Chapter 570: Second Grade

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Attesting to the Dao with divine consciousness, establishing oneself upon divine consciousness and formations.

Learning second-grade array formations and becoming a second-grade array master is the prerequisite for standing in the vast cultivation world, in the vast Nine Provinces.

However, Mo Hua currently lacks the fundamental inheritance of second-grade array formations.

He pondered for a moment, then went to visit Teaching Officer Yan.

Teaching Officer Yan comes from the Xiaoling Yin Sect.

Although the Xiaoling Yin Sect has declined, it has produced second-grade array masters and should have some inherited second-grade array diagrams and books.

But Mo Hua's trip was in vain...

Teaching Officer Yan was not at home, only Manager Mo leisurely drinking tea.

"Teaching Officer?" Mo Hua asked.

Manager Mo shook his head, "I don't know. My senior brother seems to have something on his mind these past few days, acting all mysterious. He also leaves early and returns late. I don't know what he's busy with..."

"Then when will Teaching Officer return?"

"Later..." Manager Mo said, then looked at Mo Hua and asked with some doubt, "Are you looking for my senior brother for something?"

Mo Hua nodded, "I want to ask about some matters concerning second-grade array formations..."

"Second-grade array formations, huh..."

Manager Mo was a little surprised, and a little envious.

When he first met Mo Hua, Mo Hua could only draw a three-pattern Bright Fire Array and came to his array pavilion to draw some arrays to earn some meager money.

He even fabricated a non-existent elder brother due to his young age and false identity.

Unexpectedly, in just a few years, he already wants to learn second-grade array formations...

In these few years, his own array formation attainment hasn't even advanced by a single pattern.

Yet Mo Hua has advanced by leaps and bounds, skipping an entire grade...

Truly, comparing people is infuriating...

Manager Mo grumbled in his heart.

"Manager Mo, do you know how to draw second-grade array formations?"

Mo Hua asked curiously.

Manager Mo is Teaching Officer Yan's junior brother and a disciple of the Xiaoling Yin Sect. By rights, he is also considered a proper sect array master.

Manager Mo quickly shook his head, "You mustn't flatter me. Even seven or eight pattern arrays are difficult for me to draw..."

He is a normal cultivator, and also a normal array master.

He can't compare with a "little monster" like Mo Hua...

"However..."

Manager Mo stroked his chin, "Speaking of second-grade array formations, I suddenly remembered. Before, there was an array master whose skills weren't refined. He drew nine out of ten array formations incorrectly and couldn't afford to compensate me with spirit stones, so he compensated me with an ancestral second-grade array pattern atlas..."

"Second-grade array pattern atlas?"

"Mm." Manager Mo nodded, "It just collects some basic second-grade array patterns and related variants of these array patterns."

Mo Hua was surprised, "Isn't that quite precious then?"

Manager Mo shook his head, "Not really. Any family with an array formation inheritance will have this kind of thing. It's a type of... relatively niche array formation insight."

"Can I take a look?" Mo Hua said.

"You wait..."

Manager Mo put down his teacup and stood up with his fat belly sticking out, "I'll go back and find it. It's been a while, I don't know where I put it..."

Manager Mo scurried back and probably returned after an hour, holding an old book in his hand.

"Here, take a look..."

Manager Mo handed the book to Mo Hua.

"Thank you, Manager!" Mo Hua said happily.

On the book cover were the handwritten words "Second-grade Array Patterns Atlas," written neatly.

Mo Hua opened the book and roughly scanned it.

Inside, it indeed collected some second-grade array patterns, mostly based on the Five Elements array patterns, mixed with other patterns from systems that Mo Hua had never encountered.

In addition, it also detailed the differences between first-grade and second-grade array patterns, as well as the changes from first-grade to second-grade array patterns.

With illustrations and text combined, although not profound, it was very detailed.

The owner of this atlas must have been a very serious and meticulous second-grade array master.

However, their ancestral foundation was probably very thin.

Therefore, every bit of array formation knowledge was carefully recorded, treasured, and collected.

From shallow to deep, it was rich and detailed.

This also helped Mo Hua a lot.

Mo Hua thanked Manager Mo again.

