Chapter 530: The Contest

Mo Hua followed Mr. Zhuang into the Array Repository.

Inside the vast Array Repository, opulent and magnificent, cultivators filled the hall.

Three old men sat atop the dais, their hair snow-white, their cultivation profound, radiating spiritual energy with overwhelming pressure.

Jin Dan!

Mo Hua had never seen a Jin Dan before; his heart tightened with nervousness.

Yet he remembered he was Mr. Zhuang's disciple and must not weaken his master's prestige, so he imitated Mr. Zhuang, lifting his small head high, adopting an arrogant posture.

Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi remained expressionless.

The Bai Clan was a mighty power; a few Jin Dan were not enough to unsettle them.

The Grand Elder raised his hand, signaling silence, then rose and bowed respectfully from afar: "Mr. Zhuang."

Mr. Zhuang gave a slight nod.

The Grand Elder said: "Please."

Mr. Zhuang took his seat on the opposite high dais, facing the three Jin Dan grand masters across the hall.

Mo Hua and the other two stood respectfully behind Mr. Zhuang.

After sitting down, the Grand Elder got straight to the point:

"Mr. Zhuang, may the Dao Exchange begin?"

Mr. Zhuang replied calmly: "Yes."

"What an air of superiority…" The Grand Elder was displeased but showed no sign, his expression solemn as he addressed the disciples loudly:

"The Wuxing Sect was founded upon arrays."

"Today, esteemed guests have come from afar to sit and discuss Dao, exchange array techniques—truly a fortunate occasion…"

"Since we discuss Dao through arrays and engage in friendly exchange, according to ancestral tradition, there are established rules."

"First, compare array principles; second, compare array formations; third, compare array scholarship. Array principles encompass all phenomena; array formations hold heaven and earth in their strokes; array patterns, array cores, array focal points complement each other; array scholarship…"

The Grand Elder's opening speech was dry and tedious.

Mr. Zhuang grew weary and cut in directly: "No need."

The Grand Elder froze; the other cultivators stared in surprise.

"Too complicated," Mr. Zhuang shook his head, "Keep it simple…"

His gaze sharpened, sweeping the hall, his tone calm yet brimming with disdain:

"All the Qi Condensation disciples here—everyone, whether from Wuxing Sect or not—step forward at once…"

"No matter what you compete in, if any one of you can defeat my disciple, we will not learn your Five Element Array."

The Array Repository fell deathly silent.

Then the entire hall erupted in uproar.

Arrogant!

Utterly arrogant!

The Grand Elder's face flushed crimson.

Master Chu and the Shen Clan's Patriarch also glared with cold eyes.

Every array master in the audience was filled with righteous fury.

This was not merely disregarding the Wuxing Sect… no, it was disregarding every single array master across the Da Li Mountain State Realm!

Mo Hua, standing behind Mr. Zhuang, could not help opening his mouth slightly.

So this is what my master is really like…

So arrogant…

He had lived side by side with Mr. Zhuang and always thought him refined, elegant, kind, and approachable…

Yet Bai Zisheng and Bai Zi Xi were utterly unsurprised.

"Fine!"

The Grand Elder, seething with rage, gritted his teeth.

You've brought this upon yourself!

Don't blame us for bullying you!

Hundreds of disciples filled the hall, a gathering of prodigies from nearly every family and sect across the Da Li Mountain State Realm.

You, three mere disciples, think you can defeat all of them?

Delusional!

"Who's first?" the Grand Elder said coldly.

A disciple in blue robes rose and said: "This disciple is unworthy, but wishes to test array techniques with the honored guests."

This had been prearranged.

This disciple possessed near Rank One array master strength and ranked among the top five among Wuxing Sect's younger array talents.

The Grand Elder nodded slightly, turning to Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang gave a faint smile and patted Mo Hua on the shoulder.

Mo Hua stepped forward from the crowd, his voice clear and crisp:

"I'll compete!"

Though expected, the Grand Elder still asked: "What about your senior brothers and sisters? Won't they compete?"

In front of the Jin Dan grand masters, Mo Hua was still a little nervous.

