Chapter 542: Mysterious Heaven
Chapter 544: Mysterious Heaven
That day, Mo Hua was cultivating as usual when suddenly his Qi Sea trembled, filling itself to the brim.
A smile of delight crossed Mo Hua’s face.
Nine layers complete, spiritual power overflowing.
He had reached the threshold of Foundation Establishment!
The overflowing spiritual power condensed from the Qi Sea, circulating and gradually coalescing, like a thin layer of moisture, damp and slick.
This was a sign that the spiritual power was mercurial, the prerequisite for Foundation Establishment.
When spiritual power became like mercury, one could ascend to Foundation Establishment.
But before the spiritual power could condense fully, he still had to break through a bottleneck.
This bottleneck varied from person to person, primarily depending on the cultivation method and the cultivator’s spiritual root.
Mo Hua’s cultivation method was the Celestial Evolution Art.
According to the Celestial Evolution Art, the bottleneck for Foundation Establishment lay in the Sea of Consciousness.
Sure enough, after a short while, the overflowing spiritual power transformed into wisps of energy, flowing from the Qi Sea along the meridians, converging at Baihui, then penetrating inward through Tianmen into Mo Hua’s Sea of Consciousness.
Once inside the Sea of Consciousness, the spiritual power became wandering threads, weaving themselves into formations.
This scene was not unfamiliar to Mo Hua.
He had witnessed this before when breaking through from early Qi-Refining to mid Qi-Refining, and from mid to late Qi-Refining.
This time was no different.
The threads outlined patterns, forming mystery formations that spread across his Sea of Consciousness.
Mo Hua’s only concern was that these mystery formations, exceeding nine patterns and condensing into ten or more, could form first-rank Absolute Formations he had never seen or learned.
Breaking through such formations to overcome the bottleneck would be extremely difficult.
Achieving Foundation Establishment would become much more laborious.
Mo Hua watched the spiritual threads with some trepidation. As they wove pattern after pattern like intricate embroidery, after a moment he let out a sigh of relief.
They were just compound formations, relatively simple.
With his current formation skill, breaking them posed no problem.
Thanks to his master teaching him profound formation knowledge, allowing him to build his life around formations and prove the Dao through Divine-Sense, his skill far exceeded that of an ordinary first-rank formation master.
Otherwise, even solving compound formations would have been extremely challenging.
Reaching Foundation Establishment smoothly would still require many more efforts.
Hard work always bore fruit.
Mo Hua felt relieved in his heart.
Yet after a while, his expression froze, his face growing graver.
Something was wrong…
The mystery formations kept generating…
And showed no sign of stopping.
One compound formation after another slowly emerged and connected, layer upon layer, like winter snowflakes piling up, covering the entire Sea of Consciousness.
When the formations finally completed, Mo Hua opened his mouth in disbelief.
What was this?
The spiritual power threads, dense and countless, had woven an entire formation world, like a massive cocoon, completely obscuring his Sea of Consciousness.
This… was a grand formation constructed entirely from mystery formations!
Mo Hua’s mind shook.
A cocoon-like grand formation covered his Sea of Consciousness.
Would he wrap himself in it, or break free like a butterfly?
He remained silent for a long time, speechless.
This… was too outrageous…
How could such a Foundation Establishment bottleneck exist?
Mo Hua glanced again at the massive mystery formation. Scanning it with his Divine-Sense, he roughly counted and was shocked.
The grand formation contained tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of individual mystery formations!
He had to solve each one by himself?
When would he ever finish?
Mo Hua furrowed his brows and tried solving a few formations.
The formations themselves were not difficult and could be solved.
But the sheer number was overwhelming.
He estimated that even solving ten formations a day, it would take ten or twenty years to completely unravel this “self-binding cocoon.”
After a while, he looked up again, sighing deeply, feeling powerless.
Before him was a vast, boundless sea of formations.