Manager Mo quickly waved his hand, "No big deal, no big deal!"

However, being able to help Mo Hua also made Manager Mo very happy.

Afterward, Manager Mo drank tea while Mo Hua read the book.

Mo Hua read for a while, and Teaching Officer Yan returned. He looked busy and was a little surprised to see Mo Hua.

Mo Hua stated his intention.

Teaching Officer Yan pondered for a moment, then nodded, "I have some, wait a moment..."

He went back to his room and rummaged for the time it takes for one stick of incense, finding two array books.

One was "Second-grade Array Formation Initial Explanation," and the other was "Second-grade Array Formation Illustration."

"This 'Initial Explanation' array book talks about the basic knowledge of second-grade array formations, focusing on array principles. The 'Illustration' uses actual array diagrams to explain in detail how to draw array patterns and form second-grade array formations..."

"These are the inheritance of the Xiaoling Yin Sect and are orthodox array methods. Compared to the inheritances of those big families and big sects, they might be a bit thin, but there won't be any errors..."

"It's just a pity..."

Teaching Officer Yan sighed, "For so many years, no one in the Xiaoling Yin Sect has been able to use them..."

Including himself.

Teaching Officer Yan carefully handed the two array books to Mo Hua and instructed, "Look carefully, learn well..."

Giving these inheritances to Mo Hua also counted as repaying Mo Hua for helping the Xiaoling Yin Sect, removing the traitor, and finding back their ancestors' remains.

Teaching Officer Yan said silently in his heart.

"Mm!"

Mo Hua nodded seriously.

With the array pattern atlas and the "Initial Explanation" and "Illustration" of second-grade array formations, he should be able to preliminarily understand how to draw second-grade array formations.

However, before this, Mo Hua still had one thing that puzzled him greatly...

"Teaching Officer, where did you... where did you go just now?" Mo Hua asked quietly.

The usually serious and rigid Teaching Officer Yan actually showed a moment of guilt in his expression.

Looking at Mo Hua's watery eyes full of curiosity, Teaching Officer Yan coughed, shifted his gaze, and vaguely said:

"No... nothing, just strolling around to relax."

"Oh..."

Mo Hua was full of doubt but didn't pursue it further.

After returning, Mo Hua began to flip through the three array books and research the drawing method of second-grade array formations.

Second-grade array formations are composed of ten or more second-grade array patterns.

Second-grade array patterns are somewhat similar to first-grade array patterns but also different.

By flipping through the "Second-grade Array Patterns Atlas," Mo Hua discovered that second-grade array patterns are more like a combination of two first-grade array patterns, fused together through a strange form similar to the Dao.

Second-grade array patterns are more complex, more profound, and have more lines and strokes. The considerations for contained changes and positions are also twice as difficult as first-grade array patterns.

Drawing second-grade array patterns consumes divine consciousness twice that of ordinary first-grade array patterns.

"So that's how it is..."

Mo Hua murmured in his heart.

After building a foundation, divine consciousness doubles.

And in array formations, from first-grade nine patterns to second-grade ten patterns, the amount of divine consciousness consumed also doubles, and the power and effects of the array formation will also multiply.

According to the general standard of array formation grades, a ten-pattern array formation is by default a second-grade array formation.

First-grade array patterns have a thin structure and cannot form a ten or more pattern array formation.

A ten or more pattern array formation must be built on the foundation of second-grade array patterns, which have more profound divine consciousness, a more solid structure, and more complex patterns.

Except for absolute arrays...

Absolute arrays contain the laws of the Great Dao, surpassing the limits of grades and differing from common array formations...

Mo Hua frowned.

Calculating it this way, a first-grade absolute array and a second-grade array formation have the same number of array patterns, but the grades of the array patterns are vastly different.

For example, a first-grade ten-pattern Reverse Spirit Absolute Array and a second-grade ten-pattern second-grade array formation are both ten patterns, but one is composed of first-grade array patterns and the other of second-grade array patterns.

Clearly, second-grade array patterns require twice the divine consciousness of first-grade array patterns.

However, these two ten-pattern array formations seem to require no difference in divine consciousness.

Mo Hua thought for a while but still had no clue, so he temporarily set it aside.

