Chapter 441: Spirit Pivot Array

"Instructor Yan, what exactly does the Spirit Pivot Array look like?"

Mo Hua couldn't help but ask.

Instructor Yan was about to answer, then suddenly paused. "How do you know about the Spirit Pivot Array?"

Instructor Yan was a little puzzled.

The Spirit Pivot Array diagram should have been the Little Ye Lingyin Sect's ultimate secret—how did Mo Hua come to know of it?

"Steward Mo told me!"

Mo Hua immediately sold out Steward Mo.

The corner of Instructor Yan's mouth twitched.

In his heart, he noted one more mark against Steward Mo.

This fat junior brother had such a loose lip—something this important, and he actually told Mo Hua.

"Instructor Yan, can you tell me?"

Mo Hua's expression was expectant, his big eyes blinking.

Instructor Yan originally didn't want to say, but looking at Mo Hua's eyes, he couldn't refuse. After a moment's hesitation, he couldn't help but sigh deeply.

The Little Ye Lingyin Sect had already been destroyed; keeping these things to himself had no meaning.

"Fine." Instructor Yan nodded, looked at Mo Hua, and began to speak of the origins of the Spirit Pivot Array:

"When I was studying at the sect back then, I was rather valued by my master, and from the bits and pieces of our casual chats, I heard some past affairs and secrets…"

"The Little Ye Lingyin Sect's inheritance came from the Great Ye Lingyin Sect of former years."

"Most of the inheritances within the sect were left behind by predecessors, incomplete—just fragments here and there, and not considered rare…"

"Only this Spirit Pivot Array was extremely profound, unusually deep and difficult—a true array that could serve to anchor the sect."

"But this Spirit Pivot Array was also too profound, too deep and difficult. For several hundred years, not a single cultivator of the Little Ye Lingyin Sect had been able to penetrate it."

Instructor Yan sighed. "A first-grade array caps at nine patterns, yet this Spirit Pivot Array has a full twelve patterns…"

"Twelve-pattern divine sense—only Foundation Establishment can reach it, and only a second-grade array master can possibly possess it!"

Mo Hua, at Qi Refining eighth layer with twelve-pattern divine sense, silently said nothing.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then asked:

"Did the Little Ye Lingyin Sect ever produce a second-grade array master?"

"Yes." Instructor Yan nodded. "Two hundred years ago, there was one patriarch—mid Foundation Establishment cultivation, with attainments at the initial stage of second-grade arrays."

"He didn't learn the Spirit Pivot Array either?"

Instructor Yan shook his head, regretfully saying: "No."

Mo Hua furrowed his brow, puzzled:

"A mid Foundation Establishment cultivator should have around fourteen-pattern divine sense, right? Even so, he couldn't learn the Spirit Pivot Array? Is the Spirit Pivot Array really that hard to learn?"

"It's not that simple…"

Instructor Yan gathered his thoughts and explained to Mo Hua:

"For an array master, divine sense is a threshold, a reliance, but that's all it is."

"Without enough divine sense, one cannot learn arrays."

"Having divine sense only gives one the qualification to learn arrays—it doesn't necessarily mean one will definitely learn them."

"One must also study more, practice more, think more, comprehend more…"

"Without effort, no matter how good one's divine sense talent, one can only waste the years, squander one's gifts, and never become an extraordinary array master."

Mo Hua nodded.

Mr. Zhuang had taught him the same thing.

Instructor Yan's gaze sharpened, and he continued with a sigh:

"And the Spirit Pivot Array is precisely this kind of array—even with enough divine sense, it is extremely hard to comprehend…"

Mo Hua said: "Because it involves comprehending the Dao and the origin of spiritual power?"

Instructor Yan looked surprised, and nodded:

"Exactly."

Then he felt a surge of emotion:

"Mr. Zhuang is indeed a master. This child Mo Hua, at such a young age, already knows these deep-level array comprehensions."

It seemed his choice back then had not been wrong; otherwise, such a fine array seedling would truly have been wasted.

Mo Hua asked again: "Then was that second-grade patriarch of the Little Ye Lingyin Sect unable to learn the Spirit Pivot Array because he failed to comprehend its great Dao and origin?"

Instructor Yan nodded, bitterly saying:

"Yes. The patriarch probably knew what the origin of the Spirit Pivot Array was, but he simply couldn't comprehend it, let alone draw the Spirit Pivot Array…"

"Sometimes, even when he did draw it, it had only Chen Xinghai, no spirit, and no effect at all."

