Chapter 536: Transmitting the Dao

Wuxing Sect's Transmission Elder?!

Mo Hua's heart trembled.

The Transmission Elder teaches the Dao; within the sect, their status is unique—though not the most powerful, they are unquestionably the most exalted, and the one who understands and knows the sect's heritage most deeply.

This wooden-carved elder was actually the Wuxing Sect's Transmission Elder…

Mo Hua's mind raced.

The Transmission Elder looked at Mo Hua, then suddenly narrowed his eyes, "You are not a disciple of my Wuxing Sect!"

Mo Hua was curious, "How did you know?"

The Transmission Elder's gaze grew obscure, "Your spiritual sense is immense, your spiritual awareness manifested…"

"My Wuxing Sect is no longer what it once was; our heritage has declined, and we could never have produced a disciple like you…"

Mo Hua nodded, finding this reason plausible, then asked again:

"You are the Transmission Elder—does the Dao you transmit refer to the Five Elements Spirit Array?"

The Transmission Elder did not conceal it, "Correct…"

He gazed far off, toward the array platform at the center of the hall, "Though my body is dead, my spirit endures, guarding the spirit shrine. Should any disciple, with Wuxing Sect's approval, sit upon the meditation cushion and visualize the spirit shrine, I shall manifest the Five Elements Spirit Array at the center of this hall, transmitting the array's spirit lines and its essential principles…"

Mo Hua nodded and asked, "Then have you seen me before?"

The Transmission Elder slowly nodded, "I have. Five days ago, when you first came, I saw you."

Mo Hua asked again, "Then why didn't you teach me that day, when I visualized the spirit shrine?"

Upon hearing this, the Transmission Elder's expression turned cold, and he snapped:

"Don't you know?"

Mo Hua was stunned.

The Transmission Elder's eyelid twitched, "Your spiritual sense is too strong—you pierced through the array platform. How could I possibly teach you?"

"Oh."

Mo Hua scratched his head, slightly embarrassed.

The Transmission Elder sighed with emotion, "In all these years guarding this hall, you are the first cultivator to pierce the array platform—making me want to teach you, yet unable to…"

"I'm not a Wuxing Sect disciple—yet you still want to teach me?" Mo Hua asked.

The Transmission Elder replied with conviction:

"Any cultivator who reaches this spirit shrine and visualizes this hall is either a Wuxing Sect disciple, has ties to Wuxing Sect, or has been granted fate by heaven itself."

"In any case, it is all a matter of karmic convergence."

"I am the Transmission Elder—I teach without discrimination."

"As long as I can pass on my Wuxing Sect's 'Dao'…"

Mo Hua felt profound respect, and ceased being reserved, asking directly:

"Can you teach me the Five Elements Spirit Array?"

The Transmission Elder pondered for a moment, then sighed, "Very well…"

"For centuries, not only have fewer disciples entered the spirit shrine—even those qualified to enter the Array Library and visualize before the shrine have grown scarce…"

"There is no Dao left to transmit…"

"If this continues, I, the Transmission Elder, will truly become a wooden statue, rotting here, unseen by the light of day."

The Transmission Elder glanced at Mo Hua again, then nodded in approval:

"You have excellent talent, strong spiritual sense, and a pure Dao heart. The Wuxing Sect's heritage in your hands would not be disgraced."

"But there is one thing…"

The Transmission Elder's expression turned serious, "If you learn the Five Elements Spirit Array, and ever have the chance, you must spread it far and wide."

"Should Wuxing Sect ever face peril, you must come to its aid and repay this karmic debt."

Mo Hua's expression turned solemn, and he said earnestly, "I swear!"

"Good!" The Transmission Elder relaxed, then asked, "Have you learned the spirit lines of the Five Elements Spirit Array?"

"I have." Mo Hua nodded.

The Transmission Elder was surprised, and with a flick of his sleeve, ink and brush appeared in the hall.

"Draw them for me."

"Alright."

Mo Hua dipped his brush in ink and drew one version each of the Five Elements Spirit Array: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.

