Chapter 526: The Grand Elder

Mo Hua and the others settled temporarily at the Wuxing Sect.

They were given the most prestigious guest quarters in the entire sect—elegant in style, lavish in furnishing.

Their food, drink, and daily needs were all held to the highest standard.

Spiritual delicacies, century-aged fine wine, cloud-mist tea, hundred-flower pastries—everything one could wish for…

The Wuxing Sect hosted them with great care, but their attitude was hardly friendly—only surface politeness, a face full of fake smiles, their gazes still cold, their manner distant.

Although the food and drink were excellent, Mo Hua hadn't come here to play—he was here to learn array formations.

He had the Five Elements Spirit Array on his mind.

But the Sect Master of the Wuxing Sect made excuses:

"Logically speaking, since it was an agreement made by our forebears, naturally we have no reason to go against it…"

"But after all, several hundred years have passed…"

The Wuxing Sect Master's face showed difficulty. "Some of the sect's elders have already passed away, and we juniors aren't clear on the specific terms of the agreement, so we need to discuss it and deliberate on the relevant matters."

"Please accept our apologies, Senior Zhuang."

"During this time, please rest briefly at the Wuxing Sect and take in our sect's heritage and fine scenery…"

"As for learning the array formation, we will discuss it as soon as we can."

The Wuxing Sect Master's surname was Liao. He wore a golden crown and jade robes, had a fair, beardless face, and a dignified appearance—every inch the sect master.

His words were much the same.

He spoke as if he hadn't spoken at all.

Mo Hua pursed his lips and was about to say something when Mr. Zhuang spoke:

"Then we trouble you, Sect Master Liao."

Sect Master Liao was flattered and hurriedly said:

"Not at all—this is what we juniors ought to do."

After some more pleasantries, Sect Master Liao rose and took his leave.

After Sect Master Liao left, Mo Hua asked in confusion:

"Master, are they playing tricks?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "A sect-protecting ultimate array—how could they let outsiders learn it easily? A bit of stalling is only natural…"

"They won't go back on their word, will they?"

"They won't, and they wouldn't dare."

Mo Hua said, "Then should we wait?"

Mr. Zhuang nodded. "Let's wait."

Mr. Zhuang glanced at Mo Hua, who was frowning, and said with a gentle smile:

"You've had a tiring journey—rest up while you can. You can also use this time to have a good look around the Wuxing Sect…"

"Look around?" Mo Hua was a bit baffled.

"Mm." Mr. Zhuang said, "The Wuxing Sect has fine scenery. You can take the chance to wander about. There's no need to rush the array formation matter."

Mr. Zhuang looked as though he had his own plans.

Mo Hua couldn't figure it out and could only say: "Alright…"

Then he'd listen to his master and have a bit of fun first…

……

After leaving the guest quarters, Sect Master Liao walked along a broad corridor, past carved beams and painted rafters, past pavilions and terraces that were elegant but somewhat deserted, through various halls that were ornate yet gaudy and impractical, until he reached a quiet Shanfeng.

Atop the Shanfeng stood a cave dwelling.

The cave dwelling was somewhat old, clearly built long ago, but the materials used in its details were equally costly—only it looked more low-key.

Sect Master Liao's expression turned respectful as he rang the carved jade bell before the dwelling.

A clear, pleasant jade tone rang out and carried into the cave dwelling.

Sect Master Liao stood solemnly, waiting.

After an unknown length of time, light flashed before the cave dwelling, the array formation dissolved, the great door swung open, and an aged voice called from within:

"Come in."

Sect Master Liao's spirits lifted. He straightened his Daoist robe and stepped into the cave dwelling.

Inside, it was equally exquisite and luxurious.

In the main hall sat a white-haired elder, his aura deep and his prestige immense.

This man was none other than the Grand Elder of the Wuxing Sect.

He was also the only remaining great cultivator at the Jin Dan realm in the Wuxing Sect.

Sect Master Liao cupped his fist in salute and said, "Forgive me for disturbing your closed-door cultivation, Grand Elder."

The Grand Elder opened his eyes, a sharp glint in his gaze. "That person has arrived?"

Sect Master Liao cupped his fist. "Yes."

The Grand Elder furrowed his brows, his expression solemn, silent and still, lost in thought.

Sect Master Liao said in a low voice:

"The array formation… should we pass it down?"

The Grand Elder's gaze turned cold. "It cannot be passed down!"

Sect Master Liao hesitated. "This is an agreement made by our forebears. If we don't pass it down, wouldn't that be… rather hard to explain…"

"You don't understand." The Grand Elder said in a heavy voice. "The Wuxing Sect is no longer what it once was—this is no time to cling to such ancestral rules."

