Chapter 1096: The Shadow of the Demon

Mo Hua was shocked for a long time, and then a sudden realization dawned on him. No wonder the second elder of the Great Wilderness had said this was more suitable for his innate array method.

Using the array method to build in spirit remnants would solve the drawbacks of his spirit root and compensate for the deficiency of his spirit power.

It would allow him to become a truly powerful, even terrifying spirit cultivator.

Cultivation is fundamental, and spirit power is the foundation.

The stronger the spirit power, the more things one can do.

In comparison, although the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array was also good and very strong, it was only of the second-grade with twenty patterns. The number of patterns was still a bit low and didn't quite catch Mo Hua's "eye".

Moreover, the Azure Dragon Array amplifies the physical body.

The strength of the physical body is interconnected.

The stronger the physical body's force, the higher the demands on one's own physical body's strength.

With Mo Hua's own physical body strength, he simply couldn't bear the load of the Azure Dragon Array.

Even if he could withstand the load and successfully refine the Azure Dragon Array, his own physical body's foundation was truly shockingly weak, and supplementing it wouldn't have much meaning.

Rather than trying to raise an extreme weakness to a mediocre level,

it was better to find ways to maximize his own advantages.

As for the problem of "defense"...

Mo Hua touched his chin and pondered slightly.

He had Heavenly Mechanism Derivation, as well as Zhang Lan's uncle's teaching of the Passing Water Step, and the top-tier body method of the Water Prison Gate, Water Shadow Illusion Body.

Karma avoids disaster, and body methods avoid killing.

If karma and body methods couldn't avoid the killing intent, and he had to rely on his own delicate skin and tender flesh to resist, it was fundamentally unrealistic.

Not to mention, there was also the "Taotie Eats Dragon" karma dream omen...

Mo Hua nodded, completely discarding the Four Symbols Azure Dragon Array. He formally solidified his belief and resolved to find a way to refine the Barbaric Wilderness "Twelve Meridians Taotie Spirit Remains Array" as his innate array method.

But many problems also arose one after another.

Mo Hua placed the Great Wilderness bone slip on his forehead, sinking his divine sense in, and continued to flip through the back.

The content further back was the final array diagram of the Twelve Meridians Taotie Spirit Remains Array.

Mo Hua indeed perceived a barbaric, ancient, and ferocious aura. In his divine sense perception, he could already see several ancient, mysterious, ferocious, and majestic "Taotie patterns".

But that was all.

Being able to glimpse a few Taotie patterns was already the limit; he simply couldn't see more array diagrams.

Mo Hua frowned.

"Is my divine sense realm not high enough, so I can't see the complete array diagram?"

"Should I find others to look at it and then tell me?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and shook his head.

This was an innate array diagram, related to life-and-death cultivation and the Great Dao, an extremely secret thing. It was fundamentally inconvenient for others to see.

Even Mr. Xun, it was not too convenient to reveal specific array patterns to him.

Otherwise, if the heavenly mechanism was leaked, it would be giving his "fatal weakness" to others to grasp.

"I can only wait for my divine sense to become stronger, then look at it little by little, learn it little by little, and comprehend it little by little..."

"And also..."

Mo Hua frowned, realizing some more thorny problems.

How was this array method to be refined?

The Taotie "spirit remains" array... It's completely impossible to really carve this array method onto his own bones, right?

Using bones as a medium? Wouldn't that become an evil array?

Mo Hua thought again, this shouldn't count...

Evil arrays are for killing people, skinning, bone scraping, bleeding, creating killing, making others fear, and also making oneself mad. Only then is it "evil"...

Drawing the array method on his own bones, not killing or harming people, should not be a big problem...

But the problem came again.

How could he draw the array method on his own bones?

It was completely impossible to open his chest, break open his belly, take out his own bones, then draw the array method stroke by stroke, and then "sew" it back into his body, right?

Wouldn't that hurt him to death?

Besides, there was a series of more basic array method problems:

What ink to use?

What to use as a medium? Really his own bones?

What to use as a pen?

What was the array eye, and how should the array hub be arranged?

