Chapter 516

First, the design of the mine shafts.

This large mine shaft must cut through the mountains, connect the mountain bodies, while also constructing a rigorous and fully functional array system.

Which mountains to open, how to connect them.

Which arrays to build, how to layout them.

All of these must be considered.

Mo Hua first consulted historical mine maps, studying the structures of several mines outside Nan Yue City.

He then sought the opinions of several elders from the Shijiahe Sect.

These elders' clans or sects also had mining operations.

They had managed related cultivation businesses, guarded mines, or participated in mine construction.

Mo Hua asked them, and they did not withhold anything.

They wished to secure some welfare for these impoverished mining cultivators, and also felt deep gratitude for Mo Hua's rescue in suppressing the Corpse King and quelling the corpse plague.

After becoming familiar with the mine structures, Mo Hua spent several days drafting a large-scale array blueprint.

Large arrays cannot be used in the mine shafts, nor are they practical.

Large arrays are grand and unified.

But the arrays inside the mine shafts are fragmented.

They must serve various functions, yet be as simple, compact, and durable as possible—even if damaged, they must be easy to repair.

If a large array were used, once it broke, almost no one could fix it after Mo Hua left.

Thus, the arrays within the mine shafts are merely a collection of compound arrays, containing some simple, single-use arrays.

Simple, basic, and practical.

Yet the workload is still immense.

Meanwhile, Mo Hua integrated the underlying structure of the Five Elements Corpse-Slaying Array, using the principles of the Five Elements' generation and restraint, to organize and optimize these disparate arrays.

He made these arrays clearer and more concise, removed redundant ones, and lowered costs.

Although the mine shafts use many arrays, their difficulty is low.

Mo Hua didn't even need to show them to Mr. Zhuang—he only showed them to Bai Zi Xi; the two of them huddled together, checked the array patterns, sorted out the array pivots, and filled in the gaps, completing them.

He then took them to the Dao Court's array masters for discussion, and they finalized the design.

There were so many arrays; though Mo Hua drew them extremely fast, he was only one person and couldn't draw them all—he needed the Dao Court's array masters to help.

They all agreed.

After Mo Hua left, one old array master sighed: "This array design is well constructed…"

A young array master asked curiously: "They're all just ordinary arrays, nothing special, right?"

The old array master glared at him. "What do you know? It's hardest to use ordinary arrays well."

He pointed to the array diagram on the table. "These arrays seem simple, but their layout is compact and mutually reinforcing—add one and it's too much, remove one and it's too little. To achieve this level, one must have deep foundations and solid basics…"

The old array master praised Mo Hua at length.

The young array master nodded, but his expression remained somewhat dismissive.

Simple arrays are just simple arrays—even if used brilliantly, they're still just that.

The old array master couldn't help but shake his head.

Yun Young Master stared at the arrays before him, silent, frowning in deep thought.

He was a second-grade array master with deep family tradition, so he saw deeper.

The layout of these arrays seemed simple, yet grand and imposing—as if derived from… a large array?

Large arrays combine simplicity into complexity, integrating everything; these arrays, however, strip complexity down to simplicity.

The conception was indeed ingenious, but…

Yun Young Master couldn't understand.

Why use only basic and simple arrays?

Why not use more powerful ones—even up to first grade or higher?

Confused, several days later, as Mo Hua began drawing the arrays, Yun Young Master timidly and awkwardly approached him.

Mo Hua was earnestly drawing arrays; seeing Yun Young Master, he asked curiously:

"Yun Young Master, is there something?"

In Nan Yue City, among all Dao Court factions, Yun Young Master was the only second-grade array master—and so young; Mo Hua naturally knew him.

But during the corpse flood, time was urgent, so they hadn't spoken much and weren't familiar.

Under Mo Hua's innocent, wide, watery eyes, Yun Young Master felt inexplicably flustered, but finally steadied himself and voiced his question:

"These arrays have better options, right? Why choose only the most basic ones?"

Mo Hua said: "Because these arrays are meant to be used."

"Used?" Yun Young Master blinked.