Sect Master Liao didn't understand, but he didn't dare defy the Grand Elder, so he could only cup his fist and assent.

The Grand Elder glanced at Sect Leader Liao and sighed inwardly.

The Wuxing Sect had truly fallen into decline.

Once, the sect had been teeming with experts — how could a mere late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like him possibly be fit to serve as sect leader of the Wuxing Sect?

His own Jin Dan self, back in the day, had only been an elder…

But times had changed; there was no one better to pick.

This was already the most talented disciple among the younger generation of the Wuxing Sect.

Some things still had to be explained clearly to him.

The Grand Elder's gaze grew heavy as he explained:

"We undertake construction, build cave dwellings, bring benefit to the sect, and earn vast amounts of spirit stones — and the root of it all is formations."

"With formations, our Wuxing Sect was able to establish itself."

"The Wuxing Sect established itself, cultivators seeking formations gathered, and only then did Shancheng prosper, and only then did every inch of our mountain gate become worth its weight in gold."

"We younger-generation disciples can earn spirit stones even while lying down."

The Grand Elder furrowed his brow:

"The problem now is that the formations of our Wuxing Sect have fallen into decline…"

"Spirit stones came too easily, the profits were too rich, everyone ate too well — from top to bottom, one after another, they all stopped striving, stopped cultivating, stopped studying formations…"

"As long as those cave dwellings outside exist, the Wuxing Sect will have a steady stream of spirit stones flowing in."

"No effort needed, and spirit stones still come in."

"Who would still bother to work hard?"

"Our Wuxing Sect no longer establishes itself through formations, but through construction — it has become a Li Sect."

"But because of this, the formation attainments of the entire Wuxing Sect have plummeted!"

"Now, let alone second-rank formation masters, being able to produce a few first-rank formation masters is already considered not bad…"

Sect Leader Liao said with a solemn expression:

"This matter this junior also deeply agrees with, and has already thought of ways to resolve."

"Within the sect it has been decided to rectify the atmosphere, reform the cultivation industry, encourage disciples to study formations intensively, train formation masters, and ensure that the Wuxing Sect once again becomes a great sect of formations…"

Sect Leader Liao's tone was sincere.

But the Grand Elder's face was utterly calm, even somewhat cold.

These empty words had already been spoken for over a hundred years.

The interests were deeply entrenched — pull one hair and the whole sect moves; no one dared to make a move.

The disciples in the sect had scattered Dao hearts; to make them endure hardship again and go back to studying formations was even more of a fantasy.

Real, tangible interests were not easy to change.

The formation atmosphere touched upon Dao hearts — once corrupted, trying to correct it was truly a thousand times, ten thousand times harder.

And over all these years, those who had gained the most spirit stones from it, apart from himself the Grand Elder, was this very sect leader of the Wuxing Sect.

The knife for slaughtering the pig was held in the pig's own hand.

How could that meat possibly be cut off?

The Grand Elder said calmly:

"This is not something that can be done in a day or two…"

"The urgent task is to find a way to protect the inheritance of our Wuxing Sect well."

"Especially the Five Elements Spirit Formation, the very foundation of our establishment — it must never be leaked!"

The Grand Elder's gaze turned cold:

"This absolute formation must be held firmly in our hands, monopolized by our Wuxing Sect."

"It doesn't matter if we can't learn it ourselves, but outside the Wuxing Sect, no one may learn it — even if it rots, it can only rot within our Wuxing Sect!"

"Even if it were lost, it absolutely must not fall into another's hands."

"Otherwise, it would surely shake the very foundation of our Wuxing Sect!"

Sect Leader Liao's eyes lit up. "Grand Elder's foresight is far-reaching, and your considerations are most fitting!"

This flattery was bland — it neither hurt nor tickled.

The Grand Elder's expression remained neither warm nor cold.

Sect Leader Liao thought briefly, then changed the subject and said:

"However, this formation is inherently extremely difficult. Over all these years, very few within our Wuxing Sect have managed to learn it, and most of those who did were the elders and predecessors of former years."

"Since the passing of the sect leader two predecessors ago, among the later generations, no disciple has truly been able to learn this Five Elements Spirit Formation."

"If even the disciples of our Wuxing Sect are like this, can those outsiders truly learn it?"

A trace of wariness flashed through the Grand Elder's eyes.

"They can!"

Sect Leader Liao showed a slight look of surprise.

The Grand Elder's brows twitched. "You don't know — back then, this one surnamed Zhuang nearly truly learned the Five Elements Spirit Formation!"

Sect Leader Liao's expression turned to shock. "How could that be?"

