Chapter 544: Bottleneck

The Great Elder shouted, calling out "Sect Master Liao."

Sect Master Liao stared at the shrine for a long time before saying doubtfully, "It seems... a door is indeed missing..."

The two frowned, both very puzzled.

This shrine had been passed down by the Five Elements Sect's ancestors. It was a divine thought dojo, containing the inheritance of the Five Elements spirit array. The shrine, originating from the Five Elements Sect's ancestors, was mysterious and profound.

Who could possibly have the ability to forcibly break open the shrine's door? And how did they do it?

Was the one who broke the door one of Mr. Zhuang's three disciples, or was it that little ghost inside? Sect Master Liao also knew about the little ghost. This was a secret of the Five Elements Sect from that year. In order not to lose the array method, hundreds of years ago, the old Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect had specially detained a little ghost and put it into the shrine to nurture it, making it pretend to be mysterious and confuse outsiders, to prevent the Five Elements Sect's core inheritance from leaking out...

But now, the shrine was broken, and the little ghost was missing...

Sect Master Liao said in surprise, "What about the inheritance of the Five Elements spirit array...?"

The Great Elder shook his head and sighed, "I don't know either..." He raised his eyes again, examining the shrine. He frowned and said, "For these hundreds of years, I've always felt that there was a special implication within this shrine... It seemed to be hiding some special inheritances inside..."

"But now, with the shrine missing a door, this implication has also suddenly disappeared..."

"The things inside seem to have been emptied by someone unknown..."

The shrine now was just an empty shell, like an uninhabited tower, empty and cold.

Sect Master Liao said in surprise, "Great Elder, what other inheritance does our Five Elements Sect have?"

The Great Elder remained silent.

Because he didn't know either.

Sect Master Liao shook his head and sneered inwardly. He was just boasting. Besides the Five Elements spirit array, what other inheritance did the Five Elements Sect have? Even the Five Elements spirit array was useless in form; no one could learn it, and it was simply impossible to learn...

But of course, he couldn't say these words out loud.

A sharp glint flashed in Sect Master Liao's eyes, and he said in a low voice, "Great Elder, could it be that Mr. Zhuang and his disciples secretly seized the Five Elements Sect's inheritance?"

The Great Elder's heart was shocked, and his brows furrowed even more deeply. This was exactly what he was worried about...

The person surnamed Zhuang was profound and unfathomable, and his several disciples were even more astonishingly talented. If the master and disciples had set up a scheme to secretly take his Five Elements Sect's inheritance, that would be endless trouble.

The key was, what exactly was this inheritance?

The Five Elements spirit array? If it was the Five Elements spirit array, there was no reason, because this was something they should have learned, and they had learned it openly and rightfully.

But what if it wasn't just the Five Elements spirit array?

Not just the Five Elements spirit array...

What else could it be?

What else had the old ancestors of the Five Elements Sect left for themselves?

The Great Elder was completely confused.

Sect Master Liao, having other thoughts, then asked, "What do you plan to do?"

"What to do?" The Great Elder's gaze sank. "Your meaning is..."

"Suppose there really are other inheritances inside this shrine, they must be extraordinary. We must investigate this!"

"Investigate..."

Sect Master Liao raised an eyebrow. "You know."

The Great Elder hesitated.

Sect Master Liao continued, "The shrine is damaged, the inheritance is lost, and Mr. Zhuang's several disciples are the most suspicious, so..."

Sect Master Liao approached the Great Elder and lowered his voice, saying, "We must find a way to keep them here first!"

"Keep them here..."

The Great Elder mused.

Sect Master Liao nodded and suggested, "First investigate from within the Five Elements Sect, then investigate the missing little ghost, then investigate Mr. Zhuang and his disciples..."

"Before we investigate clearly, we must keep them here!"

"If the inheritance is in their hands, we'll find a way to take it back; if it's not in their hands, we'll apologize, offer compensation, and that's the end of it..."

The Great Elder sneered when he heard this. "Where is it so easy to end it..."

