Chapter 508

Mo Hua ate until he was stuffed.

The Zhang family's ancestor, manifested as a bronze corpse, still possessed a Foundation Establishment mid-stage spiritual sense, even without disciples to worship him.

The Zhang family's past elders, manifested as iron corpses, each had the spiritual sense of a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator.

Despite the great battle, under Mo Hua's control, the Zhangs turned on each other—disciples and ancestors slaughtered one another, both sides crippled, their spiritual senses severely depleted.

But the residual spiritual senses were still far too many…

Mo Hua "stewed" them all, swallowed them whole, and felt stuffed…

Within his mind sea, chaotic spiritual senses filled every corner.

These spiritual senses were obtained by absorbing the evil thoughts of bronze and iron corpses, then partially refined.

They came from different souls, stained with impure qi—some icy, some violent, some demonic, some cunning…

Mo Hua felt helpless.

He had gorged himself on these "bad things," and now his mind was going to rot…

Evil thoughts surged like a raging tide.

His Dao heart was like a tiny boat adrift on the waves, swaying, unsteady.

It seemed the next instant it would be drowned by evil.

Once his Dao heart was extinguished and corrupted, his entire being would twist—becoming a monster with a human body and a corpse's heart.

Fortunately, Mo Hua had consumed so much demonic energy that he had gradually grown accustomed to such thoughts.

He calmed his mind, meditated, restrained himself, and guarded his heart.

He held fast to his original intention.

Let evil thoughts churn, demons tempt, desires arise—his heart remained a clear mirror, untouched by a single speck of dust.

He waited, and waited, until Zi Shi—suddenly, a primordial, obscure, yet vast and profound qi rose within his mind sea.

Mo Hua opened his eyes and saw the ethereal Dao stele floating before him—he brightened.

He extended two fingers, manifested his spiritual sense, and began drawing a formation on the Dao stele.

This formation was a Grade One Twelve-Pattern Spirit Pivot Formation!

This ultimate formation demanded extremely high spiritual sense.

Mo Hua practiced it regularly, but slowly—his spiritual sense was limited, so after drawing one or two, he had to rest.

Now his mind sea overflowed with more spiritual sense than he could ever need.

Mo Hua, without hesitation, moved his fingers like lightning, pouring out his spiritual sense—each formation line materialized, forming the Spirit Pivot Formation…

Simultaneously, the Dao stele's qi grew deeper.

The residual souls and evil thoughts Mo Hua had swallowed were gradually purified through meditation, cleansed by the Dao stele, refined by the formation, and finally fully absorbed by him…

Practice a formation a hundred times, its meaning reveals itself.

Mo Hua practiced the Spirit Pivot Formation with unwavering focus.

Repeated practice deepened his understanding of the formation bit by bit.

Meanwhile, his already profound spiritual sense also grew stronger, slowly…

…

At this moment, the battle outside the corpse mine had not ceased.

The Dao Court's various factions had launched several more assaults, but all were repelled by Lu Chengyun's iron corpses and walking corpses, formed into "corpse soldiers," and the corpse mine remained unconquered.

Since direct assault was futile, Yang Jishan ordered elite squads of cultivators, coordinated with Dao soldiers, to launch stealth raids and harassment, pressuring Lu Chengyun.

After days of combat, Yang Jishan had come to understand Lu Chengyun's corpse-controlling method:

"It's a formation!"

"The corpse soldiers are linked by a formation—attack and defense are unified, advance and retreat are synchronized."

But what formation it was, Yang Jishan did not know.

He could only recognize basic, common Dao soldier formations—Five Elements-type arrays—but he knew nothing about corpse-controlling formations.

Yang Jiyong then sought out Young Master Yun.

Young Master Yun was a Grade Two Formation Master, from a formation family—he should know something.

Young Master Yun frowned, thought for a moment, then asked:

"Commander Yang, could you capture a few corpses for me to examine?"

"Iron corpses?"

"Iron corpses are best; walking corpses will do."

Commander Yang nodded. "Alright."

Half a day later, Commander Yang ordered Dao soldiers to capture several corpses—one iron corpse with a severed arm, and several others, all walking corpses.

The corpses were chained, struggling, emitting meaningless low growls.

The corpses were bloody and grotesque.

Young Master Yun felt uneasy, but forced himself to examine every inch of their skin and limbs.

Yet he found nothing unusual.

Young Master Yun frowned, muttering: "That's odd…"

Yang Jishan asked: "What's odd?"