The Grand Elder recalled the events of those years, still with lingering fear:

"Back then I was only an ordinary disciple, right there on the scene, watching that man — heaven-gifted talent, dazzling brilliance — before the very faces of the Wuxing Sect's sect leader and all the elders, bit by bit, restoring the formation patterns of the Five Elements Spirit Formation, penetrating the formation hub of the Five Elements Spirit Formation, bit by bit, comprehending the formation method of the Five Elements Spirit Formation…"

"He was only a little bit away from truly learning it. If not for…"

If not for…

The sect leader and elders of that time had made certain moves, otherwise he truly would have learned it…

The senior elder's gaze hardened slightly, swallowing the words inside him.

Master Liao still found it hard to believe. "Qi Condensation?"

"Qi Condensation!"

Master Liao frowned. "The Five Elements Spirit Array, a graded first-grade with thirteen patterns—he's only at the Qi Condensation stage. Could he possibly have thirteen-pattern spiritual awareness? That's impossible…"

The senior elder sighed. "His spiritual awareness isn't thirteen patterns, but he nearly mastered it…"

Master Liao felt it was utterly unbelievable:

"How can one learn this array without sufficient spiritual awareness?"

The senior elder's gaze turned solemn.

"Their lineage possesses a heritage that can penetrate the origins of arrays—once one understands one, all others follow. Even with insufficient spiritual awareness, they can still comprehend certain arrays they otherwise couldn't."

Master Liao was stunned into silence. "Such a heritage really exists?"

The senior elder's expression was reverent:

"This is among the most elite types of heritage in array arts—requiring extraordinary comprehension and top-tier innate talent. It's not something ordinary cultivators can learn, let alone master."

"And he is the best among all disciples in history."

"That's why, despite being only at the Qi Condensation realm, he was granted special permission to contemplate—and nearly mastered—the graded first-grade thirteen-pattern Five Elements Spirit Array!"

The senior elder sighed with regret:

"Though our Wuxing Sect's Five Elements Spirit Array is extremely rare, compared to such true untransmittable teachings, it still falls far short…"

Master Liao lowered his head, his eyes filled with greed and longing.

But his petty thoughts couldn't fool the senior elder.

The senior elder's face darkened, his voice cold.

"Don't entertain wicked thoughts. Even if their lineage has fallen into ruin, they are not to be trifled with by us!"

Master Liao's heart tightened; he bowed and replied, "Yes."

Yet his eyes held a hint of skepticism.

After a moment of thought, Master Liao spoke again:

"Senior Elder, but this time, it's not him learning—he's here to let his disciples learn. Do we need to be this cautious?"

The senior elder replied calmly, "Better safe than sorry."

Master Liao nodded. "You're right, Senior Elder…"

He recalled the scene before the sect gate and sighed.

"Among his disciples, that young array master looks no more than ten or eleven years old—and he's already a graded first-grade array master. His talent is truly remarkable…"

"I wonder where he found such a promising child…"

Why doesn't our Wuxing Sect have one?

Master Liao felt a pang of resentment.

"Ten or eleven years old, a graded first-grade array master…"

The senior elder frowned and shook his head. "Such talent is excellent for ordinary cultivators, but in their lineage, it's commonplace."

"Especially compared to Zhuang back then—it's utterly insignificant."

Master Liao was slightly stunned—he thought the senior elder was speaking with incredible arrogance!

A graded first-grade array master, and still insignificant…

But he dared not contradict him.

He was only at Foundation Establishment; he simply didn't have the senior elder's breadth of experience.

After a moment of thought, the senior elder suddenly warned:

"More than this young array master, you should be wary of his senior brother and senior sister."

"Senior brother and senior sister?"

Master Liao thought of the other two disciples beside Mr. Zhuang.

One with sword-like brows and starry eyes, the other like a lotus emerging from water.

They looked like siblings. Though spiritual awareness couldn't penetrate their spiritual artifacts, their noble bearing, profound cultivation, and exceptional aura…

Were flawless!

They were top-grade cultivation prospects!

And clearly, they were disciples Wuxing Sect was unworthy to possess.

Master Liao's expression grew solemn:

"Senior Elder, are you saying they are Master Zhuang's true array heritage heirs?"

The senior elder nodded. "Correct."

The senior elder pondered again, his gaze brightening as if he had discerned Mr. Zhuang's intent:

"That young array master is merely the vanguard."

"Ten or eleven years old, Qi Condensation ninth layer, graded first-grade array master—he's here to give us a warning."

"But this young array master isn't truly important."

"If he were truly important, he wouldn't have dismounted himself to clear the way."

"Clearly, the real challenge lies in his senior brother and senior sister."

