Chapter 473: So Hard

In the exquisitely furnished stone chamber.

Mo Hua sensed Lu Chengyun's spiritual sense spying on him, so he put on an act, pretending to ponder the array's core diagram.

Once Lu Chengyun's spiritual sense withdrew, Mo Hua tossed the array diagram aside and began sketching little tigers on paper for amusement.

As he drew, Mo Hua mentally calculated.

What exactly is this Ten Thousand Corpses Array used for?

To refine corpses?

What kind of corpses?

Judging by the current array formation and the flow of spiritual energy, it should use the array to channel vast demonic power to mass-produce walking corpses and iron corpses.

From the Zhang family to the Lu family.

From small-scale, artisanal corpse-refining to large-clan, high-array-content, industrialized corpse-refining.

In a short time, with the Ten Thousand Corpses Array, he could produce far more zombies.

But is that really all?

How would he control the walking corpses and iron corpses he refines?

And what good would so many zombies do him?

Lu Chengyun couldn't possibly abandon his position as clan head to found a Corpse Dao Mo Sect and make himself its patriarch…

Or is he, like the Qian family's ancestral elder, secretly using zombies to burn, kill, plunder, and eliminate rivals to consolidate the Lu family's power and territory?

Mo Hua recalled the massive bronze coffin within the Ten Thousand Corpses Reversal Array.

In the partial array diagram Lu Chengyun gave him, the function of that bronze coffin was not mentioned.

Neither did Mo Hua's own core array system include that bronze coffin.

Mo Hua frowned.

"What exactly is that bronze coffin for?"

"And what lies inside the coffin?"

Fearing he had overlooked something crucial, Mo Hua recalled every detail of his interactions with Lu Chengyun.

As he thought, Mo Hua's expression froze slightly.

He remembered Lu Chengyun saying:

"... Please, young master, help me refine corpses..."

"Not iron corpses..."

"... but a corpse superior to iron corpses—a stronger zombie..."

Based on the principles of the Ling Shu Array:

Lu Chengyun uses iron corpses to control walking corpses, and a stronger zombie to control the iron corpses.

Through this layered control, even if he refines countless zombies, he can dominate them all alone.

If so, then this stronger zombie that controls iron corpses and commands the horde must be refined using the Ten Thousand Corpses Reversal Array.

It may be hidden inside the bronze coffin at the array's center.

Mo Hua thought it over again and again, and concluded it was likely correct.

The Ten Thousand Corpses Reversal Array depicted many demonic arrays.

These demonic arrays were categorized and connected by crimson array lines: wooden coffins of walking corpses linked to iron coffins of iron corpses, and the iron coffins linked to the central bronze coffin.

This matched the Ling Shu Array's principle of hierarchical progression and decentralized control.

Lu Chengyun might lie, but the array would not.

No matter what Lu Chengyun claimed, the array he drew was what it was—and it could not deceive Mo Hua.

The array revealed the truth.

Mo Hua nodded.

Based on the array's principles and structure, he deduced Lu Chengyun's true intent.

At the same time, Mo Hua's eyes gleamed.

The zombie inside the bronze coffin controls iron corpses, which in turn control walking corpses.

Therefore, the Ling Shu Array within the bronze coffin must hold the highest authority.

In that case, the final Ling Shu Array diagram must be hidden inside the bronze coffin!

"I need to find a way to get my hands on the final array diagram..."

Mo Hua murmured to himself, resting his chin on his hand.

Mo Hua had already designed the Ten Thousand Corpses Array's core long ago.

But he still procrastinated several times, making minor revisions each time, then "consulting" Lu Chengyun, and refining it further.

Lu Chengyun was only half-competent in designing the core of such a grand array.

So it was easy for Mo Hua to deceive him.

After five or six revisions, Mo Hua finally handed Lu Chengyun the core array diagram he had originally designed in just one hour.

Lu Chengyun erupted in ecstatic joy.