The Transmission Elder's pupils shrank slightly, yet he suppressed his shock and nodded in praise:

"Excellent—remarkable. In such a short time, you've mastered the spirit lines of the Five Elements Ultimate Array, drawing them perfectly, without a single error…"

"But…"

The Transmission Elder continued, "You should know that Ultimate Arrays lie beyond categories, outside conventional forms…"

"Learning the spirit lines does not mean you have mastered the Ultimate Array."

"To truly comprehend the Five Elements Spirit Array, merely being able to draw the spirit lines is far from enough…"

Mo Hua bowed humbly, "Disciple understands. Please, Master, instruct me."

The Transmission Elder nodded with satisfaction, stroking his beard, "Ruzike Sect—you shall learn. Listen well…"

Mo Hua nodded, listening intently.

The Transmission Elder's expression turned solemn, and he spoke slowly:

"The Five Elements Spirit Array is the supreme array among all Five Elements arrays!"

"Its difficulty, depth, and the breadth of array principles it encompasses can rival even Great Arrays!"

"Great Arrays excel in grandeur; the Five Elements Spirit Array excels in profundity."

"In our Wuxing Sect's heyday, we relied on this Five Elements Spirit Array to strengthen the Five Elements, aid in combat, enhance the power of spiritual artifacts, and amplify the might of spells—this is how we rose to rank among the top-tier array sects..."

"The Five Elements Spirit Array enhances spiritual energy; its core lies in comprehending the essence of the Five Elements' spiritual force."

"That essence is summed up in one word: 'strengthen.'"

"The same Five Elements spiritual energy, when amplified by the array, can increase by one to two tenths—then your spiritual artifacts, cultivation martial arts, or spells will all grow stronger by one to two tenths..."

Mo Hua frowned. "Then how exactly should one comprehend it?"

The Transmission Elder said: "It sounds simple, but is hard to do. I'll tell you the array's principles, but the true understanding must come from you alone."

Mo Hua nodded.

The Transmission Elder said: "The essence of Five Elements strengthening lies in the transformation of spiritual energy..."

"You must use array markings to decompose spiritual energy, then reconstruct it, give rise to new forms, and amplify it through the principle of the Five Elements generating one another."

"In this way, the spiritual energy itself becomes strengthened."

"Through spirit, transform the Dao..."

"One gives birth to two, two gives birth to three... endlessly generating."

"This contains the array principle of 'generation.'"

"With 'generation,' self-strengthening becomes inexhaustible..."

The Transmission Elder's words carried deep meaning.

Mo Hua's brow furrowed tighter—he clearly couldn't grasp it yet.

The Transmission Elder nodded slightly. "Remember these words, ponder them carefully, and strive to comprehend them. When you finally understand, try drawing the Five Elements Spirit Array—merge the array principles with the array markings, and you'll gradually grasp its mysteries..."

"Think deeply."

After speaking, the Transmission Elder closed his eyes to rest.

Mo Hua frowned in deep thought, long and hard, then suddenly looked up at the Transmission Elder, his gaze strangely penetrating.

The Transmission Elder sat upright, dignified and ethereal.

Mo Hua stealthily extended his small hand and launched a Fireball Technique at the Transmission Elder.

The Transmission Elder, mid-meditation, was caught off guard and knocked over by Mo Hua's Fireball Technique.

The Transmission Elder rose in fury: "What are you doing?!"

Mo Hua's gaze grew even more certain; he ignored all protest and repeatedly jabbed his fingers, unleashing Fireball Technique after Fireball Technique.

Hu, hu, hu!

Fireball after fireball slammed into the Transmission Elder.

"Stop... stop!"

"Ignorant brat..."

The Transmission Elder, enraged and humiliated,

"Reckless!"

"How dare you..."

"Disrespecting your master, committing grave insolence—I shall make you... die without even a grave!"

The Transmission Elder threatened in rage.

Mo Hua was not afraid; he snorted coldly, sneering:

"What kind of trash dares deceive me?"

"Dare to lie to my face?"

"I've seen this trick a hundred times—this petty sleight, how dare you show it off before me?!"