He thought he would wait until he had truly learned second-grade array formations, then properly compare the differences in the divine consciousness level between first-grade absolute arrays and second-grade array formations.

Next was to specifically learn second-grade array formations.

To learn array formations, one must first learn array patterns.

Mo Hua first flipped through the "Second-grade Array Patterns Atlas" several times, memorizing several basic second-grade Five Elements array patterns in his heart, and simply copied them several times on paper.

Then, he began to try drawing the first second-grade array formation according to the "Second-grade Array Formation Illustration":

"Second-grade Bright Fire Array."

The Bright Fire Array is a fire-system array formation used for warming and lighting, basically one of the most basic array styles in each grade.

The first formal array formation that Mo Hua drew at the beginning was precisely the Bright Fire Array.

However, that Bright Fire Array was only three patterns and had not yet entered a grade.

The current Bright Fire Array is a second-grade array formation, having a full ten patterns.

Of course, ten patterns are not that difficult for the current Mo Hua with his fourteen-pattern quality-changed divine consciousness.

The difficulty only lies in the fact that Mo Hua is still very unfamiliar with the system of second-grade array formations and their mastery.

Mo Hua memorized the array diagram of the second-grade Bright Fire Array by heart.

At midnight, he practiced the second-grade Bright Fire Array on the Dao Stele in the Sea of Consciousness.

One person, one stele, one array.

Just like the year he first learned array formations.

Mo Hua was in a moment of trance.

As if he had already learned many, many array formations, but also as if he hadn't learned much.

The more he learned, the more he felt how little he had learned.

Now that array formations were approaching the second grade, everything started anew.

To learn new array patterns, to understand deeper array principles, to comprehend longer Great Dao...

Mo Hua exhaled, calmed his heart, maintained a humble and peaceful state of mind, and did not forget his original intention. He began to draw his first second-grade array formation on the Dao Stele:

The Bright Fire Array.

Second-grade array patterns are more complex, with more particular brushwork, and consume more divine consciousness.

The structure of the array formation also had many changes.

Mo Hua was still very unfamiliar at first, drawing several times and repeatedly making mistakes.

Either the array pattern brushwork was wrong, or the array hubs conflicted, or the layout wasn't controlled well...

Mo Hua had to erase the array patterns, trace back his divine consciousness, and continue drawing.

Time after time.

Dull and mechanical.

Mo Hua was already used to it.

His brushwork gradually became proficient, the array hub structure was gradually mastered, and his perception of the constitution of second-grade array formations also gradually increased...

If you don't know, then learn. If you're not familiar, then practice.

Draw an 'array' a hundred times, its meaning becomes self-evident.

Mo Hua kept drawing, kept drawing, until he had drawn the second-grade Bright Fire Array dozens of times, stepping on all the possible pitfalls, then he felt some enlightenment.

Array patterns and array hubs were fused together.

The brushwork details were clear in his chest...

His brush strokes also became more composed and spirited, advancing and retreating with measure.

Finally, after an unknown amount of time, Mo Hua hooked the last stroke, and the array formation was completed.

On the Dao Stele, the second-grade Bright Fire Array's patterns emitted light, shining brightly, flickering with a radiant glow.

This thread of light was more condensed, more brilliant.

Just like before, it also illuminated the road for Mo Hua's first step as a second-grade array master...

Mo Hua exhaled, unable to help but smile with joy.

Second-grade array formation!

He finally drew it!

Mo Hua couldn't help but be a little smug, admiring the second-grade Bright Fire Array he had drawn on the Dao Stele for a while, then somewhat reluctantly erased it, waiting for his divine consciousness to trace back and continue drawing.

The first time is raw, the second time is cooked.

Mo Hua's first drawing was still very raw, with many mistakes.

Because second-grade array formations are in a different grade from first-grade array formations and their array patterns are vastly different, he spent quite a bit of effort.

But after drawing it the first time, with his divine consciousness strength and array formation comprehension, he drew much faster.

The subsequent Bright Fire Arrays were drawn smoothly and effortlessly by Mo Hua.

Second-grade array formation has a cognitive barrier.

Mo Hua himself also lacked some understanding of second-grade array formations.