Mo Hua nodded. "My master taught me: arrays must be learned and applied…"

"On paper, an array looks one way, but in actual use, circumstances vary wildly."

Yun Young Master pondered.

Mo Hua sighed slightly and continued:

"This is a mine shaft—the arrays here are for the mining cultivators."

"The mining cultivators are poor."

"Using higher-end arrays may perform better, but if they break, no one will repair them."

"Even if someone could repair them, they couldn't afford it."

"So, simple, durable, sturdy, easy-to-repair formations — to them, those are the good formations."

Young Master Yun was taken aback.

No one had ever said something like that to him.

Every formation master was studying higher and harder formations, to raise their own standard and seek a more brilliant cultivation future.

Yet almost no one thought to spread these most basic formations to the most ordinary cultivators…

He himself had never realized it either.

Young Master Yun's face suddenly flushed a little, somewhat ashamed.

Mo Hua glanced at him in surprise as well.

He had assumed that Young Master Yun, so young and already a second-rank formation master, must be proud and arrogant — he hadn't expected him to be this shy, his face even more tender than Mo Hua's own.

Probably because he'd always stayed within his clan and rarely gone out, unexposed to the world.

Young Master Yun seemed to remember something again, looking as though he wanted to speak but held back.

But his worries were almost written all over his face.

Mo Hua could read it clearly, so he asked:

"What else do you want to ask?"

Young Master Yun hesitated a moment, then said with an apologetic look:

"Perhaps this is a bit Tang Tu…"

"Mm," Mo Hua said. "Go ahead and ask."

Young Master Yun made up his mind and slowly asked:

"The formation on the Corpse King — was that drawn by you? That one is… a Absolute Formation?"

Mo Hua nodded and said frankly:

"Yes!"

Even though he had already guessed it, Young Master Yun's expression still jolted.

Other cultivators, even some other formation masters, might not understand what an Absolute Formation truly meant.

Qi Refining eighth layer.

Mastering a first-rank twelve-pattern Absolute Formation.

This kind of thing went against everything he knew as a formation master.

Young Master Yun felt a little dispirited.

Within the Yun Clan, and even across the entire state boundary where the Yun Clan resided, he was a highly revered formation prodigy.

But only now did he realize.

Between prodigies, there were differences too — even differences as vast as heaven and earth.

Some people were prodigies to the point of being nearly monstrous.

He looked again at the boyish-faced Mo Hua before him and sighed inwardly.

This one was a little monster.

Mo Hua saw that Young Master Yun's expression was a little lost, and didn't know what he was thinking.

Suddenly Mo Hua's eyes lit up slightly, and he said softly:

"Young Master Yun, do you know what formation this is?"

Young Master Yun honestly shook his head and asked, puzzled:

"What formation?"

"Spirit Pivot Formation," Mo Hua said.

"Spirit Pivot Formation…"

Young Master Yun repeated it several times, then nodded in praise: "Truly an Absolute Formation — even the name alone is extraordinary…"

"Then…" Mo Hua blinked and coaxed: "Do you want to learn it?"

Young Master Yun's heart trembled, and his mouth fell open.

He thought Mo Hua was teasing him, but looking up, he saw that Mo Hua's gaze was clear as water, with no trace of mockery — only then did he suppress the excitement in his heart and slowly nod:

"I do…"

No formation master could resist the lure of a formation.

Mo Hua said with a beaming smile: "Then I'll teach you."

Young Master Yun was even more astonished. "You're willing to teach me?"

"Mm," Mo Hua nodded. "Formations need to be passed down to flow on far and wide; if one hoards them selfishly, no matter how precious a formation is, it will eventually be cut off."

"Once it's cut off, no matter how precious the formation, it becomes useless."

"Since you want to learn, I'll teach you — but you have to promise me you won't use it to do anything bad."

Young Master Yun couldn't help nodding again and again. "Alright, I promise you!"

"There's one more thing…" Mo Hua added. "After you learn it, you have to do me a favor."

"A favor?" Young Master Yun was startled.

"Mm!"

Mo Hua's eyes shone brightly. "I want to build some things, controlled by Spirit Pivot Formations — one person can't handle it all, I need your help."

