Chapter 388: Drawing Near to the Dao

Mo Hua had another question:

"But, Master, isn't land unsuitable as a matrix medium?"

Most array masters never use land as a matrix medium.

Because land's texture is either too soft or too damp, and due to drying and weathering, it easily erodes, making it hard to maintain a stable form over time—unsuitable for bearing array patterns.

Mr. Zhuang corrected him: "It's not that land is unsuitable as a matrix medium, but that most array masters cannot use it as one."

"What they cannot do, they cannot understand; over time, most array masters come to believe land is unsuitable as a matrix medium."

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then spoke softly:

"Then how does land bear array patterns?"

He still didn't fully understand.

"What, fundamentally, is an array pattern?" Mr. Zhuang asked.

"It's the physical manifestation of spiritual energy flow," Mo Hua answered.

He had studied spiritual perception calculations, drawn grand arrays, and controlled the flow of spiritual energy within array patterns via their array pivots—so his understanding ran deep.

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Do you remember what I told you? Some array masters merely follow diagrams, drawing array patterns rigidly, not daring to add or subtract a single stroke—yet the arrays they draw still have no effect."

"Because they possess only form, lacking the inner flow of spiritual energy; thus, the arrays they draw are hollow shells."

"But some array masters, unbound by rigid forms, draw freely—and their arrays arise naturally, as if born of heaven."

"This is because such array masters communicate with the Dao through spiritual perception, using array patterns to control spiritual energy flow—not mechanically drawing patterns."

Mo Hua suddenly understood, momentarily lost in thought.

Mr. Zhuang smiled. "Understood?"

Mo Hua frowned, pondering:

"A matrix medium must bear array patterns, but what it truly bears is not the patterns themselves, but the spiritual energy the patterns connect to."

"Abandon the form, seek the origin."

"Array patterns are merely the surface appearance of an array; the inner flow of spiritual energy is its essence."

"Therefore, when using 'land' as a matrix medium, what land must bear is not the surface pattern, but the inner spiritual energy."

"As long as the array's spiritual energy harmonizes with the earth, and the array patterns become one with the land, then even if the land dries, moistens, or weathers, the array remains intact."

The more Mo Hua spoke, the clearer his thoughts became, his eyes gleaming brightly.

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua and silently sighed within:

"One hint, and he understands—that's array talent… and also… affinity with the Dao…"

"Master, is that right?"

Mo Hua asked, eyes alight.

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Correct."

Mo Hua smiled happily, then hesitated again:

"This principle should be known by many array masters—why have I never seen others use 'land' as a matrix medium?"

Mo Hua added quickly: "... except the Sun Clan's Ancestor."

Mr. Zhuang said: "The principle is clear, but putting it into practice is an entirely different matter."

"Is it that difficult?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Even if you understand these principles, then what? How do you make land bear spiritual energy? How do you make array patterns become one with the earth? How do you draw the array? What array do you draw?"

"The principles are easy to explain, but putting them into practice is fraught with difficulty—so much so that one doesn't even know where to begin."

Mo Hua nodded, lost in thought; after a moment, his eyes lit up again:

"So the key is this Thick Earth Array?"

Mr. Zhuang raised an eyebrow, urging him to continue.

Mo Hua continued thinking:

"This Thick Earth Array, since it embodies 'Vast Virtue Bears All Things,' contains the Dao of Earth—and is itself an array that uses 'land' as its matrix medium."

"Conversely, studying this array is studying how to use 'land' as a matrix medium; comprehending the array is comprehending the Dao of 'Vast Virtue Bears All Things.'"

"Once you master the array and comprehend the Dao, you will naturally make the earth bear spiritual energy and make array patterns one with the land."

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly. "Well said."

Mo Hua smiled shyly. "Master teaches well!"

Mr. Zhuang gave a faint chuckle, shook his head, then spoke slowly:

"Cultivators seeking the Dao rely solely on insight, which often becomes ethereal, superficial, lacking substance."

"But arrays are the manifestation of Heaven's Dao—the bridge connecting cultivators with the formless Dao."

"By contemplating and applying arrays, balancing the real and the abstract, one can truly comprehend the Dao."

"Array masters exhaust arrays, drawing near to the Dao—only when they attain the Dao can they achieve immortality…"

Mr. Zhuang looked at Mo Hua, his gaze deep and full of expectation.