He dropped his pretense of refined elegance and burst into loud laughter; beneath the dim, gloomy candlelight, his eyes glittered with sinister ambition.

After a moment, he suppressed his inner excitement and resumed a gentle expression, smiling as he praised Mo Hua:

"Young master, you have not disappointed Lu at all!"

Mo Hua smiled shyly, "Thanks to Master Lu's 'guidance.'"

Lu Chengyun replied sincerely:

"It's because Young Master Mo is exceptionally gifted and has profound knowledge of array techniques that he completed such a complex array core in such a short time."

At this, Mo Hua truly felt a bit embarrassed.

He'd only spent an hour drawing it, but had been slacking off for over ten days, dragging it out until now.

Yet Lu Chengyun was still ecstatic.

Mo Hua thought for a moment, assuming an expression of wanting to speak but holding back.

Lu Chengyun, with his keen mind, naturally asked:

"Young Master Mo, is there something you wish to say?"

After hesitating a moment, Mo Hua finally wore a troubled expression and said:

"Lord Lu, could I be allowed to draw this array core myself?"

Lu Chengyun was also taken aback; his gaze sharpened slightly, and he fell silent.

Mo Hua adopted a fervent, eager-to-learn posture and reflected:

"Over these days, I've realized my array skills are still severely lacking, and my array designs are riddled with errors…"

"So I'd like to draw this array core myself, to apply what I've learned and see if it deepens my understanding of arrays…"

Mo Hua stole a glance at Lu Chengyun and quickly added:

"Of course, since this array is of great importance, if Lord Lu finds it inconvenient, then forget it."

Lu Chengyun's mind raced, then he suddenly smiled and nodded:

"This array core is complex—not only is its design difficult, but the actual engraving is extremely taxing."

"It's truly best if Young Master Mo lends a hand."

Mo Hua relaxed and smiled:

"Mo Hua will not disappoint Lord Lu's expectations!"

Lu Chengyun nodded with a smile.

Thus, the array core of the Ten Thousand Corpses Revival Array was entrusted to Mo Hua to draw.

As he drew, Mo Hua secretly observed the nearby bronze coffins.

He had only sought this task as an excuse to draw the Ten Thousand Corpses Array's core—to get close to the bronze coffins.

Otherwise, he'd never deign to draw such a thing.

The array core was located near the bronze coffin; by drawing it himself, he could find a way to approach the coffin and steal the final Spirit Pivot Array diagram.

But this opportunity was hard to come by.

The bronze coffins were tightly sealed, never opened, and revealed not a trace of array energy.

Mo Hua had no choice but to drag his feet.

His face wore a serious, focused expression, but his brushstrokes were casual; as he drew, he deliberately made a few mistakes, then erased the heaviness and redrew.

After all, the spirit ink wasted was Lord Lu's.

Mo Hua didn't care at all.

But no matter how much he procrastinated, he couldn't make zero progress.

Mo Hua had no choice but to draw slowly, adding a little each day so Lu Chengyun could see hope.

Lu Chengyun was anxious, but didn't pressure Mo Hua.

Because array cores of this kind were indeed complex and difficult to draw.

Even if he drew it himself, he might not do much better than Mo Hua…

Thus, days passed one by one.

Mo Hua's array core gradually improved, but the bronze coffin remained unopened.

The bronze coffin was sealed, giving off no trace of energy.

Mo Hua couldn't even attempt to deduce the array patterns.

And during the day, Lu Chengyun was always watching; at night, the mural chamber was sealed, and Mo Hua couldn't enter…

The final Spirit Pivot Array was right before his eyes, yet invisible.

Mo Hua felt helpless.

Just as he was at his wit's end, one morning, Lu Chengyun opened the bronze coffin right before his eyes.

It seemed he intended to draw some array.

The moment the coffin lid opened, a murky array energy leaked out.

Mo Hua's spirits lifted.