This was something he had planned long ago.

Human effort has its limits.

Although he was skilled in formations, many things one person simply couldn't do, and it would take a great deal of time.

With someone helping, it would be different.

Moreover, this matter requires the Ling Shu Array.

A first-rank twelve-pattern ultimate array, with complex array patterns and high spiritual sense demands, is nearly impossible for anyone in Nan Yue City to master.

But Young Master Yun should be able to.

He is a second-rank array master, a genius in array arts, and his spiritual sense and comprehension should both be sufficient.

Mo Hua had long been eyeing him.

Now that he has come to him on his own, Mo Hua might as well take the opportunity and ask for his help.

"It's possible…," Young Master Yun paused thoughtfully, then asked curiously, "but what exactly do you need help with?"

"Help me draw the array."

"The array in the mine?"

"There are others too—you'll find out when the time comes…"

Mo Hua kept it vague.

Thus, Young Master Yun became Mo Hua's "laborer" by default.

The mine needed preliminary arrays drawn: constructing the array framework and pre-filling basic array patterns.

Then the zombies would break the rock.

After the mine was excavated and the shafts dug, the subsequent arrays would be completed.

These arrays were highly varied.

Including defense arrays, soil-stabilizing arrays, illumination arrays, ventilation arrays, purification arrays, and others—such as the Golden Blade Array and Earth Prison Array for emergency use against beast monsters.

Mo Hua taught him to draw the Ling Shu Array.

Young Master Yun learned while occasionally finding spare moments to help Mo Hua draw arrays.

Young Master Yun was a second-rank array master and drew first-rank arrays very quickly.

But what astonished him was that Mo Hua drew even faster than he did!

When Young Master Yun drew arrays, he had to consult the array diagrams and verify the patterns.

But Mo Hua didn't even need to look—he relied purely on memory, his Bai Xi wrist flipping, brush strokes like dragons and snakes, array patterns appearing instantly beneath his pen.

They seemed casual, yet the arrays he drew were neat, precise, flawless, and carried a unique spiritual essence.

How many times must he have drawn this before…?

Young Master Yun was secretly astonished, yet also felt a sense of relief.

Though gifted, such sheer dedication alone was beyond the reach of ordinary array masters.

Days passed.

Young Master Yun learned the Ling Shu Array slowly.

Mainly because his spiritual sense was limited—he could only practice a few times a day, so the patterns inevitably grew rusty, and his understanding lagged.

What took him a week, Mo Hua completed in one or two days.

Slow progress was only natural.

When Mo Hua had free time, he would also ask Young Master Yun questions about second-rank array arts.

His current array skill had long surpassed first-rank array masters.

But ultimate arrays seemed entirely different from second-rank arrays.

Mo Hua wanted to know: what were the thresholds for second-rank array masters and second-rank arrays?

Young Master Yun returned the favor with earnest answers:

"At second-rank, array masters and arrays are divided into early, middle, and late stages, corresponding to the early, middle, and late stages of Foundation Establishment."

"My current cultivation is only early Foundation Establishment, so my array master rank is only second-rank early stage."

"Second-rank arrays are just as hard to learn, requiring immense time and effort."

"Most array masters lag behind their own cultivation realm."

"For example, early Foundation Establishment qualifies one as a first-rank array master, middle Foundation Establishment as second-rank early stage, and late Foundation Establishment as second-rank middle stage…"

"Someone like me, becoming a second-rank early stage array master at early Foundation Establishment, is already…"

Young Master Yun had wanted to say "a genius," but glanced at Mo Hua and said, "... already quite good…"

Mo Hua asked curiously, "Can a Qi Condensation cultivator become a second-rank array master?"

Young Master Yun shook his head. "No."

"Is it because the spiritual sense isn't strong enough?"

"Usually because of insufficient spiritual sense, but there's another reason: spiritual energy."

"Spiritual energy?"

"Yes," Young Master Yun explained. "Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment differ in the 'quantity' of spiritual sense, but in the 'quality' of spiritual energy. Similarly, first-rank and second-rank arrays involve different array principles and different qualities of spiritual energy used to activate them."