Otherwise, the second-grade ten-pattern Bright Fire Array is actually simpler to draw than the first-grade ten-pattern Reverse Spirit Absolute Array.

Mo Hua kept drawing, kept drawing, until he was thoroughly familiar with the Bright Fire Array, then withdrew from the Sea of Consciousness.

By this time, the sky was already bright, with rosy clouds filling the sky, dyeing Mo Hua's cheeks red.

Mo Hua was in a very good mood, a smile on his face.

Drawing the second-grade Bright Fire Array also counted as crossing a small threshold.

Next was to actually draw the Bright Fire Array.

Drawing it on the Dao Stele, with his hand as a brush, divine consciousness as ink, and the Dao Stele as a medium, cannot be completely considered as "drawing" it out.

Naturally, it cannot be considered as truly "knowing" it either.

Mo Hua got up, laid paper on the desk, took out his brush, dipped ink, and planned to try drawing the second-grade Bright Fire Array.

But just as he moved his brush, Mo Hua was stunned.

He suddenly realized a serious problem:

The Bright Fire Array is a second-grade array formation...

But he had no second-grade spirit ink!

Not only spirit ink, but he also had no second-grade array brushes, array paper, or other array media!

A clever woman cannot cook without rice.

Without a brush, ink, or paper, how could he draw an array formation...

Mo Hua sighed.

He miscalculated...

He hadn't worried about brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones for a long time, so he didn't think of it for a while.

"But... where can I get second-grade spirit ink?"

"Business Pavilion?"

Mo Hua specifically went to various business pavilions in Immortal City and also strolled through the market, but gained nothing.

In Immortal City, there were no second-grade array masters, so naturally no one would draw second-grade array formations, and there was also no second-grade spirit ink!

Even if some families or business pavilions had some stock, it had been stored for too long, and the spirit ink had completely expired and couldn't be used to draw array formations.

Mo Hua was helpless, thought for a moment, then went to find Master Luo.

Master Luo had been a first-grade array master for a long time, was very senior, and had many connections. He had researched array formations for many years and wanted to become a second-grade array master, so he probably had prepared some second-grade spirit ink.

Mo Hua arrived at the Luo residence, but learned that Master Luo was not in.

He had gone to drink tea with Master Qian...

Mo Hua could only turn to the Qian residence again.

The former Qian family had split into four or five branches, the family had declined, and the clansmen each sought a livelihood.

The large Qian residence was divided into various independent courtyards.

The courtyard where Master Qian now resided was in the southwest corner of the Qian residence, occupying the largest and most spacious area. Only the plaque at the entrance had been changed to "Qian Clan School."

This was not only Master Qian's cave mansion but also a school he specially opened to teach array formations.

Master Qian still remembered his agreement with Mo Hua, had calmed down, researched array formations, and was teaching array formations to the children of the loose cultivators in Immortal City.

And Master Luo, being idle, would come here to visit.

He would drink tea with Master Qian, exchange insights on array formations, and occasionally point out puzzles for other disciples.

When Mo Hua entered the door, Master Luo and Master Qian were just quietly enjoying tea in the courtyard with flowers and grass, where the scenery was pleasant.

In the school, the children were all concentrating on practicing basic array patterns.

When Mo Hua entered, Master Luo and Master Qian were both surprised and delighted, successively standing up to welcome him:

"Little Mister, a rare guest, a rare guest..."

Mo Hua's original array formation attainment was already higher than theirs. Now that he had built a foundation, his status was even higher. The two of them dared not neglect him even more.

Mo Hua also smiled and greeted them.

"Master Luo, Master Qian, long time no see."

Master Luo sized up Mo Hua and saw that although Mo Hua had built a foundation, his gaze was profound, his divine consciousness was stronger, and his array formation attainment was also deeper, but he treated people kindly and had a naive and sincere appearance, seemingly no different from before. He couldn't help but feel admiration.

Master Luo said shamefully, "In front of Little Mister, I dare not claim the title of 'Master'."

Mo Hua, on the other hand, didn't care much.

After sitting down, Master Qian poured tea for Mo Hua and asked, "Little Mister, you've come, do you have something in mind?"