It was indeed the Spirit Pivot Array!

And unlike the Spirit Pivot Arrays on iron corpses or walking corpses, its energy was stronger, its qi more complete.

Merely from this faint trace, he could deduce that these array patterns were more complex, involving deeper spiritual structures.

Mo Hua's curiosity burned.

He desperately wanted to take a closer look…

On the other side, Lu Chengyun had already begun drawing the array.

He used a bone brush, its tip made of human hair, dipped in human blood, his eyes glowing with a chilling green light as he drew something within the bronze coffin.

Mo Hua frowned slightly.

Is this how one draws a dark array?

Was Lu Chengyun using dark array techniques to draw a Grade One, Twelve-Pattern Spirit Pivot Array?

Zhang Quan, standing nearby, saw Mo Hua staring blankly and snapped coldly:

"Hurry up and draw! Don't waste time!"

Mo Hua got a little temper.

You want me to draw? I won't draw at all!

Mo Hua thought for a moment, then casually tossed his brush aside and walked boldly behind Lu Chengyun, poking his small head out to watch Lu Chengyun draw the array.

What he was doing now was aiding the wicked, and he and Lu Chengyun could be considered allies.

Watching him draw the array didn't seem to hurt.

Even if he got angry, I could just say I'm too young to understand.

After all, I really am young.

Lu Chengyun was focused on drawing the array and seemed unaware.

Mo Hua stole a few quick glances and grasped the general scene inside the bronze coffin.

Inside the bronze coffin was another bronze casket.

A large coffin enclosing a smaller one.

The outer one was the bronze coffin; inside it was the bronze casket.

The coffin had been opened, but the casket remained sealed.

What was hidden inside the casket must be the undead, stronger than the iron corpse, that Lu Chengyun had mentioned!

But Mo Hua couldn't see it.

He could only see the arrays Lu Chengyun had drawn inside the coffin and on the casket.

The pattern of this array was indeed the highest-ranking Ling Shu Array!

Mo Hua had memorized the Ling Shu array patterns of the lower-tier corpse and iron corpse, so he recognized it at a glance.

At the same time, Zhang Quan, seeing Lu Chengyun completely absorbed and oblivious to his surroundings, feared the array might be exposed, and called out:

"Brother Lu!"

This shout shattered Lu Chengyun's "single-minded completion" state, and all the array lines he had drawn were ruined.

Lu Chengyun snapped back to awareness, shot a furious glance at Zhang Quan, then noticed Mo Hua peeking behind him.

Lu Chengyun's gaze darkened slightly, but he didn't anger—he smiled and asked:

"Young Master, you want to see this array?"

Mo Hua nodded honestly, "Yes."

If not for this array, he wouldn't have come to Nan Yue City.

Lu Chengyun paused briefly, then nodded. "Fine!"

Mo Hua exclaimed in surprise, "You really will let me see?"

Lu Chengyun smiled. "Of course. I promised you—you help me draw the array, and I'll show you this secret diagram."

Mo Hua was overjoyed. "Master Lu truly keeps his word!"

Lu Chengyun flipped his right hand, and a thin, ancient-looking booklet appeared in it, covered in creases from years of use.

Lu Chengyun carefully unfolded the booklet.

Inside was the complete, fully detailed, highest-to-lowest ranked, masterfully controlled, one-prime twelve-pattern Ling Shu Array diagram—immensely complex and profoundly mysterious.

Mo Hua's heart pounded.

Lu Chengyun's gaze held deep meaning as he said:

"What do you think, Young Master?"

Mo Hua froze, then came to his senses.

At first his expression glowed with excitement and fascination, then he studied the array, disbelief crept in, his brow furrowed in deep thought; after a long while, struck down, he slumped, sighing softly:

"This array… is too hard. I don't understand…"

Even as he said he didn't understand, inside his mind he was memorizing the array patterns at lightning speed…

(End of Chapter)