Chapter 894: Array and Sword

Du Gu Old Ancestor's praise of Mo Hua carried a slightly ominous meaning.

He himself had a good understanding of his own talent in Sword Dao.

Yet Du Gu Old Ancestor said indifferently, "If I'm not mistaken, you've already learned Transform Sword Style, right?"

Mo Hua's heart tensed. He quietly looked up at Du Gu Old Ancestor, seeing his expression like a dry tomb, unfathomably deep, unable to discern joy or anger. He felt a little uneasy.

But he didn't dare to conceal it. He said softly, "Learned a little bit..."

"How did you learn it?" Du Gu Old Ancestor asked.

"From Senior Xuan's broken sword, there was a bit of karma. I unintentionally perceived it and comprehended a little bit..." Mo Hua replied.

Du Gu Old Ancestor's eyelid twitched.

Karma?

A mere Foundation Building realm cultivator could perceive karma?

"Only Transform Sword Style?" Du Gu Old Ancestor asked again.

Mo Hua answered truthfully, "Startle God Sword too, learned a little bit..."

Du Gu Old Ancestor's expression didn't change, but a shocking wave was stirred up in his heart.

He had seen faint traces on Mo Hua's body that he had learned Divine Thought Transform Sword, but he hadn't expected him to learn it in this way...

Perceive karma, trace back the sword formula, and learn Divine Thought Transform Sword?

Was this something a Foundation Building cultivator should be capable of?

Du Gu Old Ancestor frowned. "Did you learn the Heavenly Mechanism Karma method?"

Mo Hua shook his head. "Only occasionally, I can perceive a little karma..."

He wasn't really lying.

He hadn't learned the orthodox Heavenly Mechanism Karma technique.

What he had learned were Heavenly Mechanism Derive Calculation and Heavenly Mechanism Strange Calculation.

These two were Divine Thought algorithms and should be classified as methods of Array Dao or Divine Thought Dao.

Du Gu Old Ancestor nodded slightly, secretly surprised.

Not having learned the Heavenly Mechanism Karma technique, yet being able to occasionally perceive karma, was presumably due to his extremely strong Divine Sense and deep attainments in Array Dao.

Du Gu Old Ancestor asked again, "You got first place in the Array Discussion?"

"Um." Mo Hua nodded.

This wasn't worth concealing; the entire Tai Xu Sect knew about it.

Du Gu Old Ancestor remained silent for a long time. After a while, he sighed in his heart:

"Misjudged again..."

One couldn't judge a person by their appearance.

This child, at such a young age, yet for some reason, possessed unfathomable attainments in Array Dao and another strange talent.

But this was just right...

Du Gu Old Ancestor's eyes brightened slightly, revealing a trace of longing.

"Perhaps, there is really hope..."

Mo Hua secretly sized up Du Gu Old Ancestor, feeling a little uneasy in his heart, unsure if the Old Ancestor was angry with him.

He hadn't intended to conceal anything.

It was mainly because he had too many secrets on him. Touching one would affect the whole. So, it was best not to say anything if possible.

Du Gu Old Ancestor looked at Mo Hua silently for a few moments, but didn't press further. After a while, he slowly opened his mouth and said:

"I will teach you the sword formula."

Mo Hua breathed a sigh of relief, but then doubted, "Old Ancestor, haven't you always been teaching me the sword formula?"

"This time is different," Du Gu Old Ancestor said solemnly. "Ordinary sword cultivators learn swords by going from shallow to deep, from sword moves to sword qi, to sword intent, and then Divine Thought Transform Sword."

"You don't need to learn this way. Learning some shallow techniques won't help you much with sword moves and will waste your time, slowing your progress..."

"You should learn from a different angle."

Mo Hua was startled. "A different angle?"

Du Gu Old Ancestor nodded. "From Array Dao, enter Sword Dao!"

"From Array Dao enter Sword Dao..." Mo Hua's heart trembled, then he asked softly, "Old Ancestor, are you also a Fifth Rank Array Master?"

Du Gu Old Ancestor shook his head. "I haven't researched Array Dao much, but cultivating to my level, the understanding of cultivation paths is often not confined to one category. What is sought is the truth of all things returning to one, returning to simplicity..."

"Of course, I have devoted all my heart and soul to Sword Dao. Array Dao is only used for thought, by analogy, not for proficiency."

"So, I can only give you some inspiration."