The few he had solved were merely a drop in the ocean.
Thinking of the countless formations yet to solve made his scalp tingle.
That wasn’t even the hardest part.
If these mystery formations formed a grand formation, the most difficult part would be the formation core.
What kind of structure would the core have?
How could he solve it?
Mo Hua had no idea.
This was not a problem one person could solve.
Building a grand formation required tremendous manpower, and breaking it required even more Divine-Sense computation, far more taxing than drawing it.
What could he do?
Mo Hua frowned.
Aside from solving the formations, the other option he could think of was “collapse.”
He had previously completely collapsed the Five-Element Demon-Slaying Grand Formation using a Reverse-Spirit Formation, leaving not a trace.
But this was inside his own Sea of Consciousness.
Collapsing a grand formation might destroy him as well.
He sighed again.
“I’ll have to ask Master…”
The next day, Mo Hua hurried to Mister Zhuang.
Mister Zhuang was drinking tea and paused at his words, slowly raising his head. “A grand formation?”
“Yes,” Mo Hua nodded. “Many, many formations, covering my entire Sea of Consciousness. The patterns are dense, threads interwoven, like a pale blue cocoon…”
Mister Zhuang’s pupils constricted. “Cocoon…”
“Yes,” Mo Hua nodded again, then asked worriedly, “Master, can I still achieve Foundation Establishment?”
Mister Zhuang’s gaze deepened, then he smiled gently. “Foundation Establishment is never easy.”
“The bottleneck exists because the Way resists, making it difficult to surpass; otherwise, everyone would cultivate without obstruction.”
“A cultivator, determined to pursue the Dao, must not let difficulty deter their resolve.”
“Whether it’s tomorrow, ten years, or twenty years from now, you will cultivate and solve formations to reach Foundation Establishment.”
“A cultivator seeks the Dao, not success or failure.”
“All that must be done remains the same; do not hesitate for gain or loss.”
Mo Hua’s heart cleared, his doubts dissipating.
Indeed, worrying was useless…
If the bottleneck truly required ten or twenty years to resolve, so be it. Could he avoid solving formations and never break through, spending a lifetime in Qi-Refining?
There was no point in hesitation.
Whatever had to be done, would be done.
As a formation master, he needed only to focus on learning and solving formations.
He must not let difficulty or outcome disturb his resolve.
Mo Hua’s anxious heart calmed, his breathing evened, and his gaze grew determined.
Mister Zhuang was gratified, nodding slightly with a smile.
“Good, as long as you understand. No need to rush; fully solving the mystery formations won’t take as long as it seems…”
“Thank you, Master!”
After their conversation, Mo Hua stood, saluted, and prepared to leave to continue studying the formations. Mister Zhuang suddenly stopped him, pausing briefly.
“Mo Hua, draw a portion of the mystery formation and show it to me.”
Mo Hua, puzzled, took out paper and brush, sketching part of the formations and the core.
Mister Zhuang nodded. “Good.”
After Mo Hua left, Mister Zhuang studied the sketch, his expression growing graver.
Old Kui appeared, glanced at the sketch, and frowned.
“What is this?”
“You wouldn’t know…” Mister Zhuang replied, slightly distracted.
Old Kui’s gaze darkened, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen it.”
It was only a first-rank formation, and a mystery formation at that, yet in all his years of cultivation, he had no recollection of it.
“Yes…” Mister Zhuang murmured. “I thought in my lifetime I’d never see such a formation again…”
Old Kui’s expression grew solemn. “What kind of formation is this?”
“This formation is called…”
Mister Zhuang fell silent, struggling, then finally said:
“Mystery Heaven Grand Formation!”
Old Kui’s eyes widened. “Mystery Heaven Grand Formation?!”
Mister Zhuang nodded with a wry smile.
