Chapter 527: The Contest
Chapter 529: The Contest
Mo Hua followed Mister Zhuang into the Array Storage Pavilion.
Inside, the grand pavilion was lavishly decorated, filled with cultivators.
Three elderly men sat at the front, their hair white as snow, cultivation deep, and the spiritual force they radiated was intensely oppressive.
Golden Core!
It was Mo Hua’s first time seeing Golden Core cultivators, and his heart raced.
But then he reminded himself that he was Mister Zhuang’s disciple—he couldn’t show weakness and diminish his master’s presence. So he lifted his small head, imitating Mister Zhuang, putting on a defiant, cocky expression.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, however, remained calm.
The Bai family was a powerhouse; a few Golden Core cultivators weren’t enough to faze them.
The Grand Elder raised his hand, signaling silence, then stood and bowed distantly: “Mister Zhuang.”
Mister Zhuang nodded slightly.
The Grand Elder said, “Please!”
Mister Zhuang took a seat on the high platform opposite the three Golden Core masters.
Mo Hua and the others respectfully stood behind him.
Once seated, the Grand Elder got straight to the point:
“Mister Zhuang, may the Dao Debate begin?”
Mister Zhuang replied calmly, “It may.”
“Quite the airs…” the Grand Elder felt a twinge of displeasure, but kept his expression solemn. He turned to the gathered disciples and announced loudly:
“Our Five Elements Sect is founded on array techniques.”
“Today we have honored guests who have traveled far to discuss the Dao and exchange formations—a true blessing…”
“Since we exchange knowledge through arrays, there are rules according to our ancestral teachings.”
“First, compare array principles; second, compare array layouts; third, compare array mastery. Array principles encompass all things; array layouts command heaven and earth. Array patterns, pivots, and cores must harmonize; array mastery…”
The Grand Elder’s opening remarks were long-winded and dull.
Mister Zhuang, feeling slightly bored, interrupted: “No need.”
The Grand Elder paused, and the other cultivators looked surprised.
“Too troublesome,” Mister Zhuang shook his head. “Keep it simple…”
He glanced around, his tone calm but carrying an air of disdain:
“All Qi-refining disciples present, all of you—whether you belong to the Five Elements Sect or not—step forward.”
“Whatever you compare, if any one of you can surpass my disciple in any way, we won’t learn this Five Elements Spiritual Array.”
The pavilion fell completely silent.
Then an uproar followed.
Arrogant!
Absolutely arrogant!
The Grand Elder’s face flushed crimson.
Chancellor Chu and the Shen family patriarch glinted coldly.
All the array disciples present seethed with indignation.
This young man didn’t even regard the Five Elements Sect—or the entire Dali Mountain Prefecture array masters—at all!
Mo Hua, behind Mister Zhuang, couldn’t help opening his mouth.
So this is what Master is like…
So wild…
He had lived with Mister Zhuang day and night, thinking he was always gentle, elegant, amiable, approachable…
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, however, were not surprised in the slightest.
“Good!”
The Grand Elder ground his teeth in anger.
This kid is asking for trouble!
Don’t blame us for making him pay!
Hundreds of disciples were gathered, prodigies from all families and sects of Dali Mountain Prefecture, nearly all the genius array masters.
And this mere trio of disciples dares to compete against them?
Delusional!
“Who goes first?” the Grand Elder asked coldly.
A disciple in a blue robe stood: “I am unworthy, but I wish to spar in array techniques with the honored guest.”
This had been prearranged.
The disciple possessed near First-Rank array skill and ranked among the top five among the Five Elements Sect’s younger array masters.
The Grand Elder nodded slightly and looked toward Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang smiled faintly and patted Mo Hua on the shoulder.
Mo Hua stepped forward, his voice clear:
“I’ll go!”
Though expected, the Grand Elder asked, “What about your senior brother and sister? Will they not compete?”
Before the Golden Core masters, Mo Hua felt a twinge of nervousness.
“I cannot embarrass my master…”
“I cannot embarrass my master…”
He repeated the phrase twice in his heart, then imitating Mister Zhuang, lifted his chin and puffed out his chest, feigning arrogance:
“You aren’t worthy to compete with my senior brother and sister yet!”
“Get past me first!”
A little kid, speaking with such confidence!
The disciples present from various sects and clans were even more furious.
The three Golden Core masters remained calm.
Mo Hua’s words were cocky, but his nervousness was apparent; he lacked the underlying confidence.
After all, he was young and inexperienced, facing these old foxes.
The three Golden Core elders underestimated him slightly.
The Grand Elder looked at Mister Zhuang, seeking guidance:
“Mister Zhuang, what should we compete in?”
Mister Zhuang replied lightly, “Anything.”
The Grand Elder snorted coldly, “Fine! Then we’ll follow the Five Elements Sect rules!”
“Start with a First-Rank array!”
Forget the theory; they’d go straight to the hands-on array drawing. A single First-Rank array would test the waters, to see how much this young array master was truly capable of.
“A First-Rank Heavy Water Array. One hour limit. Compete to see who draws it best.”