"I can only roughly tell you what Sword Dao is and what Array Dao is, but how to do it specifically, how to fuse them, still depends on your own comprehension..."

Mo Hua's expression was solemn. He bowed and said respectfully, "Many thanks for Old Ancestor's guidance."

Listening to a Cave Void cultivator lecture on the Dao was a great fortune.

This was a Cave Void Old Ancestor's understanding of the "Dao," a high-level cognitive overview of the world's great Dao. If he could truly comprehend it, it would certainly be greatly beneficial for his future cultivation.

Mo Hua had a plan in his heart.

Du Gu Old Ancestor saw that Mo Hua understood and nodded slightly, then said solemnly:

"The world's great Dao has thousands of paths, but they all lead to the same destination."

"Array Dao, Sword Dao, Pill Dao, Talisman Dao, Artifact Refining Dao, Spells and Martial Arts Dao... and so on, are all methods derived from the great Dao."

"Among them, Array Dao is particularly important because Array Dao itself reflects heaven and earth, depicts the patterns of all things, and is closer to the presentation of the great Dao's rules."

"But this doesn't mean that walking other paths means you cannot comprehend the Dao."

"When you cultivate to a certain level, you will discover that although all things in the world have thousands of appearances, tracing back to the source, they are all embodiments of the great Dao."

"Only cultivators have limited lifespans, so they can only choose one or two methods derived from the great Dao to delve deep. They use the method as a raft to seek the great Dao."

"Once the great Dao is obtained, then they can abandon the raft and the method. All things follow their hearts, without constraints. The great Dao is in their hearts, changing heaven and earth. This is called... Immortal!"

Mo Hua's expression was shocked.

The great Dao is in their hearts, changing heaven and earth, called Immortal...

He memorized every single word.

Du Gu Old Ancestor lectured on the Dao for a while, then turned his head and continued to talk about Array Dao and Sword Dao. He first asked Mo Hua:

"What is sword qi?"

Mo Hua pondered. "The sword's killing qi?"

Du Gu Old Ancestor wasn't very satisfied. "Think again."

Mo Hua frowned slightly, recalling Du Gu Old Ancestor's teachings just now, and slowly said:

"All things have spirits, heaven and earth are one qi, spiritual qi is the fundamental of all things..."

"The great Dao has different paths leading to the same destination, so sword qi itself is actually not 'sword,' but just a form of spiritual power's existence, only presented in the 'sword' form?"

Du Gu Old Ancestor raised his eyebrows, signaling Mo Hua to continue.

Mo Hua said, "...Sword Dao, Array Dao, Spells, Martial Arts, all are a kind of Dao."

"Spiritual power condenses into the form of spells, this is Spells; Spiritual power constructs array patterns, then it is Array Dao; Spiritual power is urged through blood qi, turning into the force of fists and feet; Naturally then, spiritual power is urged by sword formula and spiritual sword, then turns into sword qi..."

"The form of force changes, but the force itself is unchanged."

Mo Hua's thinking was clear, and his speech was eloquent.

Du Gu Old Ancestor's gaze was surprised.

He finally understood now why his usually rigid junior brother unexpectedly praised this child like a blooming flower.

This comprehension ability was truly astonishing.

Perhaps he was a bit dull in Sword Dao, but this was a problem of lacking foundation.

Once it involved the scope of Divine Sense, his familiar domain, and even the comprehension of "Dao," this child's comprehension was simply so agile it was not like a human...

Du Gu Old Ancestor asked another question: "How does spiritual power constitute Spells?"

"Through meridians, forming the spell form, condensing into Spells..." Mo Hua answered.

But after he finished speaking, he was stunned for a moment.

Old Ancestor wouldn't ask such a superficial question.

Mo Hua pondered for a moment himself, and slowly said:

"Spiritual power forms the spell through meridians, condensing into Spells; Through array patterns, constructs Array Dao... In other words, it transforms through certain 'rules' of the great Dao..."

"Spell form, Sword form, and Array form are all certain 'concretizations' of the great Dao's rules. Utilizing these rules makes spiritual power itself produce different killing forces..."

Mo Hua vaguely felt that he seemed to have grasped something.

Du Gu Old Ancestor pointed out again, "Your weakest point in cultivating Sword Dao is being unable to condense strong sword qi."

"In other words, your comprehension of the rules for transforming spiritual power into 'sword qi' is too shallow."

"So..."