"Therefore, Qi Condensation cultivators cannot learn second-rank arrays."

Mo Hua felt a pang of regret.

He had thought that if his spiritual sense were strong enough, he might try learning second-rank arrays.

It seemed the Dao's restrictions by rank were still very strict.

Within the same rank, he could surpass stages, learning faster than others.

But no matter how much he surpassed, he could not exceed the rank itself…

The Reverse Spirit Array, Thick Earth Array, and Ling Shu Array—though called ultra-rank arrays—are still within the first-rank category: they are first-rank arrays, not second-rank arrays.

In essence, they are not truly "ultra-rank," but rather severely over-staged…

Mo Hua nodded, gaining further understanding of rank concepts.

He then asked several other questions.

Young Master Yun answered each question in turn.

Mo Hua was open and sincere; Young Master Yun, inexperienced in the world, had no guile, and both were Array Masters—after chatting for a while, they grew much more familiar and found their conversation highly compatible.

Mo Hua taught Young Master Yun the Spirit Pivot Array.

Young Master Yun was deeply grateful and, not knowing how to repay him, secretly taught Mo Hua some of the Yun family's ancestral array techniques.

Mo Hua felt somewhat guilty, "Is that alright?"

Young Master Yun blinked. "Just don't say I taught you."

Mo Hua froze for a moment.

That sounded oddly familiar—like Uncle Zhang Lan.

When he learned the Zhang family's Flowing Water Step, Zhang Lan had given him the same warning…

After some more time passed, the initial arrays in the mine were completed, and Young Master Yun had grasped the basics of the Spirit Pivot Array.

Mo Hua awakened the Corpse King, who led the Iron Corpse and tens of thousands of Walking Corpses out of the Corpse Mine and into the various mines.

Corpses filled the mountains and fields, obedient to Mo Hua's commands, marching orderly into each mine, advancing in unison to excavate shafts.

The scene was both strange and harmonious.

To prevent the corpses from turning violent, all mining cultivators remained within Xiancheng.

Dao Soldiers were stationed around the perimeter.

Yang Jishan and several other deep-cultivation Foundation Establishment cultivators watched the Corpse King warily, fearing it might rebel and turn into a Dao Demon.

The mines grew noisy once more.

But this time, the laborers were not mining cultivators—they were corpses.

Their movements were mechanical and repetitive, striking the rock with pickaxe after pickaxe, bit by bit, to excavate the mines.

To carve out a homeland for their descendants—a place where they could eat, wear clothes, and live in peace…

Under Mo Hua's control, the Corpse King did not transform again; the Iron Corpse obeyed orders, and all Walking Corpses labored without complaint.

Everything proceeded in orderly fashion.

More than a month later, the mine shafts were completed.

The shafts connected several mines, vast in scale, with wide passages and sturdy walls, the foul qi purified—safe and somewhat comfortable.

Mo Hua ordered the corpses once more to return to the Corpse Mine and fall into slumber.

The Dao Court's array masters then completed the subsequent arrays in the shafts, following Mo Hua's diagrams.

These arrays were simple; whether Mo Hua drew them or not made no difference.

Mo Hua needed to draw something else.

Mo Hua called Young Master Yun and went to a workshop in the city.

In the spacious courtyard stood many wooden puppets, shaped like oxen and horses, made of hard wood.

Young Master Yun was startled, "These are…"

"Puppets," Mo Hua said. "Paint the Spirit Pivot Array on them, and they can be controlled by spiritual sense to transport ore, reducing the miners' labor and increasing extraction efficiency…"

Young Master Yun came to his senses. "So this is the favor you asked me for?"

"Yes," Mo Hua nodded. "I need to paint many Spirit Pivot Arrays—I can't do them all alone. I need your help."

Young Master Yun gave a slight nod, inwardly moved.

This was true understanding of arrays—learning them and applying them wisely.

Learning an array and using it precisely to benefit more cultivators…

He had never done such a thing before.

"Alright!" Young Master Yun said cheerfully.

Then he hesitated. "Do these puppets have names?"

"They do!" Mo Hua smiled brightly. "You can call them 'Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse'!"

(End of Chapter)