Just thinking about it, Mo Hua felt his scalp tingle.

He carefully looked at the Great Wilderness ancient text's explanation of the array's meaning again.

Among the parts related to how to refine and fuse the twelve principal meridians and the entire body's bones with the Taotie array method, there were only a few sparse words recorded.

He didn't know if it was deliberately not recorded, or if these were just some basic inheritance methods in the Great Wilderness's dao tradition, and therefore not worth detailing...

Sure enough, there are no free lunches in this world.

Not to mention, it also involved the Barbaric Abyss, Great Wilderness witch blessings, the ferocious beast Taotie, a twenty-four pattern ultimate array, built-in spirit remains, and so many profound and complex cultivation concepts and karma. It was even more impossible to be simple.

Trying to achieve it in one fell swoop was fundamentally unrealistic.

Mo Hua sighed.

"Forget it, I'll ponder it slowly."

Cultivators cultivating the dao, forging their innate, forming golden cores, none of these are matters of a day or two.

As long as he was willing to persevere, willing to put in effort, and persist unremittingly, perhaps one day, he would suddenly have an opportunity, and everything would be easily solved.

Before that, it was good to do more preparations.

Mo Hua calmed down. In the following days, he cultivated on one hand, reviewed array methods on the other, and continued to study the Great Wilderness ancient text.

At the same time, as long as he had free time, he would deduce and envision various variables and possibilities in his heart, preparing in advance for refining his innate Taotie Spirit Remains Array method.

Occasionally, he would also try to draw a few strokes of Taotie patterns.

Mo Hua's divine sense was currently insufficient to see the Twelve Meridians Taotie Spirit Remains Array completely or learn it, but it didn't hinder him from occasionally drawing a few strokes of Taotie patterns to satisfy his craving.

Just like this, his days suddenly became full and quiet.

During this period, Mo Hua was almost "isolated from the world", wholeheartedly recuperating and pondering the matter of his innate array method.

No one else could enter the back mountain of Taixu Gate to see him.

But there was one exception.

That day, Mo Hua finished researching the ancient text and returned to his back mountain cave dwelling from the scripture pavilion. In the courtyard, he met a refined and handsome cultivator and immediately showed surprise:

"Uncle Shangguan?"

The person who came was refined and courteous, with outstanding talent, precisely Shangguan Yi.

He was Shangguan Ce's only son, the head of the Shangguan family, and also Wenren Wan's husband and Yu'er's father.

Shangguan Yi saw Mo Hua and said, "I begged Mr. Xun to come and see you."

Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Uncle Shangguan, what do you need me for?"

Shangguan Yi was silent for a moment, then suddenly bowed and clasped his hands, giving Mo Hua a great bow.

Mo Hua was startled and hurriedly dodged, "Uncle Shangguan, what are you doing?"

Shangguan Yi let out a deep breath and said solemnly, "For Wan'er and Yu'er's matter... thank you so much."

Mo Hua originally wanted to say "no need to thank", but then thought, this matter involved the secrets of the evil god and could not be leaked.

Mr. Xun and True Person Situ had also both instructed him not to leak it outside.

Mo Hua then said, "I didn't do anything..."

Shangguan Yi shook his head. From his expression, he obviously knew some inside story from somewhere.

But he didn't say it out.

Mo Hua thought for a moment and then asked, "Aunt Wan and Yu'er, are they still well?"

Shangguan Yi nodded slowly: "Wan'er... suffered some injuries and is still recuperating. Yu'er was also frightened and needs to recover a bit... but they are both well, no major problems."

"Only, the situation is very chaotic now, and True Person Situ specially instructed them not to go out, to avoid causing incidents."

Mo Hua nodded, "That's good..."

This period was quite sensitive, and indeed it was not wise to move around casually. He himself had also been "grounded" by Mr. Xun and was stuck in the back mountain, unable to go out.

Mo Hua also asked about the traitor Shangguan Wang of the Shangguan family and learned that Shangguan Wang had been expelled by the Shangguan family, and his entire lineage was implicated and "cleared".