"So," Mo Hua suddenly realized, "To use the Dao of Array Dao, substitute the Dao of Sword Dao, use Array Dao to 'simulate sword qi'! Just like when I used Imperial Sword..."

Du Gu Old Ancestor was startled. "You can also Imperial Sword?"

"It doesn't really count..." Mo Hua said softly, "I just practiced it randomly for fun."

In a sense, it was purely an "unorthodox way."

Du Gu Old Ancestor thought for a moment, then understood what Mo Hua had done, and nodded in praise, "Although it's not proper, your idea isn't bad, only it can't be considered orthodox Sword Dao."

Mo Hua just took it as the Old Ancestor praising him and smiled shyly.

Du Gu Old Ancestor nodded, and then said, "The reason is precisely this. Using Array to transform into Sword, it should also work in Divine Thought, but I am not an Array Master after all, so I don't know exactly how this specific transformation is done."

"You can go back and ponder it yourself. If there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me again."

"And..."

Du Gu Old Ancestor took out a jade slip. The jade slip was ancient and didn't have any text or marks engraved on the outside, obviously recorded by himself.

Du Gu Old Ancestor said, "The original book of the Tai Xu Divine Thought Transform Sword True Formula was mostly destroyed. This is what I have excerpted. It contains the most complete method for Transform Sword Style."

"You cannot take this out. Just look at it here. You can look at as much as you can."

"Don't underestimate 'Transform Sword Style'..."

Du Gu Old Ancestor said solemnly:

"In the Divine Thought Transform Sword True Formula, Transform Sword Style is the foundation. The power of all sword moves depends on your foundation in Transform Sword Style."

"If Transform Sword is strong, then all sword moves will be strong."

Mo Hua could hardly hide the excitement in his expression and nodded, "Yes, Old Ancestor, I will definitely learn it well!"

Then he respectfully took the "Transform Sword Style" jade slip from Du Gu Old Ancestor's hand.

This was the orthodox Tai Xu Divine Thought Transform Sword True Formula.

Mo Hua was excited. He stroked the jade slip for a moment with his hand, then immersed his Divine Sense into it. Rows of silver hook iron painting text floated in his mind:

"Tai Xu Divine Thought Transform Sword True Formula · Transform Sword Style..."

"Sword qi condenses, manifesting intent with the sword, transforming into sword form..."

"Putting the sword in hand, transforming into the sword in heart."

"Sword Dao is extremely high, sword qi is exquisite, manifesting as a sword style, then it is even more sharp and radiant..."

"Different sword methods, the transformed Divine Thought sword style is different..."

"Different cultivators, with different comprehension of Sword Dao, the transformation of swords also differs..."

Mo Hua first quickly read it through once, then gradually realized:

"Sword Dao is also Dao, Array Dao is also Dao..."

"First to study the appearances, then through the appearances, understand the essence of sword qi, which is the rule of spiritual power transformation."

"My comprehension of Sword Dao's 'rules' is too shallow, so I need to find a way to utilize Array Dao's 'rules', substitute Sword Dao, and derive sword qi."

"This is..."

Mo Hua felt that he had vaguely realized something. He lowered his head and pondered, trying to grasp the inspiration floating in his heart. After a moment, his thinking suddenly became clear:

Sword Array!

Using Sword Array as the rules!

"Sword Array itself utilizes Array Dao to derive or amplify sword qi. It itself presents the rules of Sword Dao in the form of Array Dao."

"In this way, comprehending Sword Array, analyzing the mystery of Sword Array deriving sword qi, can also comprehend sword intent to a certain extent, thereby making up for one's weaknesses in Sword Dao."

"Dissecting Sword Dao from the perspective of Array Dao, thereby fusing them into one, and Sword Array is the best medium..."

Mo Hua's eyes became brighter and brighter.

Du Gu Old Ancestor also nodded slightly.

This child was indeed clever, basically understanding after a single point.

Du Gu Old Ancestor thought for a moment and finally said, "Sword cultivators don't learn Array Dao, and even if they do, it's difficult to become proficient. Array Masters are generally not sword cultivators either."

"So ordinary cultivators either learn swords or learn arrays. These two have a clear distinction, each learning their own."

"It's difficult for cultivators to be proficient in both Sword Dao and Array Dao, and to learn to the peak, involving the deep level of 'Dao'."

"But you are different..." Du Gu Old Ancestor looked at Mo Hua. "Your talent in Array Dao is rare in the world, and you are skipping the foundation of sword cultivators learning swords and going to learn Divine Thought Transform Sword."