Mystery Heaven Grand Formation…
Old Kui’s expression changed, opening and closing his mouth several times before swallowing his words, muttering in disbelief, “How could it be…”
How could it be the Mystery Heaven Grand Formation…
Old Kui furrowed his brows, not probing further, and asked:
“How does the Mystery Heaven Grand Formation differ from ordinary mystery formations?”
Mister Zhuang shook his head. “It’s different…”
“Mystery formations can form a grand formation, but this type is more than just a simple collection of formations. It has the scale of a grand formation but lacks its framework. Strictly speaking, it’s not truly a grand formation…”
He looked again at the formations Mo Hua had drawn, sighing.
“The Mystery Heaven Grand Formation is different…”
“It is an extremely special grand formation…”
“So special that its essence is impossible to discern.”
“All existing Mystery Heaven Grand Formations seal unknown secrets…”
“They involve bizarre and extraordinary formation principles…”
Mister Zhuang gazed at Old Kui as if asking and answering himself:
“Mystery formations are just puzzles, yet they form a grand formation?”
“How can they even form a grand formation?”
“All grand formations coordinate thousands of formations, emphasizing common roots and sources, handling offense, confinement, and defense.”
“So what does a Mystery Formation coordinate? What is its root, its source, its principle? One word—‘mystery’?”
“And what kind of person has the ability and courage, the Divine-Sense computation, to construct a Mystery Heaven Grand Formation?”
“Why build it in the first place?”
…
Mister Zhuang pondered for a long time, then suddenly realized, murmuring to himself: “I was wrong… I was thinking about it all wrong from the start…”
“The Celestial Evolution Art… there’s a major problem with this cultivation method!””
“Constructing a Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation within the Sea of Consciousness…”
“This cultivation method… it very likely wasn’t meant for ‘humans’ to learn at all…”
“Perhaps it was truly meant, in the literal sense, for some kind of ‘Demon fiend’ to practice…”
“Who exactly created this technique?”
“Or rather… could a ‘human’ really have created such a method?”
“Can a ‘human’ rely on a technique to build a Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation within a cultivator’s Sea of Consciousness…”
Mister Zhuang’s frown deepened.
Ancient techniques…
Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation…
Celestial… Heaven… Evolution…
“Of the Great Dao’s fifty; Heaven governs forty-nine, and man escapes one…”
He felt that, in some vague way, he seemed to glimpse a clue, yet when he thought it through, it remained shrouded in mist, as if trapped in the “Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation” itself.
“Enough…”
Mister Zhuang sighed.
He didn’t have much time left to ponder these matters.
The pressing concern now was Mo Hua…
“Can the Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation be solved?” Old Kui asked.
“Although it’s a Mysterious Heaven formation, it’s still a formation—and only first-grade. With Mo Hua’s formation skills, it can be solved. It’s just…”
Just that it might really take ten or more years.
And that’s assuming everything goes smoothly.
If the Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation undergoes some unpredictable change, or an unknown incident occurs, then achieving Foundation Establishment would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens…
Wasting decades is entirely possible…
“I must find a way…”
Mister Zhuang remained silent, his eyes flickering with the faint glimmers of calculation, the rise and fall of heavenly secrets. After a long while, he seemed to have found a faint opportunity.
This opportunity was extremely subtle, extremely dangerous.
But it was graspable.
Mister Zhuang exhaled, looked up at the sky, and gave a bitter smile.
Man’s planning cannot surpass Heaven’s.
Everything had been calculated, yet accidents still occurred…
And now, even more effort would be required.
“I had originally wished to see Mo Hua achieve Foundation Establishment with my own eyes, to fulfill one final wish, but now… it seems there isn’t enough time…”
My journey ends here…
Mister Zhuang’s gaze carried a hint of melancholy, then shifted to calm acceptance.
What is meant to come will come…
Old Kui silently watched him, his expression obscure, gradually fading into darkness.
…
After returning, Mo Hua spent every free moment diving into his Sea of Consciousness, unraveling the Mysterious Formations one by one.
