“If I don’t show him, why would he willingly stay?” Lu Chengyun replied.
Zhang Quan frowned.
Lu Chengyun’s expression was indifferent: “Everyone has their desires. I desire power; Brother Zhang desires women. But this little master is different. He is inexperienced in worldly matters and does not yet know the intoxicating taste of power, lust, or fame. He won’t be attached to those. But formations are different. This little master has an instinctive craving for formations. This is the pursuit of a formation master! As long as it’s to learn formations, no matter how complex or profound, he will do anything. By giving him hope, he will willingly work for me. The Spirit-Pivot Formation is the bait; this little master is the fish. A young, extraordinarily talented first-grade formation master, wholly devoted to me, is far more valuable than dozens of iron corpses.”
Lu Chengyun’s eyes gleamed.
Zhang Quan’s gaze revealed envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Lu Chengyun valued Mo Hua so highly that Zhang Quan dared not act against him… though the outcome remained uncertain.
Zhang Quan composed himself and said with respect: “Brother Lu, your foresight is admirable, I am impressed.”
Lu Chengyun looked at Zhang Quan, his gaze ambiguous, and finally said: “Brother Zhang, you are too modest.”
Both hid their thoughts behind subtle expressions…
Meanwhile, in the stone room, Mo Hua beamed.
Before him lay a formation diagram.
It contained three types of formations, sharing the same origin but with hierarchical differences in structure and weight.
The three types were related, yet clearly stratified.
Complex, profound, meticulous, and beautiful.
This was Mo Hua’s complete reconstruction of the Spirit-Pivot Formation, first-grade, twelve-pattern, centered on controlling the formation via the spirit power pivot.
The formation diagram was finally in his hands!