Those with positions were stripped of their positions, those with power were stripped of their power, and the family disciples of the entire lineage had their names wiped out and were expelled from the family. The rest were either sent to minor family industries or completely marginalized.

Shangguan Wang was also cursed as an old dog and an evildoer and suffered everyone's scorn.

Mo Hua couldn't help but feel emotional.

Seeking fame and fortune his whole life, in the end his reputation was destroyed.

Seeking immortality regardless of everything, in the end dying without a whole corpse.

If Shangguan Wang knew that this was the end of his life, he didn't know what he would think in his heart or how he would choose...

After that, Mo Hua and Shangguan Yi chatted about some trivial matters, and Shangguan Yi then planned to take his leave.

He had obtained Mr. Xun's permission to come and see Mo Hua. Now that he saw Mo Hua was unharmed and looked as usual, he was relieved and didn't want to delay any longer or delay Mo Hua's recuperation.

"Mo Hua," before parting, Shangguan Yi looked at Mo Hua again, his gaze solemn, "In the future, if there is anything, I, Shangguan Yi, will go through fire and water and will in no way refuse..."

Mo Hua was startled again and hurriedly waved his hand: "Uncle Shangguan, you're saying too much..."

Aunt Wan had shown him kindness. Even his ability to join Taixu Gate was due to Aunt Wan's help.

Mo Hua also liked Yu'er very much and had always treated him as a younger brother.

If they had difficulties, Mo Hua would naturally go and save them, and he didn't deserve this gratitude.

Shangguan Yi said no more, only clasped his hands, "I won't disturb you, take care."

Mo Hua returned the courtesy, "Take care."

The two thus parted.

Shangguan Yi left the cave dwelling and walked halfway along the mountain path, then turned back to look. For a moment, his gaze was complex.

Thinking of how he had almost lost his most beloved wife and child, he felt endless lingering fear in his heart.

Now that the disaster had passed, Shangguan Yi suddenly had a feeling of "surviving after a disaster".

He let out a deep sigh and murmured with a bitter smile: "This favor, truly even if I become an ox or a horse, I cannot repay..."

Mo Hua actually didn't take the favor and such things too much to heart.

People in the world have great sufferings.

Many sufferings, he was powerless and couldn't change too much.

But at least, he hoped that the people around him would all be safe and sound, happy and healthy.

Just...

Mo Hua raised his head and looked in the direction Shangguan Yi had left, frowning.

"Yu'er, he..."

Mo Hua was silent for a moment, as if deep in thought.

The following days were still as calm as water.

Mo Hua was still living a "secluded" life.

Until this day, Mr. Xun personally came to find him and said to him: "The sword discussion has a result."

Mo Hua's eyes brightened, "Then Taixu Gate..."

Mr. Xun sighed, as if a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders. The whole person relaxed, and the efforts of running around and negotiating these days had paid off.

Mr. Xun nodded, "Thanks to you, we got first place in the sword discussion."

Mo Hua was greatly delighted, his eyes shining brightly.

The always serious Mr. Xun, seeing Mo Hua like this, also revealed a gentle smile.

This old ancestor of the sect truly never dreamed that Taixu Gate could actually pressure the various top sects of Qian Xue and seize first place in the sword discussion.

With the three sects merging and first place in the sword discussion,

the old ancestors under the Nine Springs, he didn't know what great vows they had made, but they truly sent Taixu Gate a "treasure" that was enough to reverse heaven and change the fate of the entire sect.

Now Mo Hua's status in Taixu Gate, to say he was a "little ancestor", was probably not an exaggeration.

Not only Taixu Mountain, but even the heads and elders of Tai'a Mountain and Chongxu Mountain, at this time, all wished they could set up a memorial tablet for Mo Hua in the ancestral hall and burn incense for him every day.

Of course, Mr. Xun didn't tell Mo Hua these things, to prevent him from becoming arrogant.

Mo Hua was immersed in joy. After a while, he asked again:

"Then is our Taixu Gate now one of the four great sects of Qian Xue? And... still the head of the four great sects?"