"Can't disgrace my master's face…"

"Can't disgrace my master's face…"

Mo Hua silently repeated it twice, then, imitating Mr. Zhuang's posture, he lifted his head and stood tall, feigning arrogance:

"You're not even worthy to compete with my senior brothers and sisters!"

"Pass me first, then!"

"A mere child dares speak so boldly!"

The disciples of the various sects and clans seated below grew even angrier.

Yet the three Jin Dan grand masters remained expressionless.

Mo Hua's words were boastful, but he clearly felt nervous, lacking conviction.

He was still young, inexperienced, and beneath these old foxes, he had betrayed a hint of fear.

Thus, the three Jin Dan ancestors looked down on Mo Hua slightly.

The Grand Elder turned to Mr. Zhuang and asked:

"Mr. Zhuang, what shall we compare?"

Mr. Zhuang dismissed it lightly, "Whatever."

The Grand Elder snorted inwardly, "Fine! Then we follow Wuxing Sect's rules!"

"First, compare a Grade-One array!"

Skip the tedious theoretical debates—let them draw arrays directly, let their brushes reveal their true skill. Start with a Grade-One array to test the waters and see how much this young array master is truly worth.

"Grade-One Heavy Water Array. One hour to complete. Whoever draws it better wins."

After speaking, the Grand Elder glanced at Mo Hua and asked, "Young brother, what do you say?"

Mo Hua hesitated for a moment.

Heavy Water Array?

What kind of array is that?

I don't think I've learned it…

But since it's a Grade-One array, it probably won't be too difficult…

Mo Hua nodded. "Fine."

The Grand Elder gave a slight nod.

Though called a trial, it was still carefully chosen.

This Heavy Water Array was a secret Grade-One array preserved by Wuxing Sect—its function obscure, rarely transmitted, few studied it, and it was relatively hard to master.

Aside from Wuxing Sect disciples, other array masters could hardly know it.

He had deliberately selected it as the examination question.

If Mr. Zhuang's young disciple had learned it, then there was nothing to be done—he would simply prove his array knowledge truly vast.

They would settle the contest by array skill.

But if he didn't know it, he was certain to lose.

One hour was far too short to both learn and draw it.

The Grand Elder snorted.

Originally, using this array was already "winning unfairly."

But now that Mr. Zhuang had spoken so arrogantly and made such bold claims, using this obscure question to match his tone was hardly unfair.

Mo Hua and the Wuxing Sect's blue-robed disciple stepped onto the arena, each taking a desk, seated several zhang apart, shielded by an array that blocked both sight and spiritual sense.

Of course, with three Jin Dan grand masters and over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators watching, no trickery could be attempted.

After a while, someone distributed the array diagrams.

Mo Hua took his diagram, glanced at it, and frowned.

Heavy Water Array…

He really hadn't learned it.

The array patterns were obscure, the array pivot was simple, but spiritual sense demand was slightly higher—nine strokes or more, under ten.

Overall difficulty was roughly equal to the Grade-One Melt-Fire Array.

Mo Hua assessed it, then relaxed inwardly, even feeling a touch of delight.

Unexpectedly, the array contest offered a new array to learn…

Profit!

Mo Hua focused intently, staring at the Heavy Water diagram, memorizing the pivot while noting the patterns, simultaneously calculating the spiritual energy trajectories in his mind.

On the other side, the blue-robed disciple had already begun drawing.

The Heavy Water Array was a Wuxing Sect secret—he had learned it long ago, and over these past days, under the Grand Elder's guidance, he had practiced it repeatedly until it was etched into his memory.

It was as if the examiner had leaked the exam question and made him write the answer over a dozen times beforehand.

Thus, drawing the Heavy Water Array now came naturally to him.

Mo Hua studied the diagram; the blue-robed disciple drew the array.

The Grand Elder watched clearly from above, nodding slightly.

He could now confirm: this young array master had never learned the Heavy Water Array!

Good!

The Grand Elder felt a surge of joy.

First strike, first victory.

They had likely won this first round.

Once this young array master lost, it would be his senior brothers and sisters' turn.

He wanted to see just how skilled Mr. Zhuang's prodigies truly were.

……

Time dripped away, second by second…

Half an hour later.

The blue-robed disciple had already finished most of his drawing.

Mo Hua had finally finished studying the Heavy Water Array.