Young Master Yun explained: "These corpses should have formations on them—but I can't find any…"

Yang Jishan's gaze sharpened. "Could they be inside? Since they're corpse-refining, the technique must be more concealed, harder to detect."

Young Master Yun nodded. "Possible."

Yang Jishan paused, recalling the corpses he'd seen in battle these past days, then suddenly realized:

"In the midst of battle, a zombie's chest was shattered, and within it, some blood-red patterns seemed fused into the flesh…"

Young Master Yun also said: "The heart meridian can indeed serve as a medium for evil arrays."

Yang Jishan drew his blade and slit open the heart meridian skin of several walking corpses; indeed, on the heart meridians of a few, there were blood-red patterns resembling arrays.

These array markings carried an evil aura, fused with flesh and blood, making them nearly impossible to detect.

Yang Jishan could not help but sigh:

"Lu Chengyun truly has remarkable skill!"

Young Master Yun had never seen such a use of an evil array before; his expression grew solemn.

Yang Jishan studied the bloody chest of the corpse for a while, unable to discern anything, and asked:

"Young Master Yun, what array is this?"

Young Master Yun shook his head, "The array markings are unclear; I cannot tell yet."

"What about the iron zombie's body?"

"Hmm."

Yang Jishan went to open the iron zombie's chest.

The iron zombie's skin was as hard as iron, making it far more difficult; it took Yang Jishan half an hour to slice through its outer skin with a second-rank dagger and reveal the array beneath.

The walking corpse's flesh was decayed, so the array markings were indistinct.

The iron zombie's flesh was tough, so the array was much clearer.

Comparing the two, Young Master Yun preliminarily reconstructed part of the array.

This array was incomplete; many markings were wrong, and the central structure contained errors, leaving only a rough outline.

Yet despite this, Young Master Yun's gaze trembled as he murmured:

"Absolute Array…"

Yang Jishan frowned, "Absolute Array?"

Young Master Yun explained: "An array requiring spiritual awareness beyond class, markings beyond rank, and understanding beyond curriculum—though classified as first-rank, it is more than first-rank: an absolute technique array."

Yang Jishan remained baffled.

Young Master Yun tried to explain more plainly:

"It's the most difficult type among first-rank arrays…"

With that, Yang Jishan understood.

But he still had doubts: "How difficult could it be?"

Young Master Yun said: "Such completely beyond-curriculum arrays are never tested in first-rank array master examinations. And though classified as first-rank, many second-rank array masters cannot learn them…"

Yang Jishan exclaimed: "Young Master Yun, you can't learn it either?"

Young Master Yun hesitated.

Traveling outside, he did not wish to disgrace the Yun family's reputation, but he had never studied it, and truly did not know if he could master it.

After a moment's hesitation, he spoke honestly:

"Absolute Arrays require profound insight into array principles. I have never studied them—I do not know if I can learn them…"

Yang Jishan nodded.

If even second-rank array masters cannot learn it, this array was truly extraordinary.

"Then do you know what array this is?"

Yang Jishan asked again.

Young Master Yun stared again at the reconstructed array, and sighed:

"The markings are missing—I cannot tell…"

"Only by reconstructing the markings and deriving the complete array diagram from them can we identify what array this is…"

Yang Jishan said: "Then derive it?"

Young Master Yun smiled bitterly: "Deriving an array diagram involves array calculus—a highly advanced branch of array study. Only our ancestral elder in the Yun family knows how…"

Only the ancestral elder knows?

Yang Jishan's head throbbed.

Arrays were such a nuisance.

Absolute arrays, beyond-rank markings, derivation, calculus…

He cut straight to the point:

"Is there any way to break this corpse-controlling array?"

Young Master Yun pondered long before slowly replying:

"Directly breaking it… without knowing the markings, you cannot grasp the array—it should be unbreakable…"

"Only indirect methods can interfere with the array's connections, thereby disrupting its control over the zombies…"

"As for exactly how to do it—I need to study further…"

Yang Jishan was desperate, but knew this could not be rushed; he bowed his hands:

"Then I leave it in your hands, Young Master Yun…"

Fortunately, not long after, Young Master Yun found Yang Jishan:

"I've figured it out…"

"Zombies move under the pull of corpse qi."