After speaking, the Grand Elder looked at Mo Hua. “Young man, your thoughts?”
Mo Hua hesitated.
Heavy Water Array?
What kind of array is that?
He didn’t seem to have studied it…
But any First-Rank array shouldn’t be too difficult…
He nodded, “Fine.”
The Grand Elder nodded slightly.
Though this was just a trial, there were still rules.
The Heavy Water Array was a treasured First-Rank array of the Five Elements Sect. Rare, little practiced, difficult to master.
Outside the sect, few could use it.
It had been deliberately chosen as the test.
If Mister Zhuang’s young disciple knew it, it would only prove his broad array experience.
Victory or defeat would hinge on skill.
One hour, from learning to drawing, was hardly enough.
The Grand Elder snorted.
Originally, choosing this array was somewhat “unfair to win,” but now, with Mister Zhuang’s arrogance, using this obscure test array seemed perfectly justified.
Mo Hua and the blue-robed disciple took seats at separate desks, several yards apart, arrays shielding their view, preventing eyes or Divine Sense from peeking.
Of course, in front of the three Golden Core and ten or so Foundation Establishment cultivators, no tricks could be done.
Soon, array diagrams were distributed.
Mo Hua frowned at the Heavy Water Array.
He truly had never studied it.
The patterns were uncommon, the pivots simple, but the Divine Sense requirement slightly higher, nine patterns, less than ten.
Overall difficulty similar to a First-Rank Molten Fire Array.
He assessed quickly, then felt calm—and somewhat happy.
A contest, and he might learn a new array…
A gain!
Mo Hua focused, studying the array diagram, observing pivots, memorizing patterns, mentally calculating spiritual power trajectories.
Meanwhile, the blue-robed disciple began drawing.
The Heavy Water Array, a treasured array of the Five Elements Sect, was already mastered by him. In recent days, he had practiced repeatedly under the Grand Elder’s guidance, memorizing it perfectly.
It was as if the exam had leaked its answers, and he had practiced them ten times over.
Thus, he drew the Heavy Water Array with ease.
Mo Hua studied the diagram; the blue-robed disciple drew.
The Grand Elder observed carefully, nodding slightly.
He was certain now—this young array master had never learned the Heavy Water Array.
Excellent!
The Grand Elder felt a thrill.
A first victory for the new disciple.
This first contest was theirs.
If this young array master lost, it would be his senior brother and sister’s turn.
He was curious to see how high their level of mastery was.
…
Time passed, moment by moment…
Half an hour later.
The blue-robed disciple had finished most of it.
Mo Hua had finally studied the entire Heavy Water Array.
Then he began to draw.
The Grand Elder noticed immediately, thinking:
“Time’s running out; he’s forcing himself to draw?”
The Grand Elder understood.
When he had taken array master grading exams, encountering unknown arrays, he had done the same.
Time was short; one couldn’t submit a blank sheet.
Draw as much as possible.
Perhaps a few patterns might be correct…
The experienced Grand Elder understood perfectly.
As he watched, he was slightly surprised:
“This young array master… at least his brushwork and drawing momentum look proper…”
Another short half-hour passed.
The blue-robed disciple finished and checked his work, nodding in satisfaction.
The array was complete, patterns smooth.
Everything essential was included.
Minor flaws, like small blemishes in white jade, negligible.
An extraordinary performance, meeting the Grand Elder’s expectations.
The blue-robed disciple was elated.
Meanwhile, Mo Hua finished and checked his work, shaking his head slightly.
His first attempt, brushwork not refined, could only follow the diagram strictly—rigorous, but lacking flair.
Still, acceptable.
He submitted his array.
Both arrays were sealed and handed in.
The two were placed before the three Grand Elders.
The Grand Elder glanced at Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang said, “Have a look.”
The Grand Elder nodded, first reviewing the array formation diagram submitted by his sect disciple.
A single glance reassured him.
Well drawn!
Even better than when he had taught it previously.
Clearly, the disciple had worked hard.
Then he eagerly opened Mo Hua’s array diagram.
He glanced at it once and frowned.
The array?
Why was there only an array diagram?
He flipped through further, and froze again.
Two identical formation diagrams?
After careful inspection, the Grand Elder realized that one of them had fresh ink, with a slightly different composition. But the brushwork was so precise, the formation lines identical down to the last detail, it looked as if they were cast from the same mold—at first glance, it seemed like two identical diagrams.
The Grand Elder’s heart skipped a beat.
The arrays this junior disciple drew… exactly matched the sample diagram?
Cheating?
But how could he possibly cheat in front of three of his Golden Core disciples?
The Grand Elder examined it again, scrutinizing carefully, and had to admit: this meticulously precise formation diagram was indeed drawn by the junior disciple’s own hand…
He let out a deep breath and looked at Mo Hua with a newfound solemnity.
To reach this level, this formation must have been practiced countless times.
And to master a relatively obscure formation to such perfection…
No wonder he is Zhuang Master’s disciple—he’s got talent.
Then the Grand Elder recalled earlier events and felt displeasure.
“This little brat… he pretended not to understand the diagram before, staring at it for so long. Was he mocking me?”