Having finished studying, he picked up his brush.

As soon as Mo Hua moved, the Grand Elder noticed, his thoughts shifting slightly:

"Realizing time is running out, he's just forcing himself to draw?"

The Grand Elder understood.

When he himself took the Array Master ranking exam, faced with an array he didn't know, he did the same.

Time was almost up—could he really turn in a blank sheet?

Draw as much as he could.

Maybe he'd guess a few array lines right…

The Grand Elder, having been there before, understood perfectly.

But as he watched, he felt a faint surprise:

"This young array master… not to mention anything else, at least in brushwork and array-drawing aura, he actually looks quite professional…"

Another small half-hour passed.

The blue-robed disciple had finished his brushwork and carefully checked it once more, nodding in satisfaction.

The array was complete; the array lines flowed smoothly.

Everything that should be there was there.

Though there were minor flaws, they were like a speck on white jade—insignificant.

This was exceptional performance, exceeding the Grand Elder's expectations!

The blue-robed disciple was full of self-satisfaction.

On the other side, Mo Hua had also finished, and after checking once, he slightly shook his head.

First time drawing—he lacked brush mastery, so he strictly followed the array diagram, meticulous but lacking spirit, missing that certain flavor.

But it was passable.

Might as well submit it.

Both sealed their arrays and submitted them.

These two sealed arrays now lay before the Grand Elder and the other two.

The Grand Elder glanced at Mr. Zhuang.

Mr. Zhuang said, "You two look."

The Grand Elder nodded and first examined the array submitted by his own sect's disciple.

One glance, and he relaxed.

Well drawn!

Even better than when he himself had taught him.

He had clearly put in hard work.

Then he eagerly unsealed Mo Hua's array.

One glance, and he frowned.

Where was the array?

Why was there only the diagram?

He flipped further down, and froze.

Two identical array diagrams?

After careful examination, the Grand Elder realized one had fresh ink and different ink quality—but the brushwork was so rigidly precise, every array line identical, as if carved from the same mold, making them look indistinguishable at first glance.

The Grand Elder's heart trembled.

Did this young array master draw an array identical to the sample diagram?

Cheating?

But in front of three Jin Dan cultivators, how could he possibly cheat?

The Grand Elder studied it again, carefully and thoroughly, and finally had to admit—the rigid, precise array lines were truly drawn by hand by this young cultivator…

The Grand Elder took a deep breath, and his gaze toward Mo Hua grew more solemn.

To draw this well, this array must have been practiced countless times.

To master such a niche array to this degree…

No wonder he's Mr. Zhuang's disciple—he's got real talent.

Then he recalled what had happened earlier, and felt displeasure.

"That brat… stared at the diagram for ages, pretending he didn't understand—was he just playing me?"

"Mocking me?"

What a vile character!

Talented, but utterly lacking in virtue!

The Grand Elder silently judged.

Master Chu and the Shen Clan's Ancestor, upon seeing Mo Hua's array, were also secretly astonished.

"Though meticulous and lacking spirit, overly mechanical, at such a young age, to draw with such precision is already quite impressive."

At the very least, he drew it better than the disciples of Wuxing Sect.

The Grand Elder took the Heavy Water Array that the blue-robed disciple had drawn earlier and compared them again, and let out a soft sigh.

Their disciple, though he drew it well, had only drawn it out.

There were quite a few flaws in his brushwork.

If you didn't compare them side by side, it was still passable.

Once you compared them, it wouldn't do.

When it came to arrays, good was good, and bad was bad.

In front of so many array masters, and especially in front of Mr. Zhuang, the Grand Elder could only concede defeat:

"This round…"

The Grand Elder paused, thought for a long while, and only then recalled this little array master's name.

It was as if this name were extremely easy to overlook and very hard to remember.

"…Mo Hua, by a slight margin."

Mo Hua's expression brightened with joy.

The blue-robed disciple, on the other hand, turned ashen, unable to comprehend no matter how he tried just how he had lost, or where he had lost.

After Mo Hua finished drawing the array, warmed up, and was no longer nervous.

Victory in the first battle had won face for his master.

Moreover, he had newly learned an array—the Heavy Water Array—which Wuxing Sect had delivered right to his door for free.