The Transmission Elder tried to speak again, but was repeatedly suppressed by Mo Hua's swift, brutal Fireball Techniques, gasping for breath.

Soon, he was riddled with holes from the fireballs.

His face was torn, his body was torn, his Dao robe was torn.

But moments later, his entire form melted into a pool of Jin Se copper water, then reformed into its original shape.

He was not the Transmission Elder.

He was a grotesque little demon.

The only thing they shared was the five-colored Dao robe.

The five-colored Dao robe symbolizes the Five Elements.

This was a Five Elements Demon.

The Five Elements Demon revealed its true form, glaring at Mo Hua in disbelief:

"How did you see through me?"

In the Dao hall, it had a natural advantage—it merged with the hall's entire aura. Others—be they humans, ghosts, demons, or any mental constructs—should never have been able to detect it.

Centuries of aura resonance.

It was both the Five Elements Demon and the Transmission Elder.

Mo Hua snorted: "Because you were babbling nonsense—you don't understand the Five Elements Absolute Array. If you don't understand the Five Elements Absolute Array, how could you possibly be the Transmission Elder?"

The Five Elements Demon sneered. "I don't understand? Do you? If you did, why are you here to learn?"

Mo Hua replied calmly: "I don't understand the Five Elements Spirit Array—but I do know a little about the Absolute Array..."

He began to critique point by point:

"In the Absolute Array, the decomposition of spiritual energy is not called decomposition—it is precisely called reverse decomposition."

"Ordinary decomposition is not the Absolute Array."

"But reverse decomposition—that is an entirely different Absolute Array."

"Spiritual power reconstruction involves the spiritual pivot; it is a spiritual-power-type control array, not a five-element attribute array."

"Spiritual-power generation is only one of the five elements; it is an earth-system absolute array, yet it is utterly different from a five-element spiritual array. What it generates is not one's own spiritual power. This kind of absolute array is not used to strengthen spiritual power, but to nourish all things…"

"Within array theory, 'strengthening' and 'generation' are different categories — related, but they must not be conflated."

"The five-element array is 'strengthening,' not 'generation.'"

"Furthermore, spiritual power does not increase on its own."

"Your understanding of 'one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three' is also wrong."

"The form of spiritual power may change, but its essence is conserved."

"Five-element strengthening will not conjure extra spiritual power out of thin air either…"

"Even if a five-element spiritual array amplifies, it is not that it becomes more or stronger on its own — it should be borrowing some external force to strengthen itself."

……

Mo Hua spoke glibly and fluently, pouring out without pause.

The Five-Element Little Ghost, however, wore a thoroughly blank face.

What is this little ghost talking about?

What reverse interpretation? What spiritual pivot? What generation?

How are 'strengthening' and 'generation' different again?

Spiritual power conservation — conserve what thingamajig?

The Five-Element Little Ghost pondered carefully, then felt a sudden lurch in its heart.

It's over — I've run into an expert…

This messy, chaotic field of absolute arrays — this little ghost truly understands it!

The Five-Element Little Ghost was somewhat incredulous.

The whole spiel about this five-element spiritual array inheritance was something it had pieced together itself — bits heard here and there, scraps and fragments, cobbled into one.

It had used this spiel to hoodwink people for so many years — deceiving whoever it met, human or ghost — and it had never gone wrong.

Because this absolute-array business — nobody could understand it at all.

At most, others wouldn't believe it, couldn't comprehend it, but they also didn't dare question it.

Yet it never expected that today it would capsize.

Who on earth is this little array master, so thoroughly versed in absolute arrays?

The Five-Element Little Ghost looked at Mo Hua, shaken to its core.

Mo Hua, however, was unwilling to waste time. He pointed two fingers at the Five-Element Little Ghost, locked it down with his divine sense, fresh-red flames surging at his fingertip, and said coldly:

"Where is the five-element spiritual array inheritance?"

The Five-Element Little Ghost sneered, "Arrogant! You think I'm afraid of you?"

Mo Hua flicked his fingertip, and a fresh-red fireball whistled out.

