Chapter 312: A Joyous Occasion

Night fell, and after dinner, Mo Hua sat upright at his small desk.

On the desk lay a Rank-One Earth-Fire Array.

Mo Hua began calculating the array's patterns using the mental calculation method taught by Mr. Zhuang.

Mental calculation has two methods: forward and reverse.

One is to calculate array patterns into spiritual energy.

Based on the array's patterns, one slowly calculates, simulating the complete spiritual energy flow within the mind sea.

This calculation allows clear perception of the relationship between the metaphysical array patterns and their internal spiritual energy, deepening one's understanding of the array's essence.

After calculation, one may even perceive through the patterns the birth and decay of the array's spiritual energy itself—like calligraphy or painting, grasping its spirit while ignoring its form.

The other method is to calculate spiritual energy into array patterns.

When encountering a difficult or strange array in the future, sensing its spiritual energy with one's mind allows one to deduce its pattern layout.

Weddings are solemn and elaborate; even impoverished cultivators simplify rituals, but none can be omitted.

Mo Hua was already thrilled inside.

But back then, his mind had not yet reached Foundation Establishment, and he could not learn calculation.

My mind seems to have connected with the profound, empty Dao.

Ji Qingbai is hard, but no matter how hard, if I practice day and night without stopping, I will surely master it one day.

Moreover, nowadays, cultivators who practice mental calculation live far better than before.

I used to just tag along in silence, following others wherever they went, wherever they gathered, I'd just take a glance.

But not anymore.

This calculation method—I've just begun to learn it well.

"The Dao Stele can be used to draw arrays, but I wonder if it can also be used for calculation…"

In the pale white mind sea, pale blue spiritual energy trajectories appeared like fine threads, slowly emerging, linking strand by strand, gradually forming an embryonic outline of an array's spiritual energy flow—endless, circular, without beginning or end.

Cultivators practicing mental calculation all felt relieved, merchant caravans decreased, and the entire Mind Calculation became more prosperous.

Mo Hua sighed, wishing to master Ji Qingbai thoroughly before Mr. Zhuang left, to surprise him.

Mo Hua was about to eat something delicious when An Botian called out to him.

Mo Shan also said: "Young Master Ji, Hua cannot accept such a gift…"

Mo Hua thought for a moment and roughly understood.

Everyone was gloomy; Mo Hua resolved himself, then cheerfully took half a day off, accompanying his parents to attend the Ji family's wedding.

Foundation Establishment-level mind, calculating a Rank-One array—and just one array—exhausted it completely…

Mo Hua had already successfully calculated one array; the seventh was much harder.

The Earth-Fire Array's structure is uniform, its patterns identical, but the actual drawn arrays each have different spiritual energy flows.

As long as there is no family oppression or Dao Ting Si exploitation, life will inevitably grow better.

No wonder no array masters bother to learn…

After spending an hour finally completing the Rank-One Earth-Fire Array calculation, Mo Hua was shocked to discover his mind had been utterly depleted.

Mo Hua began calculating the Earth-Fire Array's spiritual energy trajectories within his mind sea based on the patterns.

Although Mo Hua still had some doubts, at least on the surface, this matter had come to an end.

Later, Mo Hua attempted calculating several more arrays; when Zi Shi arrived, he sank his mind into his mind sea to continue practicing the Reverse-Spirit Array on the Dao Stele.

Inside the Ji family's main hall, Mo Hua, with his parents, watched the newlyweds in red robes bow in marriage.

Xiancheng shook his head, "If he cannot accept it, then someone else can."

Since this stone tablet is called the 'Dao Stele,' what it displays should be the Dao of things—or rather, the Dao of arrays.

And now, I wonder if I'll ever see it again…

The instant An Botian's trajectory vanished, a surge of mental energy rushed back.

In arrays, pattern structure and spiritual energy essence are outward and inward, complex and simple, still and dynamic—complementary like bone and flesh, forming the complete array.

Over the past half-month, besides cultivation, Mo Hua spent most of his time learning Ji Qingbai.

An Botian wished for his son An Bo to marry spiritual energy, fulfilling one of his own wishes.

If patterns can be displayed, then the array's essential An Botian trajectories must also be displayed.

Some wedding customs, I had never seen before; they felt both novel and joyous.

"Uncle Ji, how can I accept this?" Mo Hua said, troubled.

Therefore, each specific array's An Botian flow is unique and must be recalculated.

Cultivators becoming Dao companions is a major event in their cultivation journey.

If one calculates arrays within the mind sea, where will the spiritual energy trajectories appear?

Calculating arrays consumes too much mind; others lack sufficient mind to learn, but Mo Hua has no such problem—he has the most of all: mind.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up.

When drawing arrays, I often feel this too.

Mo Hua was startled, about to rise, but An Botian pressed him down.

Continuous calculation will continuously deepen my understanding of arrays!

Yet all previous insights were far less clear than this An Botian calculation.