Mo Hua nodded to show his understanding.

When he had first learned the Thick Earth Array, he hadn't known he needed to commune with the Dao essence of the earth, and the array he drew had only the formal array patterns, without the effect of the array's origin.

It was like a pattern that had lost its spirit.

"Then what exactly is the effect of this Spirit Pivot Array?" Mo Hua asked curiously.

Instructor Yan said: "The specifics—since no one in the sect ever learned it, I'm not entirely clear either…"

"But according to the sect patriarch's comprehension, the core of this array should be a single word: 'control.'"

"Control?"

Instructor Yan nodded. "Control of spiritual power."

Mo Hua thought of Zhang Quan, who controlled corpses.

It seemed his guess was right—this Zhang Quan first forged corpses, then used the Ling Shu Array to increase the number of corpses he controlled.

But…

"This… doesn't seem that powerful…" Mo Hua said weakly.

It's merely the effect of spiritual energy control.

Zhang Quan uses it to forge corpses; though he controls many zombies and the harm is great, it's not truly something to fear.

If it came to actual combat, there are still many ways to counter it.

"No," Yan Jiaxi looked solemn, "the Ling Shu Array is actually extremely powerful."

Mo Hua blinked in surprise.

Yan Jiaxi explained to Mo Hua:

"Spiritual energy control is extremely important—controlling corpses is merely a minor path."

"In other Dao cultivation, whether small constructs like wooden or stone golems, large mechanical beasts, or even Daoist war machines, all require arrays like the Ling Shu Array for central control."

"Ordinary arrays lack such potent spiritual energy control."

"For a single cultivator, this array's effect isn't obvious—but the more cultivators involved, the greater the power, the deeper the ambition, the larger the mechanical, instrumental, or Daoist engineering projects, the more crucial the Ling Shu Array becomes!"

Mo Hua was stunned upon hearing this.

He realized how shallow his understanding had been.

The cultivation world was vast and boundless; indeed, there were still many Daoist truths he had never known.

The Ling Shu Array was this powerful…

"Yan Jiaxi, do you know Zhang Quan?" Mo Hua asked involuntarily.

Yan Jiaxi's expression turned sharp. "Have you met him?"

"Mm." Mo Hua nodded.

Yan Jiaxi frowned. "This man is treacherous and cruel—better not cross him."

Mo Hua whispered:

"It's already too late—he probably dreams of killing me every night…"

Yan Jiaxi's mouth opened wide. "You… what did you do to him?"

Mo Hua thought for a moment. "I didn't do much—mainly, he's narrow-minded and holds grudges."

I just tried to capture him, failed; tried to steal his bell, failed; ended up taking a few corpses.

And I did it with the help of my senior brothers and sisters.

Yet Zhang Quan picks the softest targets—he doesn't resent my senior brothers and sisters, only me.

Mo Hua grumbled inwardly.

Yan Jiaxi didn't know what to say.

Zhang Quan is Foundation Establishment, a corpse cultivator, constantly dealing with corpses, his hands stained with countless lives.

And now Mo Hua had drawn his hatred…

Yan Jiaxi was deeply worried.

Mo Hua whispered quietly: "Yan Jiaxi, is the Ling Shu Array on Zhang Quan himself?"

Yan Jiaxi blinked slightly, then slowly nodded.

"That's what I suspected too…"

Mo Hua nodded, then remembered something and asked:

"Yan Jiaxi, how did you end up in the Walking Corpse Village?"

Yan Jiaxi's expression turned sorrowful; after a moment's thought, he spoke slowly:

"Two years ago, I arrived in Nan Yue City, searching for that traitor who betrayed his master and destroyed his sect…"

"But there was no trace of that traitor in Nan Yue City."

"I concealed my identity and inquired for a long time, finding nothing—just as I was about to leave, I noticed something suspicious about the mine. I thought the traitor was behind it, so I rented a room near the mine to investigate."

"One night, I heard noises, slipped out quietly, and after much trouble, discovered several cultivators transporting coffins near the mine…"

"I was careful enough—but I never expected one of them was a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Was it Zhang Quan?" Mo Hua asked.

"Mm." Yan Jiaxi nodded, then looked ashamed. "I focused only on arrays—I was weak in Dao techniques, no match for them at all, and couldn't escape. I was captured."