Mr. Xun nodded, "It should be like this... But specifically how to rank, how to divide shares, it involves too many interests internally. Finally, it still needs to be reported to the Court's Tianquan Pavilion for verification, so it will still take some time for everything to be truly settled..."

Mo Hua again said strangely: "The four great sects can't possibly agree to this result, right?"

"There's no way even if they disagree. The results of the war are here, and..." Mr. Xun said, "Time is urgent, a result must be given."

"This is a Dao Discussion Assembly, not just the sword discussion. There are also Dao Discussions of alchemy, array, talisman, and artifact forging. If there is no result in the sword discussion, the subsequent Dao Discussions cannot be held either."

Mo Hua couldn't help but ask: "The blood sacrifice disaster is so serious, do the other Dao Discussion Assemblies still want to be held normally?"

Mr. Xun nodded, "Precisely because this blood sacrifice disaster is serious this time, these routine grand events cannot be canceled, otherwise it will instead lead to panic among the people."

"The subsequent Dao Discussions are to gather popularity and calm people's hearts."

"The Court, the various families and sects of Qian Xue, will also announce and allocate a batch of spirit stones and materials at the Dao Discussion Assembly, to be used for relieving scattered cultivators and rebuilding the cities damaged by the blood sacrifice."

"This is also a good thing..."

Mo Hua nodded.

Mr. Xun looked at Mo Hua, "You have to appear at this array discussion assembly."

Mo Hua was startled, "Can I go out?"

"En," Mr. Xun nodded, "You should go out and show your face once."

The rumors targeting Mo Hua had been brewing until now and were becoming somewhat uncontrollable.

People feared fame as pigs feared fat.

Mo Hua, as the leader of the array dao, performed too strongly and had too much momentum in the sword discussion assembly. He was easily subject to jealousy and attracted hate.

On the surface, perhaps no one dared to do anything, but behind the scenes, various rumors and slanders emerged endlessly.

Human hearts are unpredictable, and malicious speculation, coupled with some people fanning the flames, resulted in all sorts of talk.

Some said Mo Hua had already "entered the demon", and the reason he didn't dare to show his face was that he was afraid people would see the clues.

Some said Mo Hua had colluded with the demon dao and was the "mastermind" of the blood sacrifice great array himself.

Others questioned Mo Hua, saying that in the sword discussion assembly, he transformed into an evil demon and relied on despicable and vicious secret means, which was the only way he suppressed the four heavenly prides of Qian Xue.

Otherwise, there was fundamentally no way to explain how he, a late-stage Foundation Establishment, low-spirit root disciple, could achieve the feat of suppressing the four top-tier bloodline heavenly prides of Qian Xue and the senior brother of Daluo Gate with his own strength...

Responding to "rumors" is often useless and will be seen as "quibbling".

But not responding will be seen as "cowardice" and "defaulting" to your guilt.

"So, you don't need to say anything, saying anything is useless. You only need to participate in the array discussion assembly once and show your face in front of everyone is enough."

Mr. Xun said meaningfully.

Mo Hua nodded, but was still somewhat unsure, "Then when I participate in the array discussion assembly, how exactly should I do it?"

"Just restrain yourself a bit, perform a bit ordinarily, keep it simple and straightforward, getting first place is enough."

Mr. Xun said lightly.

Mo Hua: "..."

Restrain a bit, ordinarily a bit, simple and straightforward, getting first place...

Could these words be said together?

But Mo Hua also understood Mr. Xun's meaning and nodded: "Okay, I'll restrain myself a bit."

Three days later, the Dao Discussion Assembly reopened.

The number of spectators was quite a bit less than before, but at a glance, it was still a sea of people.

Seven more days later, it was the day of the array discussion assembly.

On this day, Mo Hua, who had been locked up in the back mountain by Mr. Xun and had not been seen for a long time, appeared in front of everyone for the first time.

Wearing the Taixu Gate dao robe, he was slender, with a fair face, features like a painting, and bright eyes, looking no different from before.

Except for being a little thinner and his eyes a little brighter.

A crowd of cultivators and disciples on the viewing platform discussed in whispers.