“Playing with me?”
Such a vile temperament!
Talented, yes, but lacking virtue!
The Grand Elder silently judged.
Sect Master Chu and the Shen Family Patriarch were also quietly astonished when they saw Mo Hua’s formation.
“Though precise, it lacks subtlety and feels somewhat mechanical. Yet at such a young age, to draw so meticulously—this is already remarkable.”
At least better than the Five Elements Sect disciples.
The Grand Elder then retrieved the Heavy Water Formation drawn by the blue-robed disciple for comparison and sighed slightly.
Their disciple, though competent, had merely reproduced it.
The brushwork contained numerous flaws.
Without comparison, it might pass, but side by side, it could not compete.
When it comes to formations, good is good, poor is poor.
In front of so many array masters, especially before Zhuang Master, the Grand Elder could only admit defeat:
“This round…”
He paused, thinking long and hard before recalling the junior disciple’s name.
It seemed like a name easily overlooked, hard to remember.
“…Mo Hua, slightly superior.”
Mo Hua’s expression brightened.
The blue-robed disciple’s face turned ashen, unable to comprehend how or where he had lost.
Having completed the formation and warmed up, Mo Hua no longer felt nervous.
The first battle was a success, bringing honor to his master.
And he had also learned a new formation—the Heavy Water Formation, gifted by the Five Elements Sect.
Mo Hua was very satisfied and looked forward even more to the upcoming contests.
In the resplendent, packed Grand Array Hall,
Mo Hua lay on the high table, swinging his legs, eyes sparkling as he asked,
“Still comparing what?”
The Grand Elder’s brow twitched, feeling a faint pressure emanating from the innocent-looking Mo Hua.
He narrowed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and said gravely,
“Speed of drawing!”
Mo Hua was momentarily stunned, then understood.
It was a contest of who could draw faster.
Pen speed is crucial for an array master.
The faster a formation is drawn, the more arrays can be completed. For large-scale cultivation projects, production, Daoist military deployments, and skirmishes…
Wherever formations are applied, speed matters.
Every extra bit of speed is an advantage.
Especially in array master duels—while others have finished deploying their formations, if you’re still painstakingly drawing lines, the incomplete formation will have to wait until next time…
Speed, however, was Mo Hua’s specialty.
The Celestial Evolution Art enhanced his Divine Sense control.
Back in Tōngxiān City, when constructing the Refining Workshop and Alchemy Workshop, and later building the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Array, he had handled so many formations alone, performing the work of ten people.
Not to mention, he had also comprehended the Spirit-Pivot Formation.
“Let’s go!”
Mo Hua said with anticipation.
He wanted to see whether the Five Elements Sect would make him learn another formation for free.
The Grand Elder frowned, sensing trouble, but could only grit his teeth and wave his hand.
From the crowd, a gold-robed disciple stepped forward and sat opposite Mo Hua.
Slim and tall, with upturned brows, he looked proud.
Formation diagrams were distributed.
Mo Hua glanced and felt a twinge of disappointment.
A Sharp-Gold Formation.
He had learned this one already.
No new formation this time…
Mo Hua felt slightly regretful.
Since he knew it, no need to waste time—quick and decisive…
When the Grand Elder said, “Begin,” Mo Hua and the gold-robed disciple started drawing.
The gold-robed disciple drew very quickly.
His spiritual roots were special, attuned to Metal, so any Metal-based formation came naturally to him—twice as fast as anyone else.
No other disciple in the Five Elements Sect could match his speed with Metal formations.
He had thus earned the Grand Elder’s favor.
Confident, he scribbled furiously…
But before he could finish many formation lines, a clear, somewhat childish voice rang out:
“I’m done!”
The gold-robed disciple’s hand trembled, spilling a large patch of gold ink on the paper.
He didn’t care.
Turning his neck stiffly, he saw Mo Hua sitting on his chair, body gently swaying, a joyous expression on his face, waiting to submit his work.
The gold-robed disciple couldn’t believe it.
How long had it taken?
Already finished?
When Mo Hua’s completed formation was placed before them, the Grand Elder’s expression grew even graver.
Every line matched perfectly—the Sharp-Gold Formation, exactly correct.
The Grand Elder was stunned and speechless.
Even Sect Master Chu and the Shen Family Patriarch beside him couldn’t recover.
Too fast.
They watched Mo Hua dip his brush, lay down the ink, and swish-swash—playfully, as if for fun—and in just a few strokes, the Sharp-Gold Formation was complete…
And this was a First-Rank formation.
Could a First-Rank array master draw a First-Rank formation this fast?
Is this really within the standard for a First-Rank array master?
The three Golden Core Patriarchs were silent for a long time, unable to utter a word.
Mo Hua, growing a bit bored, asked,
“Still comparing what?”
The sooner this ended, the sooner he could help his master save face and learn the First-Rank Thirteen-Pattern Absolute Formation.
Still comparing what?
His voice was crisp, calm, and unhurried.
Now not only the Grand Elder, but Sect Master Chu and the Shen Family Patriarch also faintly felt the pressure radiating from this little Qi-Refining disciple…