"In this way, entering Sword Dao with Array is instead the most suitable."

"This road, almost no one has walked it, and others cannot walk it. It can only rely on you to explore it yourself..."

"As for how far you can learn, it only depends on you." Du Gu Old Ancestor looked deeply at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua nodded seriously, "Old Ancestor, please rest assured, I will definitely learn it well!"

Then he seized the time to carefully read the "Transform Sword Style" in the Tai Xu Divine Thought Transform Sword True Formula again, memorizing all the core content.

When the time came, Du Gu Old Ancestor tore open the void and sent Mo Hua back to his disciple residence.

Back at the disciple residence, there was still some time until dawn. Mo Hua eagerly immersed his Divine Sense into his sea of consciousness.

He began to ponder Du Gu Old Ancestor's words and the implications of "Transform Sword Style" in his sea of consciousness.

Deriving sword qi with Sword Array.

He had just tried this when he used Imperial Sword.

But before, he had only accidentally, in an "opportunistic" manner, tampered with the form of Imperial Sword, not understanding the deeper principles within.

Now that the Old Ancestor had pointed it out, he understood. Comprehending the great Dao's principles and the rules of change, he didn't need to be confined to the external form.

Divine Thought Transform Sword could also follow this line of thinking.

The power of Transform Sword depended on the cultivator's own foundation and comprehension of Sword Dao.

His own Sword Dao was very weak, but his Array Dao was extremely strong.

Then he should "make up for weakness with strength," substituting Sword Dao with Array Dao, using "Array Dao" to simulate sword qi and give birth to sword intent.

His foundation in Array Dao, through Senior Xun's guidance, was as solid as a rock.

And through Du Gu Old Ancestor's guidance, his own Transform Sword would also undergo further transformation.

Array Dao and Sword Dao, fused at the Divine Thought level...

Mo Hua nodded and decided to try it once.

In his sea of consciousness, Mo Hua sat calmly and began to restructure his "Transform Sword Style" based on Du Gu Old Ancestor's line of thinking and his original comprehension.

He first manifested the Broken Gold Sword Array.

This was the core array of the Broken Gold Gate's Sword Dao inheritance, and it was also the only Sword Array he was currently proficient in.

After the Sword Array manifested, Mo Hua began to manifest his Divine Thought sword, trying to fuse the two.

But after several attempts, they all failed.

It was easy to say, but the actual operation was a completely different matter.

Array Dao was Array Dao, and Divine Thought Transform Sword was Divine Thought Transform Sword. These were completely two different methods and not so simple to fuse.

Mo Hua tried many times, but it still didn't work.

Array Dao and Sword Dao had a clear distinction.

Mo Hua didn't give up and continued to try. But until dawn, there was still no progress.

The next day, Mo Hua got up to attend class and cultivate. Even during his free time, he didn't practice Array Dao. He focused entirely on delving into the fusion of Divine Thought Array Dao and Divine Thought Sword Dao.

But he tried for several days, and it was all in vain.

"Could this path not work?"

Mo Hua frowned. Afterward, he shook his head again, "Impossible. The Old Ancestor has already pointed me out. That means with his elder's Cave Void insight, he believes the rules are interconnected and the principle is feasible."

"If I can't figure it out, it's not that the Old Ancestor is wrong. It must be that my method has a problem..."

Mo Hua calmed down and continued to work hard. During this time, he also tried other methods, but without exception, they all failed.

After failing too many times, Mo Hua stopped and began to reflect.

Fortunately, he had rich experience in applying Divine Thought Dao and Array Dao. After pondering for several days, his heart gradually became clear.

Mo Hua realized that his previous thinking was wrong.

It wasn't about manifesting Array Dao and Divine Thought Transform Sword and then trying to fuse the two.

Instead, he should fuse them from the beginning.

As Du Gu Old Ancestor said, the great Dao is the source of all things. All things and all laws in the world have different paths leading to the same destination.

If he wanted to fuse Array Dao and Sword Dao, he should start from the beginning.

Fuse from the source.

But doing so would involve the "divine soul."

And there was still a "hidden danger" in his divine soul.

Mo Hua deliberated for a moment, feeling that he still needed to try once.

He took out the bamboo slip, borrowed the sword intent on the bamboo slip, chopped his divine soul once, "warned" the evil fetus once, and made it behave.