Who do you think you're trying to keep? Is that person surnamed Zhuang someone easy to deal with? Moreover, the old man next to him, who is like a piece of wood, has even more profound and unfathomable cultivation.

Sect Master Liao knew what the Great Elder was worried about, so he slowly said, "We'll try courtesy first, then military. First, invite them to stay in our Five Elements Sect for a while, for a few more days."

"Since we have some connection with the ancestors, being guests and exchanging array methods, this request is also reasonable..."

"Perhaps, they will just stay."

"This is the first 'courtesy'. If they don't agree, then we'll proceed with the 'military' later..."

"Senior Mr. Zhuang and that old man may have extraordinary cultivation, but his several disciples, although cultivating qi, have also had exchanges with our Five Elements Sect disciples these days. They are strong in cultivating qi, even comparable to Foundation Establishment, but they are only in the early stage of Foundation Establishment. They cannot overturn our Five Elements Sect's palm..."

"The person surnamed Zhuang seems indifferent, but he obviously cares quite a lot about these several disciples, especially that little disciple surnamed Mo. He even favors him excessively."

"As long as we control that little disciple, no, even control any one of his disciples, and use this to threaten Mr. Zhuang, we won't be afraid that he won't soften."

"If that still doesn't work..."

Sect Master Liao pointed towards the sky and said solemnly, "We still have... the Five Elements mountain-protecting great array!"

The Great Elder was startled. "You want to open the great array?!"

Sect Master Liao nodded. "Once the great array is opened, we won't worry about not being able to keep them here!"

"Even if their cultivation is stronger, they won't dare to transcend the limits of the heavenly way, and they will inevitably be trapped within this great array!"

The Great Elder frowned and pondered. He felt that Sect Master Liao's words made some sense, but in his heart, he still had no confidence. He still didn't dare to easily become an enemy of Mr. Zhuang. Especially within the Five Elements Sect's mountain gate, within the mountain-protecting great array, to directly oppose Mr. Zhuang.

"Tearing faces like this... isn't it not too good?"

The Great Elder was worried.

Sect Master Liao then took a step back and said lightly, "Great Elder, we don't necessarily have to tear faces with Mr. Zhuang..."

"We will entertain them warmly. If they just stay, wouldn't that be better?"

"Even if we have to open the great array, when soldiers meet, we don't necessarily have to fight to the death. We only need him to hand over our Five Elements Sect's inheritance. Even if he only hands over half, it's better than losing everything and falling into the hands of others..."

"We can also give an account to the sect's old ancestors..."

"Great Elder..."

Sect Master Liao looked at the Great Elder and said sincerely, "The matter of inheritance is significant!"

The matter of inheritance was significant!

The Great Elder's heart trembled. "Yes, all this is for the inheritance of our Five Elements Sect!"

Even if there were risks, they had to be taken.

The Great Elder looked at Sect Master Liao again and secretly nodded. This Sect Master, although his realm was a bit low and his pattern was a bit small, when encountering matters, he still had some measure and could come up with some methods.

"Good!" The Great Elder nodded. "You go and make the preparations now. You must keep them in our Five Elements Sect!"

Sect Master Liao's face lit up with joy, and he cupped his hands and said yes.

After the two finished discussing, the Great Elder still stayed in front of the shrine, facing it, pondering and worrying.

Sect Master Liao then left the array storage pavilion alone.

Night had already fallen. Outside the array storage pavilion, there were carved beams and painted rafters, golden and magnificent.

Sect Master Liao walked out of the array storage pavilion, turned back and looked at it, and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

"The matter of inheritance is significant?"

"Inheritance my foot!"

"Things have come to this point, what inheritance does the Five Elements Sect still have?"

Array learning had declined, and array masters had left. The Five Elements Sect now, with the prosperity of earth and wood, only had its form, just like that shrine in general, only a golden empty shell. Without people, without arrays, only an empty shell, what use was there? Revitalizing the sect was just a joke.

Sect Master Liao smiled contemptuously and immediately turned his jade ring. But it wasn't a loss either... He had also gained quite a lot of benefits from it over the years, squeezing dry the value of these rotten wood and dead beams, earning a full basin and bowl. Things had come to this point; he could run...