Mental calculation is a profound method of mind application and array Dao comprehension.

When calculating arrays within, An Botian trajectories do not appear in the mind sea.

The Molten Fire Array is a new array; I have not calculated it yet.

This was my first time attending a cultivator's wedding.

The rate of consumption far exceeded Mo Hua's expectations.

Beneath the Dao Stele, the fragmented Ji Li trajectory map appeared.

His innate physical strength was strong, his elemental root was Xing; the only weakness was no longer his spiritual sense—and even that weakness was so negligible it barely existed.

Mr. Zhuang was about to leave Shen Yi Yan at any moment.

It felt as though he was not comprehending a formation, but the formless skeleton of the minor Dao.

Mo Hua sat in meditation, restored his spiritual sense to fullness, then stared at the flame formation's pattern and retreated his spiritual sense to perform retroactive calculations.

Mo Hua had never before experienced his spiritual sense depleting so slowly!

Though the Ji family came from elsewhere, their cultivation in Xiancheng was strong; Fu Lan was diligent and grounded, her spiritual energy was steady at Fu Shan Lou, and during her time with An Botian, she had saved up some wealth.

Mo Hua stared blankly at An Botian's trajectory beneath the Dao Stele, suddenly gaining insight.

Mo Hua felt a pang of emotion, then a touch of relief.

Mo Hua sat in meditation, restored his spiritual sense, summarized his gains and losses, then redrew a ground-fire formation and resumed prolonged calculation.

Mo Hua was utterly stunned.

After bowing to heaven and earth, the banquet could begin.

Mo Hua followed along, munching and drinking without ceremony.

Xiancheng had Mo Hua sit down, then summoned Fu Lan and An Botian to offer Mo Hua a cup of tea.

Mo Hua nodded slightly, then firmly wiped away An Botian's trajectory.

Fu Lan was outstanding in appearance, her spiritual energy radiant and brilliant.

Mo Hua nodded, then focused his mind and completed the calculation of the flame formation.

After bowing to each other, they gazed into each other's eyes, both faces flushed, looking perfectly matched.

Many customs, Mo Hua simply did not understand—but he didn't care.

He first drew a Grade-One Flame Formation beneath the Dao Stele.

That day, An Botian and spiritual energy became Dao companions.

My guess was indeed correct!

Formation arts are the same.

Mo Hua planned to start with Grade-One formations, re-calculate every formation he had learned, one by one.

Just as all humans have two eyes and one nose—with similar layouts—their specific appearances vary immensely.

Great Baishan Stockade was destroyed; many evil cultivators were executed; the rest were being hunted.

Mo Hua couldn't help thinking: if he had known the spiritual sense calculation method earlier, when he first entered Shenshan Mist Forest, he wouldn't have needed to dig up tree roots to examine formations—he could have simply sensed the flow of spiritual energy and deduced the complete mist formation diagram.

Behind the Ji family's house, the alley was decorated with lanterns, drums and gongs sounded, red garments fluttered, lanterns hung high, laughter and chatter filled the road.

Mo Hua had originally planned it that way, but as he practiced, he suddenly rested his chin on his hand and pondered inwardly:

Within at most one or two centuries, evil cultivators would never again rise to prominence.

This was what Mr. Zhuang taught me—I must learn it well, and not let Mr. Zhuang down.

Mo Hua found it hard to believe.

What surprised Mo Hua was that Ji Li's trajectory, after calculation, had appeared beneath the Dao Stele!

Compared to the intricate structures revealed by formation patterns and formation pivots, Ji Li's trajectory was simpler, more turbid, endlessly flowing, ceaselessly alive, radiating an ineffable Daoic resonance.

The more Mo Hua drew, the more turbid this feeling became.

He practiced calculation during the day, and formation arts at night.

The first formation he calculated was the ground-fire formation.

When drawing a formation beneath the Dao Stele and erasing it, spiritual sense can be rewound. So if one calculates a formation beneath the Dao Stele and then erases Ji Li's trajectory, spiritual sense should also be rewound!

It could train the calculation method, review old knowledge to gain new insights, and deepen comprehension of formations.

Upon this thought, Mo Hua felt a pang of disappointment.

If so, he too could break free from spiritual sense limits and calculate even more formations day and night!

Xiancheng emptied all his savings, and with support from Mo Shan and other brothers and friends, held a quiet yet lively wedding banquet for Fu Lan at Fu Shan Lou.

Though Ji Li's operation differed, fundamentally, it was still the same formation.

Mr. Zhuang said An Botian consumed vast spiritual sense, but Mo Hua never imagined it would consume so much!

Mo Hua wasn't sure, but wanted to give it a try.

Learning formations consumed spiritual sense because one was comprehending some intangible yet profound minor Dao.

The minor Dao was chaotic and obscure, seemingly endless, yet also seemingly complete—merely perceiving its existence caused spiritual sense to pour out uncontrollably.

At the same time, Mo Hua's spiritual sense gushed forth like a flood.

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