Though there were many, he remained neither arrogant nor impatient.
Yet as he worked through them, he discovered that these formations were different from the ones he had encountered before.
The previous formations had been “dead,” rigid, disappearing once solved.
But this vast formation flowed and shifted, as if it were alive.
Large, complex formations intertwined, connecting with each other, resonating and coexisting.
Each composite formation had to be solved as a whole.
Otherwise, after resolving a single formation, new ones would continue to spawn.
Mo Hua had no choice but to consult Mister Zhuang again.
Mister Zhuang seemed to have prepared for a long time. He handed Mo Hua a thick stack of formation books and diagrams, saying directly:
“The grand formation in your Sea of Consciousness is called the ‘Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation.’”
“Remember the name, but do not speak of it to outsiders.”
“These contain records of the Mysterious Heaven Grand Formation and my own insights. Study them carefully—they should help you in solving the formation…”
Mo Hua felt grateful, but also a little uneasy.
It seemed his master was busy giving him instructions while avoiding something…
“Master…” Mo Hua said softly.
Mister Zhuang shook his head, not letting him continue, and spoke gently:
“Go now. Study diligently.”
Mo Hua hesitated a moment, then respectfully replied, “Yes,” and left, a lingering worry shadowing his small face.
There were things he already understood.
He knew his master was avoiding someone.
He also knew that his master had said the destination of this journey was the Five Elements Sect.
And upon reaching the Five Elements Sect, learning the Five Elements Spiritual Formations… then what?
His master hadn’t said.
Some suspicions Mo Hua had formed long ago, but only now did he realize with a start that, unwilling as he might be, what is meant to come will come…
A heavier unease filled Mo Hua’s heart.
And the Five Elements Sect, on the surface, remained calm.
Until Mo Hua saw a familiar face.
One day, while Mo Hua was leaning over a table with his Little Senior Brother and Little Senior Sister, studying formations, he heard light footsteps. Looking up, he saw at the doorway a graceful woman, veiled, exuding a cold elegance.
Mo Hua paused, then brightened: “Aunt Xue!”
Aunt Xue smiled upon seeing him, her gentle eyes examining Mo Hua before nodding:
“Long time no see. You’ve grown taller.”
Mo Hua’s face lit up with a smile.
Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi were equally delighted.
After a brief exchange, Mo Hua asked, puzzled: “Aunt Xue, why are you here?”
“Yes,” Bai Zisheng said, “didn’t Master forbid you from following us?”
“Master Zhuang called me here,” Aunt Xue replied.
“Master?”
The three of them exchanged a glance, confused.
Aunt Xue nodded: “Master Zhuang didn’t let me accompany you, but he knew I was concerned for your safety. I’ve been following from afar.”
“He knows, and hasn’t blamed me, so it’s essentially permitted.”
“During these days, I stayed outside Lishan City. A few days ago, I wanted to write a letter to Madam, when I saw the ink move without a pen, forming the word ‘Come’ on the paper.”
“I knew then it was Master Zhuang’s intention—he wanted me to come…”
“But why did Master call you here?” Mo Hua asked, still puzzled.
Aunt Xue shook her head; she didn’t know either.
“Has Master rested?” Aunt Xue asked.
Mo Hua said, “Master has rested and is now drinking tea.”
Aunt Xue nodded and went to pay her respects to Master Zhuang.
The three followed.
In the ancient, tea-scented room, Mister Zhuang sat upright, elegant, drinking the clear tea Mo Hua had prepared for him.
Seeing Aunt Xue, he showed no surprise.
Aunt Xue bowed respectfully. Mister Zhuang nodded in acknowledgment.
She then asked softly: “I wonder why you summoned me, Master?”
Mister Zhuang was silent for a moment, his eyes observing all three of them. Then he spoke slowly:
“Take these three children away…”
“Leave the Five Elements Sect, leave Lishan City, and never return…”