The rotten mess belonged to others. The spirit stones belonged to him!

As for the Five Elements Sect...

Sect Master Liao snorted coldly. Although he was a person of the Five Elements Sect, it was only an identity. Changing sects was no big deal.

But before he left, this Five Elements Sect still had one last use...

Sect Master Liao took the entire Five Elements Sect's mountain gate into his eyes, and a trace of cold intent outlined the corners of his mouth.

Two days later, Sect Master Liao visited Mr. Zhuang. He still had a calm face, with no scheming appearance, and said sincerely, "Junior has admired Senior Mr. Zhuang for a long time. There were many nitpicks in the previous accusations; please forgive me, Senior..."

Mr. Zhuang did not comment.

Sect Master Liao continued, "...Now the inheritance matters have ended, and it happens that we meet. Please, Senior, be a guest in the Five Elements Sect for a few more days, so that I can slightly fulfill the host's friendship."

Sect Master Liao's words were emotionally true, but his heart was very nervous. He wasn't sure of Mr. Zhuang's intentions, couldn't guess Mr. Zhuang's mind, and being looked at by Mr. Zhuang's profound gaze was like having thorns on his back, with cold sweat dripping down.

Sect Master Liao waited apprehensively for Mr. Zhuang's reply. Mr. Zhuang pondered for a moment and suddenly said, "Good."

This one "Good" made Sect Master Liao feel as if a burden had been lifted. He only felt his whole body lighten by several points and couldn't help but laugh. "Senior is willing to show me face; junior is endlessly grateful."

Mr. Zhuang nodded slightly, didn't say much, and then finished his tea. Sect Master Liao was very sensible, then cupped his hands and saluted, "Then junior will not disturb Senior's quiet cultivation and will take my leave."

After Sect Master Liao left, Mr. Zhuang called Mo Hua over, thought for a while, and then instructed, "You cultivate diligently these days and just establish foundation in the Five Elements Sect."

Mo Hua was startled. "Just here?"

The Five Elements Sect might not be a good place. From top to bottom, they were both jealous and hated him, if not outright hostile, at least their attitude wasn't good.

Mr. Zhuang said firmly, "No harm, just establish foundation here!"

Mo Hua was still a bit doubtful. "Is it a bit fast..."

His cultivation had reached the ninth level of Qi Refining after only a few months. His Qi sea was not yet stable, his foundation not yet firm, and his cultivation not yet solid... He felt it was still a bit early to establish foundation now.

Mr. Zhuang said mildly, "Your spirit root... is not too good. No matter how you cultivate spirit power, it will just be like that, so there are not so many requirements. There's no need to polish your realm, no need to seek a firm foundation. Just breakthrough if you can, as long as you can establish foundation, it's fine..."

Although the tone was very mild, these words were still a bit heart-piercing.

"Okay..."

Mo Hua nodded and then said again, "Master, is my divine sense also enough?"

"Drawing the Five Elements spirit array will enhance your divine sense?" Mr. Zhuang asked.

"It will, but not much..." Mo Hua said truthfully.

"Can it breakthrough fourteen patterns?"

Mo Hua thought for a while, shook his head, "It feels very difficult..."

These days, as long as he had free time, he would draw the Five Elements spirit array. Metal, wood, water, fire, earth, he drew the five series of spirit arrays over and over again. He drew during the day and also drew on the Dao stele in the evening.

His divine sense was indeed slowly increasing, and the speed of increase was still considerable, much stronger than when he drew the spirit pivot array before. Although the requirement for the Five Elements spirit array was thirteen patterns, because it required "divine sense turning to Dao," a part of the divine sense was separated and fused into the array, becoming one with spirit power. So the actual consumption of divine sense was more than thirteen patterns. While the spirit pivot array only had twelve patterns.

If drawing the spirit pivot array enhanced divine sense like a small stream, then drawing the Five Elements spirit array enhanced divine sense like a small river. Whether it was a small stream or a small river, in front of the threshold from thirteen patterns to fourteen patterns, it was just a drop in the bucket. It was like leading water into a ditch; the water was not small, but this ditch was deep and unfathomable, and it could never be filled...