"They come from a noble family, their cultivation is deeper than his, and their array skills are naturally far more advanced!"

"And there are two of them."

"If they truly begin learning, they might very well steal our Wuxing Sect's ultimate arrays!"

…

The Grand Elder's gaze was solemn, and Sect Master Liao also wore a worried expression.

"Then, Grand Elder, what exactly should we do? We can't possibly really step in and stop them, and prevent them from learning formations, can we?"

Once they started fighting, it would mean tearing off all pretense.

The consequences would be hard to say.

The Grand Elder, thick-skinned, said: "First, stall. Stall as long as we can, until they lose patience."

"And if we can't stall them?"

A glint flashed in the Grand Elder's eyes. "If we can't stall them, then we'll use other methods…"

Sect Master Liao's gaze shifted slightly, and he nodded.

……

The Wuxing Sect began to stall for time.

Mr. Zhuang also looked perfectly at ease, not anxious in the slightest.

Mo Hua had no choice but to follow his master's orders and, together with his senior brother and senior sister, "play" around inside the Wuxing Sect.

The Wuxing Sect was very large, with many cave dwellings—so many, in fact, that there were more cave dwellings than disciples…

It seemed they had once been very wealthy, with more spirit stones than they could ever spend, which was why they had been so extravagant, building cave dwellings everywhere.

Besides cave dwellings, other cultivation buildings—such as practice rooms, meditation chambers, alchemy rooms, artifact-refining rooms, formation pavilions, and so on—were also fully equipped.

There were even quite a few buildings that were completely useless.

These buildings had no cultivators living in them, no cultivators using them, not even the slightest function. Their doors were tightly shut, empty and desolate—no one knew what they'd been built for…

Like most other sects, the Wuxing Sect was also divided into inner and outer gates.

The inner gate was the sect's core.

Inner-gate disciples were one with the sect—sharing in its glory and its ruin alike.

They learned the Wuxing Sect's orthodox inheritance, followed its strict master-disciple lineage, were bound to the sect, and shared its interests as one.

The sect's industries were also managed by inner-gate disciples.

The sect's core positions were likewise all held by inner-gate disciples.

Generally speaking, inner-gate disciples were not allowed to leave the sect.

Outer-gate disciples had far fewer such concerns.

They were there more to pay tuition fees and learn formations.

Their relationship with the sect involved a master-disciple bond, but not a strict one; there was gratitude, but not a close one.

As long as they paid spirit stones, they could learn if they wished; if they no longer wished to learn, they could leave—the sect did not restrain them.

The outer gate was more like a kind of business for the sect.

The sect would take out part of its inheritance and teach it externally, in order to expand the sect's influence and earn tuition fees and spirit stones.

And the Wuxing Sect was a third-grade sect, with a great reputation, so its tuition was very expensive—at least for Mo Hua, it was very expensive; he couldn't afford it.

The three of them—Mo Hua and his companions—walked together, wandering idly inside the Wuxing Sect.

Most of those they saw were inner-gate elders and disciples.

The elders inside the gate pretended not to see them.

Instead, some disciples—though they had been warned by their elders and instructors, not knowing the inside story—would secretly point at them behind their backs and gossip.

Mo Hua's spiritual sense was strong, so he could hear every word they said behind his back, crystal clear.

To Mo Hua's surprise, the male disciples bore them hostility, while the female disciples were actually fine.

The male disciples would generally say, displeased:

"That's the little brat, riding a big horse, crushing the threshold, swaggering right through the mountain gate, making all the elders inside lose face!"

"So arrogant!"

"Relying on the fact that he's a first-grade formation master, he looks down on everyone!"

"His senior brother, the one in white—he's even more contemptuous than him!"

"I heard a few senior brothers inside wanted to spar with him, and he wouldn't even give them the time of day."

"No, I heard that a few senior brothers tried to spar with him, and he beat them up badly instead!"

"That's because he hid his cultivation and won by unfair means!"

"Although he's at Qi Refining, he actually has Foundation Establishment strength, yet he deliberately didn't say so!"

"Truly despicable!"

……

The male disciples were filled with righteous indignation.

What the female disciples said was a different story altogether:

"That young man in white—he's so handsome!"

"I heard he's also from a noble family…"

"No wonder, his temperament just looks different at a glance."

"I wonder which noble family, and whether it's far—if I married into it, would I still be able to come back and visit…"

"And that little formation master, Bai Bai, so fair and tender—he's also very cute!"

"I heard he's also a first-grade formation master."

"So impressive!"

……

Mo Hua heard these words, and so did the male disciples.

Because of this, Mo Hua and his companions became even more resented by the male disciples…

Mo Hua let out a helpless sigh.

(End of chapter)