Mo Hua nodded: "Two masters, do you have any second-grade spirit ink?"

"Second-grade spirit ink!"

Master Luo and Master Qian looked at each other, both somewhat surprised, "Little Mister, do you know second-grade array formations?"

Although Mo Hua felt that he was already very familiar with the second-grade Bright Fire Array, he hadn't actually drawn it out, so it wasn't good to boast. He humbly said:

"I know a little, I want to try drawing it out."

Mo Hua said he knew a little, but Master Luo naturally wouldn't think it was just "a" little.

Master Luo's face showed a bitter smile, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

He was now over a hundred years old, and still only a first-grade array master. Mo Hua was young, yet he was already going to learn second-grade array formations...

Although it was also a good thing for him if Mo Hua became a second-grade array master, his heart still couldn't help but feel a little sour.

"Spirit ink, huh..."

Master Luo thought for a while and nodded: "I do have some second-grade spirit ink, but not much, only two bottles..."

Master Qian also said: "I also have some here, from the Qian family's storehouse that year, but only five bottles. If Little Mister doesn't mind, you can take them all."

Mo Hua was delighted, "Thank you, Master Luo, thank you, Master Qian!"

"Little Mister is too polite..."

Master Luo and Master Qian took out the spirit ink and handed it to Mo Hua.

These spirit inks were also Five Elements spirit inks, stored in jade bottles, with surging aura, containing astonishing Five Elements spiritual power.

Mo Hua couldn't help but say: "This spirit ink, isn't it quite expensive..."

Master Qian nodded, "Generally, first-grade spirit ink is around ten spirit stones a bottle. Due to its quality or scarcity, there will be some differences. Cheap ones are two or three spirit stones a bottle, and expensive ones can also be dozens of spirit stones a bottle..."

"Second-grade spirit ink, generally speaking, the cheap ones also cost one hundred spirit stones a bottle."

"Expensive ones can cost hundreds to thousands..."

Mo Hua was startled, "So expensive?!"

One hundred spirit stones a bottle...

The small five bottles in his hand would cost at least five hundred spirit stones...

Master Qian sighed: "Yes, it's not easy to learn array formations. The higher the grade, the more so..."

"This small bottle of spirit ink, costing one hundred spirit stones, when used to draw an array formation, even if it's foolproof and 100% correct, can only draw two second-grade initial level array formations..."

"And to truly learn an array formation, you have to practice it dozens or even hundreds of times..."

"To learn one second-grade array formation, the spirit stones consumed just on brush and ink are not a small sum..."

"For big families and big sects, it's not a problem. This bit of spirit stones is a drop in the bucket. They eat more than this for three meals a day..."

"Medium families and sects are also fine."

"But if it's a small family or a small sect, supporting one second-grade array master will be very strenuous..."

"Loose cultivators..."

Master Qian smiled bitterly.

Loose cultivators can't even support themselves, how can they support second-grade and above array masters.

Mo Hua opened his mouth wide, looked at the several bottles of spirit ink in his hand again, frowned, and asked:

"Isn't this spirit ink just made from demon beast blood? How is it so expensive?"

Master Luo was silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Second-grade demon beasts are difficult to hunt, and extracting their blood is also difficult."

"Of course, this is not the fundamental reason..."

Master Luo's voice lowered a bit.

"Even if second-grade demon beasts are difficult to kill, only their blood is used to make spirit ink, not scarce things like inner cores, heart demons, or marrow..."

"By rights, it shouldn't be so expensive."

"But the formulas, methods, and some rare spirit grasses for making spirit ink are all controlled by the big families and big sects."

Master Luo pointed upwards, "Since they have a monopoly, they naturally decide the price."

"Ten spirit stones is fine, a hundred spirit stones is fine, a thousand, ten thousand... it's not up to us to decide."

"Those who truly hunt demons, extract blood, and make ink actually don't earn any spirit stones. Most of the profits are exploited by the families and big clans..."

"They do this, one is for profit, and two is..."

Master Luo paused, but looking at Mo Hua, who was a loose cultivator, he still said it more clearly.

"... not to let too many array masters emerge from the lower levels, so as not to shake the... foundation."

(End of this chapter)