"Zhang Quan searched my storage bag, saw I was an array master, and forced me to work for them."

"I didn't want to aid evil—but my sect's deep vengeance compelled me—I had to…"

Yan Jiaxi's expression was filled with shame. "…I had to compromise, enter this Walking Corpse Village, and draw arrays for them."

Mo Hua asked: "Have you ever seen the Ling Shu Array diagram on Zhang Quan himself?"

Yan Jiaxi sighed. "I haven't seen it…"

"I suspect the corpses he forges bear the Ling Shu Array—but Zhang Quan never lets me draw arrays on corpses, nor lets me near those walking corpses…"

Mo Hua said: "Is he afraid something secret will be exposed?"

Yan Jiaxi nodded. "Very likely."

Mo Hua rested his chin on his hand, pondering for a while.

Zhang Quan's secrets are still numerous—he must be figured out.

The Ling Shu Array diagram is extremely important—it must be obtained.

This Walking Corpse Village kills people and forges corpses—it must be destroyed.

Mo Hua planned his next moves, then said:

"Yan Jiaxi, stay a few more days—in a few days, I'll get you out."

Instructor Yan froze. "How on earth are you supposed to get him out?"

This is Corpse Village—there are bandits, corpse cultivators, walking corpses, iron corpses, and Zhang Quan, who's at Foundation Establishment, could return at any moment.

"Rest assured, sir," Mo Hua assured him.

He actually wanted to extract Instructor Yan right now.

Corpse Village isn't exactly a safe place.

But he'd infiltrated invisibly and lacked the strength to slaughter everyone outright; even with Little Sister and Little Brother guarding him, he couldn't guarantee Instructor Yan's safety during combat.

Better to plan carefully and prepare thoroughly before acting.

After all, with his identity as a Array Master, these corpse cultivators shouldn't trouble Instructor Yan.

Mo Hua made up his mind, then remembered something and said to Instructor Yan with solemn gravity:

"Instructor, the Little Ye Lingyin Sect is gone. Don't fixate on revenge. Think of yourself—live well, find a Dao partner, start a family..."

"What's this..." Instructor Yan frowned. "Why does this sound so familiar?"

Mo Hua replied crisply: "It's what Manager Mo told me to say."

Instructor Yan's expression turned complicated; he added another tally against Manager Mo in his mind.

Not only did he nag himself, now he was making Mo Hua nag too.

He'd settle accounts with him later.

Mo Hua gave a few more instructions, then took his leave:

"Instructor Yan, I'll head back now. I'll come see you again in a few days."

Mo Hua's tone was light and casual, leaving Instructor Yan momentarily dazed.

It felt as if this weren't Corpse Village at all, but an inn in Nan Yue City, and Mo Hua would just drop by again in a few days...

Then Mo Hua vanished right before Instructor Yan's eyes.

Instructor Yan's pupils contracted sharply.

Though he'd anticipated Mo Hua had concealment techniques, he was still deeply startled.

When Mo Hua arrived, Instructor Yan sensed nothing; when he left, not a trace remained.

This concealment technique was extremely sophisticated.

Who taught him?

Mr. Zhuang...?

Instructor Yan stood frozen for a moment, then suddenly froze again—he remembered a question:

What did Mo Hua want with the Ling Shu Array Diagram?

This kid, Mo Hua, always asked too many questions—he kept peppering questions when he was at the Immortal Passage Sect.

As an instructor, Instructor Yan had the habit of answering Mo Hua's questions.

So whatever Mo Hua asked, he answered.

But now he suddenly realized:

Why had Mo Hua gone through all this trouble to find this array diagram?

A bizarre thought suddenly surfaced in his mind:

Could this kid actually be serious about learning it?

That's impossible...

A first-rank twelve-pattern diagram requires immense spiritual sense...

Instructor Yan froze.

He realized: Mo Hua had entered the room without triggering his spiritual sense, and left without leaving a single ripple.

Moreover, his entire aura was obscure, impenetrably deep.

That was a sign of immense spiritual sense.

Could it be...

Instructor Yan stared at the empty spot where Mo Hua had vanished, and his heart suddenly trembled.

"The Ling Shu Array..."

Instructor Yan murmured, and a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.

He wanted to see if anyone could truly master this first-rank twelve-pattern Ling Shu Array—the one no one in the Little Ye Lingyin Sect had ever cracked in centuries!

Thank you to reader pyhuang for the support~

(End of Chapter)