Mr. Zhuang pondered for a moment and said, "Then just establish foundation directly with peak thirteen patterns divine sense..."

"No need for fourteen patterns?" Mo Hua said weakly.

Mr. Zhuang shook his head and sighed, "Don't force it. Although fourteen patterns are good, they are indeed too difficult..."

Moreover, plans couldn't keep up with changes, and there wasn't much time... A trace of melancholy flashed in Mr. Zhuang's gaze, and then he instructed again, "You will establish foundation with peak thirteen patterns divine sense. In theory, you will breakthrough the hindrance, and your divine sense will double, reaching the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, between fourteen and sixteen patterns."

"As for exactly how much, just look at fate..."

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Master, if divine sense doubles, why isn't it twenty-six patterns?"

Mr. Zhuang was startled and couldn't help but point at Mo Hua's forehead, "What are you thinking? The growth of divine sense is not simple addition and subtraction."

"The number of patterns is just a scale."

"Between two scales, the amount of divine sense can be a world of difference."

"Nine patterns of Qi Refining and ten patterns of Foundation Establishment already differ by a full fold."

"Twenty-six patterns, that's already Golden Core..."

"Where do you get such a good thing..."

Mo Hua laughed awkwardly and then asked curiously again, "Master, does the divine sense of the early stage of Foundation Establishment and the middle stage of Foundation Establishment also differ by a fold?"

Mr. Zhuang said, "This is not necessarily the case. The difference in divine sense between the early stage of Foundation Establishment and the middle stage of Foundation Establishment is large, but it won't be as much as a fold."

Mo Hua's mind was sharp, and he immediately discovered another problem: "Then why do I breakthrough Foundation Establishment, and my divine sense doubles, only reaching the middle stage of Foundation Establishment?"

Mr. Zhuang took a sip of tea and continued to explain to Mo Hua, "Because the further you go with divine sense, the slower it grows, and the more difficult it is to grow."

"Moreover, your situation is relatively special. Your current divine sense is already very strong, so when you breakthrough the realm, your divine sense will greatly increase, but it won't necessarily double."

"The balance of the heavenly way always has limits, and always has many restrictions..."

If it didn't add restrictions, this child's divine sense would truly be "lawless"... Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua and sighed silently in his heart.

Mo Hua nodded vaguely.

"Good, concentrate on cultivating..."

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua again and smiled mildly, "It's estimated that in less than a month, your cultivation will be about right. Try to breakthrough the realm once, see what the bottleneck of the Heavenly Pivot Art is, and then find a way to breakthrough the bottleneck and build a Dao foundation!"

"Yes!"

Mo Hua nodded, his eyes bright and clear. Although he regretted not reaching fourteen patterns a little, he was still very happy about being about to establish foundation. Without fourteen patterns, so be it... People follow the earth, the earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Dao, and the Dao follows nature. Cultivating the Dao emphasizes following nature and cannot be forced. You cannot let your heart not be enough and try to swallow an elephant with a snake.

After this month, Mo Hua all concentrated on cultivating and absorbing spirit stones non-stop. Even when learning array methods, he only learned them on the Dao stele during the Zi hour. During the day, he basically used all his time to meditate and refine spirit stones.

Normal cultivation emphasizes not being hasty or slow, like water dripping on a stone. Persisting daily is good. But now that he was approaching Foundation Establishment, he wanted to spend more time and more spirit stones, wanting to use all his time and spirit stones on the "blade edge."

Mo Hua cultivated with a focused mind, preparing for Foundation Establishment. Bai Zi Xi and Bai Zi Sheng knew that Mo Hua was going to establish foundation and did not disturb him. At the same time, they silently protected their little junior brother, to prevent him from cultivating incorrectly or being disturbed by other people.

And Mo Hua's cultivation was also relatively smooth. Spirit stones were consumed one by one, and spirit power also increased little by little.

Finally, a month later.

Mo Hua's cultivation reached the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining. At the same time, he also touched the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment...

(End of this chapter)