Chapter 375

A few days later, Mo Hua and the others arrived at Shangtai City.

Shangtai City was only a small Xiancheng, even smaller than Tongxian City, with few Foundation Establishment cultivators within its walls.

The streets were not bustling; the cultivators passing by wore shabby clothes and bore weary, sorrowful faces.

Mo Hua sighed faintly.

It seemed not only the lone cultivators of Tongxian City suffered—most lone cultivators across the realm shared the same plight.

And their hardships might even surpass those of Tongxian City.

The group entered the city and found an inn to rest.

Mr. Zhuang kept Mo Hua aside to speak with him alone.

Mo Hua sat respectfully on a small stool, listening intently to Mr. Zhuang's words.

Mr. Zhuang asked gently, "During this journey, do you know what you must do?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded, "You are different from ordinary people, and different from ordinary array masters—you cultivate the Great Expansion Scripture, whose bottleneck lies in array techniques."

"Your Dao… is it the Divine Sense?"

Though Mo Hua knew it was no small thing, he was so stunned he could not speak.

"He has practiced eleven-line small arrays, but has never had the chance to actually draw one—its significance is immense…"

"Without advancing your cultivation, you cannot break through your realm, and without breaking through, you cannot learn higher-grade arrays…"

When the Divine Sense reaches its ultimate extreme, that is true terror.

"You are currently at eleven lines; practicing the Reverse Spirit Array at ten lines has already increased your Divine Sense considerably."

Mr. Zhuang's expression turned solemn.

"If you reach Foundation Establishment mid-stage with Divine Sense exceeding eighteen lines, once you establish your Foundation, before your Divine Sense doubles, you may directly enter Foundation Establishment early-stage!"

The cost of constructing great arrays is too high, the risk too great; within an entire province, only a handful of factions can even afford to build them.

"Besides, even if you learn them, how will you construct a great array?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded, "The supreme arrays of heaven are out of reach for other array masters, but for you, they are mandatory— you can learn them, and you must learn them."

"Most cultivators neglect their foundations, chasing only rapid advancement, recklessly establishing their Foundation, leaving their roots insufficient—though they may shine briefly, they soon vanish into obscurity. Thus, merely establishing the Foundation is not enough; you must choose your Dao well, lay its foundation, then forge your Dao Base."

"Your eleven-line Divine Sense is weaker than that of a newly established Foundation cultivator, even weaker than some shallow Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivators."

Xiang Bibo's gaze sharpened, and he said urgently:

Mr. Zhuang paused, then added:

Mr. Zhuang nodded, "Your physical body and spiritual roots' disadvantages are hard to overcome, and you can never compare with these heavenly prodigies—but your Divine Sense has the potential to leave all your peers far behind…"

"I remember," Mo Hua nodded.

Mo Hua had originally wanted to learn more difficult arrays, but after a moment's thought, he still asked hesitantly:

Very few array masters can do this.

To possess Divine Sense comparable to Foundation Establishment early-stage upon first establishing the Foundation.

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua with deep eyes and said:

Mr. Zhuang said, "Do you remember the supreme arrays I told you about?"

Mo Hua felt a touch of disappointment.

Divine Sense without limit reigns over all—it is a terrifying force capable of making all creation bow in trembling submission.

As Mr. Zhuang spoke, he himself felt a tremor within.

"After establishing the Foundation, fall behind a little; before establishing it, fall behind much more—and the farther you advance, the greater the gap becomes."

Mo Hua thought for a moment and replied:

"More importantly, the arrays you must learn are far more profound than those others learn—without mastering these, you cannot unravel mystery arrays or break through your bottleneck…"

Moreover, the Divine Sense Mo Hua gained from practicing arrays seemed greater than that of other array masters.

Mo Hua's eyes lit up immediately, "Can I learn seventh-grade arrays?"

Mo Hua paused, then realized it was indeed true.

"The stronger your Divine Sense, the better you learn arrays; the better you learn arrays, the smoother your cultivation becomes, and the farther you walk the path to immortality…"

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly, "In fact, your current Divine Sense and array proficiency are already sufficient for Foundation Establishment."

Mo Hua remembered what Mr. Zhuang had said about proving the Dao through Divine Sense.

"Moreover, drawing the core of a great array takes too long—it is inefficient for refining Divine Sense."

That is the true supreme prodigy.

If he wishes to become a great array master, he must become a great cultivator; if he wishes to become a great cultivator, he must become a great array master.

"So you must seek out eleven-line, or even higher, supreme arrays to study—both to deepen your understanding of arrays and to use them to further refine your Divine Sense."

Nor will they trust Mo Hua to serve as the main array master of a great array.