"This Absolute Array, drawn on the heart meridian, is used to control corpse qi—through minute manipulation of corpse qi, it directs iron zombies and walking corpses to kill or devour humans…"

"This array is known only to Lu Chengyun and controlled solely by him—for now, it is unbreakable; it can only be destroyed."

"After destroying the array, the zombies will lose control as their corpse qi disperses; at that moment, severing their heads or limbs will cause them to cease movement once their corpse qi is gone…"

Yang Jishan nodded, "That means first strike the heart meridian, destroy the formation, then sever the limbs and head, and release the corpse qi…"

"Yes," Young Master Yun added,

"The corpse qi is controlled by the Absolute Formation, so the formation must be destroyed first, then the limbs severed."

"If you sever the limbs first, the corpse qi still remains bound by the Absolute Formation, stagnating and not dispersing—it's useless…"

Yang Jishan pondered from a practical standpoint, murmuring,

"If that's the case, walking corpses are manageable—but what about iron corpses?"

"Iron corpses have skin and bones like refined iron; their heart meridians are hard to destroy, their heads hard to sever, their limbs hard to cut…"

Young Master Yun also looked troubled, "I… I'll think about it again…"

Young Master Yun returned and pondered for half a day, then found Yang Jishan and said:

"I thought it over again and consulted several senior formation masters—I've come up with a solution…"

"Use the Chaotic Spirit Formation to disrupt spiritual energy fluctuations, thereby affecting the Absolute Formation's control over the corpses."

"Chaotic Spirit Formation…"

Yang Jishan murmured, "Disrupt spiritual energy fluctuations… but corpses move through corpse qi and other dark forces, won't this be ineffective?"

"It will work," Young Master Yun nodded. "The effect will be weaker, but it will work. Whether spiritual energy or dark force, both are forms of heavenly and earthly power, both are Dao cultivation forces—different in nature, yet fundamentally similar."

Yang Jishan nodded, half-understanding.

The Yang family were a lineage of Dao soldiers, only concerned with fighting and killing.

In cultivation, they simply trained whatever was strongest, practiced whatever Dao art was most powerful.

They never studied such subtle knowledge.

Young Master Yun continued, "Draw the Chaotic Spirit Formation on sharp spiritual swords, then pierce the iron corpse's heart meridian with those swords. Even if you can't destroy the formation, it will disrupt the flow of dark force and interfere with corpse control."

"But this Chaotic Spirit Formation must be second-rank…"

"I draw it slowly by myself…"

Yang Jishan asked, "Won't a first-rank one work?"

"No," Young Master Yun shook his head. "A first-rank Absolute Formation surpasses first-rank formations, rivaling second-rank formations. A first-rank Chaotic Spirit Formation has negligible effect on such an Absolute Formation."

"Only a second-rank Chaotic Spirit Formation can affect a first-rank Absolute Formation."

Yang Jishan sighed.

Given the current situation, the corpse mine couldn't be taken in a short time.

"Then we'll have to settle for this—slow is better than nothing…"

Afterward, Yang Jishan remained expressionless, continuing as before to pressure Lu Chengyun.

Both sides clashed repeatedly, sustaining mutual losses, maintaining a delicate balance.

Until Yang Jishan forged dozens of spiritual swords inscribed with the Chaotic Spirit Formation.

And the other Dao soldiers, following his instructions, engaged the walking corpses.

First shatter the heart meridian, destroy the formation, then sever the limbs and head, releasing the corpse qi—only then could they successfully subdue them.

Against iron corpses, use the spiritual swords to pierce their heart meridians.

The Chaotic Spirit Formation could only disrupt the flow of dark force, not fully block it, so Lu Chengyun could still control the iron corpses—but with delay.

Often, he would command the iron corpses to kill.

A thought would arise, transmitted outward, but due to the Chaotic Spirit Formation's interference, the iron corpses reacted only after several breaths.

Though only a few breaths.

Yet on a battlefield where moments changed everything, it was enough to be fatal.

The corpse soldiers' maneuvers slowed by several breaths, while the Dao soldiers' attacks accelerated—this imbalance created openings.

The walking corpse formations were destroyed, the iron corpse control was hindered.

The situation grew grim.

Soon, the corpse soldiers suffered heavy casualties.

Lu Chengyun urgently ordered a retreat, retreating to defend the corpse mine.

The battle's outcome was clear; Yang Jishan did not press the attack, fearing Lu Chengyun might seize an opportunity, instead establishing a defensive position and planning further assaults.

But the next day, new iron corpses and walking corpses appeared among the corpse soldiers.