This was the field with the most spectators since the Dao Discussion Assembly reopened.

Almost everyone's gaze was focused on Mo Hua.

The rumors related to Mo Hua also surged back and forth like undercurrents in the tide-like crowd.

Mo Hua then remembered Mr. Xun's instruction to be low-key, restrained, and simple and plain in his performance. He was calm inside, so he didn't take other people's gazes and discussions as a big deal.

The high-level officials of the various great families and sects were all watching Mo Hua, each with different thoughts, but all silent.

In the audience seats, Gu Changhuai, Zhang Lan, the elders and disciples of Taixu Gate, and other cultivators who were originally worried about Mo Hua, were all relieved to see Mo Hua safe and sound and with his expression as usual.

The elders of Lun Dao Mountain were exactly the opposite.

They were all nervous, as if facing a great enemy, staring fixedly at Mo Hua, who had already been put on the "blacklist", afraid that this boy would cause some more mischief and turn Lun Dao Mountain upside down again.

Reasonably speaking, the array discussion was not the sword discussion and should not cause such a stir.

But the problem was, with this boy Mo Hua, there was no logic to speak of.

In this kind of complex and subtle atmosphere, the array discussion assembly began.

Mo Hua was arranged in the first row, first seat of all the seats, still an independent seat, quite having the momentum of "standing out from the crowd".

Mr. Xun, who originally wanted to restrain Mo Hua, sighed helplessly.

There was no way. He wanted to be low-key, but his strength didn't allow it.

He was the "leader of the array dao".

There had never been a precedent for the leader of the array dao to participate in the array discussion assembly, so he could only sit in the first row, the independent first seat, and receive the attention of ten thousand people.

Mo Hua felt a little uncomfortable.

However, he had experienced too many big scenes, and his mentality quickly calmed down.

After that, they began to assign topics and take exams.

The whole process was almost the same as the previous session.

Those who could draw could leave, and those who couldn't could go.

Each disciple also had three chances for error.

Mo Hua felt familiar,亲切 (kind), and a bit boring.

Because these array methods were really too simple.

In every array discussion assembly, the difference in array method strength between disciples would not be too great, but Mo Hua was much stronger than he was three years ago.

With his divine sense forming a twenty-pattern core, he had learned ultimate arrays, learned the blood sacrifice array hub, and his attainments in array methods had already ascended to another level, even causing the collapse of the blood sacrifice great array.

Now, returning to participate in the array discussion assembly and drawing the same array methods from three years ago, Mo Hua always had a feeling of playing "house" with children.

"Restrain a bit..."

Mo Hua sighed and then picked up his pen, diligently but also somewhat idly drawing on the array paper.

No matter what array method it was, he drew it with this same languid look, slowly.

Mo Hua thought he was already "restrained" enough, but he didn't expect the immense pressure his "languid" appearance was causing the heavenly prides behind him in Qian Xue.

Everyone in the field was an array master, a genius in array methods from Qian Xue. It was impossible for them not to know Mo Hua.

It was impossible not to know Mo Hua's deeds.

It was also impossible not to have seen Mo Hua's profound array method attainments and unbelievable array method means.

Even the thrilling scenes of the sword discussion assembly were still fresh in their memories.

Now, Mo Hua was just one person, 横亘 (standing across) in front of everyone.

All the array method geniuses could only see his back.

This back was not tall, but it was terrifyingly deep.

This was a mountain peak that was fundamentally insurmountable in array methods, a natural barrier that was fundamentally impassable.

They were not even clear how high this mountain was or how deep this natural barrier was.

Having a gap in array methods was not terrible.

What was terrible was not even seeing where the gap was.

People who had not learned array methods would not know Mo Hua's terror.

Only those who had learned array methods, and learned to a certain height, had the qualification to experience the despair brought by this "monster", Mo Hua.

Therefore, although Mo Hua had a languid look.

His profound aura, however, enveloped the entire field.

Behind him, numerous array method geniuses only felt as if they were in the shadow of a "monster", with cold sweat dripping from their backs, and the hands holding their array pens trembling uncontrollably...