The Five-Element Little Ghost tried to dodge, but found that it was already firmly locked down by this little array master's divine sense — unless it could outrun the Fireball Art, there was no evading it at all.

It was struck by the Fireball Art again.

The fireball manifested by divine sense exploded on its body, flames searing its flesh. It was clearly an ethereal fire manifested by divine thought, yet the searing pain it produced was crisp and utterly real.

Time was limited; Mo Hua showed no mercy.

Fireball after Fireball, blasting the Five-Element Little Ghost until it had no power to resist at all.

It wanted to charge at Mo Hua, but it had to withstand the bombardment of the Fireball Art.

Occasionally it would break free from the Fireball Art's suppression, only to be bound by the Water Prison Art.

If it didn't close in on Mo Hua, it could only be worn down by Mo Hua's ranged Fireball Art.

The key was that this Fireball Art was freakishly uncanny — fast, accurate, and quite formidable in power.

After a dozen or so exchanges, the Five-Element Little Ghost's heart was as good as dead.

It realized that it was no match at all.

It itself was a little ghost.

Yet the little ghost opposite was a "monster."

Human strength has its limits, and ghosts are the same.

Those who read the times are heroes — and likewise, those who read the times can also be "ghost heroes."

The Five-Element Little Ghost, the former "Elder of the Dao," dropped to its knees with a thud and cried out loudly:

"Little friend, spare my life!"

Mo Hua saw that its voice was loud and resonant, clearly brimming with vigor, so he did not stop, thinking to wear down more of its strength.

The Five-Element Little Ghost grew greatly alarmed and hurriedly elevated Mo Hua's seniority:

"Little bro, little lord, Xiaozu Sect!"

"No more fighting! Spare my life!"

Mo Hua, seeing that it had even shouted out "Xiaozu Sect," reluctantly stopped, then asked once more:

"Where is the five-element spiritual array inheritance?"

The Five-Element Little Ghost hemmed and hawed, unwilling to speak.

Mo Hua did not indulge it — another Fireball Art blasted over.

Only then did the Five-Element Little Ghost behave, and it glanced at Mo Hua's expression, saying uneasily:

"I… I don't know either…"

Mo Hua's face showed displeasure, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

The Five-Element Little Ghost hurriedly said:

"Xiaozu Sect, I swear! I really didn't know!"

"You've been in this meditation hall for so long, pretending to be the 'Preaching Elder' for so long—how could you know nothing?"

Mo Hua clearly didn't believe it.

The Wuxing spirit said: "I was just an ordinary ghost, dwelling in a tattered painting, wandering everywhere, until the old patriarch of the Wuxing Sect captured me, sealed my malevolent thoughts, and cast me into this shrine to impersonate the 'Preaching Elder' and deceive cultivators seeking to learn the Wuxing Spirit Array…"

"Though I've stayed in this hall a long time, I know very little about arrays."

"As for the Wuxing Spirit Array—a profound ultimate array—I understand absolutely nothing."

"Xiaozu Sect, you must believe me!"

……

Mo Hua's eyes narrowed slightly.

The Wuxing spirit spoke as if it were nothing—ordinary ghost, dwelling in a tattered painting, wandering everywhere…

The truth was certainly not that simple.

Mo Hua still remembered the green-faced spirit in the first visualization image he had seen.

That spirit's lingering memories included scenes of becoming a ghost from a human, then deceiving cultivators and devouring their spiritual consciousness.

This Wuxing spirit was probably much the same.

It must have done plenty of evil.

But right now, the Wuxing Spirit Array was the priority; other matters could be settled later.

Mo Hua's expression grew slightly solemn.

The Wuxing spirit shrank nervously.

It didn't seem to be lying.

Moreover, what it said made sense.

The Wuxing Spirit Array—a top-tier array with thirteen patterns of the first rank—was impossible for a mere spirit like it to comprehend, even after centuries of contemplation, if it lacked the proper key…

But if it didn't know, then where was the transmission of the Wuxing Spirit Array hidden?