Mo Hua nodded; he had long anticipated these things.

Mr. Zhuang explained, "The spiritual energy structure of seventh-grade arrays is entirely different from first-grade ones—without reaching Foundation Establishment and possessing seventh-grade spiritual energy as fluid as mercury, you cannot learn seventh-grade arrays."

"If you cannot master arrays, you cannot unravel mystery arrays, cannot break through your bottleneck, and your cultivation cannot advance."

"In the future, use boundless Divine Sense to prove your own Dao!"

Even without a great array, if one were to build one, they would not seek Mo Hua as the main array master.

Mo Hua carries opportunities invisible even to me.

"But… what arrays should I learn?" Mo Hua asked, puzzled.

Those factions either have already built great arrays.

"That is why I require you to strengthen your Divine Sense to its utmost after establishing your Foundation."

Xiang Bibo said, "In other words, your current Divine Sense is, in fact, eleven lines."

So as long as he keeps practicing formation arrays, especially low-rank ones that consume little spiritual sense, Mo Hua's spiritual sense will continue to grow.

I asked with a hint of anticipation:

"Therefore, he must refine his spiritual sense to its extreme."

"Correct," Mr. Zhuang said gravely. "At the late Foundation Establishment realm, spiritual sense ranges from ten to eighteen patterns; below eighteen patterns is Foundation Establishment mid-stage."

"The Seven-Line Demon-Slaying Small Array is a first-rank, eleven-pattern small array." Mr. Zhuang continued.

Mo Hua blinked in surprise, then inwardly thought: Just as I expected.

Mo Hua blinked his eyes. "Is it because my spiritual sense isn't strong enough…?"

"And what else?"

"Below eighteen patterns…"

Mr. Zhuang changed topic again: "... but Foundation Establishment alone is not enough."

"Hmm…" Mo Hua pondered, then said, "Foundation Establishment?"

I had long suspected Mr. Zhuang had deceived me…

Xiang Bi Bo smiled faintly:

"Arrays below first-rank four patterns, outside the Dao Court's standards, requiring spiritual sense beyond rank and formation knowledge beyond curriculum, are called Absolute Arrays."

Mo Hua's expression brightened.

This matter, other formation masters cannot do—but Xiang Bi Bo knows Mo Hua can.

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Compared to cultivators of the same realm, your spiritual sense is already quite strong—but still not strong enough."

They could not possibly doubt that Mo Hua, an eighteen-year-old great formation master, was the main arrayist.

"So you… still study great arrays?"

It's not exactly deception—more like withholding the truth, not telling me outright.

"Master, after I reach Foundation Establishment, what will you do? Keep studying formation arrays?" Mo Hua asked.

Mo Hua scratched his head. "Then what else can I study?"

"Had Wu Xiaoyao not appeared, had Xiancheng not been on the brink of ruin, and had we not all trusted you and been willing to unite with you, you could never have established the Seven-Line Demon-Slaying Small Array."

"Foundation Establishment is the first major realm breakthrough. Before the breakthrough, the body undergoes a profound transformation, and spiritual sense doubles."

Mr. Zhuang came back to himself, his eyes flickering slightly. "Same old method—the clumsy one… draw formation arrays."

Spiritual sense seems obscure, unlike qi or blood qi, which are direct and potent—but that's only because other cultivators' spiritual sense isn't strong enough.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then nodded:

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Correct."

As if, in some unseen way, he had glimpsed something.

Mo Hua opened his mouth wide. "Below eighteen patterns… is Foundation Establishment mid-stage?"

Contemplate formations, hone spiritual sense.

"The only bottleneck of the Great Expansion Scripture is formations; the key to formations lies in spiritual sense…"

Mo Hua asked doubtfully: "How strong must it be to count as 'strong enough'?"

Mo Hua has practiced drawing arrays far fewer times than other formation masters—far, far fewer. He certainly hasn't been practicing day and night.

I've learned the Reverse Qi Array of first-rank ten patterns. I've also learned the Seven-Line Demon-Slaying Small Array.

"Study formations?"

"Where are there so many great arrays for you to learn? First-rank great arrays are rare to begin with, and most are secret transmissions—I don't even have many myself…"

"Your formations and your cultivation are one and the same."

"Then how can I strengthen my spiritual sense to surpass eighteen patterns…"

"The manpower and material resources required for great arrays are immense."

Mr. Zhuang saw through Mo Hua's thoughts and shook his head with a smile. "No…."

"Do you remember what I told you about spiritual sense and Foundation Establishment?"

"Master, if you don't study Absolute Arrays, can't you still reach Foundation Establishment…?"

"Therefore, after Foundation Establishment, you must shatter your foundation."