"Exhaust arrays, draw near to the Dao…"

Mo Hua silently repeated it, his eyes clear, his expression growing firmer.

He nodded solemnly and bowed deeply:

"Master, your disciple remembers!"

After speaking, Mr. Zhuang's once-deep gaze grew lazy again; he waved his hand.

"Study the Thick Earth Array more. See how much you can comprehend. Come find me if you have questions."

"Yes!"

Mo Hua ran off again to practice arrays.

In the courtyard, the mountain wind blew through.

Old Kui appeared silently behind Mr. Zhuang, frowning: "Are you really going to teach him something this advanced?"

"He can learn it—why not teach it?"

Mr. Zhuang thought for a moment, then sighed:

"I only wanted him to try finding the array, to train his computational methods. I planned to reveal the truth only after he failed completely."

"I never expected he'd actually find it himself."

"He even deduced the array diagram…"

"These things are difficult, but since he can learn them, there's no reason not to teach him."

"Time is short—I want to teach him more."

Old Kui raised an eyebrow. "You've already planned it all out?"

"Not exactly," Mr. Zhuang shook his head. "It was just serendipity. Before I came, I never imagined the Earth Sect's ultimate array would be hidden here."

Mr. Zhuang's gaze shifted slightly. "I don't know whether it's my luck—or Mo Hua's fortune."

The Earth Sect's ultimate array was no ordinary array.

Old Kui frowned. "Which branch of the Earth Sect has the surname Sun?"

"It's just a surname—a label, nothing more," Mr. Zhuang said coolly.

Old Kui nodded, lifting his eyes to the endless spirit fields, deeply moved:

"Though it doesn't reach heaven, it penetrates the earth—such mastery of arrays, even if only second-rank, must belong to someone extraordinary."

"Yet such a person died with a shattered soul sea…"

Mr. Zhuang's gaze also sharpened slightly, but he said nothing.

Old Kui glanced again at Mr. Zhuang. "Will Mo Hua get into trouble for learning this ultimate array?"

Mr. Zhuang shrugged. "What trouble could there be?"

"This is the Earth Sect's secret transmission."

Mr. Zhuang snorted. "If they can't learn it, do they have the right to stop others from learning?"

"Besides, it's not stolen or robbed—meat lands right in front of you. Why not eat it? Heaven offers, and you refuse—you invite misfortune." Mr. Zhuang spoke with conviction.

"What if the Earth Sect comes looking for trouble?"

"Don't worry—I've already thought of a solution."

Old Kui was skeptical. "Is it a legitimate solution?"

"As long as it works, who cares if it's legitimate?" Mr. Zhuang remained calm. "Besides, the Earth Sect is in Kunzhou—Kunzhou is tens of thousands of miles away. They might never even cross paths."

Old Kui said coolly, "As long as you know what you're doing."

The courtyard fell silent; the two men said nothing.

After a moment, Old Kui spoke again:

"They're coming."

Mr. Zhuang wasn't surprised. "With all the commotion in Xiancheng, if the Grand Elder still can't calculate it, he might as well retire and go home to grow old."

"What will you do?" Old Kui asked.

Mr. Zhuang lay back in his bamboo chair, watching the clouds shift, and said calmly:

"Nothing. Do what must be done."

"Aren't you afraid they'll catch up?"

"They can calculate—I can too. Every time I calculate one step ahead, it'll take them at least one or two years to catch me."

"What about that sinister Daoist? He won't let you go either," Old Kui said.

Mr. Zhuang smiled faintly. "He never intended to let me go."

"He has more cunning than you, and he's fallen into demonic cultivation—he's sealed the title 'Daoist,' completed the Great Demon Seed Dao-Heart technique, and his methods are now utterly unrestrained," Old Kui said flatly.

"After all these years, the grudges between our sects must be settled," Mr. Zhuang said.

Old Kui sneered. "How will you settle it? When you meet him, you'll die a hundred deaths with no chance of survival…"

Old Kui was about to say more, but Mr. Zhuang cut him off.

"Don't worry…"

Mr. Zhuang gazed at the sky, his eyes distant and sorrowful:

"I've planned everything."

His face showed no sorrow, no joy; his gaze was calm, beyond life and death.

Thank you to Hanhai Xiaoyao Shusheng, Xiao Feng Yue Jing Wusheng, fanvc, and ken-hg for their tips.

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