Mo Hua scanned the surroundings, his gaze shifting suddenly as he asked:

"Before you came, was this meditation hall always like this?"

The Wuxing spirit nodded.

Mo Hua's eyes sharpened. "Was there also a Preaching Elder back then?"

The Wuxing spirit shook its head. "No, there wasn't."

"So, the seat you pretended to be the Preaching Elder and sat on—was originally unoccupied?"

The Wuxing spirit trembled inwardly, then gave a slight nod.

Mo Hua slowly walked to the center of the meditation hall and discovered a meditation cushion there—the very cushion upon which the Wuxing spirit had posed as the Preaching Elder.

Another meditation cushion!

Mo Hua's spirits lifted; he stepped forward, examined it for a moment, and found this cushion nearly identical to the ones outside the shrine.

The Preaching Cushion!

Mo Hua's eyes brightened slightly as he sat upon the cushion, gazing straight ahead—and suddenly, the world before him opened wide.

Every object within the shrine came fully into view.

He could even see his senior brother and senior sister outside the shrine.

His senior brother looked bored, yet somewhat worried.

His senior sister sat on the ground, hugging her knees, silently watching the "herself" whose spiritual consciousness had left the body, now lying motionless on the floor.

Beyond that, Mo Hua could also see the meditation cushions outside the shrine.

No—more precisely, the positions of the cushions.

At each cushion's position, between reality and illusion, was carved an array pattern.

This was the Wuxing Spirit Array—more complete, more rigorous in its pattern lines.

There were slight discrepancies compared to the patterns he had already obtained.

Mo Hua pondered briefly, then understood.

The fake "Preaching Elder" had tampered with the array patterns; the patterns learned through shrine visualization differed from the true Wuxing patterns.

The purpose? To prevent others from learning the true Wuxing Spirit Array.

Mo Hua immediately compared the array patterns in his mind with those he now saw, then subtly refined them with his spiritual consciousness—and obtained the true Wuxing Spirit Array patterns.

But this still wasn't enough…

The patterns were merely form.

A dragon must be given its eyes.

Mo Hua lacked only that final brushstroke to truly comprehend the Wuxing Spirit Array.

But what was that brushstroke?

Mo Hua frowned.

Preaching… cushion…

Manifesting the array…

Mo Hua's eyes brightened; he immediately manifested the full Wuxing Spirit Array upon the central array platform.

He sought to discern some clue within it.

As he completed the manifestation of the true Wuxing Spirit Array patterns, the cushion beneath him suddenly emitted a faint, elusive spiritual thought.

This spiritual thought had no master, no awareness—it was a blank, pure thought-body.

This thought slowly flowed into the array platform and merged into the Wuxing Spirit Array.

Above the Five Elements Spirit Array, five-colored light suddenly blazed, incomparably dazzling.

Mo Hua was taken aback.

What does this mean?

What is this strand of divine sense trying to tell him?

Or perhaps, what is it trying to demonstrate to him?

Mo Hua thought hard for a long time, then suddenly raised his head, looked at the Five Elements Imp, and asked urgently:

"Where did you hear all that about Absolute Arrays?"

The Five Elements Imp, seeing Mo Hua deep in thought, tried to sneak away, but had only taken one step when Mo Hua asked this question.

Not daring to show anything amiss, it said:

"Lots of people…"

"Who, specifically?"

"The Sect Master of the Wuxing Sect, the elders, some disciples chatting, and others—outside cultivators and array masters who qualify to learn the Five Elements Spirit Array…"

The Five Elements Imp counted them off one by one.

Mo Hua said, "Is there any one sentence that came from the mouth of a former Sect Master or elder of the Wuxing Sect?"

The Five Elements Imp frowned and thought for a long while, then suddenly said, "Yes!"

"Which one?"

The Five Elements Imp paused, its expression slightly solemn, and slowly said:

"This sentence came from the mouth of the oldest, and also the most obscure, elder of the Wuxing Sect…"

"When no one was around, facing the shrine, he once slowly said this sentence:"

"Divine sense… transforms into Dao!"

(End of chapter)