Mo Hua was quite satisfied in his heart, and looked forward to the following matches even more.

In the resplendent, magnificent Array Pavilion, filled with cultivators.

Mo Hua lay sprawled on the tall desk, swinging his little legs, his eyes sparkling as he asked:

"What else are we competing in?"

The Grand Elder's brow twitched, for from Mo Hua's utterly innocent and lively face, he actually sensed a faint pressure.

His gaze sharpened slightly, he pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice:

"Brush speed!"

Mo Hua was startled for a moment, then understood.

It was simply a contest of who could draw faster.

An array master's brush speed was also a matter of skill.

The faster the array was drawn, the more arrays one could produce—constructing large-scale cultivation projects, cultivation production, Dao soldier campaigns, cultivator battles…

Anywhere that involved the application of arrays.

Drawing the array one fraction faster meant gaining one fraction of an advantage.

Especially in duels between array masters: when your opponent's array was already laid out, and you were still huffing and puffing, drawing array lines, then that unfinished array could only be drawn in your next life…

But when it came to brush speed, that was also Mo Hua's strong suit.

The Heavenly Evolution Art enhanced divine sense control.

Back then in Xiancheng, building the Refinery and the Alchemy Hall, and later constructing the Five Elements Demon-Slaying Grand Array, with so many arrays, he had done the work of ten men alone.

Not to mention he had now also comprehended the Spirit Pivot Array.

"Bring it on!"

Mo Hua said expectantly.

He wanted to know whether Wuxing Sect would let him learn any new arrays for free again.

The Grand Elder's brow furrowed, sensing something was amiss, but he could only grit his teeth and wave his hand.

From the crowd, a gold-robed disciple walked out and sat down across from Mo Hua.

Thin, tall, with upturned brows, looking somewhat proud.

The array diagrams were also distributed.

Mo Hua took one look and felt a little disappointed.

It was a Sharp Gold Array.

He had already learned this array.

He hadn't gotten to freeload a new array…

Mo Hua felt a touch of regret.

Since he had already learned it, there was no point wasting time—finish it quickly…

After the Grand Elder said "Begin," Mo Hua and the gold-robed disciple started drawing at the same time.

The gold-robed disciple drew very fast.

His spiritual root was special, naturally attuned to gold spiritual power, so all gold-element arrays, he drew with ease—fully twice as fast as anyone else.

Throughout all of Wuxing Sect, there was no disciple who drew gold-element arrays faster than him.

He had therefore earned the Grand Elder's favor.

The gold-robed disciple was brimming with confidence, his brush flying…

But before he had drawn a few array lines, he heard a clear, slightly childish voice say:

"I'm done!"

The gold-robed disciple's hand jerked, and with one stroke he pressed down, smearing a large patch of gold ink across the paper.

But he couldn't spare a thought for that now.

He stiffly turned his neck, and saw Mo Hua sitting on the chair, swaying gently, waiting to hand in his paper with an eager look.

The gold-robed disciple found it somewhat hard to believe.

How long has it been?

Already finished drawing?

When the array Mo Hua had drawn was placed before them, the Grand Elder's expression grew even more solemn.

Perfectly accurate—undoubtedly the Sharp Metal Array.

The Grand Elder stood frozen, dazed.

Even Master Chu beside him and the Shen Family Ancestor were still stunned.

Too fast.

They had only seen Mo Hua pick up his brush, dip it in ink, and then—swish, swish, swish—he drew the Sharp Metal Array as if playing a game, in just a few strokes…

This was a Rank-One array.

Can a Rank-One Array Master draw a Rank-One array this quickly?

Is this truly within the capability of a Rank-One Array Master?

The three Jin Dan elders remained silent for a long time, unable to utter a word.

But Mo Hua had grown bored waiting, so he asked:

"What else are we comparing?"

Finish this quickly, help my master regain his honor, and I can learn the Rank-One Thirteen-Stripe Ultimate Array.

What else are we comparing?

Mo Hua's voice was crisp, yet carried an air of calm.

Now, not only the Grand Elder, but even Master Chu and the Shen Family Ancestor faintly felt the pressure emanating from that Qi Condensation cultivator in the arena…

(End of Chapter)