Yang Jishan frowned and said:

"How are there still more?"

An elderly formation master with vast experience, gazing at Shi Dian, looked solemn, and slowly said: "It's… the Ten Thousand Corpses Formation… it has begun to activate…"

"Ten Thousand Corpses Formation?"

The elder formation master said, "The young man who sent the intelligence earlier mentioned this formation."

"Though it's only a replicated formation, it already has the prototype of a grand formation."

"A dark Dao formation that uses dark force to activate, using coffin-shaped corpse furnaces as formation mediums, combining corpse cultivation, corpse refining, and corpse control into one."

"Activating this formation carries a heavy cost."

"But once activated, it can rapidly, massively, and quantitatively produce corpses."

"If this continues, we keep dying, while they keep refining corpses…"

Yang Jishan couldn't help roaring:

"Again with the formations! Where did he get so many troublesome formations?"

The elder formation master paused, his cloudy eyes flickering with a sharp glint as he coldly said:

"The Ten Thousand Corpses Grand Formation… is no ordinary legacy."

"Someone likely gave it to him on purpose—to make him cultivate… a Dao Abomination…"

The two words "Dao Niè" — Old Array Master spoke them very softly.

Yet they fell upon the ears of everyone present, heavy as a thousand catties.

A chill rose in Yang Jishan's heart.

He glanced once more at the gloomy stone hall within the dark corpse mine.

Within the Shi Dian, there was a Corpse King, swarms of corpses, an absolute formation, and the embryonic form of a demonic grand array — the Ten Thousand Corpses Array…

All of these were perhaps pieces laid out, chessmen placed, by the one behind the curtain.

That person wished to use the prefecture as a chessboard, formations as paths and fields, living and dead as chessmen, to nurture a great dragon named "Dao Niè"!

And within this prefecture, the people who served as chessmen, from birth to death, might never know a thing.

Even Lu Chengyun himself might not be clear on it.

Yang Jishan's face grew solemn; dark clouds gathered in his heart.

When this game of chess reached its end — win or lose, life or death — what exactly would be nurtured in the end, no one knew…

……

Within the Shi Dian, atop the Ten Thousand Corpses altar.

Lu Chengyun's gaze turned slightly cold as he surveyed his surroundings.

The Corpse King stood behind him; Iron Corpses guarded him on either side.

And beneath Lu Chengyun's feet, the Ten Thousand Corpses Restoration Array was already running at full power.

Vast spiritual power surged in through the array eye, was tainted by blood qi and yin qi, forming evil power, which flowed along the array hubs and out across the array patterns.

The array patterns glowed with an eerie red, channeling the evil power to nourish the corpse coffins — and the countless jiangshi within them.

"Worthy of the name Ten Thousand Corpses Array!"

Lu Chengyun's ambition blazed.

He still remembered the words the one who had given him the Ten Thousand Corpses Array had once said to him:

"Killing men breeds sin; refining men makes corpses.

Find the Dao within sin; seal kingship within corpses."

The victory or defeat of a single moment, he did not take to heart.

So long as the Corpse King remained in hand, losing some Iron Corpses or Walking Corpses was of no consequence at all.

And so long as the Ten Thousand Corpses Array stood, he could refine corpses without cease, nurture them without end, and remain in an unassailable position!

The more corpses refined, the stronger the Corpse King became.

And he, who controlled the Corpse King and commanded ten thousand corpses to submit, was naturally all the stronger for it.

Lu Chengyun slowly began to laugh; his voice shed its gentle shell and grew cold and uncanny, like a night owl in Shenshan, icy and grating to the ear…

Yet at this very moment, in a hidden chamber of the Shi Dian, there stood yet another altar.

Upon the altar was offered a "blank" visualization diagram.

Below the altar sat a small white coffin.

Within the coffin lay a young cultivator.

This young cultivator slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, brilliant starlight gathered in his pupils — a riot of myriad visions, dazzling and resplendent. A moment later, this radiance gradually converged and was contained within, hidden deep beneath his gaze.

His eyes grew blacker still, deeper still.

Within that depth lay a contained inner brilliance.

This was the mark of an extraordinarily profound divine sense.

The current Mo Hua had already completely refined the vast evil thoughts of the Zhang clan jiangshi.

His divine sense had likewise successfully broken through its bottleneck, advancing one step further, reaching the limit of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator:

Thirteen-Pattern Peak!

(End of chapter)