Then he summoned the Dao Stele, borrowed the prestige of the Dao Stele, and the terror of the tribulation thunder, to deter the evil fetus.

After that, Mo Hua reassured himself and called his divine soul.

But he only summoned one soul among them, avoiding the Fu Shi soul that the evil fetus parasitized.

After preparing properly, Mo Hua held his breath and concentrated. He began to fuse the Sword Array into the "heart image" of his divine soul, fundamentally restructuring his "Divine Thought Transform Sword."

But this process was equally mysterious and exceptional, difficult to grasp.

Array Dao was profound, and Sword Dao was sharp. It was not easy to unify them.

Mo Hua calmed his heart and began to "abandon form and return to void," "return to simplicity," according to Du Gu Old Ancestor's interpretation of "Dao."

Forget all methods, perceive the true essence of "Dao," use Sword Dao and Array Dao as rafts, borrow the rafts to cross the river, cross the river to get Dao, and get Dao to fuse methods.

Thinking in this way, his mind instantly became empty and clear.

In his mind, various array patterns and sword qi ran rampant, each doing their own thing, but their sources vaguely had an interwoven posture.

Mo Hua's spirit was lifted. He again activated Heavenly Mechanism Derive Calculation and Strange Calculation, constantly deriving the embedded trajectories of Array Dao and Sword Dao in his mind, seeking that sliver of an opportunity for fusion.

He didn't know how long had passed. Mo Hua thought, derived, and tried countless times, finally grasping that fleeting opportunity.

This sliver of opportunity was like a key, opening a door to the great Dao.

Mo Hua used "Sword Array" as a medium and began a preliminary attempt to fuse Array Dao and Sword Dao.

His Divine Thought Transform Sword also began to be restructured little by little from the bottom...

After a long time, Mo Hua opened his eyes.

In his eyes, there was sword light flowing, and within this sword light, array patterns actually appeared. The two phases interwoven, as if they were one body.

Mo Hua slowly stretched out his palm.

Strand by strand of Divine Thought condensed in his hand, forming the Broken Gold Sword Array. Then, with the sword patterns as the blade and the sword hub as the bone, it gradually manifested as a Divine Thought sword.

This Divine Thought sword was a complete long sword, no longer the crude appearance from before. Moreover, it flowed with golden light, and its sword qi was terrifyingly sharp.

This was a complete Divine Thought Transform Sword!

Moreover, it contained the "Broken Gold Sword Array," a Divine Thought sword constructed with Array Dao as the foundation.

Just looking at it, one felt the golden light dazzling and extremely bright.

The Tai Xu Divine Thought Transform Sword, the sword formula was the same.

But different sword cultivators cultivating the same Transform Sword True Formula would manifest different Divine Thought swords, each showing their own Sword Dao.

And Mo Hua's Divine Thought sword was even more completely unique.

Because within this sword, he had fused his own "Array Dao."

This was a Divine Thought manifest "Array Dao sword"!

Mo Hua was overjoyed.

A few days later, in the Sword Tomb.

Du Gu Old Ancestor looked at the golden color in Mo Hua's eyes, involuntarily somewhat dazed.

"He actually... figured it out?"

"And, only seven days have passed..."

Seven days...

Du Gu Old Ancestor's gaze trembled slightly.

Once it involved Array Dao, this child's comprehension was actually terrifying to this extent...

Du Gu Old Ancestor found it a little hard to believe. At the same time, that sliver of hope in his heart, like a candle flickering in the wind, also burned fiercely.

Du Gu Old Ancestor pointed out a few more things to Mo Hua, pointing out some deficiencies and letting Mo Hua ponder them himself.

After that, he sent the excited Mo Hua away.

After Mo Hua left, in the Sword Tomb, only Du Gu Old Ancestor remained.

He sat silently, like a proud but broken broken sword.

He didn't know how long had passed. His expression was resolute, and he slowly murmured:

"Junior brother, I'm sorry..."

"This body of ability, I can only pass it on to this child. Even if he will therefore walk a road of no return, like me, entangled by evil spirits throughout his life, demons disturbing his heart, a lifetime with hardly a moment of peace..."

"But, only he, truly, can pass it on..."

"If it's not passed on, then there will never be an opportunity..."

Du Gu Old Ancestor looked up and sighed deeply.

The cold moonlight shone down. His face, in the light and shadow, gradually dissipated his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, as if he were a "faceless" heavenly demon without desires, thoughts, good, or evil...